by Jo Spurrier
The tone of his voice made Delphine shiver. She’d never been particularly disposed to do as she was told, but there was something of the rattle of chains in his voice. He was a man that few dared disobey.
She took Ilya to the bedchamber, where the baby’s basket still lay beside her bed. Delphine set the girl down, and went back for Eshta. Mira was standing now, her chin lifted defiantly as she held Rasten’s gaze, but she made no protest when Delphine took Eshta from her arms.
‘Come back here,’ Rasten said, and when Delphine returned to the doorway he seized her by the shoulder and shoved her next to Mira. ‘Now, scream.’
Delphine could do nothing but stare at him. Back in her younger days, she’d ventured to the games in Akhara, but the way girls screamed with excitement at the races and the fighters baffled her. She’d never been able to determine what purpose it served.
When neither moved, Rasten slammed his palm against the wall with a snarl. ‘I said, scream! By the Black Sun herself, they think I’m in here raping you. Make some cursed noise, or else I’ll —’
Mira threw back her head and shrieked.
‘Again!’ Rasten growled, and when she cried out a second time, he shoved her back against the wall. ‘Louder!’ He took hold of her arms, digging his fingers into the muscles until she shrieked again with genuine pain, a sound that set the babies in the next room wailing.
Rasten pulled Mira across to the door and shoved her against it, slamming his fist into the wood beside her head. He dug his fingers into her flesh, making her cry out again, and then pulled away. Turning to one of the low couches, he heaved it up and hurled it against the other one with a splintering crash of wood. Then he levelled a finger at Mira. ‘Keep going.’
Mira was deathly pale and shaking like a leaf, but she drew herself up to give a voiceless cry, broken by sobs. With a nod, Rasten turned to Delphine. ‘Alright,’ he said, ‘what have they done to leash your power?’
She hadn’t realised how frightened she was until she heard her voice trembling. ‘Th-there was a stone. They made me swallow —’
He just nodded. ‘Alright. Lie down. I’ll deal with it and then you can get out of here.’
As Delphine sank to the ground he turned back to Mira. Delphine didn’t see what he did, but she winced in sympathy as Mira’s shriek broke off into an awful, guttural sob of distress.
‘You like that, don’t you?’ he bellowed, slamming the door again, and dropped his voice. ‘Just scream.’ She did, as he wrapped a hand around her throat and squeezed to choke the sound off. ‘Good,’ he said, softly, his voice almost gentle. ‘Keep going.’
He went back to Delphine, settling to his knees at her side, and laid a hand against her ribs. ‘Alright, let me see …’
When he reached into her with a thread of power she couldn’t keep from twitching, and with a hint of a scowl he set his fee hand on her chest and leant against it to pin her down. It felt as though an icy-cold hand had passed through skin and muscle right into her viscera. Delphine willed herself to be still, but that alien, invasive touch seemed to override conscious thought, and as instinct took over she tried to squirm away.
Rasten frowned, and flame-coloured light flared as he wrapped long cords around her to hold her still. Once she was bound, he pressed both hands to her belly, in the hollow beneath her heaving ribs. ‘Now,’ he muttered and she felt him build a shield around the buried stone. Staring down, she saw her belly bulge out with the bulk of it.
The enchantment burst with a pop that sent a tingling wave of energy rushing through her, a sharp, prickling pulse that left her nerves humming like a struck bell. Delphine gasped as she felt her power flare, washing over her skin in a flush of violet light.
But Rasten didn’t let her up. His bonds held her down a moment longer, until she felt another blow strike the stone, breaking it into pieces. Then he withdrew the burning cords and let her sit up, still gasping and shuddering from the shock of the impact. Rasten pulled back, turning to Mira and gesturing her to fall silent. ‘Stop. Catch your breath.’
Mira was breathing hard, and she rubbed her hands across her arms where he’d dug his fingers into the pressure points. ‘What have you learnt?’
‘They mean to take the king, Isidro and Delphine back to Akhara, but not until Isidro tells them what happened to the books from Demon’s Spire.’
‘What about my son?’
