The Sword Bearer

Chapter 40

Niray’s eyes widened as the door was thrown opened. The echo of the door against the craggy wall resonated through her room. She had been sitting in a chair across from a table with the sword glinting in the meager light of the candle. She was dressed in a long black as dark as her hair.

“Where’d you go?” she said looking at Aiden.

Her voice was like a sharp blade piercing through the silence. The coldness in her voice suggested her suspicion as well as the way she scrunched her lips into a small line. They were tainted a dark red. I shivered as I realized she was going to meet someone, possibly about the sword.

“I was finding this one,” he said, motioning his head toward me.

If I hadn’t known our plan, I would have believed him whole-heartedly. His eyes betrayed no expression except one of loyalty and determination. At least I knew what cause it was for while Niray would think the opposite.

“Well you took your time then! Far too long to catch a helpless wretch like her.”

I flinched as she referred to me in this manner. She stood up and straightened out her dress. She watched us for a long while like she was judging what to do with us.

“Take her to her cell,” she finally said with a flick of her hand, “I have someone important to discuss matters with.”

I didn’t betray any reaction. I had to wait until we were out of sight but she had chosen to trust Aiden. This part of the plan had worked so why wouldn’t the rest? He nodded even though her eyes were on the sword. He pushed me roughly out of the room. My heartbeat quickened as I realized I was going to see Daren again. As soon as we far enough from Niray’s room, Aiden loosened his grip and whispered in my ear.

“You okay?”

I nodded shuddering at the feel of his breath on my cheek.

We walked silently all the way to the room which he unlocked using the keys he had grabbed on the way out of the room. It took me a few second to adjust to the darkness of the room. Daren was still hanging with his shin on his chest. I assumed he was asleep but he lifted his head to look at the sound of footsteps. I saw his eyes widen as he saw it was me.  I could see him panicking at the thought of me being caught again. For a second he looked like he was going to faint.

“Daren,” said running up to him.

I took his hand while he looked like he had seen a ghost.

“I missed you.”

“What are you doing here?” he croaked.

Closer up I could see how sick he looked. He was paler than usual due to the lack of sun. His eyes were bloodshot and his wrists were caked in layers of red like he had been trying to escape.

“Can you cut him down?” I pleaded with Aiden.

He looked at the door verily then closed it a little more. He took a second shuffling through the keys until he picked one and worked against the cuffs. When both of them were open Daren kneeled against the wall with his knees to the chest. I slipped down next to him. He looked at me with an uncertain expression trying to search my face for answers but instead beginning to talk and wrapped my arms around him. I could feel one of his hands on my back lightly. He seemed too hesitant. I could Aiden looking away over his shoulder and felt a little guilty. I pulled back and went back to studying Daren. He slowly lifted a hand to touch my face. I flinched at the dried blood on it but he didn’t seem to notice.

“Am I hallucinating?” he said with a small smile.

“No, I’m here… I came back for you.”