More Than Chains To Bind (11 page)

It was clear we were in one of the better-repaired parts of the citadel. There were rugs on the stone flags and tapestries lining the walls. There was a fire roaring in a large fireplace at one end of the huge room. Kano just walked us across the room, though, and took us through yet another door, into another passageway. I was surprised I didn't feel more fear as I walked toward the unknown. Perhaps I was but fooling myself and I was so afraid my senses were paralyzed. I needed the reassurance only Hollis could give me, but when I glanced at Hollis, I saw his attention was on where we were going, gathering information as we moved. I took a deep breath; I had to be strong. It was what he would expect.

We turned down yet another corridor and I wanted to scream. Would this journey never end? We came to a pair of double doors and again Kano knocked, but this time he waited for the call to enter.

He pushed open the door and, taking a firmer grip on our chain, Kano tugged us inside. The door closed behind us, and this time the guard stayed on the other side of the door.

The room was large with high ceilings and thick, colorful rugs on the floor. Dominating the back wall was a row of three tall, narrow windows. I couldn't see what was beyond because they were draped with layers of fine busily patterned fabric, but the windows must be partially open as the drapes were billowing a little.

As I expected, Cor'lyn was in the room, but he wasn't alone. There was another man with him, seated in a high-backed chair lined with cushions. Cor'lyn was standing by the chair, and they were sharing a drink, some kind of alcohol I guessed judging by the slight flush on their cheeks. I got the distinct impression from his colorful attire and manner that the guest had some power in this place. It was confirmed when Cor'lyn gave the man a deferential nod before turning to Kano. At Cor'lyn's glance, Kano brought us forward to stand directly before the chair.

"Kano," Cor'lyn said softly, and immediately Kano unlocked and removed our chains.

I rubbed my wrists, glaring balefully at Cor'lyn and his companion.

"Welcome, Your Highness," the stranger said.

"And who might you be?"

Cor'lyn stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce High Councilor Briahm. Councilor, meet Prince Liander of Tesla."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness." Briahm remained seated as he inclined his head in my direction.

"I hardly consider it a pleasure to be kidnapped and kept in chains, High Councilor," I responded. I knew enough about this society to understand Briahm held an important position, more or less equivalent with their prime minister. From what I understood, these people didn't have kings or royalty, having disposed of such institutions long ago.

"I assure you, if I'd known your identity, you would have been given better accommodations. I'm known for my hospitality."

"Still in chains, I imagine." I had no patience for this kind of conciliatory talk. His actions were in direct contrast to his words.

"There are chains and then there are chains, Your Highness." The man had the audacity to smile.

"Oh, drop the title, Briahm. You have no respect for me, and I find it insulting. I'd like to see you speak so dismissively of chains when you've worn them every day for as long as I have." I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I could feel Hollis bristling beside me and discussing our captivity with this man would avail us nothing. "And what brings the High Councilor to this small backwater? Here to buy slaves?"

"My presence here is no concern of yours," Briahm said sharply. Then he gave a small smile and added, "However, your presence here is certainly of interest to me. I have long wished to encounter a member of the ruling house of Tesla."

"And why would that be?" Hollis queried before I could respond. "You have plans?"

Briahm sat up straight in his chair, his eyes chips of ice. "You allow your attendant to interrupt his betters?"

"Hollis is not my attendant. He is my Guardian and there
is
none better!"

"Guardian?" Briahm shifted his gaze to Hollis.

I didn't like the way his eyes narrowed as he studied Hollis. Damn, I had said too much. I cursed myself then for allowing my temper to control my tongue.

"That explains his skill," Cor'lyn commented. "One of the guides at the school thought Hollis should be teaching there."

"School? You dare to call that place a
school?
" I demanded. I stepped closer to Cor'lyn, my anger rising.

I had to stop myself from stepping in front of Liander as he challenged Cor'lyn. I could sense something else was happening in this room and I needed to be prepared for when I would really need to protect my prince.

"What is your full name?" I was surprised Briahm was addressing me and I forced my attention back to him.

