Part 22 (2/2)

”I know what that is now, Alec. Khenir confessed it to me. It's such a small thing, and yet...? Well, no matter. We are where we are.” He went to the tincture shelf. ”I believe we can start with silver, this time.”

”No!” Alec tried in vain to wrench free of the guards, but they knew his tricks now, and had little trouble holding him down on his back and pinching his nose shut as Yhakobin leaned over him with the funnel.

CHAPTER 26 26.

Pride

SEREGIL HAD NO way of knowing how long Ilar had kept him drugged, but when he finally did wake up in that cold little cell, he was desperately hungry and thirsty. His ribs were sticking out again. The pallet under him was wet and reeked of urine. way of knowing how long Ilar had kept him drugged, but when he finally did wake up in that cold little cell, he was desperately hungry and thirsty. His ribs were sticking out again. The pallet under him was wet and reeked of urine.

Mine, no doubt, he thought wearily. he thought wearily.

A wooden pitcher stood beside the bed. He rolled over and sniffed at it. Water. Not caring if it were drugged or not, he took several gulps. It was stale but cool, and it soothed his dry throat.

His next priority was to get away from the dirty bed. He rolled off and sorted out a few of the quilts that hadn't been soiled, then used the corner of one dipped in water to clean himself. His skin was sore where he'd lain in his own filth.

Wrapping himself in the musty quilts, he propped himself up in the corner and stared at the door. The spot of barred light on the wall told him it was late afternoon.

Alec could be dead by now.

Seregil hugged the quilts tighter around him, pondering that reality. Whatever this rhekaro thing was, Alec's blood was clearly an important ingredient.

It was no secret that the necromancers of Plenimar favored 'faie blood for use in their foul magics, a fact from which the slavers made a great profit. Hadn't the alchemist said that Bokthersan blood was used for making a dra'gorgos? He wondered whose life had been given for the one that had attacked them in Aurenen.

But the alchemist also claimed to have no intention of killing Alec. My precious alembic, brewing wonders for me. My precious alembic, brewing wonders for me.

Seregil shuddered. Not while I have breath in my body! Not while I have breath in my body!

Gathering his strength, he used the wall to push himself upright and then leaned on it as he walked around the room to test his strength. He was light-headed and unsteady.

I couldn't fight my way out of a rotten gourd!

He'd waited before, in the upstairs room, getting his strength back, and all the while Alec had been at the mercy of the alchemist and Ilar. Now, when he knew Alec was so close by, Seregil was right back where he'd started-limp and useless, trapped in a cell with no means of escape. He wondered if Ilar meant to starve him to death this time, but doubted it. That would end the fun too soon, and it had sounded like he meant to savor Seregil's destruction.

I've been in worse spots, he told himself again, but was hard-pressed to think of many. At least he wasn't bleeding and had no broken bones so far. That was to the good-though from what Ilar had said, he wondered how long that would last. The future looked rather bleak at the moment. he told himself again, but was hard-pressed to think of many. At least he wasn't bleeding and had no broken bones so far. That was to the good-though from what Ilar had said, he wondered how long that would last. The future looked rather bleak at the moment.

He found himself missing Zoriel. She'd taken good care of him and cared enough to send that Khatme nurse to check on him.

He tugged absently at a strand of dirty hair. To get out of this wretched prison, he was going to have to use his wits. Fighting Ilar was hopeless. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d would enjoy it. No, it was time for a new strategy, and fast.

”Rhania, come pay me another visit, won't you, my dear?” he whispered into the gathering gloom. It wouldn't be the first time he'd found a servant just as useful as any lock pick.

But it was not Rhania who came to him after dark, but Ilar, and he had an escort this time. Seregil didn't stir from his corner. He'd had a long time to consider his options.

One of the men placed a stool and a lantern by the door. The other held a tray and Seregil's mouth watered at the aroma of some soup made with onions and spices.

Ilar sat down and regarded Seregil with obvious delight. ”Awake, I see. I hope fasting has improved your temper?”

”I suppose it has,” Seregil replied, purposely sounding fainter than he felt. ”Please, what's happening to Alec?”

”I believe Ilban Yhakobin is preparing him to make another rhekaro.”

”Another?” Seregil closed his eyes, fending off a wave of very real panic.

”Yes. The first one was not suitable,” Ilar told him, relis.h.i.+ng his discomfort.

”I want to help him,” said Seregil. ”Is there anything I can do that will sway you?”

”My goodness, this is a sea change,” Ilar sneered. ”And why should I bargain with you?”

”No bargains,” Seregil replied. ”I'll do anything you want, take any torture you like, if you can keep that man from killing him.”

”You must think me quite a fool, Haba. I a.s.sure you, I'm not. I know the minute I turn my back on you, you'll try to strangle me again, or run away. Probably both.”

”You think I'd leave Alec to die in this place?”

Ilar pondered that a moment. ”Perhaps not, but I do find it hard to believe this sudden change of heart toward me.”

”You have my word, Ilar-Ilban. By the love I once had for you, and the love I bear for Alec now.” By the love I once had for you, and the love I bear for Alec now.”

”Words are worthless between us, Haba.”

Seregil gathered his will, swallowed his pride and crawled to Ilar on hands and knees, letting the quilts fall away.

”What's this?”

Seregil crouched before him, kissed one slippered foot and then rested his forehead lightly on it. ”My life for his, Ilban. Please, I beg you, my life for his.”

Ilar grabbed the back of Seregil's head, fingers twisting painfully into his hair. ”Be careful, Haba. I will not be lenient with you again when you betray me.”

”My life for his,” Seregil whispered.

”He is not mine to save, you know.”

”But your master listens to you. As long as Alec survives, I will serve you.”

”You will serve me anyway, one way or another.”

”I will serve without resistance.”

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