Shady

"Oh... who was the prisoner?"

"Lots of things... whatever people needed, really. Mostly baskets and bins and hot pads and such. But he sometimes thatched chairs for people. I think he thatched the sides of ...

"... any chance he's the dead body?"

"Yes ma'am," Ky agreed with a smile, nodding once. "He was good at everything."

"... did he?"

"He was a farm-- well, it's complicated," she backtracked. "He was a merchant in the Port, but then he settled down in my township and became a farmer like Mama. ...

"Seems like not a smart one, though, if he tunneled into the Keep rather than away. What good would that do him?"

Ky nodded. "He said that as well. That I reminded him of Ma-my mother, too... I never met her. But. He always said I was like her."

Ky nodded in agreement. "Wouldn't be secret tunnels if everyone knew about them... besides, Emery said there's one that leads to the dungeons... which seems like a bad idea."

"Yes ma'am," Ky agreed with a nod. "My father never actually said so, but I think he wanted more kids. He always said it's easiest to see the best parts ...

"I have it on good authority that this is an impenetrable fortress," she agreed. Unlike home, according to Kazhra. She was surprised to realize that she was still a little ...

"It feels like another dimension," she agreed quietly, voice reverent.

"Aw! How exciting for them!"

"... are they at Caracal Keep now?"

Ky followed close behind. She knew fully well there was nowhere else to go -- no getting lost in a literal tunnel, and one this narrow no less. But she ...