Skye stiffened. “Ye cannae mean torture.”
“As a last resort.”
“Nay, nae as any resort! Evander!” She turned pleading eyes on him.
Evander’s jaw was set, his eyes flat and hard. “Lass, we must get that information out of him one way or another. I daenae believe he worked alone, which means there could be more people out there who wish ye harm. Ye could be in danger still. And his true motivation remains hidden. If he’s willing to cover for his accomplices, even once he has been caught…”
“I cannae let ye hurt him. He didnae hurt me.”
“That’s nae the point, Skye. This is more serious than ye understand.”
She narrowed her eyes, folding her arms tights cross her chest. “And why would I nae understand how serious this situation is? I’m the one living it, am I nae?”
Evander missed a beat. “Skye, I only meant?—”
“I ken what ye meant. Ye want me to be quiet and ease up, because ye think I daenaegrasp the seriousnessof it all. Well, I’m telling ye that I do, and I still think that ye shouldnae hurt Mason. A person catches more flies with honey than vinegar, after all.”
“Actually, manure is what attracts flies most,” Fergus piped up.
Skye glowered at him.
In the awkward silence that followed, a faint commotion broke out at the top of the stairs. Presumably, Evander had left guards on duty, and they seemed to be arguing with someone.
A woman.
“… needs looking at,” she said, her voice shrill and angry. “Escort me if ye must, but I am going down.”
“That’s Leah,” Skye murmured, frowning. “What is she doing here?”
“The healers are called down to the dungeons if a prisoner needs care, but I daenae recall summoning her,” Evander responded, frowning. He nodded at Fergus. “Bring her down.”
Fergus disappeared and reappeared a few moments later with Leah behind him, gingerly tiptoeing down the slimy steps. She cast a quick, worried glance around the space.
Looking for something,Skye thought impulsively.Or someone.
Leah reached the bottom and squared her shoulders, tightening her jaw. Was it Skye’s imagination, or was she paler than before?
Maybe.
Her gaze flicked briefly over Skye and landed on Evander.
“I heard that Mason was arrested,” she said tightly. “He’s popular in the keep, ye ken. A friend of mine.”
“Are ye here to lecture yer Laird?” Evander grunted.
Leah shook her head tightly. “I’m nae. I’m nae. I only wanted to look him over, to be sure that he isnae…” She paused, just for a breath. “… hurt. Please, me Laird.”
Evander pursed his lips, glancing over at Skye. What he was looking at her for, she couldn’t have said. Permission? No, impossible.
“Very well,” he relented. “But I have to warn ye, Mason is a traitor. He’s done more harm than ye can imagine. Once ye ken the full story, ye willnae side with him.”
“Be that as it may,” Leah responded, seeming to pale further. “I want to take care of him now. Has he been given food? Water?”
“It’ll be brought to him shortly. Follow me to his cell.”
The small procession crossed the dungeon floor once more. Mason hadn’t moved from his stock-still position in the middle of the cell.
“Mason?” Leah whispered, approaching the cell door.
