Well, it was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.

At least, as far as meeting drow went. He could have been placed beside a halfling lech or a dwarf pirate, or even a githyanki zealot. A drow that simply did not seem to understand the laws of the surface was not an awful person to meet, necessarily. His scholarly side took hold, and he began to realize how much he might learn from her. His incarceration might not be an entire waste, just a majority of one. Well, he'd take what he could get, he supposed. Her logic was somewhat telling of how she thought of humans, in a way. Not entirely as cattle, which was good, but she was also very quick to rid a noblemen's son of his hand. Malcador wondered if the boy was trying to touch her, or if there was a cultural difference she did not see and he wished to shake her hand? He couldn't be sure. 

"I believe you'll find no shortage of violence in human lands," he corrected her, albeit gingerly. "However, you're right. Human nobles tend to rule, and they're picky on who they allow to cut the hands off of their heirs. Usually it's nobody." He smiled to himself at the blunt statement. "I'm certain there are nobility and commoners where you're from? Aristocracy never likes being treated like everyone else." 

At her question on whether he was human, he replied. "Mostly, yes." 

He did not have time to elaborate, the replacement nightwatch taking a leisurely stroll through the catacombs they were sequestered in. Malcador made certain to look suitably destitute and depressed as the lamp light passed him and the guard gave a scrutinizing look. Being downtrodden was not too far from the truth, regardless, so he needn't act too hard. However, once the light was around the corner, Malcador stretched languidly to prepare himself. He might as well try and escape, he had little to lose at this point. 

The wizard closed his eyes and summoned his mage hand. He had prepped the spell before being confined, and for a brief moment he thought it might not work. However, he felt a satisfied elation when the weave of magic began to coalesce around him, and the invisible appendage formed to begin performing his bidding. Out of his sock floated a small, thin implement that wafted into his left hand. Once his fingers enclosed around the lockpick, he nearly dropped it at the shrill whistle that broke the silence. What in the hells was she doing? He would ask later. Gathering his nerve, he began to pick the lock of his opposite hand, finagling the small pick in his practiced manner before he heard the telltale 'click' and the release of the manacle. Malcador took a deep breath, and began to work on the next one. 

"If you promise to do no violence to me, and help me get out of here, I promise to do the same for you." The young wizard remarked, albeit quietly. If she really was a drow, and he did not doubt it at this point, her keen ears would hear him. Dark elves were not known to be particularly trusting, but then again not many humans were either. Hopefully she saw the wisdom in forming a temporary alliance so as to escape. A few moments later, and Malcador was out of his shackles and working on the door. It was a more difficult, more robust lock, but eventually he undid it as well. Glad his childhood shenanigans had not been a complete waste of time, he briefly mused on simply leaving the drow and escaping, but without his magic he was not a capable fighter, and he had given his word... 

He began to unlock her cell.