Thank you for all those reading this so far, I really appreciate your support. I've found myself editing my original text quite extensively before publishing so apologies if there are any continuity issues.
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I hurriedly searched for Jasper in my father's suites and was surprised to find him sat side by side in deep conversation with my father's red headed font Olivia, dressed far more appropriately than I was used to, who upon seeing me quickly scooted herself away from Jasper.
"Henry my boy, what sort of newfound crisis brings you into my company again?" Jasper stated jovially with a broad smile on his face.
"Can we speak in private? I've got a bit of a situation I was hoping you could help me with."
"This doesn't have anything to do with your father being convinced all of a sudden that there is an unbound gifted woman on the ship?" Jasper replied with a knowing look.
Upon seeing my evident flash of concern, he smirked and turned to his companion.
"So let me guess, he wants to see if he can get himself his very own Font right from under his father's nose?"
"No, it's not like that at all. I want to help her escape."
"Are you insane?" Jasper shot back at me.
At this point Olivia's eyes lit up as she looked up and stared me straight in the eye.
"You've met her, is she truly gifted?"
"Umm...I believe so, when we first kissed..."
Olivia rose at this point taking my hands and bringing me down to sit beside her.
"You've kissed her already?" she asked.
"Her name is Emily, and we met before we boarded the ship. I felt this instant connection to her and I can't bear to let my father get his hands on her," I replied as I turned a sympathetic gaze on Olivia who I figured knew all too well.
"You truly care for her?" Olivia asked me more firmly than I'd expected.
"I think I do," I replied truthfully.
"Then bind her to yourself and never let her go," she replied with a fierce and unexpected passion.
"But I could never subject her to that," I replied forlornly.
"Believe me I know exactly what that entails and put in her position there is nothing better than being bound to someone who cares. I wish my dear Jasper here could have bound me when we first realised I was gifted but he was without the spark."
"Hold on, you two knew each other before she was bound?"
Jasper let out a sigh as he took Olivia's hand, "Why on earth do you think I put up with your father's bullshit. We initially planned to run together but after Liv was apprehended, your mother stepped in and made a deal along with Liv's dad for your father to take her on as his Font with a fortune in gold so long as he treated her with dignity and respect. I then serve as his Seneschal to allow me to be close to her."
I was taken aback by the deep sadness that passed between the two of them as I also noted the evident and growing age difference.
"Wait, my mother was involved?" I asked a little taken aback.
"You know your mother and I are old friends so she did everything in her power to find the best solution possible. I was desperate to stay close to Liv and she knew your father would agree to anything for the opportunity to acquire more power so she pulled some strings and now we make do with the cards dealt us." Jasper explained.
"But there were still alternatives? Is it still not possible to flee to the underground in the South?" I asked.
"The underground escape route is genuine...but we are too far in the north already and the chances of success are remote at best," Olivia responded, "if you truly want what is best for her then I would say her best chance is with you."
"But how would I even get the soul stone to bind her?"
"I still think you are risking too much for someone you have just met," Jasper stepped in as Olivia kicked him, "but you may be able to get your mother to help. So long as you can sneak her off the ship and keep her out of the hands of hunters that is," Jasper replied chagrined while rubbing his shin.
"But how would I even do that?"
"Your father is looking for a passenger from the upper decks and if I know him well enough, he is likely to have overlooked the possibility of her being a slave. You could try to have her stored in the slave deck as your property and collect her from a transition station enroute to the capital. If she is truly gifted and other sorcerers felt her release there are likely to be hunters after the bounty. With that in mind, you'll need to keep her near you to mask her magical signature with your own."
Jasper, with Olivia's help, continued to help me thoroughly plan everything as a surprisingly inquisitive Olivia asked me all sorts of questions about Emily. I finally said my goodbyes a few hours later and made my way back to the chamber armed with new found knowledge and a plan of action. The idea of binding Emily to me continued to trouble me but the simple thought of her being subjected to such horrors by someone else kept the debate raging in my head.
As I entered the drawing room of my suite, I was surprised by the sound of a slap followed by a muffled squeak.
"Scarlett, Emily are you there?" I asked announcing my presence.
Everything suddenly went quiet before I heard some scuffling in the bedroom so made a bee line for the door. As I reached out for the handle the door drew inwards as I was met by a flustered looking Scarlett dressed in the same outfit, I'd left her in earlier sans the silk gown. She pushed through the door and into my personal space as she took hold of my hand and wordlessly dragged me to sit down on the sofa.
"I'm not complaining but why are you still dressed like that and where is Emily?"
Scarlett was perspiring a little as she moved to sit beside me.
"Master, Em and I have been getting to know one another and she wanted to show you something," She said a little nervously but with a cheeky look in her eye that had me worried, "but it's a surprise so you need to wear this." Scarlett continued as she held out a piece of black silk before me.
"Is that a blindfold? What on earth could she possible have to show me that requires that."
"Please Master, it will make this much more fun!" she responded beaming at me.