Rasten frowned. ‘He’s not here? They mentioned a deal with the Wolf Clan. You and the boy go to them, but if they’ve taken him already —’
‘It wasn’t my clan,’ Mira said. ‘They were Akharians. They took Kavra, too, the wet nurse.’
‘I’ll see what I can find out. Once we’re done here you two need to get out.’ He turned to Delphine. ‘Do you have any weapons? You might have to fight your way through.’
‘I’m not leaving my son behind,’ Mira snapped.
‘If he’s here, we’ll find him,’ Rasten said, ‘but they may have got him out already. If the Akharians reneged on the deal, they’d have to use mages to hide him from the clan, but they won’t want to spare the power while Sierra’s still alive. I wouldn’t, in their place.’
Mira narrowed her eyes. ‘You think they’ve taken him out of the fort?’
‘He’s a valuable hostage, they’d want him somewhere safe.’
Mira considered it for a moment, and nodded. ‘Alright. We’ll see what we can find. Delphine, can you get us out of here?’
She nodded. ‘I think so.’
Mira turned back to Rasten. ‘What about Sierra, and Isidro?’
‘Isidro’s safe for now, but Sirri … they mean to kill her. I have to get back down there.’
‘If you leave us too soon they’ll be suspicious.’
‘I know, but by the Black Sun, she could be dying.’
Delphine narrowed her eyes. ‘I can cut through to the rooms below. Come down with us. They’ll know you betrayed them, but it’ll be faster.’
Rasten considered for a moment, and nodded. ‘Do it.’
The power bound within the stones flickered and pulsed, and the iron bands wrapped around Sierra’s body melted away.
Sirri? Isidro’s voice came from very far away. Sirri! Can you hear me?
What? she said. It was hard to think. Hard to breathe. Her head was spinning. It felt good to lie down … no, she wasn’t lying down, she was still hanging from her bound hands. The ache in her shoulders and the sting from her raw skin had faded, along with the pressure of the harness straps digging into her skin. All of it was distant and remote. It reminded her of that night many months ago, after she’d fled into the blizzard. She’d known she was growing colder, but she hadn’t cared. She was too tired to fight it any more.
Sirri, it’s done. You can cut your hands free.
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t find the words.
Talk to me, Sirri. You have to do this. Do it for me, I know you can. Just cut the rope.
But she was so weary. I just need to rest —
No! There’s no time! Cut the rope, Sierra, do it now. Don’t you dare go to sleep, Sirri, or by all the Gods I’ll come down there and dump a bucket of ice water over you. You need to do it, Sirri. You owe me, remember? You went off with Rasten and left me, and now you owe me.
I … I’m sorry, Issey. I never wanted to hurt you, I swear. I had to do it. You swore you’d make it up to me, Sirri, you promised! This is what I need you to do. Cut the rope!
She was so tired. Her legs wouldn’t support her any more — she tried to stand, but they felt as though they’d turned to water.
Sirri! You have to do it. Please!
Alright. Alright. She didn’t have to stand. It didn’t matter if her legs wouldn’t hold her up. Just cut it. Cut the rope. It was right there, wrapped around her hands. Alright, cut the rope.
It took everything she had to draw her power together — but once she did, it sliced through the bundled fibres as though they were as soft as butter.
The rope parted, a
nd she fell, toppling off the platform and down onto the stone floor. Her raised arms saved her from hitting her head on the stone, her elbows and knees taking the brunt instead. She rolled onto her side with a groan … but the air! At the first breath of it her lungs convulsed, and she began to cough again, forcing out the stale, dry smoke. Every cough tore at the wounds in her chest. She tasted blood and soot, and her fingers and toes prickled as though jabbed by a thousand needles. She hurt too much to think of moving — all she could do was lie there and gulp down great heaving breaths.
Then, Isidro spoke into her head again. Sirri? Talk to me, tell me you’re alright.
I did it, she said to him. I cut the rope.
Good, good. Now you need to get out of there.
She raised her head, squinting with stinging eyes towards the door. There are men out there, tending the fire.
