"Get out of my way, Butok." Rahn glared at him.

"No." He smirked at her.

"Come on, you know if I don't get these delivered, Alk will have my head."

Butok shrugged. "Not my problem, Lana."

"Why are you bugging me today anyway, don't you have anything you're supposed to be doing?"

"Of course I do."

"Then go do that. Hopefully somewhere far away from me."

"See, that would be difficult."

She sighed heavily as she tried to push past him but failed. "Why is that, Butok?"

"Because I'm supposed to be watching you."

She groaned. "I thought we were past that at this point. Besides, it's not like I can go anywhere. I'm still a prisoner here. Thanks to you."

"Don't look at it that way." He said as he turned and allowed her to pass, walking closely beside her through the narrow hall.

"Yeah, yeah I know. This is my opportunity to prove myself. What no one has told me is what happens to people who don't pass the test. If I'm found unworthy of joining this big, secret... operation, or whatever it is, then what's the plan? Do I just get set free?" She stopped and turned to face him. "Or do I never see the light of day again? One way or another."

"I don't think you'll have to worry about that. You've been here for a little over a week now and I think you've made a great impression."

She scoffed as she turned and continued walking. "How? Delivering supplies to and from different parts of this compound, or whatever this place is." The narrow hall opened up to a larger area where many halls came together. Many Qarthans could be seen hustling about, going in and out of the tunnel like hallways. She paused in the middle of the room and looked up to the tall dome shaped ceiling filled with skylights, closing her eyes as she let the natural sunlight warm her face.

"What are you doing?"

"I would think it's obvious." She said without opening her eyes.

"Humor me."

"I'm imagining I'm above ground, in the open air. This dungeon is pretty depressing, you know. If I ever get out of here I think the first thing I'll do is go for a good, long run in the forest." She frowned. "I miss my runs. You're going to make me get all slow and out of shape down here."

"I'm sure you've found other ways to exercise."

"Of course. But none clear my head quite like a really long run. Before long I'm going to be pretty grumpy."

"I think we're already to that point."

She smirked at him. "If you're getting tired of me, you could always let me go."

"You and I both know you don't actually want to be released. You want to be let in."

"Is that so?"

"Definitely. I've been doing this long enough to tell who's going to make it."

"Oh yeah?" She opened her eyes and turned to look at him. "I don't suppose you'll tell me how much longer this process is supposed to take?"

He shook his head. "Sorry, no can do."

She sighed as she turned and continued to her task. "All a part of the process, I imagine. And I also imagine that I must have absolutely no brain in my head to go along with all of this. I still don't even know what this place is all about."

"You will." he assured her. "Where are you delivering those to?"

"Can't tell you."

"I'm following you, I'll see anyway."

She shrugged. "I was told not to tell anyone, so I'm not."

"So what's in it, then."

"I can't tell you where it's going so you think I can tell you what's in it?"

"You don't know either." He chuckled.

"Of course not. No one tells me anything."

"You're not curious?"

"Of course I am." She said bluntly. "But I learned quickly to just do what I'm supposed to do so I can get on with my mundane life down here in this cave and hopefully either get out of this place or get moved on to the next big, and hopefully more interesting, thing." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'm hoping for an intake position. I hear they raid all the best snacks before the food gets distributed." He chuckled from behind her.

A few minutes later she delivered her package without a word to the recipient and turned down the hallway at a brisk pace.

"Are you in a hurry?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be last in the meal line again and miss out on dessert."

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"Says the one of us who can leave anytime he wants and go get whatever food he wants. And see daylight!"

"Nah, someone has to keep an eye on you, remember?"

"Yeah yeah. Hey!" She said as she turned and walked backwards so she could face him. "How about you go out and get us some good treats and bring it back here to share. Might as well make yourself useful if I'm stuck with you."

He shook his head, but she noticed his slight smile.



~~~~~~~~~~

"Still no word?"

Thuq shook his head from behind his desk. "No. I'm beginning to share your concerns."

Kahal nodded and sighed, rubbing his palm over his bald head as he heard the door open.

"Lady Biechta! Greetings." Kahal turned to the voice of his administrator welcoming the lady.

"Greetings, Thuq." She nodded at him before turning to Kahal. "Greetings, Lord Kahal."

"Greetings, my lady." He nodded.

"Might I have a word, my lord?"

"Of course." He opened the adjoining door from Thuq's office into his own study. Once they were inside and seated across from each other he questioned her. "Is everything well, my lady?"

"Yes, my lord." She said a little too quickly and took a breath to calm herself. "As our queen has so graciously invited me here for a specific purpose, I was hoping to discuss the matter with you."

His eyes rounded in surprise at her directness, which seemed out of character. She had spent the last few days doing a lot of soul searching and grieving over her childhood, now that she recognized that she was practically robbed of one. But this morning she had woken up and decided she was finished being a naive fool and that she would take charge of her own life.

"My lady?" He asked in confusion.

"The Queen invited me to stay here for several weeks so that we may get to know each other and potentially form a partnership."

Discomfort crossed his features for a brief moment before he cleared them. "My lady, I-"

"No need, my lord." She stopped him by raising a hand. "I believe it is clear that you have no interest in me as your partner, correct?"

Kahal opened his mouth in surprise before quickly closing it and clearing his throat. "My lady, I must admit..." he drew in a breath. "No, I do not see us as a good match."

"Good." She said as she stood. He stood as well. "I agree. But I do have one request from you, my lord. If I may..."



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dom looked through slits in an old stall curtain, staring at the large male that was leisurely walking through the night market. No one came to this particular night market looking for anything good.

It took all of his self control to not confront the male about Rahn's whereabouts as soon as he heard a stall seller call the man Butok. He recognized the name from Rahn's notes, which he had read many times over the last several days. He couldn't let this man out of his sight. It was the only lead he'd had since Rahn disappeared.

The male moved further down the street and Dom was forced to leave his hiding spot to keep tabs on him. Butok went out of sight for a moment and Dom quietly rushed down the shadows of the west side of the street. He stopped abruptly and ducked behind a dumpster when a second figure approached Butok, handing him a small parcel. Dom couldn't hear what they were saying but he recognized the female, who seemed completely at ease beside the burly male.

He watched as Rahn rolled her eyes and her lips moved in response to something the male must have said, smirking after she was finished and turning to walk further down the street. Dom could only guess she'd given him one of her crude quips. The kind that drove Dom crazy in both good and bad ways. The kind he missed over these last couple weeks since he'd last spoken to Rahn.

He watched as the male stopped at another booth and conversed with the seller. Rahn turned her back to the two men and looked around the market. With Butok's back to Dom, he decided this was his moment. He stepped out from behind the dumpster just enough to catch Rahn's eye.

She didn't change her stance, her posture, or her facial features in any way when her eyes landed on him. She simply raised her hand to her bald head and slightly shook her head. To any onlookers it would look as if she was simply rubbing an itch but Dom got the message. Do not interfere.

She was okay. And she was making progress, he had to assume.

He watched her for a moment, and with a glance at Butok to make sure he was still distracted, he turned and crossed the street, keeping in the shadows as he entered a narrow alley nearby. From his new vantage point, he was further away but he still watched as Butok and Rahn took their purchases and walked further down the street.

All too soon they were out of sight and he forced himself to stay still and let them go. He had confirmed she was alive and unharmed and she seemed to still be on the mission. Why she disappeared and hadn't made contact for almost two weeks, he would just have to discover later. He had to trust her to do her job.





~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note:

Short Chapter! But we're leading up to new and exciting things!

What do you think will come of Biechta's newly found confidence?