When Chase slipped into the room there was a silent sigh that was released from all within. Misty was sitting on a waist-high cabinet filled with liquor and crystal ware. Shogan had protested when she had taken preference to the piece, but had only expressed so with a grimace and another swig of his drink. 

Misty had spent the good portion of the hour, swinging her legs back and forth, while her hands kept busy by unravelling a crochet tablecloth that had been unfortunately lying nearby. Shogan had once again grimaced and this time, after downing his drink, muttered a string of curses that were unrecognizable to both the light-haired girl and Kole.

The return of Chase brought Kole and the others to their feet. A quick inspection from head to toe of his friend told Kole nothing had befallen him in the time they had separated, but the expression spoke of news.

“Misty is right,” he said softly, shaking rain from his hair and dusting droplets from his shoulders. “They are searching high and low for you. Saw a group of them threaten a merchant on Fairchild Street and another almost bludgeon a man to death who defended your honor.”

“Well, that was not bright of the fool,” Shogan scoffed. “Defending a man hunted for the death of a King - he deserved what he got.” Shogan was drunk, slurring his words and throwing his hands in front of him in elaborate patterns. “What else you got to say, eye? Golden?”

Chase gave the thief a leveled look before removing his coat and taking a seat across from Kole. “Their are no reports of the royal kids being missing and I got someone’s word that they are safe and back at the palace, unharmed.”

Kole narrowed his eyes. “So this was just an attack on the King?”

“Then why did that archer that hushed him dagger himself?” Misty tilted her head, her legs finally still. “I told you what I saw, he shot and then he killed himself. Was no mistake in it. It was no attempted kidnapping or nothing.”

They had been discussing the possible reasons for the attack on the parade. When Misty had told them of the man who had shot two arrows into the King’s belly and then taken his own life, they had immediately thought foul-play. They had sent Chase out to gather what information about what had happened at the palace during the time of the parade, but to no avail.

“You sure there was no commotion at the palace?”

“Not that anyone is aware of.”

“Gossip spreads like the plague in that cesspool,” Shogan sneered. “If anything did happen, no one would keep quiet about it. They would spread it around like they would sweet dough in that awful golden syrup they make. Terrible to get out of wool. Messes up the fabric’s texture.”

“There’s more,” Chase said, ignoring the drunk man, “I was barely able to move around the streets without being searched by Peacekeepers. They were everywhere: on the rooftops, streets, back alleys. Getting around the city is going to be close to impossible for a few days. We need to push back the plan.”

“Dethal will suspect something when he does not hear from you. I won’t allow you to risk lying to him.” Kole ran his fingers through his hair. “We agreed the sooner the better.”

“Kole, they have had only a few hours to close in on the city, imagine what they are organizing and who they are recalling. We won’t even be able to leave this forsaken place,” Chase said.

“Hey!”

“It’s a whorehouse, Shogan. It has forsaken written in its definition.”

“If you were half as smart as you think you are, Golden, you would recognize it as a place of worship. Not all of mankind worship intangible beings. Some of us enjoy the visceral and very earthly pleasures of life and decide to devote our souls to such matters.”

“Fascinating,” Chase said, his tone anything but. “Kole we need to rethink our plan. We cannot stage anything. We won’t have time to set anything up.”

“I never did like this plan,” Misty lay down on the cabinet, stretching her hands over her head. “Pretending to drown was a lousy way to go about a false hushing.”

For a moment, the only sounds that filled the room were Shogan’s fingers drumming against his wooden desk and the licks of the fire. Misty was right, it had been a lazy plan. They had to disappear without a trace, but with enough evidence to assume them dead.

“You were a death dealer, lass, how would you have done it if it were for real?” Shogan asked.

Misty chewed on her bottom lip before rolling over to look at the fat thief. “Fire. I’d burn the bodies. Bones got no story but a dead one.”

Shogan grinned and slowly turned his attention to Kole. “You ready to burn, boy?”

Kole leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “Sounds like you have a plan.”

“I do. Risky on both our parts but I think you may like it.”

“I’m listening.”

Sera was so tired she could barely remember the walk home from the cathedral. She remembered the patrols with their torches and questions. Where are you going? Why are you out so late? Where have you come from? Is that blood on your collar? 

She had somehow answered them all, but not without Hannah’s help. She had been grateful for Hannah’s assistance, answering the questions when Sera felt too dazed and unprepared to do so herself. 

