"You ought to be a little more careful with that steel, Brother, unless you'd rather not have your favourite sister anymore," a light, teasing voice came from beneath the dark hood.
Gillian's breath caught in his throat. His entire body froze, his blade stopping a fraction of an inch from the intruder's pale neck.
"Iryna?!" Gillian rasped, his voice cracking slightly under the sudden shock.
The figure reached up with gloved fingers, casually tugging down the dark hood to reveal a wide, mischievous grin that completely shattered the grim, dangerous atmosphere of the damp tunnel. Her hair was loosely pinned back, a few stray locks framing her face, and her dark eyes glinted with quiet amusement.
"What in the high heavens are you doing here?" Gillian snapped, his jaw setting in utter disbelief as he let out a harsh, irritated breath.
