AN: I think January 11 is still a good date to wish you all a Happy New Year! :) I hope you had a great time with your loved ones and apologize for taking so long with this update. Time before christmas is always very busy and I just enjoyed having two weeks of doing nothing at all. But still a huge thank you for all your support. I always enjoy reading your reviews and knowing that you enjoy reading my story as well. I feel very honoured since I am very aware of the mistakes I probably do because I don't know it better. To know that the story is readable and enjoyable anyway makes me really happy. So thank you.

Also thank you toMidnightPenguin for your recent reviews on both stories. I just wanted to answer your question about a possible nickname for Lillian. I often thought about it because I like the thought of Connor having a name in his language for her. But I never found one I really liked and the name he used for her once in Freedom practically has the same meaning like her actual name, so I somehow doesn't want to use it...also because it's very long and complicated. Maybe I will find one in the future, although I am not sure if it would be strange when he suddenly has a nickname for her after having none for years. But we will see and find out. :)

Coming to rest

The men had soon begun to think of a detailed plan about how to free the other rebels and eliminate Benjamin Franklin on the way. When the assembly was finally breaking up after an apparently endless long time, some of the men left the room and I assumed that they were going to leave the underground as well. Something I wished to do, too but Ratonhnhaké:ton didn't seem like he wanted to go yet and so I remained silent while Samuel Adams rolled the map up and Logan talked quietly with the remaining men. Soon they left, too and we were the only four people left. I asked myself what Ratonhnhaké:ton was waiting for because he still made no move to set off, too. But the reason dawned me soon enough and I was angry with myself because I hadn't wasted a thought on it.

"And Kanen'tó:kon wanted to come here?", Ratonhnhaké:ton asked Adams and Lester as they joined us.

"That was the agreement."

Adams pulled a pocket watch out of his jacket with Logan's words and looked at it frowning. "Normally it shouldn't take him this long."

Concerned I looked at Ratonhnhaké:ton who had pressed his lips together, grinding his jaws. His gaze was turned to the two entrances of this room. "We should go and search for him", he said. "He could be in trouble. He did not need to distract the guards but still he could have been arrested."

"This was a risk he was aware of", Logan replied calmly and earned an angry look.

"I do not care if he was aware of it or not", Ratonhnhaké:ton growled. "He risked it for me and so I will not accept that he probably..."

The door of the entrance opposite to the one we had used, interrupted him and we all turned our gazes into this direction. A quiet sigh escaped my lips and I shortly closed my eyes. Relieved. The proverbial devil hadn't been far. An entirely unharmed Kanen'tó:kon came in and threw a short glance into the room while approaching us. "Has everyone left already?"

Only silence was the answer at first. Then Logan uttered a loud laugh and Kanen'tó:kon winced as the strong man patted his shoulder. "You took your time, my friend. We were almost arranging a search party." He glanced at Ratonhnhaké:ton who still appeared tensed but I could read relief in his eyes. Luckily his concern had been for nothing. It was needless to imagine what it would have meant for him if something had happened to his friend while protecting Ratonhnhaké:ton.

"Avoiding the guards was not as easy as I thought", Kanen'tó:kon simply said with a light smile which finally brushed Ratonhnhaké:ton and me. "But luckily you had no further problems and I did not have to intervene."

Intervene? My eyes widened for a moment and promptly I believed my entire blood had gathered in my head. Had he followed us to make sure that we didn't get into trouble? The whole time? Embarrassed I lowered my eyes and I was glad that Kanen'tó:kon didn't say anything more. Maybe I was wrong and he had seen less than I thought.

"Thank you for taking the risk on yourself", Ratonhnhaké:ton said and didn't seem to have the same concerns like I. He had shortly put a hand on his friend's shoulder who only shook his head.

"As I said: It was on me to pay back your help in the past. Furthermore I am sure that we are going to need each other's support in the future."

"And you will have enough chances for that." Logan had shortly stolen Adams' watch from his hand to have a look at it. "We will sit together in the tavern tonight and then we can bring you up to date with our plans. We've been on the road for days and I think we all need that."

"I agree." Adams had taken back his watch with a slightly irritated expression and put it back into his pocket. "Probably Corrine has already prepared the rooms and I guess rested minds are better prepared for what is coming."

The two Mohawks didn't seem to be convinced, but they nodded. I, for my part, was already looking forward to a moment of peace where I could escape from all of this. And I was looking forward to the promised bath.

