Kivian, Shar, Vokì and Oscar stood standing outside the orphanages’ closed gates. Oscar’s little sister, Amber, was still within its walls. Kivian had promised Oscar that he would get Amber out. And in so doing, would look after them until they come of age. Well, he would get a friend to look after them. Until he sorted out the problem between Blaze and himself. But until then, he couldn’t risk the children’s safety. But what was he thinking? He wanted to get back into the job of King’s assassin. How could he raise two children when his job requested him more?

He pushed all those thoughts away and focused on the present. I’m not surprised Oscar managed to escape, the security of this place is appalling. The orphanage was in disrepair, windows were extremely dirty, one could hardly see through them, and the garden was overgrown. This is no orphanage. This is a prison. And not a very good one at that, he thought.

He motioned to Oscar and Vokì to follow him, while Shar kept watch outside the gates. With a sigh, they both followed his command.

‘Keep quiet and follow me, you need to make sure you can identify your sister so we can escape as quickly as possible. Do you understand?’ Kivian spoke directly to Oscar as he responded with a vigorous nod.

‘Ok, let’s go,’ Kivian hoisted Oscar over the high wall, Vokì followed behind them. They followed the garden path to a side door, he peered into the keyhole before quietly entering, his footsteps made no hint of a sound. Even Oscar was light on his feet.

The door opened up to what looked to be an old classroom, tables and chairs were stacked across the far wall. Pictures hung upon the walls, showcasing their talents. He crept through to the door and peered around the corner. He could hear footsteps, but they sounded to be upstairs, where the children were sleeping.

He sighed and gradually ascended the steps that now stood before him. With Oscar and Vokì right behind him. Kivian had kept to the side of the stairs as many wooden floors have proven to be loud and creaky. To his relief, they were quiet.

He heard chattering from the room further down the corridor. He looked to his left, a room labelled, ‘Boy’s dormitory’ etched across the door. He crept further down the corridor to his left to find a second door with the words, ‘Girl’s dormitory’ upon the door. Kivian slowly and quietly un-latched the door. He motioned for Oscar to quietly stand in the room and point out his sister, Amber.

She was three beds down, against the wall in front of him. Kivian nodded for Oscar to quietly lift and carry his sister out of the bed. She was deeply asleep. It looked like nothing could wake her.

Oscar proceeded back to the door, he handed Vokì his sister and followed Kivian back down the stairs. Luckily the men and women in the room down the corridor, didn’t want to do a routine inspection of the rooms. Yet. He crossed his fingers in his mind and continued through the classroom they had entered through.

Amber stirred slightly. Vokì stopped, his mouth open, he made sure he didn’t move. She soon drifted back to sleep, he sighed and muttered, ‘thank the Gods.’ As he continued after Kivian and Oscar. Kivian had already hoisted Oscar over the wall, he held out his hands to Vokì so that he could pass Amber over to Oscar. Vokì was more than willing, and soon after, Vokì vaulted over the wall.

‘Well that wasn’t so bad,’ Vokì breathed

‘Yeah, but I would have like to see your face again when she moved in your arms. That was something not to have missed,’ Kivian quietly chuckled to himself.

‘Ok, ok, let’s just get away from here. I don’t want to linger here more than necessary.’ Shar opined.

‘You are right, let’s get away from here,’ Kivian walked down the cobbled street that had led them to the orphanage.

Oscar in tow with his sister, Amber, in his arms. He was strong for a boy of six, hopefully he will still be strong for his sister in the days to come.

‘Where are we to head to next?’ Vokì asked Kivian.

‘To some friends of mine. I need to go back to the castle, Oscar and Amber are coming with me.’

‘Wait, why?’ Shar asked.

‘Because, we can’t take them with us, not without endangering them,’ Kivian turned to answer Shar’s question.

‘Oh, now you see reason. I thought you were going to raise them yourself,’ Shar said almost roughly.

‘Look, I know you were right, but I still intend to raise them, at least after my dealings with Blaze have disappeared. He should be rotting in the dungeon as we speak.’

‘Wait! You said we would stay with you! You promised!’ Oscar said wildly, Amber almost stirred from his raised voice.

‘And I’m going to fulfil that promise, but I have to leave you with some friends of mine until I deal with something. I did promise to free your sister from the orphanage, did I not?’

‘Yes.’

‘And I did fulfil that promise?’

‘Yes.’

‘Look, I am not a man to go back on his word. Look at me. I promise I will return for you. I promise!’

Oscar nodded his reply.

‘Ok, let’s go.’

As they were already in the common district, they didn’t have far to travel to the castle.

Kivian instructed Shar and Vokì to wait outside the all too familiar, ivy covered door that they had used to gain entry into the castle grounds. Kivian had noticed he hadn’t managed to change his clothes since the events of last week. It didn’t matter, it was early evening and the bustling of the castle would make it easier for them to disappear without him worrying about the outfit he wore.

He had managed to take them into a room on the ground level unnoticed. It was a store room, much used by the servants of the castle. They needed to be quick. He pushed in a switch to reveal a hidden doorway behind some shelving. He motioned for Oscar to enter while he closed the door behind them.

Oscar was stunned to find it so dark within these hidden passageways. Kivian placed his hand on Oscar’s shoulder while slowly navigating the dark for him. He then decided to have Amber in his arms while also holding Oscar’s hand as they ascended the dark steps before them.

They easily made it to Princess Fearn’s chambers. He looked the peephole before attempting to push open the door. Fearn sat at the edge of her bed reading a large book. She was dressed in blue, her dress tightened around her chest, her long golden hair trailing down her back and shoulders as she sat there, reading.

He pushed the fireplace open to reveal a shocked expression upon Fearn’s face as he entered. She was even more shocked to find him holding a young girl and a young boy at his heels. Her eyebrows raised as Kivian closed the door behind him.

‘I didn’t know you wanted children this badly,’ she said as she placed the book onto a table.

‘Neither did I,’ he smiled at her.

Oscar was in mild shock as he stood before the Princess of Feln. His mouth agape as she stood there in front of him.

Fearn giggled, ‘what have you done?’ she said, sternly.

‘Well, this and that.’

‘Stop playing games with me,’ she smiled at him, her hands on her hips as she stood there, eying the children before her. She crossed her arms across her chest as she added, ‘who are they? And why have you brought them here?’

‘This is Oscar and Amber, I need you to look after them while I deal with my problem.’

‘Are you serious? How am I supposed to explain this to my brothers, my mother or my father?’

‘Please! There is no one else I can trust! When I have dealt with my predicament, I will return for them. I promised them that I will raise them.’

‘You? How are you going to do that?’

‘I will just know when I return. Please, I don’t know how long I will be. I don’t know how long I will be away. I need someone I can trust to protect them. To keep them safe!’

Amber arose from her slumber. Her eyes wide with fear as she cried in his arms. Oscar walked over to her and calmed her down, he reassured her that they were helping them.

Fearn stood staring at the children with wide eyes, ‘ok, ok, I will do my best. I will look after them for you. What will happen when you return?’ she asked quizzically.

He returned Amber to Oscar’s arms and replied, ‘I don’t know.’ Kivian turned towards the hidden door once again.

Fearn ran over to him before he could apply pressure to the door. She kissed him deeply, her hands on his face as she whispered, ‘return to me safely. Promise me this!’

‘I promise! I promise!’ he kissed her once more before leaving through the hidden door.