fact is… you hit really hard.'
Twilight rolled her eyes. She had to admit that bit.
She swung down-not complaining to be off the filthy pallet-and helped Liet up. He was handsome, with sandy, wavy hair. Other than the oddity of his mismatched eyes, she saw nothing remarkable about him. Not much in the way of muscle, even less grace, and a glass jaw-or, rather, groin. If he could've faced a goblin, fully armed and girded, and not soiled his breeches, Twilight would have been surprised.
She looked down at his hand clasping hers. Good grip, though.
'My thanks.' Liet placed his hands protectively over his midsection. One of his sleeves slipped a finger's breadth and revealed gray, puckered flesh beneath. This one had been tortured, perhaps. He saw the gap, reddened, and covered the wrist.
Twilight yawned and returned to her pallet. There she flopped, letting one leg swing, and stared at the ceiling. The boy let out a breath and limped to his pallet.
A pause filled the space between them.
'So what do I call you, then?'
Twilight's pale eyes flicked in his direction. 'Hmm?'
'Besides lass or lady, that is,' said Liet with a shaky smile.
'The Fox-at-Twilight-princess of elves, seducer of kings, lover of gods. Shadowdancer and divine seeker.' She made the titles suitably grandiose-convincing. Two of those were actually true. Then she yawned. 'You can call me 'Light.'
Liet blinked at her. 'What kind of a name-'
'First rule, brightblade,' she said, holding up a finger without looking at him. 'No questions about me.'
'But-'
'Second rule, jack: No questions about the rules.'
'Well.' Liet fidgeted, twisting his fingers in a way that looked almost like spellcasting. Twilight didn't feel the familiar resonance that would have meant use of the Art, though she supposed the aura of anti-magic would have spoiled it.
'Any other rules I should know about?' asked Liet. 'I wouldn't want to break any of them accidentally- consequences, you know.' He gave an unconvincing chuckle.
She examined the nails on her left hand. With her right, she held up three fingers.
'Aye?'
'No stabbing me in the back, and I won't return the favor.' One finger uncurled.
'Simple enough.' Liet shrugged. He pointed at her last raised finger. 'And?'
A brief smile flickered across Twilight's face. 'No falling in love with me.'
Liet snorted. 'Well, that's easy,' he said. 'I assure you, oh lovely hipskirts…'
He paused, perhaps to see if she had taken offense to that remark, which she hadn't. It was a somewhat more polite version of the phrase 'pretty woman' than she was used to on the streets of Waterdeep or Westgate.
This was not, of course, to imply that she failed to address it.
'Oh, come now, lad,' she said. 'Longclaws, that's more appropriate, or slickhips, perhaps-as opposed to lickhips, which I don't recommend saying to anyone. Or, kisscloak, if you're feeling flirtatious. Or, if you feel witty-'
'Ahem!' Liet went even redder and hurriedly finished his thought, cutting her off there. 'Oh, lovely hipskirts who shows little regard for my manhood-I shall have no difficulty with your rule the fourth.' He thought he was being funny.
Twilight pursed her lips and nodded. 'Oh, I have no doubt.'
'You don't believe me?'
'About as much as I believe any jack on thy side of the court with oiled and sharpened arms.' This was as if to say not at all. 'But I digress. You believe you can follow these rules?' Languidly, she put out a delicate hand.
'To be certain,' said Liet as he took it. 'But why?'
'Welcome aboard,' said Twilight, 'partner.'
'Partner in what?'
'Our grand escape.'
Now it was Liet's turn to look unconvinced. 'Very well, then-excellent jest.'
'You don't believe me?'
'Oh, I have no doubt,' Liet said, imitating her sarcastic tone.
'I see.' Twilight drew out the shard of iron she had taken from the torture chamber and twirled it between her fingers. 'Well, I shall simply have to disappoint.'
'Did you see that mountain of a guard? With the big hammer, aye?'
Twilight shrugged noncommittally. 'I've seen stranger things.'
She lay back. Reverie would not come-she knew that, of course-and her mind was too active to permit sleep, but it didn't matter.
'So why'd you return?' Liet asked after a five-count. 'You could've escaped.'
'That was just scouting.'
'Scouting.' Liet laughed ruefully. 'I don't think he'll fall for that again.'
Twilight just smiled and closed her eyes.
Torchlight flickering, Gestal stared at her, eyes not a hand's breadth from her face. Lord Divergence knew she feigned sleep-her breath was soft and regular. She waited to enact her plan.
Rid of her troublesome amulet, he could watch the elf directly. He'd taken steps to ensure that would not change when she found it again, as well. For now, though, he could not reach into her mind-only cut through the webs she weaved so deftly.
'Your lies fail to impress,' he mused.
Gestal considered how she had dealt with the boy-ruthlessly, brutally. The scarred hand hovered over her cheek, wondering at its softness.
Was this the one? he wondered.
He would soon find out.
CHAPTER TWO
Liet awoke with a yawn, opening his mouth almost as wide as the cell door.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, wishing he still dreamed-a welcome state, compared to this cell. Tragically, no gold dragons burst through the ceiling to rescue him, and no scantily clad warrior maidens manifested to resolve his… concerns. He sighed.
The door.
Liet blinked, wondering if he were still dreaming and the maidens were just playing coy. Sure enough, the portal stood wide open, admitting smoke from the guttering torches into the cell. He was suddenly afraid.
'Ah?' Liet rose unsteadily. 'Uh-lady? Elf? Where-?'
A serious face appeared around the side of the door, a face that seemed familiar. The one who had pummeled him. 'You're awake,' the elf said.
He realized he should probably be angry, seeing how she had him so unfairly, but he kept calm. 'Uh, I-I am. Awake. Yes. Aye.'
'I was wondering if you'd need a kiss.'
Liet blinked. 'Wh-what?'
'Silence, lad,' Twilight said. 'Trolls are notoriously light sleepers.'
'Truly?' Liet asked, freezing.