"Hollis," I responded.

"I said your
full
name," Briahm repeated, the self-satisfied smile crossing his face again. "Though, I think I already know it. You are Hollis Amin Destriore, yes?" He glanced at Cor'lyn. "This is even better than I could have hoped for. When you told me you had a prince of Tesla, I thought maybe the gods had given me a sign, but this...this is like a gift from the gods."

This was worse than I'd feared and I made myself look straight ahead. I wouldn't look at Liander because he would read too much in my eyes.

"I'm not sure I understand, High Councilor," Cor'lyn said.

"You should read more," Briahm retorted. "Hollis Amin Destriore is one of Tesla's most renowned generals. He led their army in defense of Tesla when the Bartisoris tried to invade five years ago--after he had almost single-handedly modernized their methods and weaponry. I read he had retired, but I had no idea he was acting as Guardian to one of their princes. And why only the third prince, General? Surely you merited the heir?"

I didn't deign to answer the man, though I knew it was only the beginning of his questions.

"I have, of course, heard of the man, High Councilor, but it never occurred to me he could be
that
Hollis."

"No, I always did think you lacked imagination," Briahm said.

He turned his attention back to me again. He cocked his head to one side, studying me. He smiled. "I'm sure by now you've worked out what I want from you? My original plan was to use the prince here as a bargaining tool with his father. I can still do so, of course, but how much better to also have informed knowledge of his country's defensive capability. And who better to teach me than the very man who helped formulate said defenses." He glanced at Cor'lyn as he added, "As I said, a gift from the gods."

For the first time, Briahm got to his feet and stepped in front of me. "Now, where to start?" he pondered.

"It is of no matter," I replied. "I'll tell you nothing."

"Kano!"

Kano uncoiled his whip and let it lay on the floor next to me.

"I wondered how long it would take for you to start threatening violence," I said.

"Oh, it isn't a threat; it's a promise," Briahm stated. He smiled, but it was cold, calculating. "You'd do well to treat me with respect."

"Oh, and why would I do that? Because you threaten violence? That's the last reason for me to respect you."

Briahm continued as if I hadn't spoken. "I intend to get the information I want and I'll do whatever it takes. Kano here is quite expert with the whip and that's only the beginning. I have people particularly skilled in obtaining information. If you don't want to suffer, I suggest you answer my questions."

"No, sorry," I said.

Cor'lyn turned to me, bending to speak close to my ear, "Will you order him to answer, Liander? I could make things much easier for you; make your life more enjoyable if you give Councilor Briahm what he wants." As he spoke, he reached out a finger and drifted it down my cheek and along my jaw. I couldn't believe he was doing this in front of the High Councilor. However, I saw Briahm noticed, but said nothing. Perhaps I had overestimated my value to him. I tried to pull back, but Kano shoved a hand between my shoulder blades to keep me in place as Cor'lyn's fingers moved onto my neck.

"I have no need to tell Hollis of his duty," I said stiffly.

I turned away from him and in doing so, I looked toward Hollis, who was still staring forward with a fixed expression, but I saw the nerve twitching in his cheek. I turned forward again, my eyes fixed on the window drapes softly fluttering.

"Very well," Briahm said. "Kano, take him."

Even I was surprised when Hollis suddenly made a grab for Kano and tussled him to the ground. Hollis had the upper hand, though I had no idea what he expected to achieve, until I saw his hand scrabbling at Kano's belt. I hadn't noticed until then that Kano was wearing a
lienda.

"Hollis!" A voice boomed out as someone grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing back my head as I felt a sharp prick at my neck.

"Hollis, cease now or Liander will pay the price!"

The voice cut through my anger, the threat stopping me as nothing else could have done. Keeping hold of the
lienda,
which was shoved under Kano's chin and also held tightly in Kano's grip as he fought me for it, I slowly turned my head. Cor'lyn was holding Liander by his hair, forcing his head back and holding a sharp blade to his neck. I held Kano to ransom, too, for if I pressed the trigger under my finger, the charge would probably blow the top of his head off. The problem was that, while I would never endanger Liander, I couldn't say the same for their feelings about Kano.

