Kaim had never felt so much relief at seeing the moonlit rooftops crest over the rocky path. He let out an audible sigh, before adjusting the weight that lay on his back. He crept quietly through the village following the familiar path to the small house in the middle of Tosca.

One light was on, and he shifted his arms to let one hand free to knock softly on the door. There was some movement heard behind the door before it swung widely open. Sarah's expression started at shocked, then melted into a smile, before finally ending on a curious frown. "Kaim, I wasn't expecting a visit…"

She let him through. He ziplined to her one extra bedroom, cleared some of her books away, and lay what was weighing him down on the bed. He unbuttoned the little cloak and moved the fabric away from his charge's face. Sarah moved in beside him and looked at the little girl sleeping before her. Her mouth was twisted in pain, and she was pale under the lamplight.

Kaim silently moved some of her raven dark hair from the girl's face, and Sarah leapt into action. "What happened? It's going to scar." She set a hand on the small girl's chest and Kaim watched as the wound healed itself on the side of her neck. He felt easy as the little girl's face calmed in her sleep but frowned at the mark that darkened after its healing. "Branded?"

Kaim nodded. He was at a loss for words as the he tried to sort out the last few days in his exhausted mind. He rubbed his eyes, ready to let the dark thoughts drift away from him. After tucking the girl's cloak back around her and checking to make sure she was safely sleeping and her fever was going away, Sarah led Kaim back into her living room.

Her little loveseat was cleared off and she pushed Kaim into it. He watched as she went to her kitchen to make some tea. He leaned back into the soft seat willing himself to relax. It was a nonstop journey from the small town north of Uhra to Tosca, and he felt his feet ache and throb under his boots. He opened his eyes when he felt Sarah's skirt brush his skin to see that she was offering him a cup. He accepted the mug with a small thank you and took a sip. He lifted his brow at her as the drink burned its way down his throat. "Added a little something to help warm you up and relax," she said with a smile. "Some whiskey will do you good, Kaim."

He chuckled and took another, smaller, sip of the spiked tea. He sighed heavily, letting the spiced liquid soak in. It left him feeling loose, and he came to realize it was exactly what he needed for his sore body. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for coming around without warning. Especially this late."

"There's no need to apologize. That's what friends are for, right?" Sarah set her tea down, moving herself to face Kaim.

She tucked her toes underneath his leg and he laughed, fully this time. He missed how she always found a way to touch him before telling stories. How long had it been since he saw her last? They've known each other for a little over a century now, but he hadn't seen her in at least thirty or forty years. Countless letters have passed between them, but Kaim hadn't found the opportunity to visit her. Not since she charmed his traveling boots. It seemed like a lifetime ago, and it might as well have been. He let his eyes wander from his thigh that kept her feet warm to the way she rested her elbow on the top of her loveseat; her cheek nestled into her palm. Her hair was longer than it normally was, and he knew that soon enough she'd cut it down. He remembered one letter that arrived in the summer that described how torturous it was that she couldn't find a hairdresser in the heat of a southern city. The letter made him smile, just as the memory of it did. He turned just slightly to mimic her elbow rest, head tilting to the side, the grin not leaving his lips. "Getting comfortable?"

"Ready for a story if you're up to it."

Kaim hummed and listened as Sarah's living room clock chimed ten times. This was still an early night for them both, so he had time to tell a story.

. . .

Kaim's feet crunched the gravel on the familiar road. The small village of Wimborne lay in the north eastern part of Uhra and was mostly secluded; only having a very small port in its town on a river that led south towards the capital. Wimborne held special memories, and Kaim made it a point to visit every decade or so to see how it was going.

As he neared closer to his destination, he wondered if he picked the wrong year to come check up on the small village. Walking through the fallen leaves, he noticed a change in the atmosphere. Normally this is the time of the year for the Fall Celebration, and the town would be alive with people and food. Today the whole town was silent. He could see the edge of Wimborne from where he stood and from what he could tell no one was walking through the streets, and if they did come out of the gate, they were cloaked in weird white robes with a red half circle sewn into the sleeves. Kaim felt and looked out of place, and the glares weren't helping to ease his mind. He paused as he looked at the entryway into the city.

