mission impossible

"I need your help."

Caspienne glances up at her, holding his teacup close to his lips. Jane forces herself to remain calm, at least on the outside. He may have turned into a jerk, but he's the only person she can trust. He was Martel's best friend, growing up. He was in debt to Provice when he died.

"What exactly do you want me to do for you, Miss Jane?" Caspienne asks, setting the teacup down on its saucer. Jane hesitates.

"You owe me a favor," she says, and he raises his eyebrow in response. "My father saved your life. He could have let the Elves arrest you for high treason, but he risked himself and saved you from execution. You owe me one."

Caspienne taps his fingers on the edge of the armchair. His wife, whom Jane has just noticed, hovers in the doorway, holding her pregnant stomach.

"While that is true," he says finally, turning his gaze away from Jane, "I do not owe you anything."

Jane bristles. "He saved your life!" she cries, slamming her fist down on the coffee table. "You'd be dead if it weren't for him!"

"But you didn't do anything, did you?"

"I… what?"

He clasps his hands in his lap and finally looks in her in the eyes. He doesn't even appear to sympathize with her. "It's true, I owed your father a great deal. But he passed away before I had the chance to make it up to him. You are his only living relative, I understand, but I cannot afford to risk my reputation like this again." He stares straight into her eyes, and Jane feels herself gulp. "I helped you locate the summon spirits last time because Martel asked," he continues. "And as you have already pointed out, that nearly cost me my life. No one in Heimdall trusted me for years after that. People are only starting to talk to me again." He looks away, sighing. "I can't afford to put my family in danger like that."

Jane takes one look at his wife, now fussing over their small son while clutching her belly still, and she knows he's right.

"I'm sorry," she says, looking down. "I was wrong to come to you. I see you've moved on already."

"And you should too," Caspienne adds, rising to his feet. "It's time you settled down, Lady Provice. You've been to finishing school. Your father was respected throughout the elvish world. I think it's high time you begin to look for a husband, Jane."

Jane clutches her gloves in her hands. "Are you implying that I cannot support myself?"

Caspienne raises an eyebrow, looking amused. "I didn't say that. All I meant is that Mithos is gone, and you need to accept that. Your adventuring days are over. You are no longer a child, Jane. You are a lady now, and you must act as such. Any young woman your age would be dying to get married."

She almost hits him then and there.