Page 25 of The Lost Child

THUNK.

Something hard cracked me on the back of my head. I hissed in pain and sat up, my mind snapping to reality fast enough to give me whiplash.

“What the fuck?” I grabbed the offending object as it rolled around me. I stared dumbly at the apple, not comprehending. Then my body took over and I bit down into ravenously, juice sliding down my chin.

“Oh good, she’s alive,” came a younger voice, obviously relieved. Toby was here?

I forced myself to stop eating the apple when it was half gone, determined to save the rest for Canavar. Someone ignited a torch, and I balked at the harsh light after being in the dark for so long. I stumbled towards it, wrapping my fingers around the iron bars.

The three faces of my friends were in sharp relief from the torch, but it was them. Silently Hai shoved a water skin at me, and I grasped at it with shaking hands, desperate to drink. Hai had a small scar on his left cheek that helped distinguish him from his twin brother Kai.

I drank what I assumed was half, then lowered it. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice rough and raw.

“Is … is the monster in there?” Toby’s eyes were wide and shining in the torchlight.

I smiled weakly. “He’s not so bad. He’s sleeping.”

Kai’s sharp eyes flicked to mine. “He has not … hurt you?”

Kai had always been able to say multitudes with the fewest amount of words. I knew what he was truly asking: Had Canavar or anyone else gone beyond physical punishment?

“The only one who has ever hurt me is my father,” I spat out.

Kai shot a look at Hai.

Toby looked mystified at all the hidden meanings and double-talk. “Are we going to get her out?” he asked innocently. “We can’t let the monster have her.”

I stuck a hand through the bars and ruffled his hair. “The only monster is the pirate lord. Canavar is my friend. Don’t worry so much.”

Hai leaned forward, whispering into my ear. “The pirate lord will be returning in a week. There are rumors that Macguire’s company will strike before that. Be ready.” He thrust a heavy sack at me. I could smell the food from here. My heart swelled with gratitude.

“Thank you,” I choked out. A few select men in this company had been kinder to me than my father had ever been. I was grateful, but it still hurt.

Hai looked away, and Kai huffed. “Do not thank us. You are one of the best fighters. If we are to be attacked, we can’t have you weak.”

Hai continued, “Our people have had dealings with drakens in the past, centuries ago. Great stories are passed down of how we worked together. Never did Kai or I think we would ever see one in person. To thank you for this gift, we will do our best to help you. If there is one thing that has been told in the stories of old, it is that we all must work together, or perish alone. Good luck.”

Without another word, Kai grabbed Toby by his collar and yanked him away, dousing the torch as he went. I thought I heard Hai sigh, but it could have been my imagination. I listened to their footsteps as they trailed off, until nothing was left but the utter silence and darkness.

* * *

Bang. Bang.

“Wake up! Wake up!”

Someone was shaking me.

“Worthless girl, get up! Hey you! Don’t touch her!”

That wasn’t right. Canavar couldn’t talk. Or at least, he hadn’t yet done it around me.

I came awake with a violent start, immediately thrashing as huge arms were around me, shaking me lightly. I punched someone in the face and they let me go.

Standing shakily, I saw Canavar backing away, completely nonplussed that I’d just smacked him on the nose. Gerrick stood at the iron door in front of us, rattling his sword at the bars.

“Finally. If her highness would oblige, we have work to do.”

My throat was parched, and I was filthy from sleeping in the dirt. Canavar’s dried blood drenched my clothing and skin, and my stomach ached with hunger.

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