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As they led eon, I heard the sounds of another person already imprisoned there and tilted my head to see who it was Roden was chained in the center of the room, the very spot where Mott had whipped h it was torn and filthy With his arms raised, I noted he was thinner than he had been before, but stronger too He was also bruised along one side of his face, a one As bad as he looked, it was a blessing that he was still alive Well, alive for now I suspected his was the neck intended for the second noose

When he saw ht andHe wasn’t alone, then I wondered who had been captured with him Maybe the commander of Bymar, or one of the men I’d sent with him

I didn’t see who it was until we reached the bottom of the stairs and rounded the corner Once I did, tile moment vanished, and I feared it was soirl with long brown hair and tea-colored eyes was slowly rising to her feet

Ien

She was in a simple bleached-muslin dress, with no hint of decoration It ide at the neck, and I could see bandages wrapped over her left shoulder Her hair was erously pale

But she was alive

Hoas that possible? I had seen the arrow pierce her shoulder, seen her fall, and every conversation since that moment had confir before rip while Terrowic unlocked the cell door The second he opened the door, I twisted around and snatched the keys from his hand Before any of them could react, I darted into the cell, slammed the door shut behind uely aware of their curses and threats, but barely took notice of them My only care at the moment stood directly in front of me

I had seen her every time I closed my eyes, heard her voice in hthts like deadly parasites Could it be that she wasn’t truly here? That what I saw in front of e for all the crih at my expense, this would be their cruelest trick

I crossed the rooen’s face I knew every curve, every line It was her, and yet I could not fatho there

In only a whisper, I said, "If this is a trick, please tell me now Are you real?" It was a fool’s question, perhaps, but I had to be sure When she nodded, withher as delicately as a teacup Just to touch her sent a flood of eh me My eyes filled with tears, but I didn’t care if anyone saw

I her to the wall But her left hand pressed against et closer to her touch Her eyes revealed some mixture of joy and sadness to see htly at first, then again and again, as if nothing in the world existed but us Her hand slid over ainst her She wanted me as close as I needed to be to her, and I beca away ever again

The vigils outside of the cell were yelling now, and Terrowic ordered the others to go back upstairs and locate ot in here But they weren’t inside yet

My fingers caressed the curve of her jaw, then her hand folded into lanced down at our intertwined hands only momentarily, then, when she looked back up, the corners of her eyes creased

"Tell me that you love me," I whispered