The twilight hours had always been the time of day when Ellie did her best work. Whether it was executing a stealth attack or prowling to gather information, she was always more awake and alert. Ideas came more easily to mind, as well, which was why she was bent over her desk studiously sketching out the layout of the cave as best as she could recall.
Maybe it was because it was quiet, and easier to concentrate. Maybe it was because most people chose to be asleep, instead of bothering her with trivial complaints.
Needless to say, only one other person had the key to her personal chambers, and that was more of a precaution than anything. She preferred to be left alone when she was working, not only because it helped her concentrate, but because she didn't have to fret about someone sneaking past the guards to slip inside and assassinate her. She'd placed her room in the middle of the brigand's fortress for a reason: no windows, no entry, save for the locked door and a few magical traps and enchantments set up by Ales and Anise.
Zelos had the passwords necessary to bypass these traps, and the key to get inside should he ever have the need.
Or if he was just bored. She'd never outright said he could visit whenever he wished, but surely he knew by now that she didn't object to his company. After all they'd been through, he'd managed to earn her trust both on and off the battlefield.
She sat on the edge of her chair, absently rubbing her fingers over her forehead as she leaned over her crude map. There had been signs of a goblin warren to the right, and a fairly big one at that, so she marked it in kind. It hadn't seemed worth exploring at the time, since their quarry would be up to his neck in trouble if the goblins knew he'd invaded their territory.
The lantern was starting to sputter. Ellie realized her eyes were starting to strain in the slowly dimming darkness, so she got up to add more oil to the lantern. A warm glow spilled across the finely woven carpets laid out on the wooden floor, as well as the pile of furs she used for her bed. Trophies of the monsters she'd slain were hung on the walls, a proud reminder of the creatures she'd managed to fell. The fireplace had been allowed to die, holding nothing more than a few glowing embers now. She would sleep soon, once she'd finished a couple more pages.
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Maybe it was because it was quiet, and easier to concentrate. Maybe it was because most people chose to be asleep, instead of bothering her with trivial complaints.
Needless to say, only one other person had the key to her personal chambers, and that was more of a precaution than anything. She preferred to be left alone when she was working, not only because it helped her concentrate, but because she didn't have to fret about someone sneaking past the guards to slip inside and assassinate her. She'd placed her room in the middle of the brigand's fortress for a reason: no windows, no entry, save for the locked door and a few magical traps and enchantments set up by Ales and Anise.
Zelos had the passwords necessary to bypass these traps, and the key to get inside should he ever have the need.
Or if he was just bored. She'd never outright said he could visit whenever he wished, but surely he knew by now that she didn't object to his company. After all they'd been through, he'd managed to earn her trust both on and off the battlefield.
She sat on the edge of her chair, absently rubbing her fingers over her forehead as she leaned over her crude map. There had been signs of a goblin warren to the right, and a fairly big one at that, so she marked it in kind. It hadn't seemed worth exploring at the time, since their quarry would be up to his neck in trouble if the goblins knew he'd invaded their territory.
The lantern was starting to sputter. Ellie realized her eyes were starting to strain in the slowly dimming darkness, so she got up to add more oil to the lantern. A warm glow spilled across the finely woven carpets laid out on the wooden floor, as well as the pile of furs she used for her bed. Trophies of the monsters she'd slain were hung on the walls, a proud reminder of the creatures she'd managed to fell. The fireplace had been allowed to die, holding nothing more than a few glowing embers now. She would sleep soon, once she'd finished a couple more pages.