Second Chance

Planning

Biana was the first the break the question.

"Well, what are we going to do about Keefe then?"

"Unfortunately, Miss Vacker, we still don't have a plan and I'd rather come prepared," Mr Forkle said.

"But we're not gonna leave him alone!" Sophie exclaimed

"No, we are not, Miss Foster," Oralie said in her soft voice, "please believe us. I'll make sure Keefe is our first priority."

She glared at Councillor Lyingcurls and added, "But I'm only waiting until dawn tomorrow. Keefe needs us and I'm not leaving him by himself. Have you guys forgotten that he has no money or anywhere to go?"

Grady cleared his throat, "Sophie, he did say he stole some cash AND he could stay at Amy's."

She gasped, "He's at the Forbidden Cities!"

"I..."

"Miss Foster, you promised that you would wait until dawn," Mr Forkle argued

"But now that we know..."

"No 'but's. You said it and we still don't know where he is."

She sighed, "I'll hail Amy and ask her, though."

She went upstairs and hailed Amy.

Meanwhile, Grady admitted to having the imparter.

"WHAT!" everybody seemed to yell.

"Shhh! I don't want Sophie knowing or she'll run off. We can hail him though."

"Sandor, can you tell us when Sophie's almost done?"

"Of course, Lord Ruewen," he replied.

They all turned their attentions back to the imparter.

"Hail Keefe Sencen."

A small Keefe showed up on the screen, worried.

"Is she okay?"

Everyone was frozen.

"Keefe," Biana whispered, "Keefe! Seriously? That's the first thing you say after running away? I can't believe you! I—"

"Keefe! Why'd you run away?"

"Keefe!"

"Keefe!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Keefe breathed, "I didn't think you'd be this excited to see me "

"We're not," Mr. Forkle informed him, "We're mad at you."

"Well," Keefe said slightly disappointed, "Where's Foster?"

"Where are you?" Fitz asked.

"I can't tell you that."

"Why not?"

"I don't wanna hurt anyone else."

"You're not going to!"

"Yes, I am."

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am!"

"Enough, boys," Edaline chipped in.

"Keefe," her voice softened, "I know you think that you're going to hurt more people by coming back, but the truth is, you hurt us by leaving. Especially, Sophie."

His face was filled with guilt and sorrow.
"Where is she," he asked softly.

"How about," Grady offered, "if we tell you, you have to tell us where you are, or at least a minor detail. We know you are in the Forbidden Cities. What else?"