Chapter 1.

Much had happened the previous night. It had been a long day of traveling and training with her new spells, and the dark haired Hyur had found herself more than ready to settle in for the evening in the comfort of her inn room, with her best friend at her side. Quyntin had been nagging her about almost setting his coat on fire, when they eventually returned to their inn room. They had just settled in and started getting comfortable, prepared to order dinner from the Drowning Wench below the inn, when Quyn had been unexpectedly called down to the front desk. From there he had run into other members of the Vorai household- Bast, and Jeth. Not to mention three hired syndicate mercenaries for backup, sent to bring Quyntin and Evey back to Uldah before her father.

From Limsa to Vesper Bay had been simple enough of a boat ride. Evey had been separated from Quyntin for the time being. Jeth and two hired Syndicate mercenaries had her in check, and Jeth was making sure she wouldn't try anything stupid with her spells. For Evey it had been Agony. She kept looking back to Quyn with a worried expression. The boat came into Vesper Bay and a few more of Vorai's men were waiting with chocobos. Quyn would recognize a few of them no doubt. Once everyone got up on their chocobos, Jeth slipped onto the saddle behind Evey and whispered something into the shell of her ear as he curled an arm around her waist to keep her from falling off the chocobo, and taking the reins of the chocobo from her grasp.

"This is only to keep you from running my dear." Which earned a slight blush from the dark haired girl as she frowned. She'd always found Jeth to be mildly attractive, but he was far too disturbed for her tastes. She wanted to wretch away but decided against it as to avoid drama.

Quyn of course, had been saddled alone on his own chocobo and left to follow the pack. It was only another twenty minute ride from the Bay before the entire group arrived back at the Vorai Residence which resided deep into the upper levels of Ul'dah where most nobility resided. The Vorai house was simply a large towering estate deep into the city, with high walls, and a tower that stretched high in the city. It didn't rival the palace, but it almost looked like it could be an addition with how the architecture was crafted. There was an open court yard beyond the main gates, with a long stable building off to the left as you entered. Lush exotic plants were propped here and there around the court yard, with watered rich green grasses.

Everyone dismounted from their chocobos, and Jeth gave Quyn a sly look before turning and helping Evey off the bird, where the girl was eagerly escorted into the main estate, with Quyn being lead to follow as Bast begrudgingly shoved him forward to get him moving. Quyntin said nothing from the time they lifted them from Limsa and their arrival home. He simply stared stony faced at their escort one at a time. Bast certainly enjoyed this role and spent most of his time idly chatting to the others about him as if he wasn't there. It was quite obvious he wanted to shove his fist through his face. The shoving definitely didn't help matters much. Having enough, Quyntin stopped short and forced Bast to wind up for a a great shove to get him moving again. A sidestep later and Bast was falling forward onto the cold tiled floor as Quynn grinned mischievously above him. The rest of their escort had to stifle a few laughs themselves.

"I thought the first thing they taught you in the army was how to stand up straight," Quyntin chuckled down at his downed comrade. "Hey, pretty boy! You might want to get a leash for your flunky here."

When Bast had collected himself, he wordlessly grabbed Quyntin's shoulder and lead him hurriedly after Evey's group. He neglected to move aside for the next pillar they passed, causing Quyntin's forehead to collide heavily with the stonework.

"And you really ought to watch where you're going," the man chuckled as Quynn staggered under his grip.

Evey and Quyn were lead through the halls of the winding home, and took an elevator lift that brought them to one of the higher levels of the large tower. The doors opened to a small hallway that eventually lead to massive double doors, with rather bizarre carvings of odd looking men and women kneeling before some scene of a large fire in the sky. Once inside Vorai's office, across from the doors was a large wall of windows that went from floor to ceiling, with an impressive view of the garden, the estate walls and some of the city beyond them. Vorai stood behind his long sleek dark wood desk, facing the window with his back to the door, his long dark ebony hair slicked back, wearing his usual velveteen overcoat, with expensive silks beneath. He looked more like a dictator than a loving father and tradesman. He didn't look like a merchant lord at all, and certainly didn't act the part. The fact that he had his own privatized army of bodyguards seemed almost over the top for a wealthy man like him, but it wasn't too unusual as Vorai had many rivals and enemies too.

Evey and Quyn were situated to stand before his desk, while the others left the room, leaving them alone with Duros Vorai, Evey's father. There was a long silence that lingered, the tension in the room seeming thicker than it probably should have been. Evey was no doubt nervous, and she struggled to find words to defend her state. She didn't even look at Quyn. Just as the girl opened her mouth to speak, Duros' voice was heard, and his tone was heavy; Tired, weary, and that of an exhausted father figure.

"I"m disappointed in you." He said. There was no anger in his tone, it wasn't raised, and there was no malice behind it. It sounded just the way he meant it: Disappointed. Whether it was directed at Evey or Quyn, was hard to tell at first.

"…The both of you." He finished, turning around now to give the pair a rather disapproving frown, his thick brows knitted together to show his age. Quyntin had shown no hint of fear up to this point. Death, torture, or worse did not scare him. But Duros did. His face was a pale white as as he snapped to attention before his master. He turned to see how Evey was holding up under his disapproving gaze, but discipline bade him to stay still. The imposing man's words made Quyntin flinch. They cut him deeper than any blade could. He mentally drew back like a stricken puppy, but he had enough strength to face down his master however feebly.

