Firebrand

They were in a simple wood building with low beams, few windows, and a brazier at the opposite end. The wood looked light and smelled relatively new. The structure had been recently built, unlike the ancient keep Estral had spotted through the trees before she’d been separated from Karigan and locked up.

“What’s a Greenie doing without a message satchel?” the other guard asked.

“Spying, that’s what.”

“And the other girl?”

“Who knows. Another spy, probably. Nyssa will find out.”

Since Estral’s hands were not bound, she started to work on loosening the cords around Karigan’s wrists. One of the guards poked the bonewood through the slats of the pen and jabbed her shoulder.

“Ow!”

“You leave those, or we’ll hurt you,” the guard said.

“What is she going to do in her condition?” Estral demanded.

“She’s done plenty already.”

Estral rubbed her shoulder and decided she would try later, when they were not so attentive. She could only imagine what “plenty” Karigan had done. It must have been impressive considering the bump on her head. Blood matted her hair.

“Please wake up,” Estral whispered.

Karigan groaned. Her foot twitched.

“Karigan?”

“What the hells . . . ?” she murmured.

“We’re being held. You must have put up a fight. They won’t let me untie you.”

Karigan gave a raspy laugh, then fell silent and still. Estral feared she’d fallen unconscious again, but then she suddenly said, “It started out . . . a promising day.”

Estral could have cheered to hear her friend speak. “I know. I ruined it for you. I’m sorry.”

Karigan quieted, looking for all the world like she had fallen asleep. Estral grew anxious again.

“Karigan?”

“What?” She sounded beyond tired.

“Just wanted to make sure you were still with me.”

Karigan expelled a long breath, and then started wrestling with her bindings, twisting and writhing her wrists. They had already looked chafed and raw, and now she was only making it worse by causing the cords to cut deeper into her skin.

“Ow. Damnation,” she snarled, but she kept struggling.

“Stop,” Estral told her, “you’re bleeding.”

“Get these off me.”

Estral licked her lips. “I told you, they won’t let me. They’ll hurt me if I do.” A quick glance revealed the guards were indeed still keeping a watchful eye on her.

Karigan gave up and slumped, seeming to rest. Then, just as suddenly, she fought to sit up. Estral helped her.

“Shouldn’t you stay down? Take it easy?”

“Probably,” Karigan said, grimacing. “Why is there a herd of horses galloping through my head?”

“I’m sorry,” Estral said again, overcome by a fresh wave of remorse. “If I hadn’t—”

“We can discuss that later.” Karigan closed her eye for a few moments, then with a deep breath and a grunt of effort, forced herself to her feet and lurched across the pen to peer through the slats. Estral stood, as well, and followed her gaze to the two guards talking over her coat and weapons. One puffed on a pipe. Karigan’s gaze moved on, seeming to scrutinize the rest of the building.

“What are you looking for?”

“A way out.” A coughing fit took her, and she reeled away from the slats to lean against the wall. “Oh, that hurts my head,” she said hoarsely when the fit passed. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She heaved, but little came up.

“Why don’t you sit?” Estral suggested.

Just then, a door opened with a flash of daylight before it was securely closed again. Karigan returned to the slats to view the newcomer.

“Who is that?” she whispered.

Estral shuddered. “They call her Nyssa. I don’t think she is a very nice person.”

Karigan snorted softly. “She’s Second Empire.”

Nyssa spoke quietly with her guards, and then all three turned to gaze at their captives.

“Well, well,” Nyssa said. “The Greenie is awake and standing. Do you realize the ruckus you started in the keep?”

Karigan did not answer, but a smile formed on her lips.

“In any case,” Nyssa continued, “Captain Terrik has left it to me to ask you some questions. Bring the Greenie out.”

Karigan turned to Estral and hastily whispered, “No matter what they threaten, no matter what they do, tell them nothing.” She stared hard and beseechingly at her as if to ensure her words penetrated.

She sounded brave, but there was the fear in the tightness of her jaw, in the intensity of her eye. Estral, whose legs shook, could not even imagine how scared she must be.

The guards unlocked the pen and threw Estral into the back wall. She slid to the floor and shook her head. Her good ear was ringing from the impact. By the time she had gotten over the shock, the guards had already dragged Karigan out and relocked the door. One held Karigan from behind with his cudgel pressed firmly across her throat in a choke hold. The second stood ready to beat her with his own cudgel, should she make a wrong move. Just what damage had she wrought in the keep?

Nyssa stood before her, looking her over. “I bet you think you are clever and strong, the way you fought those soldiers. You can fight me if you like, which I’d enjoy, or you can answer my questions straight away. Either way, I’ll get what I want.”