The thought of him leaving her alone in this room sent a wave of panic through her. "Jack, wait!" She almost shouted and grasped his arm. "The duke's men are still searching for me. It's only a matter of time before they come back to check the rooms down this corridor. I cannot hide in here for long."

He smiles at the warm contact. “Gee, you just can't keep your hands off me. I'm afraid I'm not a one woman man though so I'd only hurt you in the long run.” He joked in a tense time like this before getting out his room key.

“I'll lock you in here and deal with the guards. They won't expect you to be in a locked room, right? Sit tight, I'll be back for that kiss, Princess.”

He smiled again then would lock her in the room unless of course she didn't let him. Either way it was time to get down to business ...

The princess released his arm instantly at it jest about her. She blushed, embarrassed to have betrayed such raw emotions again. She turned away again and strode to the nearest lamp and put out the light. Light would be seen outside the room and be seen as an indicator that the room wasn't empty. Who locks an empty room but leaves to light on. "I'll wait here for you but do not take long. I imagine the duke with start getting nervous if I am not found before long. Escape will only become more difficult the longer we start here..." She added turning out another light.

“of course,” he adds noticing her embarrassment. He leaves her there in the dark room for what seems like an eternity given that there is nothing to do in that dark room but to wait. She occasionally hears guards and once someone tries to access the room but finds that it is locked and deceases.

Jack returns if over half an hour. He had to work quick. He leads her along corridors. He gets close to an exit, steps into the shadows and fiddles with a loose stone reveling a secret compartment that he learned about when he a a kid by the Duke nevertheless.

He gets out a small iron box and a scroll tube. “The regalia. This is a map to the Blue Shrine I wish to meet you there when I free the others we will met there. It is in Sirocco and I arranged for someone to take you across the ocean to the mainland. It will be longer over land but you can get from here to the mainland without any of the Urikian boats hunting you down and catching up. The mp will lead you to the docks, find Francois he will take you and the map will lead you.

“I will find out bout your sister before meeting up with you. Got all that?” He glanced to the shadow. “Of course I could not send you without an escort.”

And Naramis had been there. “I will get your family sword back for you Naramis, but for now you’ll have to deal with the one I got you. Questions?”

An instant wave of relief washed over her when she saw Naramis. She had been afraid that Jack had meant to send her back alone. The revelation that he wasn't combined with the fact that he had kept his promise and rescued her body guard as well gave her renewed hope. "Words cannot express how happy I am to see you, Naramis. Are you unharmed?"

“Yes I am unarmed but the Duke has my family sword. I would very much like it back.” The last said to Jack as he looked at the rogue who nodded at that.

“I said it would be done. Now go. You can thank me when you get back. Preferably with gold or that kiss,” he grinned though Naramis looked at her confused as Jack ensured that they had everything necessary. Regalia, mp, sword and in the case of Victoria a dagger – everything he gathered on short notice not to mention Naramis …

“Out this door here, it's a straight shot to the pier find Francois and he'll take you across to Sirocco. It should take little haggling on their part to send troops through the country ..."

"I have not forgotten my promise, Jack." She replied cryptically, knowing Naramis would probably disapprove. Still, before they turned to leave she quickly moved forward and gave the thief a chasted kiss on the kiss. "This is just for encouragement. Return to Brindle alive with my men and I will give you the real thing." She whispered to him before stepping back and speaking loud enough for the soldier to hear. "I shall give you the gold I promised you as well once I get my kingdom back under my control."

Who went more wide eyed Naramis or Jack? Probably Naramis for he did not know what was going on here. He was a bit jealous of this commoner of course but said nothing of it. It was not his place to make any judgments on the Princess, of course. All that was required of him was to guard her from harm. So far the rogue seemed to be doing a better job of it than he.

He pretended not to watch as he looked away. Until these lat few months he served a the King's guardsman though when it became apparent that the Princess was going to supersede her father he had been a replacement for Willis.

Gold … something told Naramis that there was more to it than just gold.

“Princess, we should be going.” He would eagerly lead her a way without a word to the wharfs where they're were several ships. In a sea voyage they would be over taken but just to Sirocco they should make it, they would have a head start even if their attire stuck out to any onlookers.

Francois was found easily enough sitting on a chair drinking from a bottle of wine on the Shooting Star. A few questions discovered his whereabouts easily enough. He was a civilian with glasses and a black beret. Green eyes watched as the pair approached. “Greetings. How may I help you?”

Victoria took in the man's appearance, wondering how capable a guide he truly was. Jack had recommended his services and the thief, she had to trust, had more knowledge about these sort of things than she did. "We were looking for a guide to take us to Sirocco. We were told you were the man to talk to about that."

Francois looks them over. They are obviously the foreigners that Jack had told him about then he glances out at the ocean and can make out the land in the distance.

“Sirocco you say? It is right there.” He considers though if he takes them …

“You must take me with you though, that is the condition. I can get you to Sirocco but no doubt they would pick me up if I came back this way and they'd be questions I cannot answer. I am leaving behind nothing I love here, unless of course you don't have fisherman in that country of yours.” He laughs at how foolish that matter was with a bit of a grin. “Do we have a deal?”

"You want to come with us?" Victoria asked with a raised brow. "I have no objections, truthfully, but are you certain my country is where you want to settle. If the rumors I've been hearing are true then it seems likely the country is about to be thrown into a good deal or turmoil, possibly even war. It may not be the most ideal setting for starting a new life."

He nods. “Taavar is aligned with Urik and would turn me over. Sirocco is a wasteland. Gladriel is to frigid and Gaist too far. I believe a simple fisherman beyond his prime will be overlooked. And if not, well I'll make due, I always have.

“I just realize that I cannot stay here. Once I assist you there's no turning back.”

"Very well then, if you understand the risks then you are welcome to come with us." She thought back to her men still imprisoned by the duke and shook her head. "I have no wish to see you taken by our enemies either. Once things are settled with my kingdom I will see that you and your friend Jack are rewarded for your assistance. I would ask that we leave quickly however. It will not take long before the Duke realizes we have escaped him and will be hot on our heels."

He nods and welcomes the pair aboard. “All that is necessary is a boat to replace this one and the knowledge of a good fishing spot.” Really Francois didn't need much. He realized that once they got to Sirocco he would have to ditch this craft and urgency was key. There were probably others reporting on the fact that two well dressed individuals came here so he invited the two onto his ship and set sail.

It was a small schooner and even so it would seem to be too much for him to handle alone but magic was fairly common amongst those in Urik and the ship took care of most things on it's own with the barest direction from the skipper.

When they were half way to Sirocco a pursuing ship was launched and while quicker their head start would mean they would get to Sirocco first.

Naramis was looking over the map provided to them.

“We're suppose to meet Jack at this temple. We got two ways of doing it. We can cut through this fores here in a more direct route or take a longer route around here to the South along the coast but that's all opened land. We can also head North but I don't know how passable the mountains are here.”

Victoria frowned down at the map. The forest road provided many unknown dangers but it also provided more cover. The coast route would be easier to traverse but it was too exposed. "North is out of the question. Wandering blind into the mountains, praying we find safe passage, is too risky. We could end up boxing ourselves in and being taken again. I would prefer the coast but you are right that it is too open, plus the Urikians may have ships out looking for us too. We'd be sitting ducks. I think the forest is our best option."