“I don’t know… I don’t know…”
“I can end it, Alora.” Kaevin’s voice cracked. “When Vindrake comes back, I can tell him we’re done. I’ll say the words… take the oath of fealty. It’s over, Alora. You were truly brave. No one could expect more than we’ve already done.”
“No, you can’t do it. He’s so vile. His bloodbond would make you evil, too.”
“But I’ve felt your pain. It’s not even as intense as you feel it, and it’s unbearable. I can’t let him torture you any more. It’s worse than if he were torturing me.”
“We don’t have a choice. You can’t take the bloodbond. I’ll be okay. He stops when I black out, doesn’t he?”
“I can’t bear to watch it,” Kaevin sobbed. “Maybe I can pretend I’m going to take the oath. He’ll stop torturing you while he prepares for the ceremony.”
“Maybe…”
“I love you, Alora.”
“I love you…” Alora surrendered to the pain-free cloud of blackness in her mind.
*****
Markaeus led the way down the mostly deserted corridor toward the private bathing pool and the portal that would be their escape. In the chaos of frantic guards and escaped captives, including some forty children who scurried in every direction like a stirred bed of ants, Markaeus and Haegen moved undetected, hiding in alcoves and storage chambers until they reached the place Markaeus called the spoke chamber. The rounded room fed into eight separate hallways, of which Markaeus had explored three. The corridor that led to the portal was clogged with four sentries, presently engaged in an impassioned discussion.
“We’re stuck,” Markaeus muttered, crouching just out of sight. “That’s where we need to go.”
Haegen peered over him around the corner. “I could run down the another hallway and draw them after me. I’m really fast. Perhaps I can outrun them and circle back.”
“No, this place is like a maze. You’d be lost for certain. Perhaps if we threw a stone to rattle down another corridor they might investigate the noise.”
“I’m the best one to throw it. We need a big one.”
Grappling at the stone along the edge of the floor, they felt for loose rocks. Markaeus discovered a gap with a large loose stone wedged in the hole. Sliding his hand in the slot to leverage against the rock, he felt a sharp pinch.
“Ow!” Markaeus hissed, snapping his hand back to rub the sore spot on his little finger. “Something bit me.”
“Let me see.” Haegen stretched out with his head on the floor. “Come out here and talk to me.”
An immense rat, with beady black eyes and brown mottled fur emerged, regarding Haegen with a rather respectful expression. Haegen reached his hand out to stroke his back, moving up to scratch behind his ears, murmuring in low tones.
“Very well.” Haegen rolled over to face Markaeus with a smug grin.
“I told him you were sorry for invading his home, and he’s forgiven you.”
“He’s forgiven me? He’s the one who bit me.”
“And what would you do if a giant’s hand reached through the door of your home to surprise you in your sleep?”
“I don’t know, but I wouldn’t bite his finger.”
“Never you mind. Whiskers is a very nice rat, and he’s kindly agreed to help us out. He’s going to have a run at the sentries across the way.” Whiskers lifted his head to Markaeus, wiggling his nose.
“His name is Whiskers?”
“No, but I can’t pronounce the name he told me. Whiskers seems a good enough substitute.” Haegen crept back to the corner on his knees. “Ready, Whiskers?”
“Wait.” Markaeus reached in his pocket, retrieving a few crumbles of cheese. “Here you go, Whiskers. We’re extremely grateful for your aid.”
Whiskers accepted the cheese from Markaeus’ hand without a single nip, and blinked his black eyes.
“You’re welcome.” Markaeus smiled.