Page 169 of A Crown Without Mercy

Vispera opened her tunic and turned her head from side to side and stared at her grayish colored skin. “‘Tis growing.”

“Yes, Priestess,” Stronbo replied.

She cupped her hands together and dragged them apart. She then wrapped the silk scarf around her neck and reached for Stronbo’s forearm. “Take me to him.”

He helped her stand, and she wrapped her arm around his, and they walked down to the cells below the main fortress. They stepped across the hexagonal, glass floor and stood before a large pane of glass. Vispera waved her hand, and the smoke trapped within dissipated. Kieran was on his knees; with his arms chained behind his back and his ankles chained to the floor.

Kieran looked up when the smoke in one pain swirled and slowly dissipated, revealing Vispera and another warrior standing before him on the other side. “Vispera,” he snarled.

“Kieran Acheron. Welcome to thy Gehenna of Shadows,”she relayed telepathically.

“You look a little disheveled. Is there something wrong with your voice, Vispera? Did the dragon leave her mark?”he snarked.

“‘Tis thy power of thy cell. Thy only communication you have is with me telepathically, of course.”

“What do you want?”

“Release him,”she stated.

The chains fell from his wrists and ankles and disappeared through the floor as if being pulled by a cogwheel. He rose and stepped toward them.“There is a reason I am standing here. I assume you need me, or you would have had me killed already?”

“Your time is nigh. There is no escape. No one will feel your energy, nor will they hear you. It will be as if you do not exist.”

When a large creature, on one side of his cell slammed its body against the thick pane, it created a large smoke ring within the panes, its center black as coal. Kieran didn’t so much as flinch, but the strength of the glass was more than concerning. He glanced around and, upon first appearances, the cubed cell seemed to have been forged from glass. However, a thin layer of swirling smoke obscured all from view. Not even his keen sense of sight could penetrate it.How the fuck and I going to get out of this?He wondered, having cloaked his thoughts.

“Curious what they are?”she asked.

“Is that what happens to those who have slipped their cocks between your legs?”He chuckled.

Stronbo’s eyes narrowed, and he took one step forward and pulled his sword.

Kieran smirked at Stronbo.“Did I strike a nerve?”

Vispera held up her hand and motioned for Stronbo to cease.“Jest if you will. Soon you will know exactly what they are.”

He placed one arm behind his back and bowed in a mocking manner.“I look forward to it.”

“I have something to show you.”She slid one finger down the pane and a blurry image morphed and twisted and Kieran saw himself on the battlefield, along with Riordan and Nicolai. He watched as his doppelgänger ran toward Riordan, and just as he turned around, he shoved his sword into his brother’s chest. The smoke consumed the image and filled the panes, and he could no longer see Vispera or her warrior.

Kieran stumbled back, consumed with rage and anguish. “What have you fucking done?” he bellowed. He turned and slammed his fists on the pane and dropped his head between his arms.They will think I killed my brother. No—this can’t be. Rio can’t be dead! She cut off the image—which means he is alive. Had he died; she would have shown me?

Once again, the creature on the other side slammed its body against the pane, and in response, Kieran’s fist made contact multiple times in quick succession. “Come and fucking get me!” he bellowed. He then stepped back.Think, he said to himself.Vispera is lying. If it can hear me, and I can hear it—there was no need for her to speak to me telepathically. She has to be keeping me alive for other reasons. The dragon? It had to have wounded Vispera?

He looked down and the ambient, multi-colored light within the cell glimmering from the crystalline floor.Find its weakness,he told himself, as he knelt down and swept his hand over the floor. Although it appeared as if he was standing on crushed gems, there was not one imperfection to be felt. He rose and walked from corner to corner, and even though he could not see the other prisoners; he heard them. The grunting, groaning, and caterwauling were unfamiliar, and he had no idea what the creatures imprisoned all around him were or where they could have come from.

Sylvana jumped to her feet, ran down the path and stood at the edge of the river and a legion of warriors appeared. Nicolai and Tobias were carrying Rio, while other warriors were carrying the injured and the dead. They leapt across the river and Sylvana rushed to Nicolai. “Oh, my god—Rio!” She stared at the saturated material secured to his chest. “What the hell happened?” She then glanced around. “Where is Kieran?”

“Kieran is with us, but our immediate concern is for Rio. He needs your blood.”

“Get him to the cave,” Kundar said.

They laid him on his back and Sylvana kneeled on the bed next to him, slit her wrist, and Rio, who was barely conscious, placed his hand on her thigh.

She placed her wrist against his lips, and he cupped his mouth around the gash. “You are going to be okay, my love,” she said, as she stroked his arm.

Nicolai stood at her side with his hands on her shoulders. Rio gently pushed her arm away, and she looked up at Nicolai. “Where is Kieran?”

Nicolai nodded to Kundar, who stood at the entrance. He stepped out of the cave and returned with Kieran who was escorted in by multiple guards, with his wrists bound behind his back.

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