Three days. That's what Jisoo knew he had to ready himself to leave the only home he had ever known, and as he waved his mother and father and their retinue and guards away that morning, it was all he could do not to cry. He had said his goodbyes, knowing that they would be the final thing he would ever say to them, but even so, it was harder to let them go than he had thought it would be. They were all he had ever known, but he was determined to take his destiny into his own hands. 

Three days. The party would ride for two of those, and the wedding would take place on the third day. His sister would marry someone Jisoo never met and would never know, and then the next day, the Marcher Lord, his lady, and his eldest son would be on their way back to the Keep. Jisoo knew he had to be at least two days ahead of them in his escape, knew that his father would not be happy and would pursue him, but if he had those two days ahead, he would be fine. 

Three days. That was how long he had to ready himself, and he could do it. For his freedom, he could do it.

While he was incredibly nervous about the impending timeline, he also found that he enjoyed those three days. Spending time with Jeonghan at every second he could, the two of them avoiding Heechul and Namjoo, both of whom had stayed behind. Jisoo had been expecting Heechul to stay, waiting for the Tower Mage to arrive, but he had not expected Namjoo to stay. He had wanted to ask her why she bothered, she likely could guess that he had feelings for Jeonghan that he could never have for her, but he had made it a point to not speak with her if he could helpp it and so never asked. He knew that the servants told her when they caught him and Jeonghan kissing in secluded corners, but to his surprise he found that it didn't bother him. Three days, and he would be gone for good.

The Tower Mage arrived the eve before the wedding, his horse breathing hard from how he had pushed it. The man's name was Sungmin and he had a small, round face and short, stocky frame, and though Jisoo thought he looked like he enjoyed laughing, he didn't even crack a smile upon arrival. All business and quick words, he spoke with Jisoo and Heechul about the sheep, but the human could tell that the Tower Mage did not enjoy havng to work with an immortal. It was unfortunatly part of how humans and immortals interacted; Heechul had his nose stuck in the air and seemed to try his best to pretend that the Mage was a child, while Sungmin acted as if Heechul was just an ignorant lout converging on his space. Or maybe a spy, from the way he cast covert glances at the immortals throughout the incredibly awkward dinner.

As soon as Sungmin had gone to his chambers for the evening, though, Jisoo escaped to Jeonghan's rooms and they spent the night tangled together in the immortal's bed. Morning came and Jisoo knew that his family would now be starting the wedding procession, but his focus was on the sleeping man beside him. Jeonghan's long auburn hair was splayed out on the pillow, tangled from sleep, but he looked like some sort of angel. Wasn't that what history said that the humans had called them, upon arrival on these shores to find these majestic immortal beings? He could see why, looking at the morning sun stream in to highlight Jeonghan's skin, like something out of a painting.

The day passed quickly, with Heechul and Sungmin off investigating the area of the slaughter, leaving Jeonghan and Jisoo alone at the Keep with only servants. And Namjoo, but she kept to her chambers and didn't bother them. By the time the evening meal was served, they had packed up all they thought they would need and hidden it in the stables, ready to leave before first light. He went to sleep that night, in his own bed with Jeonghan beside him, confident that in the morning, his new life would begin.

He was at least right in that aspect.

Pounding on his door awoke him and he groggily roused from bed, having the sense of mind to at least go to the door instead of let the servant see Jeonghan sleeping in his bed. A soft robe wrapped around his otherwise form, he opened the door to find a middle-aged servant, her hair unbraided and messy, her eyes still sleepy as she blinked up at him.

"My Lord, a messenger came. Says he will will only speak with you. I have him waiting in your father's study."

"Thank you, Taehee," he yawned into his fist. As he turnedd to get properly dressed, she caught his arm to stop him.

"No, sir. He said urgent. That means now, my Lord."

He kept any comments about being a second son to himself, and with a longing glance toward his bedroom, he followed her out the door and down the corridor to his father's office. Once there, he thanked her, then stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.

To his surprise the Tower Mage was already there, fully dressed and perched on the edge of Jungseo's desk and frowning across the room. It took Jisoo a moment to realize that Heechul was there, the immortal standing across the room with his arms crossed and long dark hair thrown back in a quick clasp at the base of his neck. The tension in the air between them was palpable, and Jisoo's gaze lingered on them for a moment before he focused on the room's other occupant. 

The young messenger sat in the guest's chair in front of his father's desk, his plain grey uniform rumpled and filthy from an obviously hard ride. He had a dark red streak across the side of his neck, and only belatedly did Jisoo realize it was from blood. A quick glance around showed that Sungmin's hands had the same coloring, and a filthy bandage sat on the desk beside the Mage. So the messenger had been wounded and the Mage had healed him. Grave news, then, and Jisoo tried his best to steel himself for it as he strode forward to take his father's seat.

"What is your news?" he asked, trying to copy the voice he had heard Jungseo use. The messenger jumped at the sound, his eyes flickering to Jisoo's as he seemed to come to life.

He began to wring his hands, his eyes jumping between Jisoo, the Mage, and the immortal, and he cried out, "Your family, my lord! They... they... these things, they were..." he shuddered harsh