I've been wanting to try writing an E/B fic ever since Lumina helped open my eyes to the wonder of that pairing. I'd sit with my eyes closed and wait for a bunny to leap out at me and give me the chance to write them.

The bunny that ended up making the leap was wearing green tights, had a bow strapped to his back and laughed an awful lot like Errol Flynn. Think of this as a sort of Robin Hood-flavored AU. I'm throwing it out there as an open AU, which feels like an enormous act of hubris, but if this bunny gets anyone else to write more fic, then hey, it's worth it. <g>

Buck was not a superstitious man. He did not believe in witches and gave no credence to fairy tales or those who trusted in magic. If he did not know better, though, he would swear there was something not quite natural about Ezra. How did the man know that the pieces he had chosen would sell so well today?

Oh, Buck had heard and understood his explanation, he just was not certain he believed it. Could common sense be so true as to seem prophetic? He had steadily sold the trinkets that Ezra had selected. It was almost as though the other man had been able to foresee exactly what people would be looking for on this day. Glancing over his table, Buck affirmed that his inventory was noticeably smaller than what he had started out with that morning.

He was going to have to find a way to thank Ezra. The other man's guidance had been invaluable and Buck doubted he would have done as well without it.

The first step to thank him lay in finding a way to convince him to stay in town. The second was to control his wayward body and thoughts. How was he going to convince Ezra to stay in Vierecken if he was making him uncomfortable with unwanted attractions and advances?

As if thinking about him had summoned him, Ezra appeared before his table, John at his side.

"Ezra!" Buck could not keep the smile from his face.

"Good afternoon," Ezra greeted him. He looked at the display of trinkets spread over the table. "It appears you have been having a most successful day."

"I have. Do you think I should put some more out?"

Ezra glanced up at the sky, gauging the time. "No. The table does not quite look bare. The smaller quantity will encourage people to buy what they like today for fear of not having an opportunity to do so tomorrow."

"So far, you have been right every time."

Ezra transferred his attention to him. "Did you have any doubts?"

No. Of course he had not. Ezra's motives and actions might not always be entirely virtuous, but he always had the best interests of the people he cared about at the forefront of his consideration. He could not resist the urge to tease Ezra, though. "Well..."

The green-eyed man drew himself up in the perfect picture of offended dignity. "If that is how you regard my advice -" He began to turn away.

"No, wait."

Ezra paused, still half-facing away.

"Ezra, I had complete faith in you and in your ideas." He had intended to continue with the teasing, but it seemed important to make sure that Ezra understood how valued he really was. Perhaps that would make it easier to convince him to stay.

Ezra blinked. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"It is the truth."

A flush rose on Ezra's cheeks. "Thank you," he repeated, his voice soft.

The moment had become too serious and Buck feared that he might have gone too far. He looked over at John. "How goes the tourney?"

John looked irritated for a moment, but that soon faded as he grew enthusiastic about his answer. "It is really interesting, Buck. You need to walk through it some more."

"What did you see?"

"Everything! There was a joust and then an archery contest. Some of those guys are really good."

"I heard some crashing. That was the joust?"

Ezra laughed. "There may be a man seeking out your expertise later. His armor was dented quite badly."

Buck grinned. "I will only be all too happy to offer my services."

"I thought you might be."

"Ezra knows all the rules for the contests," John continued. "Even the ones for the people who are watching."

"I have seen my share of tourneys," Ezra explained easily. "The rules are very simple."

The crowd near the lists got louder, people calling out their enthusiasm.

"Sounds like another match is going to begin," Buck said. The wistful note in his own voice surprised him. He had not seen a joust the day before and wondered if he would see one at all; he had trinkets to sell, after all. That demanded his attention far more than any tourney match.

Ezra drew in a long breath. "If you would like to see this match, I will mind your wares while you watch."

"You do not have to."

"I know that. I am still offering." Ezra smiled, but his eyes were serious, dark.

"You are certain?"

"I am. But just for one match, mind you. Any longer and I will begin keeping your profits for myself."

"Thank you," Buck said sincerely. "John?"

"I know a great place to watch. Ezra, we will be back before you know it."

"If you do not leave now, you will miss the whole thing." Ezra waved them away with a careless gesture.

John grabbed Buck's arm and pulled. "This way."

Laughing, Buck allowed his friend to lead him away. He glanced back over his shoulder once. Ezra was standing by the table, looking somehow very alone. For a moment Buck was tempted to turn back, but he did not want to waste the gift Ezra had offered him. Instead, he resolved to return as soon as possible so he would not abuse his friend's generosity.

John did indeed know a good place to watch the joust. He led Buck to an uncrowded corner that provided a good view. "I told you."

"That you did." Buck crossed his arms over his chest and watched the two men on horseback. At the speeds they moved and with their horses' power, there was a very real possibility that one or both of them could be injured, perhaps seriously so.

At the signal, the two opponents urged their horses into trots and leveled their lances at each other. They came together with a tremendous crash and one of them was thrown back off his horse, slamming into the ground with painful force. The man who stayed on his horse reined in his mount, then turned to check on his opponent. The man on the ground groaned and moved his arms and legs feebly.

John moved to stand up on the tips of his toes. "Is he going to be all right?"

"He is moving, so probably." Buck shook his head, watching the crowd cheer with delight. He was beginning to remember that he did not really enjoy tourneys. Perhaps it was different for someone who had never been in battle, but the whole thing seemed rather foolish to him.

John settled back down to his usual stance. "We should go back to the table."

Buck nodded his agreement and together they turned to walk back to the merchants' section. As they walked, he heard the tone of the crowd's murmuring change slightly, becoming louder and yet less boisterous. Reaching out, he laid a restraining hand on John's shoulder. "Not so fast."

"Why?"

"I am not sure, yet." He stopped walking and craned his neck, grateful for his height as he looked over the heads of the people around them, searching for whatever it was that had caught the attention of the crowd. At the edge of the mass of people, then cutting through it, he spotted the group of people who were the focus of all the interest of the rest. "Someone has arrived."

"Who?"

"They are coming this way. We shall soon see." Buck kept his eyes on the group. They were riding through the crowd, not walking. The six men riding before and behind looked like guards, protecting the man who was between the two groups of three. They came slowly closer, working their way through the gathered number of people.

John moved closer to him. "He looks important. A really rich merchant?"

"No, see the number of guards? He has to be a member of the nobility."

"You and Ezra said they would not come here."

"Sometimes we can be wrong." As the man came closer, Buck realized that he recognized him. "It is the duke."

"Really?" John was back up on the tips of his toes.

Buck nodded. It had been years since he had seen the duke, more than a year before he had come to Vierecken to make his home. The man had not changed much: his hair was still silvered, his features severe and proud. He looked like a hard man and the sword at his side and the guards surrounding him just reinforced that impression.

"What do you think he is doing here?"

"I do not know." They watched as the duke and his guards rode past, silent and haughty on their huge horses. After they had passed, Buck drew in a deep breath. "We should get back to Ezra."

"I think he will want to know about this," John said.

Buck nodded, his thoughts still pursuing the question of the reason for the duke's presence. Ezra might know. He hurried his steps, wanting to talk to the other man and hear his thoughts. It did not take them long to reach the table.

Ezra looked up as they approached. There were hints of anxiety around his eyes. "Did you enjoy yourselves?" He ran a cloth lightly over the trinkets that remain, wiping away any dust that clung to them even though Buck could see none. It was as close to a nervous gesture as he had ever seen Ezra make.

"We saw a man be thrown from his horse so hard his armor was dented," John said. "And then we saw the duke!"

Ezra's hands stopped moving. "Perien? He is here?"

"I recognized him from years ago," Buck confirmed. "He just rode in."

Ezra opened his mouth but nothing came out. He looked down.

"Ezra?" Buck was immediately concerned. What was wrong? "Are you all right?"

The green-eyed man looked up. "Merely tired. I fear I did not sleep well last night. Will you gentlemen excuse me?"

John took a step toward him. "Are you sure you are have to go? We wanted to know if you knew why the duke came here."

"To see the tourney," Ezra said. "Why else?"

"What makes this tourney so special? I bet he could see them anywhere, anytime."

"The motives of the nobility are strange to us lesser men, John. It is best not to wonder too deeply about them." Ezra yawned. "Now, if you will excuse me?"

John opened his mouth to ask another question, but Buck nudged him hard in the shoulder. "Go rest. Will we see you for evening meal?"

"If I wake up in time for it." With a sketchy bow, Ezra walked away.

Shaking his head, John watched him go. "That was odd."

"Yes." Buck watched as Ezra walked away quickly, his head down and his shoulder hunched. "Yes, it was."

"Do you think he looked...frightened?"

Buck shot a glance at his younger friend. That was what he was thinking. Ezra would not thank him for confirming John's suspicions, though. Privacy was too important to him, including where his emotions were concerned. "I think he looked tired."

John did not look convinced, but he let the subject drop. "Do you think we will see much of the duke?"

"I do not know. He will probably show himself during the tourney, but do not try approaching him. Those guards are not just for show."

"And when he is not watching the tourney?"

"Then he will keep to himself, most likely." Buck could not really generate much interest in answering John's questions; he was more concerned with Ezra's reaction to finding out that the duke was in town. All the life had gone out of him when he had heard the news. He had not even told Buck if he had sold any trinkets...or given him any money.

Buck held to that fact. He thought it was likely that Ezra would try to avoid them tonight; going to him to retrieve any money he had received selling trinkets would serve him as an excuse to seek him out.

He moved back to stand behind the table, but all the fun had gone out of day. His thoughts were not on the crowd or the strangers or even the money he could make.

Why was Ezra so frightened of Perien's presence in town?

Ezra managed to make it to his room before giving into the shakes that threatened to consume him. Perien in Vierecken? He did not want to believe it was true but Buck and John had no reason to lie and the duke's presence would explain the disturbance that had moved through the crowd. Perien was undoubtedly here. Wrapping his arms around himself, hugging his chest, Ezra tried to reason his way through this new development.

Why would the duke come here? This tourney was a relatively minor affair. Sure it seemed like quite a grand occurrence to the townspeople, but that was because they had never seen one before. This was a small tourney; none of the major participants had bothered to come here. There were no famous names on the playing field or in the viewing stands. Only wealthy people who lived very close by in Perien and Lanceton had come; no one had traveled any real distance to view it. There was nothing here to attract Perien to Vierecken.

A chill began to settle deep into his soul. What if Perien was here for him? He had thought he was keeping out of sight quite well here on the very outskirts of the duke's lands, attracting no attention with his small games and simple life. He might have been wrong; perhaps he had been noticed without realizing it. But why on earth would Perien care about his whereabouts, much less travel the distance to see him? Ezra had not seen the man in almost fifteen years; why take an interest in him now?

He had far too many questions and no answers with which to settle them. He would make himself insane before he came up with an answer. He sat down on his bed, eyes locked on the door. He did not expect a knock, but he feared one might come. Before when he had thought that he could not spend the entire space of the tourney in his room, he had been a fool. He could stay safe within these four walls forever if it meant he would be out from under the eyes of the duke. He could undoubtedly convince Gloria to buy food for him and deliver it. He could stay hidden here for the next five or six days.

The truly intelligent thing to do, of course, would be to leave town. All he had to do was pack his books and money into his bags, wait for darkness to fall, saddle his horse and go. He knew the path through the forest in dark of night and light of day. He would be miles away before anyone in town realized he was gone and they would have no chance of finding him. He would be nothing but a memory, soon forgotten by everyone, hopefully including Perien.

Ezra leaned down and laid a hand on the lid of the chest at the foot of his bed. He could be packed in less than an hour's time. There was just one problem with his plan.

He did not want to leave.

Leaving would mean abandoning the friendships he had found here in town. Leaving would mean having to start all over again in another town that could not be so friendly or welcoming, that would not have the shade of the forest nearby or well-meaning folk at its heart.

The next town would not have Buck in it.

Ezra jerked his hand off the lid of the chest. He had stayed in Vierecken for years out of friendship and love for the man and leaving would destroy all of that. Buck was a brave man; would he understand Ezra taking the coward's way out, fleeing town without a word to anyone? That was how he would have to do it. Saying goodbye would only involve those he spoke to in his troubles and that was the last thing that he wanted to do. He would leave town like the thief he was, creeping away in the night, not to return for years, if ever.

This was not fair! Of course, life was rarely fair, but he had not thought it would be this cruel. He had been slowly preparing to leave Vierecken, but in his own time, his own way. He had planned to make his goodbyes, leave his friendships behind but intact. Now he was going to have to tear them apart with his leaving. He would be denied a finally few days to build up precious memories to keep him company on the lonely days that awaited him.

Damn Perien. Damn him.

A knock at his door distracted him from his thoughts. Forcing his face into lines of calm curiosity, he crossed the room and opened the door, praying with ever step that Perien's men did not await him on the other side. "Buck?"

Buck nodded. "Evening, Ezra." He smiled, but his eyes were worried.

"What are you doing here?" He had been bracing himself for the sight of soldiers so hard that the relief he felt seeing Buck threatened to start him shaking again.

"I came to see if you wanted to join us for evening meal. John and the others are holding a table at Aaron's for us."

Evening meal? Ezra looked up at the sky, surprised to see that it really was that late. He had been lost in the morass of his fears and worries for hours; the day had slopped away without him realizing it.

"Ezra?" Buck's voice jerked him out of thoughts again. "Are you all right?" His eyes were dark with worry and concern.

For a moment Ezra almost gave in to the urge to tell him the truth, to unburden himself and ask Buck to help him figure out what to do. He quickly regained control of himself, though. If he was so selfish as to do that, he would be dragging Buck into problems that the other man did not need, did not deserve. Out of friendship and love, Ezra had to leave him out of it and keep him safe. "I am fine," he said. "I forgot to eat this afternoon."

"Then you are definitely coming with me."