Yes. They’re mages. Go another way, go to the back wall. I know you’re hurting, Sirri, but you can do it. Stay low where the air is fresh.
Right. She could do it. Of course she could. She’d done harder things before. She’d killed Kell. She’d destroyed an Akharian legion. She’d faced Rasten when the thought of him terrified her more than anything in the world. So what if her head was pounding, and thinking took all the effort of driving a needle through stone? She could do it. No cursed chamber full of smoke could stop her. Alright, she said. I’m doing it. She began to drag herself across the flagstones. Issey, where are you?
I’m close, but don’t come here. There are two mages guarding me and more nearby.
But how are you doing this? They had you locked down, I saw it …
The harness is deactivated, same as yours. The fresher air was clearing her head, a little at a time. She could hear the worry in his voice, and glimpse the chamber where he was bound. She was still so weary, but the smoke filling this chamber could kill her yet. Sierra kept crawling through the darkness, feeling her way to the wall. That message … by the Black Sun, I knew it, I knew it was a trick.
I’m not so sure. At first I didn’t understand, but after they brought me in here, Nirveli switched off the harness. Where are you?
I’m at the wall.
Another coughing fit struck her before she could melt the solid stone away. It burned like a knife in her chest, and she felt something warm and wet on her hands and lips by the time she was able to force the reflex down.
The hole she made was just big enough to squirm through. The air on the other side was cold and crisp — the chill of it set her coughing once again, but it tasted as pure as a mountain stream. It was only at the taste of that bright, clean air that Sierra realised how much smoke she’d breathed, even prone on the chamber floor.
Still lying on the stone, she cupped her hands together to produce a globe of light. She’d guessed the chamber was deserted, and the light confirmed it. It was full of bushels and baskets, with a few other pieces of battered furniture mingled amongst them.
The mage-light showed the streaks of blood and soot on her hands. She gazed at them for a long moment before she wiped them on her trousers and turned her attention to the harness.
Sirri, talk to me.
I’m out, she said. The clean air helps. I just need to get this cursed harness off. The straps had been pulled as tight as a strong man could manage, with the buckles fastened behind her back, so she simply slashed through the heavy leather and woven wires, wrinkling her nose at the acrid smell and the shed sparks as the coursing power was cut. It was easier to breathe without the heavy bands cinched tight around her ribs, but her head was still spinning, and dark spots danced in her vision. It’s done. Now what? I’ll come to you —
No, don’t. Once they realise you’ve escaped, they’ll make sure the rest of us are secure. I’m alright, I can call up power if I need it. Go find Cam, get him somewhere safe.
What about Rasten? Have you contacted him?
No, I was too worried about you. I’ll talk to him now that you’re out of danger. See to Cam.
Sierra nodded to the empty room, and hauled herself to her feet, clutching at a scarred and battered old table for support. When she tried to walk, her steps were staggered and weaving, but she forced herself towards the door. Find Cam and keep him safe, that’s all she had to do. Then she could rest.
She extinguished the light when she reached the door, listening for any sound from beyond while she tried to suppress another cough.
There was a movement in the hall, a stirring of darkness and padding feet. Sierra flinched back. Those were men rushing through the dark halls — she’d come within inches of being discovered, and the near miss set her heart pounding. She could have dealt with them, even as weak as she was, but once the Akharians realised she’d escaped, they’d double down on their guard over the others, and the whole fortress would be in uproar. Black Sun help me, she thought. Please don’t make me choose who I have to save.
The pounding of her heart set her head spinning once again, and she had to rest for some minutes before she could trust herself to walk.
This time, when she eased the door open, she heard distant voices exclaiming in surprise, though their words were long lost in the echoes. Then, she heard someone running, the slap of boots on stone. Sierra bit her lip. Something was wrong.
Rasten, where are you?
Rasten lifted his head. Through Isidro’s eyes he could see the pair of mages standing guard over him. I’m with the women upstairs. What have they done with Sierra?
They tried to suffocate her with smoke, but she’s out and safe for now.
Smoke? Rasten scowled. That’s cursed dangerous in her state —
I know. She’s out now, but it’s addled her wits, and I don’t know how long we have until they realise she’s gone.
