A smoky layer of clouds spread itself over the night sky as they left the manor, tearing open here and there to reveal a patch of moon or a solitary star. Mimi took it at a good sign, though the thought did cross her mind that perhaps the darkness symbolized only darkness. But she preferred to be optimistic.

No one said a word. Jacob had, in perfect silence, snatched supplies from the kitchen as well as Mimi's awful servant dress. Somehow it had all managed to fit in his bag with whatever else was in it. He had realized he couldn't understand Mimi or Blake. Of course he had realized it. So why would he bother to speak to them?

But once that silent understanding was established there was no point in Mimi speaking to Blake or him speaking to her. A simple exchange of looks expressed all that needed to be said of just how awkward that would be. Squirrel chattering and goose gabbing. What a thing for Jacob to hear.

And so it was that nobody said a word as they slipped from the building.

The trouble with the dark night was that no one could see a thing. Were guards posted at the gates? Jacob hesitated, then, with sudden power, sprang onto the spiked fence and climbed over it. He landed on the other side with a grin on his face. He could not have done that with his old body. Mimi wondered if he should be doing such things with an injured shoulder.

There seemed to be no response from whatever guards might or might not have been about. Blake hopped between the bars and Mimi squeezed after him.

And that was that. Freedom. Mimi glanced back at the manor, scarcely noticing her companions did the same. What in the world was going to happen tomorrow? With any luck the Duke's temper would cool, but that would not change the fact that Jacob would not be there. With further luck that idiot Isaac would be punished for the disappearance.

They walked. The city was quiet, and it was hard to believe that in a few short hours it would be loud and bustling. Mimi had never seen a city at night, never mind this was the first city she had ever seen. The dipping and rising pattern of buildings blended softly into the darkness. The sound of Jacob's footsteps barely echoed, as if the city itself tore the noise away. The stones of the streets were black and murky, and Mimi found herself imagining walking through nothing. Here and there a forgotten candle flickered in a window, but other than that Jacob's memory of the city was what guided them through.

Eventually the city was behind them and the countryside stretched out everywhere, an inky swamp of land for all Mimi could see. But she liked it. It was wild. It was open. Once more she wanted to just… fly. If she couldn't speak to Jacob, she might as well become all-goose and do what geese do. But when they passed the cottage she was certain that belonged to that goose woman, Elva, the desire itself flew away instead.

The first faint flame had appeared in the east when Jacob finally, nervously, spoke. "Um, are we going the right way?"

Blake sighed in defeat and shook his head.

Jacob took this as a response. "How long have we been wandering in the wrong direction?"

Mimi stared at the flustered Blake, who again shook his head.

Jacob groaned. "I have to say this isn't working very well."

"We are going in the right direction!" Squirrel chatter. That was what Jacob would hear.

Mimi wanted to shout something at Blake, but the idea that someone would hear honking was too much for her. She pressed her wings tightly into her body. Jacob had started the conversation. All of it was his fault.

"I've never been to Mimi's home," Jacob continued, voice quick and irritated. "I don't know. Can't one of you just… point?"

Well, Blake did know the way. Could he not take some responsibility for direction? Of course none of them had counted on communication being an issue.

And, as the sun rose, they stood in a circle and stared at each other, frowning.

Finally, with the night's blackness reduced to grey, Jacob made a few suggestions. "All right, Blake, you will lead. Because you know where we are going. "

Sensible. Why did it take the two of them so long to come up with that concept?

"And for my part, I will ask yes or no questions. Will that work for both of you?"

Mimi and Blake nodded. It would have to be talking enough.

"And your little nods or head-shakes or whatever you do need to actually correspond to yes and no. Because I don't understand animal language and I am not about to attempt reading any physical sarcasm." Jacob swung his bag over his shoulder, wincing as it struck his injury. "Now, once again, are we going the right way?"

Mimi looked at Blake, who decided to be once more be the noble squirrel/duke and nodded and pointed down the dirt road.

