The room went silent but for the crackling of the fire. It was Dunyasha who broke that silence, her voice low and pleading.

"Uncle, we have all been hurt," she said quietly. "You lost your son, your wife, your brother, your friends at the hands of Letters. I've lost people too. I feel that pain. They were my family too. But can't you see this will just end in more death?"

"And what do you suggest instead?" Ystervo said wearily. "More talking? More negotiations that end with blood slicing through our ambassador's throat? It doesn't work."

"It does," Aysel said, finding her voice. "I'm proof. When I first met her, I hated Dunyasha, and feared her too. I had been convinced she was a monster. But she's not." From the floor, she looked over at her. Her short mane was wild around her face and her skin glowed bronze in the firelight. Her eyes were pools of rage and justice and liquid gold. "She's my friend. More than a friend."

Dunyasha looked down at her in shock.

"I was wrong to lie about my feelings for you," Aysel continued. She was aware of the danger of the situation, but it was because of it, not in spite of it, that she felt she needed to confess. She may not get another chance. "I felt as though I was betraying my reasons for coming by letting myself fall for you. But I'm not. So if I die tonight, which is becoming increasingly likely, I just want you to know." Tears had sprung up in her eyes. "Dunyasha, you're beautiful and strong and terrifying and kind. And when we almost kissed, it wasn't because I was tired. It was because I wanted to kiss you. I still do."

Dunyasha stared at her, one clawed hand over her wide lips, her foreign yet familiar yellow eyes glistening, perhaps with tears. "Aysel, I--"

She was cut off by a laugh. "This is your plan? Seduce the Letters and they'll stop killing us?" Ystervo boomed. "I always knew you had a soft spot for Letters, but not like this! No wonder you can't see that killing them is the only way for us to survive!"

"But it's not," Dunyasha replied. She wiped away her tears. "More death will only result in more death."

"And talking will result in nothing!" he snapped. "So you convinced one not to hate you. Can you convince ten more? A hundred? A thousand?"

"I..." her voice faltered. "I have to hope that I can. It's the only way to stop this endless war."

"But Dunyasha," he said softly. "Don't you see? There is an end." He held out the bag. "Just a few breaths. Just a few moments, and all the Letters go to sleep. Quiet. Peaceful. And the People no longer have to fear, because the circle is broken."

Dunyasha shook her head. "No. It isn't right."

"But it will save our people. It will save our children from having their hearts stopped at the hands of some unnatural blood mage. No father will ever have to lose another son," he said, his voice full of pain again. "And it's going to happen, whether or not you help me."

She opened her mouth, then stopped. She blinked, and her eyes were cool and musing as a distant god's. She looked back up to her uncle... and nodded.

Aysel's world fell out from under her with that one small movement. But it must be a trick; it had to be a trick; there was no way Dunyasha would ever think that. Or would she? The look of old pain was written clearly across her face for Aysel to see.

"Dunya, no!" Enrick shouted. "Are you insane?"

She held up a finger. "They just... they all just go to sleep?"

Ystervo smiled. "Without any fear or pain. And once they are gone, we can live without fear."

"The circle will be broken," she muttered. "The war over at last."

"Dunyasha, you can't be serious," Enrick pleaded. "This is what you've always fought against!"

Dunyasha turned to him. "I know, and it's done nothing but get more people killed." She hung her head. "And that's my fault for being so naive. I got people killed-- people I loved-- by trying to make peace with an enemy that only wanted to keep fighting. I was stupid to think Letters would ever stop this war."

It felt like the ground was spinning. "Dunyasha," Aysel whispered again. "You know this isn't right."

Dunyasha gestured the spearmen aside and they released her so she could walk over towards Aysel. "It isn't," she said gently. "But it's the only way. I'm sorry for this. I'm so, so sorry to put you through this."

"What about me?" she breathed. "You're going to kill me? I thought you... I thought..."

"I'm sorry, Aysel," she murmured. "I'm only doing what needs to be done, although it hurts me more than you know."

"Then don't do it!"

"It's the only way." She reached down a hand to touch Aysel's face.

She jerked away. "Don't touch me," she said slowly, pouring all of her fear and misery and anger into her voice. "Get your hands away from me."

"I'm so sorry," she said again, pain in her voice. "I'm only doing this because uncle is right. The war will never end if we don't do anything. And he's going to do it with or without me. Maybe this way, I can help prevent some pain. I'm sorry."

"You should be." It felt like her head was spinning and her heart breaking as the foundation that she had just built up came crumbling down. Something deep inside the hopeful part of her heart whispered that Dunyasha was lying, that it was a trick, but Aysel could see determination and regret in her eyes. She knew that what she was doing was tearing her up inside, too.

And so Aysel turned her face away from Dunyasha so she couldn't see her tears fall.

Ystervo sighed. "I think there's been enough of that. Take it to one of the caves and make sure it doesn't escape. I'll deal with it later."

