The Sword Bearer

Chapter 33

I stared at them unhappily as they put me back to where I had been hanging just a while ago. One of the guards gave me a look that seemed like sympathy. I didn’t respond and they both walked out. I kicked the wall behind me in frustration. I had almost done it until out mind link had disappeared. I had held the sword in my hand just a few minutes ago. I probably hadn’t stomached enough of the liquid to maintain the link. Daren looked at me unhappily. “She saw through you, didn’t she?” he said disappointed. I nodded that he was right and let my head hand down. “Why is it when she touched the sword. It burned her?” I voiced my curiosity. He stiffened. “It can’t be,” he whispered in disbelief. “What?” I asked him frantically. He looked at me like he hadn’t noticed me. He muttered “Nothing”. “No tell me” I persisted. “I said it was nothing,” he said, anger evident in his voice. I stayed silent after that, not wanting to spark his anger anymore. I was tired but I could sleep because of my anxiety. I looked all over the room except at Daren but after while I couldn’t help it anymore. His jaw was clenched and his hands hung at his sides forming fists. He started to turn to me but I quickly avoided his gaze. I had expected Marcus to come back and administer more of the liquid but he never did. It wasn’t that I wanted him to come but when he didn’t it gave me an uneasy feeling like Niray was planning something even worse. After I was a little more calm, but more alert, I fell into a shallow sleep so I would be able to wake up if anything disturbed the silence. I heard someone saying my name. I groaned drowsily but the person just kept saying my name. I reluctantly opened my eyes. I turned to meet Daren’s eyes. They had softened somewhat from his before anger. “I’m sorry,” he said to me with sincerity in his gaze. I looked at him confused. “For what?” I asked him puzzled. “Yelling at you,” he said through clenched teeth. He had a pleading expression on his face. “It’s okay,” I said looking to the floor. I hadn’t really been mad at him to begin with. He was grinning when I looked up at him and I tried to give him a smile of equal splendor but it was small. “What’s wrong?” he asked me, the smile slipping off his face and turned into a look of concern. “This whole situation” I sighed unhappily. If I had just made sure that no one was following us we wouldn’t be in this mess. He gave me a stern look the scolded me by saying, “Stop blaming yourself. It’s not your fault. I didn’t even notice they were following us then how would you?” I knew he was right but I wanted to blame our misery on someone. “You’re still doing it,” he said, his forehead scrunched in a frown. I let out a deep breath and stopped thinking about everything for a moment with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes I saw that Daren’s expression had softened again. “Good,” he said.

After his comment a long silence fell between us. It wasn’t filled with frustration but it was one of those good ones we had shared before. The ones where there was nothing left to say. In the silence was a clam and it stopped me from thinking anything negative while it lasted. I wanted it to last longer before I would have to plunge back into the debts of out misfortune but it didn’t. In between that silence Niray burst into the room. I could see her hands were red like a tomato probably due to the fact that she had touched the sword with her bare hands again. It meant that she had not been successful in her efforts to harvest the swords power. Her hand seemed to be throbbing strenuously. As she caught my eye on her hand she hid it from sight with her other hand. I altered my gaze toward her face and I noticed her temple was throbbing too. She walked over to me and grabbed me by the collar, bringing my face close to hers. Her pupils were dilated. “You are going to come with me and do as I say. You understand?” she said in a deathly quiet tone that still rung in my ears. Daren was watching us in horror. “Stay away from her,” he said in a gruff voice. She moved away for me and turned her attention toward him. “Well I guess you will do then,” she said gleefully. His eyes widened as he realized what she meant and the color drained form his face as she started to walk over to him “No take me” I screamed. She stood between us trying to decide which one of us she was going to take. She tapped her foot in annoyance. “Well then I’m just going to have to take both of you, won’t I?” she said. I couldn’t tell if she was happy and just annoyed about her decision. She unlocked the clasp around my wrist and let me fall to the ground making my knees buckle. I let out a small cry and fell on all fours. I rolled over to see her drop Daren similarly but he landed on his feet, being more coordinated than I was. She grabbed his wrist digging her nails into his skin. I finally regained my balance and stood up. Daren’s hands motioned for me to run but I could while he was still here so I stood there helplessly debating whether I should run or not. I was still confused when she took my wrist into her hand. Daren looked disappointed and I knew what I had to do to keep an ounce of my dignity. I gave a pull and to my surprise my wrist actually slipped out of her grasp. I made a bolt for the door turning to see Daren’s face with a proud expression. I turned back around and I was only a second away from the door.