"You know, you can talk to each other," Jacob said as he resumed walking. "I really don't mind."

Goose honking and squirrel chatter. Just what anyone needed to hear. Mimi did not want to speak to anyone. She didn't want anyone to speak to her. She just wanted the remainder of the trip to be silent. No stupid talking at all.

Blake did not seem interested in conversation, either.

But even the silence was painful.

The cover of clouds did not fade as true morning revealed itself. The air held a respectable warmth, but there was no sunshine to lift the stifling unease of the day.

Several miles later they stopped. The land consisted of farms, and in the distance the workers could be seen. Jacob sat down under a tree and pulled a wrapped bundle from his bag. "Breakfast. I'm hungry."

So was Mimi, she realized. She was ravenous.

Jacob unwrapped the loaf of bread. It was made from dark flour and was studded with nuts. He broke off three pieces before rewrapping it and returning it to the bag.

"Thank you," Blake said, clearly hoping the sentiment would break through squirrel speak, as he took his small share.

Mimi didn't feel as grateful. There should not have been a difference. Jacob had been getting her food since they had met. She hadn't thought of it much before. But it was only her hunger that made her eat the breadcrumbs. The bread was good though. Who had made it?

Barely was the thought out of her mind when hoof beats echoed from the road. Jacob paled and scrambled to his feet. "Someone's coming."

Obviously. Was he afraid he would be recognized? As who? Dwarf Long-nose?

It was not a horse that came, but a mule, ridden by a small red-haired boy who probably had no business being on the mule.

It was Abe.

"Hello," said Abe, clueless. "I'm from Duke Silas' house. There's been an escape of a prisoner."

Jacob nodded.

"So… we're out looking for him."

Blake laughed. Which probably also came out as squirrel chatter.

"They send young children out to look for dangerous prisoners?" Jacob said. Amazingly enough, his voice did not shake.

"Oh, no. I'm not supposed to be out. Well, my parents said I could go. But no one important told me I could look for the prisoner. Actually, I'm glad he's gone because the Duke was going to kill him. "

"Is that so?"

"Yes," Abe happily replied. "He didn't cook something right. So the Duke had him locked up and just a while ago they found out he wasn't there anymore. It was pretty exciting. I don't think they even assigned people to go look for him yet because it wasn't very long ago. I heard about it and I asked my mother and father if I could go out on the mule and they said I could."

"So… are you looking for the prisoner or not?"

"Kind of. I don't want him dead or anything. His name is Jacob and I was his apprentice. So now I don't get to learn how to cook anymore. But I am looking for him because if I see him I'm going to tell him that His Madness the Duke is really, really angry right now. And so is Prince Matthias. If I see him, I'm going to tell him to keep going until he is not just out of the duchy but the entire kingdom. That's pretty much what everyone at the manor says. Except the Duke and the Prince, of course."

Jacob smiled at that.

"Anyway, if you see this really ugly goblin creature, tell him all of that."

"I'll be sure to."

"Thanks." Abe turned the mule about. As he did, he glanced at the half-eaten piece of bread lying in the grass. "Hey, that looks like the bread I baked yesterday!"

"Lots of people make bread," Jacob said.

But Abe had already hopped off the mule, which seemed to be considering whether to bolt or not. "Can I try just a piece? Someone stole a couple of the loaves I made. It's a special recipe I tried and I didn't think anyone else made it."

"No, it's just for me."

"But I just want a taste. As a cook, I'd like a taste. I haven't even had breakfast yet and I was riding that mule really fast." Before Jacob could do anything, Abe had pulled a tiny piece of bread from the slice and put it in his mouth. "This is my bread! Why do you have my bread?"

"It's not your bread, kid."

Abe then noticed Mimi. She stared back at him, unsure of just what she was supposed to think of this situation. "That looks like the goose Jacob had…" He paused. "I'm… I'm really confused."

"I really think you should go home," Jacob said. His voice was beginning to show panic.

"Your voice…" Abe stared hard at him. "Jacob?"