She folds her heavy arms over her chest and frowns skeptically. "So you're saying you're as untrustworthy as that? Do you always run around at night taking things because they're there and you can use them?"

Vena makes another little noise, wringing her hands together and clearly torn between trying to melt into the wall and bursting in protest.

Sooner than she'd wanted to, Lashan takes pity on her. "Vena, I'm not going to beat you with the flat of the blade or send you into exile or whatever that twerp said I'd do. Temper up your spine and spit it out."

"Promise?" Vena says faintly, swallowing hard.