Over the next two months, Zephaniah and Arai met once or twice a week for a day of strategy game matches, usually small stakes on every game. Sometimes it was a small item or the last of a shared favorite dish, other times a dare or an answer to a question. Whatever it was, both sides truthfully enjoyed the challenge more than the actual rewards. During these duels, Zephaniah felt like he had gained a friend, closer than any he had ever had before. Except… he really didn’t know anything about her. After a while he got used to not knowing, used to not asking, not getting answers. He thought he never would but after all this time Zephaniah realizes he’s wrong about that. It still bugs him but without realizing it, he had stopped asking those personal questions.

Today is different. Today they were supposed to be meeting for a few games of rithmomachia, but after waiting half the morning for Arai, Zephaniah is starting to really worry. Remembering she mentioned a cottage, he figures that is the best place to start looking and begins heading the opposite direction from the caves in search of said cottage. Maybe she just woke up late. Even Zephaniah knows that is unlikely.

As he walks, he starts to hear a flurry of noise, so with no better lead, he follows his ears. Before long he finds a dwelling, only big enough for a few rooms and the source of all the restless sounds. A group of men are mulling around as if wanting to keep busy but not knowing what to do with themselves. Among them, Zephaniah recognizes many of the Robin’s men from his first night here and one scrawny boy who does seem to have a purpose. David? David enters the building and Zephaniah tries to follow unobserved by skirting the crowd. Somehow Zephaniah successfully makes it to the door but as his hand reaches the handle, an ungodly screech comes from within. Everyone outside becomes even more tense, if that’s possible. After a moment, Zephaniah’s curiosity wins against his fears and he opens the door just enough to slip in before closing it behind him. He doesn’t know what he was expecting but what he finds is definitely not even close.

Arai, wearing dark pants and a shirt pulled up just enough to reveal a gashing wound, is lain out on a wooden table. She is deathly pale and there is blood everywhere but he lets out a sigh of relief when he notices she is still breathing. Neither Sarah or David notice, but their patient must have because her eyes scan the room before finding him.

“HELLS!” she screams through the pain, “Forgot… about… prince… someone… get… him… out… NOW!” Zephaniah involuntarily takes a step forward, as if his body is arguing with her words. There are so many questions going through his head but before he can even open his mouth, two men pull him outside to fret with everyone else. No matter what he says or does, no one will tell him anything, only that they aren’t allowed to say.

After a few hours, which feels like one of the longest waits in his life, David finally comes out looking very tired. “It’s okay, we were able to patch her up. She’ll be fine.” At this a wave of relief goes across the crowd. “And Prince Zephaniah, Lady Arai will see you now. Come with me please.” With a mix of emotions, Zephaniah follows David inside.

As he walks back into the house, Zephaniah doesn’t know what to expect. Walking across the main room, he follows through a door he hadn’t noticed before into a small bedroom. Sitting up in the bed, still looking a bit pale, is Arai.

“Ah, Zeph, please do come sit down.” She gestures to a chair set up by the bed with a small table set up between them. Zephaniah sits down and she turns to his escort. “That will be all, David. You’ve been doing a great job these past few months. Why don’t you take a break to go visit your family for the rest of the day. In fact, they probably really miss you so why don’t you stay with them for a few days. If we really need anything, I can always send for you.” Zeph is watching Arai, but out of the corner of his eye, he sees David smile and bow quite low at the waist.

“Thank you very much Miss.” He slowly straightens up and leaves with a slight spring in his step, as if he is restraining himself from running with joy. A part of Zephaniah is wishing he could follow as he is starting to feel awkward. He always knew Arai was very private about herself, but all his worrying earlier has weakened his walls of politeness and courtesy enough for his curiosity to start breaking them down. He wants answers and he wants them now.

“I’m sorry I took so long. I believe today we were planning on playing rithmomachia. Shall we get started?” Arai looks so normal, too normal. As she speaks, Zephaniah realizes something he had been ignoring for months. The composed expression she is wearing, has always been wearing, is a mask she adorns to hide the truth from him. He is sick of it, not just her but everyone wearing their stupid masks, trying to conceal the truth from him.

“No.” He notices a sudden crack in the mask and confusion in her eyes.

“What do you mean no? Did I get the wrong game?”

“I’m not doing anything until you tell me what’s going on.” Zephaniah crosses his arms with a determined look.

“It’s a lot less severe than it looks. I just tripped and -”

“The truth. Tell me the truth. I believe I deserve that much.”

At this Arai’s mask is ripped away. “How dare you say you deserve anything! Without my kindness you-” she suddenly stops and covers her mouth.

Some part of Zephaniah had always had suspicions but these authoritative words brings it all to his conscious mind to put the pieces together and something clicks. “You’re the Robin, aren’t you?” Arai lets out a tired sigh before giving him a worried smile and averting her eyes. That’s all the confirmation he needs. “Don’t worry. I owe you my life but even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t tell anyone. You’re my friend so I trust you. I hope you can say the same for me.”

“Truthfully, against my better judgment, I have come to trust you. I hope you can understand that it just requires a higher level of trust than we shared for me to willingly give out this kind of information.”

“I guess I can accept that.” What Zephaniah can’t say is that conflicting his statement is his feelings of betrayal.

“Then, like I was saying, I believe we have a game to play.” Her tone makes it clear the previous conversation was over.