-Epilogue-

The whole place smelled like filth, but he had gotten used to it in the past few weeks. It was his prize for simply trying to exact his revenge. His methods had been extreme, yes, but so were Reaver's. He stood from his place in the corner of the windowless cell, and he paced the short length of it.

His rage swelled inside of him. He'd lost two mothers to that man, now. He couldn't let it stand. He had to find a way to strike back at him. He'd heard a guard mention something about Reaver and the Queen announcing their engagement earlier in the day, and he spat in disgust.

The Queen was foolish, as his mother had been. He hadn't wanted to kill her, but it was necessary. Reaver had to grieve as Nathaniel had grieved. He needed to pay.

"Who is he?" asked a woman's voice from down the hall. It was drawing closer.

He stopped his pacing, looking at the door and moving closer.

"No one really knows, ma'am," replied a man. "He's been down 'ere for a few weeks, but he doesn't talk to no one. It's a crime to talk to him, you know."

"What if I just happened to leave this gold in your hand, and you went off to buy yourself something nice with it?" The woman asked.

"I...I guess I could do that, ma'am."

"Good."

"He's very dangerous, that one, so's I hear."

"He won't hurt me."

"If you say so, lady."

The two were directly outside of the cell now.

"When I come back, he'd better be there." The guard warned her.

"He will be. I just want to talk, alright?"

"Okay..." The man's voice drifted down the hall. "Crazy woman..."

The small peephole near the top of the door opened, and Nathaniel pressed against the door. "Who's there?"

"That's not important," She said. "What is important is who you are. What's your name?"

"Nathaniel," he replied. "I didn't have a last name when I was born. But my mother's last name was Woods."

"Okay, Nathaniel, why are you here?"

"Oh, this and that," He said, running his hand over his growing beard.

"Could you be more specific?" She sounded impatient.

"I tried to destroy Reaver's life, but I failed." He said.

"How did you intend to do that?"

"I was going to kill The Queen and blame it on him. It would have worked, but I was allied with people less committed to the end result."

"Her illness...that was you?"

"Guilty...apparently." He laughed softly.

"I may be committed to bringing Reaver down, but not at the cost of innocent life."

"The Queen isn't innocent, my friend," Nathaniel barked. "She knows his crimes, and she still chooses him over others."

A pregnant silence filled the air.

"Well, you're not losing your courage now, are you?"
"No...I just..." She heaved a large sigh. "I need to know more before I can commit."

"What do you want to know?" His heart was pounding in his chest. Could he possibly have a second chance?

"What do you know about Reaver's life before he opened the factories?"

Nathaniel merely smiled, and he laughed softly to himself. "Everything."

"Tell me," She demanded.

"Now, now," He said. "There's no need to demand anything of me. I will give you all you need to know, but our time is short. And his story is a long one."

"I can come back again soon."

"That will suffice." He said. "Now, go. And on your way to wherever you call home, stop by Industrial, and find the old fruit vendor's stall."

"I know it."

"There is a loose stone underneath it. In the far right corner. There is information, there, but not enough to get you what you need. For the rest, you have to come back to me."

"I will come back as soon as I am able, Nathaniel."

"I look forward to it."

The peephole closed, and Nathaniel could only grin as he heard her footsteps disappear down the hallway. He closed his eyes and slid down the length of the door. Perhaps this was his chance. Maybe he would finally see Reaver pay.

Her heart pounded as she pulled the cloak tighter over her face. What was she getting herself into. She had just committed treason by seeking out Nathaniel. She strode to the old stand he had spoken of, and she glanced both ways before ducking underneath.

She found the loose stone easily enough, and she used a blade to unwedge it from its place. Beneath it, she found a sack filled with books and papers. Replacing the stone quickly, she climbed from beneath the abandoned stand, and she held the bundle close to her chest. She would need to open this in private.

She hurried down to her house, across from the orphanage, and she hurried up the steps, throwing down the hood of her cloak.

"Oi Page!" said a man of no more than twenty. "Whatchu doing out so late at night by yourself? You could get hurt."

She turned, hiding the parcel behind her back. She offered a small, friendly smile. "I can take care of my self, Thomas."

"Alright," Thomas said, chuckling lightly. "See you 'round."

She nodded, "Goodbye."

Page entered her house swiftly, and she hurried to sit down on her chair. She opened the parcel, and she sifted through the loose paper. They were handwritten notes. A timeline. She would have to sort through that later. The first book she found was a familiar. One she'd salvaged from the waters when she was a child, though hers was missing a great deal of the pages. It was a copy of the tale of The Tattered Spire. The other of the three books was a story about Oakvale, and the third was another story about The Hero King.

None of it made sense to her, but Nathaniel had warned her that it wouldn't without his guidence. She opened the book about Oakvale, since it was one she'd never read before, and she started in, intent on finding the truth.

If there was a way to stop Reaver from becoming The Queen's consort, she had to find it. She couldn't let him destroy Albion...or The Queen.

A/N: The sequel "The Bargain" is now available, so please continue on reading and enjoy the story as it continues to unfold! Though "Unbound" has seen its completion, I still appreciate your favorites and reviews, so please take a minute to leave me your thoughts!