***

Looking at the leaving carts, Walter and the two lords came out of the woods with their carts and headed for the direction of the Townsdale land. They made haste as time was of the essence. Riding into the land, they dismounted and nodded to each other. Looking at the four barns on the field, they all took one.

“Let’s look through them fast,” Rushing into the buildings, the three of them searched efficiently. A few minutes later, Lord of Merve rushed towards Walter and Lord Morge, who had just emerged from the structures they were searching.

“Just some wine, logs and a few documents,” Walter said.

“Me too,” Lord Morge answered.

“I found the diamonds. Not sure if it is Her Ladyship's but those crates bear the emblem of the Mclears,” Lord of Merve said.

“Show me,” Lord Morge said and they all rushed towards the said barn, with Lord of Merve leading the way. They found the crates. Searching through, they found more than diamonds stored in leather pouches in the crates. Some were filled with gold.

“All this gold; can they all be the Mclears fortune? It's a bit too much for a merchant family,” Lord Morge said. There was a storehouse full of crates of gold coins.

“No need. Let’s take it all. The carts we brought are not enough. But there are two more carts in the third barn,” Walter suggested, taking a crate outside as he started to load the carts.

“True, let's move,” Lord of Merve said and rushed over to bring the other two carts. He connected a cart to the one he brought with him. He hoped the three horses holding his cart could take the extra weight as he did the same for Lord of Morge's cart. After setting up, the three men worked fast and time worked fast as well. With only a few minutes to spare till the guards returned, they finished loading all they had found and mounted their carts and rode into the night. They made sure to take the forest path and avoid all main roads until they had ridden far enough to stop.

“Do you have where to keep these carts, Walter?” Lord of Merve asked.

“No. It will not be safe where I live, I have family there. Why not return this to Her Ladyship's land?” Walter asked.

“No. We must keep low for a while before going to see her. If word of this gets out, they will think to search her first,” Lord Morge said.

“And us too. As careful as we may be, it is not particularly news that we are in Her Ladyship's inner circle and could be considered loyal to her,” Lord of Merve said.

“The only option is you. How many know of you?” Lord Morge asked.

“Just Mr Jodanham and he cannot be trusted,” Walter answered.

“There is a plantation not too far from here. You must move. You said you have a family? Bring them. That is the Baron of Dockstorm's property he has not even set eyes on for years. Let's go there. After we store the carts, Lord Morge will wait till your family arrives. I will handle Lord Dockstorm. Make sure to get your family here fast,” Lord of Merve issued instructions after thinking it through. The two nodded at his words. That was a good plan.

“I guess that is okay,” Walter agreed and they rode into the night.

Walter dashed into his home in the morning hour. It was still dark outside and it would remain so for a few full-clock turns. He steadied his breathing as he went straight to knock on the door of his parent’s room.

“Who is that?” his father asked cautiously.

“Father, Mother, You need to get up,” he called to them. Going back to the table, he sat and waited. His parents emerged soon enough.

“Walter?” his mother asked, looking for him in the dark. He remained silent as she hurriedly lit a candle. His figure was revealed by the light, of him seated and waiting.

“Do you know what time it is, boy?” his father asked.

“We need to move,” Walter answered. He had a bad feeling about their response. But he knew if people really started to search, it would only be a matter of time till they connect him to Mr Jodanham and then to Her Ladyship. His entire family disappearing was the best answer.

“Move; where?” His mother seemed a bit disoriented.

“We need to move out of this house tonight and fast,” Walter said.

“What nonsense are you sprouting, boy?” he could see his father frown.

“It will not be long, maybe not today, but someday. People would come looking for me. We need to leave before then for your sakes,” Walter said.

“What's you gone and done, boy?” he could almost feel the anger emanating from his father.

“We need to leave now, Father. Questions will come later. Mother, you should wake Amie and Allen,” Walter advised and his mother nodded and rushed away. A little while later, he could hear his siblings complain in confusion as she hurried them in a hushed voice.

