“There’s too much light.”

This seemed to be the least of the problems. The first of which was that the two of them were now hanging upside down from the battlements of the castle. Their feet were tied to the crenellations by ropes that Brandon had brought with him, and they were dangling in front of one of the tower’s windows.

“There’s not too much light, you just don’t know what you’re doing.” Brandon chided. “Give me the damn pick before the sun comes up.”

“Fuck you. This is my job. You stick to poking people with swords. I’ll stick to picking locks.”

“I’m about to poke you with the damn sword.”

“Shut up, I’ve almost got it.”

“Remy, you’ve always almost got it. The blood’s rushing to my head. If I stab you maybe I’ll feel better.”

Remy laughed. “Bitch. It’s done.” The window swung open and Remy swung himself inside. Brandon followed suit, and cut the ropes off their feet with his sword. Remy came down quietly, rolling head over heels and coming to rest in a wary position, his dagger in one hand. Brandon, being only three and a half feet tall, managed to twist his body as he cut the rope and flip to land feet first as he fell. He did so, Remy noted, without making any noise.

“Is this it?” Remy asked.

“Is this what?” Brandon said, closing the window.

“The room. Is this the room?”

“It’s a room.” Brandon said, emphasizing the A.

They poked around the room looking for anything valuable. Remy looked behind paintings. Brandon looked under all the furniture. Finally they turned to one another and shrugged. Then both of them headed for the door.

“Now what?” Remy asked.

“You know.” Brandon said. Remy rolled his eyes and put his ear to the door. Brandon waited patiently for as long as he could.

“Anything?”

“No. I think it’s safe. But maybe not.”

“What do you mean maybe not. It either is or it isn’t. There’s either someone on the other side of the door or there isn’t. This isn’t complicated.” Brandon scrunched his eyes in thought. “How long have you been a thief again?”

“Shut up. There’s someone walking by.”

Brandon didn’t believe this for a second, he thought Remy was just trying to keep from answering the question, or hide his fear, but Brandon sat silent anyway.

“Now.” Remy said and opened the door before Brandon could speak. He ducked out into the hallway, which was too well lit for Brandon’s taste. He followed suit though and glanced down both directions that the hallway traveled. To the right there was a dead end, with another window leading to the outside of the tower. To the left a set of stairs led both up and down into darkness. A torch glared light and smoked up the hallway just across from them. To the left of the torch, towards the stairs, was another door.

“That must be it.” Remy said, pointing to the door and starting to walk in that direction.

“We could be on the wrong floor.” Brandon suggested.

Remy hesitated for just a second. “No. This is it. I’m sure of it.”

He walked across the hall and put his hand softly on the door handle. He turned slowly. It wasn’t locked. He smiled at Brandon and turned the handle. The door swung inwards just far enough for Remy to poke his head in. That only lasted a second before he slammed it shut with a loud bang and looked at Brandon with fear in his eyes.

“What?” Brandon asked, and then a loud bang thumped the door and made Remy shake.

“That’s not it.” Remy said, and looked desperately around for an escape. Brandon moved quickly, jumping up and grabbing the torch from the sconce.

“Open it.” He said, indicating the door.

Remy pushed the door open and Brandon threw the torch. It hit the man standing in the doorway, a pained look of anger on his face, and he fell back. The hallway plunged into darkness and Brandon and Remy both lit out for the room across the hall. Once inside Remy slammed the door shut and started piling furniture in front of it.

“C’mon!” Brandon shouted, opening the window and grabbing one of the ropes that still dangled there.

Remy placed a couple of extra chairs in the way and turned toward the window. They heard a loud popping noise, like wood in a fire, and splinters floated past Remy’s head. He stopped and turned in time to see the man’s hand poking through a hole in the door, probably made by the man’s foot. He was pushing the furniture. Remy ran and leaped out the window, grabbing the rope as he went by and swinging out and back towards the wall. He would have broken his nose smashing into the stone tower, but his feet slid under him at the last second and he started climbing. Brandon was already pulling himself over the crenellation.

When they reached the top of the tower Brandon glared at Remy for just a second before muttering, “Moron.”