"The fault lies with me, sir," the boy barked in true military fashion, not even meeting his gaze. "I take full responsibility for this…. m-misunderstanding."

Evey glanced to Quyn and sighed at how blindly loyal he was. The young girl didn't fear her father the way Quyn did, though she knew all too well how awful the man was deep down, and that she should be afraid. Perhaps a part of her was really scared, but it certainly didnt show. Instead, she played the Brat act and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she looked straight to her father now.

"Daddy, don't be mad at Quyntin. I was incredibly difficult to handle, even for one of your elite. No one else would have handled me any better." She said with a rather condescending tone. Vorai looked to Quyntin with a disappointment in his gaze, but there was also a fondness and sympathy. Eventually his narrowed gaze traveled to his daughter.

"You would do better to mind your manners in my presence, daughter. Furthermore you should be grateful I gave you more than enough time to conduct your broad studies throughout Eorzea. Your mother wanted you home months ago, and I was lenient. I will be lenient no longer with your disruptive behavior."

Evey frowned back and strode over to his desk, slamming her hands down on his desk, her temper flaring.

"Disruptive behavior?! I've been STUDYING! I've been educating myself and taking up instruction with many different mentors. I hardly call that DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR! You and mother SMOTHER me! And now you're expecting to marry someone against my will?!"

Duros sighed and took a breath as he let his daughter rant for a good moment before responding, his tone firm.

"This marriage has been arranged since before your birth, you know that. What you lack is discipline, and I can only blame myself for that. Your mother and I have worked hard to provide for our daughters-"

"And look where that lead Aya!"

Duros slammed his fist on the desktop now, a loud pounding sound resonating throughout the large chamber as the older man raised his voice, his blue eyes flaring with anger.

"Be Silent! You will be married by the end of the week, and you will be shipped across the sea to live with your new husband. That is final! No more of this running off and adventuring, no more magic studies- I forbid it! You are not to leave the city again, and you will be under very secure watch from now on. You will learn to accept the reality that in this family you have responsibilities and obligations. Ones that will be upheld in this household. Do I make myself clear?!"

Evey was a bit taken back by the violence in the older man's voice, her eyes starting to brim with tears. She was angry and she wanted to lash out. Her freedom- her life. It was all slipping before her very eyes and she felt as though there was nothing she could do about it. Even if she ran away she would always be dragged back. Her heart sank.The boy was like a statue. His face did not betray even a hint of sadness as her father spoke of marriage and servitude. He didn't even flinch when the great man's hands struck the desk with the thunderous boom. But behind those blank blue eyes, a torrent of emotions swirled. They all fought for dominance as his stolid discipline held his body at rigid attention. But the silence was too much. He could feel the girl beside him and knew she was dying inside at the mere thought of it all and even his training couldn't prepare him for it. His body moved slowly as if his joints were rusted shut. His body relaxed only slightly and with great effort. When his eyes met his master's, Quyntin almost cowed before him… but his mind was made up. He spoke, but timidly.

"Sir, if I may speak freely?" he asked tentatively. Vorai stared coldly at him for a few silent moments, apparently giving him some sort of begrudging affirmation. "This…. may be a bit sudden for her. Maybe if you were to give her a bit more time, she might come around…"

Duros looked to Quyn his frown not lifting, though his eyes softened a bit. Quyntin was trying to be helpful. Evey did turn and gave Quyn a look as though he were a traitor, and she simply stormed out of the room, leaving Quyn alone with her father now. With Evey no longer there, Duros sighed and turned to face the window quietly.

"Quyntin, I understand you mean well. You're a good lad. You've always been kind to my daughters. " He paused for a moment and shook his head, looking back to Quyntin now.

"What she needs is not time, she needs discipline and to accept the reality of her destiny. She has had many years to come to terms with this. When you are a father someday you will understand that what parents do is not to be cruel to their children, but to ensure a good life and the welfare of their children." He turned back to Quyn now, and strode around the desk. He studied the miqo'te for several moments before his expression softened some.

"When I look at you I still see that young boy I met all those years ago." The moment of fondness was only that, a mere moment before a pained but stern expression crossed Duros' features.

"Knowing my daughter and how stubborn she is, I can not imagine how difficult it must have been for you to rein her in. Even so, I expected you would have been able to handle the situation better. I expect a report from you about the activities she has been involved in over the last few months while you have both been gone. I expect all the details tomorrow morning."

Quyntin wanted to turn to Evey, to tell her how he felt. But… he knew his duty. He couldn't change who he was no more than she could fight who she was. It tore his heart out to let her go, but it was what he had to do. Not even his master's praise could rid him from the terrible pain in his stomach it left.

"E-everything?" he asked, his face turning paler still. He quickly collected himself and pull himself back into full attention. "Everything. Yes, sir." Another uncomfortable moment passed in silence before the boy relaxed again and turned a worried look to his master.

