Shadows Return

broken bones so far. That was to the good—though from what Ilar had said, he wondered how long that would last. The future looked rather bleak at the moment.
    He found himself missing Zoriel. She’d taken good care of him and cared enough to send that Khatme nurse to check on him.
    He tugged absently at a strand of dirty hair. To get out of this wretched prison, he was going to have to use his wits. Fighting Ilar was hopeless. The bastard would enjoy it. No, it was time for a new strategy, and fast.
    “Rhania, come pay me another visit, won’t you, my dear?” he whispered into the gathering gloom. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d found a servant just as useful as any lock pick.
             
    But it was not Rhania who came to him after dark, but Ilar, and he had an escort this time. Seregil didn’t stir from his corner. He’d had a long time to consider his options.
    One of the men placed a stool and a lantern by the door. The other held a tray and Seregil’s mouth watered at the aroma of some soup made with onions and spices.
    Ilar sat down and regarded Seregil with obvious delight. “Awake, I see. I hope fasting has improved your temper?”
    “I suppose it has,” Seregil replied, purposely sounding fainter than he felt. “Please, what’s happening to Alec?”
    “I believe Ilban Yhakobin is preparing him to make another rhekaro.”
    “Another?” Seregil closed his eyes, fending off a wave of very real panic.
    “Yes. The first one was not suitable,” Ilar told him, relishing his discomfort.
    “I want to help him,” said Seregil. “Is there anything I can do that will sway you?”
    “My goodness, this is a sea change,” Ilar sneered. “And why should I bargain with you?”
    “No bargains,” Seregil replied. “I’ll do anything you want, take any torture you like, if you can keep that man from killing him.”
    “You must think me quite a fool, Haba. I assure you, I’m not. I know the minute I turn my back on you, you’ll try to strangle me again, or run away. Probably both.”
    “You think I’d leave Alec to die in this place?”
    Ilar pondered that a moment. “Perhaps not, but I do find it hard to believe this sudden change of heart toward me.”
    “You have my word, Ilar—
Ilban.
By the love I once had for you, and the love I bear for Alec now.”
    “Words are worthless between us, Haba.”
    Seregil gathered his will, swallowed his pride and crawled to Ilar on hands and knees, letting the quilts fall away.
    “What’s this?”
    Seregil crouched before him, kissed one slippered foot and then rested his forehead lightly on it. “My life for his, Ilban. Please, I beg you, my life for his.”
    Ilar grabbed the back of Seregil’s head, fingers twisting painfully into his hair. “Be careful, Haba. I will not be lenient with you again when you betray me.”
    “My life for his,” Seregil whispered.
    “He is not mine to save, you know.”
    “But your master listens to you. As long as Alec survives, I will serve you.”
    “You will serve me anyway, one way or another.”
    “I will serve without resistance.”
    “A very interesting proposition, Haba, and one I will consider.” He released Seregil and shoved him away, then stood abruptly. “Get away from me. You stink.”
    Seregil crawled backward, to all appearances a craven, broken man.
    Ilar stood a moment longer, and Seregil could feel the man’s gaze traveling over him, suspicious, but intrigued. “Well, we shall see.”
    Turning to the men, he spoke in their language. “Clean him up, and the room. If anything untoward happens, I’ll have your guts on a trencher.”
    The men watched sullenly until Ilar was out of sight, then one growled to his partner, “That arrogant little dog’s prick! Who does he think he is, ordering us around? By Sakor, I’d like to put him in his place once and for all.”
    “So you keep saying,” the other one sighed, pushing past him to roll up the soiled bedding. “Count Yhakobin would have you flogged and sold if you so much as laid a finger on his precious pet ’faie, and you know it. And the lickspittle will be free soon, too, and of better standing than either you or me. So just hold your temper and wait. He’ll be gone soon enough.”
    He leaned over Seregil and wrinkled his nose in disgust. “This one doesn’t seem too high and mighty, does he?”
    The other chuckled as he came over and yanked Seregil’s head up by the hair.
    Seregil was getting tired of this sort