What about you? I saw that harness they had on you — how did you get around it?
I didn’t, exactly. It turns out we may have a friend on the inside. Find out what they’ve done with Cam, and go and help Sierra.
I’m on it.
Rasten broke the contact with a shake of his head. ‘Isidro says Sirri’s safe, for now.’
The two women fixed their gazes upon him. ‘You spoke to Issey?’ Mira said. ‘How?’
‘I don’t know the details,’ he said. ‘We can —’
He fell abruptly silent at the sound of heavy feet outside the door, and a rattle as the bar was lifted from the staples.
Rasten snatched Mira by the hair. ‘Get on your knees,’ he hissed, stepping between her and the door as he wrenched her head back. ‘What?’ he snarled as the door swung open. ‘I’m not finished here. We’re only just getting started.’
Kasurian peered into the gloom under Rasten’s ruddy light with a deep scowl creasing his brow. He cast a dark glance at the man at his side, and then made a visible effort to smooth his expression. ‘So I see. My apologies for the interruption.’
Rasten shoved Mira aside, fumbling with his trousers before turning to the doorway. ‘What do you want? Were you hoping to watch?’
‘No, no — just making sure everything is in order.’
Rasten folded his arms across his chest. ‘You’re checking up on me. Why?’
When the Akharian didn’t immediately reply, Rasten cocked his head to study him. ‘Something’s gone wrong. And you’re making sure I had no hand in it.’
‘No insult meant,’ Kasurian said. ‘I’m sure you understand why we’d scrutinise an unproven ally.’
‘Well, if you’d come a few moments later you’d have been scrutinising me fucking the mother of the king’s son,’ Rasten said, narrowing his eyes. ‘Would that be proof enough for you, southerner?’
‘Lord Rasten, the fact that I find you exactly where you’re supposed to be makes the matter clear.’
‘And what matter is that?’
‘Step outside and I’ll tell you. The general wishes to speak to you. He assures that your … amusements … will be here when you return.’
Rasten glanced at the two wom
en, Delphine pressed against the wall and Mira sprawled on the flagstones, fresh tears on her cheeks. ‘They’d better,’ he said. He strode across to Mira and crouched down, taking her head in his hands. His voice low, he murmured something in her ear before he shoved her down again, then turned on his heel and strode out, as his globe of light winked out behind him, leaving them in utter darkness once again.
Isidro could smell the smoke, now, and through the link he could feel the tearing pain in Sierra’s chest. Her mouth tasted like an ash pit and her throat felt raw and scorched.
What’s happening, Sirri?
I can’t tell. There’re a lot of people, Akharians, I think.
Don’t go any closer. Rasten’s heading there, he can tell us what’s going on. Stay back, catch your breath.
She didn’t argue, but simply retreated into the darkness, slumped with weariness and pain. Issey, I want you out of there.
Soon. Right now, they think I’m no threat, and I can gather information. Just hold tight — he broke off as the door to his own chamber opened, and another of the Battle-Mages stepped inside, looking worried. He gave Isidro a suspicious glance, and beckoned his guards with a jerk of his head.
‘What?’ one of the guards demanded, but the newcomer made no reply. He simply slid his eyes towards Isidro and shook his head.
Muttering, the guards followed him from the chamber. Outside, they spoke in low murmurs, until one blurted out, ‘But what about the prisoner? We can’t leave him unguarded.’
‘I know, but … wait. Fontaine!’ This last was shouted. ‘Fontaine, come here, we need you to watch this cursed prisoner.’
‘Can she be trusted?’
‘It’ll only be a few minutes … and besides, Pelloras has promised her to that cursed Blood-Mage if she steps out of line.’
‘Can’t come soon enough,’ the other guard muttered. ‘Annoying little trollop.’ He raised his voice. ‘Fontaine, we have a job for you — come watch this prisoner. Just keep an eye on him, and block this door against anyone who isn’t one of our people. Don’t listen to anything he tells you, and don’t let him talk you into untying him. In fact, don’t talk to him at all, you understand?’