Lachlan returned just before noon, his horse carrying all the goods. He brought them into the house and I put them away. "Ma sent me a letter," he remarked after everything was in its place. He pulled a thick envelope from inside his coat. "She never writes me. I'd bet anything it's for you."

He broke the seal and pulled out several sheets of paper folded together. He set the outer two sheets aside as if it was nothing, but I recognized the writing immediately. "That's from Cedric!" I grabbed for them.

"It's blank," Lachlan looked at me funny.

"No, he wrote it so only I can see it. He's done this before."

"Huh," he looked at the paper more closely. "If you say so. Look, Ma wrote letters to both of us." He pulled a couple more sheets out and handed them to me, while he took a few and sat at the kitchen table.

I picked up the letter from Wini. She wrote cryptically but said a letter from her son was included and hopefully I could read it. Otherwise, she wrote that she and Wyn were doing well, and hoped that Lachlan and I were getting along. Wini apologized for not writing earlier, as she and Wyn had gotten home very quickly, but that there was a talk of war, and the sorcerers had been quite busy. She reminded me to stay indoors if possible, and not to worry, everything would be fine.

Glancing over at Lachlan, I could see he had already finished reading his letter, and a scowl sat on his face. Wini's letter ended with her asking me to write her and let her know how things were with me. Refolding the letter, I put it in my apron pocket, while still holding Cedric's letter in my hand. "Is all well?" I asked Lachlan.

"Yeah, Ma just likes to get into everyone's business."

I chuckled then became serious. "Is it still ok for me to stay here?"

"What?" he looked at me. "Of course! This isn't about you." Pushing the chair back from the table, he stood. "They probably told you about me, eh?"

"A little."

Lachlan moved closer. "Well, it's true. I don't have a magic bone in my body, and because of that, the family that still communicates with me, treats me as if I'm an invalid."

"But your parents love you."

"I know, but they still treat me as if I can't take care of things myself."

"That's why you don't talk to them often." He nodded. "Wini told me they did not talk to Cedric much either."

Lachlan sighed. "Ced is the only sibling that understands. He gets to work as a sorcerer, but he never could pass the exams, so he won't ever find real employment as a sorcerer anywhere else. You know that, right?" He studied me hard.

"Cedric did not tell me, but Wini did." My guilt crept up inside again.

"From what I hear, he'd make a great physician."

I nodded. "He helped my brother, James. I don't think James would have lived as long if not for Cedric. It was just us taking care of him. And when others found out how well Cedric was doing with James, they started asking Cedric for cures and potions, and stuff." I shrugged. "He became very busy." My thoughts wandered to helping Cedric in the laboratory, and then the other stuff.

"Don't you want to read those blank pages you are holding?" Lachlan's half-smile teased.

"Oh!" I lifted the papers. "Do you mind if I go to my room?"

Lachlan laughed. "Go. I'll start lunch."

I rushed up the stairs, shut my bedroom door and lay on my bed.

My love,

I was hoping this letter would find you just before I arrived, but I fear not. I have let my employer know that I am resigning, and he has done much to try and make me stay. There have been many visitors, and much work to do as there is talk of betrayal and war. I do not want to raise suspicions so I have agreed to stay another month.

Your friend departed a few days after you, and she arrived home safely. She hopes to hear from you soon. There is so much to tell you, but I will tell you when we are together. In the meantime, stay where you are and do not let anyone see you. Lord Ian and others have been looking for you and the duke commands they not stop until you are found. I received word that you were safe, now I just worry that you are in good hands.

I have already sent some of my belongings away, so do not worry, I have little to pack and I will be with you soon. Don't forget to wear the amulet. It has protected you before, it will again.

My thoughts go back to the last night we had together. I dream about you often. I can hardly focus on my work. Please do not forget how much I love you. I will soon be with you. And if you need anything, please contact my parents immediately.

All my love,

C.

I crushed the pages to my chest. So, he knows I'm not with his parents. And Johnna is safe. My ire rose a little at the thought that Cedric was staying another month for Roland, but it was true, if he departed so soon after me, it could look suspicious.

I read the letter again and paused on the part about Roland sending Ian and others to search for me and not to stop. Why would Ian want to help with that? Doesn't he want to be the ruler of both provinces? That did not make sense to me, but then again, Ian held information that was dangerous to Roland, yet was still helping him. None of that made sense. I felt a chill. What if Roland does find me? What will he do to me? I'd never be able to escape again. I was sure he would lock me in the dungeon then, or even in a room aboveground with no way out.

I put the letter under my mattress and went downstairs to the kitchen. "Made you a plate," Lachlan said, as he prepared another. I sat at the table, in front of the plate, staring at the bread and the leftover meat from the night before. Lachlan sat as well. "You all right?"

Shrugging, I said, "Duke Roland has people searching for me."

He nodded biting into his meat. "I know," he said while he was chewing. His horrible table manners made me giggle.

"What?"

I rolled my eyes. "Talking with your mouth full."

He swallowed and gestured to my plate. "You could too, if you would eat."

"Cedric won't be here for a while. And what if I'm found?" I nibbled on the bread.

Lachlan sat back. "Hardly anyone comes out here, and if anyone does, just hide inside or upstairs. None of my siblings even know you exist, from what Ma says, so only she and Dad know you're here."

"But if Roland figures out that Cedric helped me, and he traces this back to you, I'm only going to bring danger to you."

