Courage And

Selena wanted to both gasp in dismay and sigh in relief when entering the chamber. Drummond was here. Alive, if not well. He’d been chained to the fire wall for who knew how long. Pressing her palm against her chest, she gave in to neither desire. Instead, she rushed across the chamber.

His head trembled as his eyes fluttered open, refusing to focus on her for too long before he stared at her. “Selena?” he asked in a parched, torn voice. “Selena, how did you get here?”

She clawed at the manacles holding him, prying at their gears as she glanced back. “I had some help.”

Drummond raised his head and gasped, looking beyond her. She saw the shock in his eyes. “How did you get Torrin? How is he here?”

“Simple.” Selena grunted, managing to get prying one manacle open. “I asked politely.”

Drummond’s eyes flicked to her, dubious apprehension in them. His lips parted, but his obvious question did not come out. Torrin was not known for nobility, but his brutality.

Selena leaned close and whispered, “Courage and stupidity were all he had. I gave him an argument he accepted.”

Drummond didn’t appear any more pleased by that. His gaze flicked from Selena, and his eyes widened. “Selena!” His desperate plea came too late.

A hand grasped her hair, yanking hard before slamming her against the wall. Torrin leaned close as soldiers’ footsteps filled the corridor. His eyes met Selena’s, and he grinned slowly. “No little mouse, courage and cleverness.”

Selena raised her hands, trying to extract Torrin’s fingers from her hair. Where had she miscalculated?

Did it matter? Their doom neared.