Kazmere Vale sagged against the tunnel wall, his body heavy. He grinned from ear to ear despite his exhaustion. For four months, he thought that all of his comrades were dead. He'd shoved down hope for so long, it was hard to believe Sera stood in front of him. A small weight lifted off his soul.

Sera ran over to him, the torch bobbing up and down in the dark. Torchlight illuminated her face, allowing Kazmere to see her fully. He'd seen her face many times while he lay awake - cold and restless within the Skyprison. Memories of their past intimate moments had been the only way he remembered being happy and carefree.

He loved her dark blue eyes; an endless sea to get lost in. She wore her fair hair up in a ponytail, just like she always did during a mission. Her tan Revenian skin was sweaty and glistened in the torchlight. She wore that worried expression he'd seen on her face many times before. The look made him want to kiss her but he couldn't, they weren't lovers anymore. Not for many years.

She smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm so happy to see you alive Kaz. Let's get you inside. You smell worse than you look somehow." She wrapped his arm around her shoulders and lifted him up. He groaned from the effort but held on tight. Her scent drifted up to his nose and he smiled. He hadn't smelled a woman's scent in months.

Sera carried him further into the tunnel, the torch illuminating the way. They came to a familiar iron door, left open.

"I can't believe you're alive. How did you–"

She chuckled, interrupting him. "Just wait a moment Kaz. I'll explain everything." Her face sweated from the effort of dragging him along. "You smell like shit and I can't talk to you when you look this way. You can barely hold yourself up. Just a while longer and we can swap escape stories." She gave that beautiful smile.

He grumbled under his breath, "Alright alright." Truth be told, he needed a moment to rest after everything. The prospect of other Foundlings being alive made all of his pain feel worth it.

They hobbled into the main common room of his hideout. He exhaled with relief, happiness bubbling up inside him. A fire crackled in the ornate fireplace. His favorite red cloth armchair was set in front. The gold and crimson star tapestry that belonged to his father hung on the wall. The sigil for House Vale, even though that house didn't exist anymore. The intricately patterned rug from his childhood home was underneath their feet, spread out across the room. He studied the rug and noticed the familiar burn holes from the fire years ago. He shoved that memory down deep into the dark recesses of his mind. Now wasn't the time for that.

Everything was just as he left it. Besides the cups and plates lying around, and a makeshift bed set up close to the fireplace. She's been set up here for a while it seems. The warmth of the fire made him feel cozy. His eyelids lowered bit by bit while he stood there.

Sera chuckled and shook him awake. "No dozing off Kaz, not yet." She led him to the wooden door on the left side of the room. She opened the door and set him on the ground beside the clawfoot tub.

"I'll be right back. I was getting the water warm for my own bath, but I guess I can let you use it instead." She winked at him and ruffled his hair, then looked at her hand in disgust and shook it. Something brown and smelly flew off. He chuckled while she left the room.

A brief time later, Kazmere found himself naked, lying in warm water, drifting in and out of consciousness. The Skyprison had made him forget what it felt like to be warm and content. He smiled lazily and relaxed for the first time in a long while.

He noticed out of a half-closed eye that Sera sat across the room on a stool. Her arms crossed and she studied him with an unreadable look on her face. I wonder what she's thinking? He closed his eyes, soaking in the moment.

After a while, he adjusted himself to sit up straight. He looked over at Sera. "Thank you for helping me, I wouldn't have made it much farther. I got lucky today, very lucky."

Sera picked up her stool, walked over to him, and sat down. The dim glow illuminated her lovely countenance. She narrowed her eyes with her mouth pursed tight.

"Why do you keep looking at me that way?"

She adjusted her hair. "Kaz, nobody escapes from the Skyprison. How did you?"

Does she not trust me?

He reached over the side of the tub, ruffled in his dirty clothes, and pulled out his Relic. His sister's doll. He shoved down his sadness and focused on the conversation.

Her blue eyes widened. "Where did you get that?"

"I have no clue. My door slot opened and it was delivered on a metal tray. A feminine voice said an ally sent them. She said they wanted to see the Foundlings return to their former glory."

Sera played with a strand of loose hair like she always did when contemplating information. "That doesn't sound good. It sounds like someone is trying to use us."

