“What do you mean,” Deadra muttered. Fear and doubt coloured her voice yet failed to convey the immensity of her unease. Deadra had never felt so, so weak.

It was cold, it was dark and all her lessons in etiquette and proper countenance amounted to little more than not breaking down into tears. Even that was a continuous struggle.

The girl smiled, the expression at once encouraging and sad. They sighed and for a moment Deadra forgot they were one of her captors.

“You see I’ve learned something recently Deadra.”

Her heart sized and tears threatened to wrest themselves from her control. She forced the fear back and pushed the dread down. They wouldn’t kill her now. She couldn’t fathom why they would take her all the way to the Spes Nova’s slums for an execution.

Not for the first time since the ordeal began, she wished she was home. This would have never happened in the Velvet Peaks. She missed her mother she missed her siblings. She wished she was anywhere but here.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder. Her head jerked up. The girl was staring at her their eyes calm and steady. The bag of food lay spilt on the floor and she was hyperventilating.

“It’s okay, it’s not bad news quite the opposite in fact.” They offered her a wan smile and Deadra eased back into something resembling calm.

Deadra closed her eyes and sagged into her cell bars. It wasn’t like there was much of a point keeping them open in the room unnatural dark. “Sorry.” She said, not sure why she felt the need to apologise. “Could you give me a minute?”

“Sure.”

It was a long minute. One she spent ordering her thoughts into something beyond panicked flailing. It was hard. Normally she could touch the natural spirits and draw on their familiar presence for calm. But there were none in Spes Nova even if the girl disagreed.

Worse the metal cuffs that brute slapped on her wrists sealed her connection to ambient essence. For the first time in years, she was utterly alone.

Deadra pushed the thought away. She didn’t want to spiral, she needed to be calm she needed to be strong.

She opened her eyes and drew herself up. Putting on a stern face she turned to the girl.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She could make out little of them in the dark. A silhouette the outline of a smile and a pair of amber eyes that sparkled from the flame burning above.

Deadra had so many questions. Chief among them was why they kidnapped her, followed shortly by why a person who seemed so kind found themselves involved in a gang. But neither question would help keep her safe.

She firmed her resolve. “There’s something you wanted to tell me.”

They nodded. “I’ve learned you’re a member of a great clan.”

It took everything she had not to jump in exultation. They knew and so wouldn’t dare hurt her. A moment passed and then she was using her all not to curl in defeat. They knew and they still took her.

Either the girl’s bosses were stupid enough to think a cell and some fancy cuffs would guard them from her family’s wrath. Or they had the backing of a power strong enough to dare. Neither boded well for her.

“Oh” Her firm facade splintered, but a brush away from collapsing.

They nodded in commiseration. “Ya, I thought this would be a simple job get taken sit around for a while then we ship you off back to your family.”

“But that’s not what’s happening.” The creeping edge of dread sank its fangs deep. Her mind blanked.

“I don’t know what’s happening and that’s the problem. I only just learned how noble your nobleness was.” They chuckled morosely and despite herself, Deadra chuckled along.

It was all so beyond her that it spilt into the absurd.

She quickly reigned herself in, at least now she could think past the dread. “So what happens now?”

“As I’ve said that depends on you. I never would have done anything if I’d known. Wouldn’t have so much as glanced at it, but I’m here now. And my ‘boss’ seems intent on dragging me deeper.” Their voice filled with a helpless desperation that stung a chord in Deadra.

They leaned into the bars and stared up at the burning lamp above them. “Did you know this was supposed to be my last job? After this, I was to wash my hands with this underhanded business. I can’t go to the guard. The boss won’t let me and even if I slip pass the goons. I know what nobles do to those who slight them. Execution is the gentlest option.”

They sighed deeply. Amber’s eyes stared vacantly at the dancing flame. A moment passed in the dark. “So when I say it’s up to you I mean it. I don’t know what to do, but you.” They turned her a smile on their face. “You’re a noble cultivator from a great clan. The boss plans on leaving the city by tomorrow and I don’t think she plans on taking you with us, but there must be some way to prevent this from getting worse. Some way we can both make it out of this nasty mess. “

The girl stared at her. Their voice was set with determination and their eyes burned with conviction. Deadra could not feel their essence. The cuffs ensured that. But even bereft of her cultivations boons she felt the weight in their words.

It lit her faltering will.

“I can. I’ll figure something out. Give me an hour and I’ll have a plan to get us out of here.” To her surprise, she believed it.

The girl smiled and sighed in relief. “Thank you, Deadra. It means a lot.” They stood and Deadra stood with her. They gave her a shallow bow and bright smile. “I’ll be back soon Deadra.”

The girl walked away.

“Wait!” the cold bit her but Deadra weathered it with a wince.

They turned back, away from the light they were a pair of amber pools glinting in the dark.

“What’s your name?”

They blinked and tilted their head ever so slightly. “Two, just Two.”

It was a strange name but one Deadra committed to heart. “I’ll get you out of here Two. I promise.”

“Thank you, Deadra. I promise the same.”

Deadra didn’t stop her a second time.

Walking past the brothers Two disappeared into the castle’s hallways. She was pleased, very pleased and even more surprised.

She’d expected distrust, hate, haggling and a few added threats. Given the length of their exchange, her taint should have soured whatever opinion they had of her. Their nature as a cultivator should have blunted but not removed the effect.

Even Daisy dealt with some innate unease around her and if Butch could nab the lady she certainly wasn’t stronger than her. Altogether it left her confused and anxious for the other shoe to drop.

Yet she couldn’t help but be buoyed by the experience. Whatever the reason, her taint did not affect her and it made Two long all the more for her promised reward.

She had two options now. Daisy’s and Deadra’s and though neither was what she’d planned it was better than nothing.

She’d decide in an hour.