“Don’t know what that is. He talked funny, though.”

“What happened to him?”

“The Beast ate him.”

“Oh. Where is the Beast now?”

“Out there,” Baffle said, waving at the darkness. “Waiting. Watching. We feed it what we can. Sometimes, Owain says we must feed it our friends and families.” His voice turned sad. “The Beast ate my sister.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“I was given a bit of her leg to cheer me up.”

“Right…”

There was a sound, like a growl, low and threatening, that echoed up to them.

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow at Baffle. “That’s the Beast?” she asked.

“Yes,” he breathed. “It doesn’t come this close to the village, not usually. Not unless it’s very hungry.” He looked worried. “We might not get to share you after all.”

There was another shout from one of the huts. “Baffle!”

“What?” he yelled back.

“Stop talking to the food!”

“I wasn’t!”

“Baffle!”

“Sorry,” Baffle whispered to her. Sighing grumpily, he jumped down from the frame and trudged away.

“About time,” said someone from the darkness. “I thought he’d never leave.”

A girl stepped into the light. She looked to be around twenty and her blonde hair hung long and wavy. She was pretty, with green eyes behind her glasses. Smaller than Valkyrie, in good shape, wearing grey jeans and a silver-grey coat.

“Myosotis,” Valkyrie said, the memory of the girl flooding back into her mind, bringing with it their friendship. “Love the coat.”

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Myosotis responded. “I got it a few weeks ago from a little shop in Langenfeld. It’s a bit dirty now, of course, but I suppose that’s what happens when you’re running around somewhere like this, searching for an idiot of a man.”

“Ah,” Valkyrie said. “That man. I’m pretty sure he’s dead.”

Myosotis frowned. “So I’ve been searching mile after mile of dark caverns for him, and he doesn’t even have the common courtesy to stay alive until I find him? That is irritating.”

“So what are you guys doing here?”

Valkyrie hesitated. “We’re here to rescue you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Myosotis nodded. “And how’s that going for you?”

“I have to admit, it could be going better.”

“I would agree with you. It’s the thought that counts, though, isn’t that what they say?”

“It is.”

“In which case, thank you for coming to rescue me.”

“You’re welcome,” said Valkyrie. “Can you get me out of these shackles now?”

“What are friends for?” Myosotis asked, then clambered up the frame, took a lock pick from her sleeve and set to work on the shackles. After a moment, she paused.

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” Myosotis said. “It’s just… I’m not used to having a friend. It’s a little odd, you know?”

“Yeah. You could probably work a little faster on the shackles.”