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking… what do you plan to do about Evey?"

Duros had turned and walked back around his desk to the tall chair behind it, and seated himself comfortably, lifting his piercing gaze to meet with the miqo'te's as he studied Quyntin with an almost quizzing expression.

"You seem rather concerned for her welfare." He said pointedly before continuing. "Evey will be marrying the son of a Duke who runs a winery in La Noscea across the sea. I hear he's a good business man. Evey should want for nothing under his care, and hopefully under his instruction she will learn a new trade skill of use in the wine business." There was another pause as he studied Quyntin for a moment.

"The wedding will be at the end of the week, and so her mother will be busy having her fitted for her gown. I will need the help of all the able bodied soldiers and servants in the house to make sure everything is in order during the week. I will need you to especially oversee shipments being brought in from vesper bay. Many exotic foods and catering food will be brought in midweek to prepare for the wedding feast and other things will be imported for the ceremony as well. I have dock hands hiring other able bodied men and women to help the process along, as we're getting to the end of the line for time." He inclined his chin now. "I can count on you to help with the preparations, can't I Quyntin?"

Quyntin felt staggered by the news of her wedding, though he knew of it well before now. It seemed to hit him all at once. There small time together was finally over and he would have to say goodbye to a wondrous life he was just getting used to. It was a struggle to keep his expression level, but he'd learned to keep his emotions a secret to all but him.

"Yes, sir! Not a thing will go wrong, you'll see," he said confidently, a knot in his throat threatening to shatter his cool demeanor.

Duros seemed pleased with this and nodded a bit, leaning back in his seat for now. "You've done well to watch after my daughter for these past few months, and I thank you for that." He said nothing more and then made a waving gesture with his hand. "You may retire for the evening. I expect a report on my desk in the morning."

Once again, the high praise from his mentor was bitter sweet. Several thoughts struggled for his attention at once. He couldn't seem to bring himself to say what he truly wished to and instead stared blankly at the wall behind the man and saluted.

"Yes, sir."

When the sound of Lord Vorai's oaken door closing behind him no longer echoed in his ears, the boy felt safe enough to let out a long breath he'd been holding in. All those emotions he'd held back in his master's office seemed to come rushing back to him all at once, though no one who didn't know him intimately would realize it.

Quyntin stood alone and silent, staring blankly at his feet and feeling his life unraveling before him.

Chapter 2.

The day had been incredibly difficult. Not only had Evey been dragged out of bed at the wee hours of the morning by her mother's servants to get dressed, but the next several hours had been a grueling process of being prostrated before the woman of the house, yelled at and grilled about having been run off, on-top of being lectured on what it means to be a "real woman" and have responsibilities.

Needless to say, if Evey hadn't disliked her mother much before, she was hating the woman right now. To make things worse, she was angry with everything that had happened in the last forty-eight hours as it was. Her father, and Quyn for siding with him… So it was only natural she would be upset and surprised to see Quyn as the escort bodyguard for her mother and her today, along with two hand maidens as the little group ventured into the city and to the weaver's guild where Evey would be stripped down to her undergarments, measured, and then forced to try on a multitude of different outfits. That wasn't nearly as bad as the Bridal shop they visited. She'd been forced to put on gown after gown, all while Quyn watched every time she emerged from the dressing room and was put on a pedestal in front of her mother to be critiqued and criticized for not looking as pretty as her older sister. Aya was always a sore topic of conversation, and it was obvious how Livid the girl was at the mention of her older sister's name.

What killed her the most was the final gown. She'd emerged looking more stunning than ever, and the look she gave Quyn was that of a girl with a broken heart. There was no doubt in Evey's eyes with how miserable this entire situation had made her. All exposed in front of the man she loved, with no ability to defy her situation and express herself. The dress had been selected and lunch had been had. More shopping and planning was done, shoes ordered and other accessories. Everything else had been finished weeks ago while Evey had been off studying and running around with Quyntin. It was late evening by the time the group had gotten home, and now it was only five more days until the wedding. Evey had retreated to her bedroom to don her nightgown and do her nightly ritual before bed. Even after laying down for an hour, she found that she couldn't sleep. Her mind had been racing, her heart aching.

Once more, she left her bedroom, sneaking through the halls in the night, carrying a small lantern in hand. She would head to the roof- the once place she could think clearly. She'd been struggling for the past two days to come up with some kind of run away plan, but found nothing coming to mind. So here she was, aimlessly wandering the estate, trying desperately to hold onto her own sanity in all the chaos around her.

Quyntin would normally have been pleased to be back to his old duties. The familiar home and faces should have been a comfort to him but it was all nothing more than a sign of his impenitence. He was a defeated man, defeated without a fight. He felt powerless before his duty, her father, and simply went about his tasks with a solemn lifelessness. A barely noticeable sadness. He barely spoke and when he did, his short sentences were devoid of emotion. Every glance he stole of Evey was at the same time a wonderful pleasure and a heartbreaking pain. After awhile, he stopped just to spare himself the torture.

