Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [15]
"What I said before," Twilight said. "The name of my sword. Betrayal."
"Oh." He fidgeted. "Charming."
"Are you going to climb, or is there something else?" Twilight's eyes narrowed and her lip curled suggestively. "You saw something you appreciated, eh?"
Turning away to hide an even rosier blush, Liet stuttered. "I-I d-didn't want to say it in front of the others…" * "I was right."
"Well," said Liet. "Even though I've had a little training- with swords, I mean-I'm… I'm not much of a warrior. 'Tis just that… uh…"
"You're afraid, and you want me to watch out for you," guessed Twilight.
Liet cleared his throat. "Uh… aye. Yes."
Twilight shrugged. "No."
"No?" Liet blinked. "Just like that? You won't even consider
"No alliances, no favors," said Twilight. "Those breed jealousies. Maybe I could watch you and myself in kind, but what if someone else needs my protection? What if another of them also asks me for an extra eye? I have but two, and only a single blade." She tapped her fingers against her rapier's hilt. "It would be easy to turn down Davoren-as if he would ask for help-but Asson? The halfling? Taslin, one of… the People? Consider what you ask."
Liet's face fell. He rubbed his arms. "Sorry," he said. "I didn't think-"
"No." Twilight laid the back of her hand against his cheek. "No, you didn't."
Watching Liet freeze under her touch, she could, of course, understand why. "And I respect your honesty." Then she tapped his thin nose. "I will watch out for you as I may."
Liet opened his mouth, but Twilight put a finger to his lips.
"But do not count on it," she said. "My lord and I share many traits, and while I do not take it to such infuriating heights, unpredictability is one of them."
"Your lord?"
Twilight frowned a warning.
"I'll be careful," said Liet. "Y-you as well?"
She blinked at him, as though he had just lost his mind. Twilight waited until his back was turned and he was going up the rope before she flashed a grin.
Taslin looked away as Gargan helped Liet up, pretending not to have heard his conversation with Twilight. Asson breathed heavily next to her, and she rocked him until the shuddering passed. Her thoughts did not lie with him. Instead, she wondered about the young moon elf.
The child's lord, she thought. Her mark-the star.
Her eyes went to Davoren, who leaned against the wall on the far side of the hole. Those red eyes met her look immediately. What did he know? What was he thinking?
Taslin held Asson a little tighter.
Tlork leaped up as though a hornet had stung his ear. He growled and spun about, massive warhammer in hand, but he couldn't see anyone.
The prisoners have slipped past you, came the master's thoughts.
"Wha?" Tlork stared down the corridor, and all the prison doors stood open. The chest that should have been at his feet was gone. Tlork's mind processed it slowly: Not only had the maniings escaped, but they'd found all their weapons, too.
Pursue, the master said in his mind. Now.
Tlork jumped to obey, tottered, and slammed to the floor, his wiry foot yanked out from under him. The clumsy action broke Tlork's neck, but it was a simple matter for the troll to twist his head and correct the problem. He looked down and saw a thick iron chain snaking from his ankle to the statue of the griffon. Tlork growled.
"Master?" asked Tlork aloud. He'd never understood communicating silently-it involved thought, which was not the troll's strength. "Master? How do I…?"
Tlork waited a few breaths, just in case thought didn't travel fast, but heard nothing.
No matter. Tlork could do what Master commanded. He was smart enough, and more importantly, he was strong enough.
The statue gave a dull pop as the troll's massive warhammer fell upon it. The obsidian held, but a series of cracks spider-webbed through it, each about the length of a thumbnail. Tlork swung again and again. Perhaps, after hitting it a few thousand times, the troll could reduce the lion-thing to rubble and break free.
At no point in the two days it took him to annihilate the statue did it occur to Tlork