hiraeth

thirty-four

xxxiv. Nia

when they arrive on the platform, he drops her hand and mutters an apology.

"It's fine," she says. "I mean, you're here now. Not like I can send you back."

"No, I got carried away." Peter sighs and unsheathes Rhindon, giving Nia her space. "And I'm being an ass. Let's just find the magic object" a moment of silence, then: "I won't get in your way after we're done here."

Startled, she follows him towards the grand set of stairs leading to the higher ground, pushing aside the discomfort.

They find themselves at the entryway of a dungeon - a massive gate settled into a rock wall two stories high. flames lick the walls from two torches on either side.

"How are we going to get in?" Nia wraps her hands around the metal bars and tugs. She can't see what's inside. "There aren't any footholds to climb."

"What's the password?"

Nia stills. "Who's there?'

The raspy voice repeats itself. "What's the password?"

Peter steps closer, looking ticked off. "Tell us or I'll--"

"What's the password?"

"Egg," says Nia, knowing Enne would appreciate it.

"Nope!"

"Gate," Peter deadpans.

"Open sesame"

"Dungeon"

"Wrong and wrong," the voice replies. "You two are awful at this."

"Who made you in charge?" Peter snaps, rattling the bars. "Let us in."

"If you can answer this riddle, I shall let you pass. How many letters are in the alphab-"

"Eleven," Nia says immediately.

Peter scoffs at her. "It can't be-"

"The word alphabet has eleven letters in it, duh."

"Darn," says the voice Peter physically counts with his fingers. "Okay, okay, how about this one? Two people were playing chess. They both won. How is this possible?"

"Stalemate?" Peter guesses.

"They were playing two different games," Nia yawns.

"Correct...again."

Peter gapes at her. "Hold up. How do you know all the answers?"

she smirks. "I'm built different." What she doesn't tell him is that her and enne practiced riddles at the café when they were bored.

"Oh yeah? Give us another riddle," he demands. "A really difficult one!"

Nia bites back a smile. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead."

"What breaks and never falls, and what falls and never breaks?"

"Don't answer!" Peter yelps at her as soon as she opens her mouth. "Let me think...let me think..."