"Hollis, release Kano. I know you won't risk Prince Liander," Briahm said. He looked at Kano, then raised his eyes to me and shrugged. He told me, without words, he felt no similar responsibility to Kano.

Cor'lyn pulled again on Liander's hair, hard enough Liander grunted as his neck arched uncomfortably. Cor'lyn pressed the knife so the tip caused a teardrop of blood to well up and slide slowly down Liander's neck.

"You won't kill him. He's too...valuable to you," I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

"True," Cor'lyn replied, "but that doesn't mean I won't hurt him." The knife moved swiftly, and Liander gasped as the blade sliced a half-inch long cut in his neck. "Now do as I say!"

I'd lost the moment Cor'lyn put the knife to Liander's neck, and we both knew it. I'd attempted a bluff and failed miserably. I released my grip on the weapon and on Kano. As he pulled himself away, Kano suddenly turned and slammed a fist into my stomach. I folded in on myself, gasping as I tried to pull air into my lungs. He called for the two guards at the door to enter and then he grabbed the neck of my tunic and hauled me to my feet. One of the guards brought forward the manacles Kano had taken off us a short time before and began to fasten them, one on each of my wrists. When I was secured, they each grabbed an arm and dragged me toward a door to my right I hadn't even noticed.

I managed a glance over my shoulder and saw Cor'lyn had released Liander.

"So much for your hospitality," Liander spat at Briahm as Kano grabbed a hold of his arm and began to pull him away.

Catching his eye just as the door closed between us, I knew he was worried for me, and I loved him all the more.

They dragged me into the adjoining room. It was much smaller, though as high and with only one window. This one had no drapes and I had a view out over the city. This room must be at the end of one of the wings of the building facing east if one assumed the main gate faced roughly south. I wracked my brains to bring the city layout to mind based on the trip we had made in the wagon earlier. I had to reverse it in my mind's eye as we had been facing backward during the journey.

I heard more footsteps and looked up to see both Cor'lyn and Briahm enter the room. Cor'lyn was carrying a jug and two more drinking vessels and he filled each of them before placing the jug on a small table near the window.

"You would do best to reconsider," said Briahm, as he took his vessel from Cor'lyn.

I turned away and stared out of the window, but that didn't stop me being aware of what was happening around me. One of the guards moved to the side of the room, untwisted a rope from its cleat and began to lower the heavy chandelier from overhead. I wondered at first what the hell he was doing, until I saw him lift the large hook from the top ring of the chandelier, which he moved to one side. I understood now the reason for the return of the manacles.

The second guard unhooked the bars of my tunic and pulled it over my head before he prodded me with his
lienda
in my now conspicuously naked back and pushed me forward. The chain linking my manacles was fixed to the large hook. The first guard returned to the wall and pulled on the rope until my arms were at full stretch and the manacles digging into my wrists, before winding the rope around the cleat to anchor it again. There was no need to point out it would be easy for them to haul me from the ground adding extra pressure--and pain--to my wrists, back and shoulders.

"Before we resort to violence," Briahm said with a sneer, "will you answer my questions?"

I said nothing. I'd been hurt before and I knew I could take pain. I hoped I was as strong as I believed I was. I could never betray my country, my people. I would die first. That was my belief, and I prayed to the Lords of Creation I could keep to it. I thought of Liander.

Pain seared along my nerves as the whip sliced into my back. I'd been caught unawares as I'd allowed my mind to drift and I gasped, clamping my mouth shut to keep the scream inside. It was at that moment I realized Briahm hadn't asked me any questions yet.

Then he asked, "Tell me how your forces are deployed?"

I lifted my head from my chest and looked at him. That was the only answer he was going to get.

This time I heard the swish of the lash and was prepared. Keeping my eyes on his face, I gritted my teeth as fire flashed across my back. I saw him raise a hand, and I gripped the chains holding my wrists as I prepared for another question I wouldn't answer followed by another lash from the whip.