Raeyn pulled away from Violetta and brushed herself off in the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as the dream had already begun to vanish from her mind. It faded like water through a woven basket. Only a few fleeting fragments remained now, and she called out, “Mother! Father! Don’t leave me!”

  Then it was gone. The words hung in the air, but she could not remember it anymore. All that remained was the same dream she had endured hundreds of times. It was too late. Her words could not keep the memory in her mind.

   Violetta asked,

   She could not explain it,

  Raeyn offered her hand to Violetta in the darkness but ended up having to take hold of it to lead the way. Mahn were creatures of the light. Gobbo were creatures of the darkness. Her first thought was towards the night itself, but the warrens were dark places that knew no day or night. For one hundred ninety-nine moons, she had never seen the sun or the moon except through the holes in the warren. She searched for the words as they traced the path back through the Thieves’ Entrance and back through the winding tunnels towards the entrance.

   She asked before they began.

  Violetta responded quickly, but was unsure of the question at first,

  

  Violetta had to think about it,

   Raeyn gasped.

   Violetta’s irritation was clear and her grip on Raeyn tightened harshly,

  Raeyn whimpered and pulled her hand free,

   Violetta practically growled,

  Raeyn pouted in the darkness knowing Violetta could not see it,

  Violetta let out a soft sigh,

   Raeyn struggled to do the math and Violetta’s hand gently swatted her back as she thought and interrupted her.

  

   Raeyn protested.

   She pressed her advantage,

   The odd word was clear to her,

  

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   Raeyn said proudly,

   Violetta’s tone dropped significantly.

   Raeyn’s eyes widened in the darkness as it hit her,

   Violetta was glad for the darkness now,

   Raeyn’s revelation of the language kept unfurling before her,

   Violetta chuckled nervously and answered,

  Raeyn snapped, and a small flame appeared in her right hand, lighting her face from below with an eerie glow. The shadows twisted and distorting on her otherwise fairly humanoid face as she opened her mouth in confusion and horror,

  In a sudden lunge, Violetta seized Raeyn’s shoulders and bent down over the flame to clear up the misunderstanding,

  Raeyn nodded, taking it all in stride now,

   Violetta repeated,

  Raeyn’s hairless brow furled, and she let out a deep sigh, the flame went out and she took Violetta’s hand,

   She agreed and decided to ask once more,

   Raeyn thought of how to explain even what she was not sure of,

   Violetta insisted,

  Raeyn stopped for a moment as her head suddenly started to hurt,

   Violetta demanded,

  Though she struggled to snap her fingers, the flame returned and flickered on her middle finger. Lighting from middle finger to thumb and then to the tips of her whole hand, a brighter light filled the chamber. They were already close to the large stone gate, but Violetta focused only on Raeyn as she dropped to one knee and seized Raeyn’s left hand.

   Violetta suddenly placed her forehead to the back of her hand,

  Raeyn looked at her and felt sick. Belos wanted her to betray Violetta. This woman, this strong foe, was desperate for her help. She had to say yes. Belos demanded it. Her stomach however wanted to see more of her begging, but not like this. She needed to make a demand of her own. She had to. Such desperation needed equal payment.

   Raeyn asked.

   Violetta said as she kissed the back of Raeyn’s hand.

  

  Violetta’s eyes widened and she raised her head to look at Raeyn,

  Raeyn realized that Violetta would never trust her completely. Nor could she trust Violetta either. Belos had set her upon this task, and she would not question his divine will. Deep within her gut, she began to worry that by the end of this Violetta would be dead along with all the other Mahn on the shore. Somehow, she knew that she was chosen for the task because winter would be too late. She clenched her fist and the flame went out.

   Raeyn had found the word for one chosen of Maelyn to another. If Violetta came to think of her in such a way, perhaps she would trust her. Perhaps she would need to find a new ‘devotion’. Belos demanded it and so long as she stayed true to his word, his blessing would be hers.