Ezra's first instinct was too refuse; going back out into public was too risky. But this could well be his final opportunity to see all of them together, his last chance to see Buck and hear him laugh. That was worth the risk, worth almost any risk. "Thank you. I will join you."

He followed Buck down the stairs and to Aaron's tavern. The room was once again crowded with people. Ezra scanned the crowd, but no one there wore Perien's livery so he relaxed.

John grinned at them and waved from the table where he and the other four men sat. "We were beginning to think you two got lost," he teased as they approached.

"I managed to guide Buck back here," Ezra said easily. "You really should not be allowing him to go out without a keeper."

"Hey!" Buck tried to glare at him, but his heart was not in it.

Ignoring Buck's concern, Ezra sat down, very aware of Buck's presence in the chair next to him. He had not been seated for more than a few moments when Aaron appeared, sliding food onto the table in front of them. Ezra was not sure he would be able to make himself eat, but he smiled at Aaron and thanked him warmly.

"You are welcome," Aaron said, blinking a little in surprise. He did not have time to worry about it, though; there were already people calling for his attention.

Ezra listened to the conversation of the men around him, listening to their voices, memorizing the way they spoke, the words they used, the sound of their laughter. He was going to miss all of them, their companionship and friendship. He picked at his food and tried to contribute a little to the conversation, not wanting to worry them by acting oddly.

It did not work. He was not fooling Buck and the others were beginning to realize that something was off. He did not think they were too very concerned, though; he was merely having an off day and a man was allowed to have a few of those. Still, he did not want to linger too long at the table, worried that he would give himself away.

Drawing in a deep breath, he pushed his plate away. "I apologize. I find myself uncommonly tired tonight."

"Are you feeling unwell?" Nathan asked.

"No, merely tired," Ezra reassured him. "A decent night's sleep will no doubt put me to rights." He rose to his feet.

"Ezra?" Buck pushed away from the table.

"Buck, stay here. Enjoy dinner and these men's company. I am fine." He looked around the table, taking a final look at their faces, memorizing the looks of concerned friendship he found on them. He was going to miss them. His life would be the poorer for not having Nathan's stories about foreign lands, Josiah's willingness to debate him on every and any subject, Vincent's easy laugh, and Chris's sly humor. He would have to learn how to generate his own enthusiasm instead of relying on John's. Buck...he would miss everything about Buck, from his laughter to his silences, from his talent to the scent of him, from his body to his soul.

"Good night," he said, and was proud and amazed that his voice remained steady.

"I - we will see you tomorrow?" Buck asked.

Not wanting to lie to him, Ezra tried a joke instead. "Not if you expect me to work." Pasting a smile on his face, he raised a hand in farewell. "Good bye."

"Good night," Buck said, his voice a little too firm.

Ezra nodded, then turned and walked away. He hastened his steps once he was outside, wanting to reach his room as quickly as possible. He could see the stairs and was beginning to hope and despair that he would make it.

A hand slammed down on his shoulder, gripping hard and spinning him around. Ezra raised his hands to defend himself, dropping back into an instinctive crouch as he tried to get his bearings.

A man in Perien's livery stared at him. "The duke summons you."

Ezra was tempted to run. If he could make it to his room and lock the door, he doubted Perien would want to attract the attention that breaking through the door would cause.

Two more soldiers came into his view and he gave up on that plan. "It is rather late. Would tomorrow morning perhaps be better for the duke?"

"Now."

Not wanting to be dragged through the streets, Ezra nodded. He followed the first soldier and managed not to flinch when the other two fell into step beside him. He was not a prisoner because he was not in chains but that was the only distinction he could see. If he tried to run he did not doubt that he would be knocked to the ground and carried if these men believed that was necessary.

The soldiers led him through the streets, back to the house that Walter and his wife rented out to the wealthy who passed through Vierecken and wanted more than just a simple room for the night. Ezra believed that a merchant had already rented out the place; Perien must have displaced him with either a bribe or force. He wondered idly which one it was, but then he was being hustled through the door and he had no time to worry about anyone but himself.

The duke sat in a chair near a low fire in the fireplace, staring down at the flames. Ezra could only see him in profile but he could see that the man had not changed much in the years that had passed since their last encounter. He had grown older, but he was still hard, still severe. There was no softness in his body or his face.

"We brought him, my lord," said the soldier who had stopped Ezra.

The duke nodded. "Leave us."

The soldier nodded sharply and led the others out of the room, leaving Ezra and the duke alone together. The duke stared into the flames for a moment. "It took me a long time to find you. This was the last place I expected you to be."

Ezra did not know how to respond to that so he held his tongue. Perhaps he would be lucky and Perien would settle for giving him a tongue lashing, maybe have the guards thrash him a bit and then let him go. He doubted that was how this would play out, though. The duke said he had been looking for Ezra. Why? Ezra was not sure that he wanted to know.

The duke looked up suddenly, transferring his attention to Ezra. His gaze was just as hard as the rest of him. "You have learned how to hold your tongue." A sneer twisted his lips. "Your mother could not have taught you that. I wonder who did."

Ezra bit back the angry response that welled up within him. He was well aware of how Perien felt about his mother; he had witnessed the fights he had with Maude for years. He doubted telling him that Maude was dead would do any good; the anger that lay between them was too intense, too strong.

"I remember you as being more full of questions, boy."

"I grew up."

"And learned no manners or proprieties, I see." Perien looked him up and down. "You look like a peasant."

"I am a peasant," Ezra reminded him, refusing to use the usual honorifics. It was small and petty and it was just about the only rebellion in which he dared indulge himself so he was not going to give it up.

The duke scowled and rose to his feet. "You are my son!" he barked.

Ezra flinched away from the words and the tone both. "And this suddenly concerns you now? Why?"

Perien's nostrils flared and he took a step forward, but Ezra refused to move. He had spoken the truth. The man had shown little or no interest in him when he was a child, despite Maude's best attempts to convince him that Ezra would be an ideal heir if Perien would just adopt him. The duke had refused to consider the notion, telling Maude that Ezra was her problem, not his.

Looking at the angry man who had fathered him, Ezra remembered old pain that he had mostly forgotten. It had not been easy, the first time he realized that Maude likely had only given birth to him because she had hoped to use him to somehow gain a hold on Perien, to try to get money and a comfortable place from him. Perien would have none of it; he had refused to take any responsibility for Ezra's existence, only rarely giving Maude money just to make her leave him in peace for a time. Once he had convinced her to go by having his guards beat Ezra bloody and leave him outside the inn where Maude was staying.

To know that neither of his parents really wanted him had left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he had learned to live with that fact. Maude had taken care of him and had loved him after her own fashion and he had loved her in return. It had been enough for him then and it was enough for him now. He had lived with the fear that Perien would remember his existence for years. He did not relish the idea of receiving another beating or worse, being banished from the duke's realm. That would mean that he could never return to see Buck and the others without risking his life and theirs for being suspected of harboring him.

Perien drew in several deep breaths, calming himself. "Your appearance concerns me because like it or not you are my son. You should keep up appearances to avoid embarrassing me further."

"Only you and I and your men know of our relationship. I cannot embarrass you."

"You will if you do not get yourself cleaned up and act as befits my son."

Ezra held himself very still. "What do you mean?"

"You have some intelligence. Good." The duke moved away from him, placing his hands behind his back in a judicial pose. "I have need of you."

"For what? Whipping boy?"

Perien turned. "Hold your tongue and show some respect." He moved closer to Ezra, using his greater height to loom over him. "I have need of you as one of my sons. You have made absolutely nothing of yourself, but I am going to give you an opportunity to change that. I have arranged a marriage for you."

For a moment Ezra was certain that he had heard him wrong. "What?"

"The youngest daughter of the Earl of Lanceton. You will marry her as a sign of good will and will cement the alliance I have formed with him."

No. This could not be happening. "He wants his daughter to marry your unacknowledged bastard son?"

"You will be acknowledged. He has eight daughters and he will settle for you as a sign on good faith. The earl is not an especially important ally, but this marriage will help to secure trade between our demesnes. I will give you a stipend." Perien's lips twisted in a parody of a smile. "You will have what your mother always wanted."

"And what I never did!"

"You are just like her. You will take the money and do as you are told."

"I will not."

"Do not try to bargain with me. You will gain nothing. At the very most I will have you made the mayor of the town you will be moving to."

"The town...I have no plans to leave here."

"It is a part of the agreement I have made with the earl. You and Annamarie will live in Lanceton, near her father's keep."

Ezra could not believe this was happening. He knew that encountering the duke again would be bad, but he had never imagined it could be this disastrous. "I will not do this."

"You will. You will obey me." Perien moved closer to him. "The wedding will be announced at the end of this miserable little tourney, to give word time to travel through both Perien and Lanceton. You will have a few months to travel to your new home and get yourself set up there. It has all been planned, all been arranged."

"Except for the fact that I will not do it!" Ezra raised his chin defiantly. "I will not marry this girl." He searched for something that would make the other man see reason. "I love another!"

"You cannot." The venom in his voice was thick, burning. "You are your mother's son and she never loved anyone but herself in her entire life."

Keeping his face blank, Ezra swallowed the hurt that rose up inside of him at the casual dismissal of his feelings, of his life. "I can and I will not obey you. I am not marrying that girl."

"If you continue to defy me I will have you taken there in chains. Unfettered or in shackles, you will marry her and seal this arrangement."

"I-"

"Silence!" Perien roared, close and in his face. "I grow tired of your mouth. You will return to your room and make preparations to leave this collection of hovels at the end of the week." He lowered his voice. "Do you think that I do not know what you have done?"

Ezra drew back, for one moment irrationally convinced that Perien knew that he loved Buck and was going to use that knowledge against him.

"I have spoken to Lord Richmond," Perien said. "He was calling upon the Earl while I was there and he told me a most distressing story about being swindled by a man claiming to be an alchemist. A man who stole his purse."

"That is distressing," Ezra said.

"Do not play coy with me. You were that alchemist. You are the thief. Defy me and I will have you imprisoned so you can pay for that and every other crime you have committed."

"You have not proof."

"I do not need it. Seamus!"

The lead guard entered the room. "Yes, my lord?"

"Escort him back to his room. We are finished here."

"We are not! I-" Ezra's words were cut off by a blow across his shoulders, hard enough to drive him to his knees. When he tried to rise to his feet, he was kicked in the stomach and knocked completely down to the floor.

"Your insolence ends now," Perien said in a soft voice. "Seamus, remove him from my sight."

Desperately trying to draw air back into his lungs, Ezra was in no shape to resist as the same trio of guards dragged him back through Vierecken to the stairs that led to his room. By the time they reached them, he had his breath back but he knew he was going to hurt tomorrow.

"Do not make things more difficult for you or for us," Seamus said. "Start your packing now."

Ezra did not try to reply; he knew that it would do him no good so he did not waste the effort. He concentrated on making his way up the stairs with as much dignity as he could muster under the circumstances. When he was finally inside and away from the eyes of the men who had watched him go, he sagged against the door.

This could not be happening. Of all the ways the duke could make his life miserable, he had never imagined this method. Perien could not expect him to go through with this, could he? Perhaps it was all a part of an elaborate attempt to make him insane, some kind of horrible retribution for the irritation Maude had caused him.

He turned around and opened up the door, peering outside.

One of Perien's men looked back at him from the wall he leaned against.

Damnation. Ezra barely resisted the urge to slam the door. He could not try to run tonight; no doubt he would be watched for the rest of the night.

Sinking down onto his bed, Ezra tried to pull his thoughts into some sort of order. He needed to think, needed to make plans. He was not going to be able to slip away tonight and he would no doubt be watched tomorrow. His best opportunity to make an escape would come during the day; perhaps he would be able to lose himself in the crowd at the tourney. If he could make it to the forest on foot, he would be able to lose any pursuit sent after him. He would have to leave behind most of his possessions, his clothing and his books...but he would be free. He blinked away tears that threatened. Those books were more than mere possessions; they were old, treasured friends that he had carried with him for years. But if it were choice between them and freedom, he would take freedom. He would leave behind a note; hopefully, John, Josiah and the others would enjoy them as much as he had.

He had to make his escape tomorrow. If he delayed any longer, his friends would no doubt realize that something had gone terribly wrong and he knew they would not allow him to put them off for long. Telling the truth would only bring them trouble.

There was no help for it. Tomorrow he would have to steal away from Vierecken, leaving behind everything he had ever cared about. Raising one hand to grip the pouch that hung from his neck, Ezra stared blindly, seeing nothing but the destruction of his hopes.

Feeling proud of himself, Buck walked down Vierecken's main street, dodging past the unusual number of people on it that morning. The close press of the crowd did not irritate him; instead, it only fueled his good mood. All these people in his way represented people who had either bought one of his trinkets or soon would. He welcomed them - and their money - to his town.

There was only one thing clouding his good mood and he was on a mission to remedy it. The man who had suggested the trinkets, who had laid out the plan that had worked beyond all expectations...Buck had not seen him yet that day and he wanted to thank him. Once again, the selections that Ezra had suggested had sold briskly as soon as the tourney began that morning. Ezra had done a tremendous amount to make Buck's desire to earn money become a reality and Buck wanted to make sure he knew how much everything he'd done was appreciated.

The need to thank Ezra had pushed Buck to convince Josiah to take over manning the table so he could find Ezra. His pleasure in the amount of money he had made just was not complete without sharing it with Ezra.

Too bad Ezra was not cooperating. Buck had not yet seen him that day. He knew Ezra disliked rising early, but there was a tourney on and the day was fine. It was no time to be laying in bed to all hours. Besides, he was worried about the younger man. Ezra had not looked right the past evening: his attention had been turned inward and he looked as though he had had a scare. Buck had not pressed him in front of all the others knowing that Ezra would never appreciate being confronted in public. He would have grown more silent and refused to say anything at all. Buck hoped that if he had a chance to speak to him privately, Ezra would let him help with whatever was troubling him. He owed Ezra that much, owed him far more.