"No!" Enrick yelled. "Father, no!"

He tilted his head as he examined his son. "And you, Enrick? Where does your loyalty lie? With your family... or with this Letter that not too long ago would have hung your skin like a trophy?"

He hesitated, then spat at his ground at his father's feet. "It lies with my friend, you murderer."

Ystervo snarled. "Take him as well. He can comfort it before it dies. Once it's all over he'll reconsider."

He snapped his fingers, and several spearmen grabbed them by the upper arms and the ankles. Both Aysel and Enrick tried to struggle, but it was no use. They were carried out of the chamber and into the dark passageway. The last thing Aysel saw was Dunyasha's face, tears in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something, but the door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sending Aysel and Enrick into darkness.

It wasn't long before they had reached their prison. Aysel couldn't see, but she heard grinding as a heavy rock was moved, and felt herself being tossed through the air, to land on hard stone ground. There was a thud as Enrick was tossed in after her, and the terrible crunch of the rock being rolled back, sealing them in.

Enrick spoke first. "Shit," he said. "Shit!" There was another thud as he kicked the wall, then a tapping sound as he hopped in pain on one foot. "Dammit! Damn my father and damn Dunyasha and damn this whole thing!" he screamed.

"Where are we?" Aysel whispered. She felt like a child to be frightened of the dark, but the way she was bound and blind made her feel helpless in a way she hated.

"In one of the storage caves, probably," Enrick said. Aysel jumped when his hands touched her arm, but he was only untangling the ropes. "And we're a little bit screwed."

Aysel pulled herself into a sitting position and wrapped her arms around her knees. "I agree with you. Are we stuck in here? I can't see in the dark like you can."

"We're trapped," he sighed. "Stars. Aysel, I'm so sorry. I was stupid to think my father would ever want to find a peaceful solution. He left because he disagreed with the way Dunyasha, that traitor, was ruling all those years ago. Well, she can impale herself on her spear, for all I care! I can't believe she'd side with him!" His voice quieted. "I can't believe she'd turn on us like that. What kind of person would turn on their friends like that?"

"Let's not talk about her right now, please," Aysel said. The hurt of betrayal was still fresh. "Let's figure out a way out of here, instead."

He sat down next to her. "I don't know that there is one. It took three of them to move that rock, and there's only one one me and one very injured you."

"But they'll come to take me, right?" she asked. "They'll try to make me breathe that poison. We might be able to escape... if they don't bring it with them," she said hopelessly. "Enrick, what if they bring the poison with them?"

"The poison. That... that's right." His voice was soft in the darkness. "Aysel, I have something for you."

"What?"

"I've been working on it ever since you found out about my broken promise," he said. There was a rustling sound as he dug around in his pack, which the guards had inexplicably let him keep. "I think I found a way to reverse the effects of my father's poison."

A pulse of energy shot through her body, making her forget the pain in her core and her head. "You mean... you mean you can save Elkin?"

"Yes, but first I'm more concerned about saving you," he said. "If you breathe in the antidote, maybe the poison won't work on you. They won't expect you to survive it. We can use that surprise to escape."

She could have wept with relief. "If we can make enough of this we can save everyone," she said. "Oh, Enrick, thank you."

"Thank you, Aysel."

Through her tears she smiled. "You can call me Ay, if you want."

She could hear the surprise in his voice. "Really?"

"Of course. We're friends." She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "Also, you're saving my life, so you can call me whatever you want."

He took her hand in the darkness. "Thank you, Aysel. You've been a good friend to me, even though I've not been the best one back." His voice was quiet, serious. "I've been a rude, selfish liar. I don't know how you forgave me."

"I forgave you because you're my friend," she said, squeezing his fingers gently. "Now come on. Give me that antidote."

"Okay. It's a powder, too, so I'm going to open the bag and let you breathe it in slowly. Tell me if you feel anything." There was the sound of a cloth packet being untied.

"What should I feel?" she asked.

"I don't know. It doesn't work on me. Maybe tingles?" he suggested.

She took a deep breath. "No tingles."

"Nothing? Maybe if I shake it a little to get the particles in the air..."

She inhaled again, and immediately recoiled. If she could see, the walls would have been spinning. "Oh. Dizzy."

"Okay, it takes that much to start to feel it..." he muttered. "How about now? Just breathe normally."

She took another breath, and streaks of colored light began to swim across her vision. "Enrick, I think... something's... wrong," she said. Her voice was slurred. Her knees gave out, and she sunk to the ground.

"No, it's all happening the way it's supposed to. Keep breathing, Ay. It looks like we need just a bit more for it to take full effect."

"Enrick...?"

He placed a soothing hand on her forehead, and moved the bag closer to her. "Just keep breathing, Aysel."