With only a small bit of hesitation in his step, he walked through the gate into the almost deserted town only to be confronted by one of the men in the odd robes. "Peace, sir. I ask your name."

Kaim gave him a look, deciding to be honest. "Argonar."

"Sir, what is your business in Wimborne?"

"A visit."

"Where?"

Kaim was becoming increasingly annoyed. He didn't want to let these people know why he was here. Just by the look of them and the way they acted as he passed, he could guess they were a part of an extreme political or religious group, and they had somehow taken over Wimborne and its inhabitants. The more questions asked of him, the less he wanted to speak. These people didn't need to know any more about him than necessary. Who knew what kind of information they could use against him or those he planned to visit. "Who needs to know?"

"I am but a lowly guard to his Heavenly Grace." Kaim's expression was impassive. He was right about the religion part and knew nothing good could come of it. The man continued, "It is my duty to know who comes forth for His Blessing."

"I'm not asking for one. I don't need one, either." Kaim moved to walk past him, but the man stopped him in his tracks. He sighed. "Look. I'm just here to visit someone. I'm sure he's waiting for me—"

"Were you not informed? All men are out to serve His Lordship. There only be women and children here, sir."

Kaim's interest piqued. "Women and children and that's it? Why?"

"It is not this one's lowly place to say." And now the man looked uncomfortable to be asked questions in return. "But if you'll have no business here, then allow me to escort you ou—"

"His wife would still be here," Kaim interrupted and moved again, and this time the man let him through. After walking another dozen steps, he looked over his shoulder to see another odd man with a similar white robe and red symbol go over to talk to the village guard. They seemed to whisper to each other for a minute and then he was being followed. With a sigh, Kaim changed his course.

He took his time and walked around Wimborne. Any women that were out held their heads down. All the children were kept silent and held very closely. Kaim noticed that his go to bar was closed, and thought to himself how much he would enjoy a drink right about now. The robed man still followed close behind, so Kaim took his time wandering through the streets.

He stopped at a newly erected building and found the symbol he had been seeing carved into its doors. He observed it, frowning more. Something this organized couldn't possibly pop up overnight, and it surely oppressed the village in record time. Kaim couldn't remember anything like these white robed people the last time he was here, and that was only seven years ago. He looked around him, saw the guy who was tracking him, and turned towards the inn.

A familiar face greeted him. The innkeeper was a lovely older woman that Kaim had met when she was only ten. She grew attached to the immortal mercenary when he was sent from Uhra to defend the small town a long time ago, and whenever he visited he enjoyed her company. She was looking at her books, but closed them when he came close. "Mr. Argonar! It's good to see a familiar face."

The robed man came in moments after he did. The woman seemed to know immediately that he was being followed, much to his relief. "Here for a visit?" she asked, brow raised. Kaim nodded. She pulled out her book and marked a few things in it. She slid it across the counter and Kaim picked up the pen. He looked down at her writing. She wrote one word, Amelia?

Kaim signed his name beside it, quickly scratching out the word she wrote, and nodded looking up. "One night."

She closed the book with a wink. "Let me get your room all situated."

Kaim stepped aside as she came around the counter space. She looked over to the robed man and curtsied low. "I give you my blessings, good sir. Can I help you?"

"No, my apologies good woman." The man bowed. "Just…looking. I will be out of your way."

The robed man left leaving the innkeeper and mercenary all alone. She sighed, turning to Kaim. "They came here about two years ago."

"Built a church I see. They're here to stay?"

"Unfortunately, it looks to be so," she sighed. "They've kept the woman and children here and sent our men to Gohtza! My dear husband and son-in-law are there now. Oh!" She snapped her finger. "That's right. That's who you were bound here to see, I bet. Well, now you know. Tuck's in Gohtza."

Kaim sighed. He had just come all the way from that snowy continent in hopes to see Tuck. He shrugged and guessed having a talk with Amelia instead would be helpful. "Anyway, your usual is already set up. I'll close up shop for a moment and go get them."

"Them?"

"Another surprise?" The woman smiled. "I'll keep it for you then. Go relax upstairs a little."