I was relieved to leave the underground room and return to the trap door. As I climbed up and was finally surrounded by daylight that shone through the small window, I caught myself in taking a deep breath, as if I was standing outside on a field of flowers, enjoying the fresh air. I really didn't care that the air in this room was actually quite stale. Not being underground was pleasant enough. As we entered the dining area, it was much livelier than it had been before. I recognized some rebels but normal citizens had found their way here, too. I would have never believed it, but it actually seemed like no one was paying attention to five people leaving the storage out of nowhere. Everyone was occupied with themselves, their dialogue partner or their drinks. But they were no harm to us.

"Corrine? Are our rooms ready?"

I turned my eyes to the counter as Logan had stepped there and I was happy to see Corrine, who huffed about Logan's question. "You, boys, are too impatient. Always wanting everything at once", she complained and put her hands on her hips. "I already told the others to take care of their beds on their own. You are staying here so often that you can do it on your own for once. I took care of your guests' room. It was more important to me." With these words, her eyes had flitted to Ratonhnhaké:ton and me and she gave us a warm smile which I knew too well and which I returned likewise warmly. I was so glad to see her.

"I guess you are the poor girl who has to travel with these monsters?", she asked me and at first I didn't know how to react. Not because of the "monsters" but because it was strange to be in the position of introducing each other although I could still remember the many chats we had had during our work in the inn over the last couple of years. The help I had received from her while being totally inexperienced in having an own household and the help I still received today. Without Corrine, I would have reached the edge of despair too often.

"They are not so bad", I finally managed to answer and made her smirk and Logan chuckle.

"At least she noticed it."

"Logan, you are the worst of all."

"But I still worry the most, my dear Corrine." Logan grinned and pointed shortly at me. "Lillian here bruised her back two days ago. I already gave her some herbs for a hot bath. Is it possible that she can have one?"

"Sure." Corrine gave me a concern gaze. "I will take care of it right now."

"I will help you." It was matter of course to offer my help, but Corrine looked almost shocked as she shook her head.

"Oh no, my dear. I will do it. You are a guest and so I will gladly care for you." She gave me another warm smile and I had the scary feeling to remember the day of our first meeting, when she had said almost the same in almost the same situation. But she at least allowed Ratonhnhaké:ton to carry the buckets of hot water upstairs. He also disliked the thought of being served by our friend. So I was somehow relieved when Corrine finally left us alone in our room and I closed the door behind her.

"It's so terribly weird", I said quietly and leaned my back against the door. "The whole time I want to chat with her as we normally would but she thinks I'm only a guest and not a friend." My head sank against the wood behind me as I sighed deeply. "But I'm glad that she and Oliver are fine."

Ratonhnhaké:ton had put his tomahawk and my little knife, which Kanen'tó:kon had kept for us, onto the commode and stepped to me to put his hands on my hips. His eyes radiated an incredible calmness and a small smile lay on his lips as he stroked a strand of hair behind my ear that had slipped out of the bonnet. "I think this is the most important thing about it. There is no need to worry about it. Believe me, it only makes it harder to understand."

"I think you could be right." I forced a smile and looked to the bathtub where faint steam was filling the room with the scent of the herbs I had added to the water. I was looking forward to this bath as much as I was awaiting to sleep in a bed again. Maybe it could help us giving up the worrying.

"I think a bath is waiting for us", I smirked and as he turned his head to the side to follow my gaze, I grabbed the tricorn on his head and took it off. The hat caused a thud when I aimed past Ratonhnhaké:ton and at the chair beside the washstand, missed and it hit the closed window instead. Ratonhnhaké:ton raised an eyebrow and I shrugged my shoulders grinning as he looked at me. "If it was open, someone would be happy about a new hat."

"Can I at least keep the rest of my clothes and put them onto the chair?"

"As long as you take them off at all." I bit my bottom lip after my cheeky words which had come out without a second thought. They sounded more pushy and awkward than intended. "To have a bath", I added and saw an amused sparkle in Ratonhnhaké:ton's eyes.

"Should I expect something else?"

"I just wanted to be sure." I smirked and my gaze followed my hands which slid up his arms until they reached the back of his neck and stayed there. "You extended our distraction after all."

"I did what?" Ratonhnhaké:ton chuckled and cocked his head. "You wanted me to unbutton your jacket. I just wanted to kiss you."

"I wanted it to look real."

"Was it not?"

