Bk 2: Chapter Four (16)

Who are you talking to? Are you alright?" Helen asked Lizzy, Who was still shaken from her last conversation.

"No one, my lady. I remembered something and could not help but lament," Lizzy answered.

"What?" Helen frowned.

"I suddenly remembered that I had left my sick mother and little sister at home alone," Lizzy said and Helen paused she felt somewhat guilty, as she was the one who had insisted on having Lizzy come with her; causing Lady Wickshire to have someone bring Lizzy to her. If she had not been weary of being served by Lady Wickshire's maids, she would not have asked her to follow her on this journey. The poor girl probably missed home. With her silence all this while, Helen felt she finally understood; The thought of having to take care of Lizzy steeled her heart. She must find her husband and return home gloriously. Only by finding Walter will she be able to make her way home.

"We will get home someday Lizzy. Fear not," Helen said and Lizzy nodded in response. Seeing her head shake up and down under that veil, Helen sighed.

"Let's pack," she said and they two immediately went to packing. They did not have much. Only the clothes on their bodies and two more dresses they had bought on the train existed as their only belongings. Packing them into one leather bag, Helen finally sat down to count how much gold she had left. Luckily gold still had value in this world, or else she was not sure how she was going to survive. At that moment, a knock came from behind the door and Lizzy went to open it. On the other side was Si Sanga with his packed bag.

"You are leaving, I am coming with you," he said and Helen raised a brow.

"Why?" she asked and he chuckled lightly, causing his dreads hanging from his face to swing around.

"I wish to make a deal with you, are you interested?" he asked and Helen nodded for him to come in. Lizzy closed the door behind him and returned to her seat. Si Sanga's tall presence in the cabin made it seem much smaller than usual.

"What do you think both of you could possibly do or each other?" Helen asked him. She had gotten off the floor, pocketed her gold into her skirt and sat on the bed.

"I overheard you telling Kheal to train you so you can gain some kind of power for whatever you wish to do in Sorventii," he said and she nodded. He was sitting just a table away. She had been sure he had been listening.

"The fastest kind of power is an alliance. If you let me come with you and protect you on your journey, when your work in Sorventii is done, I want you to help me get back my birthright. If all goes well, you will have the alliance of my family when you need it," he said. She understood how tempting his words were. He could be of help when she causes trouble in Sorventii. If she succeeds in getting her husband back, she will have to deal with Lady Wickshire. She would have to show the lady she is important enough to keep her position as Walter's wife. If his family is that powerful, she would have some sort of backing when she faces Lady Wickshire.

"As tempting as this deal is, I don't understand what I can do for you," Helen said.

"I only need you to do what you had done to the Nether engine; to destroy something the exact same way. That is all," he and she silently considered his terms.

"How powerful is your family?" she asked and he chuckled slightly, knowing quite well that she had already been swayed.

"They are powerful," he said.

"Compared to Sorventii, how powerful?" she asked.

"Only two powers can compare to Sorventii in the entire Middle Realms, Helen. But under them, we are the most powerful," he said and she nodded. Even though it was just a hint, she understood a little more about this place. He would be a big help to protect her, especially when she was going to be pretending to be someone else. Someone she was not sure if she had a target on her back or not.

"I accept this deal," she said.