He caught sight of Christopher across a clump of people and flung up a hand in greeting. Christopher nodded in acknowledgement. They passed each other, but Buck knew that he would see him again. He liked having Christopher in town; he liked having all his friends in Vierecken. It reminded him a bit of being a member of a mercenary company, at least in the feeling of camaraderie that he remembered. He did not miss the fighting, but he was thankful for the chance to experience that feeling again. He resolved once again to find a way to try to persuade them to stay longer, not wanting to give it up.

Walking down the length of Vierecken's main street and checking inside of Aaron's, Buck had not found Ezra and no one he spoke to had seen him yet. Unable to believe that Ezra was still in bed, Buck changed direction and started walking toward Ezra's room. Some of his pleasure slipped away, replaced by worry. Could Ezra be ill? That thought was enough to make him hurry his steps, need driving him faster. He had to make sure that Ezra was all right.

Had to make sure? Buck took a brief detour, walking into the smithy. He still felt the pull to go on, to continue on his way to Ezra's, but before he could he had to get his head on straight.

This need to see Ezra - it was more than simple concern for a friend. If John was ill, Buck doubted that he would be tempted to run through the streets in order to make sure that he was all right. He did not know that Ezra was ill and yet he was ready to start running just to be certain he was not. He also had to admit to himself that this was more than attraction. Lust would not make him worry this way.

Hidden from the eyes of others, Buck thunked his head against the wall a few times in frustration. This was madness - falling in love with a friend? The only thing he could do that would be more foolish would be to let Ezra know how he felt. Drawing in a deep breath, Buck knew that he had to keep this secret hidden close to his heart. He had no idea how Ezra would react if he found out. The younger man was a good friend, perhaps good enough to deal with this and continue to be Buck's friend, but he did not want to take that chance. What if finding out drove Ezra away from Vierecken when Buck was trying to get him to stay? No. Better to hide this away and keep Ezra's friendship and allow the other man to have this town as a home and haven.

Settled in his mind if not his heart, Buck left the smithy, heading for Ezra's room once more. He forced himself to walk slowly, maintaining a semblance of disregard. If he was not going to arouse Ezra's suspicion then he had to avoid arousing anyone else's, since Ezra was so good at reading people's reactions and hidden thoughts.

He left Vierecken's main street and the crowds behind, angling through the smaller side streets to reach the building where Ezra lived. He was almost there when he caught the sound of Ezra's voice, carried to him on an errant breeze. He changed direction and cut around the building that was hiding the other man from his view. He did not walk out from around the corner, though, instead pausing to watch Ezra. If Ezra were sick he would likely refuse to admit it. By watching him for a few minutes Buck would learn more about his health than he would by talking to the stubborn man.

Ezra was talking to Vincent, speaking to him intently in a low voice. The breeze was the only thing that had allowed Buck to hear his voice. He moved a little closer, wanting to see and hear him so he could evaluate him.

Ezra's eyes looked overlarge and there were dark circles beneath him. Whatever he had done last night had not involved sleep. Buck thought that he looked pale as well. His hair and clothing might be perfectly groomed, but there was most definitely something wrong. Buck took a step forward but froze when he heard his name.

"Buck?" Vincent asked. "I have not seen him yet today. He is probably at the tourney."

"Where he belongs," Ezra agreed, but his laughter was a little off.

"Ezra, are you all right?"

"I did not sleep well. I will survive."

"Are you certain?"

"Vincent, save your worry for someone in need of it." Ezra's voice was sharp.

"Ezra?"

The green-eyed man shook his head. "My apologies. Lack of sleep has made me churlish."

"Perhaps you should get some more, then. Return to bed."

"Perhaps." Ezra took a few steps back, raising a hand in farewell. "I will see you later."

Vincent nodded, but his concerned expression did not change. "Yes," he agreed, making it sound more like a promise than casual agreement.

Ezra acted as though he had not heard, turning and walking away without looking back.

Vincent stared after him for a moment before turning and walking off in a different direction.

Not understanding what he had just seen but far more concerned now, Buck started walking after Ezra. He needed to talk to him now, needed to find out what was wrong because something clearly was. He could not just walk away and leave Ezra to whatever trouble had found him. Not when he owed him for friendship and guidance. Not when he loved him, even if he could not tell him that.

He turned the corner around the building, just as Ezra had. The shorter man was nowhere in sight, but there were few places that he could go and Buck was certain that he would find him soon. He kept walking, all his attention now focused on finding Ezra. The crowds and the noise from the tourney no longer called to him; all that mattered was Ezra.

"Buck!"

Buck did not want to stop but John's tone was urgent. "What?"

"Have you seen Ezra?" His apprentice was breathing hard, as though he had been running.

"I caught a glimpse of him a little while ago. I am trying to find him now."

"I just passed by him. He was walking toward the tourney. I called out to him but he did not seem to hear me - he just kept on walking. He does not look good. I came looking for you right after that."

Sudden fear flooded through Buck. What if Ezra was not sick; what if he was leaving? He could very well be upset because he was making preparations to leave town. Buck could hardly believe that he would leave without making any attempt to say goodbye to him. Still, there was much about Ezra that Buck did not know, much that he did not understand. He did not want to risk Ezra's leaving. "John, I am going to go after him. If you see him, convince him to go with you to the smithy. Even if you have to drag him there, get him to the smithy."

"What is wrong?"

"I do not know. I just know that something is wrong and Ezra is likely trying to handle it on his own."

John drew in a deep breath. "He does not have to do that."

"So we will remind him."

John nodded. "I will go look for him." He turned and walked quickly back into the crowd.

Remembering John's words, Buck directed his steps toward the tourney, taking a different route than John had. He maneuvered through the crowd with more speed than care, bumping shoulders with people as he forced his way through. He used his height to his advantage, staring over the heads of others and scanning the crowd in front of him, searching for Ezra blond-red hair and green eyes.

Not seeing him, Buck moved closer to the heart of the tourney. Ezra had not shown any real interest in the tourney so far, but he was already acting oddly so he might just be here. Going on instinct, Buck shifted over to the right, avoiding the lists and staying closer to the merchants. Near to the forest, the crowds were thicker here, making his search more difficult.

Finally, his search paid off. A few yards in front of him he spotted the familiar sight of Ezra's face. He did not call out to the other man, worried that he might actually startle him and start him running. Instead, he moved swiftly through the crowd, pushing his way past people until he was right behind Ezra. He reached out and laid a gentle hand on Ezra's should. "Ezra?"

Ezra spun around, eyes wide and hands coming up defensively. He looked ready for a fight before he realized who had touched him. "Buck?" He dropped his hands. "You startled me."

"I must have." Close up, he could see how very weary Ezra looked; his eyes were bloodshot and his hands were trembling. "Ezra, what is wrong?"

"I do not know what you mean," Ezra said, summoning up a fair imitation of a smile.

It did not fool Buck, though. He had seen real smiles on Ezra's face, fit to light up the day with no help from the sun at all. This was nothing like them. "Ezra..."

Ezra's gaze slid past Buck and fixed on something behind him. "It truly is nothing. Broken sleep has put me in an irregular mood. Some rest and I will no doubt be a new man."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Merely talking in the sights. When will a tourney come here again? This is not a sight to be wasted." Ezra spread his hands in a gesture of innocence. He was still paying most of his attention to something behind Buck.

Wondering what had so captivated Ezra, Buck began to turn around.

"Buck!" Ezra touched his arm, pulling his attention back to himself. "Buck, I need to go." His fingers clenched convulsively on Buck's arm for a moment before he regained control of himself. He dropped his hand back down to his side, a mask of serenity dropping over his features.

Those words and his manner sent fear skittering through Buck once more. "Do not leave."

Ezra stared at him, gaze flicking over Buck's face. "I-"

Buck did not let him finish. "Ezra, please. I do not know what is happening, but do not leave. We can find a way to make it better."

Ezra closed his eyes. "Buck-"

"Buck!" This time it was Christopher's voice that interrupted them.

Buck turned around to see what his friend wanted. He sighted Christopher several yards back. He also noticed one of the duke's men not that far away. He glanced back at Ezra.

Ezra was gone.

"Damn." He should have known better than to turn his back on him. The other man was skittish and Buck had handed him the perfect chance to walk away. He rose up to the balls of his feet, staring over the crowd, searching for Ezra once more. It did not take him long to find him again: this time, Ezra was over near the forest, a few dozen yards from the trees.

Not waiting for Christopher to catch up with him, Buck moved quickly, shoving his way past people in order to catch up to Ezra. If the other man reached the trees than Buck would have no chance of stopping him. Ezra would disappear and Buck might not ever get the chance to find out what was wrong. He pushed himself to move faster, not willing to lose Ezra.

After a few moments, Christopher was at his side. He should have expected that; there was no way his friend could have missed the way he was acting. "What are you doing?" Christopher asked, keeping pace with him.

"Something is wrong with Ezra," he explained shortly. "I want to catch up with him before he reaches the forest because then God only knows when we will see him again."

Christopher nodded and began helping him to cut a path through the crowd. Between the two of them they soon managed to reach the fringe of the crowd. Ezra was not all that far away and Buck began to feel hope that he would be able to reach him in time.

Two of the duke's men flanked them and broke into a trot. Buck watched in surprise as they closed in on Ezra, obviously just as intent as he was to reach him. "Ezra!" he called, not sure what was happening but wanting to warn his friend that something was most definitely happing behind him.

Ezra turned around at the sound of his name. He saw the duke's men approaching him and his eyes widened, his gaze filling with fear. His gaze slipped past them to Buck and he hesitated for a moment.

In that moment, he was lost. The duke's men reached him. The oldest of the soldiers grabbed Ezra by the upper arm and began pulling him back in the direction of Vierecken.

Buck and Christopher reached them a few moments later. "What is happening here?" Buck asked, not liking the way Ezra was being manhandled. He just barely restrained himself from trying to interfere.

"None of your concern," one of the soldiers said.

"This man is my-"

"Please do not concern yourself," Ezra said in a distant tone. "It is merely a misunderstanding."

The soldier who was holding onto him snorted. "Misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding," Ezra repeated. He met Buck's gaze and shook his head, his look clearly begging Buck not to interfere.

It was a struggle, but Buck held himself back. Beside him, Christopher followed his lead and did not move forward, although he did not relax.

"The duke wants to see you," the head soldier said, fingers digging into Ezra's arm.

"Somehow I doubt that he really wants that," Ezra replied, the barest hint of a wince betraying his pain. "Force really is not necessary."

The soldier did not acknowledge his words, just tightened his grip on him.

Buck drew in a deep breath, but Ezra was ignoring him now and he respected the other man's wishes even though he did not understand them. He watched as the soldiers pulled Ezra with them, dragging him back to Vierecken.

"What the hell was that?" Christopher asked.

"I do not know," Buck admitted. He could not tear his eyes away from Ezra and the way he held his head high even while being escorted away like a common criminal. "But I will find out." Something was very wrong with Ezra and Buck was going to find out exactly what it was and how he could help.

Once he and his escort were back in town, Ezra felt relief course through him so strongly it nearly left him gasping. Not over being caught, of course; despair from that would no doubt set in soon. No, he had been terrified for a few moments that Buck would ignore him and try to stop the soldiers from taking him away. Buck meant nothing to them; he was just the local blacksmith. He was a good fighter, but these men lived by violence and were armed. He could have been badly injured and Ezra could not allow that to happen. Better to surrender for the moment and keep Buck safe...and Buck had cooperated.

The soldier holding his arm tightened his grip and Ezra fought back a hiss of pain. He was going to be bruised, he knew, but trying to shake the man off would only result in more pain and he needed to conserve all his resources. He had just lost his best chance for making his escape; he just hoped that it had not been his last.

"I knew you were going to try to run," Seamus said, shaking him a little.

"That is utterly unnecessary," Ezra said. "And I was not running. There is a tourney on; I merely wished to take in the sights. We do not often get so much excitement here, and-"

Seamus shook him again, harder. "Quiet. The lord told us you would try to run, and you did. Now you will face him."

Ezra drew in a deep breath and held it, along with his peace. He was not going to find any sympathy with these men; it would be best to reserve his appeals for the duke. He doubted he would find any sympathy there, either, but perhaps he would be able to lie his way past the man.

As he walked through town to the house Perien had appropriated, Ezra was aware of the people looking at him, taking in the sight of him and his escort and drawing their own conclusions. Some of the people who looked on were strangers and he paid them no mind, although his pride was injured. Pride always took a secondary position to survival; his mother had taught him that. Some of those who watched were his friends and neighbors. Knowing that what they were seeing would worry them, Ezra did his best to project an air of control and confidence. He did not want anyone else to be tempted to interpose on his behalf and then be drawn into his troubles. He owed these people far too much for making him feel welcome here, for letting him make their town his own, to do that to them.

It seemed to take an eternity to reach the house and Ezra thought he might buckle under the weight of all the stares that followed him but he made it. Seamus released him and went inside, no doubt to report to Perien. Ezra resisted the urge to massage his aching arm; this was no time for a show of weakness. Moments later, he was escorted into the building.

Perien awaited him in the same sitting room as before. The duke watched him approach with an expression of disdain. "Seamus tells me that you knew my men were watching you and still you tried to flee." A hint of a sneer touched his mouth. "Your mother, at least, was never stupid. What a disappointment you must have been."

Ezra met the man's gaze levelly, refusing to react. He had heard sentiments like that from him every time their paths had crossed. The words still had the power to wound, but he had learned to hide those hurts well. "I explained to your men that they were perhaps overly eager and were most definitely mistaken. I was merely viewing the tourney and enjoying the find weather we are having today."

"Do not waste my time with lies." Perien waved away his words. "I gave you an opportunity to act with honor. You have squandered it. Seamus?"

