Quinn was woken up with a start.

"Quick, gel! We've reached the city. In a few minutes we'll pull to the gates. Wake the big man and tell him to hide." Nol whispered quickly.

Quinn shook Miroslav gently. When he didn't respond, Quinn rolled her eyes, rubbed her hand in the thin layer of snow on the top fur, then shoved that hand up his tunic.

His reaction was instant.

His eyes shot open and he grabbed her hand.

They both froze, staring at each other.

He shook his head as if to clear it.

Hah. That trick doesn't just mess me up.

"We need to hide." She whispered softly, motioning at the fur.

Miroslav lifted the pile and motioned for her to crawl under.

She pushed herself underneath the pile and Miroslav crawled underneath with her, checking to make sure the edges of the furs had no more opening.

They laid together under the furs, entirely too close for comfort.

Miroslav's nose was almost touching Quinn's, and his pretty eyes had nothing else to focus on.

The cart stopped.

Quinn caught a hint of Nol's anxiety and her breath caught.

Then voices spoke.

She felt tendrils of suspicion from someone else.

The sound was muffled by the furs, but there was a spike of fear from Nol and she felt the furs shift above them.

They were checking the cart.

Nol's anxiety poured over her stronger now, and she felt a quiet menacing glee from yet another person.

Quinn didn't dare breathe in case they heard her.

The emotions of other people were swirling around and making her confused-

Miroslav's hand took hers gently, his fingers rubbing circles into her skin.

The feelings stopped. All of a sudden, Quinn couldn't feel them. It was just her.

She let out the air she was holding and relaxed a little, her fingers going limp in Miroslav's hold.

One of them decided to take off the furs, because weight began lifting in small increments.

Quinn's panic raised, this time entirely her own.

Her eyes met Miroslav's blue ones.

His expression didn't change, but she felt him unsheath the dagger at her belt and slide the hilt into her hand before closing his hand around hers.

A safety net, a plan B.

And a promise.

The voices started up again and she felt the weight of the furs get put back.

The cart started rolling again.

Quinn sighed in relief, but made no move to put away her dagger.

Miroslav's tense grip relaxed, but his hand stayed clasped around hers.

A few minutes later, the furs were lifted and a delighted looking Nol stared down at them.

"We're in!" He announced. He looked so young.

Miroslav helped Quinn up and off the cart.

She slid the dagger back into her belt-sheath beneath her coat.

"We have a long way to go." Miroslav reminded them, but his eyes were relaxed.

Miroslav let go of her hand and she was assaulted by the atmosphere around her.

Her brain tried to make sense of the unfamiliar sensations bombarding her.

"Miss Quinn?" Nol crouched down, mirroring the position that Quinn had slid into.

Joy, anger, no wait...that was dissapointment.

There was so much.

"What's wrong with her?"

They were everywhere.

She lifted her eyes to look for Miroslav and reached out her hands.

Miroslav's strong hands grabbed hers and the sensations disappeared.

"It's better now. I can't feel it. How did you do that?" She asked.

His grip tightened.

"Feel what?" Miro studied her.

A group of passing people gave them strange looks.

"This is a discussion that we can't have in the open. Nol, is there somewhere we can stay?"

"Of course. I'll bring you to the back entrance at Maude's, because she's got guests right now. She let's me stay here, and I'm sure she'd be happy to help you two out. Plus, she's on the Council. She's a good one though." Nol chattered.

A large mansion blended it's presence with the townhouses around it, stone blending next to brick and rock.

Miroslav studied the building, and apparently deemed it acceptable.

Nol opened the solid oak door and closed it behind them.

He led them through a back painting room down a hallway and up a flight of stairs.

Quinn took note of elaborate carpets and dangling glass baubles that covered the ceiling.

They were led down another hall into a room with windows that faced the back.

"This is where you can stay. My room is right across the hall. We can talk to Maude in the morning after all these people clear out. Good night!" Nol grinned cheerily and closed the door behind him.

"A little abrupt, don't you think?" Quinn pondered aloud.

Miroslav dropped himself onto the bed, not bothering to crawl under the covers.

"I wonder if Maude has a shower. God, I really could use a good shower. Wait, does this world have showers?" Quinn asked.

Miroslav's chest rose and fell rhythmically.

Asleep. Figures

"Oh god." Quinn had another thought. "Maybe this world doesn't have running water. OR hot water."

There was a definite catch in the breathing coming from the bed.

"You don't need to laugh at my perfectly reasonable life crisis." Quinn muttered.

She pulled off her ugly oversized coat and boots, sighing as her feet felt freedom.

Then she untied her shirt, letting it hang loose to her thighs.

She carefully took off her sheath and dagger and slid them under her pillow.

Then she slid carefully beneath the covers to sleep, laying on her side facing away from the other side of the bed.

She stiffened when hands began to untie her hair and carefully free the black mass from the braid it had been in.

Quinn relaxed as her hair fell free.

Then the lights went out.

And there was silence.

Quinn rolled over to face Miroslav in the dark.

"Heyyyy. Miro?"

A soft grunt.

"You guys do have hot water right?"

It might have been her imagination, but Quinn swore she heard him chuckle.