Page 60 of The Eyes of Tamburah
Two guards rushed toward her. She braced for discovery.
The faster of the two held a lantern in one hand and his sword in the other. He slowed as soon as he spotted her. “It’s the sun-kissed! Which way did the vagrants go?” he asked her.
She gestured to the three tunnels around her. “All of them.”
The man glanced behind him as four more guards caught up along with Rendor.
“Pair up. Pick a tunnel and go!” Rendor ordered.
The six of them did as instructed and took off. Rendor remained behind. He held a small yet bright druk. His fierce countenance didn’t bode well for their reunion, but the sudden relief at his arrival surprised her. Huh. She was genuinely glad to see him.
He scanned her from head to toe. She must be a frightful sight with her dirty, ripped, and bloody clothes, her butchered hair, bruised face, and cuts all over her body.
Rendor’s gaze snagged on her blood-soaked torso before meeting hers. “What happened?” he demanded.
Speaking required effort, and exhaustion had settled deep into her bones.
“Shyla?” He sheathed his sword and crouched next to her. Concern flashed before he hid it behind his familiar scowl.
“Long story,” she finally managed.
“Then you better get started.”
She shook her head. “Just…stop torturing those people. Please.”
Confused, he asked, “Which ones?”
That question stabbed into her core. How many people—no, not thinking about it. Focus, Shyla. “The vagrants…the ones arrested and questioned…about me.” Why was it so hard to form a sentence?
“Why should I?”
“They didn’t…”
“Kidnap you? Hurt you?” He pointed to her torso and bloodstained pant leg. “It certainly appears that way.”
“Not them. Please.”
“Not until you tell me everything.”
The scuff of boots announced the return of one of the teams.
“The scorching sand rats disappeared,” the guard reported. He tilted his head at Shyla. “Did she say where they’re squatting?”
“Not yet,” Rendor said.
A shudder rolled through her at his confident tone. The second and third teams arrived soon after, describing the same thing.
“All right, let’s go back so I can have a private chat with our sun-kissed,” Rendor said.
Did she actually see the sly knowing looks on the guards’ faces or did she imagine it? At this point it didn’t matter.
“Can you stand?” he asked.
Only one way to find out. She staggered to her feet and wobbled. Rendor reached for her, but she straightened. Her body screamed in protest, but she could walk. Three guards led the way, then Rendor strode beside her and the last three followed behind. Quite the parade.
A numbing weakness climbed her legs as they traveled through the tunnels. Her pace slowed. The ground beckoned.Sit a spell, it said.Just an angle or two.I’m softer than I look.She couldn’t argue with its logic. Sinking down, she—
“Seven hells.” Rendor scooped her into his strong arms.