But Aysel shook her head and pulled away. Something was terribly wrong. Blue spots were blooming across her vision, and when she moved it felt as if she was trapped in syrup. "What's... happening?" she mumbled.

There was suddenly a loud crash from behind the stone, making Aysel's head swim. "Aysel, hold your breath!" a familiar voice said. Dunyasha. "I'm coming, just hold your breath!"

Aysel felt Enrick jump in surprise. He took a breath to calm himself. "Ignore her. She's a traitor, remember? A monster who betrayed her friends." His voice shook. His fingers on her forehead trembled. "Just breathe deep."

"Enrick..." Aysel slurred. Her voice was slow; her head blurry.

"I should have started with a higher dose," he muttered. "I'm sorry to draw it out so long."

"Enrick?"

"Come on, Aysel!" he burst out. "Surely you realize what's happening?"

And in her fuzzy, beaten head, the reality of the situation fell into place. No, she thought, too afraid to breathe.

"My father needed the powders, yes, but more than that he needed a live Letter to test the poison on, because you Letters, you stubborn Letters, kill yourselves as soon as there's no hope for escape. But if one trusted me..."

She reached for her blade, but he grabbed her hand

"She wouldn't, because I'd pretend to help her escape. And she'd breathe in the poison all on her own. The only Letter we could trust, because she trusted me." Arms wrapped around her, cradling her, and she was too weak to push them away. "I wasn't really delivering the powder, Aysel," he murmured. "I was delivering you."

No! She struggled to get away, but her limbs were heavy as the stone upon which Dunyasha was fruitlessly struggling.

"Aysel!" Dunyasha screamed, but her voice was muffled by the rock and the ringing in Aysel's ears.

"Sweet, innocent Aysel. Put the pieces together!" he laughed, but his voice was full of grief. "Why would I need you, a young Letter that would only slow me down? Not to protect me."

She shook her head again. No, no, no. Not Enrick. Not Enrick too.

"We were never meant to be friends. And I'm sorry for that, because if things were different, if there wasn't so much about this world that needs to be burned away, we might have been. I... I wish we could have been. But my father is right," he said, but his voice was unsure and full of sorrow.

Aysel jerked against his arms, but he held her tight. She pulled at his fingers with numbing hands. He only held her tighter. "Shh, Aysel. It's time to sleep. Are you getting sleepy? Just nod your head."

Instead, she bared her teeth. She realized she had lost feeling in her lips.

"Fiesty little Letter." He chuckled softly, sadly. "Oh, Aysel, I'll miss you. It was easier than I expected to be your friend, you know. Even when you were stupid, you were endearing in a way. I had to keep reminding myself that we weren't really... we couldn't ever really..." He sighed. "You understand that this has to be done, right?" His voice was pleading. "The People and Letters can't both exist; history has proven that. Doing this will save us all from centuries of war. If we don't do something, more good people like Ondrey will die. My father will die. Dunyasha will die. But I'm saving them. I'm saving all of us."

She shook her head, but he just gripped her tighter. "Just breathe, Aysel. Just give in."

Tears slipped from her eyes.

"If it makes you feel any better, you'll see your brother soon."

She wrenched her arm free and punched him.

It was weak and blindly thrown, and it barely glanced against the side of his head, but it was enough to throw him off balance and get him off of her. There was the sound of something small dropping to the floor, and Aysel felt the powder rising from the fallen bag on her skin. She stood to escape it, but she could feel it filling the air in the tiny cavern.

From the ground, Enrick laughed. "Going down fighting? I'm proud of you; you're braver than I ever was. But it's no use. Our poison works, and you can--"

She silenced him with a clumsy kick towards the source of his voice, but he kept laughing, in that half-mad way that sounded like sobs. The powder was in the air and her lungs were screaming. More spots grew in her eyes. She reached for her blade but instead felt the thick, woven wool of the stolen crimson cloak Dunyasha had given her.

Please, she prayed. She pulled the fabric up over her mouth. She took a breath.

Nothing happened. She took another breath, expecting death to take her, but instead of death she was met with a new wave of dizziness and the immense urge to shut her eyes. She blinked hard. The cloth worked, but not well enough.

Enrick sensed it too. "I'm sorry, Aysel," he said from the floor. His voice was thick; she must have kicked him in the nose. "I really am. I don't want to kill you. But we all make sacrifices."

She kicked out again, but the act unbalanced her, and she fell back into the wall. Her eyes fluttered shut, as if her body was finally giving up. There was a strange peace in letting go. She had tried her best, but now all she could do was sleep.

Sleep...

...

There was a crash that Aysel barely heard. There was the sound of shouting, flesh against flesh. She felt herself being lifted up, something being pressed tight against her face. She recognized the smell of a forest floor after rain.

Dunyasha whispered something to her, but it faded away by the time it had reached Aysel's brain. It was nothing but a hum.

And then there was nothing at all.