Kaim made his way up the steps, and into the familiar space. He pulled his boots off and rolled his shoulders. Outside of the window, the village lay in eerie silence only the occasional white robed man walking as quietly as the inn was. He turned away from it and turned on the lamp in the dying afternoon.

Twenty minutes later there was a knock. Kaim opened the door to see a younger woman. Her russet hair lay straight down her back, bangs covering the left side of her face. Amelia looked very much like her mother, the innkeeper, down to having the same very bright blue eyes. She gave Kaim a warm smile, and he returned it. She lifted her cloak and he saw a very small girl who shared her mother's looks, though with darker hair. "This is Rosalind."

Kaim kneeled in front of the small girl. So, the surprise was a child. The last time he visited was to see the wedding between Tuck and Amelia, and so it wasn't a surprise that they would have had a baby. They did want a full family. The little girl stared wide-eyed back at him, and nervously fidgeted with her dress. Kaim held out his hand. "My name is Kaim Argonar. It's very nice to meet you Rosalind."

The girl smiled hesitantly. She looked up at her mother. Amelia nodded, and Rosalind grasped his large hand in her small one. Kaim shook it once, then stood up and let them into the room. Rosalind sat next to her mother on the chair while Kaim sat across from them on his bed. "What has happened here?"

"I don't even know really," Amelia started with a sigh. "They came by boat one night, and by the next week, they were preaching to us about our sins and that we must repent."

Kaim knew of many different religions that spread across this earth, and the ones that come in control of people were never the good kind. He crossed his arms. "Do you need out of here?"

Amelia nodded her head quickly, and Kaim noticed something as her hair moved. He pointed to her left cheek, and she frowned. Sighing, she pulled her hair away revealing burned skin. Kaim scooted to the edge of his seat and looked in horror at the branded mark left on her cheek. It was the same crescent shape that was sewn into the white cloaks. "Why?"

"I cured a young boy's wound from a fall in front of one of them once. I had no idea they were so against magic; even white magic, which is all I know. They got me a few weeks ago." Amelia moved her hair back. He watched as she let out a shaky sigh, her hands smoothing out her hair in embarrassment. "I'm so afraid, Kaim. If they can do this to me, what else are they planning?"

"We'll leave tomorrow night." Kaim was on his feet, pacing. He wanted to get the three women out as soon as he could, but they'd need to prepare a little bit. The next town from here was a day's walk, and with traveling companions it took longer. "Go back home, pack some things. Tell your mother, and I'll get all of you out. We'll go to Gohtza together."

Amelia nodded, gathering her daughter and pulling their hoods up. "Kaim, thank you. I know you'll take care of us."

Kaim nodded placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I won't leave you behind." Amelia placed her hand on top of his for a moment, before turning her daughter out the door. Kaim closed it behind them.

.

He was awoken very late into the night by screams. Battle worn thoughts raced into his mind as he stumbled out of his bed. He pulled on his boots, and practically fell over himself to get the door open. There, he bumped into the innkeeper. In the moonlight, Kaim could see tears streaking down her face. "They knew Amelia came to visit you here and they've killed her! They have Rosie, Kaim! I need you to go get her, please!" she sobbed. Kaim was up, pulling his dagger from his sack he brought with him. He told the innkeeper to hide in his room, and that he would be back in a moment.

He ran out of the inn. Women and children were in the streets, and Kaim had to dodge the panicked cries and crowds that blocked the walkways. He followed the yelling to the newly made building with the symbol. He ran up to the door and pulled it open. As soon as he did, there came a shriek, and Kaim's feet moved quicker. He made it to the alter as fast as he could, to the people standing shocked at his entrance, and pulled Rosalind away from her captors. When they reached back for her, Kaim pulled the dagger out in front of him. "I dare you to come closer."

"You sir, are just a visitor!" There was the guard he had met earlier that day. "One who was not approved to walk through the streets of Wimborne. You hold a daughter of an enchantress! We must finish what we are to do to teach her a lesson."

Kaim didn't have time to argue. Rosalind clung to his neck fiercely, and his first concern was to get her away. He slowly backed away from the robed men. "Sir, you are making a grand mistake! Our god will look down poorly on your soul."