His thoughts bounced about his head in a torrent into the small hours of the night. He'd convinced himself that she'd be better off without him. That she deserved someone better, someone highborn. In a way, it was a comforting thought but it still stung. He idly wondered how he would cope when she was married, how he would feel seeing her with her new husband. His thoughts fully occupied, the boy completely failed to see the small light advancing towards him. He seemed startled when he saw the pale face behind it.

"Oh, I… shouldn't you be sleeping, E– Ms. Vorai?"

She was startled to see Quyn in the hall and almost ran into him. She looked up quickly when she heard his voice, and her violet eyes went wide. She was like a deer in headlights for a moment. Then her eyes started to well with tears. Everything that had been pent up for the last two days simply came crashing down around her as she found herself staring at the one person she needed most in her life. Quyn. She started to sob as she suddenly threw a fist into his shoulder as hard as she could.

"H-how could you side with them?!" She threw herself into his arms now and sobbed, burying her face against his neck and shoulder as she started to cry softly.

It was difficult for him to hold up his emotionless, business-like attitude with her assaulting him like that. Especially the crying. He could never handle it. All he could do was stare down at her in confusion and cautiously wrap his arms around her. He didn't speak right away. He was too stunned. But when he did, his voice was back to his old indigent self.

"I didn't side with him! I just…. well, what the hells was I suppose to say?!" he barked back, though in a hushed voice so as not to attract any attention. She looked up at him sniffling a bit her eyes glossed and filled with tears as she clung to him, her hands gripping at the front of his shirt.

"L-lets run away." She whispered hastily. "I don't think I can survive. I'm going to die if I stay here." she pleaded, her voice desperate and lower as she pushed herself closer into his arms. She couldn't handle being separated from him any longer- if they snuck out now, they could run away again. Quyntin's expression softened as he heard her frantic words. He could hear the fear in her voice, the same he'd gone through… the same fear and torment he'd numbed himself to. The torture he could see in her eyes was bringing it all back.

"Evey, are you crazy? We can't run away," the boy said, holding her away from him only enough to look down into her eyes. "Your place is here and mine…."He hesitated, choking back the lump forming in his throat. "I know my place, Evey."

"Your place is at my side." She said quickly, obvious fear in her gaze as well. She choked her words out as she said it, her eyes brimming with tears. Eventually she could contain herself no more and leaned up, tugging Quyn down for a desperate, heated kiss.

All the agony she'd been dealing with over the last two days seemed to melt away as she found herself pulling him into her embrace, her slender form relaxing against him as her lips massaged over his in a hasty, but growing kiss. Oh she'd been wanting this for days now, and how bittersweet it felt to feel him against her. Would this be the last time she would get to kiss Quyn? He knew he should be resisting. He knew he should push her away and tell her to give up this silly notion of him. But he also knew he couldn't fight her anymore. That same feeling of lightheaded happiness she gave him every time she touched her. Albeit momentarily.After the rush of her touch faded, he leaned back a bit to break the kiss.

"Evey, I…. you know I miss you. So much." He could feel tears collecting at the corners of his eyes. "We can't do this. I'm not…. it's not right."

"But I love you!" She exclaimed, albeit a bit too loudly before she broke down into soft sobs, leaning into him as she clutched at his shirt. She couldn't pull away from him, and it was clear that she was loosing it at the moment. Though her frantic tears and pleas to run away seemed in vain, but did not fall on deaf ears. Footsteps from the darkness of the hall were heard nearby and there was a heavy sigh that escaped. From the darkness Jeth came into view as he watched the pair.

"A tragedy… It's always heartbreaking to see such a lovely girl crying." he said softly.

Evey quickly straightened, her eyes wide as she looked up at Quyn horrified. She was too scared to turn around. Eventually she did, whipping around to see Jeth. Evey was frozen with fear. Quyntin hadn't realized it at the time, but he'd pulled the girl tightly to him as Jeth's voice startled him. When he'd come to terms with the gravity of their situation, he simply glared at the man with a cold stare. What he didn't know was just how pale his face had turned. Evey took that moment to cast a glance between Jeth and Quyntin with fear in her eyes. They were exposed. She could only imagine what horrors awaited Quyntin if Jeth told her father. But maybe Jeth hadn't seen anything? Before the two men could exchange words she turned and quickly made her exit, prying out of Quyn's arms reluctantly and heading off down the hall, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Jeth," he grunted well after Evey had run off. "What are you doing up so late? Isn't there a rock you should be slithering under somewhere?"


Jeth looked shocked for a moment as he peered back over his shoulder at Quyntin, his red eyes looking much darker than usual in the dim lighting of the hallway. "I was doing nightly patrols. It's my job you know. Little did I expect to see a love confession on her behalf. It explains a lot about why she wouldn't come home. It's a shame you two will never get to have that ideal romance she so desperately craves."

It was like rubbing salt into an open wound, but Jeth's expression was hard to read. Was he sympathetic to their cause? It was hard to say. He already knew about them- back in Limsa, he'd made a comment. But if he hadn't said anything about it before, why would he now?

"I don't envy you, Quyn. Not one bit."

Quyntin's cold stare was edged with ice by now. He could never understand how this man's mind worked but he always assumed the worse.

"I'm sure you don't," he said stiffly. "I'm sure if she was born a son and not a daughter, your opinion of her would be much higher."