The solid guard entered the room, a length of chain in one hand, manacles swinging free just above the floor.

Ezra could not help himself: he took an involuntary stop back. "No. Please?" he forced the word out. "Those are not necessary."

"You have already proven that they are."

"You cannot do this!"

"I thought we settled that last night. I can and I will. This alliance will be forged and I will not allow you to make me look a fool by forcing me to rescind the offer to the earl."

As Seamus moved closer, Ezra came as close to begging as he ever had in his life. "Please, I ask you not to do this. There must be another way. I will find it for you!"

"I have already found the best way. You had your chance to obey. Now you will submit."

Ezra took another step back and was grabbed from behind, held still by the two guards who had followed him in. "I do not want this." An image of Buck flashed through his mind. "Please, I love another!"

"You tried that fiction with me before. I did not believe it last night and I do not believe it now. The only love you understand is love of self and love of money; that is all your mother could have taught you." Perien nodded to Seamus.

The soldier advanced forward, his steps deliberate, implacable. Ezra knew it was useless but he could not just let it happen and so he fought, lashing out at the man who held him and trying to escape. It did not good; they were too many and too well trained he was soon shackled, wrists enclosed in steel with a length of chain between them. The shackles were heavy with the weight of metal and the promised destruction of every dream he had ever treasured.

He looked up and met the duke's gaze. "What will you do with me now?" The man could not keep him here in this house for the rest of his stay in Vierecken. Could he?

"I am told there is a gaol here. Small and underused, but it does exist."

Oh, Vierecken had a gaol all right. It was small and underused and falling apart. The bars stayed in place more from habit than any structural necessity. If they placed him in the building, it was likely that he would be able to force his way out. The shackles would be tricky to work around, as would any guards that had been posted, but Ezra believed that he had a decent chance of making a break for freedom. If he could find his way to the forest, he would be able to take care of himself from then on. Neither Perien nor his men had thought to search him; his money was still hidden in a purse inside his clothing. His escape would not be clean, but he still might be able to make it. He held his tongue and did his best to appear dispirited. Perhaps they would believe he had given up and watch him less closely. He clamped down on the urge to request to be held in his room. Pride be damned; this was his freedom for which he was fighting.

"The building is not in good repair," Seamus said.

"He will be guarded," Perien said dismissively.

"It would be safest to do a little work on it, my lord. At least do a few reinforcements so we take no unnecessary chances."

"As you think best. Have the local blacksmith check the bars and make sure that the gaol is secure." Perien turned his back on Ezra. "Remove him."

Ezra staggered when he was shoved towards the door; the chains at his wrists threw off his balance and it took him a few stumbling steps before he had control of himself once more. Seamus gave one man orders to find the blacksmith and the other a command to take Ezra to his new temporary home.

The gaol was not a long distance away, for which Ezra was grateful. He was fighting down a flush as it was, all too aware that he had become to focus of attention for all the people he had been marched past. The two-room building was just as depressingly small and derelict as he had remembered. The outer room gave anyone standing guard shelter from the elements; the inner was for the criminal, cramped and lacking any sort of privacy, one wall replaced with old bars from floor to ceiling. Ezra stepped into it reluctantly, not liking the darkness behind the bars or the faint lingering odor of straw that had long before rotted away.

The guard swung the barred door shut behind him, testing its firmness with a few tentative pushes and swearing when he felt the bars give. "Blacksmith better get here soon," he muttered.

Ezra closed his eyes. Blacksmith. Buck. What was he going to tell him? His friend would not accept any facile explanations. Perien would not doubt enjoying labeling him a thief, hoping that being revealed so would guarantee that he would never be able to return to Vierecken. The duke could be right. The people of this town had accepted him and his need to privacy, but how could they continue to do so when they discovered just how he earned his money? He had never hurt them or theirs, but would that make a difference to him? Pain washed through him as he realized that even if he managed to escape the gaol, he had most likely lost Vierecken and the home he had found here forever.

"Hello?" Buck's call sounded from outside.

"Inside, blacksmith," responded the guard.

"I heard you needed me," Buck said, walking into the small outer room. "This place does not see much use. What..." His voice trailed away as his eyes adjusted and he caught sight of Ezra behind the bars. "What do you need done?"

"This man will be held here for a few days. The duke wants this place made secure so we do not have to worry about him escaping."

Buck nodded slowly, his eyes still on Ezra.

Ezra did not say a word. He did not know if his friendship with Buck was known; if it was not, perhaps that could be an advantage? They had been seen talking, but nothing more. If nothing else, this might give him the opportunity to explain and say goodbye.

Nodding toward the shackles, Buck asked, "What has he done?"

"Disobeyed the duke." The soldier shifted his weight. "He is a thief and a liar and none of your concern. Can you reinforce the bars so he will be securely confined?"

Buck pushed at the bars, watching their movement carefully. "I can make repairs that should hold for a week."

"That is all the lord requires."

Buck nodded. He made a show of examining the bars and the way they were set into the ceiling and then sunk into the ground before shifting his attention to the door. As he moved around the outer room, he bumped into the soldier again and again, apologizing profusely and sincerely each time he did so.

Finally, the guard could stand it no longer. "I will go outside to give you more space. If he gives you any sort of trouble at all, call for me."

"I will," promised Buck.

The solider shot Ezra a menacing glance meant to keep him in his place, then walked outside into the sunshine.

Buck stepped closer to the bars, still moving as though testing them. His attention was entirely on Ezra, though. "Ezra? What in hell is happening?"

Time was short and Ezra had no time to state things delicately. "I am in trouble."

"That is obvious. How?"

How much to reveal? "The duke gave me an order. I tried to disobey him and now he is using force to ensure that I have no other choice than to obey."

"Gave you an order? Why? Why you? What order?" Buck glanced at the door leading outside. "He called you a thief."

"Which was a fair accusation." He could not look at Buck, not while confessing this. "Some very foolish, very rich people ride through our forest. It is not a difficult thing to trick them into revealing their wealth, and then take it for my own." He heard the chains binding him clank and knew than he was shaking, a little. Buck could write him off now, offended by what he had done.

"I always thought it must be something like that."

Ezra's head jerked up. "What?"

"Ezra, I always knew that you were up to something that was most likely on the wrong side of the law. I also trusted you to take care of yourself and not hurt this town."

Warmth filled his chest. "I would never hurt this town."

Buck nodded. "So what does the duke want you to do so badly?"

"Get married."

Buck blinked at him, clearly confused.

They did not have much time and it was not a tale he relished telling, so Ezra kept it as simple as he could. "He has arranged a marriage for me with the youngest daughter of an ally of his. He wants me to move to Lanceton and live there as a symbol of his commitment to maintaining their connection."

"But why you?"

It was so ingrained in him not to reveal his parentage, not to talk about it at all, that it took Ezra a moment to force the words out. "Because he is my father."

"This is not time for jesting, Ezra."

"I am serious. My mother and Perien had a very brief relationship that ended badly. They despised each other and he never openly acknowledged my existence. I had hoped that he would continue to ignore me until one of us was dead but that is not to be."

"Ezra! If he is your father, then that makes you -"

"A very unlucky bastard," Ezra interrupted. "He has decided he has a use for me and my protests mean nothing to him."

"This morning, you were leaving." There was certainty in Buck's voice.

"Yes. I had hoped to make it to the woods and lose myself there until his interest in me waned, but I failed."

"Would you have returned?" Buck's tone was wistful.

The question surprised Ezra, but before he could respond, Buck was shaking his head impatiently. "Never mind that question. It does not matter now. We need to find a way to get you out of here."

"Only if you will not be caught." Ezra was not willing to risk Buck's safety, not even for his freedom.

"You are the most stubborn man I have ever known," Buck muttered, squatting down to examine the lower parts of the bars.

"I beg your pardon?" What did that have to do with this situation?

"Who else but you would be so determined to escape from this situation? You have the opportunity to marry a fancy girl and be provided for the rest of your life and you are running away from it as far as you can." He smiled up at Ezra, his expression more tense than teasing. "Stubborn." There was forced heartiness in his tone and no laughter in his eyes.

Ezra stared down at him. Married and provided for? He was to be trapped and controlled, dragged away from everything he knew, his friends that he cared about. That was not a fate to be envied. He could not bear the thought of marriage because his heart was held in the hands of one man...one who did not know the burden Ezra had tried to place on him and so was undeserving of the anger he could feel rising inside of him. Ezra swallowed the hurt. Buck did not know how he felt, had meant no harm. If he were not such a fool, he would be appreciative of Buck's efforts to set him at ease by telling a joke. "How does it look?"

"These bars are not well placed; the ground barely holds them and the wood above is damage by wear and age. You could probably force your way out without much trouble, but there would be noise and the guard would be on you before you could make an escape." He ran his fingers up the length of one of the bars. "If I cut through two of these, though, you would be able to bend them out of place without making much noise. Then -"

"No."

"What?"

"Absolutely not." Ezra was aware that he sounded far too intense and he did his best to control his tone. "Not that way."

"It is not as though there are many options left open to us. There is not much that I can do in the time I will be given."

The problem lay in Buck doing anything at all. If he actively tampered with the bars, his involvement would be immediately suspected and discovered. Ezra might be free, but he would not take that at the risk of Buck's own safety and freedom. Perien had a well deserved reputation for being vindictive, one that Ezra was not going to allow Buck to experience first-hand. "It will not work."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing, I hope," said the soldier from the open door. "Prisoners do not give orders."

More thankful for his quick tongue than he ever had been before, Ezra sniffed and stared at the guard. "The stench in here is really quite abominable. Asking him to bring fresh straw with him when he returns is not asking much."

"It is asking too much when you are in no position to give orders." The soldier transferred his attention to Buck. "Do not bring him anything."

Buck nodded.

"Can you fix the bars?"

"It will take some time and my apprentice." Buck looked pointedly at the sky. "Day light is fading fast and the boy is taken with the tourney. First thing in the morning would be best."

"We can keep close watch for tonight," the guard agreed. "Be here at first light."

Buck nodded, ducking his head respectfully. He walked toward the door, glancing back once before disappearing into the light.

Ezra watched him go, torn between the familiar sensations of pain at love unrequited and the comfort of having such true friendship given to him.

The guard looked Ezra over. "If you try to escape, you will be punished."

Ezra did not respond. He made his way over to one corner and sat down, resting his back against the wall and trying to make himself comfortable. The sun was high, but all too soon it would be night. As pleasant as the day had been, he knew the darkness would bring its cold and he was in for a long night. The guards might think of bringing him a blanket, but they would not act unless Perien ordered it and he knew the thought of Ezra's comfort would never cross the duke's mind.

Closing his eyes, Ezra tried to block out the reality of his situation and did his best to ignore the fear he felt for Buck. If Buck overtly interfered then he would be the focus of Perien's wrath and Ezra could not allow that to happen, not to Buck, not to any of his friends. As warmed as he was by Buck's desire to help him, it just was not worth the risk.

Arms wrapped awkwardly around himself, Ezra tried to keep his mind off his physical situation. He could do nothing with the guard in the outer room, able to see every move he made. Escape would have to wait until he was under less strict observation. Searching for something with which to distract himself, Ezra decided to tell himself a story. In the tale he concocted for himself, Buck's strangeness while examining the bars had not been caused by his shock at Ezra's revelations about himself. Instead, he told himself that Buck had been reacting oddly to the news of Ezra's impending marriage because he cared about him, because he loved Ezra and wanted him to stay in Vierecken by his side. It was nothing but a story, but Ezra clung to it, losing himself in the fantasy as he waited for the dawn and a second chance.

Buck was never able to remember the walk back to his house after leaving the gaol. His thoughts were so far away from his surroundings that nothing registered until he was inside his own home.

How could any of this be true? The revelation that Ezra was a thief really did not come as that much of a surprise. He had always known that Ezra did not follow the dictates of the law. The only thing that really startled him was the fact that the man got caught; he'd believed that Ezra was too clever for that. Lord Perien must have really had it in for Ezra if he was able to find a way to catch him.

It was the rest of the news that really confused. Ezra, the duke's son? Ezra, being forced to marry a girl and move to Lanceton's territory? It was something out of a tale; certainly not something he would ever expect to happen to someone he knew. He was tempted to think it was all part of an elaborate prank except for Ezra's obvious misery and fear as he was held in the gaol.

As soon as he walked through the door to his home, he found himself surrounded and immediately put to the question.

"Did you see him?" John asked. "Is he hurt?"

"How sturdy is the gaol?" asked Vincent.

"What does the duke want with him?" Nathan asked.

Buck could see the others getting ready to add their own questions so he raised his hands defensively. "I will tell you everything I know. In time."

John backed off, as did the others, giving him room to enter and close the door. None of them let him out of their sight, though, staying with him as he moved further into the house and sat down in his usual chair.

"Buck..." Vincent's voice was thick with impatience.

"I saw him," Buck said, silencing all of them. "He is unhurt, but not comfortable. They have shackled his wrists as well as putting him in the gaol."

"But why?" John asked.

"Have you ever wondered how Ezra earns his way?"

A ghost of a smile touched John's mouth. "I always thought it might be better not to wonder, and definitely best not to know."

Buck laughed shortly, amusement forced upon him against his will. Who but Ezra could get away with that with his friends? "You thought correctly. Ezra does not just go to the woods to seek peace; he goes there to find foolish men whom he can easily separate from their wealth. He tricks them, cuts their purses." Nathan exhaled slowly. "I always suspected..."

"You always knew," Josiah corrected. "All of us knew. It was easier to just not think too much about it."

Christopher shook his head. "All this because he is a thief?"

"There is more." Not certain if they would believe him, Buck quickly explained what Ezra had told him: the truth about his parentage and the proposed marriage.

John shook his head. "You would not joke about this, would you?"

"It is what Ezra told me and it makes sense. Why else would the duke go to all this trouble? Certainly not for just a mere thief."

