When the elation from her successful escape had faded, Valina busied herself trying to work out the practical details. She had to find somewhere to stay, first of all, and quickly too. Soldiers might not question a slave girl running about during the day, but they'd definitely question one still out at night. No overseer would give a slave permission to stay out after dark.

Naturally, her troubles led her straight to Jed.

"Mridina's dead." she cut right to the chase. "And I ran away from the palace."

Jed stared at her for a moment, then grinned. "Well, I'll be damned... somebody's gotten brave."

"Or stupid, as the case may be." Valina shrugged. "I couldn't bear to stay there anymore, not after what happened to my sister."

"What did happen to your sister?"

"He hit her." her voice caught, but she forced out the answer. "Mridina told him that she wanted them to take some more time getting to know each other... that she wanted their marriage to be their own choice and not just because they were being forced to the altar. He got angry..."

"The bastard killed the only person who ever bothered to love him...." Jed shook his head.

"Yes, well, I don't exactly love him right now." Valina replied. "But there's time enough to deal with him. I need a place to sleep tonight and then tomorrow we go to the brick house."

"We do what?" he stared at her.

"We go to the brick house. I need to see Bella. I need to free her."

"You really did get brave." Jed was impressed. "But honey... have you forgotten how the soldiers treated you last time we went there? The place is surrounded by them. And maybe we're too late after all."

Valina had definitely thought of that. Now that Mridina had died, what use did the Lord have for Bella? She could only hope that people were too worried about the Lord to think of their prisoner. "Should we go tonight?"

"No." Jed gave in. "We'll go tomorrow. Not tonight. It's already getting dark and we need to find a place to hide you. I'll take you to my place, then I'll track down Rachel. She's probably got some clothes you can have and some food."

The arrangements were made quickly. Rachel didn't come to Jed's place, lest anyone become suspicious, but sent a dress with him. The garment was a bit big, but Valina put it on anyway. They burned her white slave dress.

"There goes some of the Lord's money." Jed commented, wryly, as they watched the fabric burn.

"You know, we get charged if we get even a slight tear in those things." Valina shook her head. "Those rags probably aren't even worth a shilling."

"How did they expect a slave to pay anything?"

"If we couldn't pay with money, we got whipped. And if we did pay with money, we got whipped anyway because a slave isn't supposed to have money." she grinned. "Anyway, I'm sure I'll owe quite a lot if I get found without my dress."

"I'm sure that if you get found, the dress will be the least of your worries." he replied. "Are you sure you want to try getting into the brick house? It'd be a lot safer just to spirit you out of town. Rachel's got family across the border who would be perfectly willing to shelter you for a bit."

Valina shook her head. "I didn't escape just for me. I escaped for Mridina and for everyone else who has been struggling against the Lords while I did nothing. It's time for me to do my share. It's time for me to help save my land."