Rayne lay flat on his back on the narrow bed inside his cell, fingers laced behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling as if it held answers to the silent storm inside him. Miles stood just outside the barred door, rambling on as usual, stories, complaints, questions Rayne never answered. The noise drifted around Rayne, unnoticed, like wind past stone. His mind was elsewhere, calculating his next move, the next step to find the Crimson Flower, to complete his mission.
Then he heard them. Footsteps. Hurried. Familiar. Purposeful. A slow, knowing smile formed on his lips before he even saw her. From the corridor, Anya's voice echoed sharply "Emeney, slow down!"
Rayne sat up just as the princess appeared, a fierce determination in her eyes that made Miles instinctively step away from the bars, startled.
"Open it" She ordered, her tone allowing no room for argument.
Miles blinked. "Y-Yes, Your Highness" He stammered, fumbling with the key.