"Well, then. It's a good thing I don't have one," he said. The faces that stood in front of him paled as white as their clothing, and Kaim almost smiled. It wasn't the time to gloat at their reaction, as he heard Rosalind's crying increase. His back hit the still closed door, and that's when he turned to run out of the open side.

He made it back to the inn only to see flames. There were a few villagers around watching the scene before them. They talked in low voices how the innkeeper's family turned out to be enchantresses, and it was a good thing they were all gone. His heart sank as he learned that the innkeeper herself was dragged out of the flames only to be struck down in the chest by the religious men. "I hear they even got the littlest one. I knew there was something off about her. She was too quiet."

Mortals were disgusting sometimes, but Kaim could not dwell on it. He took one last look at the burning inn before turning towards the exit. When he started to hear a commotion behind him, he picked up the pace to get out of this town faster. There wasn't any looking back.

Rosalind still cried the whole way out. Kaim got off the path as quickly as he could, and made his way into the dark woods. He rubbed the girl's back and carefully tucked her head between his neck and shoulder, hoping to muffle some of her crying. He didn't need monsters on top of the weird robbed men hunting after them.

.

Kaim finally came to a stop when he reached the next town. It was late morning by then, but he could not afford to rest. He ducked into a café, taking the small girl to the back washrooms. He set her on the counter and looked her over. There on her neck was the cause of her tears, and it hadn't stopped bleeding yet. Kaim peeked his head out of the door, and stopped a waitress. "Yes, my daughter has a cut and I was wondering if you had any first aid supplies I could have?" The woman nodded and disappeared around the corner. Kaim only waited a moment before she was back with bandages, and a cloth. He thanked her, and shut the door behind him.

Rosalind had mostly stopped making noises in the night, but the tears kept flowing and Kaim wasn't sure when they would stop. He took a moment to wipe away her tears before tearing the cloth into two. He put water onto the one, and dabbed at the wound on her neck. Her sniffling came back a little louder this time, so Kaim decided to distract her. "Do you remember my name?"

"K-Kaim?" she warbled.

"Did your mother tell you about me?"

"She…she said that you were like family to u-us…she's gone? Where is—where is my mommy?" Kaim stopped to look at the girl as she covered her eyes with her hands. "My mom…mommy, she said…we…we were leaving together!"

"I know." Kaim quickly wrapped up her wound and pulled the girl into a hug. Rosalind tucked her face into his shoulder again. "You have to be brave."

Rosalind sniffled but Kaim felt her nod.

Kaim rocked her back and forth until she was asleep. He threw away the dirty cloth and tucked the clean one into his pocket. His bag and sword had burned up with the inn back in Wimborne, but luckily his wallet was in his back pocket. He thanked the waitress again on the way out, and made his way into market with the sleeping girl on his hip.

.

After purchasing a new sword, two new cloaks, a little bit of food, and a new pack that crossed his shoulder and hip, he made his way out of the market and they made their way east. Kaim needed to get to Gohtza as fast as he could, but knew he needed someone he could trust to look at Rosalind's wound. As they made their way towards the mountains, they had to stop several times to change her bandage. By the end of the week, Rosalind was starting to get a fever. The wound was closed but red and very irritated and Kaim feared it got infected.

There was one person he trusted more than anyone to help him out and he could only hope the little girl could survive the four-day trip and hike up the mountain to get there. Kaim pulled his exhausted self up the path.

. . .

Sarah chewed on the inside of her cheek as Kaim finished his tale. He was staring down his empty cup. "I just…can't believe that village."

She placed a hand on his. He was trembling. When she looked up, she saw tears in his eyes. "She's so young and they were willing…willing to brand her a…a magic user, without…any thought. Any proof." Kaim wiped his eyes. Sarah moved her feet and took the cup from his shaking hands. She held them in her own, rubbing thumbs over his knuckles. The touch seemed to soothe Kaim. "Rosalind." He cleared his throat. Sarah waited patiently. "Rosalind. She's my granddaughter."

"Granddaughter?" Sarah squeezed his hand a little. He finally looked up at her.

