Sorceress of Illaria

Chapter 3

Ashton

The clicking of boots against stone woke Ashton from a restless sleep. It took a minute to find his bearings in the dark cell. Hands extended in front of him, he found the bars and looked out. A torch illuminated a feminine silhouette.

Nora stopped in front of Ashton's cell and lowered the torch until it was level with his face. "Good morning, Ashton. Not that you would know it down here, but it's a whole new day."

Ashton bared his teeth. "What do you want?"

"I thought I would ask your opinion on something." She took a few steps toward the wall and slid the torch into a mount, freeing up her hands. Her hands were clasped in front of her and she smiled at Ashton. "Today, I'll begin Saffron's torture. You get to decide what I do to her."

Ashton jumped to standing and pushed on the bars. "You leave her alone. She doesn't deserve any of this. She shouldn't even be here. You know that. This place is only for fire sorcerers."

Nora ran a finger up and down one of the bars. "There are exceptions to every rule. Really, I did a kindness to her. I gave her a few extra days to live. She should have died on the battle field. But I wanted to savor the moment."

"You are insane," Ashton said. "Max married you. Hasn't Saffron been punished enough?"

"You'd think I'd be happy enough, wouldn't you?" She laughed. "But I know that as long as she's alive, I'm the other woman, even if I am the one he calls his wife."

"Where is Max?" Ashton asked. "If he really was alive, he'd never approve of this."

"Max left me in charge while he recovers." Nora slipped her hand through the bars and brushed Ashton's cheek with her fingertips.

He pulled away, upper lip curled in disgust. "Don't touch me."

"That's right," she said. "You're in love, aren't you?"

Ashton stood silently, not wanting to give her anything about Etta. It was bad enough that he and Saffron were here, he wouldn't bring Etta into her mind.

"No comment?" she asked. "I suppose we'll save that conversation for another day. Today is the day I begin on Saffron. You're already being tortured. What is a sorcerer without his powers? Is he even still a man?"

Ashton's blood ran cold. She was right. He felt a constant state of anxiety being unable to reach for his magic. He wasn't sure how long he'd be able to handle it before he said or did something stupid or risky. He'd never heard of sorcerers losing their magic and didn't know such counter measures existed. He had to hope that she was bluffing.

"Jack," Nora called behind her. "I think we'll take Saffron upstairs. I'd like to use some fire on her pretty face."

Ashton shook the bars again. "Stop it, Nora. Leave her alone!"

Nora leaned in toward Ashton and he stuck his arm out, pulling her head to the bars. Nora's face was against the bars. Ashton could feel her breath against his cheek. "Let her go."

Her eyes flicked up to his and she smirked. "Good thing I like it rough. We'll have to play together later. Max never takes it this far."

Ashton let go of her and stepped back from the bars. How had she twisted his aggression like that? She was crazy. Max probably didn't even know what he'd gotten into siding with her.

Nora took a step back, rubbing her hand on the back of her neck. "I'll be back for you later."

A man in black robes opened Saffron's cell and dragged her through the door.

"Saffron!" Ashton ran back to the bars again. "Saffron I'm so sorry."

She didn't say anything as she was pushed down the hall. She seemed to have already given up. Nora followed behind Jack and Saffron, leaving the torch mounted to the wall.

Ashton leaned agains the wall and slid down it. What was he going to do? He was powerless to help Saffron or himself. He took a deep breath. You have to do something.

This was the first time he'd had any light in the cell. He stood and began checking every inch, looking for any weakness. The cell seemed to be impeccably made. He didn't even have a window to the outside world. He sat in the middle of the floor and looked at his hands. Was his magic really gone? He tried calling to his fire. He'd been doing it for so long now that it was second nature to create flames in his hands. Nothing happened. He closed his eyes and rested his head on his knees. He was going to die in here.

At least Etta was safe. He'd watched her go with Celeste and Yancey. They'd keep her safe. Until the king finds her. In all of the confusion of the last few days, he'd never told her that Master Flanders had been the one who created the protection spell. With his death, Etta was no longer safe from the king.

Adrenaline surged through him and he rose to his feet. He couldn't give up. He had to get back to Etta. He paced the room, trying to think of a plan.

The torchlight was nearly spent when footsteps announced a visitor. Ashton was still pacing the cell, a frenzy of nervous energy. He wasn't sure if it was from his desire to save Etta or because his lack of magic was causing him to be restless. Both reasons seemed to feed one another. His head just needed up in circles.

He walked up to the bars but didn't grab hold of them this time. He didn't want to be too close to Nora. Saffron was being dragged in to her cell by two black-robed men. They dropped her body on the ground then shut the door behind them.

Ashton's jaw tightened and he clenched his fists. "What did you do to her?"

The men looked up at him, but didn't speak. They turned and walked back down the hall.

"Saffron? Saffron are you okay?" Ashton's stomach was in knots. "Please answer me."

He knelt down in front of the bars, eyes locked on her prone form. "Saffron?"

Saffron groaned, and turned to her back.

"Saffron!"

"I'm here, Ashton." She didn't sit up.

"What did they do to you?"

"It doesn't matter," she said.

"Yes, it does. I need to know what I should be doing to them when we get out of here."

Saffron grunted as she sat up. "How are we going to get out of here?"

"I'm not sure yet, but we are." The torchlight was dim and Ashton couldn't make out her expression. "We are going to get out of here."

"I hope so, Ashton."

"Did you see Max?" Ashton didn't want to ask, but he had to know.

There was a pause. "No, just Nora and a few of the members of the Order of the Dragon."

"What did they do, Saffron?" Ashton tried again.

"They cauterized my wound. Looks like I'll be living for a while longer." Her voice was flat.

Ashton could tell she was leaving something out. "And?"

"Don't worry about it, Ashton. Get me out of here and I'll give her what she deserves."

Whatever they did to her must have been bad but it had lit a fire under her. She wanted revenge. "She's all yours, Saffron."

"You better believe she is. She's going to pay." The torch burned out, leaving them in darkness. Somehow, Ashton had to get out of this cell. If he could get somewhere where his power was usable, he'd be able to save them both.