The gestured at the wall opposite and they saw Sophie, from above and behind, hunched over the door lock. The three of them stood looking at the door as five runes lit up around the doorknob.

“Five-element lock,” Belinda said. “Not bad for an internal door.”

“Jory keeps some expensive supplies in these rooms,” Jason said.

“Good to know,” Belinda said.

“Please don’t steal them,” Jason said.

“I don't think she'd do that,” Clive said.

“No, I would,” Belinda told him.

The runes on the door moved until they formed a straight line and the lock clicked. The door opened just enough for Sophie to look out.

“Didn’t I ask you specifically not to do that?” Jason asked her.

Sophie groaned in dissatisfaction, but Belinda threw the door wide to ensnare her friend in a huge hug.

“I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“You too.”

Jason gestured at the room Sophie had just broken out of.

“You can talk in there,” he said. “Clive, can you do something to the door to stop them opening it up again?”

“To stop her,” he said, nodding at Sophie, “probably.”

Then he gestured at Belinda.

“To stop her, probably not.”

Jason groaned.

“Just go in and talk,” Jason said.

Belinda gently pushed Sophie back into the room, closing the door behind them. She looked around until she spotted the far-seeing crystal Jason had been using to watch the room, floating unobtrusively near the ceiling. She stood up on a chair to take it down and shove it in a drawer.

“What was that?” Sophie asked.

“He was watching you.”

“What a creeper.”

“You did try and break out.”

“I didn’t try; I did break out.”

“How are you?”

“I feel alright,” Sophie said. “A bit withered on the vine. Has it really been days?”

“It has.”

Sophie sat in the chair, shuffling to find a posture where the manacles didn’t bother her too much. Belinda hopped up to sit on the treatment table.

“So,” Sophie said. “What did they tell you?”

“Ventress, Magic Society guy, indenture.”

“The same for me. What are they after?”

“I’m not sure. According to Asano, he only came after us because someone asked him to. People at the Adventure Society were getting pressured over how long it was taking to catch us.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I’m not sure. He seems to be in charge, or at least, the others are taking cues from him. He’s hard to read, but his partner, not so much.”

“That’s the one that caught you?”