So she had decided to come in, after all.

Ulsper's mouth twitched upwards in an almost-smile as he leaned against the doorway to the kitchen.

"Who are you? What are you doing here? You'd better stay where you are, and if you think—"

"I invited her in, Cal," Ulsper interrupted, lowering his hood. "And stop pointing that wretched device at her—you're frightening her."

The woman's eyes widened when she saw his face.

"I know you," she said in Montese, pointing at Ulsper. "You—you're that rogue spy on all the wanted posters. You're Ulsper Speroware!"

"What is she saying?" Calatar nervously demanded, lowering his weapon. Then he furrowed his brows. "Wait—how did you get in? Did you come in through the kitchen again?"

Ulsper shrugged, unconcerned. "I might have."

"Leaky longboats, Ulsper! You know what happens if anyone sees you—"

"I needed her to see me," Ulsper defended, indicating the young woman standing in the doorway to the apartment. In Montese, he added, "Come in, please, Suthe. Don't mind Calatar, here—"

"I know you're talking about me," the redhead grumbled. "I heard my name."

"I'm just making introductions." Ulsper switched back to Montese. "We have a few things we need to discuss."

As if in a daze, Suthe took a few hesitant steps into the apartment. "How do you know my name?"

"I have my ways," Ulsper replied drily.

Suthe's mouth fell open. "You've been spying on me!"

The corner of Ulsper's mouth twitched again. "Well, I am a spy," he replied.

His comment seemed to remind Suthe of his dangerous reputation, and she suddenly took a step back.

"Why did you invite her here?" Calatar interrupted. "If she gives us away, I won't hesitate to stun her. She looks too nervous. What if our neighbors hear us?"

"Cal, would you mind going to work on your inventions for a bit?" Ulsper muttered. "I'll explain later."

Calatar sighed in frustration. "Fine, sure. I guess I could find something to do. Just don't get us arrested, or worse, okay?" He headed off down the hall, taking his stun ray with him.

Once he was gone, Ulsper turned his attention back to Suthe, who looked ready to bolt out the door at any moment.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Ulsper reassured her, careful to keep his voice steady. "I just want to talk."

"Why did you bring me here?" Suthe whispered. Her hands were shaking, and she pressed herself back against the faded wallpaper by the door.

"This information that I want to discuss with you is of the utmost importance. It needs to be kept secret from any listening ears."

Her hands were still shaking, but at least it didn't look like she would scream and alert the whole neighborhood anymore.

"Why do you want to tell me?" Suthe asked. "Why do you think I'll keep the information secret?"

Ulsper leaned in closer. "Because you're part of the secret."

Suthe's eyes widened in both confusion and alarm.

"What do you mean?" she asked, and Ulsper didn't miss the slight waver in her tone.

"Sit down, and I'll explain," Ulsper urged, closing the front door to the apartment and guiding the young woman to one of the chairs in the living room. She sat down without protest, apprehensively twisting her hands in her lap.

Ulsper kept his eyes on Suthe's hands as he lowered himself into the armchair across from her. She was used to wearing jewelry, he noted—her right thumb moved nervously against the base of her fourth finger, right where a ring should be, and every-so-often she would rub the back of her wrist, as if to touch a bracelet. So she wasn't a pauper, then. It was difficult to tell in those borrowed Sylterran clothes.

"You want to know why Montmyth is searching for druiths," Ulsper started.

Suthe's gaze shot up from her lap. "Why are they?" She immediately pressed her lips flat after the question, seemingly worried about appearing too eager.

Ulsper gave a humorless smile. "They want what every government wants. Power. Fame. Respect."

Suthe frowned. "But what do druiths have to do with any of that?"

Ulsper leaned forward. "Have you heard of the Twin Blades?"

"Yes! But I don't know anything about them." Her brown eyes lit up with excitement, and she shifted just slightly closer to him, eager to learn more.

Ulsper grew silent and studied the woman before him for a long moment. Suthe soon grew uncomfortable under his scrutiny, looking away and twisting the soles of her boots against the wooden floor.

"I want to make one thing very clear to you," Ulsper finally said.

Suthe pushed a dark lock behind her ear and glanced up at him. "What?" His colder tone, after the minute of stony silence, had caused her to shrink back again.

"I am not someone you want to disregard," he warned. "When I say that this information I'm about to tell you should be kept secret, I mean it. You are not to tell anyone."

