More Than Chains To Bind (12 page)

I dreaded leaving Hollis behind when Kano forced me out of the room because I knew they were going to torture him for information he would never give. In that moment, I worried if I would ever see him again. Briahm was not the kind of man who would give up until he got what he wanted. Hollis was the kind of man who would never give in. I wondered if there was any point in praying to the Lords of Creation.

On reaching our cell Kano shoved me back inside, and I was grateful he didn't put any chains back on me.

"I think I'll go back and see how your friend is faring. Perhaps the High Councilor would appreciate my expertise," he said, smiling as he closed the door, chuckling as he walked away. His words were meant to hurt me and it worked.
Oh, Hollis, I wish you were here.

Then I was struck by my selfishness. I wanted Hollis back for
my
comfort when I should want him back for his own safety. What kind of man was I that I should forget, even for a second, that he was suffering to protect not only me, but all of our people? Hollis was fond of talking about my compassion, but he dismissed his own, carelessly suggesting it was but his duty. Duty it may be, but the lengths a man was prepared to go to carry out his duty came from within and the wellspring within Hollis was bottomless.

He'd asked me only a few short hours ago why I loved him, and I'd never had the chance to tell him. I did pray then. I begged the Lords to let Hollis come back safe to me and I would not only tell Hollis how much he meant to me, I would show him.

I paced the cell, torturing myself as surely as Cor'lyn could do with images of what they could be doing to Hollis. I had seen what they had done to Canto as punishment for little more than a misdemeanor. What would they do to Hollis? I could but hope it wouldn't be too severe when he refused to answer their questions, hoping they wouldn't go too far this time as they would want to interrogate him again. Interrogate: a word with a strong connotation, more than questioning, but less than torture. Words could instill fear because they allowed the mind to create images, imaginings which were sometimes worse than the reality, and right now I'd rather be under a lash than face this torment of my own creation.

I heard footsteps approaching and I thought they were bringing him back, until I realized it was the footsteps of one person.
Kano?

The cell door opened, and Cor'lyn stood there. I was surprised to see there was no guard with him. He was wearing his sword, but I couldn't see from the way he was slouching in the doorway whether he also had a
lienda
in the holster at the back of his belt.

He pushed off the wall and took a step into my cell. "About time we were alone together, don't you think?" he asked, and I frowned at the tone of his voice. He had never sounded so casual, so careless before. Then I noticed the bright splotches in his cheeks and recalled the beverage he had been drinking earlier, which I was now certain had been alcoholic.

"Where is Hollis?" I asked, trying to keep him back while I thought this through.

"Last time I saw him, he was hanging in chains, not looking too good."

"Bastard!" I yelled stalking toward him.

"Oh, hardly the language of a prince." He laughed. He pulled out a
lienda
and aimed it directly at my chest. I stopped a few feet away, and he smiled. "Better. We'll have a little time to ourselves while Briahm is
entertaining
your Guardian. I had thought maybe your relationship was something else." He leered at me. "But I see now I misjudged the situation. Anyhow, I think he's too old for you. I'm more your age, wouldn't you say?" He waved the
lienda
at me again and added, "Now remove the tunic."

I was seething with fury. He'd come from torturing Hollis for
this,
but I knew I needed to keep calm, keep control of my emotions.

"Are you sure Briahm would sanction this?" I asked. "Might not he worry my father would think it amiss if his son was raped?" My tone was decidedly sarcastic.

"Oh, he's well aware he already owes me a big favor for finding you two for him. Briahm won't begrudge me a small reward. Anyway, it'll be too late by the time your father finds out," he said, a lascivious expression spoiling his features as he looked me up and down. "Now do as I say," he demanded, once more aiming his weapon at me.

I sagged a little, doing my best to look defeated. I twisted my body to unfasten the bars on the left side of my tunic, moving my right foot slightly forward as I did so. Then I repeated the motion to unfasten the right side moving another step forward. Cor'lyn's eyes were fixed on the movements of my hands as I began to pull off the tunic. I lifted it over my head slowly and I could see he was licking his lips as his gaze roamed over my naked chest. If he was distracted, so much the better.

