Ciaveth makes a polite expression that says, 'If one did, it would explain the skill,' but doesn't say that out loud, especially not with the witch who probably scribed them right there within earshot. Instead she goes with, "What's particularly interesting is that they were modified after they were scribed. From the inside."

"Hmm," says the man, raising his eyebrows in mock-surprise. "A curious mystery indeed. Who do you suspect of altering them? Not me, I hope. I have an alibi."

He stretches dramatically (and artfully) on his makeshift bed.

"I really couldn't say," she says, giving him a look that says she is not buying any of that, "but whoever they were, I would sure be delighted to meet them, because they seem brilliant at runes and wards, and clever and observant besides, to spot that opening in this, uh." She looks at the mess of runes. ".... this."

The man hums again, this time with smug self satisfaction. "Indeed, and a clever conversationalist besides, I imagine many must jealously vie for the company of one so brilliant."

Safiya raises one eyebrow. "Must they? We seem to have beaten the crowd to your door."

"This would not be the first time I have had to place myself behind bars to keep admirers at bay," he says, sagely. "If you're here for that, I'm afraid the line's outside, and you'll have to wait in it like all the rest."

"My heart. It breaks." Ciaveth clasps a hand to her chest. "I suppose we'll just have to take our offer of a chance of potential freedom and go, then..."

.... The man squints at the both of them, and sits up, slightly.

"Offer of freedom? None but the Wychlaran could offer such a thing. I do hope your offer comes with their blessing, else your stay here might be long indeed. In one of the empty cells."

"Oh, it does." She raises her voice, to reach the other prisoners in their nearby cells, "Any convict that comes with us to stand with us against the army of spirits led by Okku will be granted a full pardon, by the word of Sheva Whitefeather."

"Hah!" says one of the prisoners. "The witches can only kill me."

The other one says "I don't take deals that obviously loaded against me, sorry."

"It is strange indeed for the insular witches to offer such aid to a pair of foreigners, pretty though they both might be," he agrees, amused. "It implies quite the hopeless battle, that they should not worry about the escape of their convicts, after."

Ciaveth hisses a breath through her teeth, annoyed. Of course native Rashemi would balk at fighting spirits, they practically worship the things; earning a spirit's ire is often a fast route to death or worse. Or so they believe, anyway.

"It is not hopeless," she clarifies, annoyed. "And I do not intend to throw your lives away at an army of angry spirits, and will protect you with mine, first. I don't intend to make an enemy of the spirits, either, ideally I'd like to talk to Okku. ... Admittedly that will probably involve a lot of stabbing before he's willing to see my point of view, but."

"It would take quite a lot of either violence or diplomacy to quell the hornet's nest of beasts marching to our fair city. They're screaming for blood so loudly I can hear it in my dreams. What did you take from the bear king's den, brave or foolish one, for them to hunt you so?"

"Nothing but my life after waking up in there, but apparently that's enough for that damn rainbow bear."

Safiya looks troubled. "Well... we didn't take anything, but I did break his rather nice rune circle... and there was that, ah, spirit. That you-"

"Okay, legitimate grievances with me he has, but he was after my blood from the start. His exact words were 'I'll not sleep while you yet live,' recall. Maybe he'll show up with a list of legitimate grievances, in which case I will peacefully answer for them, but as far as I can tell, his issue seemed to be what I am and where I woke up, instead of who I am or what I've done."

"And just what are you?"

"A very annoyed victim of kidnapping, assault, theft, and probably some other things besides when I was unconscious! Anything besides that I haven't had time to figure out because there is a bear god out to kill me."

"Few would expect reason from the capricious and vindictive spirits of the Rashemi wilds," points out the man in the mess of runes. "And what will you do if there is no reason to be found, hm? If all you lead anyone to is a hopeless battle against an ancient bear god and his garishly-colored furry rage? Why would one such as I follow you to such folly?"

"In order, stab him until he sees reason, let him have me before his unjustified rage is turned against anyone else, and." she pauses, and looks at him. She reviews the contents of her conversation with this person. He hasn't actually said no, has he, or even implied that he's not interested. He's mostly just prodded her to watch her react, which implies...

"... Aren't you bored?"

"Do I seem like I dislike my surroundings? I assure you, I am quite comfortable here."

"That wasn't what I asked. I asked if you were bored."

"If I were, what do you care? Do you have plans to keep me entertained?"

Safiya counts on her fingers. "We've fought a bear god in his own den, battled necromancers, and we're headed for the Death God's Vault to rescue a half-celestial former Doomguide if we've got time before the bear god comes back... is any of that entertaining?"

"Travelling the land with two lovely and talented young women, battling bear gods and necromancers and raiding the vaults of gods?" His mouth twitches. "Very well, you have a willing soldier at your side. Shall we be off?"