Page 56 of A Lick of Flame

I nod. “Maybe you are right.”

“I am right.” She throws me a smile that feels like the sun kissing my skin. Warm and happy.

I want to make her smile every day…at least, every day that I am with her.

“Also, try asking.” She gives me a pointed look. “It might work better for you.”

“Asking?” I frown.

“Try asking the animals instead of commanding them; you might just get it right.”

“That’s not exactly how it works.”

“It doesn’t matter…you should try it,” she insists.

It’s food for thought, if nothing else.

Darkness falls as we talk, and fires are lit around camp, casting flickering light on the ground. Two more guards are put on the perimeter. We still have three right on us. May as well be a hundred. If one of them sounds the alarm, it’s over. I rack my brain and try to think of a way out of this, but I can’t.

Maya is right; we can’t do much of anything with these iron shackles on our ankles and wrists. We have no idea when the exchange is supposed to take place; for all I know, it could be soon after nightlift. We might not have much time. We need to escape tonight to be safe.

In fact, it was Bard who used to say that a person should always expect the worst and then plan for that outcome. I thought about him and this very band of mercenaries often while in the fighting pit. I’m sure that Bard will have felt bad after my capture, particularly since the only reason I was taken was to save him.

The scent of stewed meat fills the air. Our guards are replaced by others as everyone takes turns to eat. It doesn’t take long before the same three men are back at their stations. Bard will rotate the men, giving everyone enough time to eat and to rest up. There will be less chance of mistakes this way.

My right leg is growing numb when Hamlin appears from the shadows, carrying two bowls. He has a waterskin slung over one shoulder. “You’re in luck.” He grins. “There are some scraps left for the two of you. It’s goat stew.”

“Oh…thank you,” Maya says in a breathy voice. “How kind of you. It’s Hamlin, right?”

“Why yes and you are…?”

She giggles. The gods be damned. Has she not listened to a single word I said? Of course not. Why would she?

“I’m Maya.”

“That’s a lovely name.”

No! Is she going to target this male? I hope not. Hamlin has always been a sucker for a pretty woman, but he is no fool. He’s been working as a soldier for many years. There is no way she will best him.

“Maya,” I say under my breath in warning.

She glares at me before smiling and looking back at the arrogant male. Something clenches inside me.

Hamlin goes down on one knee beside Maya. He puts our bowls of food down on the dirt next to him. Then he goes behind Maya, taking a set of keys off his belt and unlocking her shackles with a click.

“Oh… Thank you so very much.” She rubs her wrists and then stretches her arms up. I know she’s trying to seduce him, but I don’t think that the move is intentional when she thrusts out her ample breasts as she stretches. I watch Hamlin’s greedy gaze as it drops to her chest before going back up to her face. His smile turns calculating. It’s a smile I know well.

Bastard!

“You need to feed him,” Hamlin tells her as he gestures toward me with his thumb. “I’ll come back in a little while.” He smiles warmly. “Do me a favor, and don’t try anything, Maya. I would hate to have to punish you for trying to escape. Your attempts won’t work.”

“I wasn’t planning on it. Can’t dinner wait? I was going to suggest a walk,” Maya says. “It’s such a lovely evening. No wind or rain, and I would dearly love to stretch my legs a little. You could accompany me and keep me safe.” She looks up at him through her eyelashes. For an innocent, she’s damned good. I’m buying it. I’m all in, and she isn’t even talking to me.

“No,” I tell her in a sharp tone. “Don’t leave with him.”

“You stay out of this,” Hamlin tells me. There is an edge to his voice.

“What do you say?” she says. “We don’t have to be gone too long. Maybe you could even show me your tent. That’s yours over there, isn’t it?” She points at one of the nearby structures. “I watched you put it up. I was very impressed at how efficient you are.”

---