My body hurriedly walked north, while my thoughts were behind in the castle. I could not help but wonder what Cedric and Johnna were going to do or say when it was discovered that I was missing. I hoped it would be hours before anyone noticed. But hope could not guarantee time, so moving faster was up to me.

I did not go far when a woman stepped out in front of me, startling me. She had raven hair and blue piercing eyes and she wore leather pants under her cloak. "Good day," I said, then moved around her. She fell into step with me, both of us walking some ways before speaking.

"I have horses ahead. You can ride?"

"Yes, not well, but I've had some lessons." I paused. "Who are you?"

"A friend. Cedric asked me to meet you. He gave me your description."

"This way," she pointed to our left. I followed her and two horses were tied just ahead. The woman had to help me mount, as the horse was larger than I was used to. Roland would never have let me ride a horse this size. It was interesting how my heart both grew heavy with despair and fury at the thought of Roland. In fact, the woman I was with now had the same hair color as that woman in Roland's bed. Shaking my head as if it would clear my thoughts, I tried to focus on where I was going.

"Where will we stop tonight?"

The woman barked a laugh. "We will see how far we get." After a sidelong glance, she said, "You do realize we'll be sleeping outdoors."

"Oh. All right." It was not as if I had never slept outside before. Mother had not always been able to find us a place to live. "The last few years in the castle have spoiled me." The woman did not reply.

We travelled all day, only stopping to let the horses rest. I was sore in places that I did not even know existed until this day. The woman who never told me her name was not someone who cared to talk and I accepted it. It gave me time to think about everything and try to forget Roland and to try and not worry about Michael.

It was after dark when my companion said we should stop because the horses could not see well enough. I was exhausted. She unhooked a bedroll from her horse. I followed her example as my horse also carried necessities for the night. I removed the saddle and asked her if she had a brush for the horses. She handed me hers and I brushed down my mount as he ate.

Just before we lay down to sleep, she passed me some dried meat, beans and water. It was a small amount so I ate quickly and lay back on the bedroll losing consciousness almost immediately.

Half a day later, we arrived in a town on the largest river I had ever seen. The woman stabled the horses at an inn, then led me toward the docks. "Keep your hood on, and don't make eye contact with anyone," she whispered. "Also, keep your mouth shut." We had not spoken all day; keeping my mouth shut was not going to be a problem and I did not like the tone of her voice. If she noticed the face I made at her, she did not show it.

Following her through crowds of people, was hard. I was jostled here and there, and there was so much to look at I could hardly keep my head down. I could smell the river the closer we came to it. "Inside," she waved me toward an old building that faced large ships. We entered and I paused to let my eyes adjust from the sunlight to the darkness.

The woman grabbed my arm as I was not moving fast enough, and pulled me to a table near the front door. We sat and she ordered us both a drink. She gave me a searing look when I started to ask what we were doing there, and I remembered I was not to speak. Sighing, I studied the table, and then the drink in front of me when it was finally served.

We sat there a while before someone slid onto the bench next to me, and someone else slid onto the bench next to the woman. It was a female on my side, a male on the other. "I apologize for being late," said the woman next to me.

"No matter," my companion said. "What time does the ship leave?"

"A couple hours," said the man. "We have the cabin, but they are still loading freight."

My companion looked at me. "This is where I leave you. They will take you from here."

I swallowed and looked at the man and glanced at the woman beside me. They were definitely older, likely older than Roland. The woman patted my hand. "It is fine, dear. We are Cedric's parents."

Looking more closely, I could see similarities in Cedric's father's facial structure, but his mother was from whom he had received his eyes. "Hello," I whispered and swallowed again. Cedric had told me that I would likely stay with his parents, but not that they would come for me.

Cedric's mom patted my hand. "Perhaps we should board now." Her husband grunted in agreement and the four of us stood.

"Thank you," I whispered to my former companion. She nodded, slipped out the door ahead of us and then melded into the crowd.

"This way, dear," Cedric's mom took my arm. "It is so wonderful to finally meet you," her voice was quiet but warm. Cedric's father stood on my other side, slightly in front of me, making sure we a clear way through the throng. "We will speak more when we are in our cabin." I nodded and tried to keep my head down.

It was likely my nerves, but I felt as if everyone was watching us. My heart beating faster made me feel as if I would soon be in a panic. Taking a deep breath helped very little. "Here we go," Cedric's father waved us toward a wooden ramp. "Hold the rope and go slow, child." I went first, then Cedric's parents. A sailor on the ship reached out and helped me step onto the deck, where I turned and looked back to shore. I felt unsteady, and my fear was still great.

I saw a man, a tall man on the docks, well dressed and commanding and he looked like Roland. "No!" I whispered, my heart freezing, but then then man turned and I saw it was not Roland at all.

