Well, my Listener, that was an interesting way to spend the afternoon. I didn't know you had spent so much time in Riften or that you had tried your hand at being a thief. You know, if you want, I can teach you a few tricks when we get home.

"Ahh, well, things got complicated after the whole thing with being kicked out. I mean, not my fault I'm better at sneaking around than actually stealing stuff. At least I don't need to pick locks and pockets nowadays, but sometimes I miss the guys, ya know?" He sighed wistfully as we made our way toward the stables. "Besides, you're great at that kinda thing so I can just ask you to do that instead. Oh! Hey, don't you go leaving us to join up with the Guild, you hear me? We need you more than they do anyhow!"

As if I would leave my Cicero, Mother, and you to go join up with your old group. Besides, they don't look like they are doing much better than the Pretender was doing before we came by. But now we have a real contract for the Family to work on! Or rather, a series of contracts and that is even better! There should be enough for everyone to take part in this one! Anyhow, you're the one with the crush on the enthusiastic redhead. If anyone should be worried about someone running off, it should be me.

"Argh! Stop it! He isn't even interested. He just sees me as a friend, that's all," he said, a frown on his face.

Are you sure about that, my Listener? Ah well, it isn't like we have time right now for you to court the man. More importantly, we need to talk about the Imperial that works with him. The man knows too much about the Family for him to just be a friend of Astrid. How else would he know what it means to be Listener or about our Mother? We need to be cautious. If Astrid is letting outsiders know of the Tenets that is a problem. But if he was once part of the Family, then that is a different matter. The problem lies in finding out which it is!

We paused as the Listener went to collect his horse from the stables, handing the stablehand an extra few coins for taking care of his horse. Climbing up behind Destin as he sat in the saddle, I frowned at the thoughts spinning inside my head.

"I'll do what I can to help figure this out, but you owe me for the effort Faith. You still owe me that cap, don't forget. You've been spending far less time on the latest try than usual. Don't I matter to you still?" Ellery spoke as he got ready to follow behind us, a frown on his face.

I haven't forgotten, my Ellery. I promise I'll work on it as soon as we stop for the evening! I won't let you down, not this time. You'll always matter to me. After all, without you and Amicus, I never would have found my Family, my treasures. You two will always be important, no matter what happens.

"Sometimes I wonder if it was worth finding them, even if the Fool does make you happy..."

Oh Ellery, don't say that. Please, don't ever doubt that it was a good thing. Haven't we all been happier since finding our treasure, our Cicero?  Even you? Haven't you been smiling more? Laughing more? Haven't you been happy again?

"Faith? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

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The trip back home went slowly, the silence growing heavy as the Listener seemed unsure of what to say. It was a strange thing, to feel so uncomfortable around someone who had so recently managed to slip into the small group that I considered a part of the family I was slowly building from the Family I had become part of.

It hurt to think that Ellery was doubting our choice to join them, that he might even think about possibly leaving them. Would he leave me if I refused to abandon them? Would Amicus go with him or would he stay with me? I was unsure and the thought that even one of my companions would choose to go rather than stay with me if it meant remaining with the Brotherhood.

I need to change the stitches. Something different. Something stronger, to hold everything together. Maybe if the pattern is right, it could hold my family together?

"Faith? Are you cold? You're shivering," the voice seemed to come from far away, even though I knew the Listener was right in front of me. "Faith?"

--------

The days were passing too quickly, the pages of my journal no longer able to keep track for me. I would swear it was just yesterday I had written in it about what Ellery said, but when I checked the date with the Listener, he said I hadn't written in it for a few days now.

I'd begun removing stitches when the Listener went to bed last night... Last night or the night before? Oh, Ellery, why won't you talk to me right now? I'd removed the stitches from one leg, rubbing them with salve before going to sleep. I should be able to start replacing the stitches tomorrow.

I think this time I will make the pattern something like a web I saw once, caught between a pair of branches with drops of dew caught upon the strands. I'd heard webs were very strong for how thin the spider silk is and I needed strength. Surely if I stitched it strong enough, it wouldn't let us break apart.

Don't let my family break. Ellery, don't leave us.