The Quest for Drisilas by Alice G Bjornstedt

Author:Alice G Bjornstedt
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alice G. Bjornstedt
Published: 2022-08-17T22:40:19+00:00

14

The Second Source

Caer Sia, the same evening

Allie regained her consciousness with a splitting headache and no idea where she was.

It was very dark and cold. There was a musty stench in the air and a dampness that bit into her skin felt vaguely familiar, but her half-conscious mind couldn’t place it. Then, gradually, her memories returned, and with it, her fear.

They had met with the kragon lord. Fireclaw had said that Adderstrike and Terrax had likely both been hired by the same person – someone who wanted the sword, wanted power, and most of all, wanted to see the Liznees dead. Then she had sat on the drawbridge, deep in thought, trying to sort out all the information Fireclaw had given them. Trying to understand who could be behind it all.

And then someone had grabbed her from behind, terrifyingly strong hands gripping her and muffling her face in a sour-smelling rag, stifling her cry of alarm. She had struggled frantically for a few seconds before the drug in the rag clouded her mind, and she sank into unconsciousness.

Where was she now?

She blinked. Every muscle in her body felt weak, and her head still spun from the effects of the drug. She was in a stone room. The only light came from a weak lantern on the floor, the little flame sputtering in the damp. Her ankles were shackled and chained to the wall. Painfully, she pulled herself up to a sitting position and looked around momentarily, at a loss.

Finally, she realized where she was. This room – it was below ground, deep in the bowels of Castle Sia. It had been a prison block once, but since it was constructed directly under the river, the wetness had long ago weakened the construction and made it unfit to house prisoners. In fact, these cells had been untouched for years. Sometimes, she would hide down here, reading by the light of a lantern in peaceful solitude.

She felt anything but peaceful now – and worse, she wasn’t alone.

“Glad to see you’re awake, princess.”

The familiar voice made her jump. Standing inside the cell, leaning against the wall, a smirk on his face, was Drona.

“Don’t scream,” Drona continued, his voice calm and level. “I really don’t want to have to kill you. But seeing as you serve very little purpose to me, I will, if for an instant you compromise my plan.”

Allie’s eyes flicked to a slight movement just beside her. A burly, unfamiliar man towered above her, one hand gripping a knife, his piggy black eyes riveted on her.

“What are you doing?” she asked Drona finally, her heart pounding.

“I am doing what is in Coonsia’s best interest,” Drona said smoothly. “I am doing what has to be done, and what your uncle is too soft-hearted to do. Terrax nearly ruined everything with that stunt of his when he stole the sword – I told him to be more subtle, but he’s dreadfully stubborn, as you might imagine.”

The words hit Allie like a thunderclap. “You?” she said hoarsely, her stomach twisting.

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