“I told you, I don’t know anything about it.”
“You’re lying.” Another voice, just as soft, but utterly deadly, and my stomach dropped at hearing it.
Thohfsa.
“I didn’t send for that djinn healer just so you could keep lying to me. You’re finally going to tell me where Souma’s treasure is, and you’re going to do it tonight.”
All the elation I felt was gone. If Thohfsa was there, guards would be as well. I leaned forward, daring a glance inside.
Noor lay in a narrow bed, wearing a pale cotton kurta with a sheet thrown over her. Her skin was leached of color, but her light eyes were alert.
Thohfsa stood at the foot of her bed, her arms crossed and a familiar scowl on her face.
“Do you hear me? I won’t give you another chance, girl. You’ve had too long as it is. I’ve given you privileges, I’ve given you time. And now I’m going to give you more pain than you ever thought possible unless you start telling me where it is.”
My nails bit into the flesh of my palm at Thohfsa’s threats. I had heard them many times before, but none quite so vehement.
The room was no bigger than Noor’s cell, but with more windows, and Thohfsa and Noor were completely alone. I crept closer, still cloaked in the darkness of the doorway. If there were no guards, then Thohfsa had made a fatal mistake, one that I wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of.
But why would she come here without protection? Even if Noor were incapacitated, Thohfsa never went anywhere without her guards.
You’re finally going to tell me where Souma’s treasure is.
I sucked in a soft breath. Of course. Thohfsa didn’t want anyone around if she was going to get answers. She wanted to be the one to find it. And she didn’t want to share.
But if she was alone, even without weapons, then I could fight her.
My fingers tightened around the branch in my hands, ready to display how well they could best her.
“Where is it?” Thohfsa growled, moving closer to Noor. She gripped the short sword at her waist, and I knew from the way she handled the hilt that she hadn’t grown up with a sword in her hand as I did. She had training, yes, but the memory of a blade was imprinted on my fingers. My sword was an extension of who I was.
And my hands itched to get one back.
I pushed forward, all secrecy and subterfuge gone. A faint roar sounded in my ears.
“She already told you,” I said, my voice carrying across the room. “She doesn’t know where it is. So why don’t you leave her alone and contend with someone who isn’t lying prone on a bed.”
Noor let out a surprised gasp and sat up. Thohfsa’s eyes bulged, and a satisfying look of shock crossed her features. After months of her abuse, my skin buzzed with the anticipation of returning the favor. Sweat coated my palms as I held my tree branch tighter. I took another step into the room.
I had seconds to get this right before she raised the alarm.
I rushed at her, pulling my arms back and slamming the branch into her gut. Thohfsa jerked from the impact and let out a stuttered wheeze.
Draw your sword, draw your sword.
As if she could hear my thoughts, she pulled her short sword free of the leather scabbard at her waist. Cool calm washed over me as I set my shoulders and prepared to fight.
Thohfsa gave a cruel smile, stretching the thin skin across her face, looking like a macabre skeleton in the flickering torchlight. “I’ve tortured you more times than you can count and you keep coming back for more. I’m starting to think you like punishment.”
I kept my concentration as I moved closer to Noor’s bed. “You okay, Noor?” I asked, glancing over at her, trying to keep my voice level.
“Been better,” she drawled as Thohfsa lunged at me again.
“That’s debatable,” I said, half out of breath as I pivoted away from the attack, “when you are lying in a warm bed, and I’m fighting off Thohfsa with a stick.”
Thohfsa looked from me to Noor and back again, her round eyes narrowing. “How do you two know each other?”
I arched a brow. “I thought you knew everything that happened within your prison walls, warden?”
