I think I may know of a way

I start thinking of what to do. While thinking of Oliver, an idea starts forming.

“Mia, I think I’ve got a solution.”

Mia and Emma both look at me hopefully and Mia asks, “What is it?”

“Remember that day Oliver, Amelia and I faced that troll?” I ask.

Mia looks at me with worry and replies, “How could I forget? I nearly lost you.”

“Well, apparently it made Oliver give up on being an adventurer.” I explain. “He told me that instead he’ll be going to the capital to work at an inn over there. He’s got family there where he can stay over until he is settled.”

“How is this going to help Emma?” Mia asked with confusion.

“Oliver was planning to remain here until after the festival. He wanted to spend his last days celebrating with his friends. He was supposed to leave the day after.” I continue explaining.

“… And?” Mia asked.

“What if he leaves during the festival and takes Emma with him?” I then tell the twins. “Fabe will not expect Emma to abandon the village during the festival. She will leave for the capital before Fabe, Oliver will protect her on the way there.” Then I turn myself to Emma. “You can stay over at Oliver’s family, maybe join him at whatever inn he’ll be working at. By the time Fabe realizes you are gone, Mia and I can say you and Oliver eloped to a different city."

“Yeah, like you and Oliver eloped to Tristanis." Mia suggests.

“That way, if Fabe wants to get you back, he’ll travel in the wrong direction. And if he doesn’t care but goes to the capital anyways, it could take a very long time until he eventually finds you. Especially if he isn’t looking.”

“And mom and dad won’t have to see you preggers.” Mia finishes. “I’ll also be joining you a week later, so we’ll be going through this together.”

When Emma thinks about it, she seems to calm down. She hugs her sister and then says, “Alright, I’ll do it. If it’s with Oliver, I know I’ll be safe.”

“There’s just one problem, Darx.” Mia says. “What if Fabe wants to spend time with Emma during the festival.”

“Shit.” I curse. I hadn’t thought of that. “I guess I’m going to have to distract him, then.”

Mia then cocks her head and says, “No. No, I think I’ve got this. I’m coming up with a little idea of my own. Yeah, I know of a way to distract him.”

I don’t like this. Mia together with Fabe. The thought alone turns my stomach.

“No, Mia.” Emma says. “What if he …”

“He won’t be doing to me as he did to you, Emma.” Mia interrupts her sister with a stern look in her eyes. “That asshole won’t even touch a single hair on me.”

Mia then redirects to me and says, “You should go tell Oliver about what we’re planning. He needs to agree before we can go through with this. Also, don’t go from here straight to the inn. If Fabe or Cal see that, Fabe might get suspicious.”

“I’ll go around the village first and help a bit with the decorations.” I say. “That should take away their suspicion.”

After that I head back to the village, leaving Mia and Emma in the stables. I’m sure Mia still needs to spend a lot of time comforting her sister.

Like I suggested, I head from one stall to another and ask people if I can help out a bit. While I am doing this, I can already hear them start the gossip.

“Did you hear? Apparently that Fabe guy got into a fight with the innkeeper’s son. I heard Darx tried to save him but Mr. Enzo’s son tried to stop him.”

“Hey, you gotta hear this. Apparently, Fabe was bullying that Oliver kid again, and Kase helped him take it out on the poor kid. Thank god Ilene put a stop to it.”

“Did you hear? Did you hear? Apparently, that new kid tried to kill Darx. Isn’t that like the most insane thing you can think of? Darx is Ilene’s kid. I’m sure that if Kase succeeded in killing Darx, Ilene would have sent Mr. Enzo’s kid to an early grave.”

“You’re never going to believe this. I heard Fabe and Kase both tried to kill Oliver. You know, the innkeeper’s son. Thank god Darx and Ilene showed up in time. Yeah, if I were Fabe or Kase, I would not get anywhere near the inn anymore. If they do, I would not be surprised to find them poisoned by the innkeepers.”

Just like I thought. The news is spreading through the village like wildfire. I hate to hear how they talk about Oliver. But I love how everybody is turning against Kase. Looks like people are finally seeing him for the asshole that he is.

Several villagers even come and ask me if the rumor about the fight is true. I of course tell them it is. The more I can let people understand the real Kase, the better.

After a while, when it makes sense for me to go to the inn for a drink, I'm heading over there. While I’m still a bit away from the inn, I see Amelia come out. My heart skips a beat and I quickly hide behind one of the other houses. After what happened last time, I really don’t feel like seeing her right now. But she does have healing magic and Oliver got severely wounded. I guess I should have expected that Oliver’s parents would call on her. I wait for a moment, then check carefully around the corner. She is walking away. Once she is far enough, I head towards the inn.

Oliver’s parents first thank me again for helping out, then offer to show me to his room. I decline and tell them I am thirsty and would prefer a drink first. As I am sipping my cup, I look around the place and yeah, just like I thought. Cal was there. I’ve got my ways of dealing with him.

After I finish my drink I head up to Oliver’s room. Most of his bruises have healed and the cuts in his face have closed. They … seem like they are already a day old. Looks like Amelia spending time with Kase was at least good for that. Ugh. Can’t believe I just thought that.

I told Oliver about our idea to take Emma with him to the capital. I had expected Oliver would need time to think about it. Instead he immediately agreed. Well, at least that’s covered then.

When I left, I asked Oliver’s parents if I could use the backdoor instead. Since they’ve known me fsince i was a child, so they find no issues with it. As such, I am able to escape the inn without Cal finding out.

When I get back to Mia, she is waiting for me outside her house. I’m guessing Emma is resting inside. She’s been through a lot.

“Oliver has agreed. He has told me he knows of a group of people who will gather at the village entrance tomorrow evening. Emma and him can join with them and leave for the city.”

“Tomorrow evening he will come to your parent’s stable and he will take Emma with him.” I inform Mia.

Mia looks sad at first but then she says, “Right then. I guess this is happening.”

“What about your parents?” I ask.

“Tomorrow, we will tell them that Oliver was planning to head for the city on the day of the festival all along.” Mia explains. “Emma simply decided to join him. Shouldn’t be a big deal since they were preparing for her to leave next week anyways.”

“What about your plan to distract Fabe?”

Mia smirks and says, “Got it all covered. You just make sure to warn both Oliver and Emma once I start my distraction.”

With all our plans ready, now there was nothing left to do but wait for tomorrow. I wonder how it will go.