The reply to his letter came promptly, barely one day after he sent the messenger galloping madly across the drawbridge. I had bite the inside of my cheek to keep me from showing delight. He gave away an entire roll of parchment, and received only two scribbled words:
You lose.
He locked himself into his study, and threw a giant tantrum. Sounds of books sailing through the air and hitting the wall, splitting the shelves and scattering ink pots could be heard even from my cell underground.
What threw me off was the way she acted, however. Right after she saw the way his face changed from white, to green, to purple, she disappeared. I thought she had run back to her family, but apparently not, for she emerged a couple of hours later with a suspicious knapsack slung across her shoulder.
But this is the second day, and time is running short. I doubt he would grant me a second favor and extend the time again.