Adara on the ground in a corner.
“At least we won’t be sleeping under the stars tonight,” Fortisquo commented as he planted his booted feet on a maroon divan.
The sorceress Karitha turned Belgad. “What is your next move?”
The large northerner turned his hard eyes on the red-haired woman. “We wait, and we hope Verkain will see us.”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Fortisquo said from his spot on the couch. “After all, we’ve been allied with the man since we left Bond.”
Belgad took a hardback, wooden chair near the fire. “No one allies themselves with someone of Verkain’s power. You serve him.”
Fortisquo smirked. “I serve no one but my own pocketbook.”
“Then you are likely to be the first he will kill,” Belgad said.
Fortisquo scoffed.
“Belgad is right,” Karitha said, taking a seat on the end of a couch. “We have to be wary of what we say and do. Verkain has no need to slay us, but that doesn’t mean he won’t.”
“So far we’ve proven somewhat useful to him,” Belgad said, continuing Karitha’s line of talk. “If it stays that way, we will stay alive.”
“I’m still not sure why we came here in the first place,” Fortisquo said. “It’s as if you’ve given up hope of finding Darkbow and the healer.”
“We were nearer to here than to home,” Belgad explained, “and I wasn’t about to return without the heads of our enemies.”
“According to the book of Ashal, pride is a sin,” commented Fortisquo.
“So is bashing in your skull,” Belgad shot back.
The one-eyed rapirist gave a mock frown, as if disappointed more than afraid.
“Besides, we can fulfill our mission by working for Verkain,” Belgad went on, “and it might benefit us. He is insane, but that doesn’t mean he won’t reward those who serve him well.”
“You don’t even know why he wants this son of his,” Fortisquo said.
“Adara told me her theories, but it doesn’t matter,” Belgad said. “I’m not sure I want him alive either after what happened in Bond.”
A knock sounded at the door and Belgad motioned for one of his guards to answer. When the door opened, Captain Lendo and three of his men appeared in the entrance.
“Lord Verkain expects your presence on the morrow,” the captain said. “Belgad Thunderclan and whatever servants he desires will be sent for breakfast at nine bells.”
“How pleasant,” Fortisquo said.
Captain Lendo closed the door, leaving the travelers from Bond to themselves once more.
“Of course, I’m not sure we should eat anything,” Fortisquo remarked.
***
Adara’s eyes fluttered, then a brightness forced her lids closed once more. Gradually she opened her orbs again, allowing her surroundings to encroach upon her vision.
She was on a soft, silky bed in a room, obviously one belonging to nobility. The light bothering her eyes came from the sun shining through tall glass windows, the heavy curtains having been tied back.
“You’re awake,” a man said.
Adara turned her head to her left, finding one of Belgad’s chain-clad guards sitting in a cushioned chair next to an open doorway. Otherwise the room was empty.
“Belgad and Fortisquo and the wizard woman have gone to see Verkain,” the man said.
Adara tested her hands and found her wrists still tied together. She shifted her feet to discover ropes also bound her ankles. “How long have I been out?”
“Several days,” the warrior said. “Belgad didn’t want to chance you escaping before we got here. The wizard knows her sleep spells.”
Adara gripped her hands to her tight stomach. “No wonder I’m so hungry.”
The burly man leaned back in his chair and turned his head to glance into the open doorway. “Mountain, get your tail in here. The wench is up. Bring her food and drink.”
He eased down in the seat to face Adara again. His smile was that of a snake.
“What’s going to happen to me?” she asked, noticing the sword and dagger on a thick belt around his
“At least we won’t be sleeping under the stars tonight,” Fortisquo commented as he planted his booted feet on a maroon divan.
The sorceress Karitha turned Belgad. “What is your next move?”
The large northerner turned his hard eyes on the red-haired woman. “We wait, and we hope Verkain will see us.”
“Why shouldn’t he?” Fortisquo said from his spot on the couch. “After all, we’ve been allied with the man since we left Bond.”
Belgad took a hardback, wooden chair near the fire. “No one allies themselves with someone of Verkain’s power. You serve him.”
Fortisquo smirked. “I serve no one but my own pocketbook.”
“Then you are likely to be the first he will kill,” Belgad said.
Fortisquo scoffed.
“Belgad is right,” Karitha said, taking a seat on the end of a couch. “We have to be wary of what we say and do. Verkain has no need to slay us, but that doesn’t mean he won’t.”
“So far we’ve proven somewhat useful to him,” Belgad said, continuing Karitha’s line of talk. “If it stays that way, we will stay alive.”
“I’m still not sure why we came here in the first place,” Fortisquo said. “It’s as if you’ve given up hope of finding Darkbow and the healer.”
“We were nearer to here than to home,” Belgad explained, “and I wasn’t about to return without the heads of our enemies.”
“According to the book of Ashal, pride is a sin,” commented Fortisquo.
“So is bashing in your skull,” Belgad shot back.
The one-eyed rapirist gave a mock frown, as if disappointed more than afraid.
“Besides, we can fulfill our mission by working for Verkain,” Belgad went on, “and it might benefit us. He is insane, but that doesn’t mean he won’t reward those who serve him well.”
“You don’t even know why he wants this son of his,” Fortisquo said.
“Adara told me her theories, but it doesn’t matter,” Belgad said. “I’m not sure I want him alive either after what happened in Bond.”
A knock sounded at the door and Belgad motioned for one of his guards to answer. When the door opened, Captain Lendo and three of his men appeared in the entrance.
“Lord Verkain expects your presence on the morrow,” the captain said. “Belgad Thunderclan and whatever servants he desires will be sent for breakfast at nine bells.”
“How pleasant,” Fortisquo said.
Captain Lendo closed the door, leaving the travelers from Bond to themselves once more.
“Of course, I’m not sure we should eat anything,” Fortisquo remarked.
***
Adara’s eyes fluttered, then a brightness forced her lids closed once more. Gradually she opened her orbs again, allowing her surroundings to encroach upon her vision.
She was on a soft, silky bed in a room, obviously one belonging to nobility. The light bothering her eyes came from the sun shining through tall glass windows, the heavy curtains having been tied back.
“You’re awake,” a man said.
Adara turned her head to her left, finding one of Belgad’s chain-clad guards sitting in a cushioned chair next to an open doorway. Otherwise the room was empty.
“Belgad and Fortisquo and the wizard woman have gone to see Verkain,” the man said.
Adara tested her hands and found her wrists still tied together. She shifted her feet to discover ropes also bound her ankles. “How long have I been out?”
“Several days,” the warrior said. “Belgad didn’t want to chance you escaping before we got here. The wizard knows her sleep spells.”
Adara gripped her hands to her tight stomach. “No wonder I’m so hungry.”
The burly man leaned back in his chair and turned his head to glance into the open doorway. “Mountain, get your tail in here. The wench is up. Bring her food and drink.”
He eased down in the seat to face Adara again. His smile was that of a snake.
“What’s going to happen to me?” she asked, noticing the sword and dagger on a thick belt around his
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