A/N: Long time no update...whoops? I sort of got stuck a few paragraphs in and couldn't get unstuck until about a few weeks ago. But, there's a nice sized update to make up for the wait. There won't be another one for a little while, since I'm participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, where you write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days), and that's taking up all of my writing time at the moment, since I'm a little farther behind than I'd like to be. But, there will be an update as soon as I've got it written and ready to post. On the plus side, Bright Eyes is getting an update, too. On the plus side, most of you should be pretty pleased about what is resolved in this chapter (no pun intended) despite the lack of the called for character death. But, I did give you what you (and I) wanted. So, anyway, don't forget to leave me a review and let me know what you think!


Rosto the Piper was not having a good day. Three weeks had passed since he and Beka had had the conversation before breakfast. And they had not been a good three weeks.

It wasn't because of Viviana or Beka in particular, but between the two of them and all of the other things that had been going on, Rosto was quite frustrated. His thoughts were going every direction possible, and more. He had a lot of work to keep up with, and he was in a very bad mood.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he sat at his desk. His dark eyes scanned the paper in his hand as he stared at it, wishing that it would just go away. He wasn't pleased by the incomes from some of the other cities. Mainly, it was because those were the ones that were flourishing despite the harsh summer.

It was particularly annoying now that Rosto was trying to work out the figures, and things were really adding up they way they should have. With the way the economy had been fluctuating, he was losing coin no matter what he did – the copper coins worth less even while the silver and gold ones seemed to rise in value, and most of what he was getting was in copper and silver.

Rosto's head was starting to pound now, as he stared at the sheet and so many other things were running through his mind. He made a noise of annoyance and threw the paper down, his hand returning to his pale blond hair. He also had a group of turncoats in his Court that he had to deal with, and that was going to be a pain.

He was more than annoyed about everything that was going on, and to top it all off, Beka was getting on his nerves and Viviana was acting strange. The former of the two had been pestering him to let her pay a higher rent (so that she didn't feel like she was taking charity from him) for a week. He'd been avoiding her for the last two days, but it wasn't helping. She had come to see him earlier that afternoon when he had been working.

Viviana was another matter entirely. She had been acting more and more distant in the last week. He barely saw her during the day, and she was never around when he wanted to ask her about it. He had tried to catch her before she had gone to sleep, but by the time he'd been able to get free, she'd gone to sleep already. It made him crazy, because no one would give him a moment's peace or talk to him when he wanted to talk to them.

Finally, Rosto picked up the paper again and put it in the pile of papers sitting at his right hand. He pulled out another one, and glanced over it. He rolled his eyes at that one and shook his head at that one. It was from Kora, telling him all about the new house she and Ersken had finally saved enough to buy and move into. She wasn't able to come see him in person because their little girl had been keeping her so busy she had barely had time to write the letter. Kora's tone throughout the whole thing almost made Rosto laugh. He missed them.

Then there was a knock on his door. Rosto paused and put Kora's letter down. He rose from his desk and walked over to the door, opening it with a slightly annoyed expression on his face. Beka stood there, her son on her hip. Rosto looked at her for a moment, then rolled his eyes.

"No, I'm not letting you pay any more," he told her before she could open her mouth. "You pay enough as it is. Stop asking." Beka pursed her lips.

"That isn't why I came down here," she told him dryly. Rosto waited for her to go on, his head tilted ever so slightly.

"Then why did you come down here?" he asked irately.

"I was looking for Vi. She wanted to know if I wanted to go shopping with her this afternoon, but I didn't get a chance to answer her at the time. I was wondering if she'd left yet," Beka said. There was silence for a moment.

"I haven't the faintest clue where Viviana went. I haven't seen her since she left the room this morning," he said with a shrug. "For that matter, I haven't seen her for more than five minutes in the whole of the last week. If you want to find her, look elsewhere," he added. He moved to close the door, but Beka stuck her foot in the way.

"What is your problem, Rosto?" she demanded. Her expression was indignant, and her blue-grey eyes were hard. Her son burst into tears at that exact moment. Rosto sighed in frustration.

"Nothing. I have work to do," Rosto snapped. "And I don't need any nosey ex-Dogs getting into my business." Beka let out a huff.

"You needn't be rude, Rosto the Piper. I was only being nice. Now you've gone and made Alex cry. Thank you ever so much," she replied sarcastically. She turned her attention away from the Rogue and attempted to comfort her son. Rosto glared at her and slammed the door after she ever so kindly removed the impediment.

