At the next town Lucy continued begging for work. One woman gave her some washing to do. Lucy rolled up her sleeves and used the harsh lye soap. It stung, but the lady gave her half a loaf of bread for it. As Lucy left the house, she passed by the little local church. She hadn't visited one for a while after all, and despite the warm sunshine, she still felt very confused and shaken up from the night before. She wasn't sure what or if she should do anything about the strange man. As Lucy rounded the corner of the church, she noticed a carriage in front of it.

The symbol on the side was the same as the noble she had met earlier, but the carriage seemed different. Quietly, Lucy dodged back around the corner, peering out carefully. What made her nervous she couldn't say for sure, but after the man's ranting the last night, she wasn't sure she wanted to meet the Lord again.

She watched from the corner as the occupant stepped out to speak with the priest. At first she thought it was the Lord, until she noticed his hair was lighter, and he was taller. His face was different as well, though she couldn't say what set it apart. Realizing he wasn't the same man and wouldn't recognize her, Lucy started walking around the Lord to head into the church.

The priest had been speaking to the noble, but when he saw the young girl slipping into the church, he put a hand up.

"Pardon me a moment Lord Bryan, but I see a young soul who needs some attention. How may I help you my dear?"

Lucy looked up startled. Lord Bryan looked annoyed, but when he noticed Lucy he suddenly looked at her with intense interest.

"No Father. I don't, that is, I just wanted to... I mean"

"I just need to know Father Pierce," interrupted Lord Bryan, "if you have seen a large, scarred man with amazing strength and a harsh temper. I am searching for a murdering lunatic who escaped from a hospital I patron and my brother runs."

"No my son, I have not. Are the officials not looking for him?"

"Yes, but I have the means to help. His strength lets him travel far and do much damage. I am anxious that he is stopped. I have heard villagers mention food going missing, and a light on in an old deserted cabin. Have you noticed anything?"

While Father Pierce told Lord Bryan no, Lucy caught her breath. A hospital? Was the strange man insane as she thought? Lucy was about to tell the Lord when she remembered the scars. Would a hospital really give such a treatment? The strange man's trapped eyes swam in front of her view. All the stories about strange hospitals and patients going missing that she had ever heard whispered in dark taverns, came to her memory. Before she could think, Lucy was speaking.

"Forgive me Milord, but the lights in the cabin are me. I have taken up living there."

Lord Bryan looked at her skeptically.

"By yourself?"

"No Milord. My brother lives with me."

Lord Bryan cast his eyes round about.

"Is he here today?"

"No. He's getting wood at the cabin while I get food."

"You're not the one stealing it?" the Lord asked in a bored tone.

"No!" cried Lucy indignantly. "Why would we steal when I come down here and work for food?"

Shrugging, Lord Bryan turned back to Father Pierce.

"Well that seems to answer all your questions Lord Bryan. God be with you on your journey."

As the Lord climbed back into his carriage, the priest turned to Lucy.

"And how may I help you my daughter?" he said.

"I…I just wanted to sit in the church for a moment Father. I didn't want to be any trouble. I was just leaving," said Lucy, and she made as if to walk away.

The father eyed her leg.

"Pardon me daughter, but is your leg injured?"

Lucy swallowed "It happened in a fire."

"Than why does your brother let you walk all the way to this village. Is he slothful?"

Lucy grimaced. She didn't want to have to keep up this lying. She was getting too involved.

"No father, it isn't that, well, um, he's disfigured."

Lord Bryan, in the middle of shutting his carriage door, paused to listen to Lucy.

"How?"

"The fire. Years ago. Our whole family burned except for us. Heavy beams fell on my leg, but my brother shielded me from the flames. He's ashamed of his horrible burn scars. He's been mistreated at many of the villages we've been to. That's why we wanted to be in that cabin. No one is around us."

Oh, now she'd done it. What a lie to tell a priest.

At this point the woman who had given Lucy work that morning came up to see who the rich Lord was, and what the Father was talking about.

"Can your brother work?" she asked.

"Yes," replied Lucy.

"Well then, the solutions is simple," she paused to make sure she had everyone's attention. "Father Pierce will speak to the villagers. At night they can leave out washing and mending. Your brother can chop wood and leave it at the houses that leave out food, and bring the washing and mending to you and back to us again. That way you don't have to walk here every day, and we can all pay you with food."

"An excellent plan Mrs. Tori. I do hope to see you still come here for services though," said Father Pierce turning to Lucy.

Lucy stared speechless at the priest. It would be the perfect solution, except she wouldn't be here. She was leaving. She tried to think of a way out without endangering the man. "But, wouldn't it be too easy for someone to steal all the food and washing left out?"

Mrs. Tori shook her head. "Thieving is not tolerated here."

"I could just agree to it and leave," thought Lucy. But what if the priest came by the cabin? She wasn't sure if she was more scared for the man or the priest. Just then she saw the Lord was in the carriage still watching her. He looked all ready to set out, he just wanted to hear her answer.

"Oh Father, I am so grateful. You are all so generous. Would the villagers really do that for us?"

While Mrs. Tori assured her, Father Pierce watched Lord Bryan leave the village, his carriage pointed away from it and the cabin.

"Good riddance," he muttered.