"Jonathan." she was wary.

"How come every time I see you, you act like you've seen a ghost?" her former boyfriend complained.

"What are you doing here?" Bella answered his question with one of her own. "I thought you left."

"We did, but we didn't get far. Did you know that soldiers practically have this town surrounded? It's amazing. Anyway, they wouldn't let us through. Father tried to explain that we're model citizens just looking for a new home, but it was all for naught."

"Soldiers have this town surrounded?"

"That's what I said." he nodded. "Look, I just wanted to apologize for what happened."

"It's fine." Bella waved her hand, impatiently. Her thoughts were elsewhere.

"It's not fine." Jonathan shook his head. "I was worried about the soldiers and lost my head."

He was worried about the soldiers? She nearly laughed aloud. He should try being in her shoes. But she'd not wish that on him. And she suddenly realized that anyone close to her was in danger. "Stay away from me, Jonathan."

"What?" he stared at her.

"It's important. Go home to your family. Find a new girl, someone safe, someone quiet. Start a family, have a wonderful life. But stay away from me." Bella's voice shook with each word.

"Bella, I - " Jonathan tried again.

"Stay away from me!" now she was fairly screaming at him, in a mix of hysteria and terror.

Father interrupted the exchange, making his way up the front path. "What's all this screaming? Can't a man come to his own home without there being a big commotion in his lawn?"

"I'm sorry, sir." Jonathan bowed his head, but kept stealing glances at Bella.

"There are more important things to worry about than love right now, anyway." Father continued. "Bella, get inside. The soldiers are on the warpath."

"I'd heard something had riled them up." Jonathan nodded.

"Something to do with the experiment of some professor, up at the school." Father moved them both inside, since Bella hadn't moved on her own. "I guess he was trying to find someone to challenge the Lords. Someone whose blood tested a certain way or some nonsense like that. Anyway, if they don't find out who it is, they plan to destroy our town."

"That can't be good for whoever's blood it is." Jonathan murmured.

They were interrupted by Mridina's squealing laughter as she burst into the room. Father cast a withering glance at the undaunted child. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry, sir." Colin swooped in and grabbed the child. "We had to flee the clearing. Soldiers are everywhere and I worried for the children."

Father nodded. "It's not a good day to be away from the village boundaries."

"I wish whoever's blood that is would just speak up." Colin muttered. "Then the soldiers could do their business and get out of our town."

"It's mine." Bella said, but her soft voice didn't carry over the anxious men's babble.

"If the person can truly challenge the Lords, though, shouldn't he be helped to safety?" Jonathan suggested.

"And how would the person even get out of town?" Father scoffed.

"Through the river." Colin advised. "The soldiers are all over the land, but they're not guarding the water. They think they'll notice any big ships passing by."

"They wouldn't notice a small raft then." Jonathan agreed.

"So are we agreed?" Colin asked. "We'll help whoever it is escape?"

"How will we even know whose blood it is?" Father demanded.

Bella spoke louder this time. "It's mine."