Shadow watched Valyn closely, reading him easily even without being able to magically feel his emotions or hear his thoughts. He dropped his optomistic manner, a mask he'd been clinging to since he arrived, and reached down to take Valyn's hand.

"I can figure this out," he said softly. "I know the situation seems bleak. Everyone I've spoken to repeats the same thing to me. We have no control and we're being used but for what, no one can say. But I know there's an answer here, there has to be, and I can find it. I don't know exactly how I will go about this but I can figure out the puzzle. It's all a game, not so much different then the games Triana played with us. It took me a bit to wake up from her manipulation but I did and if I could beat that bitch at her own game then I can at least hold my own with whoever is holding us here."

Shadow squeezed Valyn's hand, wishing he could leap over the table that divided them and kiss the sour expression off of his face. "Trust me. I don't care how long it takes but I will find us a way home."