She looked up and down the alley for any pursuers before she opened the door. Reinhard immediately enveloped her in his hands. When she had been called on to take part in the first council war assembly for four hundred years, he had proposed to leave the city.

“Jessica, tell me everything is alright.”, her lover whispered as he pressed his lips against hers.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry.”

With his usual tender touch, he pulled her gaze up to meet his. “Tell me.”

She went into their tiny kitchen and drank some water. “What do you want to hear? The good news or the bad news?”

“The good news.”

“I can only estimate how many people will support us, but it should be close to forty percent.”

The bowl of water Reinhard had retrieved for a footbath, clattered onto the ground. “Are you joking?”

She picked up the bowl and filled it with water. “Now to the bad news: I asked for support in front of the entire war assembly.”

Reinhard dropped to his knees and stared her in the eyes. “You did what?”

“Akila asked me how I would assess our situation. I started as she would have expected, but soon I ranted about how we are treated like old potatoes and cows that produce money instead of milk. My speech ended with an appeal to all of us and all the guards, many of whom have a relationship with prostitutes too.”

“Why aren’t you dead?”

“I got a speed potion from the young revolution and used the invisibility potion that you bought me as a birthday present. Yet, that wouldn’t have sufficed. Some guards acted like they couldn’t see me, even though they obviously could. Reinhard, we have supporters.”

With trembling hands, he stroked her cheeks. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“I don’t want to die, but I’d rather die than live my life like the meek money-making cows Akila thinks we are.”

He tore open cupboards and collected all their hidden savings. His tone was calculating but also filled with sorrow. “I am with you, as always. I will protect you. They will be here within the next five minutes. I would bet gold coin that Akila knows the location of our apartment.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. “I love you.”

Reinhard smiled and grabbed her hand. With a last glance at their apartment, both of them hurried out into the night.