lคץ ๓є l๏ฬ

[assassinrue]

Cassius suddenly remembered something. He snuck back outside the wall and walked back to the front entrance of the gates. This thine he knocked like a proper guest, after a moment of questioning he was let in.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl was still awake, though she lay silently in bed. She didn't think she'd be sleeping at all that night.

[assassinrue]

"Cassius, my brother, it is so good to finally see you. And after all this time. Come, tell me how you have been these years."
Cassius followed the man, soberly telling him about the death of his wife and child.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(... waits

[assassinrue]

When Cassius finally finished his story the other man looked at him thoughtfully. "So now, my brother, you wish to rescue this woman?"

"Yes, brother." Cassius answered, begging that Luca was the man he remembered.

"Answer me one question."

"Anything."

"Do you think you could let this woman in? Could you love her Cassius?"

Cassius hovered in silence a moment. He had to answer in all honesty but he hadn't thought about this question before. He was just Averyl's servant. Nothing more. Until recently, he had barely gotten to be in the same room as her. Until that one day she acknowledged his silent existence in the shadows. "Yes."

"Good. Then let us free your lady." And with that Luca led him through the house to the door with the guards.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl opened her eyes when she heard something outside her door. Not something immediately suspicious, but then she heard voices as one of her guards said something. They'd been silent until now. She sat up slowly, carefully, ears straining and breath withheld.

[assassinrue]

Cassius marveled at his friend as he word-smithed his way through the significantly less intelligent guards. Confused they simply opened the door and let the two men pass. Cassius held his breath, waiting to see Averyl, anticipating her condition, her mood, frightened of the way she might look at him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl's breath caught when the door opened... and then Cassius walked in. Without thinking, she sprang to her feet and raced across the room, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "It's you," she breathed. "I was so scared I would be stuck here..."

[assassinrue]

Cassius startled and his eyes slid over to meet Luca's. There was a pause as they stared at each other then Luca nodded once. Cassius slowly enfolded Averyl in his arms. "No, we are here to get you out."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl gave him a squeeze before stepping away. Suddenly, the frightened girl was gone and the Lady Averyl Karstark returned. "Good. Let's go."

[assassinrue]

"There's one more condition I'm afraid, Cass."

Cassius turned to look at him, his fingertips hovering over Averyl's back.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl frowned and looked at the other man. She hadn't really noticed him until he spoke.

[assassinrue]

"Anything. You know that." Cassius's hand fell from Averyl's back and he turned to Luca, raising his arm ever so slightly as if to reach for him.

Luca's face lost all of it's composure, "Please take me with you, please give me a place to live Lady Averyl."

Both men looked towards the woman.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The furrow in Averyl's forehead deepened. "I could get you a home in the town... or you could come work in the castle, like Cassius."

[assassinrue]

Luca's composure returned. "I'd be very willing to work for you."

[assassinrue]

Averyl nodded. "Then you are hired," she said. "We'll sort out the details when we get back."

[assassinrue]

There seemed to a release of tension from both Cassius and Luca as they both sighed silently, looking at each other like they had never heard better news.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl shifted restlessly. "Can we leave now?" she asked. She darted a glance toward the door. "Before my uncle comes."

[assassinrue]

"Let's go." Cassius hissed and Luca lead them quickly and safely out the gates and out of town.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Averyl followed quietly, glancing over her shoulder nervously every now and then.