By the time Rickstan had reached his brother's home again, all his fears were realized. He had gone to Gythleth's home in the hopes that he still had some kindness within him to leave Rickstan the deeds to his home, so that he could change the ownership to himself. But that single hope was dashed when he found his brothers home, burning brightly in flames, charred and broken, the smoke filling the air chokingly and thick; what deeds where in there, where no longer in existence, that was it...Gone.
Rickstan knew what would happen and it torn him apart. Once the next payment for the house was due, it would not be paid by his brother, and all the hard work, the memories, the dreams he and Cedwyn formed in that house would be lost and they would be turned out and homeless. He knew the land owners to be greedy, they would get someone in there who would pay, they wouldn't care for the circumstances. No, something had to be done...And he believed he knew how.
Back at his home, Daldarac and Bryse appeared to check on him, and he relayed to them all that was going on regarding the burning house and what important papers were probably within them. Even they themselves felt the grave situation on their hearts and they eagerly offered different solutions to help. Bryse even offered to pay them himself, but legally he couldn't, his name was not on the payments...And with that a plan was formed.
A plan which Rickstan knew was...An unlawful one and it held very tightly to his concience, skies above should Cedwyn ever find out, or worse they be caught. Then what? Rickstan could end up in jail, and with Cedwyn expecting their first child, what would she do? But he couldn't bare to face what would happen to them, loosing all the things they worked so hard for. Cedwyn was so happy in the house, the image in his mind of her face so torn and sad...- No, he was going to do this, and face the consequences. Not for himself, but for her and their child.
The tree of them, with the plan finalised, rode by horse into town and tethered their horses to the stables just to the side of the Town-Hall. Rickstan held back as Bryse and Daldarac went inside, Bryse using the excuse to register his child to the census to gain entry, with Daldarac being a whitness and co signer. Rickstan was himself about to follow and employ himself in his task when the sudden appearence of Nessya grounded him to a sudden stop.
"Rick, what's going on?" She could tell something was up, she had obviously spotted them and noticed the way they were acting. Rickstan was not very tactful now he came to think of it, he was so worried, he forgot to act casual.
For a few moments, he remained silent, even looking away from her. And this, for her, was a sure sign. So, she pressed him.
It was mere frustration and exhaustion that he relented to her and told her everything. And she by the skies, had a face of thunder he had never seen before. She yelled at him, "YOU WERE GOING TO DO WHAT!?" And before he could blink, she walked with speed inside the building, no doubt to get the other two.
Well, that was is then. Rickstan just sat down on the wall and accepted it was over. She was either going to arrest him, or someone else will for attempted fraudulence. For that was what they were going to do. As the other distracted the book keepers within the Town-Hall, Rickstan would have snook in, located the copy of the deeds there, and replace them with false, in his name. But now Nessya had caught them. They were going to loose the house..All because of that prick..Yes, his brother was a prick now...He caused this....
The next moment he remembers, Nessya more of less dragged him away to a quiet alley type secretive spot around the corner and pointed some papers at his face...
The lass had...Saved them...Oh Nessya, Nessy...How he cherished her that moment....