“You expect me to take the entire family and run for what you done? No. We stay right here! You go correct whatever it be you done. Don't bring my family into this!” his father said turning away.

“Do you think it's that simple? Do you think if I walk out this door without you, you'll be left alone?” Walter asked and the entire house paused, even his siblings seemed to go quiet all of a sudden. Walter sighed as he realized he sounded as if he was threatening them.

“Where we are going, I’ll handle it. You just pack for us to leave right now,” Walter said.

“Elaine, don't touch a thing. This has nothing to do with us,” his father called his mother with a steel voice. “You will leave me house this instant, boy. Don't come back unless your problems be gone!”

“Listen to yourself, Pa. Do you think everyone is righteous like you? If I walk out that door, you're all dead! You will not be able to protect Ma, Amie and Allen. If you want to keep holding your head in the sky, do so. But consider that you have a family. Calm down and think rationally,” Walter said, trying to control his temper. He had known his father was a stubborn man, but with the way this was going, they would not be able to leave before sunrise. Even with the badly lit room, he could still feel his father fix him a stare worthy of a vengeful spirit.

“We will not be involved with you and your problems! Leave!” his father scolded, raising his voice, almost enough to match his legendary stare.

“Then what? What will you do when the city hall calls for your execution? If you can find a better way, then I’ll leave,” Walter said and his mother sucked in an audible breath in shock.

“Miles, we must leave,” his mother said in a shaken voice.

“Why? Why must we be saddled with a child that walks the night doing devil's work? Why should we run? We be join you in your acts?” his father asked. He did not know what to do with this devil child before him.

“So? So what?” Walter said so softly, it sent shivers down everybody's spine.

“You will be killed if you stay. So, what does it matter if I did it alone? Is that what you will tell them? 'He is no more a son of mine.

He did it on his own.' Do you really think it matters? You remain so stubborn, but I find it hard to believe you will risk the entire family because you think your fellow righteous men will nod their heads when you speak your truth. I will go in and pack my room. When I come out, you must have made your choice. To die or live; it has never been more simple,” Walter said and walked into his room. Without thinking too much about what his family was doing outside his door, he packed. Being low-born means having little to nothing when it came to personal belongings; he only had a few clothes and a bed made with hay. Putting his clothes in a sack only took a minute or two to complete. His little brother rushed in after him and packed in haste too, making sure to avoid looking in Walter's direction. He sighed as he left the room after him to see him take a seat beside Amie on the table. Looking behind them he saw they were all packed. Like him, his little brother had only a sack of clothes. But his sister managed one trunk. His father came in from outside.

“Start to take things out. I will get your mother's endless trunks,” he ordered Walter coldly, then made his way to his bedroom. Walter took the trunk and bags out and put them in the cart. He looked back to find his father dragging behind two of his mother's trunks. He could hear his mother complaining.

“What about the other things. Are we only taking our personal belongings? Amie's horses...”

“Those horses are old and frail. Getting it sold would be hard, talk more of giving it as a dowry,” Walter said.

“Those are my belongings. I will not leave them here,” his mother protested.

“Mother we must disappear, leaving no way to be traced. Those horses are marked with your family's crest. Leave it. I will buy you new horses,” he made a promise he knew would be hard to keep. If horses were so cheap, everybody would have had one.

“You must! Since you have discarded your sister's dowry, you must be responsible for providing one when she is about to marry,” his mother huffed as his father returned from the house with two more trunks. Loading them up, his father turned and took the driver's seat. He could hear his mother mumbling in complaint as she climbed up on the cart and sat on one of her trunks. His siblings followed her lead, taking a seat on the trunks. He glanced back at his siblings as he mounted his horse. Amie remained expressionless and quiet, while Allen seemed drowsy.

“Let's go. It is best not to attract attention,” Walter said riding ahead, as he led his family away from their life and all they knew, to a life he had no expectations about. He wondered if he would ever come back. His mind wandered to his first meeting with Her Ladyship; he had neither expectations nor regrets. He did not bother a hair to glance back at the past.