His smile drains me of all reason. He scratches his facial hair, which has grown quite a bit in the last few days. His smile grows wider. “Have you ever been with anyone?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific if you want a decent answer,” I laugh.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I mean, Sparrow.” He leans forward and winks. “Have you taken, or has anyone taken you to bed? Man, woman, or otherwise?”

At that, I throw my head back and howl. “You can’t be serious! Surely, there are more pressing unknowns you’d like to know about!”

“I said we should start with small secrets, didn’t I? To learn if a Princess is unbesmirched seems little enough to me.”

I throw up my hands. “Trust that any man who’s taken me to bed is far from little.”

“I guess that answers that!” Braizen laughs.

“Does it surprise you to know that I’m impure?”

“Impure? Good gods, what do they teach in Verdana? Being experienced doesn’t make one impure! I mean, if it does, then it’s straight to the four hells I go.”

“Indeed.” My haughty tone doesn’t match my smile, and as soon as Braizen notices, his relaxed grin grows.

“Your turn,” he says with far too much enjoyment.

I tap a finger to my chin and ponder what small untold truth I should ask of him. I scan his face for a moment, then click my tongue.

“Where did you meet Lorna?”

He rubs his hands across his face. “This feels more like her story to tell than my own,” he says. “But for the sake of the game... I met her in a small town just outside of Tranket River. It was only me, Torr, and Lin at the time. Lorna was caring for her sick sister when a hostile creature named Godfred Allim paid a visit. He was rounding up peasants to become...well, how should I say this…”

“Slaves?” I interrupt with keen interest.

He shakes his head and bites his lip.

Apparently, he believes it too ungentlemanly to proceed, so I press in closer and whisper, “Whores?”

His wide eyes tell me my assumption is correct.

“Are you too shy to say that word around me? Whores?”

He doesn’t answer, though his smile slants devilishly.

“I’m plenty familiar with the profession,” I say. “Women in Verdana often choose it! It pays good money, and everyone must eat, especially when food is scarce.”

Braizen turns his hands over as if he doesn’t know what to say, then laughs. “Oh, I don’t judge the profession. In fact, I rather enjoy it. As often as I can.”

I roll my eyes. “I wish I had a drink,” I say.