“What is your purpose?”
“To kill my brother. And what is yours?”
“To save two lives. And saving two exceeds the taking of one.”
“Not when the one is Drakeon—better known as Vindrake.”
“You’re Vindrake’s brother?” Arista jerked her weight against his grip, but he wrenched her arms higher behind her back, forcing her to bend over.
“He’s my brother by birth, but I’d never claim him by allegiance. I bear no bondmark.”
“If you aren’t my enemy, let me go.”
“Very well.”
His grip released even as she tugged against him, the impetus sending her tumbling forward to the floor, barely twisting to let her shoulder take the blow. She scrambled to her feet, scampering toward the slit of light marking the bottom of the door. Tugging on the handle, she found it wouldn’t budge, and wondered that her gift of gresses had somehow failed her.
“Your efforts are futile.”
Arista jumped at his voice, bumping into him as he stood holding the door closed in the upper corner. “I’ve no intention of allowing you outside. You’ll be caught and draw the attention of the guards to the interior of the caverns.”
“Then you’ll be stuck in this chamber all night guarding me, for I’ve no intention of abandoning my friends. You’ll have to murder your brother another day.”
A blood-curdling scream reverberated through the cavern corridor, raising goose bumps on Arista’s arms.
“Glare it! That’s Alora! Vindrake’s torturing her!” Arista renewed her efforts, tugging on the door with all her might. “Please, let me go. I’ve got to save them!”
“Wait, child. Who are these friends of yours, and what grudge does my brother bear against them?”
“Kaevin BarGraely and Alora, Stone Clan’s bearer. She also happens to be Vindrake’s daughter.”
“What? My brother has a child?” His voice constricted. “I have a niece?”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true. Now will you let me go?”
Another scream cut through the darkness, progressing to an eerie wail, seeming to stretch on without end. When the ghostly sound faded away, Arista realized she’d been holding her breath.
“I thought I’d seen the depths of my brother’s evil, but to torture a child… Surely even the fires of hell would be an insufficient retribution.”
Arista blinked at tears, her composure teetering on the edge of collapse. “Please… don’t you see? The fault is mine. I have to save them or their deaths will be on my head. Please, let me go.”
“I’ll go with you. I’ll save them from Drakeon’s hand or die in the attempt.”
*****
“Alora!”
Kaevin’s voice broke into her oblivion, bringing her back to consciousness. Consciousness and pain. Alora willed herself into blackness again. Anything to escape the agony. The skin on her arms burned and throbbed, from her wrists to her armpits. Searing. Blistering. Raw.
“Alora! Wake up, Alora!”
“No. No, just let me die. It hurts. It hurts so bad.” She croaked out the words, her voice hoarse from screaming. Her tears flowed again. How do I have any left to cry?
“I know. I know it hurts. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have saved you. We shouldn’t be here.”
“I just want to die. I tried to be brave, but it hurts too much.” She blinked her eyes open, seeing nothing in the darkness, black as pitch.
“Can you bear it a little longer? I know Father will come for us.”