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Vasher gestured to the side There was another tunnel a few feet to the side of the one they were hiding in Vivenna’s heart jumped in shock as Vasher crept into the roolanced at the fire The , and were blinded by the light They didn’t seem to notice Vasher

She took a deep breath, then followed into the shadows of the large rooht to her back Vasher didn’t go far, however, before stopping Vivenna nearly collided with him He stood there for a few et hi He shuffled, letting her see as before him

This tunnel ended abruptly--apparently, it wasn’t so ainst the back of the nook was a cage, about as high as Vivenna’s waist Inside the cage was a child

Vivenna gasped softly, pushing past Vasher and kneeling down beside the cage The valuable thing in the carriage, she thought,the connection It wasn’t the coins It was the priest’s daughter The perfect bargaining chip if you wanted to black their position at court

As Vivenna knelt, the girl pulled back in the cage, sniffling quietly and quivering The cage stank of hurime--all except for lines on her cheeks, which had been streaked clean by tears

Vivenna looked up at Vasher His eyes were shadowed, his back to the fire, but she could see hi his teeth She could see tension in hishis face with the light of the red fire

In that single lit eye, Vivenna saw fury

"Hey!" one of the thieves called

"Get the child out," Vasher said in a harsh whisper

"How did you get here!" another le illuminated one, and she felt herself shrink before him She nodded, and Vasher turned away frohtblood in a hard-knuckled grip He stepped slowly, deliberately, as he approached theVivenna intended to do as asked, but she found it hard too look away from him

The htblood, still sheathed, took one man in the chest, and Vivenna heard bones snap Anotherout a hand The tassels on his sleevearound the blade of the thief’s sword, catching it Vasher’s momentum ripped the blade free, and he tossed it aside, the tassels releasing it

The sword hit the dirt of the cellar floor; Vasher’s hand snapped up, grabbing the thief’s face The tassels wrapped around the man’s head like a squid’s tentacles Vasher sla as he did to add htblood into anotherhim A third tried to cut Vasher fro Vasher’s cloak, however, suddenly whipped out--rabbed the surprised er in his face, and swung Nightblood toward the entangledbones, and she turned away froers, she tried to open the cage

It was locked, of course She drew out some Breath fro happened

Metal, she thought Of course It hasn’t been alive, so it can’t be Awakened

Instead she pulled a thread free fronore the cries of pain fro any se a cold, professional killer This was a ed

She raised the thread

"Unlock things," she Coled a bit, but when she stuck it into the lock, nothing happened

She withdrew the Breath, took a few cal breaths of her own, then closed her eyes

Have to get the intention right Need it to go inside, twist the tu the Breath leave her She stuck the thread into the lock It spun about, and she heard a click The door opened The sounds of fighting froh men continued to moan

Vivenna recovered her Breath then reached into the cage The girl cringed, crying out and hiding her face

"I’ly "Please, I’ when touched Frustrated, Vivenna turned back toward Vasher

He stood beside the fire, head bowed, bodies strewn around hi back against the dirty floor And, for soo Taller Broader of shoulders More threatening

Vasher’s other hand was on Nightblood’s hilt The sheath clasp was undone, and black sround, so As if it couldn’t decide

Vasher’s ar

Drawmea distant voice seemed to say in Vivenna’s head Kill theround Vasher began to slide the blade free It was dark black, and it seeood, she thought "Vasher!" she yelled "Vasher, the girl won’t colazed over

"You defeated them, Vasher No need to draw the sword"

Yesyes there is

He blinked, then saw her He snapped Nightblood back into place, shaking his head and rushing toward her He kicked a body as he passed, earning a grunt

"Colorless er seeer, and she decided that what she’d seen ht He reached into the cage, holding out his hands And, oddly, the child i Vivenna watched with shock Vasher picked the child up, tears in his own eyes

"You know her?" Vivenna asked

He shook his head "I’vechildren, but I never met any of them"