Privacy. EMELAN.
For circle_fic's Locked Room Challenge. Characters: Rosethorn and Anyussa.
PG
“Don’t you live here?” said Rosethorn, “I mean, don’t you know all the doors that stick and where the keys are?”
“I’m the cook, not the housekeeper, Dedicate,” said Anyussa. “It’s your turn to bang on the ceiling.” She leaned against the wall and eyed Rosethorn’s animated attacks on the room’s ceiling.
“What I mean, is,” said Rosethorn between thumps, “well, why haven’t they missed you yet?”
“Why haven’t they missed you yet?” asked Anyussa pointedly. “You’re the visitor.”
“And entitled to my privacy,” Rosethorn told her. “You, on the other hand, are Matazi Bancanor’s head cook and have gone missing a few hours before a rather large party she is throwing. They should miss you about twenty minutes after you’re gone.”
“Viyemese,” Anyussa said sweetly, “you make such good points.”
Rosethorn didn’t say anything, just hit the ceiling angrily for a few minutes. “I do make good points,” said Rosethorn eventually. “I make excellent points.” She turned to look at Anyussa. “Maybe we can give the thumping a rest for a few minutes.”
“Mmm,” agreed Anyussa, and kissed her.
“How long do we have?”
“About half an hour,” said Anyussa. “And then I’m sure we’ll have found the key.”