"About two hundred and eighty years ago I had a daughter. I don't usually keep up this long with family. Most of the time my great grandchildren are less understanding of my life, and I just vanish after a while. But this time. It's been…different." Kaim took a deep breath in. "Tuck is my great grandson. Nine or so greats, I think."

"Wow." Sarah had a million questions, but Kaim's grief gave her pause. Instead she continued with, "and you're hoping Tuck is in Gohtza?"

Kaim nodded. "I visit them once every decade, back at Wimborne. Tuck would try to write to me, though sometimes letters got lost with my traveling. I hadn't heard from him since he got married almost a decade ago, so I thought I'd visit. If I hadn't." Kaim looked towards the bedroom where Rosalind lay sleeping.

"Kaim, you take all the time you need to get ready." Sarah got up and went to her bedroom. She checked to make sure that her room was cleaned up enough before going back out towards the living room. Kaim had found his way to the kitchen to set their cups into the sink. "You can take my bed."

"No. I'll sleep on the couch—"

"Don't be silly. You're a guest and you've been going non-stop for almost two weeks! You've been pulling double time to get here, and have you even really slept at all? I'm happy you didn't die of exhaustion." Sarah practically pushed him towards her bedroom. Just as she turned away to let him sleep, he grabbed her hand. She looked up and he was avoiding her gaze, looking down to her wooden floor. "Yes?"

"Could you…? It's been a long time since…I've slept around people." Kaim awkwardly let her hand go. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't ask. It'll be uncomfortable for you."

"Did you want me to stay with you till you've fallen asleep?" Sarah watched his head dip up and down. Somehow in the one hundred years since they rediscovered each other, she had figured the silent immortal out a little. Kaim, though seemingly cold and calculated upon first meeting, craved closeness and conversation. Sometimes he might not open up about his travels, and he may not even say a word around her at all, but he did enjoy listening to others. He was probably spent enough just by telling that story and the emotions that revealed themselves at the end of it, and Sarah understood that he had a lot on his mind. If her being near would help him rest, then she would get over her shyness and allow it. She gently pulled him to the bed, holding out the covers.

Kaim crawled into her bed and she lay right beside him. He closed his eyes, but a few minutes later they were open and looking right at her. She laughed a little. "You're exhausted."

"But can't sleep," he finished with a sigh. He looked so uncomfortable and Sarah knew that even immortal bodies had limits.

Without even thinking or asking permission, Sarah found herself running her fingers through his hair and humming a little off tune. A little bit of zephyr flowed through her fingers into his scalp as she did so, and she prayed it soothed his aches. At first, he just watched, but as she scratched along the skin behind his ear, his eyelids began to droop. Sarah watched as he finally closed his eyes, and, after another few minutes, drift off to sleep. She pulled the cover over his shoulder and watched as he breathed in evenly and out. When she knew he was in a deep sleep, she leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Sleep well, Kaim."

. . .

Kaim woke up to sounds of laughter. He took a moment let his body rise to wakefulness. He scrubbed an arm across his face, allowing himself a second to remember where he was. He searched the room for a clock and was surprised to read that it was almost two in the afternoon. He had slept a long time. When he heard Rosalind laughing again, he moved to the open door.

The little five-year-old was standing on a stool watching as Sarah stirred a pot on the stove. She was entranced and Kaim finally saw that the older woman was stirring the pot with only a point of her finger. Kaim smiled as Rosalind clapped her hands together. She didn't seem feverish and he was relieved that Sarah's magic seemed to heal her wound completely, though the scar was there to stay. He frowned at the dark mark on her skin. "Miss Sarah, you are the coolest!"

"Oh, that's exactly what I love to hear, Rosie!"

Kaim saw the two of them add in vegetables and chunks of meat to the pot. Rosalind carefully stood on tiptoes and watched as Sarah added more liquid. After another moment, the little girl finally noticed Kaim. "Kaim! Miss Sarah said she's making a stew for us!"

"It'll be colder in Gohtza now," Sarah said with a smile.

Kaim thanked her. "It'll help us a lot."

