Days after Kacey's release.

It had been a few days after Davarin had gotten those corrupt guards to free her, and one he got her home. And took care of the bruises she had. The next morning, he was helping her to find out any information about whom was the real culprit.

Slowly, moving through the docks, as well as having little to no luck on his end to get people to talk to him. Mostly due to them hearing about Kacey being blamed, and himself being seen with her. He grumbled to himself, to the lack of people willing to help.

As he turned to head back, for the night as most of his days had been like this with out a single break. This had also cut into his time with being with Kacey. Finally, just as he was about to leave the area... A young boy ran up to him. " Sir!" The youth yelled out, getting Davarin to stop, and turned to face the boy.

"Something I can help you with, boy?" In the usual rough voice when he got frustrated. The young boy looked up at Davarin before motioning him to follow. After a few moments, Davarin did just that, slowly moving to follow him.

No sooner than he followed the boy around the corner, did he see the intent. A few of those corrupt guards were waiting. "We can't have you interfering with our investigation." One of them sneered towards Davy.

"Yeah... like you group of wannabe boys could find a needle in a haystack. Even if you had all the help in this place." Shot back, before the world went pitch black. One of the guards used the distraction to slip behind him, then clubbed him in the back of the head.

They then dragged him back to the guard house, and removed his weapons and parts of his clothing. Then tossed him in one of the cells. The charge was disturbing the peace.

When he woke from being knocked out, he glared at the guard they had posted to watch over him. " So... you thought by putting me in jail would keep Kacilla or me from finding the truth, huh? " Davy snapped at the guard, getting a smirk and nod in return.

"Keep thinking that, boy. You might have arrested me... but I know Kacilla will find out the truth of your lies. And you will get what's coming to you." Said as he pushed himself to stand, then sat on the edge of the bed.

Present day

Davarin didn't know how long he had been in that cell, as the guards had somehow managed to keep his arrest under wraps. He guessed it was not filling out the paperwork, as well as bullying the ones that had seen it to keep quiet. " Great... I'm stuck in here due to these corrupt punks." Muttered to himself.

Luck seemed to finally smile on him, as the father of the boy tossed a rock through the bars of the window. He quirked a brow, before looking around. Seeing no guard, he moved to the bars while moving the old chair to it. Once moving to stand on it, he peered out.

The male waved off Davy's attempt to say something. " Sir... I'm sorry about what happened... Is there something I can do?" Davarin eyed the male a moment, guessing whom he was. The poor fellow looked like his family could use the money.

After a few moments... He finally spoke. " Find Kacilla and tell her what happened... Go... now." The male nodded and took off running. He watched for a moment, as when he spoke to a few others... They seemed more willing now, as it seemed to him. They were finally willing to stand up to these bullying guards.

As the import of the man?s words sunk in, Kacey?s eyes widened and what little color was left in her face drained away. She shut the door carefully as the man and his companion hastily left the alley by the other end. After a moment of stunned surprise, she turned and carefully racked the rasp planer in its appointed slot. In almost a trance-like state she carefully set the shop in order. She ventured briefly into their living quarters; long enough to fill her money-belt with a large part of the savings stored there and strap it around her waist beneath her clothing.

A brief touch for the white-gold bracelet around her left wrist, and then she pulled on the jacket that was so over-sized on her ? Davarin?s jacket. Kacey?s hands were steady as she stepped out of the front door and locked it. Her hands went deep into her pockets, and she turned her steps in the direction of the nearest Holding House. It was a place she had hoped never to see again; she went without hesitation and beneath the detached face she was presenting to the world, her thoughts were racing.

Not all of the guards were corrupt. Paladin had been proof of that ? and then he had vanished. The few who might have been inclined to stand beside him now seemed to be lying low. And this Holding House, this Guard Post in the depths of the West End, was a sinkhole to which the worst of the guards eventually found their way. When Kacey opened the heavy front door, the desk officer glared at her with undisguised hostility.

?I?m here to deliver bail for Davarin Kell.? It vaguely surprised her, how calm her voice emerged. The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood up as two ? no, three more guards came out of the hallway that led to the holding cells and took up looming positions around her. She didn?t look at them, not even the hulking man in the worn uniform who stood too close behind her.

Dark-brown eyes were level on the corpulent sergeant as he leaned forward, rested his elbows on the table, and smirked at her. ?Ain?t holding anyone here by that name, sweetie. Now why don?t you be a good girl and turn yourself in for those murders you committed? We?d have to clear the cells out to hold a notorious criminal like you.? He didn?t need to spell that out for Kacey. They wouldn?t admit to holding Davarin, but they would release him if she confessed and submitted to ?justice?.

She started to reach beneath her jacket, to get at the money-belt there ? before she had moved more than a few inches, the hulking guard behind her grabbed her by the elbows. His hands closed hard enough that she winced. The desk officer?s smirk deepened and he leaned back in his chair. ?Ah-ah-ah. Can?t have a dangerous person like you reaching for weapons. Wilkers, search her.? The laugh from behind Kacey blew the scent of foul breath around her, and she almost gagged.

She hadn?t even had a chance to offer the money. As Wilkers dragged her down a hallway parallel to the holding cells, she followed in seeming compliance. When he took her into a bare room and jerked off the jacket, she finally spoke again, voice only a bit unsteady. ?I have a money-belt around my waist with enough for bail for Davarin Kell, and quite a bit over. Take me to see him, get him out, and the extra is yours.? His hands were large and rough as he yanked up her sweater and shirt.

Fists formed, relaxed, as Kacey looked over the man?s shoulder dispassionately. He saw the truth of her offer in the money-belt strapped to her waist ? it didn?t stop him from grabbing her chest and squeezing hard enough that tears came to her eyes involuntarily. At that sign of reaction, Wilkers grunted with satisfaction and then stepped back. Kacey started to pull down her shirt and sweater; Wilkers wouldn?t allow it until the money had been pressed into his hand.

Kacey bent to pick up Davarin?s jacket ? when she straightened, Wilkers grabbed her elbow and yanked her close. His breath was foul and his mouth tasted worse. When he took her over to Davarin?s cell, her lips were swollen and her hair was disheveled. Wilkers? voice was a leering taunt to Davarin as he unlocked the cell door. ?Got yerself a wanton li?l wench there. Practically begging for my favors ? yer lucky I didn?t want more than a taste.? It was a true statement and completely misleading.

She ignored Wilkers? words as best she could, and held out the jacket in silent offer to Davarin. Dark-brown eyes searched his face, his form, for any signs of the kind of beating she had received when she ?resisted arrest?. Davarin could hate her or what she had done; she didn?t mind if he believed the hulking guard?s taunts as long as he was whole and well. When she saw the scabbed split on his lip and the stiff way he moved, careful of his ribs, her expression passed into shadow.

?I trust there?s nothing else you require?? Cold, so cold, her voice as she turned to address Wilkers. The guard leered at her again with a pointed look at her chest ? trying to anger her or Davarin or both, so that he would have an excuse to keep them and the entirety of the money she had paid him. Kacey wouldn?t grant Wilkers the satisfaction, and she could only hope that Davarin would recognize the bait for what it was.

After a moment, she nodded once and then moved to support Davarin, helping to brace his weight as he had so often supported hers. Guilt wracked deep into her soul as they began the slow and wordless trip back to the shop.