Again my bottom lip made acquaintance with my teeth when our gazes intertwined. The memory of Ratonhnhaké:ton's touches and kisses in the alley flowed through me and aroused this warm, prickling feeling that I could only feel for him and which I didn't want to miss. The times in which I had to suppress it because I didn't know what he was feeling or because I was afraid of it were long gong and I was incredibly happy about it. Nobody here knew on first sight that we were a couple, married even, but it made no difference. So I had chosen the wrong words. Nothing in the alley had needed to appear real.

"It was." I stretched myself and gave him a soft but short kiss because in the same movement, I pushed myself past Ratonhnhaké:ton with a smile and walked into the room. "But the bath is very real, too."

Still walking, I took of the bonnet and unlaced my bodice to put both onto chair by the washstand. My blouse followed and when I folded my skirt, Ratonhnhaké:ton's arm appeared next to me and he hung his shirt over the back of the chair. Smirking I glanced over my shoulder, pausing a moment when my gaze fell upon his right side. I turned around to him and gently laid a hand on this spot, as if I wanted to check if my eyes weren't fooling me. My fingers should be touching the rough tissue of the fist-sized scar which he had got long before we had met. But it was gone and even when I walked around him to look at his back, there was nothing else but smooth, even skin. No scars which normally reminded me of the days when I had feared to lose him, although he had been nothing more than a friend.

"They are gone", I murmured and ran my hands over Ratonhnhaké:ton's shoulder blades.

"I know", Ratonhnhaké:ton said quietly, his head turned to the side so that he could look at me somehow. "I already noticed. Whatever happens or did not happen here seems to have an effect on us."

I nodded slowly. I should have known since I had noticed my grown hair while waking up here. I had rarely cut it in the past because I had liked its length. But after I had needed to take care of my own household it had become annoying. But this had no meaning here.

I sighed and caressed Ratonhnhaké:ton's back for a last time. Should I be glad that he hadn't suffered the pain which had been caused by the injuries whose traces I was now searching for nothing? A question I couldn't answer.

"As long as you are fine." I pressed a kiss onto his right shoulder blade before pulling away from him to keep slipping out of my clothes and put them tidily aside. I felt Ratonhnhaké:ton's gaze on me but I was glad that he didn't say anything. We were both confused by what was happening although I got the feeling that it was easier for him to get along with it. He seemed to understand and accept it. Could adapt himself to it easier than I, who used to question everything and rack her brains. Maybe the different cultures we were coming from were a reason for that.

While I was lost in my thoughts, I had slowly taken off my shoes and stockings and had put them aside. Ratonhnhaké:ton had already got rid of his clothes and slowly climbed into the bathtub where the rising steam had finally filled the room with its warmth and scent. But still I was freezing in my shift and just wanted to climb into the warm water, too. But again it was me who stopped myself from it. I had just slipped out of the shift when my thoughts returned to my recent discovery and succumbed to the urge to have a scrutinizing look into the small mirror on the washstand. Both times when I had got changed, I had never paid attention to it but now I saw right away, that Ratonhnhaké:ton was right with his theory about the effect the events here had on us. The injuries he had never endured for example. But I didn't notice only the missing scar over my navel. The reminder of my almost final death from a bullet wound. If you normally looked into the mirror, you may notice the changes of your appearance, but it was a slow process. Right now it felt like my reflection was literally screaming at me what had changed about me. Now I saw narrow hips, a slim waist and a flat, flawless belly. I had always been rather delicate than womanly curved but always pleased with it. When I had got pregnant and also after giving birth, I had been a bit irritated because this shape was gone. Actually I had never got rid of the remaining pregnancy weight. My hips were still narrow but better upholstered and a small belly had stayed, too. Not speaking of the fine, white lines and little bumps on my lower belly which were somehow scars as well and always reminded me of what my body had done to bring a little wonder like Emily into our world.

From one moment to another, time had been turned back but when looking at myself now, I didn't know if I should have mourned after this body shape. I still liked it, but I would have preferred to get it back and still have my baby with me. Emily had been worth every pound. Now she wasn't here and my reflection had made this thought become visible. It felt like it was sneering at me. I had never looked at myself with such disfavour. I shivered. Maybe because of my thoughts but also because I really started to freeze. I looked at Ratonhnhaké:ton who was sitting in the bathtub with his back turned at me and running a sponge over his arms. He always appeared to be so calm and looking at him could make me forget that we were not at home.