Rosto crossed his arms over his chest as he sat down at his desk again. He was not pleased. To be more precise, he was fuming. How was it that Beka Cooper of all people could make him so mad just by talking to him? That was a mystery that was simply beyond him at that moment.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. It wouldn't do him any good to be angry over this. It would only make the situation worse, and it would only make Beka push harder. It would only drive her and Viviana away, neither of whom he wanted to drive away.

The sound of footsteps on the hardwood reached his ears a few moments later. He opened his eyes to see Viviana opening the door. She glanced at him and smiled softly, then walked over to the clothespress. Rosto watched her for a few moments. Even after more than a year, he still admired her. Her red hair gleamed in the sun that filtered in through the window as he watched. Viviana didn't notice his gaze until she turned around to look for something. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head.

"Yes, Rosto?" she inquired, raising an elegantly curved eyebrow. Rosto smirked at her.

"I was just wondering where you've been the last few days. I haven't seen much of you lately," he said. Viviana sighed.

"I've been busy, dearest," she told him, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I've got something I want to talk to you about later," she added. "But not now, Rosto." He blinked at her.

"So, you're not going to tell me?"

"Not now," Viviana said. "I've got to go see my sister over in Unicorn District." Rosto sighed as he got to his feet. He sauntered over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"All right, then. I'm not going to forget this, though," he told her sternly. Viviana chuckled.

"Of course not. You never forget anything, do you, Rosto?" she teased. Rosto smirked at her.

"Of course I don't. I wouldn't be any good as the Rogue if I did," he replied. Viviana shook her head, then picked up one of the trinkets she had pulled out of the jewelry box on the clothespress. She slipped it into his hand. When he looked at it, he saw that it was a simple charm he'd never seen before. It had two cut stones in it, each cut plainly in half.

One half was practically black, but it glittered with inner light. Rosto frowned at it. Then his eyes fell on the other half of the charm. It was a pale blue sapphire. His frown deepened. He looked up to ask Viviana about it, but she had already disappeared. Rosto stood there for a few moments. He was so confused. What was wrong with her?

Rosto sighed and put the charm down on his desk, glancing over at the window for a moment. After a moment, he sat down at the desk again, pulling papers out once more. At least, he thought, the numbers don't have attitudes.

By the time Rosto was done, it was nearly time for the Court of the Rogue to gather. He rose from his seat, wandering over to the window. He could see the stream of people that trickled in from the street. With a sigh, Rosto left the room, heading for the stairway.

The instant he reached the bottom of the stairs, the sudden silence that had come upon his appearance exploded in a roar. Several rushers moved toward him, questions written on their faces. There was a sound from behind Rosto that made him tense automatically. When there was no immediate danger, he ignored it for a moment. With the sudden rush of questions, he didn't need to seem panicky. That would only lead to bad things.

After several moments, the scarred Rogue managed to push his way through the crowd to his throne, where he could have a moment's peace. Or, where he thought he could have a moment's peace. Still, multiple voices bombarded him. He made a motion that should have quieted them down, but no one even bothered to comply. Rosto had already been having a bad day, but that just irritated him even more. A few moments later, he saw Viviana by the door. Her lips were pursed as she looked at him with her eyebrows raised. He had had enough.

"QUIET!" Rosto bellowed. He glared at the rushers around him. "Thank you," he said curtly a moment later. "Now if you want to talk to me, sit down and come up one by one. I can't hear all of you at once."

They all stood there in shock for a moment before Viviana pushed her way through the small crowd.

"I'd speak to you first, Majesty," she said quietly. Rosto nodded to her. There was outrage on the faces of a few of the rushers. "Alone," Viviana added. That caused a frown to appear on the Rogue's face.

"Anything you wish to say to me as such can be said in front of my Court," he reminded her. If Viviana wanted to talk to him in private as the Rogue, she knew that wouldn't happen, even in her position as Queen of the Ladies of the Rogue.

"Rosto…" she warned, giving him a rebuking look with her brown eyes. Rosto's jaw tightened.

"I will not be chastised in front of my own court, even by my queen," he snapped.

"Fine. It's over," Viviana told him calmly. Rosto was halfway out of his seat before anyone else even reacted.

"What?!?" he demanded. "Viviana!"

"You did say that anything I wished to say to you could be said in front of the Court," she pointed out innocently. Rosto's eyes narrowed as he stared at her.

"That is a private matter, not something to be spouted like that," he replied crossly.

"Then lets talk about it privately," Viviana said. Rosto continued to look at her for a moment.

"Fine. You don't have long, though," he said, rising to his feet.

"However long you give me will be enough," she replied diplomatically.

Rosto led her toward the door to a private room, but stopped when he caught a good view of the stairway again. He stopped and stared at the scene in front of him for a split-second before he crossed his arms over his chest.