I snapped the tunic down as fast as possible, whipping it across his hand. I had hoped the sudden, sharp movement would dislodge the weapon from his grasp, but all I managed to do was make him snatch his hand away. At least he was taken aback and that gave me the essential time I needed. I leapt at him, grabbing his hand, twisting his wrist and forcing the
lienda
from his grasp. He fought back, and the weapon skittered away across the floor.

I turned to go after it, and Cor'lyn pulled his sword and swung it at me, blocking me from reaching the
lienda.
He stepped forward and snarled, "You're mine; you're mine. You've been mine since the day I took you!"

I wasn't sure I had time to get to the
lienda
before he was on me, and, deciding not to take the risk, I grabbed his sword arm in my left hand, forcing it wide. My right hand was placed against his chest keeping him back. "I've never been yours, you bastard, and I never will be," I grated out.

Even as I spoke, I wondered why he didn't yell for help--there must be a guard somewhere nearby--but he seemed intent on fighting me. I could only assume the alcohol was affecting his thought processes. The idea must have finally occurred, though, because he half-turned his head toward the door and opened his mouth. I quickly lifted my right hand and grasped his throat, squeezing it hard enough to choke off anything he tried to say into a strangled shriek.

"Even if you'd bought me in your fucking auction, I still wouldn't be yours. I belong to myself," I stated in his face as he struggled against me, trying to push me off.

My fury gave me a strength I'd never experienced before and I kept squeezing. I watched as his eyes went wide, his face began to flush and his mouth opened and closed as he attempted to draw in breath I wouldn't allow to pass. His fingers slackened and he released the sword to clatter on the hard earth below allowing me to add my now free left hand to the pressure on his neck. He brought his hands up to scrabble feebly at mine trying to get me to release my hold on his throat.

I was surprised to realize I had pushed him up against the wall near the door; I didn't remember moving from the centre of the cell. I felt his hands slide away from mine as his eyes slid shut and he collapsed bonelessly against me.

Kano was leading the way, with his two cronies dragging me between them, literally. They had hold of the chain linking my wrists together. My upper body was no more than an inch or two above the ground and my wrists were a blaze of agony. The way I was being dragged meant there was a lot of pressure on my shoulder blades and my back was a sheet of flame. I think I'd slipped into unconsciousness along the way as it didn't seem as far to my cell as I'd remembered. Had the conversation between Kano and his guards been real or had I only imagined it? Something about not having to cart the damned carcass as far by this easier route.

I heard an exclamation from Kano and painfully lifted my head. My heart clenched when I saw the door open to the cell where Liander and I had been kept. Where was Liander? Had that bastard Cor'lyn done something, taken him somewhere? Oh Lords!

I'd seen Cor'lyn leave after the first couple of lashes, leaving my tender care in the hands of Briahm and Kano. I was afraid Cor'lyn had gone after Liander, but then I thought perhaps now they knew who Liander was he would be safe. Briahm had other plans for Liander I knew. But now, I wasn't so sure.

I was dragged into the cell and dropped onto the floor on my stomach. I gasped against the pain flowing through me. Gritting my teeth, I tried to roll onto my side so I could look around.

"Well, look what I found," Kano said. He sounded far too cheerful, and I forced myself to turn so I could see what he was talking about.

He was holding up Liander's tunic and he threw it at me. The pain in my back faded compared to the pain in my chest as I had visions of Cor'lyn forcibly taking it off Liander as a prelude to rape. I grabbed up the tunic, remembering how he'd kept Fortil at bay for weeks. Of course, Fortil didn't have me chained up under his power at the time, and I had this terrible fear Liander would do anything to help me.

"He must've taken him somewhere more...fitting. Don't worry. I'm sure he'll bring him back--when he's finished." Kano walked out laughing, locking the door behind him. I could hear Kano and the guards still laughing among themselves as they walked away.

I pressed the tunic to my face, breathing in his scent, praying he was safe. Carefully, I studied the cell for any more clues. There was nothing, nothing at all.
Oh Liander, where the hell are you?
The pain in my body faded compared to the pain in my heart.

