“Nothing,” I whispered.
The blond man just shook his head and sighed.
“Let her rest, will you?” Frid snapped.
She sat down on the crookedly stacked shingles before sprawling out and closing her eyes.
I followed suit and sat down. My eyes landed on my dress, the light blue silk had turned to a gray mess and the hem of my skirt was shredded. I looked at my hands, my nails were black and my hands were scratched in multiple places. I remembered that had happened when I tried to open the door; then a wave of sticky, cold fear returned me to my prison cell. I shivered, wrapping my arms around my shoulders.
“What are you doing here?” Tynan asked.
“They sent me to check on you,” the new guy responded.
“I bet they didn’t expect us to make it,” Victor muttered.
He was already lying beside Frid, his head moved to the side and he closed his eyes.
“How bad was it?” Erin asked.
“What do you think?” Frid answered.
“I think you still owe me a date.” Erin grinned.
Frid grumbled, covering her face with her arm.
“What do you have for us?” Tynan asked.
“As a matter of fact, I have nothing,” the guy responded.
“I told you they didn’t think we would make it,” Victor reminded them.
“I suggest you fly to Riolle. Wait for your next orders there. Take a break, wash up, eat. Hook up with a girl or two,” Erin continued.
“The pigeon has a point. It will take more than a week of flying to get back to the capital. We’ll never make it,” Solomon said.
I turned to see his calm face. He was quiet most of the time and I sometimes forgot that he was even there.
“Can we drop the horrid nickname? Please and thank you.” Erin looked annoyed.
“Fine.” Tynan sighed and stretched on the rooftop, closing his eyes.
CHAPTER FIVE
TYNAN
My tired eyes landed on the vast barren fields. The sun was almost all the way up. Here and there I could spot the lone figure of a crawler stumbling back and forth before the entrance to the dilapidated building. My muscles were trembling with exertion, but I forced myself to stay upright. Two more hours and we would be safe, at least for a while. I rubbed my forehead and looked back at the building. I tried hard not to show how exhausted I was, but my energy was at its end, and all of them knew it.
I stared at the prisoner, once again. The girl was lying in the fetal position, her arms wrapped around her knees. Her bright red hair was in a low, disheveled braid. She lookedthin and frail. I still could not believe that she was kept in a high-security cell. I expected to see someone rougher, stronger. My curiosity about her was heightened. By what remained of her dress, I could tell that she was of a high birth. Not many people in Talman wore light blue, silk shoes and lace.
Why do they need her? Who is she?
I stretched my hardened back, and inspected the fields around us.
“It’s time,” I said at last and stood up.
The moans and complaints came from every direction.
“Come on you guys! Think about a hot meal at the Dragonclaw. My treat!” Erin got to his feet.
