The private houses in the mine's upper levels were a far cry from the crude buildings below. Byung had claimed a new quarters he had built from scratch to accommodate Maui's size—a small cave expanded with rough stone walls, a sturdy wooden door for privacy, and a low bed piled wit leaves. Wooden torches hung from chains, casting a warm, golden glow that softened the shadows but couldn't hide the cracks in the rock or the faint smell of damp earth. Maui had been given the night off; Byung had insisted, seeing how Naz's childbirth had left her drained.
"Go be with your friends," he had said, his voice steady but distant.
"Naz needs you more than I do tonight," Byung said and Maui initially hesitated, her eyes searching his face for something unspoken, but she had nodded and left, the door clicking shut behind her.
