[i]A rustle of noise amidst the darkness. But is it from the right or the left? High or low? Kalaya swings, but the sharp sting in her side shows that her guess was wrong.

She peaks out from the blindfold, up into the unimpressed visage of her father's master-at-arms. Across from her, Ven is grinning apologetically, holding a practice sword.

"Again!"[/i]

Kalaya regulates her breathing, remembering the lessons of the past. Pay attention to the sounds, but also the feelings. It's one thing to hear someones footsteps, but can you feel the air move as they do? Can you smell them? (Nope, [i]thankyou [/i]dead flower smell). After all, fighting blind is more than just straining your ears.

[i]The first time she blocks the blade, she can't help but peek out from under the blindfold to share a grin with her friend. This turns out to be a mistake as she's still fiddling with it when Ven's boot kicks her feet out from under her.

"A start. But you must always watch for the follow through!" snaps the master.[/i]

She can feel the horse-thing as it steps along. She can sense the presence of the scribe. But is Ven down here? Kalaya strains her senses.

She's in the castle. Of that, Kalaya is sure. But her guess would be that they've stolen a march on the princess. Ven would have been in her chambers before the screaming started. Or maybe the ramparts. She was never the kind of person who would linger in the dungeon if she could help it. Up high and open to the air were her normal habitats.

However, once word reached her, she would quickly make her way down - she'd know where they were headed. There were only two things worth invading the castle for after all.

Kalaya breathes out softly. 

No, if they had to deal with Ven, it would be only after they'd reached the priestess. 

As to whether Kalaya could protect them all? Well ... yes - probably? Maybe? In truth - she still has no idea what's going to happen if she actually sees Ven. In part, this trek down to the dungeons is serving as a great way to put off thinking about that for a little bit longer.

"We'll need to find a different way out" she whispers, as she follows Fengye deeper into the castle.