The kid was quiet. He sat calmly on the edge of Finn's enormous bed, his tiny feet dangling over the perfectly polished floors, dripping melting bits of snow. He seemed content to stare at the growing pool of water on the ground, his eerie bronze eyes wide with fascination. On the other side of the room, three adults stood in front of the large windows, staring at him.

Finn pinched the bridge of his nose like he had a headache. "Do we have any idea where the librarian got to?"

"None whatsoever." Roche answered quietly, unable to take her eyes off the child. She kept her voice low, "Tigris hasn't found any trace of him in the forest."

Finn pursed his petal-like lips. "And you haven't found anything?" His voice was sharp and strained. Evidently, defying his father and hiding a fugitive was beginning to take a toll on him. Kai's eyes bloomed with concern. He placed a steadying hand on Finn's shoulder.

"I doubt that Roche can find anything if Tigris hasn't." Kai said gently. Finn leaned into his touch slightly.

"I'm sorry, you're right." he apologised, "I don't mean to snap."

"It's fine." Roche assured him, "I'm sorry I got you in trouble. I'll find somewhere to hide him until we can find his coven."

Finn bit his lip gently. "Where?"

Roche's mind darted to the tunnels, but they were vast and easy for a child to get lost in. She still had to care for Tigris, which meant she'd need to leave the child unattended for stretches of time. There was no telling what would happen if the child wandered off.

"He can stay at my place," Kai offered quietly. He met Roche's gaze firmly even though his face turned ashen.

Roche shook her head. "I can't ask you to do that. You're already risking your life by helping me now."

"So are you." Finn pointed out. "Let's face it. Out of the three of us, the only one the king wouldn't execute is me."

"Finn, you don't have to." Roche said quietly, her stomach clenching. He was showing her more kindness than she'd shown him in the past few months, "The king has already barred you from the library, there's no telling what he'll do if he finds out."

Finn's verdant eyes hardened. "I bear that banishment and any punishment that may follow with pride. I meant what I said." There was a quiet ferocity to the words, a fire in his gaze as he spoke. Roche's heart warmed slightly. Finn glanced back at the child with a fond smile. "Children have no place on the pyre."

Kai nodded, his cheeks darkening with a flush as he watched Finn. Kai squeezed Finn's shoulder. "Do we know his name?"

"No. He hasn't spoken at all." Finn murmured, "He's had a rather long day. He was half frozen when he first came here."

"He hasn't eaten either." Kai noted, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood, "I'll go get some food from the kitchens."

"I'll come with you." Roche replied, noting the tension in her friend's frame. She glanced back at Finn and added, "If that's alright with you, of course."

Finn nodded. "I'll talk to the child. Perhaps he'll speak to me."

Roche turned to follow Kai out.

"Thank you, Ala."

Roche started, nearly bowling over Kai. She glanced back at the child to find him staring directly at her with those shimmering eyes. She swallowed.

"It's alright. Stay here and speak with the prince. He means well."

The child nodded ever so slightly as Roche closed the door. She turned to Kai before they could set out into the halls.

"I owe you an apology, my friend. I know Finn is alright with this, but I sprung this on you as well." Roche added, nervousness filling her at Kai's inscrutable face. "If you aren't okay with this, I'll keep the child elsewhere, no questions asked."

Kai's brows furrowed. He looked away, not meeting her eyes. Roche felt a stab of pity and shame when she realised how uncomfortable this situation made him. Kai was extremely loyal to the royal family. Aiding treason like this was against everything he stood for.

Roche stepped closer, waiting until his eyes met here. "I'm serious," Roche whispered, "It's alright if you aren't okay with this."

Kai's throat worked. "I... already spoke with Finn. We both agreed to help, and I'm fine with it."

"Really?" Roche searched his face, looking for any sign of doubt. She found discomfort in his eyes, but certainly no hesitance or fear. "You don't have to."

Kai's wide lips pressed together. "I've faced the threat of the pyre myself. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, much less a child." he muttered fiercely, "Finn understands that too. And I think you do as well."

"I do," Roche agreed quickly, marvelling at her friend. She nudged him good naturedly, "Look at you being a rebel."

Kai's eyes sagged shut as his face paled. "Too soon, Roche. We can joke after the child is gone."

"Right. Sorry. Let's go get some food for the little stowaway."

"Roche!"

"Sorry, sorry. What else am I supposed to call it?"

"It?!"

"I guess that's not right either."

-------

Verita ladled a thin soup into two bowls, sliding one to Roche. Her wrinkled face was darkened with concern. Her eyes flicked to Roche worriedly. "You must be careful, now more than ever. The king will be on high alert for inkblood."

"I'll be fine." Roche replied, holding up her bare arm, "Invisible inkblood, remember?"

Verita scowled at her cheekiness. "That's not the only way the king confirms inkblood. You need to be careful. And if you know anything about the scribe or librarian's whereabouts, you must stay far, far away."

"Of course. I haven't heard anything." Roche lied, staring at her soup to avoid meeting the librarian's hawkish gaze. She tried to change topics. "So, what did you think about the librarian's warnings?"

Verita's papery lips pressed together with barely concealed annoyance. "I have no idea. Tigris' description only matches the omphalos. But her sword should not have been able to tear a rip in the impenetrable barrier at all."

Roche set down her spoon, curiosity overwhelming her appetite. "Is there anything that can pierce the barrier around the omphalos?"

"Nothing," Verita said, her voice heated with frustration, "Nothing but powerful inkblood. By all accounts, Tigris' sword should have bounced off the barrier harmlessly."

Understanding struck Roche. Sweat instantly started pouring down her back. "Uh... I think I know why her sword got through."

Verita's eyes lit up with a scholar's glee for understanding. "What is it?"

Roche bit her lip, holding up her hands placatingly. "Don't be mad?"

Verita's excitement instantly dimmed. She scowled at her ward. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" Roche yelped, "Except... maybe practiced some enchantments on Tigris' sword and armour."

"Some?" Verita repeated, her eyes narrowing, "Well, a little bit of inkblood shouldn't be enough to pierce the barrier of the omphalos."

Roche bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. "Okay, maybe it was a lot,." she admitted.

Verita groaned, covering her face with her withered fingers. "Roche! It's like you have a death wish."

"After the incident with the Atrex and Fake Harold, I figured that a bit of extra inkblood to help her defend against the Council's freaky creations wouldn't hurt! I didn't know she'd try to desecrate holy inkblood lands with it!"

Verita shook her head, her fingers spreading apart enough for her to glare at Roche, who offered a sheepish smile. The librarian heaved a sigh.

"Well, the curse is still not your fault. Even if the barrier had remained intact, Tigris' intent to harm the inkblood after being warned would have resulted in the curse anyway."

"I should have been with her anyway." Roche muttered, stirring her soup dejectedly, "Maybe I would have been able to talk some sense into her thick skull."

"You still can. The royals still don't believe a curse has been cast. Tigris needs to understand the danger the kingdom is facing." Verita pointed out, taking a dainty sip from her bowl. Roche frowned.

"She thinks I'm being superstitious." she grumbled, "The brat has no clue."

"Then you must convince her," Verita warned, "Before the Council realises what has occurred and how vulnerable the kingdom currently is for the taking."

A/N: Hiii! This is a bit of a filler chapter, but the first part makes me laugh every time. Like, just picture this poor kid being perfectly content, sitting on the edge of a bed calmly, and then across the room there's three adults just staring at him with varying degrees of fear, suspicion, and outrage. If I was an artist, I'd draw that scene just to prove how absurd and hilarious it looked in my mind haha.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Lmk if there's any criticism and as always, happy reading!