.

The Jester smiled. "Eh, you can call me Chri. I'm a court Jester, which the prince seems to remember." He waved a hand lazily at Sebastian, who frowned, and growled, "Then what do you want with us?" The jester, still smiling, spread his arms wide and said, "Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm very sorry for kidnapping you. In fact, you are completely free to walk out of here." The jester said, and Jyla frowned. Something didn't make sense. "If we can walk out of here, why did you kidnap us in the first place?" Sebastian asked, voicing exactly what Jylan had just been thinking, and the Jester tipped his hat at them gleefully. "I just needed to check something." 

"You're not making any sense," Sebastian said flatly, and Jylan was still deep in thought. 

It couldn't be… could Piliny have been the one who bought the cottage? The one who had helped him time and time again, and the reason she was even here? Jylan paused. 

"Sir jester, are you …?"

Piliny smiled, and even though one of the folds of the cap was covering his mouth, Jylan could imagine him grinning. 

"Yes, I'm the one who bought this marvelous place. Quite nice taste in the furniture you have." Chri said, and Jylan stared at him. This person … he wanted to trust him. But it was a bit too soon. Sebastian, as usual, answered for him. "We'll take you up on your offer." Sebastian said, getting up, brushing dust off his clothes, and holding a hand out to Jylan, who took it. Chri smiled, and said, "Which one?" Sebastian frowned, and said, 

"The one to walk out of here."