"Would you please stop that?"
BANG
"I'm warning you!"
BANG
"That does it!"
"Oh please, Winnowill, we're in this together! We should be supportive-" Leetahs gasped at the glare she received in response.
BANG
"If you don't stop that right now and let me concentrate, I swear I will make your arms grow to your torso!" the black-haired healer snarled as she strode up to the door. Kahvi didn't even turn around.
BANG
"I'll stop if someone comes up with a better idea!" the leader of the Go-Backs yelled over her shoulder, still without looking at the Glider. "So far, all I've heard was bollocks!" She raised her sword again and aimed at the accursed lock that wouldn't open.
BANG
"Just give me a little more time and I can make those creatures do whatever I want them to!" Winnowill said as calmly as she could. "They'll be my minions in just another hour or so!"
"And then what?" Kahvi finally looked around, showing an incredulous expression. "What could your 'powerful army' possibly do to help us?"
"But so far, it's always helped!" Winnowill almost whined. "My minions have always served me well!"
"Well, maybe this isn't one of those times, Winnowill," Leetah piped from her corner. "Maybe this just isn't the right sit-" the words died in her mouth when Winnowill turned to scowl at her.
Further ignoring the other healer, Winnowill rounded on Kahvi again. "You've been trying to open that lock by force for at least an hour: don't you think that might mean it won't open?"
Kahvi hesitated for the first time, considered her weapon for a few seconds; shrugged; raised the sword high over her head again.
BANG
"It keeps me busy," she said matter-of-factly.
Cursing under her breath, Winnowill stomped off to her corner, where she'd been trying to gain control over a few rats.
BANG
"I think we should just wait," said Leetah carefully, as if afraid to anger the dark healer again. "My beloved will know in no time that something's wrong and he'll come after me."
"Yeah, because you never go off on your own, do you?" Kahvi called over her shoulder contemptuously. "As soon as he notices that none of the other babysitters are with you either, he'll panic for sure!"
"And then I'm sure he'll start hacking at the other side of the door." added Winnowill, surprisingly cheerful.
Kahvi looked at her and burst out laughing. Winnowill seemed a bit lost at first, then joined her in laughter. Leetah pouted.
"No, seriously," gasped Kahvi after the worst of her mirth had subsided, "what we need is someone smart."
"That means no Wolfriders and no Go-Backs," said Winnowill, wiping her eyes on her impossibly long gown. "Brains are pretty rare among them."
"I'm not saying that I agree with you on that," said Leetah, still looking very offended, "but I do agree that none of them could aid us now. Maybe Rayek?"
"Ahh, yes, Rayek!" exclaimed Kahvi gleefully. "Something we have in common!"
She walked to the middle of the room, sat down with her legs crossed and gestured to the others to join her. "Let's kill the time by exchanging stories!" She winked.
Leetah and Winnowill looked at each other, nodded, and went to sit with the Go-Back.
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Two hours later - after Cutter had, indeed, noticed that Leetah had disappeared - the three women were finally freed. Everyone was surprised at how well they seemed to get along; after all, they'd half expected to find that they'd murdered each other. The knowing looks they sometimes gave each other were unnerving to the surprised elves.
Rayek in particular felt very uncomfortable and couldn't rid himself of the impression that they were shooting him furtive looks and that the exchange had something to do with him.