Getting to Lord Cao's was easy enough. Getting in was another matter if Anh didn't want Yara's parents, or the Chu soldier, to spot him.

The house was packed, initiating the beginning of the wedding celebrations. Townsfolk and Chu men sat about drinking and singing in the Hall and the guest rooms. None paid Anh any mind as he slipped through the Hall and poked his head into the quarters of Lord Cao's wives. It too was packed with older women readying their daughters for the weddings. Everywhere Anh looked, girls were having gowns hemmed, or their hair oiled. But Yara wasn't in there. A matron spotted Anh gawking and shooed him out.

Anh went out into the courtyard where the crowds varied with women, elderly and children. A traveller Anh had seen arrive yesterday was using the opportunity to busk for cash. He had a wonderful voice, though Anh couldn't understand what he sang of. He took a seat on a bench and felt about his senses again. His Second Sight hadn't come back. He wasn't sure if Yara really was here.

If he needed reason enough to prove his Second Sight was failing, it came – he felt a tap on his shoulder. Anh spun around half expecting Yara behind him. Instead he found himself face to face with her brother, Yulan.

"My father will kill you if he finds you here." Yulan said in a hushed voice.

"Yulan," Anh said bringing the young man to sit beside him. "I need to talk to Yara."

Yulan spoke through gritted teeth. "Did you not hear me? You need to leave before my father sees you. He will kill you!"

Anh brushed it aside. His qi could knock that old man out before he laid a hand on him. "I doubt that." Yulan opened his mouth to say something but Anh jumped in. "Is Yara here?"

"She's marrying that knobhead from Chu, Anh." Yulan said glumly.

"I know. I know, but Yulan – "

"You told me that if the Chu attacked, you'd take her with you."

Anh was impressed the young man remembered. After how ill Yara spoke of her brother and the jealous rivalry that came between them, he was surprised at how much her little brother cared for his sister. "They haven't attacked, Yulan."

"No, they haven't." Yulan said with clenched fists. "But they might. At any moment they could turn on us and Yara – " Yulan looked around them for any Chu who may be listening. He then leaned in and whispered, "and Yara would be in the belly of the beast when they do."

Anh studied Yulan's worried expression, understanding the weight of his concerns. He knew the balance between the Qin and the Chu – even under the banner now of 'The Han' – was delicate and could crumble at any moment. The risks Yara faced were real.

Determination filled Anh's eyes as he met Yulan's gaze. "Why do you think I came?" Anh said, his voice resolute. "I can help her and ensure her safety – if she wants that."

"How can you say that after what your dragon did to her face?" Yulan spat.

"I am not Hei Lei's Dragon Keeper anymore."

"Then what good are you to her?"

"Lu Yu is my dragon now. Several of us are leaving the Haven – and Qin – for a while." Anh didn't say that the move may well be permanent. "If it is her will, then I will take Yara with us and keep her safe. But I need your help."

Yulan hesitated, his inner turmoil evident. Anh's sense of knowing who was around at all times may have faulted since he and Hei Lei split, but he was getting stronger at reading hearts. He could see inside Yulan's. The thought of entrusting his sister's life to someone else was a difficult pill to swallow. Yet, he also recognized that Anh's determination stemmed from genuine concern and an unyielding desire to protect Yara.

"I cannot let her be a prisoner in her own marriage," Yulan whispered. "But how can I be sure that your intentions are true? I know about your father. And I know Dragon Keepers of old have a reputation."

Anh placed a hand on Yulan's shoulder. "I understand your concerns, Yulan. But I am not my father. And I have been friends with Yara for years. Even if it were not for love, she would be like a sister to me. I would never put her in harm's way."

Yulan's eyes softened. There was a flicker of hope in his gaze. He took a deep breath, and Anh saw in his heart that Yulan made his decision. He chose to trust Anh. "Alright," Yulan said. "Go outside – into the Hu Tong behind that wall." He pointed. It was the same wall Anh and Hei Lei climbed over their first night in Tinkling Village. "I'll bring her there."

