Curiosity

But the only thing that happened after that was another week of waiting. No one else came to prod at her, none of the guards would speak to her, and there was nothing to do but wait and hope. More than likely Simon was going through a hell of a time right now, and she could only hope that his nerves wouldn't be seen as even more suspicious.

Finally one day, something was different. But it wasn't a good kind of different. A new guard came to relieve the one on duty, and though their face was familiar, their mannerisms were not. Curious, she turned her head to the side and squinted. From the corner of her eye, their appearance wavered and glowed ever-so-slightly: an illusion. She considered them for a moment before speaking up. "I don't know who you are, but if you're planning some kind of plot, I want absolutely no part in it."

He turned around for a moment with a look of confusion, but seeing her stolid expression, he petulantly shrugged off the disguise to reveal the prince from the trial.

"Ah! It's you," she said.

He ignored her, annoyed. "My illusions are impossible to see through, even for very powerful magic users."

She shrugged. "I didn't see through it, it just looked off from the corner of my eye, and I don't want anything pinned on me if something happens, so-"

"You're ignoring the question."

"You never asked one," she shot back playfully. "But to answer, it's a lingering side effect of a spell used on me once. Is that enough, your Highness?"

"So you do remember," he said with a half-grin. "Although I suppose I haven't formerly introduced myself yet. I am Prince Loki of Asgard." He bowed with an exaggerated flourish, but lifted his head in pride.

"Well, you already know who I am…"

"Ohh, I doubt that," he replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I can't do anything to convince you unless you're willing to stay and talk," she said. "Won't you? I'm horrifically bored, and I imagine you must be, too, to show up here."

"Only if you entertain me," he said, leaning in with a smirk.

"I can do that if you bring me a lute," she said, hopefully.

"I'm not that stupid,"

"It was worth a try," she said. "But why don't you just go ahead and ask me what you wanted to know? You came here for a reason, didn't you?" she asked.

"Of course, which you already guessed. I was bored."

"Alright, if you insist. But that's not going to help me," she said, sighing.

"If you want so badly to convince me, why don't you start by telling me about yourself?" he asked, conjuring up a chair and draping lazily across it.

"Hmmm, well, what do you want to know?" she asked, taking her seat.

"Everything."