The Order of Dragonfire

Chapter 23

"You didn't place enough. She's still awake." Githa complained.

Caine shrugged silently. The cell had exhausted Alex to the point of passing out, but she could tell it was no accident that these suppression conduits didn't. The stones' effects pushed her to the brink of unconsciousness but tormentingly kept her there in a hellish state of paralysed sickness and confusion. Although there was nothing she could do about it she still hated herself for letting the stones get the better of her.

She pried one eye open and saw Thorn and Rose discussing something, but she couldn't hear them. She tried to move but barely had the energy for a slight twitch, and even that sent a searing pain through her head. They hadn't confined her in any other way but there was no need to. If there was a way out of the hopeless circumstances then she had no idea what it was.

"At last." Githa mumbled, as Alex saw Thorn and Rose stop talking and move away. With a great struggle she managed to tilt her head and see the wagons roll to a halt on the road, illuminated by the lanterns hanging from them. Well, this seemed like the end of her brief taste of freedom. She would have shuddered at the thought of what they had in store for her, if she had still be able to. Whatever their plan was, she would find out soon enough.

"Get her." Thorn approached and gestured to Alex's limp form. Through the corner of a half open eye she could just about make out Rain's figure as he lifted her and tossed her over his shoulder. A lump formed in her throat at the thought of her former friend having turned so spiteful. It seemed that it really had all been an act. He picked up her kit and flung it over his other shoulder, and finally slipped one of the suppression conduits into his pocket.

"Take her to the cell." Thorn said. "We'll need to arrange a more... permanent solution soon enough."

Alex was a little surprised that Rain walked towards the cart on his own without anyone else, but in her state she didn't need much guarding. She tried to get free and fight him off, but didn't have the energy to do little more than some faint writhing. At least things weren't as bad with one stone than when she had been surrounded by them. She looked down at it and cursed it. The small glowing pebble looked so innocuous, so innocent, and yet had so much power over her. Her own pack bouncing against the side of her head wasn't helping matters either and the knife so close to her face was a particular worry, but she doubted Rain would care much even if she could ask him to move it.

She watched the stone rolling around in the large pocket of his cloak. If there was any hope of getting away, it was at that moment. She wasn't going to find herself in a better situation any time soon, and despite the seemingly hopeless situation the foundations of a plan were forming in her mind. She had to think over it a couple of times to make sure it would work and that she wasn't just losing her mind. It was almost comically simple, which was maybe why Rain hadn't considered this vulnerability. She tested her arms again and found that she could still move them. Not much and without any real force, but it was all she needed. As Rain meandered through the carts she dropped her hand into his pocket, getting ready for the right time to act. She looked around as best as she could and hoped that no one would see her. She would attract their attention soon enough, but a precious few seconds could make all the difference.

She saw Caine's carriage up ahead and realised it was now or never. Edging her hand towards the stone, she gripped it and instantly felt like death. Being near it was one thing but making contact was another, as its effects were suddenly amplified. The shock forced her to release it. Her heart sank and all hope seemed lost as she realised it might not be possible after all, but there was no harm in trying again. Bracing herself she inched her hand towards it again, slowly curling her fingers around it as her stomach turned and pain flowed through her. Channeling all her strength and begging, although fruitlessly, the ring to give her some power, she slowly lifted the stone. Every second felt like an hour of agony but she found that she could just about keep her fingers curled around the rock. With a colossal effort she managed to slowly lift her hand, higher and higher until it was almost out of the pocket. With her little strength drastically leaving her, she let her arm swing with Rain's movements and released the stone onto the ground.