Suthe gave a hesitant, wide-eyed nod. "I promise.  There's no one I could tell, anyway," she added.

She had a point.

"The Twin Blades were a pair of swords forged during the Kingdom of Pretia, over fourteen hundred years ago," Ulsper explained, lowering his voice.  "At that time, dragons were still being chased out of the region, and the magical talents of the druiths were in high demand for their ability to overcome the monsters. But the druith magic alone wasn't enough, so the Twin Blades were forged. According to legend, whoever wields both swords is guaranteed victory, and with them, Pretia was able to drive out the dragons terrorizing the region."

"Yes, I've heard the myth.  But if it's true, where are the swords now?" Suthe asked.

Ulsper shook his head. "No one knows for sure. After the Pretian Split, the swords were stolen from the old capital. Recently, however, a historian from Isendorn discovered documents suggesting that a Noth monk might have taken them here to Sylterra."

"And so now Montmyth wants the swords back," Suthe concluded.

"Technically, they belong to Andilir, since they were created in the mountain forges," Ulsper corrected her. "And now with the news about the Noth monk, Sylterra is claiming they have a right to the swords as well."

"But they were stolen from the old capital," Suthe argued. "Crestdune is in Montmyth! They should be returned to the city they came from!"

Ulsper narrowed his eyes, and Suthe grew silent. She did have a northern Crevvanese accent, after all...

"You're from Crestdune, aren't you?" he said. Was that where the majority of those with druith ancestry had ended up?

Suthe sucked in a breath and quickly looked away. "What do the swords have to do with druiths?" she asked.

Ulsper sighed, but let the question of her origin drop for the moment. She was fidgeting again, and he would have to gain her trust before she could tell him everything he wanted to know.

"They were made with druith magic. That's all I've found out so far," he said. "Perhaps a druith is needed to locate them."

Suthe drew back in her chair, and her expression grew apprehensive. "You said I was part of the secret..." Her fingers fiddled with the dark green fabric of her skirt. "Why did you bring me here?"

Ulsper kept his voice calm, careful how he chose his next words. "Because I know you're a druith."

Suthe jumped up in alarm. "How d-did you find out?" she stuttered, stumbling away from him. "Are you going to report me?"

Ulsper held up his hands. "Listen," he said. "It's not—"

"I don't know anything about you!" Suthe interrupted frantically. Ulsper frowned. This was not going as he had hoped. "You're a wanted criminal! Why should I believe anything that you say?"

"Suthe—"

"Stay away from me!"

"I'm not—"

"Hey, Ulsper!"

She vanished.

Ulsper stared at the spot where Suthe had been standing just moments earlier. He had heard about the druith traits, but had never seen them performed before. Had she meant to disappear like that? If she hadn't learned to control her magic yet, there was no telling where she had gone. He swore under his breath.

"Ulsper! Five tribes and their leaky longboats, Ulsper! I'm talking to you!"

He turned on his heel and glared at the man behind him. "What do you want, Calatar?" he growled. "I thought I had told you to stay out of our way. Now I've lost her."

"Um..." the inventor shrunk back at Ulsper's dangerous tone. "I'm sorry, but this is urgent. I saw some guards outside a few minutes ago, and now someone just triggered my alarm on the third floor. It might just be about my guild suspension, but—"

"I'll go to the roof," Ulsper muttered, heading into the kitchen. "Don't expect me to return before nightfall." Then he slipped out the window.    

~~

First of all, this chapter has major issues.  First, I wasn't happy with how Ulsper's character came across (still not).  Then I didn't like the dialogue (still don't).  Then Suthe seemed too passive (still does).  And THEN, just when I thought I couldn't have any more difficulties, I couldn't find the right picture to accompany the chapter (I gave up).  But, I guess that's why I started posting on Wattpad--so you amazing, wonderful readers who I don't deserve because of all my slacking keep encouraging me and pushing me to post the next chapter and just get on with it.  I need to just move on and edit later.

Which leads me to second of all: thank you everyone who voted and commented in the last chapter.  I may have been completely slow in my responses and left the story at a terrible cliffhanger, but I really appreciate your support.

18gooda--thank you for motivating me finally to somehow post this after all these months.  You are magical.  This chapter is for you, partly because of that, and also partly because of bearing with me bouncing ideas of Ulsper off you all those (yikes, was it years?) ago.  And here he finally is!