Peaches knew it: time to go off the obvious path. This alleyway was a straight way to death at this rate. It was as shadowy as darkspawn’s beloved darkness and even smelled of refuse and piss. That she hadn’t stepped in any unspeakable – yet, miracle worthy of the oldest Oak of Ages itself. It barely had any paint of any kind. Just bland gray stone only a dwarf would love. Love to chisel into something less bland. The jetties above her shielded her from attack from above but also hid anything in the sky from her, and actually, she...

The wall of flame roared down the canyon path and right toward him, toward the gate, toward the drawbridge – it was quick. Quicker than a wolf pack dashing for a fawn and several times louder than a whole pack of wolves howling their evil lungs out. Just the echo from the chasm was bad. The smell hit Roo even harder. It smelled like roasted pine, chalk, like memories he didn’t want to remember, but also of filth, like the uglier darkspawn, and that he could handle easily. Even if the filthy smell came from the three towering crimson cyclops...

Peaches wanted to slap Roo again and again and again but but but he … she stomped, despite her dagger stilettos, as if she could stab the cobble as much as she wanted to stab Roo for his stupid idiotic … Peaches knew he was in charge, for now, but, in her face, like that? This wasn’t … wasn’t fair. All because she made a mistake. Got carried away by lightspawn … and she was lightspawn so, why … he said how much he cared but if … Nonono. This alley was as narrow as Roo’s mind. Really. As shadowy...

The note confirmed enough of Roo’s suspicions that he dare not unchain Fleur – yet. In fact, he was relieved her chains were locked to the gatehouse, and opposite side of the drawbridge mechanism. Part of him realized it would be best to chain her wings up and toss her into the chasm. The drop should be enough to kill her properly, but no. She recovered, no doubt about it, but whether she really was bonded … clever girl. Dragon elves did have such a different biology than other elves faking the absorption but actually triggering a healing spell that...

Peaches prayed to all the Oak of Ages she wasn’t too late. That her scream didn’t come too late. The alicorn dagger heels were forged with extra magic to enhance her balance well beyond what heels she ever allow a girl, so running, not that horrible compared to actual heels, but still, nothing beat decent footwear, but there hadn’t been time to take off her thigh boots. The gate was thankfully intact. The drawbridge too. And that only further confirmed Peaches’ suspicion. She had heard of Fleur and her martial art skills were already legendary. She had killed plenty of...