Then I heard the lock turning again and I couldn't bear any more of Kano's idea of humor. Then I realized it could be Cor'lyn bringing Liander back and I struggled to my knees.

The door opened just a crack and Liander slipped inside.

"Liander," I gasped out, drinking in the sight of him.

"Oh, Hollis!" He hurried over to me, taking in the bruises on my face and the state of my back.

I didn't know how many lashes I'd received. Briahm kept breaking up the punishment, asking questions, changing tack.

"Bastards!" Liander said angrily. He looked closely at my wrists and upper arms and, though he didn't say anything about them, I knew he would recognize the shallow cuts on my biceps as being the result of a knife. He raised his eyes to my face, and I saw the pain and anger in his expression.

"It's okay. I'm okay. I was scared for you." I sighed, reaching up to touch him to make sure he was really there. "It's all right, Liander. I love you, so it doesn't matter," I whispered and I meant it. I was desperately sorry for what he had gone through, but it didn't change a thing. I loved him whatever.

He frowned, even as he leaned into my caress, then his brow cleared and he smiled. "It
is
all right. I'm fine. He never got to lay a finger on me."

Other than being minus his tunic he
looked
fine, breathing a little quickly, but fine. I suddenly realized I could breathe again.

"Thank, Creation! Here, put this on," I said, handing him his tunic. While it was nice to see him looking so...so edible, it was hardly practical.

He shrugged it on. "Look, I'm sorry. I know you're hurting, but can you move? Just to the next cell?"

I was puzzled, but I no longer cared about the pain. I smiled. "Yes, I can."

He ducked between my chains and pulled one of my arms across his shoulders. He held it there as he put his other arm around me to hold my opposite hip to take some of my weight and avoid the worst of the damage to my back. My other arm crossed his chest, so I was holding onto his waist. Just the feel of him in my arms made me feel safe. Odd how I always thought I protected him, but this time, it was as if our roles were reversed. I smiled at the thought--a partnership in every sense.

When we reached the door, Liander peeked out to check the passage was empty, then he carefully maneuvered me into the next cell. When we entered, I was pleasantly surprised to find Cor'lyn laid out, unconscious and tied up, gagged with strips from his cloak.

"And I was worried about you!" I grinned.

"I've been telling you for years that I can look after myself." He grinned back at me, then sobered. "Unfortunately, I don't know what to do with him now. They're going to come looking for him soon. And this is hardly a good hiding place."

"When we found our cell empty, Kano assumed Cor'lyn had taken you off somewhere so it may be some time before anyone comes looking for him," I said, thinking how we could use this to our advantage. "This cell..." I said, glancing at the door. "How did you get in here?"

"I found a large key on his belt and tried it. I think it must fit all the cells. Why?"

"We can lock him in here and lock our cell, too. It should confuse them nicely."

"But what good does that do?" Liander frowned.

"Because I might have found a chance for us to escape. When they took me into the other room to...interrogate me, I got an opportunity to look out the window. I could see beyond this place into the city. I think I know how to get to the harbor."

"But how can we get back into that room? We can't possibly go through the other room and--"

"We don't need to. They dragged me out by another door directly onto the passageway. If we can get back there, maybe we can get out that window. I admit there'll be a risk. I don't know what they'll do to us if they catch us escaping, but I know what they'll do if we stay." I indicated I could stand on my own. He didn't look happy, but he took me at my word and carefully pulled away from me.

"No way will we stay if you think we can get out of here. Can you make it, Hollis? Your back..."

"I'll make it. I've had worse." I couldn't tell him I'd do anything to get him away from here, no matter the cost to myself. He may have fought off Cor'lyn this time, but if we couldn't escape, there was no way Cor'lyn wouldn't rape him the next time. The bastard might even have Kano and his minions chain Liander to his damn bed!

"Okay, Hollis," Liander said taking me at my word. He paced a moment, thinking. "I can see we could probably hide as we go down the passageway, but there could be anyone in the room."