Gloria tiptoed inside. Everyone was still asleep it seemed. Priase Crim. Gloria thought as she crept over to the hearth where a chest sat in a corner.

Gloria waved her hand over the chest and whispered a few words to the wood. The chest popped open. Inside were a couple of dresses, a bag, and a few small belongings.

Gloria looked at her blue dress. It was stained and had a few tears. Gloria groaned and tried to scrub at a stain. I know we won’t be going to any dances on the road, she thought. But it’s my only nice dress. Gloria sighed and let her skirt drop. I guess there’s nothing for it now. She sighed and grabbed a bag from a hook next to her and started packing her things.

A floorboard behind her creaked. Probably Timmy. He usually gets up around now. Gloria thought. “I’ll get a quick breakfast for you in a minute, Timmy.” She said, rolling up the last dress and putting it in her bag.

“Where were you last night?” A gruff voice demanded. Gloria’s stomach dropped. She trembled and turned back to see a scowling black-haired man: her father.

Gloria put her bag on the floor and slowly stood up. “Since when have you cared where I’ve been?” she asked. “Except to yell at me to do something or because I messed something up.”

Father growled. “Don’t take that tone with me young lady. I care when there’s been a murder in town and the last time anyone’s seen my daughter was at the Maydance in the arms of that locksmith.”

Father pulled out a chair and sat down. He looked up at Gloria who stood there. He raised his arms in exasperation. “Is Timmy the only one who eats breakfast around here? Get me some food!”

Gloria obeyed. She grabbed cheese, dried fruit, and cured meat. Hopefully I can sneak some food in my bag while-

“What is this?” Father cried. “I said breakfast! Make me hotcakes.”

Gloria anxiously glanced towards the door. Seth was going to begin to wonder where she went. Or worse, she thought. What if he leaves without me.

“Hey!” Father snapped his fingers in her face. “Focus! I saw hotcakes!”

Gloria looked down and mumbled an apology. She pulled out flour, eggs, milk, and started mixing the batter. Father seemed satisfied for the moment.

“I hear Bhaldran thinks it was Seth who murdered the man.” Father leaned back in his chair. “The clotpole had the nerve to try and burn down the Twin Hammer’s too. Thank Crim, we were able to put it out in time. I always knew the boy was shifty.”

Gloria’s hands shook with anger. She spilled some batter on the table. Father looked up at her. “I know you were always sweet on him.” He continued. “Don’t think I don’t know about your ‘broken’ jewelry box either.” Gloria tried not to blush and looked back at the mixing bowl stirring quickly. Father shook his head and laughed a little. “Your kind are all the same. You go after men with the biggest-”

Gloria slammed the spoon down on the table. “Stop it!” She cried. “He’s not like that! Seth’s twice the man you’ll ever be!”

The slap rang in Gloria’s ears. She tasted blood and felt her cheek swelling quickly.

“Don’t you ever disrespect me like that again!” Her father yelled.

It was too much, watching Seth die, her encounter with the assassin, the strange woman using Seth, and now this? Gloria let out a sob.

Someone banged on the kitchen door. “Gloria? Are you okay?” Gloria looked at the door and gasped. Hope and fear swirled in her. Seth hadn’t left.

Father followed her gaze to the door. He looked back at Gloria as recognition caught up with him. “Why is he here?” He demanded.

Gloria panicked. “I-I don’t know.” She lied.

Seth banged on the door again. “Gloria!”

Father’s eyes narrowed and he followed Gloria around the corner of the table. “Where were you last night?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Gloria backed towards the door. “I was at the dance. You knew that.” She quickly glanced at her bag that was left on the floor by her chest. Father followed her eyes and saw the bag. He looked back at her. “Leaving, are we?” He raised an eyebrow.

Gloria bumped into the door. “N-no, of course not. Why would I do that?” She tried to reach for the door handle, but Father held the door shut.

“I don’t think so.” Father said. “This is my household, and you aren’t going anywhere. Much less with that scoundrel Seth! Get over here while I’ll handle that cad!” Father grabbed Gloria and tried to drag her from the door.

Gloria screamed and tried to fight back. She saw the doorknob jiggle a bit, then the door opened. Seth peered around the corner. “Gloria?”

Gloria tried to reach out to Seth. “Seth!” She cried. “Help me!” Father tossed Gloria to the floor. She fell and looked up when she heard footsteps upstairs. The commotion was going to bring down the rest of the family.

Behind her, Gloria heard Father shout, “you! Get over here! There are some people in town who’d like a word with you.”

Gloria looked back; she saw Seth take a step back. Their eyes met. She saw fear in his eyes. I can’t ask him to do this. Gloria realized. It was too much to ask.

