*Elbow gorged himself on the food and conversation with Lemac. As she said, the meal was not as lavish as the feasts at the House of Samporna, but it was still far superior to his usual fare.*

*Having eaten and drunk his fill and told more than his share of stories about adventures he'd had as a boy in the mountains and later in the service of the Queen's guard, he settled back into his chair, a half full goblet of wine perched on his stomach and balanced with one hand. His head felt as if it were radiating a warm glow and he found himself enjoying the thought that nothing could spoil his mood tonight. As Lemac shut the door, his attention returned to her, and he inhaled sharply. Now in her eyes was a look he had not seen before, and at first he felt a tinge of anxiety. But as she came closer the warm glow returned and he smiled up at her.*

Lemac, you are kind.

****************

That following morning, Elbow is in his bunk, arms crossed behind his head, his face smooth with contentment. None of the others had noticed his entrance during their slumber. He had come in quietly in the middle of the night, slipped beneath the covers, and lain there, unaware of the gruesome events taking place overhead, his own mind swimming in pleasant half-dreams.
_