“I love you, too.” She realized, with wonder, her words were true. More than a fleeting teenage crush, she loved this boy who’d sworn to lay down his life for her.
“Marry me?” A wry grin contrasted with the teardrops flowing from his eyes.
“Yes.”
A chuckle burst from her surprised mouth. And another. Soon she was laughing with abandon, as Kaevin joined in her mirth.
“Silence!” Vindrake pivoted, with fists clenched at his side, and Alora rolled her lips in, trying to squelch her laughter. Then another bout of nausea seized her as Empusa returned.
“Now, Sire?” Empusa presented the demon rod to him with a slight inclination of her head.
Vindrake snatched the rod, extending it straight above his head. “Yes! Do it now!”
Closing her eyes, Empusa moved her lips in silent mutterings. At the end of the rod, smoke rose from the disc and it glowed red.
Vindrake regarded Kaevin with renewed arrogance. “Kaevin, the choice is yours. If you’ll simply take the oath of fealty, you can save both of you a great deal of pain.”
“I won’t do it. Never. You may as well kill us now.”
For the first time, Alora sensed genuine terror from Kaevin, despite the bravado in his words. It only served to increase the pounding of her heart.
He nodded at Empusa. “Remove her shirt, please.”
Empusa pulled a sparkling blade from her cloak, slipping it under the fabric of Alora’s thick sweater and slicing it away as easily as tissue paper.
“Leave her alone!” The anguished words tore from Kaevin’s lips,
“But I cannot leave her alone. You’ve made your choice, Kaevin, and now Alora must suffer for it. And you as well, I suppose.” Vindrake’s eyes blazed with a merciless gleam. “Now Alora, where shall I make my first mark? I’d hate to mar your face. Perhaps the tender flesh on the underside of your arm…”
He brought the fiery-red glowing iron down and waved it before her eyes. She closed them tight before he pressed it to her skin.
~ 16 ~
“I’ve received Darielle’s impression. None of the three transported to Laegenshire. They must be in Vindrake’s hands.” Graely barely managed to hold his voice steady.
“I’m sorry, Graely.” Morvaen stopped his pacing to park his ungainly body on the log beside Graely. “You’re certain? Perhaps they’re making their way outside the wards of the cavern to transport.”
“No. The instructions were clear. Alora was to attempt a transport before the three departed the portal to seal the entrance. If the caverns were warded, the task was abandoned.” Graely slid the lanyard back around his neck with shaking hands, tucking the sightstone inside his shirt. “They must be in irons. There can be no other explanation.”
“Then we’ll go forward as planned. We’ll save them, Graely. We’ll arrive in Portshire in two hands.”
“Even that may be too late. I wish now we’d told them we’d be waiting close by. At least it would’ve given them hope. They still believe we’re three days of travel away.” Graely dropped his head into his hands.
“But you know why we didn’t tell them our plan. You agreed. Our chance of success is much greater with surprise on our side. Vindrake has ways of getting information. If they’d known the truth—”
“Don’t speak it. I can’t bear the image of Vindrake using his cruel methods on the children.” Pushing his fears aside, Graely rose to his feet. “I still sense Kaevin’s life force, so Vindrake hasn’t killed them yet. For now, I’ll cling to that knowledge.”
“I believe Vindrake will keep them alive, if only to bait you into attack. In the meantime, our small force can slip into the city, unseen. Ochraen will start a fire to distract the guards, and we’ll follow the path laid out on Daegreth’s map.”
Morvaen stood, drawing his sword to trace an intricate pattern in the air. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity of fighting Vindrake. That coward always sends his warriors to battle while he remains a safe distance behind. This time, he won’t be able to hide.”
“Our aim is to rescue the children, not to kill Vindrake.”
“Yes, but should the opportunity present itself, my sword will find a home in his heart… if he has one.”
*****
The clunk of heavy footsteps and a flickering light announced the forthcoming arrival of the guards. Markaeus turned to Strongman, who stood grasping the gate with white-knuckled fingers. “I hope you prove more trustworthy than your brother.” The iron gate swung open at Markaeus’ touch, creaking on its hinges.