Master of Chains - Jess Lebow [19]
Three he could maybe take. Four was pushing it, and if there were any others, he'd be far too outnumbered to have any chance. Liam started to look around the house. There were no windows, and the only other access to the outside world was through the chimney. For a heartbeat, Liam thought perhaps he could squeeze himself up and out onto the roof. But the fire had been burning all morning and afternoon. Even if he put it out, the bricks would be far too hot for him to touch.
He didn't have much time.
"Liam," his mother gripped his arm, "We're trapped in here. What are you going to do?"
Liam gritted his teeth. "Thank you, mother, for your insightful observation," he spat. "I'm working on it."
"Well, you'd better hurry."
His mother had a way of getting under his skin at the most inopportune moments.
Just then the pounding on the door stopped. Despite their best efforts, Baron Purdun's elite guardsmen had been unable to break through the heavy crossbeam.
Angeline sighed. "Thank Lathander for his protection, it held."
"It's not over yet," said Liam.
"Liam of Duhlnarim," Captain Beetlestone's shouting was muffled by the stone walls and wooden door. "Surrender yourself into our custody, or we will be forced to smoke you out."
"Liam," said his mother, the sound of worry evident in her voice, "what do they mean?"
Samira put her arms around the older woman. "It means they intend to burn down the house."
Angeline gasped.
Liam could see the fear in their eyes. He felt it too. But more than fear, he felt guilt. Guilt over having caused this. Guilt for having put these two women through so much.
"Liam of Duhlnarim," came the dull, shouting voice again. "This is your last chance. Come out now, or we'll light the roof."
Liam looked at the heavy wooden door. He had no choice. Placing his sword on the table, he turned to his mother and Samira and put his arms around them.
"Take good care of each other," he said. "I'll miss you both very much." Then he turned and headed for the door.
* * * * *
Ryder lay on the floor. His body ached from the beatings. His skin wept from the burnings.
Captain Phinneous stood over him, a spent torch in his hand, and a line of sweat dripping from his shiny, hairless forehead. "This is your last chance, Ryder. Tell me what I want to know, or you die here and now."
Ryder's head lolled back on his shoulders. "Go ahead and kill me."
Captain Phinneous gripped the remnants of the torch tightly in both hands. "Are you so worthless that you don't even respect your own life?"
Ryder let his head slide gently to the stone floor. "If you kill me now, I will be immortalized." He coughed, a thick ball of phlegm dislodging itself. He spat the mucus and the accompanying blood out beside him, then continued. "The Crimson Awl shall chant my name as they knock down the portcullis and ransack Zerith Hold." He smiled as the image of the resistance marching on this fortress, killing the guards and overthrowing Purdun, ran through his head. It was the most beautiful sight. "I'll become a martyr."
Phinneous chuckled. "Get a load of this one, boys. Delusions of grandeur." He dropped the spent torch to the ground. "So tell me this. If your death somehow miraculously provides the motivation for the Crimson Awl to overcome this fortress and all the guards inside of it-something they've been unable to do for over two years now-then why didn't you get yourself killed long ago?"
The other guardsmen laughed.
"Seems you've been holding your boys back," said Phinneous.
Ryder just closed his eyes and tried to focus on the parts of his body that didn't hurt so much. Phinneous wasn't going to kill him. It would be too beneficial to the rebels to have a rallying cry, someone to fight for.
"You're missing another very important detail," continued the captain.
"Yeah?" replied Ryder. "What's that?"
"It was one of your own who tipped us off about the ambush."
Ryder's eyes shot open.
"Seems one of your own boys wants you dead." Phinneous leaned over, filling Ryder's view with