Page 44 of Dragon Sword

I studied their surroundings. “Are you sure about that?”

She glared at me. “Watch your tongue, girl. If we had our weapons-”

“You have nothing but the opportunity to escape by telling us what we would like to know,” Will interrupted her and I couldn’t help but notice a distinct coldness in his voice. “There is only a matter of time before the guards come to check on you. Will you answer us quickly and truthfully?”

Sylvia tapped her fingers against her arm. “Alright. We’re looking for Mother Dunn.”

The name didn’t mean a thing to me but I noticed Will stiffen. He nodded at the pair. “Continue.”

Sylvia shrugged. “That’s all there is to it. We tracked her here a few weeks ago and were looking for her when we got caught.”

“That’s the whole truth, sir,” Steve chimed in as he bobbed his head. “We’re just bounty hunters looking to get the prize on her head. She doesn’t even have to be alive to make us rich.”

Will’s eyes flickered between the pair. “Capturing her would be a difficult task, even for the most proficient of hunters.”

Sylvia smirked at him. “You’re looking at them. Just get us out of here and give us our weapons and we’ll show you what we can do.”

“Where did you last see Mother Dunn?” Will questioned them.

The pair glanced at each other and Steve shrugged. “We were headed southwest of the capital when the elves caught us.”

Sylvia grasped the bars and glared at Will. “Are you going to let us out now or not?”

“Stand back,” Will commanded them as he grabbed the iron rods.

The pair scurried back and even I took a step backward. Will clenched his teeth and flames flowed out of his hands. The bars turned red above and below his grip and soon the metal dripped down like candle wax. He stepped back and allowed the melted bars to drop to the floor in clumps, creating a gap.

The pair waited for the metal to cool before Steve directed Sylvia through and followed. They had hardly stepped out into the corridor when a voice spoke up from down the hall.

“It appears we have more visitors.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

We all whippedour heads in that direction and watched as Knight Luja stepped out of one of the rooms formerly occupied by the transformed animals. He had discarded his travel attire and now wore raiments of fine silk over a silver breastplate. His hair was neatly combed and his new boots shone brightly in the flickering torchlight. A wicked smile lay on his lips as he rapped his fist against the outside of the door. The other portals swung open and elf soldiers hurried out. More appeared down the other end of the hall, blocking off all the exits.

Luja strolled over to us, his eyes shining as he looked Will and me over. “What a pleasant surprise. I thought we would never meet again within the city walls, much less in the dungeons.”

A smooth smile appeared on Will’s lips. “We had some questions for our friends here, and for you.”

Luja laughed. “For me? What would you ask of me?”

“We were curious to know if you had a connection to Mother Dunn.”

The corners of Luja’s lips twitched but he kept his composure. “Mother Dunn? Who would that be?”

“A mortal witch who has been sighted in the forest these last six months,” Will told him, and more than one soldier glanced at his companion with a questioning look.

Luja shrugged. “What would I know about that? I have only just returned after that long a sojourn in the mortal realm.” He straightened and puffed out his chest a little. “But you have yet to congratulate me on my new role. His Highness has appointed me as the leader of his personal guard and Steward of the Vahti.”

My eyebrows crashed down. “You stole Terve’s role?”

A dark cloud settled on his brow as he glared at me. “I earned this position. Unlike the previous general, I will not betray my king’s trust.”

“What do you say to that?” Will asked the other guards as he swept his gaze over them. “Do you believe General Terve betrayed the king’s trust on a whim? Or do you truly believe he had a more noble goal in mind?” A slight murmur of agreement arose from the soldiers.

Luja spun around and glared at the men behind him. “Quiet! You will not speak of that traitor in my presence again, is that understood?”

The men stood at attention and voiced their reply in unison. “Yes, sir!” More than one soldier, however, tightened their grip on their spears.

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