Stop it!, I thought and gave myself another grim look through the mirror. Stop thinking. Stop whining. Do what you have said yourself: Stick to your memories and don't think about what is different. THIS is not real.

I was pleased with myself as I nodded at myself and finally turned away from the mirror. It was better to concentrate on the here and now, wasn't it? To stop thinking. To come to rest and to mobilize all strengths. I stepped to the bathtub and when Ratonhnhaké:ton had made room for me, I sank into the warm water facing him and giving a quiet sigh. The steam and the scent of the herbs surrounded me, made me close my eyes and enjoy the warmth that flowed through my body, relaxed my maltreated muscles and washed away the dark thoughts. It needed some effort to open my eyes and turn to my body care. After we had washed ourselves, Ratonhnhaké:ton reached out his hand for me and with a pleased smile, I stood up to turn around and sink against his chest with my back. The bruises weren't bothering me. I had hardly felt any pain today that had been more than a faint ache. Right now I felt freed from everything. Calmer. Lighter. Happier. Leaning my head against his shoulder, I just enjoyed being held by Ratonhnhaké:ton's arms. He had wrapped them around my chest, his hands crossed over my hip where his fingertips were drawing short lines. It was wonderful. Just sitting here, relaxing, forgetting everything around us and enjoying the presence of the man I loved. It was almost unreal when I thought of the last twenty-four hours, no, the last few days. It hadn't been a week even. Four days? Five?

Why does it matter? You're doing it again.

I couldn't stop myself from uttering an indignant huff which understandably confused Ratonhnhaké:ton. He abruptly stopped his caresses on my belly. "Is something wrong?" He sat up a bit to look at me. "Is it your back? Did I hurt you?" The concern in his voice was so honest that I instantly got a bad conscience. I shook my head and stretched my right arm to ran my fingertips over Ratonhnhaké:ton's cheek. His eyes were full of concern, too. He really seemed believe that my sudden and short discontent had been his fault.

"You did nothing wrong", I tried to reassure him. "It was me. I...just can't turn off my head. I am thinking too much. About the situation here and about...Emily..." I paused and bit my bottom lip. No. I couldn't bring this up and pull him into my sadness. He had enough to worry about. "I am sorry", I murmured. "We should come to rest. I am ruining everything."

"You do not need to apologize." He gently kissed my temple and bedded his chin on my shoulder. I could feel the light vibration of his chest on my back as he said in a quiet voice: "We will get through this together. You are not alone and if you feel the need to talk about your thoughts, I will listen."

I nodded lightly and was glad that he didn't ask me to tell him everything I was thinking about. My thoughts were like a bottomless pit. Were running in circles, messed up, restless and I wouldn't be able to utter them without making them sound senseless. But I could sum them up pretty well: I wanted to go home, to Emily but this wasn't new to Ratonhnhaké:ton. We shared this wish.

"Could you just hold me for the moment?", I asked quietly and turned my head so that the tip of my nose nudged softly against his. His chest vibrated again, this time as he hummed confirmatively and tightened the grip of his arms.

Silently we stayed in the bathtub until the water had cooled down. I actually managed to finally turn off my head and only concentrate on what I felt right now. The warm, scented water on my skin, joining the warmth of Ratonhnhaké:ton's body on my back. The whole time my head leant against his shoulder, I felt his cheek on my temple and his hands which were gently running over my arms, belly and waist. His caresses were almost hypnotic and slumberous and I was really close to falling asleep. My eyes kept falling shut and when I finally couldn't hold back a yawn, Ratonhnhaké:ton made me standing up and stepping out of the tub. We towelled ourselves, wrapped ourselves into the towels, went to bed and Ratonhnhaké:ton spread the blanket over us. Although it was still midday, my eyes closed as soon as my head touched the pillow. Shrouded by the warmth and scent of our bodies and with Ratonhnhaké:ton beside me, who was holding me in his arms once more, I quickly fell asleep and finally found the peace and rest I needed to face whatever was ahead of us.

When I woke up, the sun had already set behind the roofs of Boston. With my face turned to the window, I could see the red line on the sky that had remained from its light. The room itself was almost dark and when I turned to the other side and to Ratonhnhaké:ton, I could hardly see his features. But still I saw that he was awake. His eyes, shining like amber in the remaining light of the evening, were turned at me. A warm prickle ran through my body, from my head down to the tips of my toes and I smiled as I moved closer to him and was pulled into his arms.

