Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Cormac was holding on by the rope. He struggled for a moment before he understood what Isabel was saying. The noose was not tightening around his neck.

He did as Isabel said, hanging limply from the rope. There was a ripple of cheers from the crowd as he swung, apparently dead. Cormac only dared to breathe the smallest amount. The roe restricted his airways but it was not choking him. He kept his eyes glued shut, with only his ears to tell him what was going on.

The crowd slowly ebbed away, now that the show was over. Cormac was left nearly alone. A rock hit him in the stomach and he did not react. His body swung but he didn't flinch.

So many questions popped into his head as he waited. How did Isabel know that he was to be executed? How did she know he was in the city? How had she done the impossible, when he had been such a terrible friend, and saved his life?

The rope had looked so much like a noose but did not work like one. It was a skill he was not aware she had. At least he would be able to say sorry now and no longer feel guilty for the pain he had caused her.

The hours dragged on and it took all of Cormac's will power to remain perfectly still. At one point he felt more stones hit his body. His body would be a patchwork of bruises by now.

He heard a set of footsteps after minutes of silence. Cormac didn't move.

"Cormac hold still," Isabel whispered before his body dropped the short distance to the ground. He shook with relief as his body crumpled beneath him. The pressure lifted from his neck.

Cormac opened his eyes just as the rope fell on top of him. He gasped for air and groaned with pain.

The street was dark and all Cormac could do was to lie there on the ground exhausted. Isabel rolled him onto his back. For a full minute neither of them said anything, staring into each other's eyes. Cormac tried to speak but his throat was dry and raw.

"Thank the Ancestors you are alive. You even had me fooled. I don't know wat I'd have done if..." She shook her head and hugged him tightly. If I was dead, Cormac finished the sentence in his mind. He mustered all his strength to sit up and wrap his arms around Isabel. He was still unable to speak.

Cormac shuddered as his wounded body ached all at once. Isabel pulled away.

"We need to get you away from here," she said. She crawled out from under the platform, dragging Cormac behind her. Her blue eyes searched the street before she helped him to his feet. They jogged to the nearest alleyway. Cormac did his best to keep up, fighting for breath.

Once in the shadows Isabel stopped, "Can you climb?" She said.

"No," he huffed, managing to say the single word. He shook his head, bones aching. Cormac clutched his side and Isabel placed her hand on his shoulder. Beneath the moonlight he could see the worry written across her face. They had no choice but to walk.

Cormac dreaded every moment, expecting them to come face-to-face with soldiers at any point. But Isabel navigated through the back alleys and the did not come across anyone else as they slunk through the city. The further away from the palace they got, the more Isabel began to relax. She calmed down and was able to be her confident self.

At midnight they returned to the hideout and Isabel had to pull Cormac up onto the roof and drag him to his cot. He collapsed onto the bed in pain which had doubled during the climb. Before he could thank Isabel, his saviour, he blacked out.

Cormac woke with a heavy dose of Deja-vu. Isabel stood over him, cleaning his hands. He was in so much agony. His flight from the gallows had taken what life he had left in him and reopened several of the wounds. The room was very light and Cormac shut his eyes to the glare. He gritted his teeth as Isabel bound each of his wounds on his legs, arms and torso. He felt as though he had lost a fair amount of blood.