The alpha male in him roared, causing Quynn to step up to the man with his chest swelled. Jeth always brought that out of him.

"What's your game? Planning to run off to the boss and tattle? Or is blackmail more to your liking?"

Jeth just arched a brow at Quyn as the shorter miqo'te got up in his face, which only earned Quyn a playful smile from the silver haired mage.

"I guess that's for me to know and you to find out, hmm? I wouldn't worry that little head of yours. There's nothing you can do about your situation with the girl, no matter what you do, Quyntin. You did the right thing, telling her what you did. The sooner she forgets about you, the easier it will be for her to adjust to her new life."

Jeth certainly knew how to push his buttons. They hadn't been talking for very long and Quynn was already tired of his shit. He lifted a hand and jabbed Jeth's chest with on finger slightly harder than was polite.

"The last thing I want to hear out of your mouth is advice. You just go ahead and do whatever scheming little shit you plan to do but understand one gods damn this. If anything you say gets her hurt in anyway, I well personally cut out your intestines and hang you with them."

Jeth wasn't used to being physically assaulted, so he wasn't expecting Quyn to jab him in the chest. He grunted and staggered back a bit, frowning at Quyn now, his usually cool demeanor slipping away and replaced with an expression of irritation and malice now.

"Believe me, hurting her is the last thing on my mind. You have my word on that." Quyntin continued to stare at him for a few silent moments. He could see the slight crack in the man's cool and the veiled threat he spat his direction. He couldn't deny it didn't sent a small chill up his spine, but if this is what life would be like without her, he didn't care if it ended sooner than later.

"You might not see it, but I'm totally shaking in my boots," he said with a sly smirk just before stepping around Jeth and walking down the hall in the opposite direction of Evey. He even managed to throw his shoulder heavily into Jeth as he passed.

"Why don't you go do something more useful than being a massive prick. Like your job."

Jeth simply shook his head with a quiet chuckle, giving Quyn one last leering glance before turning and walking off into the shadows of the hallways in silence.

Chapter 3

It had only been a few hours since Evey and Quyntin had been caught by Jeth the previous night. It was moving into halfway through the day and nothing was out of the ordinary. Perhaps Jeth hadn't said anything to Vorai? Quyn was sent about his usual duties, and that was it. He wasn't even having to guard Evey since the wedding planning was being done in house today. Just maintain the perimeter for the most part. It wasn't until just before dinner that Quyntin was summoned to Vorai's office. When and if he arrived, it would have seemed like the usual summons. Vorai was at his desk, signing away some papers, jotting things down and using a old fashioned calculator by tallying the stones on the rods. He didn't even look up right away when Quyntin entered, but when he did his look didn't seem out of the ordinary.

"Ah, Quyntin my boy, please come in. "

It was odd. He knew he should be on guard with the likelihood that her father would have found out about their little meeting but it was with a curious lack of fear he entered his office. He hadn't felt much of anything in the last few days. It was as if he was numb to the touch and he secretly thanked the Gods for it. Anything to ignore the upheaval in his heart. With the pleasant greeting from his superior, Quyntin closed the door behind him and moved before the desk, snapping to attention and acknowledging him with a smart salute.

"You called for me, sir?" Quyntin did not betray a single hint of emotion.

"Yes Quyntin, have a seat. I imagine you've been working rather hard over the last week." He set his pen down finally after the last stroke of a paper, and then turned his attention fully to the boy as he stood, moving to the window with his hands behind his back.

"I remember the day I picked you up off the streets as a child. You've been with my family since you were so young, my dear boy. You have been so loyal to me through all these years, and you have never asked for anything in return." There was a pause in Vorai's voice. "At times, I would think of you as a son." he explained finally. "You have always been obedient, no matter the challenges and obstacles, even through all of your training over the years. I can honestly say I have been very proud of you and your efforts."

Quyntin glanced hesitantly at the chair offered to him. He was a soldier and a good soldier always stood to his commanding officer. The gesture made him uneasy. The following words of praise, however, put any uneasy out of his mind. The boy was a bit stunned. Words such as these had never been uttered to him in such sincerity by this man and they struck him like a blow. His cheeks reddened a bit as he struggled to form coherent words.

"S-sir, thank you," the boy stammered like a child again. "I owe you more than you believe, sir, and with a hundred lifetimes I couldn't repay even half my debt."

There was a heavy sigh from Vorai now as he turned and looked to Quyn. "I know." He said calmly. He moved from around the desk towards Quyn and gently reached out to place his hands on either side of the boy's shoulders. " I'm not surprised you fell in love with my daughter, either."

If Quyntin hadn't wholly lost control over his limbs at his words, the boy would have fainted then and there. The blood drained from his face as he stared into those cold eyes, unable to react. Any semblance of pride was now gone, replaced with mixed emotions of dread and guilt. When he tried to speak, he found he couldn't continue for more than a few syllables before choking off into silence. He couldn't even meet his eyes anymore. When he was finally able to string together whole sentences, he spoke in a soft, cowed voice.

"Sir, I… I'm so sorry. It was all my doing. Evey… she was innocent in all this."