Anh softly struck Yulan on his shoulder and grinned. Yulan disappeared, meanwhile Anh slipped into the Hu Tong running behind the Cao Residence. There were others in the Hu Tong. Children playing games, a group of elderly men drinking over a small table and, in the shadows, a couple kissing. Anh dawdled for a while before he felt a tap on his shoulder. He copped a mouthful of silk when he spun around.

"Anh!" Yara whispered into his neck.

"Are you okay Yara?" Anh asked, meanwhile silently cursing his Second Sight for not completely returning yet.

Yara met his gaze and he winced when he saw the wound. She was wearing a red gown, typical for wedding celebrations. She covered her hair and, by default, her face with a silk scarf. Even in the evening light, he could make out the yellowing and bruising from the stitches.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you last night -" She said.

"Your father told me this morning. Listen – "

"If my father sees you, he will hurt you." She said barely above a whisper.

"I just need to ask you something – " Yara cut him off by bringing her sleeve to his lips. She pushed him further into the shadows of the Hu Tong as a group of young women walked down.

Yara placed her hands on his shoulders. "Dance with me." She insisted. Anh drew her closer and they swayed about as the young girls walked by in fits of giggles. Though their situation was somewhat dire, Anh found his heart skipping a beat holding her. They were so close to each other now that no one could hear if they whispered.

"I think this is the first time we've danced together." Anh said with a smirk.

"We danced last night?"

Anh traced his fingers over the small of her back. "Not like this…" He said. Their eyes met again and they both blushed. Yara leaned into his chest.

"He's an animal." Yara said, barely above a whisper her voice filled with worry. "I don't want to marry him."

Anh gently stroked her hair. It smelled of rose oil. "Listen to me. I have a plan. We can escape together, and leave this life behind."

Yara tore herself from his chest and stared at him wide eyed. "How? We wouldn't get very far from Tinkling Village on foot. They'd catch us within a day."

"Lu Yu will take us."

"Lu Yu? The purple dragon?"

"Yes."

"How…?" She bit her lip. Anh explained as quickly as he could about the oath he'd taken with her earlier today as they lazily swayed together. Yara's eyes flickered with a mixture of fear and hope as he told her of his commitment to Lu Yu and, by default, her dragonling and Danzi.

He brought his hands to her cheeks afterwards. "We can all get out of here and be as far away as Xiangyang by dawn on dragonback. Or Shabian Pass. Anywhere."

"The Silk Fields?" Yara whispered.

Anh couldn't help but smile. She would love the Silk Fields. He would love to return, too. "Two weeks on dragonback – but yes. We could go there. We're not bound to the Haven anymore. And you don't have to be here." He bit his lip as he took his hands away from her face. "It's your choice, Yara."

Anh was no longer able to tell who was around anymore like before, but his ability to read hearts was growing stronger each time he tried. When Yara hesitated, he could see inside. She was torn between the love she felt for him, and the uncertainty of leaving everything she had ever known. But deep down, she knew what she wanted.

Yara looked into Anh's eyes and nodded. "Take me with you. Even if it means leaving everything here behind. I can't bear the thought of sitting idly as a Chu trophy wife that my father was so ready to have me be." She said in a hushed voice. "I also can't bear the thought of living without you."

Anh's face lit up with joy. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his heart full of love for the brave woman. They swayed in a tender dance in each other's arms while the sounds of the bustling Hu Tong melted into the background. Yara placed her hands around Anh's shoulders, drawing him even closer, their breath mingling as they moved in sync.

Anh leaned in, his voice a gentle murmur against her ear. "No matter what happens, I promise to protect you."

Yara tightened her grip around him as he spoke his plan to her. She was to wait one hour, then meet him at the shaman's under the guise of needing sleep medicine. In the meantime, she was to draw no attention to herself.

Yara rolled her eyes. "Draw no attention to myself? That would have been easy once, were not for this gash." She pointed at her cheek.

Anh grimaced. "I'm sorry – you know what I mean, though. Act normal."

It pained him to see her go, but Anh had no time to linger. He had to act fast. He side stepped and shimmied his way through the throngs of party goers. When at last he was free from the crowds he ran. His destination - the Tieze residence.

No light was emitted from the house. Anh counted his blessings that everyone was out in the streets, celebrating, and paying no mind to him. He slipped through the gate and fumbled through the dark towards the back. Yara had told him the back entrance was unbarred. He could get inside without any trouble.