"It explains the way he was acting," Vincent said. "The last time I spoke to him, it sounded like he was trying to say goodbye without saying goodbye."

"When he was heading for the forest, he was trying to escape the guards, not us." Christopher's voice was not questioning. He was certain of what he had seen.

"I agree. He got caught, and now the duke intends to keep him in shackles until he takes him to Lanceton."

"But we can do something about that, right?" John's voice was low, quiet.

Buck drew in a deep breath, but he did not respond.

"Buck?"

Buck shook his head, meeting Christopher's gaze. He could see that his friend understood how dangerous John's question was. He continued to look at the rest of his friends and realized that all of them did, including John. John knew, and still he had asked. "I offered to weaken the bars in the gaol, but he refused." He had a hard time understanding that. He had been sincere in his offer; it would not take much effort to damage the bars to the point that Ezra could bend them out of place. With a little stealth, he would be gone before the guards knew there was any sort of problem.

Gone... He did not want to lose Ezra. He was a good friend, a good man, and even if he did not know it, the man Buck loved. He wanted him to stay in Vierecken and be happy here. He still was not certain that a man like Ezra could be happy here, though. He was meant for greater things that tricking people out of money and passing it on to Buck - he realized now that was the source of the money Ezra gave to him.

Perhaps Ezra did not really want to be rescued. Maybe it would be best to let him go with the duke. The shackles were a blow to his pride, certainly, but they would also allow him to tell himself that he had resisted with all his might. It might make it easier for him to settle in Lanceton. That life might not be what Ezra wanted, but it would certainly be grander than anything he would find in Vierecken and it would be safer than him wandering on his own.

"Buck?" John's voice called him away from his unhappy thoughts. "Did he tell you why he refused to let you help?"

"He said that my idea would not work."

"If you weakened the bars, you would be immediately suspect," Christopher pointed out. "Ezra might make an escape, but you would be shackled in his place."

Buck nodded reluctantly. "Then I can do something else. He is a friend and I cannot just leave him as he is. If helping him is the right thing to do, then I will do it."

"What do you mean, if it is the right thing?" John's tone was slightly outraged.

"He does not like the life that is being given to him, but it would not a bad life. He would have a home, money, status...there are worse lives."

"Oh, it sounds like a life many a man would like to be given," Vincent agreed. "So why is Ezra fighting it so hard? He was willing to leave town with nothing but the clothes he was wearing."

Buck shook his head. "Who knows how that man thinks? He is stubborn; perhaps he is refusing out of sheer pig-headedness." Even as he spoke, he knew that he did not believe his own words. Ezra would be more likely to pretend to go along with a plot and make his escape later. In fact, now that he thought of it, he was surprised that Ezra had not done just that. He could have agreed to the duke's order and gotten a free ride to Lanceton, which had so many of the ports that Ezra had dreamed about. Why had he refused so adamantly?

"I think that he really does not want to leave." John watched Buck as he spoke.

"Why would he want to stay in Vierecken? There is nothing here for him."

"Are you certain of that? He has the money to leave Vierecken and find one of the ships he sometimes talks about with me. He has had it for some time and he gave money to you even before he had enough. He has books and maps and plans...but he has stayed here." He stared at Buck, not looking away for even a moment.

Buck knew his apprentice was trying to tell him something. His heart was trying to tell him something as well. His thoughts were filled with memories of Ezra: Ezra stopping by the forge nearly daily to visit; all the work he had put into the tourney and helping Buck prepare for it; the way he sometimes smiled and it seemed as though the light in his eyes was just for Buck. Hope bloomed in his chest, warm and fragile and frightening.

Holding John's gaze, he said, "You think he had a reason for staying?"

"I think he still has one."

"Why did he object to weakening the bars?" Vincent asked.

Buck shook his head. "He thought it too dangerous."

"But not for him."

No, that method of escape would have no great danger for Ezra. He would slip out of the gaol and into the forest and be gone. The real danger would be for Buck; if it was discovered that he was the one who had damaged the bars, then the duke's wrath would descend on him and he would be in a great deal of trouble, just as Christopher had said. Friendship could make a man object to such a plan, but Ezra's objections had been too vehement to be driven by mere friendship.

For the first time, Buck allowed himself to believe that Ezra might not only not object to his feelings for them, he might even return them. The possibility filled him with energy, shoving away the shock and despair he had felt. Ezra could love him. Ezra truly could love him. He had to act; he could not leave Ezra in shackles, could not let him be taken away forever.

Buck rose to his feet. "I am going to find a way to get him out of there."

John smiled at him. "I will help you."

"No. It is too dangerous."

"And it will be less so if you share the burden." Vincent's voice was patient, but the look he gave Buck radiated approval.

"Do you understand what you are suggesting?" Buck spread his hands in appeal. "I will most likely be caught helping Ezra. That means that the duke will be looking for the both of us. If he catches Ezra, he will just be clapped back in shackles and taken to Lanceton again. I do not know what will happen to me, but it will be bad. You do not want to be a part of that."

"And you do?" Vincent challenged.

"For Ezra, I do. It is my risk to take. I will not ask you to take it."

"You do not need to ask," Josiah said. "We are volunteering."

"You have no need to! I can do this."

"But you need not do it alone." Nathan reached out and touched Buck's arm. "You want to help him. You can understand that we want to do the same."

Buck nodded. He could understand that. He knew that if they tried to prevent him from helping Ezra that he would object. Perhaps with their help he would be able to organize an escape that would get Ezra out clean and safe. He doubted that they could do make this work in a way that would conceal their involvement and he said as much. "You all do realize what this means?"

"We will have to leave Vierecken." John's voice was soft.

"Not just for a little while," Buck stressed. "For years. Maybe forever."

John's expression was very serious. "I know."

Christopher reached out and laid a hand on John's shoulder. "Maybe this is your chance to do some traveling."

"How can you be so casual about this?" Buck demanded. "All of you! This will change everything. Not so much for you, Christopher - you will not return here. The same for Josiah and Nathan. Vincent, you will lose a safe haven and will be on the run even more than before. John, you and I are going to lose our homes, our friends, our lives here. Are you really ready for that?"

"Yes. Ezra is my friend, too, Buck. This is the right thing to do."

"Besides, even if John is not involved, his relationship with you will put him under suspicion," Christopher pointed out. "The same will be true for all of us. Our friendship with you and Buck can hardly have gone unnoticed. We will be scrutinized and perhaps punished without acting at all."

"Better to help," Vincent said.

Buck gave up on dissuading them. They knew their own minds and truth be told, he would be grateful for their help. He had to ensure that Ezra got out safely, but he did not want him to have to leave with nothing, nor did he wish to leave behind everything of his own. With these men helping, hopefully they would be able to make an escape with some of their belongings, giving them the chance to begin again without having to start with nothing. "All right, then. I am open to suggestions. Who has a plan?" He looked expectantly at Christopher.

"Hell, man. Give me some time to think." His friend stepped away, withdrawing into a corner and losing himself in thought.

Buck knew that Christopher would still be listening, so he quickly described the situation in the gaol, its weaknesses and its strengths. "I am expected back there early tomorrow morning in order to make repairs."

"You will be able to bring John with you without arousing any suspicion," Vincent said.

John stood up straighter. "Yes."

"It will be dangerous," Buck cautioned him.

"I know that." Impatience leaked into John's tone.

Buck decided to back off a little. "So John and I will be able to go into the gaol. That means the guard will go outside - there just is not enough room for three men in that outer room."

"Is there only one guard?" Nathan asked.

"There was only one today. There might be more tomorrow."

"Unlikely," Christopher said. "One guard is more than sufficient for a shackled man in a gaol. Especially when the local blacksmith and his apprentice are there to help watch over him."

"That is overconfidence that we can exploit," Josiah said.

"But how?" Buck asked. Overpowering the guard would attract too much attention and then they still had to get Ezra out of his shackles and out of town. It could be done with force and violence, but that would leave the guards eager to hunt them down and their escape from the area would be difficult enough as it was.

"Because one man can be easily distracted." That evil grin looked surprisingly at home on Josiah's face. "Nathan, would you be terribly upset if I were to begin an argument with you tomorrow?"

Nathan stared at the preacher for a moment and then began to grin back at him. "An argument that could well degenerate into a fight?"

"There is always the potential for violence when men's passions are heightened."

"I think we are good enough friends that an argument between us can pass without destroying our friendship."

"Excellent." Josiah nodded at Buck. "The guard will be taken care of. Even if there are two of them, I am certain Nathan and I will be able to hold their attention."

Buck was fairly sure he knew what they were planning and he thought they were being modest.

John straightened in his chair. "We can bring in tools to remove the shackles with us."

"Yes," Buck agreed. "The noise can be explained away by claiming to be reinforcing the bars. We will have to be careful, but we will be able to hide our activities."

Vincent held up a hand. "All right, so the guard is engaged and Ezra's hands are free. How are we going to get him out of the gaol itself?"

"The building is old. We have never had much use for it and it has not been maintained. It will not take much effort to work one of the bars loose and free Ezra right through them."

"With his hands free, he might even be able to pick the lock," Christopher said.

Buck paused. He had not considered that, but Christopher was right. He knew very little about Ezra's past; had not that fact been proven to him just a few hours ago? "Perhaps. I will not know until I see him tomorrow."

"So what do we have?" Christopher asked. "Nathan and Josiah taking care of the guard. You and John freeing Ezra."

"What will you and Vincent be doing?" Buck asked. "Watching from a distance and offering advice?"

"That, and watching over the mounts we'll have concealed in the forest," Christopher replied with a dark look. "We will also cover your escape if it should be necessary."

Buck sighed. It was not really much of a plan, but it was all they had. He rose to his feet again. "Time to get packing." He looked at John. The others were experienced travelers; John was the only one who might have trouble. "Be sure to pack light, taking what you need, not what you want."

John nodded seriously. "I can do this."

"I know you can." He pulled John into a hug.

"Buck!" John protested, but he returned the embrace, arms tight around Buck's middle.

Releasing him and stepping back, Buck surveyed the men in the room. "Thank you," he said simply.

"Wait until we have actually made this work," Christopher advised him.

"I will not be able to thank you then." Buck grinned. "Ezra will be furious with all of us. I doubt I will be able to speak over him for quite some time."

Laughter rolled around the room, dispelling the tension that had slowly built up within the room. The men slowly dispersed, going to the room where they were staying to pack their belongings and prepare themselves to leave. John disappeared into his own room, leaving Buck alone with his thoughts in his own room. He concentrated on choosing the belongings he wanted to take with him, doing his level best to take as little as possible so he would be traveling as lightly as possible.

His thoughts wandered, of course. He was going to miss Vierecken: the town, the people, the quiet and the welcome that he had found here. He did not want to leave. He wanted to stay and continue to teach John and convince Ezra to love him, to have Vincent and Christopher and Josiah and Nathan come to visit them. That would be his dream...but dreams rarely came true and he had learned to accept that long ago. He would cut his ties to Vierecken and move on, keeping his friends and keeping Ezra safe. It was not the best solution, but it was one with which he could live.

The rest of the night passed quickly, in a haze of regret and fear and hope. He had a couple of saddle bags packed with clothing and other items before he fell asleep that night, waking frequently as he worried that that he was somehow going to oversleep and miss his chance to free Ezra.

The next morning he rose well before the sun. It took only a moment to wake John and then they were both in the smithy, quietly packing tools away and spiriting them back to the house. Christopher and Vincent would pick them up and load them up on the horses later.

With everything done except for Ezra's rescue, John and Buck waited in the smithy to be summoned by the duke's men. After watching John pace the length of the forge for the eighth time, Buck set him to cleaning.

"What is the point?" John asked, picking up a broom. "We will not be coming back here again." He ran a regretful finger down the length of the anvil.

"We will not," Buck agreed. "But someone else will come to use it and it would be rude not to leave it in good condition."

John drew in a deep breath and began sweeping. "This will not be easy, will it?"

The scuff of a footstep warned Buck that they were about to have company, so he was able to change his reply in time. "No. The building is old. With a little work, though, we will be able to make it secure once more."

"That is good to hear."

Buck looked up and met the gaze of the same soldier from the other day. "Good morning."

"Are you ready to work?"

Buck gestured towards his tools. "Yes." He motioned for John to follow. "I think I may need my apprentice's help."

The soldier nodded, not really listening. He led them back to the gaol.

Feeling his guts clench with apprehension, Buck had to fight not to begin walking faster. How had Ezra fared through the night? Was he hurting? Would he be angry when he figured out what they were planning? Ezra was proud and stubborn, but he was not a foolish man and Buck was hoping his common sense would win out over his obstinacy.

The guard stopped and spoke to the soldier standing guard, who left with a grateful looking smile. The guard turned to face Buck. "There is not much room in that gaol."

"My apprentice and I will keep an eye on the prisoner for you," Buck promised.

The guard nodded, satisfied. "Call out if he gives you any trouble."

Buck bowed a little, then walked into the small outer room of the gaol, John at his heels. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim light he found there. "Ezra?"

"Buck. John." Ezra rose stiffly from the ground, his voice tight with weariness. "How are you gentlemen this morning?" He looked tired and rough, nothing like his usual well-groomed self.

"Well," Buck said. "We are well." He caught John's eye and jerked his head toward the door.

John nodded and drifted back, carefully checking the location of the guard.

"Buck?" Ezra hissed, his voice now low and alarmed.

"It will be all right," Buck promised him.

"No it will not. I do not know what it is that you think you are doing, but it will not work and it will not be all right."

"Yes, it will," John said.

"No. John, do not allow yourself to be drawn into this insanity."

"Too late." John grinned.

Ezra stepped close the bars, shackles hanging down below his wrists. "Please -"

"It is too late," Buck echoed. "Trust us."