“Run Seth! I’ll be fine.” Gloria cried.

Seth took another step back. Father stopped and laughed. “Gloria says you’re twice the man I’ll ever be. She must have a very low opinion of me then since you’re nothing but a coward.”

Seth stopped and glanced at Gloria again. “Forget everything I said earlier,” Gloria begged. “I’ll be fine. Just promise me you’ll get help.” She tried to smile, then winced from the pain in her cheek.

The fear didn’t leave Seth’s eyes, but a glimmer of anger shone alongside them. Seth stepped forward and pushed the door wide open. “Let Gloria go.”

Father laughed. “Oh…so the coward suddenly grew a spine? It must be brittle. What do you think you’re going to do?” He stormed forward.

Seth pulled out his dagger. “Stay there!” Father stopped short and stared at the dagger point. “Gloria,” Seth said keeping his eyes on Father. “Get your things and let’s go.”

A gaggle of brown-haired children and a brown-haired woman came down the stairs and crowded in the hall of the kitchen. The woman pushed her way to the front. “Theo, what’s going on?”

Father turned back, “it seems that Gloria spent the night with the locksmith and he’s here to whisk her away like some kind of princess.”

The woman looked at Gloria and frowned. “Gloria! How could you? You should be ashamed of yourself! You’ve shamed the entire family!”

Gloria slowly stood. “I’ve done no such thing!” She cried. She grabbed her bag from the floor. “But I am leaving!” Gloria grabbed the cheese from the table and shoved it into her overflowing bag.

“So, you’re leaving now too, just like your mother.” Father spat. Tears sprang to Gloria’s eyes. She tried to blink them back.

She turned around and looked into her father’s eye. “Maybe Mom was right to leave you, you horrid old man!” Her lips trembled. “I just wish she had taken me with her.”

Father put his arm around the woman next to him and held her close. “I wish she had too.”

Gloria swallowed, trying to keep back her tears. Then she nodded. “I see…at last we’ve had an honest conversation. Good-bye.”

Gloria turned around to leave, but one of the children called from the kitchen doorway. “Don’t go Gloria! We love you!” Gloria hesitated for a moment. I’m sorry, she thought. I’m so sorry! Then she stepped out the door and tried to block out the children wailing behind her. Seth followed close behind and shut the door behind them.

“Will he follow us?” Seth asked, keeping his eyes on the door.

Gloria shook her head. “No, now he has everything that he has ever wanted.” Gloria ran her hands through her hair, took a deep breath and sighed. She looked at Seth. “Alright, I’m ready.” She said.

Seth looked concerned. “Are you sure?”

Gloria nodded. “Besides, it sounds like there are quite a few people who are upset with you here. It would be best to leave before either they or another assassin finds you.”

Seth sheathed his dagger. “Let’s go then.”

Gloria and Seth crept back through the alley and dashed into the tall grass outside of Northhorn. From there they circled around Northhorn until they reached the east road and headed on towards Westfjord.

When Northhorn was behind them, Gloria turned around and gazed at her old home. A cold breeze blew through her hair. She had finally done it. She escaped her father’s roof. Where would she go now? Gloria didn’t know.

She glanced at Seth who continued trudging on. Would he let her follow him north if he chose to go that way? Gloria wasn’t sure. But who knows what will happen by the time we get to Westfjord. Gloria thought. Gloria shifted her bag and hurried to catch up with Seth.

----------------------------------------

Seth marched along the path. Here I am again, He thought ruefully. On the road trying to evade my hunters. Seth looked behind him briefly. Master Naboth would have no way of contacting him now. If he’s still alive. Seth thought grimly.

Gloria interrupted his thoughts, “thank you, Seth.” She smiled at him briefly before wincing. “I wouldn’t have been able to leave without you.”

Seth looked down. He felt incredibly ashamed. “Don’t thank me.” He answered. “I almost left you there. Your father is right; I am a coward.”

Gloria looked at the horizon. “You’re not a coward,” she said. “If you were, you would’ve run, and you wouldn’t’ve looked back.”

Seth gave a brief chuckle. “You have too much faith in me.”

“Perhaps,” Gloria answered. “I guess we’ll just have to see who’s right then, won’t we?”

They walked on in silence for a while before Seth spoke again. “Why did your mother leave?”

Gloria turned around and smiled coyly at Seth. “I’ll make you a deal: when you can tell me your past. I’ll tell you mine.” Seth’s mouth dropped open and he was left speechless. Gloria giggled and walked on.

Seth blinked, then smiled softly. Well played. He thought and continued marching along the east road.