Ordinarily, she would think he was only humoring her. A commander had little or no reason to visit a prisoner, and there was really no reason he should be any different. But somehow when he said he would try, she believed him.

These strange thoughts and feelings were getting irritating. Like an itch that she couldn't find to scratch.

In any case, Ivy settles in to being imprisoned. Up here, she can only barely feel the connection with her sword, which is a relief just in that she knows it's lying still and silent waiting for her hand to touch it again. It'll stay on its best behavior and keep them both out of trouble.

She lies down to sleep, hoping to ease away some of the aches from dozing on the cot down in the cell. When she awakens early in the morning, just before dawn, she washes her face in the basin and grabs one of the books she was anticipating. The first seems to be some kind of historical epic, whether real or fictional she isn't sure. Thankfully, she can understand the language, even if some of the discussed topics and concepts are fascinatingly bizarre.

What are the odds they'll trade her for more books later if she reads them all? She really ought to make this small shelf's worth last for two weeks, but with nothing else to occupy her time, it's a concern worth noting.