"I do. But you must not do this." Ezra's eyes were wide, filled with worry and pleading, but Buck thought he could see hope hidden in their depths. "It is not worth-"

"That is for us to decide," Buck said. "And we have decided." He moved close to Ezra, pressing near the bars and keeping his voice low. "Can you pick the lock to this gate?"

"Not with my bare hands, no."

Buck pointed at his tools. "What about with these?"

Ezra glanced down, then looked back up at Buck. "Yes," he said hoarsely.

"Good. I am going to get those shackles off you, then we are going to get out of here."

"They will know. Perien will not let this slide. He will look for you."

"Then we will just have to make sure that he does not find us."

"Us? Buck?"

Buck ignored Ezra's questions. "John, stand watch." He pulled out his tools. "Ezra, your hands?"

Ezra thrust trembling hands through the bars. "The noise?"

"We are supposed to be working. Some noise will be expected and dismissed." Buck evaluated the shackles. It would be easiest to strike the chains off here and worry about removing the actual shackles when they were far away and safe.

Ezra still looked as though he wanted to protest, but he nodded and gathered the loose chain in his hands, holding it close so that when the shackles were freed it would not clatter to the ground.

He picked up the appropriate tools and set himself to the task. It only took a few swift blows to each cuff to knock the shackles off. Ezra held onto the chain, preventing it from falling. He then looped the ends around and around his arms. The way he was holding them, it looked as though they were still connected. "What now?" he asked.

"Now you unlock the gate. After that, we wait for the signal."

"What will that be?"

"You will see," Buck promised, handing over a few thin tools.

It took Ezra only a few moments to unlock the gate, but the door stayed closed. If the guard were to enter to check on Ezra, he would see nothing amiss.

"John? Would you begin working?"

John grinned. "I though you would never ask." He picked up a few tools of his own and began hammering at the wood and bars, making noise and making it seem as though both he and Buck were industriously obeying the duke's orders.

Buck stayed very close to the bars, waiting for Ezra to begin paying attention to him again.

Slowly, Ezra dragged his gaze away from John and looked at him. "You are a fool."

"Yes," Buck agreed. "I am."

An unwilling smile quirked Ezra's lips. "I did not expect you to agree so easily."

"I have been realizing just how big a fool I am."

Ezra moved closer to the bars. "Buck?"

"It took me a long time to realize what I was feeling, what I was seeing."

"I do not understand."

"Yes, you do."

"No-"

Buck reached out and brushed the back of his fingers down Ezra's cheek. "You do." Taking advantage of Ezra's surprise, he bent his head and pressed a kiss to Ezra's mouth. The coolness of the metal against his face contrasted with the sweet heat of Ezra's lips. It was short and careful and over too soon, but Buck was not willing to push Ezra too hard on this, not at this moment. He brushed his lips over Ezra's one last time then leaned back a little, waiting to see how Ezra would react.

Raising his fingers to his lips, Ezra stared through the bars at Buck, for the moment unable to speak or move more than his hand. He knew the kiss had just happened: his lips were tingling and he believed that he could still feel the ghost of Buck's touch on his cheek. His thoughts were whirling about his brain and all the while Buck was watching him with hopeful eyes. Against all his expectations and beliefs, Buck was actually attracted to him. His secret fantasy had just come true and it had surpassed all his dreams in sweetness and need and...and he had to stop this from going any farther.

He drew in a deep breath and leaned heavily against the bars, hoping they would hold him up if his treacherous knees could not. "Buck, you do not want to do this."

"I have wanted to do that for a very long time." Buck reached for him.

Ezra reached up and caught his hand between both of his own. "I will not let you do this." The hand he held was marked by the work Buck did, rough and strong; Ezra owed it to this man to be just as strong. He had to protect Buck, even if it was from Buck himself. "What you are planning will destroy your life, yours and John's both. You have to think of that and realize that it will not work, and then walk away." Ezra would concoct some sort of lie to cover for his shackles being struck. Perhaps Buck could claim that Ezra had fooled or tricked him into doing it somehow. Perien would no doubt believe it and it was likely the guards would, too. The lie would earn Ezra a thrashing, but Buck and John would be safe.

"We have already thought of that," Buck said.

"We have," John confirmed. "This will not destroy our lives. It will just change them."

Ezra drew in a deep breath. He had forgotten that John was still in the small room with them. All his attention had been focused on the man in front of him. He took a step back, releasing Buck's hand. His shoulders squared, he turned to look at John and face his reaction.

John surprised him. There was no surprise on his face at Buck's actions, just tension and a small bit of joy lurking in his eyes. In any other circumstance that would have been enough to set Ezra's heart singing for relief and gladness, but not now.

He looked back over the man in front of him. "Buck-"

Buck's other hand slipped through the bars and caught Ezra's. "We want to do this. Please, Ezra, do not make this harder than it needs to be."

"It is a waste, a waste without purpose. Buck, you are doing this because you, you want me. In a month you will meet a lovely young woman and you will realize that you have ruined yourself for nothing. You will regret it and see that you have thrown everything away. For nothing."

"You are not nothing," Buck objected, his voice rough.

"Buck, you-"

"I love you."

Ezra stared at him, silenced by that revelation.

"This is not something that will go away in a month or a year. I hope it never fades." Buck tugged gently on his hands, drawing him closer. "Do you understand me?"

Ezra pulled his hands free of Buck's and reached through the bars, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him close. He pressed himself up against the bars and claimed Buck's mouth with his own, pouring his own long-hidden passion and love into the touch. He lapped at Buck's lips until they parted and then the caress went hot and sweet and better than he ever could have imagined.

When he finally leaned back, Buck's eyes had gone dark with passion. Ezra was vaguely aware of John's muffled laughter, but all that mattered to him was the way Buck was looking at him. "I love you," he said softly.

Buck smiled. "You will let us do this."

"There is no need. Leave now. I will find a way to return to you in time." Perien would have to let his guard down at some point. He had to. He'd never been able to sustain any interest in Ezra for any length of time before. This time would likely be no different.

"No." Buck silenced his protest with a raised hand. "Would you stand by and let me be taken?"

Ezra could not speak the lie, not when he could still taste Buck's kiss on his lips. "No."

"Then you will let us do this."

With a slow nod, Ezra gave in. "I will let you do this." He smiled a little. "It would be easier if I knew what it was you were planning."

"I though you liked surprises," John said. He was grinning widely.

Ezra glared at him for a moment, but he could not put any heat into the look. "You will be careful?"

"Very careful," John promised. "I will also do my best to protect Buck."

"You will do what, boy?" Buck did not turn around, despite his forbidding tone. He continued to look at Ezra, eyes on his.

"I will protect you," John repeated. "Right now, I will do so by being the one to listen for the signal."

"Signal?" Ezra asked.

"You will know it when you hear it."

Ezra accepted that. He was having difficulty keeping his attention on anything except Buck. He would not have been able believe that this was real, that Buck loved him in return, if the man was not standing before him, eyes hot and dark. It was tempting, so very tempting, to just push open the gate and step out. He would finally be able to hold Buck and see if his body filled his arms the way he always dreamed that it would. He curled his hands around the bars before him, holding onto them as a way to resist temptation. He had to stay in place in case the guard returned.

"What are you staring at?" Buck asked.

"Your eyes," Ezra answered honestly.

Buck flushed lightly. "Ezra-"

"You did ask," Ezra said. He reached out brushed his knuckle over Buck's mustache. His entire hand tingled and possibilities stretched out before him. All those impossible dreams that he had cursed himself for having lay before him, just waiting to be made reality.

It was difficult to focus; his emotions were running riot. Disbelief and joy, confusion and fear, want and hope - all of them battled for his attention. He knew he could not be distracted, not when Buck and John were risking their own safety in order to stage his rescue. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool metal bar before him.

"Are you going to faint?"

Ezra's eyes snapped open. "Do I look like a pampered fop? Hm? A fragile lady, perhaps?"

"No." Buck looked him up and down with frank appraisal. "You do not look fragile at all."

Refusing to blush, Ezra met his stare boldly. "You will have ample opportunity to test me in the future."

Buck pressed closer to the bars. "Will I, now?"

"You have my word." He pressed his mouth to Buck's in another kiss.

"Will you two stop that?" John's voice cut through the heat building between them. "You shall have plenty of time for that when we get out of here."

Buck twisted his head to the side and fixed John with an unfriendly stare, but he stepped away from the bars.

Ezra too backed away. If a guard walked in, their actions would give them away instantly. He paced back and forth. "Do you have a time when you expect this mysterious signal to come?"

John shrugged.

"That is terribly helpful."

"Ezra, calm yourself." Buck picked up his tools and began working on strengthening the joining of the bars with the ceiling.

"You are going to solidify this prison?"

"Just because I am going to defy the duke does not mean I cannot also be true to my craft."

Ezra smiled. "That sounds a bit like something I would say."

"I have been practicing."

John laughed quietly, muffling it behind his hand. "Did you know-" Before he could finish, raised voices from outside distracted him.

Ezra tensed; it sounded like a disagreement growing violently out of control. How would this complicate matters? He glanced over at Buck, seeking guidance, reassurance.

"Damn, but Nathan has a strong pair of lungs, does he not?" Buck grinned widely.

"I will remember not to anger him," John said in a wondering tone.

Ezra stared out the open door, but he could see nothing. Nathan in an argument? Nathan was usually fairly even-tempered, seeking to mediate disagreements rather than involve himself in them. What could...with a sudden stroke of insight, he realized what was happening: Nathan was somehow involved in the escape.

He had not time for questions or objections. Buck pulled the door to the cell open, moving slowly to avoid making any noise that could be heard over the raised voices outside. "Time for us to be leaving."

"What about Nathan?"

"He knows what he is doing. Trust him to take care of himself."

Ezra slipped out of the cell, biting back his questions. The time for those was over. Now he needed to trust in Buck, trust in his friends, and let them help him. He stood behind Buck and John, holding himself ready for whatever they might need him to do.

Buck stood at the door, watching the events occurring outside intently. "Come on, Nathan," he muttered under his breath. "Move him, move him...now!" He reached back and grabbed Ezra's shoulder.

Ezra allowed himself to be led, running quickly, blindly following Buck as they circled around the building.

"To the forest," Buck whispered hoarsely.

Ezra nodded and ran beside him, propelling himself toward the sanctuary of the trees. It felt as though he had never run so sluggishly; the sun shone down on them like a beacon and the forest was further away than it had ever been. He pushed himself hard, the weight of the chains around his arms weighing him down and he knew that any moment the guard was going to realize what had happened and set up a cry that would bring out searchers...and then they was in the trees, the shade draping around them protectively.

They did not slow down, but Ezra's growing panic subsided. This forest had never hurt him; they would be safe here so long as they were careful. "Buck? Do you have a set destination in mind?"

"I might not know these woods as well as you do, but I am not lost." Buck continued to lead them deeper. "I know where we are."

Ezra was tempted to reply, but he knew that was just a bad impulse resulting from stress and he resisted. Instead, he kept his mouth shut and his eyes on Buck and John as they made their way deeper and deeper into the trees. After a long period of walking, they came to a small grove that Ezra recognized. Christopher and Vincent were there waiting for them.

Buck stopped running and Ezra and John followed suit. Panting a little, Ezra glanced behind them, but he could hear no sounds of pursuit. They appeared to be safe.

Buck joined him in looking behind them, then let out a quiet whoop and grabbed Ezra, pulling him close in a tight embrace.

Ezra cupped his face in his hands and pulled his head down for a long kiss. He was finally able to slide his arms around Buck's middle and pull him close. The warm weight of him, the feel of him in his arms was so much richer than the guilty fantasies in which he had indulged that he very nearly lost himself in the sensations.

The sound of a throat clearing dragged his attention away from Buck and he stepped back, releasing the other man. Vincent and Christopher were watching them, amusement clear on Christopher's face and pleasure just as clearly revealed on Vincent's.

"Any sign of Josiah or Nathan?" Buck asked by way of greeting, showing no embarrassment at being called out of a kiss.

"Not yet," Christopher said. "You made better time than I expected. There is no need to worry."

"There is plenty of reason to worry," Ezra said, stepping in front of Buck. His thoughts were beginning to clear. At first his mind had been clouded with relief at his escape and sheer joy at being able to not only reveal his love for Buck but have it returned, as well. He pushed those feelings to the side, focusing on the important matters at hand. "Have you all lost your senses?"

Christopher stared at him, blue eyes cool. "You are welcome. I see you are enjoying your freedom."

"Yes, freedom has been quite delightful. I especially liked the part when I realized that all of my friends had ruined their lives in order to give it to me."

He really should have seen this coming. Buck knew Ezra; the man might keep secrets from him, but Buck understood who he was at his heart. He should have known that the rescue would not have been as easy as it had first appeared. Ezra was not going to allow the decisions they had made to be easy on any of them, including himself.

He reached out and laid his hands on Ezra's shoulders, gently holding him in place as he met his gaze. "No one has ruined anything."

"You have destroyed your lives! You will not be able to return to Vierecken, not for years, perhaps not ever. When I thought it was just you and John, I...you were honest men. All of you. You had lives that mattered, friends and a place-"

"Ezra, so did you."

Ezra shook his head. "Not like you."

"Exactly like me. You deserve the chance to be happy, the chance to be free. Should we have left you in chains, let them take you away?"

That made him pause for just a moment, but Ezra's mind was working as fast as ever. "If it meant that your lives would be left intact, then yes. I could have found my way back to you." He almost sounded as though he believed it.

"That is a lie. If you had been taken away, you would not have returned. You would have found away to escape, I do not doubt that, but you not have returned to Vierecken."

"Buck-"

"Admit it, Ezra," John said. "You would have stayed away to protect Buck and me."

A light flush rose on Ezra's face at that, but his jaw was set in a stubborn angle. "Someone must protect you, since you all seem so determined to ruin yourselves."