"Don't you want to be downstairs when the others meet?", I asked while pushing my arm under my head and laying my hand on the warm skin of his chest. Logan had said that they wanted to meet downstairs tonight to tell Kanen'tó:kon about the last meeting. I didn't know exactly, if we had to come, too. Right now I preferred staying in bed and enjoying the peace and quiet, here in our little room. But especially because it was also about Kanen'tó:kon, I already guessed Ratonhnhaké:ton's answer. I wasn't wrong because he nodded.

"I want to hear what Kanen'tó:kon is thinking about our plans. He is the one I trust most."

"And he knows the men better than we do. Except of Adams."

He nodded again and his gaze slid down to my hand whose fingertips were drawing small circles on his chest. His lips curled into a hardly noticeable smile and I sighed quietly when I felt them on mine. He breathed several little kisses onto them, putting a hand gently under my chin from where it ran over my cheek and into my hair.

"You can stay here and have some rest", he murmured but I shook my head.

"I don't want to be alone and apart from that, I am hungry like a bear."

I felt him smiling again before sealing my lips with his. For some, wonderful minutes, it felt like we had never talked about getting up and going downstairs. We stayed in bed, without saying a word, arm in arm, sharing kisses from time to time and enjoying our little cave under the blanket. I felt like being set back into the alley, where I had been able to forget everything around us and I enjoyed this feeling. The feeling that Ratonhnhaké:ton was my island in this chaos. It was hard to leave this safe heaven, to get up and get dressed but when we left the room together and went downstairs, I still felt good and safe. The few hours of resting had helped me gathering the strength I needed.

The inn was expectably full of people at this point in time. I only saw a few single chairs at occupied tables and the seats at the bar weren't free either. But I immediately noticed that most of the visitors were rebels. I followed Ratonhnhaké:ton past the tables until we reached the one where only one chair was free but where we found Kanen'tó:kon and Logan. The latter raised his mug to us. His cheeks red, his eyes shining and visibly drunk.

"There you are!", he called out before we even reached the table. "Did you recover from the journey?"

The young boy next to him, who I had already noticed in the camp, giggled. Obviously he was drunk, too. He was slurring as he raised his voice and said: "Therefore she doesn't look thoroughly taken."

Actually my jaw should have dropped. Instead I stared at him with wide eyes and didn't know how to react on this insolence. But Logan knew. The slap he gave the back of the boy's head was audible, even between all the voices and the music and the eyes of the tall man were looking threatening.

"Luke, Jesus. Didn't your mother teach you some manners? Let yourself grow some hairs on your sack and become a man before talking big. Understood?" He grabbed the boy's arm and pushed him up. "Clear your seat and get a chair so that these two can sit down. Go!"

Luke murmured something incomprehensible but actually left to do what he had been told to. I stared after him, still speechless and my gaze flitted to Ratonhnhaké:ton, who was standing with his back to me but looked after the boy with a frown so that I could see his profile.

"You have to apologize", Logan started. "Unfortunately the boy chose the wrong men among us for company. Maybe I should have stopped him from drinking."

"This is no excuse." It was Kanen'tó:kon who held an own mug between his hands, but appeared much more sober than the others at the table. "He has to apologize to Lillian and Ratonhnhaké:ton."

"Of course he will. But wait until he's sober. Nothing reasonable will get out of this mouth today." Logan gave the boy a grim gaze when he returned, his shoulders down and a chair in his hands. "Now bring it here and go fetch some fresh air", Logan told him and he left without any objections.

Rather unwillingly I followed Ratonhnhaké:ton to the seats that had been freed for us. My cheeks were glowing, although I didn't want to pay further attention to the boy's boldness. But still I thought the others at the table were staring at me and a look at Ratonhnhaké:ton told me that he was anything but pleased with the start of this evening. His eyes had followed the initiator of the remaining, awkward silence and I shortly feared that he could make him apologize. But soon Ratonhnhaké:ton concentrated on Kanen'tó:kon, as if he had come to the conclusion that a drunk adolescent, who couldn't think straight because of his age, wasn't worth the trouble.

"Do you know about the plans?", he asked simply, almost reserved and with that, another tactical conversation started. I could hardly follow it because I suddenly felt uncomfortable among all these men. I just sat silently on my seat, staring at my folded hands in my lap or into the room until a hand was laid onto my arm and I looked at Ratonhnhaké:ton, who had slightly leaned to me to drown out the volume around us.