"And what to do we have here?" he asked innocently. Beka peered down at him. She was carrying a crate that looked as though it had things from her room in it. Rosto bristled at that.

"Nothing. I'm bringing a box down so that I can put it in the back until tomorrow, when I move all of my things out," Beka replied. Rosto's eyes narrowed.

"Why is that?" he asked, trying to make his voice calm.

"Because I won't take charity from you, Master Rogue. As you've said before, once a Dog, always a Dog. I don't take charity from the Thief-King," she told him coldly. Rosto glared at her.

"It's not charity!" he snapped. "Does it look like I have any other tenants? No. I don't. So, how would you know if I charged you more or less than what they would pay?"

"Because you've never charged me fairly, and you know that perfectly well, Rosto," Beka said. "Now move over, I need to get down the stairs."

"No. You're to go back upstairs with that, and we'll talk about it in a few moments. Will that satisfy you?" he asked.

"It will not," Beka said. "I'm moving out, and that's final."

"And what about your son? Will you raise him in the slums? Will he grow up like you did? The way you keep saying you don't want him to grow up?" Rosto asked coldly. Beka froze.

"Stop it. Mind your own business, Piper," she snapped at him.

"You are my business," he growled. Viviana put her hand on his shoulder. He shrugged it off.

"Rosto-" she started, only to be cut off.

"No. I will talk to you in a minute," he said. "Beka, listen to reason, at least."

"Leave me alone, Rosto!" Beka exclaimed.

"Beka. Go back upstairs. I will talk to you in a moment," Rosto ordered coldly. He turned to look at Viviana. "You'll get your turn," he told her. Then he turned on his heel and pushed through the crowd in front of the door. He was absolutely fuming, and he wasn't even sure if he'd done a decent job of hiding that fact. And if he was completely honest with himself, he didn't care. He had the right to be upset! Viviana was trying to break things off and Beka was trying to leave, just like she had before.

Rosto walked down the streets of the Lower City, heading for one of the bridges over the Olorun River. He had always loved watching water rush by at a fast pace or a slow one. He wasn't that fond of water otherwise, but it was calming, and it always took him away from the injustices done to him and what he had done.

A chill ran down his back as he approached the river. It was a cool autumn night now, and there was a nip to the air. Not that he usually felt it. Growing up so far north, Rosto had gotten used to the cold at a young age – it rarely bothered him in the mild winters of Tortall. It was slightly unnerving for Rosto to notice that the very mild chill bothered him, but it could have just been what was going on. Or so he hoped.

He stopped when he stood in the highest point of the bridge, leaning on the banister. The rushing water was calming, just as it usually was. It also caused him to think more than usual. He just didn't understand why things were happening as they were. He had finally gotten to be on good terms with Beka – as Viviana had been urging. Now, Viviana seemed set on leaving him for some unknown reason, and Beka wanted to move out of the Dove. They wanted to leave him alone. Again.

Rosto had been alone for a long time after Beka had left. After the Port Caynn incident, he had waited for an opportune moment to win Beka. But the opportunity had never come. She had continually rebuffed his attempts to so much as flirt with her. So much so that he had finally just given up on her. He had been so alone, then. Aniki had been with Phelan for some time by then, and Kora and Ersken were married at that point. It hadn't been until two years before that Rosto had finally found another mot he was attracted to. Aniki had been ecstatic for him at the time. She'd hated to see him alone for those years after he'd given up pursuing Beka, though he had repeatedly told her that he didn't mind being alone so much.

Now they were doing it to him again. And this time, he didn't have his best friend there to comfort him. He had no one to even talk to this time. Aniki was dead, and there was really no one else he would turn to – she had been his best friend. He hadn't quite gotten over her death, though it had been more than a year and a half since that raid.

He sighed as he stared at the water, shaking his head. This was not what he had wanted when he had come here. When Rosto the Piper had come to Corus, he had been looking for a good time, possibly a little power. He had gotten more than he had wished for, and he had lost just as much. The Rogue's throne was a heavy burden, and it wasn't one that he could give up without death. It also made him very morbid at times, he noted. His thoughts had begun to drift toward the inevitable end again.

After several more moments, Rosto turned away from the bridge. There was only so long he could run away from his problems, even to calm himself before he dealt with them. He would have to do so either way.

Rosto walked back to the Dove with a much calmer mind and a cooled temper. There was loud chatter in the inn when he entered the building. It seemed that everyone around him went quiet the instant he walked in. As usual. He looked around for a half-second, spotting Viviana sitting only a few yards away from him. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she looked irate. Rosto winced as her glare fell on him. He walked over to her, knowing that she was going to be mad at him.