Sarah seemed to look him up and down. Kaim tilted his head, lifting his arms up to give her a better look. "It's just that you look a little…"

Kaim took a harder look. His clothes, which he didn't change out of the night before, were covered in dirt and dust. He discovered smudges of mud and monster's blood on his arms and hands and didn't want to think of what he smelled like. When was the last time he had a proper wash? He was filthy. "I, um. Sorry." He would wash her sheets later.

"I'll heat you some water."

After his quick bath, and as the afternoon wore on, Rosalind helped Sarah do little things around the house, and Kaim ventured out to Tosca's market. The distraction for Rosalind was exactly what Kaim needed. It was hard enough trying to come up with ways to tell the young girl about her family, and he knew he would have to have the conversation sooner rather than later. He frowned as he picked up an apple. Conversations like that never got any easier. Not as a soldier, and definitely not as a grandfather.

He got a few extra supplies and brought them back to Sarah's place. Rosalind was happily eating an early dinner. He thought that she looked well enough to travel, if they took it slow. He turned to his bag he had left in Sarah's living room. "We'll probably leave in the morning," he said to Sarah, packing away what he just bought.

"And I had a question for you." He watched as she chewed on the inside of her cheek, creating a dimple, and adjusting her glasses. After a beat she took in a little breath, asking, "would it be okay if I went with you? I need to go to Khent and, you know, it's not too far away from Gohtza…"

Kaim nodded instantly, relieved she was asking. "I'll take you after we find Tuck."

Sarah smiled, clapping her hands together. She thanked him again, then left to her own room to make her own pack ready. Kaim felt a little better knowing Sarah was coming along. Her healing spells would be helpful if Rosalind grew sick again, or they ran into any monsters along the way.

He knew his granddaughter was staring at him before she even spoke. He turned his head, as she asked, "is Miss Sarah coming too?"

Kaim nodded, and Rosalind smiled. "Yay! I like her a lot!"

"She is very hard not to like," he supplied with a smile.

"Is she your wife?"

Kaim stopped and looked down to the girl. She was happily wiping her face of stew, but was looking at him unfazed. "When I woke up this morning she was sleeping next to you!"

Kaim looked away a moment, trying to control the urge to dodge the question. Children were naturally curious. It had been almost a century since he had any little one's of his own and had forgotten how their little mouths sometimes didn't have filters. He didn't realize that Sarah must have fallen asleep herself on the bed, and that thought made him flush a little. "No. She is not my wife. Just a very…special friend."

"Kay!" Rosalind seemed happy enough with that answer.

He let out a quiet breath and returned to his things. Thoughts wandered, though, and he caught himself thinking about the last time he and Sarah had slept in the same room together. It had been seventy years ago, but he remembered how she looked so innocent with the moonlight washing over her in sleep. She slept with arms curled underneath her pillow, and knees bent just slightly. Little snores came out with each breath, not loud enough to be annoying; though Kaim could sleep through anything so it didn't matter. If anything, it made her more endearing. He felt so protective of her back then, even though he knew she was smart enough to not get hurt in the streets of Uhra. It was a dark time in that kingdom's history, which was why he felt the need to watch over her that night. Not much sleep was gotten, but he didn't mind that at all when the sun rose, and he caught a glimpse of Sarah rousing out of sleep.

When Sarah asked if he was feeling warm and if she needed to open a window, he snapped out of his thoughts, cleared his throat and made the excuse that he was going to double check something outside for a moment.

Kaim slept on the couch that night, making sure that no wandering five-year-olds could spy on him, and everyone woke up early to start their journey.

. . .

Sarah took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Kaim watched as her breath rose above her in a little puff of mist. He forgot that even this early in fall that the Ice Canyon was still going to be cold and messy. Their journey to the place was easy enough but going through it was another thing. Kaim would have to catch himself from slipping in the slush that surrounded them. Rosalind didn't seem to mind, though, running ahead and purposely slipping on the ice. "Does she know?" Kaim turned to Sarah, she was looking up at him with a grim set to her mouth.

He sighed. "I talked to her a little this morning before you got up." He paused and they both watched as Rosalind trotted over to the ice that lay flat on the slope. Her laughter could be heard echoing off the walls around them as she ran up and slid back down the ice. This would be the first time she saw snow and ice like this, and her curiosity knew no limits. "I don't know how much she understands."

