Koragg entered his chambers, with a soft step. He never knew if the sorceress was sleeping. She seemed to be more at ease as of late and he was often checking on her and bringing her food. He refused at this point to let anyone else give her anything he didn't approve of. Imperious had made sure of that fact with her treachery.

As he approached her… cell… he noticed her form lying across the small rock formation that served as a bed. She seemed in light sleep, as she was murmuring little things. Koragg knew not what they meant, other than small whispers of the name Leanbow. Koragg actually wished he could have met the warrior, maybe dueled him, for the sorceress spoke so highly of him.

Koragg laid down his shield and sword, a distinctive metallic sound ringing over the cavern, and Udonna woke with a start. She looked up, seeing Koragg watching her, and she grew a little wary. He did not frighten her as he once did. In fact, if she had to say anything about the progression of their relationship, she would say he was turning soft on her. He didn't threaten her as much for conversation, but perhaps that was because she wouldn't let him. She would speak openly about little things. She talked about magic, for she knew it differently than him. He knew spells of combat and attack, while she had delved into what magic truly was at its source. Unfortunately, that meant her knowledge in his area of study was lacking as she was not originally a fighter. In actuality, as she told him, her primary occupation was a healer and supplier.

"Koragg," she said in a soft voice. There was no edge to it. She was faintly, not completely, open to company. It was dark there, and Udonna might be left alone for quite awhile without much to talk about. She didn't feel able to converse with herself much, unsure who would hear her. If Koragg were to leave for multiple days then he was certain to have a hidiac bring her some form of food. It was typically some form of fruit. He fed her, but obviously it was no luxary.

One of the things he did, besides making sure she was kept decently fed, was cast a renewal spell on her once she persuaded him. It made her feel more alive. Not alive enough to escape, she wasn't quite prepared for that, but it made her feel a little cleaner, at least mentally.

Koragg was now sitting in the stone chair that stood a fair distance from the opening to Udonna's cell. He watched her rise and swing her legs over the edge of the formation, still a little clumsy from coming out of sleep.

"I want you to tell me a story," he said simply.

Udonna wasn't sure she heard him right. What an odd request. "A story? What kind of story?"

Koragg sat in silence, as if he hadn't thought this through already. Finally, he said, "A story about you."

There wasn't much she specifically wanted to share with him. He was still her captor, no matter the familiarity with a range of other topics they had spoken of together.

"I don't know what you want me to talk about," she said in short, trying to avoid the subject.

Koragg huffed, at least that's what Udonna thought. "You've talked to me about the war. Tell me about you. I've heard you defend your husband with a great deal of passion. Tell me about him."

"I don't have a care to," she said warily.

"Do it regardless," he told her.

No matter how much she didn't want to, she began to speak. Why was she doing this? But her words fell out and she had no way, she thought, to stop them.

"We met during a ceremony," Udonna recalled. "During a summer solstice. There were lanterns lit and flags flying and the sky was turning the sort of dusty shade of pink before we knew the light was to be extinguished."

Somehow this sounded familiar to Koragg. He wasn't one for staring at sunsets in the least. Maybe he had noticed the shade of pink she spoke of on the field of battle. But how would he have known at all about the laterns?

"I was maybe eighteen. I had seen all the lights and festivities before, but knowing it was the night I met Leanbow made it seem… more magical." She stopped, wondering again why she was telling him. Maybe it was because she wanted to reaffirm that that was how it happened. She hadn't talked about this to anyone in years.

"He was the lantern lighter that year. There's always a spectacular lantern in the village center, primed to be lit just as dusk falls. He lit the fire with such drama, I found it both endearing and a bit of an overkill."

He said nothing then, just stared ahead. It wasn't at her at all. He was just listening, so Udonna continued.

"And he stood proudly as the fire danced around the lantern, finally settling in its core and erupting into a great flame. It was the most impressive show I had ever seen. And when it was done he stared right into my eyes. I blushed, I know I did. I know because my sister told me I did.

"Afterwards he approached me, almost a little timid. But he faked confidence and held out his hand to take mine. He kissed it, and his lips felt hot. I shouldn't have been surprised, he was close to that fire for quite a while. And he just looked at me and talked about how I looked. All good things."

Koragg made a slow turn of the head to look at her. He was astonished suddenly that he could picture her.

There was no mistake, he could see in his mind this woman who he had in his captivity, dark red hair in a twist, silver robes draped across her, and his mind told him the word goddess. It was so incredibly unexplainable. He wouldn't have had that thought himself. He only saw humans, and here she was a human without magic, as lowly creatures, pests that the Earth should be rid of. He shouldn't have even known what she looked like. Her watery blue eyes looking at him, and he was back out of his thoughts, watching her become a little flustered as she tried to tell the next part. Maybe it was because he was staring at her? He couldn't tell.

