Excerpt from an AU I'll never write: Avallac’h carried the tray carefully down the narrow corridor, the ship’s lanterns swaying with the tide. He heard the noise before he reached the door. He paused. Another sound followed and he feared that someone inside may be in trouble.
“Miss?” he called softly, shifting the tray to one hand.
No answer. He set the tray down and reached for the latch. It wasn’t locked.
Avallac’h pushed the door open.
Steel kissed his throat.
“Don’t move.” Ciri stood between him and the room, eyes hard, breath controlled, knife angled for the kill. “You’re not a deckhand.”
Avallac’h swallowed, feeling the blade scrape his adam's apple just so. “You’re not a girl on a casual voyage.”











