Page 34 of Memory of Ashes

Two guards stepped forward and used the rope to lower Tharos to the ground.

“Remember, I want him kept alive, Zandhro,” the armoured man said. The man was tall and built like a bull, with gold-plated armour and a long red cloak that blew behind him as he turned and walked off into the camp.

Was that the other king?

They watched as Zandhro walked over to Tharos, who now lay slumped on the ground against the pole. His wrists and ankles remained tied to it.

“Do you think they’re coming for you?” Zandhro asked, smirking. “I hope they do. It would save us an entire war.” He looked down at Tharos, who was barely conscious, then knelt and lifted the prisoner’s chin. “Awake,” he commanded, and Tharos’s eyes rolled back before coming into focus. Zandhro laughed. “Your powers won’t work on me, I’m afraid, not whilst I control them.”

That was the Mind Warper. He had Tharos’s mind and powers under his control. There was no way they would have captured Tharos alive otherwise.

“Let’s see what you know,” he said, unsheathing a dagger. “I can’t see into your mind like your king can, but I can make you tell me.”

Amelia froze. The armoured man had ordered Zandhro to keep Tharos alive, but how much pain did the Mind Warper intend to inflict?

“It’s a shame that torture is forbidden. It would make things so much easier. But that would make us as bad as you,” the Mind Warper said.

He cut Tharos’s hands free and passed him the dagger.

Tharos took the dagger and turned it on himself. His hand shook as he raised the blade towards his eye.

“Where are you keeping the girl?” Zandhro asked.

Tharos pressed his lips together and closed his eyes. It was the most control he could exert over his own body.

“Well, I suppose you only need one eye,” he said.

Casyl turned to Amelia, unsheathing his sword. “Now,” he ordered.

They ran out of the tent towards Tharos and the Mind Warper. Her pulse hammered. What was she doing? She was an archaeologist.

The Mind Warper turned and jumped back as Casyl reached Tharos first, kicking the dagger from his hand.

Casyl faltered, struggling to raise his sword, and the Mind Warper used the hesitation to draw his own.

The two guards came rushing at Casyl. Amelia stood for a moment, unsure of what she needed to do. Clasping her hands, she focused her mind on the Mind Warper. She felt his power through faint vibrations in the air and willed it to stop.

He turned towards her in confusion, which gave Casyl time to raise his sword against the approaching soldiers.

“She’s here!” the Mind Warper shouted into the camp. “You don’t know what you’re doing!” he yelled at her. “They will destroy everything!”

His words broke her concentration.

Soldiers spilled from their tents, struggling into armour and drawing their weapons. They were vastly outnumbered.

Danae grabbed one of the lit torches and threw it on the ground. The fire rose like a ring of death, guards falling into it, screaming as their skin burned and bubbled in the flames.

The alarm was sounded, and men came running from every direction.

Amelia ran over to Tharos to untie his feet and help him walk as Casyl and Danae fought the soldiers and the Mind Warper.

Horses stormed into the camp. She heard battle cries and steel clashing against steel as Ruven led their army to attack the enemy camp.

“Here!” she shouted to Ruven.

Danae cleared the surrounding flames long enough for Amelia to help Tharos reach Ruven. Tharos mounted behind him.

“Go!” Casyl yelled. He’d killed two of the soldiers and now faced off with the Mind Warper. His sword danced through the air, meeting the Mind Warper’s sword again and again, but as the Warper’s power returned, Casyl began to slow. Amelia’s presence prevented the Mind Warper from using his full power, but her focus was slipping.