There was a silence that lingered between them before Duros suddenly clenched down on the miqo'te's shoulders in a rough manner, digging his nails hard into the boy's shoulders.

"She is hardly innocent, you and I know that well." There was a puzzled expression from the Miqo'te, as he peered up at the older man in confusion at that slight remark. "It shames me to do this Quyntin. In another life I would have loved to have had you for a son, but the world revolves around coin and the schemes of politicians. I can't have your presence here distracting my daughter on the eve of her wedding."

And in one fluid motion he dug his thumbs into the boy's joints of his shoulders and shoved him down hard so his knees would hit the floor. With such a jarring force, Duros brought his knee up as he pulled Quyntin forward, kneeing the miqo'te hard in the face, fully intending to break his nose or worse.

"You knew better yet you caved in to her selfish whims, you did not return her as I ordered you to, and you disobeyed me. You even had the nerve to speak out of turn, yet you have been taught better than that. You above all, have disappointed me." The calm tone of his voice was heart shattering, especially in the way he reached down and grabbed the boy by the hair and jerked his head up violently, pulling his body up only to send a sharp kick into his stomach now. Then it was as if Vorai completely lost his mind all at the same time, his voice raising to a violent octave Quyntin had never heard from the man before. It was utter terror. It was with such rage that his voice bellowed in the large chamber of the Vorai office.

"I WILL NOT HAVE MY PLANS RUINED AT THE HANDS OF A STREET RAT!"

Quyntin did not lift a hand to defend him. He took every blow without a word, though he barely had air enough in his lungs to gasp feebly on the ground after the beating he took. With great hacking coughs, the boy involuntarily sent small spatters of blood from his split lip onto the carpet below. When he'd recovered enough to speak, his words were consistently interrupted by heaving gasps for air.

"Sir, p-please… s-she didn't know. I hide your letters from her." His head drooped as he huddled on his hands and knees before the towering man. "I know I had no right… it was a mistake. But, sir. Can't you see this wedding… she'll never be happy like this!"

Duros continued to beat on the boy until he heard Quyn gasping for air about his daughter's happiness. He picked Quyn up off the floor, grasping the collar of the boy's shirt and pulling him up to stand. Once he was peering down into the shorter man's face, those cold blue eyes bore right into the miqo'te's soul.

"What makes you think my daughter's happiness is of any concern in this marriage? This isn't about love or happiness. This is a business contract." He spat venomously. For the first time Duros had shown Quyntin his dark side, the one Evey had been raving about for months. The darkness that was Duros Vorai. With his words spewed like Venom he took Quyn and threw him up against the door behind him, so hard the door rattled on it's hinges and splintered the wood. As Quyn fell to a heap, it was only a moment later before two of the household guards stepped in, one being Jeth who leered down at Quyntin. Looking back to Vorai they silently awaited orders.

" Quyntin's usefulness has run it's course. Take him to the docks with the others. He'll be shipped out with all the others."

"Yes sir."

As the two picked Quyntin off the ground, new life seemed to spring into his battered and sore muscles. When he was standing upright, the boy jerked his arms from the two goon's grasps and took a staggering step forward, striking a defiant pose at his attacker. As he didn't seem to wish to move closer to him, the guards did not immediately move to take hold of him.

"Over ten years I've worked for you without question and this is how it ends?!" he barked back after wiping blood from his chin. "Everything you've asked, I've done without a word! I've given you my unflinching loyalty and you'd just toss that aside with the flick of a wrist?!"

As the boy's fury seemed to surface in degrees, both guards stepped forward and took him firmly in hand. He tried to pull away again, but found their grip would be a more difficult obstacle this time.

"And Evey! Your own daughter? You treat her like a chess piece to be used to out maneuver your foes," Quyntin continued with more passion than before. "You've always worked to keep her safe! Keep her happy! And you'd push her into a loveless marriage to suit your whims?!"

Duros just seethed at the boy for a few moments , turning away from him as he listened to Quyntin rant. The two holding him firmly in place began to pull him back towards the doorway, dragging him if they had to. Vorai was silent before turning back to Quyn after a moment, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"She will learn to cope and be happy in time. As for you… As loyal as you may be, your very presence is a hindrance here. I will have you in my home no longer. Take him away." And he turned, walking back to the window in silence, as Jeth and the other began dragging the miqo'te away.

The boy would have found back if he hadn't been struck dumb by the man's inconceivable words. It was as if he was facing a completely different man. Those cold eyes stared straight through him with nothing short of hate.

When the two had managed to drag Quyntin down the hallway out of sight of Duros, the boy renewed his spirited attempt to escape their grasp. His thrashing rose to such a torrent that both men finally gave in and threw him bodily to the floor. The collision did not do his already bruised and battered body any favors. Quyntin rolled over and glowered at his captors as the mindless goon drew his truncheon, ready to beat some compliance into him.

"Either of you two thickheaded neanderthals think about asking me to go quietly?!"

Jeth stared down at Quyntin, his hand already glowing with flames as he frowned down at him in irritation. "I've seen you fight, I doubt you would go quietly. You're a monster, and you're lucky she doesnt know that about you yet." Jeth stated firmly.