Anh slipped through the backdoor. He tasked himself with gathering for Yara what she needed. Her needs were plain. She asked only for a pair of shoes, a coat, her loom and a bundle of fabrics. Had she not have mentioned it, Anh would have asked to bring some fabrics anyway – they could sell them.

Anh struggled to orientate himself in the dark. He felt about in the hopes of finding a candle. All he could find instead were some silks and a needle which pricked his thumb. He felt about in the dark, tracing the walls until he struck some luck at last – an oil lamp on the wall! He withdrew a matchstick from his pocket and ran it against the wall to create a tiny flame. When it came too, he lit the lamp and the world around him illuminated.

"Perfect." Anh said with a grin. He lifted the lamp from the wall and looked around. He was in a kitchen. After retracing his steps, he found Yara's room. Everything was where she said they would be. Anh took a cloak, a pair of shoes and a bundle and made his way to the hall. Cabinets were lined from floor to ceiling with fantastic fabrics. He stuffed as many as he could into the bundle. With a great heave, he lifted the bundle and went out the way he came.

Before closing the gate, he placed the lamp on the ground and blew it out. It was only then that he realised he'd forgotten something – the bloody loom!

He hid the pack behind the tapestries on the gates and dashed inside again. Yara said it would be in her room. When he reached it, he felt about the room clumsily when his hands landed on the wooden spools.

"Gotcha." Anh smiled. But as he was about to take his leave he felt a blow to the side of his head. He collapsed with a groan and cursed. He needed his Second Sight back! The attacker kicked him in the stomach. Anh recognised the man – it was Tieze Senior.

"The eve of my daughters wedding, and here you are, slithering about?" He kicked Anh's stomach again, causing him to wheeze for air.

"You don't know when to stop, do you?" Tieze Senior seethed.

Anh laughed twistedly between gasps of air. "I don't."

This made Tieze Senior up his attack. He kicked Anh's chest, then fell to his knee and grasped him by his hair. "Allow me to encourage you then to stay away from that bloody girl!"

That was the trigger.

With a sudden burst of energy, Anh grabbed Tieze by the collar and knocked his head into Tieze Senior's. Anh was dreadfully unskilled in hand-to-hand combat. The knock hurt, but it bought him time to harness his qi. With Tieze Senior disorientated, Anh stretched out his arms with his palms facing forward and felt the hot energy grow within them. With a flick of his wrists, he sent the energy hurtling towards Tieze Senior. The concussive force sent Tieze Senior hurtling backwards, crashing into a dresser.

Tieze Senior staggered to his feet and Anh could just make out in the darkness his face twisting with rage. He twisted and pulled a draw from the dresser. Anh stood quickly and readied himself into a defensive stance.

Tieze Senior charged at Anh, his hands a blur inside the drawer he had ripped from the dresser. Anh felt a force expand from him, shrouding him a barrier of energy. Tieze Senior smashed the drawer into the barrier that protected Anh, and the impact shattered. It sent Tieze Senior backwards.

Anh gasped as he examined the barrier around him fade. His qi powers had only ever amounted to causing objects around him to go flying about. This power was new.

Tieze Senior was wasted and grunted as he attempted to rise to his feet. Anh seized the moment and retaliating with a swift and precise strike infused with his qi energy. It magnified the impact on Tieze Senior, who collapsed on the floor again. With a final surge of determination, Anh delivered a devastating blow, channeling all his energy into a single strike. Tieze Senior was sent hurtling across the room, crashing into the wall with a bone-rattling thud.

Silence settled over the room as Anh's strength began to fade. His breathing was heavy, but his eyes burned with triumph as he towered over Tieze Senior.

"You listen to me," Anh said between breaths. "I may not be Hei Lei's Keeper, but I'm still a Dragon Keeper. I may not have had a father, but I have friends who love me. I may not be a fancy pants Chu soldier, but I am strong. And I don't need your permission to love your daughter. I'll fight for her, no matter what the costs."

Satisfied there would be no more fighting, Anh bent down and picked up the loom. Tieze Senior tried to sit up in the meantime. For a moment, the two men glared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. Then Tieze Senior slumped, a look of grudging defeat on his face.