A/N—Nope, I haven't fallen off the edge of the world or anything and sorry to any readers I still have left that I haven't updated in so long. This is actually a direct response to Sam ()'s update request I got the other day. I decided that updating would be fun and sat down to write the next installment, when I realized I had unposted material on my computer already, so—here's some of that. I hope you enjoy.
Corus, Tortall
Summer 458 H.E.
Roald rolled over onto his side in the dark cell. A ball of sapphire magic offered him just enough light to see the corner of the cell in which he lay. He shifted again, trying desperately to find a comfortable way to lie on the stone. Finally he found a position that didn't dig into any of his bruises or scrape at his cuts. Roald drew his magic back and closed his eyes. Like usual, sleep refused to come to him. He could hear the other prisoners breathing up and down the long hall of cells. The door at the far end creaked gently open and footsteps echoed down the hall. Roald listened carefully as the footsteps got closer and closer. The man seemed to be trying to walk quietly but the letting him. He stopped across from Roald's cell and Roald waited. He was carrying no lantern, which struck Roald as odd.
"I mean you no harm, boy." The man hissed in a whisper. His Common was thickly accented with Gennature. "I'm not here to hurt you."
Roald sat up quietly, his cotton clothes and bear feet making little noise. He crept to the edge of the cell and crouched just out of reach of the man. "I find that challenging to accept."
The man kneeled, wearing an expression of resignation. "I'll do whatever I need to do to convince you." He said, still keeping his voice low. "And you'd be more convincing in all your stories if you didn't talk so educated. Why couldn't you say that's hard to believe or something of the like?"
Roald rocked back on his heels. "Because I'm done hiding from you. I've been talking like you for many years and I'm tired of it."
"So are you admitting it? Are you really the Conté prince?"
Roald snorted. "I'm admitting that I'm educated, which most Tortallans born before the war can say. And it would be the Conté king."
"See, now, that's what's bothering me. If you are him, what I want to do would be really stupid. However, if you are or if you aren't, my conscious wouldn't be happy if I didn't." The man said as if thinking aloud.
Roald rocked forward again, balancing on his toes. The man stood up and Roald heard keys. The door to the cell swung open. Roald sprang to his feet and backed up, blue magic gathering above his palm so he could see the man's face. It was the blonde Gennature to whom Roald had first spoken.
"What are you doing?" Roald asked in Gennature. The man looked surprised but didn't make any moves.
"I'm risking my life for you." He answered in Gennature, watching Roald's face closely in the blue light to judge if he understood. Roald narrowed his eyes, considering his options. "I'm trying to help you." The man switched back to Common.
"I understood you." Roald said in a sharp edged whisper. "I'm deciding if I can trust you."
"You can't." The man answered.