“Put them in with the treasure from R’zathavar’s abandoned hoard.”
The guard hoisted me off the floor and unceremoniously tossed me over a hard shoulder, my body as limp as a doll. I dared a quick peek around, peeling one eye open ever so slightly. My captor was heading toward the secret staircase. As she took me down, she neglected to protect my head and it bumped painfully against the high ceiling before the passageway began to expand into a full corridor. Mercifully, I didn’t incur any further bumps to the head as we made it the rest of the way down the stairs.
Ciradyl and Ingwar took us down a long stretch of hallway, lined with a multitude of doors. When they stopped, it was in front of an open holding cell, sealed off behind slotted metal bars. I hadn’t expected to be laid down on a soft mattress, but apparently, a flat surface was also too much to ask for. The floor of the cell was littered with gold coins, and they dug sharply into my side as my body was deposited inside. Corvin was thrown inside too, somewhere behind me.
The guards retreated, and the prison lock clicked into place.
Trapped.And from the sound of it, Rogam intended to sell us to the Fae.Did he know who exactly was after me?!
I took a look around, scanning the space for anything that might prove useful to escape once I regained the use of my limbs. In addition to the gold, the floor was covered in a variety of glittering gemstones. An amethyst. An emerald. An opal. All in plain view. There was at least one full suit of plate armor visible in my periphery. A stack of old books. And a wooden table, pushed against the opposite wall, its long surface covered in alchemical glassware, as well as three corked bottles, each filled with a different colorful liquid.
The only creature capable of amassing such wealth is a dragon.But a dragon would never abandon its hoard. Unless abandoned was just a careless euphemism. The only way a dragon would abandon its treasure was if it had been killed. Or forced to leave the Kingdom of Uvrakar. The one place they still flew free in the realm.
My left foot twitched.Yes!I guess I couldn’t claim my Fae heritage never did anything for me. I started to cough, choking on my own saliva.My throat muscles are working again!I swallowed a few times, wetting my tongue. Even then, with my dry mouth, it was a while before I could form words. My first attempt to shout Corvin’s name died on my tongue. “C…Co…Coofin…” My tongue began to loosen. “Corvin?!” I eventually called out. “Are you awake? Can you move?”
“I’m here,” he called back, his voice weak. “My body refuses to budge.”
“Rogampoisonedus!” I seethed.
“The apple pie was delightful though.”
I snorted. “I would still prefer for it not to be our last meal.”
“Agreed. Canyoumove?” he asked.
“I think I’m regaining some sensation in my legs. You might have been given a heavier dose than me.”
“Yeah, maybe. When did you first wake up?”
“Back in the study. I don’t think Rogam expected us to wake up this soon.”
“That would be ideal. If he’s assuming we’re out for the count.”
“Did you hear him speaking about a bounty?” I asked. “The Fae are coming for us.”
“At least he’ll have to contact them first. I heard him mention a homing bird.”
“Maybe it will get lost, fly astray,” I said half-heartedly.
“We can hope. But I don’t think it’s likely. The homing bond is too strong. Those of us with wings always seem to know which direction to find home. I know I would be lost without it… That bird probably knows exactly where it needs to go to reach the Fae. We need to escape before it flies all the way home.”
My left leg started to tingle unpleasantly, beset with pins and needles. Groaning, I jiggled my leg, attempting to shake out my discomfort.It moved!My right leg followed suit, regaining its mobility shortly afterward. “Hold on—I think I can move my legs again! But I’m tied up.”
“I think they used a bowline knot,” Corvin remarked in a fascinated tone.
“You recognize the knot?!Do you think you can untie it somehow?” I asked excitedly.
“Nope!I just remembered its name from that book I borrowed from your study. Isn’t that fun?”
“I’m so glad it’s become relevant to our lives.” I laughed with a groan, jiggling my legs some more.
“Do you think you can make it over to me? I’m still wearing my cloak. If you can reach a dove feather.”
“What does it do?”
“They’re useful for detoxification and purification magic. I may be able to use it to neutralize the poison.”
“Will it work if I pull it off with my teeth? My hands are bound behind my back.”
