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@jasmine

*Knocks you over with a hug* Jasmine! So nice to see you again! I missed you!

@sparrowhawke

Ok, I’ll try! (Again, please forgive me if my posts are extremely sporadic. I may need to drop out at any moment.)

No worries! Can’t wait to meet your character, he seems really cool!

Ferran

Liorah’s extended gripe at the castle was interrupted by someone crashing through the ceiling. This was just brilliant.

“Another one,” Liorah sighed. “Here we go. Again,” she spat at the castle.

“I told you I was bored. So I decided to add in another dash of fun here. Meet your new ally. Or – maybe your potential rival.”

“Amusing,” Liorah spat, in a voice that meant she was not at all amused.

I didn’t argue with the castle. It wouldn’t listen anyway. I grabbed my staff with both hands, lowering it into a diagonal position. I made no aggressive movements, but I could defend myself if needed. I didn’t know who this was, and I wasn’t taking any risks.

Azar twisted around my legs, both curious and cautious of the stranger. I let go of the staff with my left hand and made a rapid sign. Back. She obeyed, sitting down a few paces behind me.

The man got to his knees and glared at all of us in turn. He seemed mildly panicked, which was understandable.

Liorah examined him with mild interest, then shot me an amused look. I raised my eyebrows. She was right, he certainly was odd-looking. A mask covered half his face, and his clothing was like nothing I’d ever seen. His skin was far lighter than ours, and everything else about him looked unfamiliar.

“Right then,” the man said. “I’m going to be quite civil here. You people are going to tell me where I am. Immediately.”

Liorah grinned and shot me another meaningful look, wordlessly commenting on the stranger’s attitude. I nodded. Liorah seemed to find it exceptionally amusing. I found it annoying.

The stranger shot all of us another glare, his voice threatening as he said,

“Or I assure you, you will regret it.”

Liorah outright laughed this time.

“Oh, no. Did you hear that? I’ll regret it.” She brought her hands to her cheeks, feigning shock.

She was still grinning, and clearly didn’t mean it maliciously, but it wasn’t exactly tactful. Liorah hadn’t learned that sometimes it was wiser not to say what you were thinking.

“I’d love to grant your charming request,” Liorah continued, mockingly. I closed my eyes, trying to restrain my frustration. Why did she have to anger him already?

“But unfortunately, we know about as much as you do. I do know the castle is out to get us, if that helps. It nearly killed my brother a while ago, and every so often, there’s a run-in with green-blooded monsters or we have to solve riddles or fight each other, you know, fun stuff like that.” Liorah said, ironically.

She gestured vaguely at the bloodstains on her loose linen blouse and wide pants to confirm her story.

I remembered Gavril telling me about that. (Liorah’s older brother, he got taken out a while ago)

“Anyway, I’m Liorah, that’s Ferran, Gwen, Zanar, and Klein,” Liorah pointed out each of us in turn. I kept an eye on the stranger, but I had no interest in greeting him. Liorah could do the talking for both of us, as far as I’m concerned.

She had taken all initiative of the conversation. Perhaps it was her high rank, but she certainly had a gift for taking control of a situation.

“And who are you?” Liorah looked him up and down without the least embarrassment. The gold jewelry on her forehead sparked, the almond-shaped sapphire caught the light. It marked her out as a princess of the Lehabim.

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@irishcelticredflowercrown