"Come dear," Cedric's father put his arm around my shoulder. "We have a small meal prepared. You are hungry, are you not?" He led me to a door near the stern.

"I don't know if I can eat."

"You will. Take your time."

I stumbled a little, still unsteady on my feet, but his support kept me up. Behind the door was a flight of stairs leading down, and the couple took me to their cabin. It was small, holding only two bunks, one above the other, a table that was bolted to the wall, and a bench on each side, bolted to the floor. One window let light in, while a lamp softly swung in one corner of the ceiling.

"We thought you could sleep on top, Sofia," the woman finally said my name. "Go ahead and take off your cloak and sit down while I put the food out."

I slid my hood down and unbuttoned the cloak at my neck. "What in magic's name?" asked Cedric's father as he saw my whole face. His wife turned and looked at me.

"Child, who did that to you?"

My hand went to my face, which was still slightly sore and apparently still visibly bruised. "It's nothing."

"That isn't nothing," Cedric's mother set down what was in her hands and swept me into a hug. "How are you, Sofia?"

I wanted to enjoy the hug, but I was not feeling well and I was scared so I could not do anything but be stiff. "I am fine." It was a rote answer, but how could I tell her the truth about anything?

She let go of me and looked closer, frowning. I dropped my eyes. Cedric had mentioned that both his parents had powerful magic, more powerful than him, and I was afraid his mother could see my thoughts.

"I can see why Cedric loves you," she finally smiled. "You are strong and beautiful."

"What may I call you?" changing the subject from this person I did not know trying to compliment me, which was quite uncomfortable.

"Oh!" she said, "We have not properly introduced ourselves, have we? My name is Winifred and this is Goodwyn but you can call us Mother and Father."

"May I call you by your given names?" Calling them mother and father sounded uncomfortable.

"How about you call me Wini and my husband Wyn? No one calls us by our given names and Wini and Wyn are much easier to remember."

"Thank you, Wini."

She laughed at me. "You are far too proper, Sofia. But I suppose you've been walking on eggshells for quite a while, haven't you?" She turned and finished laying out the small meal. I wondered exactly what Cedric had told them.

The ship tossed and I found myself on the bottom bunk, a small shriek escaping me. Wyn laughed heartily but reached out to pull me up again. "We won't be on the ship long. We should reach our port in the morning."

"Here, Sofia," Wini handed me a teacup. "I hope you don't mind. I added a little something to help with the queasiness. You've never sailed before?" Sipping the tea, I shook my head no. "Ah, then if you feel unwell after this tea, you tell me."

Wyn waved me to one of the benches, while Wini took the other, and he sat perched on the bottom bunk. Wini poured soup from a jug into three bowls and tore apart pieces of bread. Then I heard Wyn whisper some words and suddenly steam rose from the bowls. "Smells delicious," Wini smiled at her husband. Without spoons we drank the soup from the bowl as well as used the bread to sop it up and eat it. Wini was correct; it was delicious.

The warm meal, and possibly the tea, also made me fatigued. I could not help but yawn and once I had started, I could not stop. "Climb up in the bunk, dear, and take a nap."

"I'm going above to watch," Wyn said, leaving the cabin.

I did as Wini said, climbing a small ladder, and then seeing a belt across the bed. "Is this to keep me from rolling out?"

"Yes. There's one down here too. You would think on a river they would not be necessary, but," Wini smiled and shrugged.

"Better safe than sorry," I murmured, sliding under the blanket and then strapping the belt across me. My body still ached a bit from the riding, but with a full belly I was quickly asleep.

Wini woke me. I thought it was time for supper as my stomach growled but instead she said we had arrived at our port. "I slept the entire time?"

"Yes. You must have needed it. Come on now, eat what I've laid out for you and then we'll pack what is left and be on our way."

Again, I did as she bid and thanked her for the food, and for not waking me if I was truly sleeping. I did feel quite refreshed but a little worried that perhaps the tea contained more than just a treatment for motion sickness.

Wyn knocked on the door and entered after Wini said to. He lifted a bag from the corner, Wini took up her bag that held the dishes and they had me follow them. "Remember to keep your hood up, Sofia," Wini whispered. I was not sure if it was to hide the bruises on my face, or just to hide my face from anyone who might recognize me.

I followed them as we departed the ship and then left the docks and headed into more of a village than a town. "Where are we?"

"We are in Riverside, a village in Kerth."

I pulled my cloak tighter and kept my eyes on the ground in front of me. "Am I going to your home?"

There was a pause. "No. We are taking you to the home of our son, Lachlan. He's our second oldest, and you are welcome to stay there."

"He lives in Kerth?"

"Goodness no," Wini took my arm and walked with me. "We still have a way to go."

"Cedric did not tell me exactly where I was going."