"-and we danced. We danced by lantern light, straining our eyes to see. I couldn't recall his face immediately after that night. But his eyes had taken me by surprise and I found that I couldn't break my memory of them. Dark, a mix of the color of the forest and the color of amber by firelight. I was…" She stopped, wanting to say enthralled. He probably thought her dumb already, going on after she told him she wouldn't.

"You were…" he pressed, mostly to try and show his engagement in her story. He didn't know why he needed to prove he was listening, but the sorceress seemed to calm her mind, a look of contemplation on her face becoming less strained and more relaxed.

"I was transfixed by his charming appearance."

"And did you marry him after that?"

"Eventually. My mother and father were against it. My mother, who did call herself a witch, promised to curse him should he break my heart."

"Would she have done it?"

"Perhaps. She was a force to be reckoned with. My mother was always dressed like Gaia, the Greek deity of the Earth. Green robes, more of a dress really, with tall tan boots caked with mud. No one said a word about them because they took one look at her face and eyes, her hair a deep red, aflame in any sort of light, and sharp blue eyes, the color of an oncoming storm."

"Your father's threat?"

"He said he would duel him. Wouldn't that be something?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Oh, yes." Udonna felt silly for even suggesting he may know. He father had long since died, as had her mother.

"He was skilled in combat, an old armory and knight apprentice. He never carried on with his craft, favoring a life of hunting. He was from a prestigious family, but he found himself an adept hunter and it brought honor to his family."

"So there was no duel, I take it?"

"Never. Leanbow fought tirelessly to prove he was worthy of my hand. He brought me rare gifts from his travels as a future knight. He wanted me to have anything that reminded him vaguely of myself. Ice stones, moon lilies, snow roses, anything beautiful was mine, he said. I didn't need all those gifts. Most died eventually or were lost in the battle."

"I see."

"Why do you care about any of this. I would have thought I'd bored you by now."

I find you fascinating, he could have said. He wanted to tell her so, but to do so would be a stain on his reputation. He would find himself at risk even with Imperious.

"I don't particularly care," he said gruffly. "It's a way to pass time."

Udonna nodded, knowing that she was spilling her story to him without much remorse. Although it was beginning to creep up to her now, pulling at the edges of her heart and telling her this wasn't right.

"Shall I leave it there," she asked. "You've no interest in earnest so I may stop if you'd rather plot another attack."

"When were you married?"

Udonna sighed. "I was twenty-four."

"Is that a long time to wait?"

"By our village standards, yes."

"Did you-"

"Tell me about you."

Udonna wasn't in the mood to share more. It was now a regret, a full regret, that she had given so much information on herself.

"There isn't much to tell," he said.

"Nothing of your past? You don't remember anything?"

"No. I don't. And I don't care to remember, either. Whoever I was before The Master is not worth my time."

"I don't believe that."

"You should."

Udonna sat stunned, and silence had fallen over both of them. She didn't want to say anything more, for fear of upsetting him. It wasn't as much a fear but a general sympathy. Why must she be cruel when he's been fairly kind to her, or as kind as a captor could be?

"I didn't mean-"

"Imperious wishes to see you."

His words were abrupt against her ears.

"What?"

"He wishes to see you."

The sorceress did not care for what Imperious wanted. She thought about how unthreatening Calindor had been as a youth, training with Leanbow. But then she remembered how he had deceived her.

"Will I get the pleasure," she said that word with a venom, "of having a visit from him?"

"He's to see you in the great chamber."

"Now?"

"Not quite yet. In fact, I was not to tell you so quickly."

"Oh."

He looked at her, looking down at her hands, folded in her lap. She had begun to pick at her fingernails again.

"I must go," he said, standing quickly.

Udonna was surprised to see him walking towards her. He would tower over her if she continued to sit, so she stood, hoping to feel less small in his presence.

"I'll see to it that someone brings you food. And when Imperious summons you, I shall be there."

It wasn't a promise of protection, but at least it seemed to be the slightest of reassurances. That was strange to think that his being there when she could die would bring her comfort, but she accepted it. He left, catching a glimpse of her eyes, muted in color but dazzling none to less.

He wasn't wrong when he said someone would bring her food. Unfortunately for Udonna, the sight of them gave her chills.

"White Sorceress." Her title was as if an insult.

"What can I do for you Necrolai?"