"If you cooperate, I'll make sure you're comfortable though." The mage said, looking at Quyn warily, not quite trusting him but not exactly distrusting the boy either. "It would be best if this went quickly and quietly. I would hate for her to see you like this." Covered in blood and beaten to a pulp. Evey would break if she saw Quyn like this. Quyntin glared at him in silence. He was fully aware of his condition and what kind of affect it would have on Evey, but it was all he wanted at the moment. He also knew what kind of situation he was currently in. Quyntin got shakily to his feet without breaking the defiant stare he'd locked onto Jeth.

"Then I should probably get cleaned up before I see her." The boy drew himself up as best he could in his current condition before continuing. "Because I'm not leaving here without talking to her. You give me five minutes and I'll walk out of her without a fuss."

The second guard gripped his truncheon uncertainly and looked the Jeth for his input. Jeth sighed at Quyntin.

"Sorry, that's not negotiable. We're on a schedule here. You'll be lucky if you ever see her again in your life." Jeth looked to the other man. "Do whatever you have to if he tries anything." Looking to Quyntin now, the silver haired mage smoothed his bangs back out of his crimson eyes, gazing at the bloody miqo'te a bit critically.

"You're in no position to make bargain pleas, Quyntin. You'll come quietly one way or another."

His threats bounced off Quyntin like droplets of rain. He'd just faced down the lion and came away with his life. Jeth was nothing but a cub in Quyntin's eyes. The guard made a move to lunge at Quyntin but was stopped in his tracks by a cold, stony glare.

"It wasn't a plea. It was a statement. You can come along and make sure I don't do anything stupid, but I am going to see her." He turned as if he was about to walk away, but turned back to his escort with a slight grin. "Though if you want to see how much of a monster I can be, go right ahead. I'm sure everyone in the house would just love to see a little unbridled violence before dinner."


At this, the mage simply sighed and rolled his eyes, looking to the two guards. He muttered loudly enough for Quyntin to hear "Get ready to catch him." Jeth said to the guards, before looking towards Quyntin now.

"As I said, this isn't negotiable. Have a good sleep, Quyn." And without much word, the Thaumaturge had began casting a quick spell, and within a quick snap of his fingers, Quyntin would feel his entire body growing heavier by the moment, as his eye lids struggled to stay open. With the beating he had suffered only moments ago, the rogue had trouble keeping his wits about him as Jeth cast a sleeping spell over the miqo'te. Within a few short moments, Quyn had fallen to his knees, collapsing toward the floor, only to be caught by the two guards.
Jeth crossed his arms over his chest, furrowing his brows some as he looked pitifully down at his former comrade. One of the guards looked up to Jeth in complete confusion now.

"Why didn't you cast that earlier?"

"I wanted him to have some dignity of walking out of here on his own. Oh well. Take him to Crescent Cove and hand him over to Bast. He'll take care of the rest." Jeth paused and sighed looking between the two guards with a bored expression.

"Make sure he's properly chained up. That sleeping spell wont last forever." With that the silver haired youth turned and began walking off down the hall, leaving the two guards to scoop up the unconscious miqo'te and carry him off.

Chapter 4.


Who knew how many hours or days had passed since he'd woken up?

The cargo hold that Quyn was chained in, was humid and damp. At nights it would get cold and even darker- which was the only way one could tell it was the evening. During the day some streams of light would come in from cracks in the walls. The conditions were rather miserable though. Stuck in a barely lit cargo room, with no real cargo save for a bale of hay that had come unraveled and was strewn about the floor. The room smelled of sweat and faint odor of defication. There were the soft barely audible sobs from people in a room just on the other side of the wall, -which is probably where the odors were coming from. There were other people down here, in separate rooms probably from the one Quyn was in. They were probably cells more than rooms, regardless there were people locked away and tormented in their isolation. Some sounded like other men, women, children, and at one point in the night there had been an elderly man banging and screaming for help, claiming injustice. Whatever hope these people may have had of escaping, had disappeared some time ago when their ship had left whatever port they had been at.

Quyn would have experienced the nauseating sensation of the boat rocking on the open waters, no doubt the ocean. The rattling of heavy rains and the sound of thunder and lightning would have been even more traumatic. Not only was the poor miqo'te subjected to the ocean, but it's ruthless temper as well. The salt water that dampened the cells no doubt stung against his side. At one point during the trip, Quyn had been taken out and beaten thoroughly by some of his captors. Drunk sailors looking for a good time, and something to beat on. Quyn would have noticed Bast there too, sitting back with a bottle of rum, enjoying the entertainment as his former comrade was battered and bruised over a sick and twisted card-game that the sailors were playing to sate their morbid sadism.

He was alone with his chains behind his back, with nothing but the sound of the ocean rocking the ship gently. It was getting warmer, wherever they were going, though it was difficult to tell by peeping out the small holes in the wall. The humidity was picking up which made the smells of the cargo holds even worse. He'd been otherwise left to his own devices to ponder the horrifying truth of how he even came to be in this awful place. Though he wasn't left to his thoughts for long, as the sound of heavy footfall came stomping down the hallway in his direction. A moment later and the door swung open and in stepped Bast, his smug and ugly face leering down at the shorter man as his lips twisted upwards into a wicked smile, garnering satisfaction from the others current predicament.