Sarah hummed. The girl was only five. He couldn't imagine what was going on through her head. He had done the best he could, and he hoped that once they reached Gohtza and found her father and grandfather, they'd be able to sit down and talk again.

Rosalind spotted a penguin and found herself back in Kaim's arms when it squawked at her. He could hear Sarah laugh quietly as she shooed the little animal away.

. . .

Kaim asked around for the men who had moved to Gohtza. No one in Middle town knew of who he was talking about, but once they stepped into Low Town, he could see the somewhat familiar faces of Wimborne there. He began to ask again, and luckily the first person he talked to seemed to know every person there.

"Tuck?" The man stood rubbing his cold fingers together. "Aye I know 'im! Yeah, check the restaurant around the corner! He's finished his work, so you might find 'im there!"

Kaim, Rosalind and Sarah found themselves in the crowded restaurant, and at first, he believed it would be hopeless to find any one person in this large group. There was so much noise and people wearing the same dark clothing, he thought it would take a long time to find anyone, but Rosalind found her father quickly. The young man snapped his head towards them when the young girl cried out to him. "Rosie? Rosie how'd you—?"

Rosalind jumped out of Kaim's arms and ran to her father. He scooped her up and held her tightly. After a moment he turned his head to find Kaim, a shocked look on his face. "Kaim?"

"Tuck we need to talk."

. . .

Tuck decided it would be best to start anew in a different town. Kaim convinced him to move someplace other than the city of Gohtza, and even offered to pay for the tickets to wherever he wanted to go. Tuck talked about how hard it was going to be to start all over, and took and thanked the immortal for the offer. "I don't know what to say, Kaim. You've done so much for me and Rosie." Tuck brought a hand to his eye, wiping away the tears that formed there. "And thank you for getting her out of there."

"Don't mention it. It's the least I could do. I'm sorry about Amelia." Kaim rested his hand on the man's shoulder. "I wish I could have done more."

"You did everything you could. If it wasn't for you…" Tuck shook his head, giving the older man a watery half smile. "Well. We'd be alone and who knows how long I wouldn't have known about her passing."

Kaim turned to Sarah who was sitting along the wall with Rosalind and her grandfather. She and the older man were distracting the young girl for a moment to let them talk. Tuck sniffed, and continued with, "I need to thank her."

They walked over to the other group, and Tuck bowed low to Sarah. She squeaked out a please don't bow!, but before she could really say anything else, he was up again. "Thank you so much. Kaim told me that Rosie's wound was infected, and you saved her."

"It's nothing! Please don't mention it. Rosalind is a wonderful child, and I would have done anything for her." Sarah smiled down to the girl, smoothing her hair. The girl giggled, and reached for her father's hand, keeping one with her grandfather also. "So where have you decided to go?"

This time it was the Rosalind's grandfather who spoke up. "I have some brothers and sisters who live in a city not too far south of Uhra, but far enough away from Wimborne. I've written to them explaining everything, and I'm sure we'll be welcome there." He gave Kaim a weak smile, and Kaim could do nothing else but nod knowingly. It was hard to lose family, and it was harder knowing your loving wife was taken away too early and so harshly. That was a pain he never hoped to feel again.

Kaim and Sarah nodded. Tuck arranged the pack on his back and held on to his daughter's hand tighter. "The train will be arriving soon."

"We'll walk you up," Kaim said.

.

They watched as the train pulled out of the station. When it was long gone into the distance, Kaim felt his shoulder's sag. The grief of the last few weeks suddenly weighed heavy on his heart, and all he wanted to do was sit down. He glanced down at Sarah, and she didn't miss his expression. Like the good friend she was, she hooked an arm around his, and led him away from the platform. "Let's rest. Take as long as you need, and if you don't want to travel to Khent it's okay."

"I'm not going to abandon you to a two-day journey to Khent."

Sarah threw him a quick smile. "I know. Just thought I'd let you know that I would understand otherwise. You have options."

"Leaving you in the snow and cold won't ever be an option, Sarah." Kaim patted her hand that wrapped around his arm, and let it rest there until they reached the Hotel Crown.