Lying in bed, it was close to midnight and she still had not fallen asleep. She wished sleep closer, hoping to just fall into a false sense of comfort and tranquility. She did not know what was keeping her up. The echoes of screams and cries had long since faded, and the blood and pain she had seen, long since past. Her mother had known far worse in her days as a healer. So had Sera in her brief experience. Riots were not uncommon and usually ended violently. 

It was so quiet in her head and in her room, that she heard the opening of the trapdoor in the next room. She sat upright, unable to believe Kole had been able to sneak around the streets on such a night. She pushed the covers off and pulled on her boots to keep the cold from her feet. When she left her room, he had already closed the trapdoor and was looking over Hannah’s sleeping form.

“Kole?” she whispered, covering a yawn. “How did you slip past all the Peacekeepers?”

He turned, his arms folded over his chest. To her surprise, he grinned and raised a brow. “It’s a talent.” He looked back at Hannah. “I’d wake her but...”

“She knew you would try come by,” Sera shrugged. “She waited up for as long as she could before falling asleep.” There was evidence of that from the fallen book besides the girl and the coal that Sera had moved from her dirty fingers, to her side table. 

Kole nodded, sighing softly. The silence that extended was heavy and awkward. She wished she knew what to fill it with but no words came to mind. She wondered if it felt the same for him. If he was thinking of ways to fill the gap between them.

She pursed her lips at her stupidity. He would not be thinking of such things. Any discomfort he may feel in her presence was because of her. He was likely wishing she would leave instead of hovering behind him like a shadow.

“I’m going back to bed,” she said softly.

His eyes found her, a fair degree of emotions filtering through his usual stoic mask. “Sera,” he said, his voice strained. “I came,” he paused, walking away from Hannah’s room and letting the fabric door behind him swing down. He moved passed Sera into the room and waited for her to follow.

A moment of confusion made her hesitate, but then curiosity won and she reentered her room. He closed the door.

“I came to tell you I am going to do as you asked,” he said slowly. “I’ll stay away.”

Guilt stabbed her in the heart; she fought it by bringing the murder of Sir Walter to the front of her mind.

“There are things that I need to sort out and you are right in saying the two of you should not have to suffer.”

She folded her arms, dropping her gaze. She backed up until she was leaning against the opposite wall. “I wouldn’t ask you to do this if you would just be honest with me.”

Kole nodded. “Tell Hannah it’s not forever.”

She lifted her gaze. “You would seriously rather leave than tell me?”

He took two large steps forward towards her, bending his knees so he was almost level with her eyes. “I have to. You have seen how out of control things are. How things have escalated. Everything is out of my hands.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I know,” he said. He took her hands in his, rubbing his thumb in small circles. “Will you tell Hannah?” he said, his tone changing, along with the subject.

Sera sighed, wanting to rip her hands out of his. “I’ll tell her you will come back as soon as it is safe.”

He nodded. “Thank you. I know I have asked much of you lately and I will never be able to repay you for that.” He faltered, she knew him well enough to know he had more to say but was compiling the words in his head first. It was probably his greatest strength, being able to filter his words. She had always envied him for it.

“I thought we said goodbye a long time ago?” she said, happy her voice did not betray her emotions.

A small smile tugged at his lips. He leaned his forehead against hers, the pressure unwelcomely comforting. She extricated her hands from his and brought them to either side of his face.

“Tell me what’s happening, Koltin. Don’t leave because you think telling me would place me or Hannah in danger, and don’t not tell me because you think I won’t understand.” She returned the pressure against his forehead. “We were friends once and you were never shy to seek my help or advice. If you–” she was cut off by the sudden pressure of his lips against hers.

It was a single, long kiss and she responded instinctively, breathing him in and pulling him closer. Her mind did not seek to explain it or argue against it, it remained silent. He broke the kiss, stepping away from her, his eyes burning through hers.

“We can never be friends, Sera.”

She gritted her teeth, not wanting the true meaning behind the words to find her heart.

“Look after Hannah for me,” he said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

As she watched him leave, she wondered how long it would be until she heard his voice again, until she saw him again. The door closed. He was gone. She was left feeling cold and vulnerable. He had kissed her to prove she did not want to be his friend. She wanted more from him than he was prepared to give. All he needed from her was to be a guardian for Hannah.

Hannah.

What would she tell the girl in the morning? How would she explain her brother’s disappearance? For it was Sera who had sent him away in the first place. Hannah would blame her. Oh gods, have I done the right thing?