"Sofia," Lachlan gave me a half-smile. "It would be very hard to find that I'm related to Cedric. I've basically been shunned by the magic community and most of my family. In fact, most of my family doesn't even know where I live. We are a long way from where you lived."

"Lord Ian of Kerth is one of those looking for me. And Riverside is where your parent's carriage was. How far are we from Kerth?"

"Riverside was on the edge of Kerth. We are several days southeast of Riverside, and you must remember, part of your voyage was by ship, downriver. They may not know how fast you travelled for portions of your trip." His hand covered mine on the table. "I won't let anything happen to you, all right? I mean, you are the only friend Ced has ever had, so you must be the chosen one." His eyes rolled. "If I let someone steal you away, the gods would curse me and the world would probably end."

"Stop," I chastised his teasing.

"It's true though." His half-smile became a whole smile. "Besides, by the time that letter made it to Ma, and she sent it on here, Ced will have less than a month left to work. He'll head to our parent's place and then here."

I sighed.

"You hate being here with me that much?" He put a piece of meat between two pieces of bread and bit down.

"No! I never meant-" I saw him laughing at me and I shook my head. "I guess this will give us time for you to teach me to read and write."

He nodded and swallowed. "We'll start tonight. I've got some work to do this afternoon."

True to his word, Lachlan did have some tricks to teach me for reading and writing. Once I had memorized a few simple rules, words came to me quicker and I found I did not have to move my lips as much while reading a book.

As for writing, Lachlan sat next to me, and held my hand, guiding it until I got the feel of drawing each letter upon the paper. Then he had me practice each letter over and over. I felt like a child, but admittedly, I was improving. After practicing each letter for what seemed millions of times, he had me string words together. Even I could see the difference when he showed me the shopping list I had written weeks before. I was so happy I hugged him and kissed his cheek. We both turned red and made excuses of having to be somewhere else.

I wrote back to Wini, sticking the letter into Lachlan's so he could send it the next time he went into town. I also wrote to Johnna, signing my name as John Moore. I did not give her my location but told her that I was well and thinking of her.

Each time, Lachlan came back from town, he became more withdrawn. He had told me that he rarely went into town, but since my presence meant there might be a higher chance of mail, he tried to go once a week. One evening, he was so quiet I had to try to get the information out of him.

"I know something is wrong, Lachlan. Please tell me."

He shook his head. "It is nothing."

"Now you sound like me. Don't lie, it's not nothing. What is going on?"

Lachlan took a long drink of cider. "The information we get out here isn't always correct, and often we get the news long after the events take place. It seems war has erupted across the land. King Stephen was attacked."

"No!" I gasped.

"He's fine, the attack was squelched and the perpetrators were punished."

"Who did it?"

"Henry didn't know. I don't think anyone out here knows. But several duchies have revolted against the king."

My stomach sunk as he went on. "Do you think Cedric would be able to travel at such a time?"

"Depends on when the war started, and if he already left."

"There was no mail?" There had not been for the last two weeks.

"No." I took a deep breath to calm myself. "He will still come, Sofia. Ced is smart; he'll find a way. He just might be delayed."

"What else is there?" I asked. "You seem down."

"I just hate politics and war. I like to be left alone out here. I don't mind you being here, I just hate…. society in general. There was also talk of conscription."

"The dukedom that we are in, is it loyal to the king?"

"Yes."

I could not decide whether to be relieved or more worried. If either the king or Roland found me, who would punish me the worst?

"What are you thinking?" Lachlan asked.

We stared at each other for a moment. "I…" shrugging and looking away, "well, it probably doesn't matter right now, but the king does not exactly like me either."

"You know the king?"

"Not really, but I was presented to him, and a few days later I was banished from the palace."

Lachlan laughed for the first time in days. "You lie!"

I could not help but laugh with him. "I'm not lying, but I think under other circumstances, what I did would not have been punished, or at least not warrant a severe punishment."

"What did you do?"

I told Lachlan all about the royal court and most of what had happened. He agreed that if the king had not hated Roland so much, or if I had not been part of Roland's household, the prince would likely have never even told the king what had happened. "Remind me never to cross you," Lachlan laughed. He poured me another glass of cider and then one for himself. We had never had a second glass with supper before, but this night it felt right.

We talked late into the night about his family and mine, commiserating over those we lost whom were close to us, and drank more cider. Finally, I said I had to get to bed. We left the dishes for the morning and stumbled up the stairs. "I've never felt this good," I laughed.

"That's sad," he said. "I would have thought love feels good."

"That's a different good. This is a…I don't care good."

"Yes. I feel good too." We made it up the stairs. "I bid you a good night, Lady Sofia." Lachlan tried to bow but stumbled forward, knocking us both into the wall as I tried to catch him.

"That would not be a proper bow for a proper lady."

"Are you a proper lady, then?" he asked.

"No. I'm not. So, just call me Sofia, or I'll have to start calling you Lord Lachlan." My tongue strained to say his name and we both giggled.

"Lord Lachlan," he drawled. "I think that is my new name. Let's not forget this for tomorrow."

I belly-laughed. "Good night, Lord Lachlan. But I'm not going to curtsy right now. I will fall for sure. And you are in no… no…" I could not find the words, "you are too drunk to catch me."

"Good night, Lady Sofia." We separated, laughing still, and when I got to my bed I did not even bother changing into a nightgown. I lay on my stomach on the soft bed and fell asleep.