"We are not ruined," Christopher said. "Most of us have no ties to Vierecken. No one will tell the duke about us because no one there knows us. We were not expected to stay in town any longer than the tourney lasted; who will be surprised that we have moved on a little early. No one will miss us."

"So since Buck and John are the only ones hurt, I should not be upset?" Ezra shook his head.

Buck drew in a deep breath. Ezra was still filled with battle-energy from the escape; arguing with him was not going to do any good since he was too full of energy to listen. "Ezra." He waited until the other man fell silent and looked back at him. "Ezra, I could not let you be taken away, could not let you never return. I love you." He held his gaze and slowly pulled him closer. "What has been done cannot be altered and I would not change it because you are here with me instead of forever gone."

The fight went out of Ezra at those words and he moved willingly into Buck's embrace, holding him close. "I love you," he murmured quietly. He raised his face, seeking a kiss.

Buck was only too pleased to oblige him. A quick brush of lips over lips and then they were turning to face their friends. Buck still kept his arms around Ezra, though. Everyone here knew how he felt so there was no need to hide. He did not think that Ezra would object; he had not made any move to release Buck. "Should we be worried about Nathan and Josiah?"

"Not yet," Christopher said patiently. "They are not late; you were early."

That was right; Buck remembered him saying that before. He had been distracted by Ezra being so close to him, then. Just as he was becoming distracted now. Ezra was warm and strong in his arms and he fit so perfectly that Buck did not want to let go. He stroked his hands down the length of Ezra's arms, reveling a little in the knowledge that not only was his touch welcomed, it was wanted and would be returned.

His hands hit cold metal where there should have only been soft warm skin. Frowning, Buck took a step back and raised Ezra's wrists so he could look at that shackles on them. "You are not hurting, are you?"

"No," Ezra promised. "They are not comfortable, but they are not causing any damage."

"They are coming off."

"Later," Ezra said.

Buck nodded reluctantly. He knew that they were going to have to move soon to avoid searches, but he was tempted to pull out his tools and go to work on the shackles. He hated the sight of them: they were reminders of how very close he had come to losing Ezra forever.

The sound of voices came to his ears and Buck moved to stand in front of Ezra, determined to protect him. He bent and pulled a hammer loose from his bag of tools. It did not look like much compared to a sword, but he was strong and determined and would not let them take Ezra, not when he had finally held and tasted him and heard him speak the words that proved he returned Buck's love.

All of them watched tensely, waiting to see who was coming. A quiet oath told them who it was before they could see.

"Josiah?" Vincent called.

"And Nathan," the big man called back reassuringly. It was a few moments before he and Nathan appeared. "I almost believed the forest was trying to stop us from reaching you. These trees..."

"These trees are just that," Ezra said firmly. "Trees. They were not hindering you."

Buck grinned at the sound of him defending the honor of the forest. "I am glad you made it."

"Yes, thank you."

Nathan smiled. "You are a friend, Ezra. We could do nothing else."

"Yes, you could have, and that is why I thank you."

"We need to be moving," Christopher said. "Pursuit should start soon."

"It had not when we left, but he is right," Josiah said. "Where are the horses?"

"Farther in the forest." Vincent looked at Ezra. "There was a grove you showed me once."

Ezra nodded. "I remember it." He hesitated. "This is the last opportunity you have to change your minds."

"What is this?" Josiah asked.

Buck hurried and answered for Ezra. "He believes that we should not be ruining our lives in order to save him."

Josiah shook his head. "Ezra, we are just going to be walking a new path. Our lives will be different, not ruined."

Ezra opened his mouth.

"Please, no arguing," Nathan said. "You two will stand here and debate until the duke arrives looking for us and then all this will be for nothing."

Ezra shot a dark look at Nathan, and drew in a deep breath.

Buck poked him in the shoulder. "Argue while you walk."

Throwing up his hands, Ezra shook his head. "I surrender."

Buck laughed. He did not believe that would last, not for a minute, but he would take the small victory gratefully. "Take us to the grove."

Ezra nodded and turned slightly before walking into the trees.

Buck fell into stop behind Ezra and Christopher moved to walk beside him.

"He really knows where he is going?" Christopher asked.

"He does." He understood why Christopher was asking. Ezra acted like a man who would be lost the moment civilization was out of view, but just a few moments ago he had walked into the forest without even trying to orient himself. Ezra knew this forest well; Buck had a feeling he knew it even better than anyone including himself had suspected.

"He is just full of surprises."

"Yes," Buck agreed, smiling again. Ezra was full of surprises...and he was all Buck's. He watched Ezra move confidently through the trees, easily stepping over fallen branches and brushing aside occasional low hanging limbs. When he raised his hands to keep leaves out of his face, Buck could see the dull metal that still encircled his wrists and he fought down another burst of anger. How could someone want to do that to Ezra, chain him and hurt him?

He heard Josiah curse again behind him and turned around in time to see John laughing at the tall man as he irritably swatted at a low branch.

"Buck, make your apprentice let me be."

"John..."

"I am sorry." He did not look it, though. He grinned at Buck, excitement edging out the fear in his eyes. "Where do you think we will go?"

"I do not know."

John nodded, accepting that easily.

Buck was surprised to find that he could accept it as well. He would have thought that he would have been more upset. On several levels he was: he had lost his lively hood and his home. He had enjoyed living in Vierecken, feeling a true part in the town and the people. He could leave all that behind for Ezra, though. And while he was leaving behind his home, he was able to keep his friends. He thought that might be what was making it all less painful: these men that he called friends would not be lost to him and he could take comfort in that.

They walked for quite awhile, snaking through the trees. Buck often could not see the sky and he was having some trouble keeping track of his location. "Ezra, are you sure you are not lost?"

"I am certain."

"It feels as though we have been walking in circles," Christopher muttered.

"That is because we have."

"What?"

"Vincent is behind us making sure we are not leaving a trail. We are taking a wandering path to lessen the chance that anyone pursuing us will be able to find us."

Buck reached out and clapped a hand to Christopher's shoulder. "You should trust in Ezra."

Christopher snorted quietly, but the way he was looking at Ezra suggested he was reassessing his opinion of him.

The wandering lasted a little while longer and then they were in a surprisingly large clearing. Old trees lined the edges of it, giving it a feeling of protection and privacy. The horses were gathered at one side, leaving plenty of room for the seven of them. An old fire pit in the center showed that the clearing had been used before.

John walked into the clearing and turned around, taking it all in. "I did not know this was here."

"Not many people do," Ezra told him.

"A secret," John said with some satisfaction. He walked over to the horses and grabbed a bag. He carried it over to Ezra and handed to him. "I thought you would like to see this."

Ezra opened the bag, open curiosity on his face. When he saw the books that lay within, he blinked several times before looking up. "Thank you."

"You are welcome."

Wanting to give Ezra a few moments of privacy, Buck headed over to the horses and began to pull out supplies for making camp. It was just barely afternoon, but they needed to make plans before moving on. Perien had not brought all that many men with him and it was unlikely that they would be able to find them in the forest.

Nathan and Josiah joined him in his efforts. Christopher and Vincent faded into the trees. Knowing them, they were likely checking the perimeter and making sure that they were not pursued. After a few minutes, Ezra and John joined them in setting up camp. It was early for a fire, but bedding could be pulled out and Josiah began putting together a cold lunch of bread and cheese. Christopher and Vincent soon returned and the seven of them sat down around the fire pit, using felled logs for seats.

Before they could begin eating, Ezra cleared his throat. "I...thank you." He looked around the circle, his gaze finally coming to rest on Buck. "Thank you."

"No fancy words?" Buck teased gently.

"Not right now," Ezra admitted.

"Thank you is enough," John said.

The others nodded and as Ezra saw that, a smile turned up the corners of his mouth. "What did I do to deserve friends like you?"

"It must have been a most terrible sin," Josiah teased.

"One for which I can never atone," Ezra agreed.

"You do realize that means you will never be rid of us, yes?" Buck leaned towards him and bumped him with his shoulder.

"I most certainly hope I will not."

Buck rewarded him with a kiss. When he returned to eating, he glanced over at John. His apprentice was grinning at him with something that looked very much like pride. "Just what are you looking at?" he asked in a low voice.

"I am just pleased to see that you and Ezra finally stopped pretending to be a pair of blind men."

There was not much that Buck could say in his own defense. He had been blind, but he doubted that anyone else would have been able to see much more than he had, not in the situation in which he had been caught. He settled for saying, "Wait until you fall in love, John. Just wait. Then you will see."

"See what?"

"First you will see me taking revenge and mocking you. Then you will see just how easy it is to be blind."

Looking more disconcerted than smug, John turned his attention back to his food.

Conversation rolled around the fire pit as they ate. Buck added his own comments but he noticed that Ezra was staying silent. He did not look upset, just thoughtful. Buck figured that his mind was pursuing the problem of what to do next and he believed that whatever Ezra came up with would be a feasible idea...just so long as it did not involve turning himself over to the duke.

After eating, they set about making the clearing a bit more secure. Buck had a feeling that it would be an extremely early night. Not only would darkness come swiftly to them with the sky blocked by leaf-filled branches, but all of them had been awake for most of the night. Christopher and Vincent disappeared into the trees again and again, checking to make sure that no one was getting too close to their current haven. Josiah and Nathan had long practice at setting up camps and they were able to make the area comfortable without much effort at all. John watched them carefully, obviously intending to commit as much as he could to memory.

Ezra was still a bit withdrawn, obviously lost inside his own head. He was still aware of what was going on around him: he helped when the others asked him to and when they did not he followed Buck around the clearing, never moving too far from his side.

Buck certainly was not complaining about that. He liked having Ezra close, liked knowing that he could reach over and touch him any time he wanted. Homeless, with their future uncertain, and Buck was till utterly content because of the man who was just a few feet away from him. He used Ezra's closeness to his advantage, using his tools to carefully remove the shackles that encircled his wrists.

When he was free, Ezra stared down at his bared skin with satisfaction. "That is much better." He looked up to meet Buck's eyes. "Thank you."

"If you are feeling really grateful, you could reward me."

Ezra reached into his clothing and pulled out his money purse. "I do not have much."

"You-" Buck reached for him but Ezra was too fast, sliding out of reach and making it look effortless. "Ezra?"

Ezra looked at him for a moment, then took pity on him. "Thank you," he repeated, moving forward to embrace Buck. He kissed him briefly, then leaned back. "Was that a satisfactory reward?"

Seeing Ezra free was reward enough, but Buck was not going to tell him that. No need to bare his heart when others were around. That could wait until they had some privacy and time just for themselves. "I will accept it." He received another kiss as further reward.

When it grew darker, Nathan built a small smokeless fire. They gathered around it once more, Ezra again right at Buck's side.

"You did not see anything?" Ezra asked Vincent and Christopher.

"Nothing except birds," Vincent said. "They might suspect that we have taken refuge in this forest, but they do not know where in it to look for us."

"How large is the forest?" John asked.

"Enormous," Ezra said. There was an almost dreamy note in his voice. "It extends to the mountains and then stretches for miles, running the length of the peaks for several days' ride. I am certain there are parts of it that no man has ever seen."

"Except for you?"

"Not even I know all the woods' secrets." He smiled a little. "But perhaps I will have a chance to try to learn them."

"Ezra?" Buck knew that he was thinking of something more that he was not sharing.

Ezra just shook his head, his smile growing. "Not yet."

Buck knew he would share whatever idea what come to him in his own good time. Perhaps he would be able to cajole the answers from him later tonight with a bit of...persuasion. Buck began to smile himself.

As he had predicted, everyone stated a desire to seek their rest early. The sleepless night and tension filled day had taken a toll on all of them. Buck found his long-unused bedroll and laid it down beside Ezra's, as close as he dared.

Ezra approached him and took a look at the two bedrolls laying a few inches apart and shook his head. "Buck..."

Apprehension flooded through him. He had thought Ezra would want this. "Yes?"

"What do you think you are doing?"

Explanations and apologies crowded in Buck's throat even as his heart sank.

Ezra knelt down beside him and pulled the two bedrolls together, rearranging the bedding until it was just a single place for them to share and sleep. "That is how it should be." He kept his face turned downwards.

Almost weak with relief, Buck ducked his head down and caught Ezra's mouth with his own, kissing him deeply. "Always."

"Always," Ezra echoed.

Climbing into the combined bedding was a little awkward; Buck was aware that the others were glancing over at them with poorly hidden smiles, but the light from the small fire was low and he was able to ignore them and focus instead on the man lying a little stiffly in his arms. Looking into Ezra's eyes, he felt a little foolish but he said, "Hello."

"Hello," Ezra replied. He shifted in Buck's embrace, pressing closer so he could kiss him lingeringly. He kept the kiss soft and slow; with weariness seeping into both of them and an audience close by, anything else would be foolish.

Buck responded eagerly. Nothing in his life had felt so right as Ezra lying there and he pulled the other man closer, shifting so the other man was lying half on top of him. Something hard pressed into his chest and he grunted a little in discomfort.

Ezra broke the kiss immediately. "I apologize," he said, reaching up to shift the pouch that hung around his neck out of the way.

"What is in there?" He had wondered about it before when he had caught a glimpse of it, but had never asked. There was something about Ezra the demanded respect for his privacy...but Buck figured he was now the exception to that rule.

Ezra ducked his head, hiding his face against Buck's shoulder.

"Ezra?"

"You will laugh," Ezra said indistinctly.

"What if I promise I will not?"

"Then you will break that promise." Ezra sighed and reached back up, deftly undoing the knots that held the pouch in place. What he pulled out shone in the dying firelight.

It took Buck a moment to recognize the object. "One of my trinkets?"

Ezra shook his head. He drew in a deep breath, then looked back into Buck's face. "Your first."

"The first? But I gave that to the minstrel girl."

"And I convinced her to sell it to me."