"I'm sorry about that outburst," he said quietly. Viviana continued to glower at him.

"You should be apologizing to Beka," she reminded him. "I'll forgive you, but she might not."

"I will," Rosto said. "But didn't you want to talk about something?" he asked. Viviana nodded and rose gracefully, the folds of her soft jade-colored dress swishing around her.

"Yes. In private, as I said, Rosto," she told him. Rosto nodded, then took her hand and led her to the room he had intended to speak to her in before he had gotten distracted. He closed the door behind her and offered her a seat at the table. Viviana smiled at him and took the offered seat.

"Will you tell me what this is all about?" Rosto asked softly. Viviana nodded.

"Of course I will. I'm going to be completely honest with you, Rosto. I owe you that much," she said. Rosto forced a half smile and inclined his head to her as he sat down in the chair next to her.

"Start with what you were going to tell me that was blurted out…" he told her. Viviana nodded again, letting out a sigh.

"I want this to be over, Rosto," she said quietly. Her voice shook a little, Rosto noticed, and her lower lip quivered. Already tears stung his own eyes.

"You want to end it?" he asked, his tone just as soft. "Why?"

"Because it would be better for both of us, Rosto. It would be better if both of us were free…" she said. A tear slipped down Viviana's cheek as she looked at Rosto.

"Better? How can you say that? I've never wronged you, Vi. I've always done my best by you, and I've never let you down," Rosto pointed out.

"It's better this way, Rosto. It just is," Viviana tried to say. She was having a hard time letting the real reason go. Rosto could tell that well enough.

"Why is it better this way, Vi?" he asked. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Because I've seen the way you look at her," she said finally.

"Who?" Rosto prompted.

"Beka. I've seen the way you look at her, Rosto. It's a way you've never looked at me. I know you. You love her," Viviana said. Rosto stared at her.

"I…I gave up on Beka a long time ago. I chased her for almost five years, and she turned me away every time. She is my friend, but nothing more," he said. "I love you, Vi." Viviana shook her head.

"No, Rosto. I know you better than that. You love her. You may not know it, but you still love her. Even after all of the bitterness and anger you had to let go, you still love her. You never stopped. I've seen it in your eyes. It's not that I don't love you – I do. But when you love someone enough, sometimes you have to let them go. I know that Beka loves you, too, though she's scared. She won't admit it, but I know she does. Do you…understand what I'm saying, Rosto?" she asked. Rosto was looking at her with an odd expression on his face. After several moments, he nodded.

"I think I do. I just don't understand why you're breaking it off with me when me and Beka ending up together is a ridiculous notion that will never happen," he told her.

"It's not ridiculous," Viviana argued. "I can see it in your eyes, and in hers. You two are meant for each other, and I'm only in the way. And besides, you know we can't last forever. We work well enough together, but it's not the passion either of us long for." His lips pursed as he watched her, then Rosto sighed, shaking his head.

"All right," he said finally. "All right…as you wish. We'll part ways," he said.

"As friends?" Viviana asked. Rosto nodded.

"As friends," he agreed. "I'm sorry that this has to end, Viviana. I'm going to miss you," he said sadly. Viviana smiled at him.

"I'm still going to be here, Rosto," she said. "I just won't be your mot. I'm going to move in with my sister, but I'll be back. I've two good friends here at the Dove, as it is," she said.

"That you do. And you're always welcome here, Vi, so long as I am the Rogue, and this inn remains in the hands I intend to have it in if I am not," Rosto replied. He forced a smile for her, though they both knew that this hurt. It hurt for both of them, but it was the right thing for now. They had both enjoyed being together, but Rosto knew she was right. He did love Beka, despite all that had happened. He couldn't deny it now that Viviana had said it. She was right. She usually was right about him.

Rosto opened the door for her after they had both regained their composure. Viviana gave him a weak smile before she disappeared into the crowd. Rosto sighed. He still had to go talk to Beka. He watched the rushers and other folk of the Rogue for a few moments, then decided that he could leave them unsupervised for a little while longer. It wasn't as if anything bad had happened in his absence. All that had really happened is that they had more to gossip about now.

Turning back to the stairway, he made his way up, hoping that Beka had listened to him and gone back to her room. He paused outside her door, trying to get his thoughts together. He could hear her and her son in the room, which was a good sign. After another moment, he knocked on the door and waited. It was not long before Beka opened it. Alex was sitting on her bed, holding one of his toys. Beka frowned at Rosto.

"What do you want, Rosto?" she asked. Rosto sighed.

"I want you to stay."


A/N: So, what do you think? let me know! I love reviews!

Posted 11/4/09