"That is because Cedric does not know dear." I pulled away from her, suddenly afraid. "Don't be frightened. If Cedric were to be questioned, even by another sorcerer, he would not be able to say where you could be found if he did not know. When the time comes, he'll meet you. He told us that the Duke was ruthless and would likely do anything to keep you or find you." I did not answer. "He's the one who struck your face, isn't he?"

I shrugged. "It's nothing."

"You've said that before," she frowned. "Does it hurt? I'm surprised Cedric did not heal it."

"I have not been near Cedric since before it happened. It doesn't hurt much."

"Once we are outside town I will heal it."

"It's all right, really. It helps to remind me of everything I left behind." It was true. Roland had hurt me, not once or twice but several times. And even though I vividly remembered his sometimes-sweet words, and the way he made my body respond to his touch, I had to keep forcing myself to think of him striking me, and strangling me, and him leaving me alone and in danger. I just wished that continually thinking of those things would cancel out my affection that had grown for him. My throat froze and I strained to hold back tears.

"Would it help to talk about it? Not right now, of course with Wyn and all these people about, but…"

"No. No, I mean we could talk about other things, but not that. Will you contact Cedric soon?"

"After you are settled with Lachlan, we will contact him to let him know you are safe and well."

We turned a corner and found an inn. Wynn went inside. "We stabled our horses and carriage here," Wini explained. The rest of the way won't be such hard travel, but it will be long."

Minutes later, the carriage was brought to us. I expected a driver and footman but Wyn climbed in the driver's seat himself. Wini opened the door and we let ourselves into the carriage. "You don't have servants?" I asked then flushed. "I'm sorry. That was rude. I just have not seen anyone drive their own carriage."

Wini laughed. "We have a few servants at home, but Wyn loves animals and he knows we need time to learn about each other. You will be my daughter-in-law someday, won't you?"

I flushed again, and blinked a few times. "I don't know that there has been a proper proposal, but we have talked about being together." I remembered Cedric's words from a few nights ago, deepening the red in my face. You are mine, Sofia, and I'm staking my claim right now, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you.

Wini laughed. "He has written about you to us several times. I think a proper proposal, as you say, is imminent."

I smiled. "I hope he can come soon."

"He will."

"Will he be able to find work? I guess it's not just him," I corrected. "Will I be able to find work? I can cook and clean."

"Right now, you will be working for Lachlan as a housekeeper. It's a small house, and it's a ruse, but he could use your help. He lives alone and-"

"Is that proper?" I was going to ask if Cedric knew but remembered that he did not know where I was going. "I mean, if he's single and I-"

"Even bachelors need housekeepers, dear. No one will think otherwise."

"Do Cedric and Lachlan get on well?"

Wini bobbed her head and her eyes moved for a moment while she thought. "I would say out of all our children, Lachlan and Cedric are the only ones who get on well with each other." She sighed. "I must explain because if I don't tell you, Lachlan will, and he is often melodramatic." Wini had my full attention. "Once in a while, two sorcerers can have a child that does not have magic. Lachlan is one. He tried to learn so very hard but even with potions, he just was not able. It is the law that those without magic are not allowed to live in the Albumia province, so Lachlan lives outside whereas the rest of his family, those without appointments, live in Albumia."

"I did not know."

"It is also the law," Wini seemed to choose her words wisely, "that if a sorcerer cannot pass all their magic exams, they too are not allowed to live in Albumia, so Cedric, though he can visit, cannot live with us again. And you are like Lachlan, which is why you cannot stay with Wyn and me."

"I never knew there were so many rules. Perhaps I should go my own way?"

"Nonsense. Lachlan will help you and Cedric. And though Cedric will never find as prestigious a position as he has now with Duke Roland, he was always skilled at healing. He would make a fine physician somewhere."

The guilt must have shown on my face. "Oh, Sofia. Do not worry. He loves and will take care of you."

"He's really giving up everything for me? His research and his income?" Wini nodded but my brain was in overdrive. "We have to stop at the next town. You have to send him a message. Tell him not to leave for me. He deserves better. I am not worth this."

"Absolutely not." Wini sat up straight. "Besides, what would you do?"

"I would find employment somewhere, far away."

She narrowed her eyes and looked at me hard. "Do you realize you are the only loyal friend my son Cedric has ever had? He would be crushed to find that you would want to leave him now."

"I don't want to leave him, but I don't want him to ruin his life over me."

"He's already made his decision, dear girl. Now, buck up. You are starting to be as melodramatic as Lachlan." She sucked air in through her teeth then laughed. "Perhaps having you stay with Lachlan might not be such a good idea. When Cedric arrives for you, you will both be in your cups, bellyaching about the world."

I could not help but laugh, though I had not yet met Lachlan. "I could use some good cider or wine right now."

"The inn we stay at tonight will have at least one of those," she laughed with me.