Page 71 (2/2)

Mara hurried forward and slid the metal pins on the door into loops on the wall “Done”

The guard stepped away and lifted tooden beams into place The door rattled behind theuard didn’t have his helloves His silver chest plate shone in the torchlight “You’re hier Didn’t expect you to stink so bad though, you crawl through shit to get here?”

Mara couldn’t focus on anything other than the guard’s thick black eyebrows that

“Not the talkative type, then Don’t see anyone for days on end down here, and then souard put on his silver helmet and took the torch out of the metal holder on the wall “This way”

Mara followed the guard along the corridor that was carved through the rock He couldn’t understand how the wooden fra in A cool drop of water hit his head Many twinkled on the roof in the torchlight He wanted more to fall to help cool him

They reached another door, and the guard lifted off the tooden bea Same knock” He took off his hel to talk about for when you come back, aye?”

Why does he want to talk so badly? Mara entered The roo The door to the corridor shut, and all went dark The guard hummed as the beams clunked back into place

Where is this boy? He felt along the barrels “Hello,” he whispered “You in here?” Nothing He continued along until he found a wall and slid down it to wait

Mara woke to the sight of a pale boy with dark hair, pinching his own nose while tapping him on the shoulder Mara’s hand was already on his blade

“Is it you?” the boy asked His voice sounded funny with his nose blocked

“Yes” Mara stood and began taking off his clothes

The boy stood back, eyes wide “What are you doing?”

“Take off your clothes”

“My clothes? Whatever for?”

Mara stood naked, blade in hand “Take them off, or I will for you”