"I am sorry for letting you wait here. Shall I get you something to eat and drink?"

My gaze flitted to the others at the table, to Kanen'tó:kon and Logan, who were looking at me, too. It seemed like Ratonhnhaké:ton had interrupted the conversation because of me and I blushed again.

"No, it's fine", I said quickly. "You wanted to hold this conversation and I won't stop you. I will go myself. Do you want something?"

Ratonhnhaké:ton shook his head and let his hand slide to mine to grab and squeeze it shortly. I instantly felt calm again and smiled, almost gratefully, before standing up and head to the bar. I used the opportunity to take a deep breath and inwardly shake my head about myself. I was too touchy lately. Everything, no matter how small, unsettled me and actually I should have laughed about the boy's infantile comment. Logan was right saying that he wasn't a man, an adult. Probably he didn't know the true meaning of love between a man and a woman. That it wasn't only about the physical part. Even if Ratonhnhaké:ton and I had used the chance to revive and enjoy the passion we had shared in the alley, it would have happened because we had thought the time and the place was right and not because we had lain beside each other practically naked.

That was certainly not the only chance, I thought and smirked about this thought.

"Well, someone's looking happy."

I winced as I heard this voice beside me and looked straight into Corinne's smiling face while the blood was rushing into my cheeks once more.

"Er...Excuse me?", I stammered and Corinne's smile became knowing.

"Well, my Dear, your eyes shine, you're smiling to yourself. You seem to be happy." She patted my arm. "But you don't need to blush. I was also newly married once. I know who's in your mind." She laughed this quiet, hearty laugh which made you smile as well. It had always been like that with her and instead of objecting, I just lowered my eyes. Basically she had caught me.

"Well, tell me my Dear: Can I bring you something? Something to eat, maybe?"

I nodded, grateful for this change of topic. "That would be great. I could eat for two."

Her eyes widened for a moment and - to my confusion - she appeared to be happy as she smiled widely and patted my arm again. "Sure. You'll get an extra portion. You need to gain some weight or it won't be good for the two of you."

I blinked in confusion because I didn't understand what she was talking about. But when it slowly sank in, she had already left towards the kitchen and every kinds of protest or correction were impossible.

"Great", I murmured and leaned against the counter to wait for her return. I stood at its edge, at some distance from the other guests here. Therefore I had a good view over the rest of the inn and the table, where Logan just stood up and said in a loud voice, that he was going to look after Luke before heading for the door. Ratonhnhaké:ton seemed to be talking only to Kanen'tó:kon who was sitting opposite to him. I was more than sure that they spoke in their mother tongue. It was as if you could tell it by his looks when Ratonhnhaké:ton was speaking it. He seemed to be more relaxed, completely in his element and probably this was the reason why I liked hearing him change to his mother-tongue, even when he was talking to me. I loved it. It revealed himself and also now when I was watching him, I had to smile. Even when someone could think I was drunk in love. Was it a shame?

Still shaking my head about myself but smiling, I turned to the bar. While waiting for Corinne's return, I occupied myself with following the texture of the wood with my fingertips and stood there for a while without raising my eyes. So I didn't notice a man approaching and stopping beside me. His hand was the first part of him to appear in my field of vision as he put it onto the counter before leaning beside me, his back turned towards the rest of the room so that I could only see him when I raised my eyes and froze. He was a soldier. A bluecoat and I recognized him. He had let Logan and me into the town when I had played the mad cousin and I could read in his eyes that he recognized me, too.

"And so we meet again", he growled. "You seem to be much more...in order, Miss. Are you still in the company of your cousin?"

I didn't know how to react. Should I pretend to be the madwoman again? I didn't believe that this was going to work this time. So I just stared at him like a rabbit facing a wolf. I really felt like it. Helpless I tried to look past him and to Ratonhnhaké:ton, but he blocked my sight while looking me over. This gaze I knew as well. He had looked at me like this after he had called Logan and me back. He had looked me over like this before asking me to take a bath. How ironic that I had done it but I didn't feel like laughing. Especially not when he started talking again.

"I know you", he said slowly. "You already looked familiar when I saw you at the gate, but I didn't get it. But now that you have changed...it's not an elegant dress but I am certain you are the niece of the man who tried to flee instead of paying his debts. In the village the savage attacked. That was you! I know you!"

His voice had become louder with every sentence while the rest of the room had become noticeably silent. I wanted to say something, deny his guess but it was Ratonhnhaké:ton who did it for me.