"So it seems. Before I tell you any more, is there any food left?" His stomach rumbled.

Sera gave him that smile she always did when he amused her and walked out of the room. She returned carrying a thick half-loaf of bread and a bowl of beans. Kazmere salivated at the thought of some real food, not from the Skyprison. She watched him scarf the food down, still with that amused smile.

"I'm so glad you're home Kazmere. I thought you were dead or that you'd be a prisoner forever. The Foundlings left are all scattered, either in hiding or prisoner somewhere. Zavan and Savere are the only ones out roaming around free that I know of. If you can call this free." Sera looked down, frowning.

He put his bowl aside. "Sera."

She peered up at him, a sad look on her face.

"We will find the rest of the Foundlings. I'm not here to hide in this dark cellar and rot away. We will free whoever we can and find Ansel so we can clear our names. Anyone who stands in our way will die by my hand." His passion grew with every word.

Her eyes widened. "You can't believe that Ansel killed the queen. He wouldn't do that." Her hands became clenched fists.

He softened his voice and locked eyes with her. "I know he's like a brother to you. But we don't know whether he did it or not. I have to find the truth Sera. I don't want to believe it's true either."

She tore her gaze from him. Her jaw worked. "He didn't do it. I'll find the proof and clear him of blame."

"What will you do if it turns out he did do it? Will you stop me from finding him?"

She turned her head back to him, locking eyes. "I will help you kill him myself if it's true. But he's innocent, I know he is. I can't explain how but I do."

"I hope you're right."

Silence passed between them for a while.

Kazmere cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. "I was questioned by Winslow right before I escaped." Sera's head snapped to him. "She revealed that someone within the Foundlings gave away our hideouts. They gave the information to King Vlidian. She claimed the Viberium Council had no idea until days later. She seemed very frustrated."

Sera swallowed. "That's terrible. Do you believe her?"

"I do."

Sera stood up and started pacing. "Who could have given away all that information?" She paced for a while longer. He laid his head back, wondering the same thing.

"I got it," she said. "First place to start is with Zavan and Savere. I'll invite them to a meeting tomorrow. I'll say I have new information about your whereabouts. They have to know you've escaped by now. The whole city knows."

He smiled and sat forward in the tub, realizing her brilliant idea. "Then I'll show up and put them off balance. We can see which of them acts strange and then trail them and see where they go. You follow one and I follow the other."

She grinned from ear to ear. "Exactly."

He leaned back and put his feet on both sides of the tub. "We always did make a good team, you and I."

"You're lucky to have me. I've always been the brains," she jested.

"I am lucky to have you. I always have been."

They both smiled at each other for a moment. She's so beautiful.

"Will you grab me some clothes, please? I need to get out of this water before I fall asleep."

"Sure." She left the room and returned with a white cloth shirt, white undergarments, and black leather trousers. He hopped out of the tub, not worrying about Sera seeing him naked. She had plenty of times before. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught her watching him.

"Where should I sleep since you've got the spot next to the fireplace?"

She chuckled. "You can have the spot near the fireplace. You deserve a good night's rest after everything you've been through."

"You can sleep with me there if you want to."

The playful smile slid off her face. "I don't think so, Kaz." She touched his arm softly. "You know I care for you, but we need to stay focused. There's no time to worry about anything else but clearing the Foundling's name."

He shrugged but inside he felt disappointed. "I know, I was just offering for you to sleep in the same spot as me. I understand though." He coughed, feeling very awkward. "I'm going to try and get some rest. Wake me up if something happens."

He could see in her eyes she was disappointed too. Why is she holding back?

She sat down in the red leather chair and grabbed a book from a table nearby. "I'm going to read, I'm not tired yet. Sleep well, Kaz." She gave a small smile.