"You poor pathetic piece of shit."

Quyntin squinted up at his captor through a quite swollen black eye. As his vision adjusted to the change in darkness, he could make out the hated shape of his least favorite tormentor. His sneering form was surrounded by a halo of light from behind him. Looking past him at the open door, Quynn quickly realized the wall he'd been facing was was little more than a patchwork of rough iron bars. His room was a cell in more than just the figurative sense. From the darkness across from his cell, he caught the glimmer of a small white orb that quickly vanished.

"Ah, room service," the boy croaked through his dry, chapped lips. "Could you bring some new towels?"

Bast offered Quyntin a rather arrogant smirk, his gaze narrowing as the highlander sneered in a smug manner at the man below. He was silent at that, but after a moment that seemed like forever, the man drew his leg back then brought it forward in a sharp kick to the Miqo'te's side.

"Always trying to make a joke out of things, even in a bad situation. I have to give you some credit though, most men would have been screaming and begging for mercy long ago. Not you. You had the makings of a good soldier, Quyntin. A shame you had to go and blow it all- all for a piece of ass." Bast sighed a bit and knelt down next to Quyntin, getting to the miqo'te's eye level. " What a waste. I could see it in Vorai's eyes too, when we dragged you out of his office. Though how can I blame you? Vorai's daughter is pretty cute. All the other guys thought so too- including Jeth." He smirked now.

Quyntin bite back the pained yell with clenched teeth as he toppled sideways. All that came out was a grunt. To his credit, the boy managed to pull himself back up to a sitting position.

"Me? You're the one making a joke of yourself with a kick like that," he chuckled, coughing halfway through. Yeah, that rib is probably bruised if not broken. As his vision cleared once more, he immediately regretted sitting up. His sight was taken up by Bast's face and the sight of it made him want to lounge at him.

"Jeth? Really? And here I thought he was into young boys."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he was. Ha." He smirked a bit now. "So Quyn, how far did you get with her? Man to man, you can tell me. Though I suppose you were too much of a puss to touch her. You and your vain attempts to suck up to Vorai enough to get him to think of you as his son. It's laughable…" He trailed off a bit and then grinned wickedly, watching the Miqo'te's gaze.

"It's really a shame though. You had a lot of potential. I doubt you'll live more than three months at tops after all this. Slaves from Eorzea usually dont live very long as servants in the common Garlean household. Though I imagine they'll keep a muzzle on you so you don't bite your new masters. I imagine you'll be forced to work in mineshafts smashing rocks with your teeth." Bast's voice rumbled into a sick laughter as he moved to sit up, peering down at the Miqo'te now.

Quyntin stared coldly at him in silence as he spoke. He'd been ready to bite his nose off for the comments he made about Evey, but he knew even at this point it wouldn't make him feel better. He had suspicions of where they were headed but nothing like this.

Behind his cool grey eyes boiled a rage that couldn't be sated.

"So… slave trading and treason? That's what you call a great plan?" the boy asked after a long pause. "Maybe you should use that huge cro magnon forehead of yours to break some rocks because only a thick headed moron like you would think, even for a second, that *this is a good idea*!"

Bast's laughter was a bursting uproar of pure enjoyment and amusement. The reaction he got from Quyn was far too much for him to handle. When eventually the highlander settled, holding his stomach to keep from laughing any further- no doubt the stabbing pain that came with it, he reached up to wipe at the corner of one of his eyes, grinning from ear to ear.

"You don't know anything do you? This isn't -my- operation. How did you think Vorai has been able to stay in business for all these years? Running a shipping company out of Vesper Bay? Really? Quyntin you're far too Naive. He's had a contract with the Garleans for years, before you were even a twinkle in your mother's eye, no doubt." Bast shook his head. "How do you think he's been able to afford such lavish expenses at the drop of a hat? Though to be honest, I'm surprised no one ever clued you in on the family business. Maybe it's not a loss afterall, with that kind of attitude you'd never have been cut out for it. Ah well."

Clearing his throat the man sighed a bit turning to walk out, but not before looking over his shoulder down at the Miqo'te on the floor.

"I'll tell your girlfriend you said goodbye.. After me and some of the other boys leave her a wet mess on the eve of her wedding."

The sudden boiling rage and hatred that began coursing through Quyntin was almost consuming. His blue eyes narrowed into slits as he lowered his face and glared up at the highlander above him, sneering with a mask of pure rage boiling below the surface. It was a look Quyntin gave very few men in his life, and the intention behind that gaze was quite clear. Bast seemed bemused by the look for a moment, his wicked grin sobering some. Replacing an arrogant smirk to mask the wavering shiver he felt from that stare, he turned and walked out of the cell, slamming the door behind him and locking the door. Peering in through the cell windows, Bast snorted.

"We'll be making a pit stop along the way, but otherwise I'll see you again when we get to Garlemald." With that he walked away laughing, leaving the Miqo'te to his own devices in the darkness of his cell.