A Matter of Trust

We’re all panting on the floor, laughing hysterically.

“What’s one more death scare?” Rach says, her toothy grin as reassuring as a mind-drunk werecat.

I chuckle, wiping sweat from my eyes. “Traps are common as coin down here. Vera? Still have the gem?”

“Oh, she has it.” Rach sits, pulling chips of stone from her unraveling braids. “She’s our little magpie, remember?”

“Odin’s Toes, Rach! I’m not going to steal it from you.” Vera stands, snapping with fury. “You’re such a cynic. I lost the map; I didn’t hide it, didn’t sell it. Can we just get out of here?”