He returned it and went to lie down. An hour passed and he couldn't fall asleep; the cozy fire and soft covers weren't enough to help him doze off. The conversation of who betrayed them kept playing in his mind. And her turning him down. He tried to shove the thoughts away but they kept emerging over and over. Frustrated, he sat up and saw Sera asleep in the chair, the book open in her lap. A blanket sat on a nearby table so he grabbed it and softly laid it on her. He stood there for a moment, watching her sleep. She was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

Just need some fresh air to clear my head. He cracked open the door and slid out into the tunnel. The wall was rough against his hand while he walked along in the darkness. His hand felt rough wood after a moment of walking and he pushed, opening the cellar door into the night. No guards were to the left and right, so he walked over to the nearest building and started to scale onto the roof. While he climbed, he thought of Ansel and the mission he'd given him. Sera was sure he didn't kill the queen and he wished he could feel the same. He truly couldn't make his mind up, he needed answers.

He pulled himself up onto the tiled roof with an effort. The escape from the Skyprison had drained him of all his energy, but he still had enough to climb the familiar buildings. He'd been doing it since the fire years ago that killed his family. Perched on the ledge, he dangled his feet and looked over the grand city of Dawnsguard. His home. Will a day come when we can freely walk the streets again? As long as we have these markings on our arms, we can be spotted in a crowd. That's no way to live.

His thoughts turned to Sera and her turning him down. She wanted a life with me years ago and I turned her down because of the Foundlings. I was so focused on making the revolution happen that I had no place in my heart for the love she deserved. Which is my biggest mistake I wonder? Sending Ansel on that mission or turning her down?

A tile clinked behind him. He jumped up into a crouch, his hand flew to his waistband. Damn, my Relic is inside.

A few paces away stood a cloaked figure. He couldn't see their face because of their hood and the darkness of night.

A female voice came from the figure. "Hello, Kazmere. Freedom looks good on you."

That voice. It was the one from behind the door in the Skyprison, the person who returned his Relic to him.

He took a step back, trying to keep a fair distance between them. "It's you. You gave me my Relic and helped set me free. Why?"

The hooded figure took a step forward. "You're asking all the right questions, but I don't have any answers to give to you. I've come to set the terms of our deal."

He frowned. "What deal?"

"You thought I returned your Relic without expecting something in return. You're the leader of the Foundlings, you must be smarter than that."

Kazmere clenched his jaw. "What do you want?"

"I want what everyone wants in this kingdom. Information."

"Information about what?"

"We can imagine what you're planning to do now that you're free. You want to find out if your white-haired Foundling really killed the queen. You also want to know who in the Foundlings sold you out to the king. My friends and I want to know the same things."

How do they know all of this? "Who are you?"

"We can be your allies if you give us what we want."

"I won't be your puppet. Find out the information yourself." He turned to climb down.

"But what about Sera?"

He froze. Shit. He peered back over his shoulder at the hooded figure. "What about her?"

"We've been watching you for years. We know you care about her deeply. We also know she's down in your hideout right now, just below the Drunken Hound Inn. It's not what we'd prefer but we will kill her if you don't do what we want. If that isn't enough to convince you, we'll also turn you in again. We'll take the reward if you won't work with us."

Kazmere showed his teeth, hot fury building in his chest. "Leave her out of this."

"My friends and I want to. Do what we ask, and she will be left alone. We give our word."

He let out a big sigh. "Fine. How do I contact you once I know the information?"

"We will be watching you, don't worry. I'll come when I know you have what we seek."

He nodded his understanding.

"Don't look so sullen, Kazmere. We have the same enemies, we might someday even become true allies. This situation you find yourself in is just a pebble within a rock slide. Watch your back." With that, the figure turned and leaped off the ledge of the building into the night. He ran over to see where they went, but they were gone.

Who was that? She kept saying 'we' the whole time, what have I gotten myself into? What did she mean by our situation just being a pebble?

He climbed back down the building and headed for the hideout. The conversation kept rolling around in his head. Sera can't know about this. She already has enough to worry about.

Once inside, he crept by Sera - who was still sleeping soundly - and slid back into the covers. He put his arms behind his head while he stared at the ceiling, thinking. The sounds of people drinking in the inn above were barely concealed by the floor. Just get this person the information and they'll hopefully leave us alone. That's the plan. How am I to sleep now? The warmness from the fire seeped into his skin, his eyelids drifted downward. Within moments, he was fast asleep. But his rest didn't last long.

His eyes shot open to the sound of armored footsteps in the inn above.