WHISPER- shadow and bone

Chapter 15

"You? You come here to kill us off?", Mal sneered.

Adeline Mal and Ezra had been imprisoned in a tent far from the main hustle and bustle of camp. Mal had been healed from his wounds and was filled with anger, Adeline had been so close to death that the Heartrender who had raised her looked at the girl as if she were a miracle when she survived. She was weak and her hand seemed to hurt for some reason but she assumed it was just the chains around her wrist. Ezra had struggled in the grip of the men who had handled him, he was not injured but his mental state had deteriorated seeing Ada so pale. Kirigan had called him to his tent again to offer him a place at the Little Palace but when Ezra swore as many times as he could, the General had him chained up with the others.

"No. How many times do I have to tell you people? I'm a man of my word", Kirigan strolled over.

"And when does your word mean anything?", Ada gritted her teeth. "Black Heretic", she whispered.

"That's right, we know who you are. And whatever you have planned for Alina, she won't forgive you. And if you keep me alive, I will hunt you down and I will claim the bounty the old King put on your head" Mal growled.

"Alina has strong feelings for you. And you for her. I read your letters"

"Creep", Ada frowned in disgust.

"All these years, you never truly appreciated who she is. But it's all right, because I do", Kirigan smiled.

Mal snickered. "Oh, you have no chance, shadow man. Because I'm the one she chose"

"You are a child. And she is Grisha. Take away my shadows and I still have something that you don't. Patience. Alina may well take years to forgive me, but I can wait. Meanwhile, you will grow old. Your hair will gray. And she will remain ageless. Like me. And one day, maybe a year from now, maybe 50, she'll realize that she has only one equal. That there are no others like us. And that there never will be"

"Leave him alone man", Ezra grumbled.

"I'm not going to kill you, Mal. I'm not going to kill any of you. I don't need to. Time will do it for me", Kirigan smirked and waltzed away.

"You'll wish you killed me here!", Mal shouted.

"Mal calm down!", Ada spoke.

"He won't get away with this. I'll make sure of it", Ezra growled.

"We need to get out of here. I don't know what he has planned for Alina but I know it isn't good", Ada frowned.

A sudden bleating came from the front of the tent. The guard had fallen asleep and the goat was snuffling around searching for food.

"Look. Around his neck", Ada whispered to Ezra.

" A bullet! If I can get that I should be able to meld it into lock picks", Ezra spoke excitedly, something finally going right.

Mal brought a piece of vegetable from his pocket and began to click his tongue. Ezra and Ada exchanged a glance and burst into silent laughter.

"Come on. Come on. Come on", Mal whispered. The toast came over and began to eat the vegetable and Mal grabbed the bullet.

"Yes. Yes. Oh, you're beautiful, aren't you? Yes, you're a good boy. You're a good boy", he spoke, removing the bullet.

"Mal I didn't know you were an animal whisperer!", Ada whispered. Mal glared at her,

"Oh, thank you", Mal spoke kissing the goats head and Ezra started shaking with laughter.

"You smell", Mal sniffed.