"Why?" The trinket really was nothing special: a clumsily made flower that he had nearly forgotten about until Ezra had reminded him of it not long ago.

"Because I wished that you had made it for me."

In that moment, Buck wished that as well, fiercely. He could not go back and change the past, though. He could just do his best to ensure the future was as right at he could make it. "Ezra...even then?"

"Even then," Ezra said quietly.

Buck closed his hands over Ezra's, folding his fingers around the metal rose and then kissing those long, clever fingers. "You...I love you." He kissed his fingers again. "Even when I did not realize it, I loved you." He pulled Ezra closer and kissed his mouth, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, the lids that covered those changeable green eyes.

"Love you," Ezra said, returning the kisses. "This..." He swallowed. "I have had dreams, Buck, so many dreams throughout my life that I have given up on and abandoned. You were always the best dream, the one I wanted most."

There were no words for what Buck was feeling. He settled for kissing Ezra again before settling down in his embrace, the warm weight of Ezra against him reassuring him that this was real. No matter what was to come, this was right. He had as much happiness as he had ever desired in his arms at the moment and he had no plans to let go any time soon.

Part Nineteen/Nineteen

Trying not to look obvious while doing so, Lord Renner pushed his mount closer to his man at arms' horse. He did not like the way the trees seemed to loom over the path in a distinctly unfriendly fashion. Half-remembered tales floated through his mind, stories of bandits and mysterious happenings that did nothing to help soothe his already shaking nerves. If this were not the quickest route from the pass in the mountains to his destination, he never would have come this way. As it were, he thought that he might ask about after he had arrived and see if anyone of his acquaintance knew of a less oppressive way that he could travel in the future.

The scent of smoke came to his nose and his nervousness rose a few more notches. "Paul."

"I smell it, my lord." Paul placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I will watch most carefully." He nudged his horse into riding a little further ahead, shielding the nobleman behind him.

As they rode around a curve in the path, Renner was able to see the source of the smoke: a man sitting near the path, hunched over a fire. As he rode closer, the man looked up and Renner immediately noticed that he had green eyes that seemed to hint at secrets in the flicking light. When the man smiled, his attention shifted to the gold tooth in his mouth that reflected the firelight.

Fascination overcoming his fear, Lord Renner urged his horse closer to the strange man.

7777777

Shaking his head, Ezra looked down at the fat purse in his hand. Surely not every nobleman could be an idiot, but he had to encounter one whose intellect was stronger than his greed.

He tucked the purse away into his own clothing and made his way through the trees until he reached his home. A strange sight, the house standing in the woods, looking as though it had somehow managed to move on its own and had wandered away from its village and become lost, but it was home. Abandoned many years ago by an unknown farming family who had found the soil too hostile toward crops, the forest had reclaimed the area surrounding the building, hiding it behind new trees that had grown tall and strong.

"Any luck?" John asked from the doorway.

"A fair amount."

"What will you do when they finally learn to ride away from you instead of being lured in by your tricks?"

"I will then devise a new way to separate them from their wealth." He raised his chin in a haughty manner. "I am far more cunning than they."

Strong arms closed around his middle. "Ah, but are you faster?" a rich voice asked in his ear.

Ezra inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of fire and sweat and he remained relaxed in the arms that held him. "I do not need to be."

"And why is that?"

He gently brought his foot down on the top of Buck's foot as a warning and the arms around him loosened immediately. "Because I am cleverer as well." He turned in Buck's embrace and smiled up at him. "You have been working." He ran a finger down the length of Buck's arm, feeling the unnatural heat of his skin.

"The blacksmith at Closerton has been ill and his work piling up. I have taken on some of it for him before he and his apprentice are overwhelmed." Buck was still flushed from the heat of the small smithy they had built behind the house. "And now John will be finishing the rest."

"Nails?" John asked with a heavy sigh.

"Get moving and you will be finished by evening meal."

John pulled a face, but he walked back to the smithy.

"And what shall you be doing while John toils?" Ezra asked.

"I am certain we will be able to think of something to keep us occupied."

Ezra was certain as well. The way Buck was looking at him was making his blood tingle as it moved through his veins. He turned and moved out of Buck's embrace, walking into the house, certain that his lover would follow.

As he moved through the house, he looked it over appreciatively. It had taken a long time to get the place repaired and rebuilt so it met his definition of livable, but their hard work had paid off. It had helped that Josiah, Christopher, Nathan and Vincent had been there to aid them in their efforts.

The other men had moved on for the moment, leaving Ezra, Buck and John alone in their hidden sanctuary. Josiah and Nathan had not been able to resist the urge to continue their traveling on a limited basis and were visiting a village they had passed through many times before and had always seemed to be in need. Ezra had sent some of the money he had...collected along with them. He brought in more money than he needed, more than Buck or John could use, so he contributed to the money Buck earned working as a blacksmith in some of the small towns that bordered the forest nearby and let Josiah and Nathan figure out what to do with it. Both men enjoyed leaving the forest and returning to their travels for a time, but they always returned to the house and the home they had there.

Vincent had enjoyed helping Ezra dream up with different ways to talk the unwary out of their money, even going so far once or twice to pretend to be his assistant when there had been too many guards for one man to dare to try to cozen a lord on his own. Still, the peace of the trees could only soothe him so long and he had wanted to give clearing his name another try. Christopher had gone with him, saying that he could not go on his own. He was right; it was too dangerous for Vincent alone. Vincent and Christopher would be back no matter what happened, though; Ezra was certain of that. They had put in a lot of effort when making the house livable and welcoming. Ezra had watched two men who had been for all intents and purposes homeless slowly build themselves a home. He had seen the approval and wonder in Buck's eyes as he'd watched Christopher work on the house, join Buck in teaching John to fight, and go out hunting on his own. Ezra had seen Christopher's growing contentment and peace here as he had reconnected with Buck, the two men falling into the rhytm of friendship as though they had never been parted. No matter what happened to them in Vincent's search for vindication, both men would always have a place to return to and be welcome and he was certain that Christopher would do so.

All of them would return. This house was as much their home as it was Ezra, Buck and John's. They would come back and rest, visit and laugh and stay until the urge to wander grew too strong to be resisted. Ezra could understand that; he had not felt that pull recently, but he knew that it would come again. Sometimes in his dreams he found himself on board a ship, the scent and the feeling of the spray fresh and intense. This time, though, Buck and the others were nearby, on the ship with him. It was the first time that had ever happened. He knew it was just a dream but he liked the idea of all of them being together. He did not want to lose the camaraderie he had with them. He knew that was what brought them back together again and again, despite the danger being around him, Buck and John presented.

That was the only shadow on his happiness: the threat of the duke finding them. They had but sporadic word of him over the past few months, but Ezra doubted that the man would stop looking for him and he knew he would never forget the embarrassment of losing the Ezra in an escape. That threat kept Ezra back in the trees except for short visits to small towns where Perien could have no eyes, but he was not unhappy. He was slowly building a small fortune with his careful deceptions in the forest. One day it would be enough to buy a new smithy for Buck or John, passage home for Nathan, a comfortable wagon for Josiah, a home to retire to for Christopher, a new place for Vincent to set himself up right...all of that and more. He could do those things for them, but he would rather have them close. These were all dreams for the future, a future in which they were safe from the duke's retribution and all of them could leave the forest for as long as they pleased. Still, for the moment, hidden within the trees, they were safe.

Safe and together. Buck followed him closely as he made his way up the stairs. "Are you sure you do not have more work to do?" Ezra asked.

"John is getting out of practice. He needs to do the work more than I."

"And just what do you need to do, sir?" He glanced over his shoulder in time to catch Buck's grin.

"I am sure that you will think of something that needs my attention."

Ezra nodded slowly, not letting Buck see his own smile. He led the way through the house, passing the empty bedrooms that waited for the other men to return from their travels, back into the bedroom he shared with Buck.

"Was it a successful day?" Buck asked.

For an answer, Ezra pulled the heavy purse he had taken from inside his clothing and hefted it in his hands, the jingle of coin impressive to even his ears.

Buck whistled appreciatively. "He is going to be most perturbed when he finds that missing."

"And many miles distant, so his upset will not be our trouble." Ezra placed the money in a trunk and then turned his attention to Buck. His clothes were damp with sweat from the heat of working at the smithy. His hair was still wet at the roots and Ezra could feel the increased heat coming off his skin. He stepped closer to Buck and reached out to grasp the hem of his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Buck's voice was soft, teasing.

"Why did you send John to the smithy?"

"He needed practice."

"As do you." He blocked Buck's outraged expression by pulling his shirt up over his head. He took a step back and let Buck struggle his way out of it.

As soon as Buck freed himself from his shirt, he dropped it on the floor. "Ezra-"

Instead of letting him get started, Ezra knelt and went to work on his boots.

"Ezra..." All the irritation had disappeared from his voice, which had gone dark and rich with want.

Grateful for his quick fingers, Ezra removed the boots with swift sure movements, carefully placing them off to the side. He rocked back to rest his weight on his heels and looked up at Buck. "Yes?"

Buck shook his head, reaching down to stroke his fingers over his hair.

Ezra reached up and rested his hands on Buck's hips, shifting the material over warm, hard skin before working the pants down the length of his legs. Already erect, Buck's cock rose away from his body temptingly.

Ezra was never one for resisting temptation. Placing his one of his hands on Buck's hip, he leaned forward and lapped delicately at the underside, quick, teasing touches that he flickered up and down the length, never lingering in one place for more than a moment.

Beginning to pant, Buck threaded his fingers through Ezra's hair carefully, love tangible in ever move he made.

Wrapping his fingers around the base of Buck's erection, he closed his lips around the head and slowly took more and more inside, his lover's moans music to his ears. Wanting to hear more, he began to bob his head, up and down the length, his tongue in constant motion even as he pumped his fist at the base.

Buck began to thrust his hips in small, uncontrolled jerks and Ezra quickened his movements, knowing he was close and wanting him over the edge. Looking up the length Buck's body, he took in the sight of skin sheened with sweat and muscles trembling and began to hum low in his throat. Buck gasped and his hips bucked forward hard, coming with a shudder.

Ezra shifted his hands to Buck's thighs, supporting him as he swallowed. Soon large hands were curling underneath his arms and pulling up to his feet. Buck kissed him hard and hungry and Ezra wrapped his arms around him and pulled him close. Buck dropped a hand down to squeeze Ezra's erection. Ezra let his head loll back and drew in a hissing breath. "Buck..."

"What else to I need to practice?" Buck asked, before ducking his head to suck at Ezra's exposed throat.

"Clothes," Ezra said. He scored his nails down Buck's back. "Bed."

Buck scraped his teeth over his Adam's apple, then took a step back. "Clothes?" He reached for Ezra's shirt, but Ezra was too impatient for teasing and games and he removed the shirt himself, tossing it to the floor while he toed off his shoes. Buck's hands dropped to his waist and then his pants were slipping away and puddling on the floor.

Ezra clung to Buck's shoulders when a strong hand circled his erection and began to pump it with maddeningly slow strokes. Buck curled one arm around his waist, holding him close. "Bed?" he asked, his breath wet and hot in Ezra's ear.

"Now." Ezra pulled Buck toward the bed then at the last moment turned and shoved Buck down on it. He did not give him time to bounce before he was on top of him, straddling Buck's waist and planting his hands on his shoulder, holding him in place. He leaned down and kissed him lingeringly, indulging himself in just experience the pleasure of Buck's mouth. After losing long minutes to the sensation of Buck's lips on his, his tongue gliding slickly against his own, Ezra reached over to the low table beside the bed and grabbed the small container of oil they kept there. He broke away from the kiss and carefully opened the container, pouring a small amount onto Buck's stomach as he moved to kneel between his parted legs.

Buck flinched away a bit from the cool liquid. "A warning might have been nice."

"But not nearly so much fun." Ezra dragged his fingers through the oil and reached down to quickly prepare his lover before spreading the oil up and down his own length. "Love you," he murmured before pressing himself within Buck, moving steadily until he was seated in a single slow glide. "I...you have my heart," he confessed, skating his hands up his flanks.

Buck arched into the touch. "Ezra," he said softly.

Ezra began to thrust gently, moving slowly at first, reacquainting himself with the sensation of being inside his lover, of having this connection in truth after dreaming of it for so long.

"Ezra."

Having learned what all those different tones in his lover's voice meant, Ezra knew that Buck wanted him to move faster. Instead, he slowed down, running his fingertips up and down the length of Buck's renewed erection as his thrusts became practically lazy.

"Ezra?"

"Buck?" He made no effort to keep the smile out of his voice.

"Ezra, you are my heart. Would you please move faster?" Buck pushed back against him, hard and desperate.

In the face of such words, how could Ezra refuse him? He moved his hips in an ever quickening thrusts and leaned down so Buck's cock was trapped between their bellies. He kissed Buck open and wet and as deeply as he loved him. Sweat slicked their skin, letting them slide against each other with sweet ease until Buck was shuddering beneath him and the slick between them was more than just sweat the it was too much for Ezra and he lost himself in completion.

He drifted for a time, lost in hazy pleasure. He knew he was being cradled close to Buck's chest and that closeness was just as wonderful as what they had just shared in its own way.

Lips brushed soft kisses over his temple. "Are you awake?"

"Mm."

Smugness crept into Buck's voice. "I think this proves that I do not need any more practice."

Ezra turned his head to the side and scraped his teeth over Buck's nipple.

"Ow!"

"I think you need more practice."

"More?"

Ezra raised his head so he could see Buck's eyes. "Much more." He yawned. "Just later."

"Later," Buck agreed, relaxing beneath him with his arms still wrapped around him.

Ezra did not need to be held in place; he had no intention of moving. His life was nothing like what he had dreamed and he still did not know what further changes might come, but that did not matter. He had good friends and this man in his arms and he was richer in love than he had ever dared to hope. It was not the life he had planned but it was the life he loved.

THE END