“I was wondering, Auri. Would you mind showing me the Underthing?"

Auri looked away, suddenly shy. "Kvothe, I thought you were a gentleman," she said, tugging self-consciously at her ragged shirt. "Imagine, asking to see a girl's underthing." She looked down, her hair hiding her face.

I held my breath for a moment, choosing my next words carefully lest I startle her back underground. While I was thinking, Auri peeked at me through the curtain of her hair.

"Auri," I asked slowly, "are you joking with me?"

She looked up and grinned. "Yes I am," she said proudly. "Isn't it wonderful?”