Page 60 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

“Where is what?”

“The key! Where is the key?”

I put my hand to my chest, felt around until I found it hanging to one side. “It’s here. Now go to bed.”

“Remember what I told you. Trade it to no one. Show it to no one. It’s worth more than a few lives, no matter whose.”

I ignored his rambling and sank deeper into the night mist…

* * *

Again,I woke to the sound of clanging. The black night had receded, but only a little, so I sat up and barked, “Stop it, old man, or you will make your own breakfast!”

A low chuckle that didn’t belong to Demius, woke me completely. I was back on that cot, in my cell, trapped in The Soundless and waiting to learn my penalty for refusing to be a prisoner to a madman. Nonetheless, there I sat, Ciro’s prisoner.

At least we’d resisted.

“Lennon, are you there?” She’d gone into the cell next to mine.

“I’m here.”

“Minkin? Are you all right?”

“I’m whole.”Her voice came from across the hall.

“What about your wounds?”

She laughed lightly.“I’m hoping that they wouldn’t have bothered healing me if they only meant to feed me to their dragons.”

“That’s right. They need pieces for their games.”

“Yes,”Lennon said.“But what happened to the last pieces?”

“Enough!” A man barked at the same time he struck my door.

* * *

Hours later,our jailer gave us bread, water, and an empty bucket. But the aromas in the air told me someone would be eating well.

“Do you smell that?”

Lennon answered. “I smell it.”

“I hope you are hungry.”The hated voice of Ciro slipped in around my door, but he wasn’t speaking to me.“Lennon, my love, are you ready to negotiate?”

“Are you kidding? I’m always willing to negotiate. Whatcha got?”

“Well, firstly, I have a meal worthy of a DeNoy.”

“Not poisoned?”

He chuckled.“Not poisoned.”

“Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure you poisoned my dragon, you son of a bitch. And the second you open that door, I’m sending my fist and your teeth down your degenerate throat!”

The man sighed dramatically.“Then I won’t be fool enough to open it. Send it back,”he mumbled. Then louder.“Let’s try something else. How about I make you an offer you cannot refuse?”

“Don’t waste your breath.”

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