Page 189 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘Take her to my tent,’ the commander ordered. ‘Come for her at dawn.’
That hadn’t been part of the plan. Gedeon’s voice swam with uncertainty as he said, ‘Your tent, sir?’
The commander levelled him with a cool glare. Kyra had the feeling he was the type of man that was rarely questioned. ‘Did you think this futile escape act would go unpunished, soldier?’ He glanced at the corpses rotting on the poles. ‘Her Eminence prefers her wielders unscathed. But there are other ways to punish treachery. Ways that remain unseen.’ The odd gleam of excitement in his eyes sent fear retching through Kyra’s body. The commander said again, with more vigor this time, ‘Take her to my tent.’
Not one of the surrounding slavers questioned it, or even looked remotely surprised by the order. Not. One.
Hands yanked at Kyra’s arms and then she was being hauled back to the camp, marched between two slavers who couldn’t seem to look at her.
Gedeon could do nothing to help her. Not if they wanted to keep their cover. He was watching them take her, and even with the distance between them, she could see the pure rage in his eyes. The fear, the panic.
She could feel it.
And then his voice was in her mind, urgent and clear.Kyra!
Impossible.
He said,You will have to kill him. You cannot let him-
Don’t follow,she told him earnestly, swallowing her shock.They can’t suspect a thing.
You cannot mean to-!
What choice do I have?
His fury was burning hot, a scorching rage, even in her mind.I will find another way.
Gedeon.
Kyra, don’t-
Trust me.
No… Kyra-!
She slammed walls up in her mind, blocking him out.
???
On the edge of the commander’s bed, Kyra sat shuddering. Tears welled up and slid effortlessly down her face, mingling with the blood bespattered on her cheeks.
Behind her, the commander lay dead.
He’d unbuckled his belt, kicked off his shoes and unbuttoned his jacket the moment he’d stepped inside. All the while barely taking his predator’s gaze from her. Her daring glare had excited him further. He’d told her that. Liked that she wasn’t as submissive as the others.
It had been those foul words that changed her mind.
She could have endured it if it meant getting to the capital without causing fuss. Would have done it if it meant that her path to Rosary remained clear.
But when his hands reached up to touch her, to rip the clothes from her skin, she couldn’t bear it. Not only for herself, but for the countless women that would come after. For the ones that had to endure him before.
It was for them that she cried. It was for them he was now drowned in his own blood.
She took down those mental walls. There were questions, so many questions she had about the mind-talk, but they could wait.Gedeon?
I’m here.The reply was instant.He’s dead, isn’t he?
Yes.
