View source for Lila Bard

===New world===
To Lila's amazement, she arrives in Red London in one piece; however, Kell is nowhere to be seen. She decides to explore the area and watches a procession during which [[Rhy Maresh|the prince]] spots her in the crowd and surprisingly frowns at her. Lila asks a nearby group of girls what the parade is for, and they tell her that it is for [[Rhy Maresh|Prince Rhy]]'s birthday. After one girl, [[Elissa]], compliments Lila's English and asks who her tutor is, Lila laughs and leaves the parade behind, heading toward the [[Night Market]].

Lila attempts to steal a colorful stone from a tent, not knowing that it is enchanted against thievery. The vendor catches her and calls the guards but before they arrive, Kell finds Lila. He apologizes for her behavior and pays the vendor for his troubles before he guides Lila away from the marketplace and scolds her for trying to steal something. Afterward, they head to the Ruby Fields,<ref>{{adsom|IX|I}}</ref> and Lila asks Kell why he seems to be hiding from the guards. Kell admits that he belongs to the royal family; he might have been adopted by the [[Maxim Maresh|king]] and [[Emira Maresh|queen]] but he never felt a member of their family. His words anger Lila and she snaps at him; even if the king and queen might not love him like a son, he was at least taken care off and never had to fear for his survival. Kell agrees and apologizes because he can guess how hard her life might have been but Lila does not want his pity.

A bit later, Lila and Kell finally arrive at the tavern, only to find it burned down. When Kell senses Holland approaching, he conceals himself and Lila with the black stone's power. Holland taunts them, detailing how he killed Fauna and Barron and saying that it is their fault that they died. Lila wants to attack Holland then and there, but Kell holds her back.

When Kell and Lila still do not reveal themselves, Holland tries to locate them by raining ashes on them, but the stone's power made them incorporeal as well as invisible and the ashes simply pass through them. Acknowledging defeat, Holland leaves. Lila retrieves the pocket watch Holland threw to the ground and vows to slit Holland's throat. She and Kell then head to [[Aldus Fletcher]]'s [[Fletcher's pawnshop|pawnshop]].<ref>{{adsom|IX|III-IV}}</ref>

Fletcher is not there when they arrive,<ref name="whiterookII"/> and Lila and Kell use this opportunity to search his shop for a white rook. Lila is amazed by the displayed items; a knuckle knife especially catches her eye. They still have not found the rook when Fletcher returns. Lila attempts to attack him, but he stops and brings her to her knees with his bone magic. Kell tells Fletcher that he needs the rook back, but Fletcher is unwilling to sell it to him. He might, however, sell it to Lila if she sleeps with him; although she does not understand his words, she understands his gesture and growls at him. Fletcher then reveals that he contacted the [[royal guard]] that is looking for Kell.

A moment later, five guards storm into the shop, and Lila swiftly conceals herself with the black stone's magic. Kell explains that he is fine; he was simply delayed while running his errand and then went to Fletcher's pawnshop to look for Rhy's birthday gift. Before he is escorted out, Kell secretly tells Lila that he will be back soon.

One guard stays behind in the pawnshop; instead of giving Fletcher his reward, he kills him. As soon as the guard is gone, Lila becomes visible again. She takes the white rook from Fletcher's corpse and the knuckle knife and heads out to find and save Kell.<ref>{{adsom|X|IV-V}}</ref>