Shield's Lady

It was contoured in a slightly sloping fashion. When she sat down she felt uncomfortable.
    “Etion, what is this place?”
    “I wish I knew,” Rakken said quietly as he went to the wall and pushed against it. A panel slid open revealing an assortment of familiar looking wines and ales. “A glass of wine, Sariana?”
    “I could use it.” She tried to speak calmly, as if everything that were happening was perfectly routine. Rakken handed her the wine. “Where’s Gryph?”
    There was a movement in the open doorway behind her.
    “Right behind you,” Gryph announced in a rough voice as he walked slowly and awkwardly into the room. Targyn followed. “I don’t suppose there’s any point asking you why you disobeyed my orders, is there, Sariana?”
    “Of course not.” Sariana jumped to her feet and went flying toward him. She stopped when she realized there was something wrong with the way he was standing. His hands were behind his back and he seemed to be having trouble staying on his feet.
    “By the Lightstorm, what’s wrong? What have they done to you?” she snapped, circling him to assess the damage.
    Rakken chuckled. “Nothing yet. He’s in a twist. Another witty little western invention designed by Shields to use on the bandits they take prisoner.”
    Sariana stared at the strange mechanism strapped to Gryph’s waist at the back. Leather straps that appeared to be under extreme tension came from openings in a metal case. The straps were attached to Gryph’s wrists and ankles.
    “There’s some give in the straps as long as he moves very slowly and cautiously,” Rakken explained easily. “But if he makes any sudden moves—such as grabbing for my throat—the straps tighten and lock. He’ll wind up flat on his back, possibly breaking an arm in the process. Here’s your wine, my dear. Chassyn? What can I get for you?”
    “Ale,” Gryph said. His eyes were on Sariana’s worried face. “What happened to you? You look like you swam the river.”
    “I did. I’ll tell you all about it later.”
    An image of Lucky popped into her head but Gryph said nothing aloud. Sariana blinked, realizing he was projecting the question silently. Which meant he probably wanted a silent answer. She casually patted her cloak pocket. Lucky stayed silent.
    “Targyn, take Lady Sariana’s cloak, will you?” Rakken asked as he opened a bottle of ale. “And then tell Miscroft we’re ready for dinner.”
    “Tell him yourself. You can take care of the woman’s cloak, too. I don’t take orders from you.” Targyn strode across the room and snatched a bottle of ale from the cabinet in the wall. “I don’t take orders from anyone,” he added as he opened the bottle. “You have a bad habit of forgetting that, banker.”
    “My apologies, Lord Targyn. I’ll tell Miscroft myself. Excuse me for a moment.”
    Sariana saw the anger in Rakken’s eyes as he went past her, but he was careful to keep it under control. It was obvious Etion did not want to push Targyn too much.
    Targyn tipped the bottle of ale and downed several large swallows. Then he lowered the bottle and wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve. He ignored Sariana but his eyes were feverishly alert as they scanned Gryph.
    “I’m going to kill you,” Targyn said. “Before this is all over, I’m going to kill you. There’s a certain justice here, you know. I think you’re the one the Council would have sent after me. Nervous fools. I’ll use you for target practice. I’ve never killed another Shield. Should be interesting for both of us.” He took another swallow of ale and chuckled. “Rakken wants to keep you alive for a while. He thinks we may need you. He’s afraid I’ll lose control of the prisma and detonate it accidentally if I don’t have backup. But I’m a lot stronger than he thinks. When this is all over I’m going to get rid of you both. He’s been useful up until now, but I don’t need a banker for what I have in mind for the future.”
    “What do you have in mind?” Gryph crossed the room with painful slowness and finally dropped down onto the oddly contoured bench. His last movement was a little too quick and the twist locked for a few seconds. Gryph set his teeth against the obvious pain and waited until the straps loosened slightly.
    Sariana hurried over to the cabinet and picked up the ale bottle Rakken had opened earlier for his prisoner. She brought it over to the low table and set it down in front of Gryph. She