Ashnazai followed the guards out through the low opening, then turned and wove a series of symbols in the air in front of it. He walked away out of sight, but Alec could see at least two guards stationed outside. They spoke among themselves in low, bantering voices, their shadows passing across the entrance as they kindled a watch fire and settled down to the night's vigil.
With one eye on the entrance, Alec spat the nail out into his hand and set to work. First he examined the lock they'd used on Thero's chain. It was large and sturdy, but he recognized the design as one of only moderate complexity.
With the proper tool, he amended mentally. The nail was not a particularly delicate instrument for such work, but it did fit inside the keyhole. Closing his eyes, he gently worked it in against the wards until he felt them give way. There were four in all; it took several tense minutes to jigger them, but at last the lock fell open in his hand. He left the curved link holding Thero's chain in place. Anyone coming in for a quick look would be none the wiser so long as it was turned around to the back of his neck. He did the same with his own, then turned his attention to Thero's other restraints.
The lock at the back of the branks was too small for his crude pick. Shifting Thero into the faint light from the watch fire, he inspected the iron wristbands.
They were seamless, presumably put on by magic.
Though too snug to slip off over Thero's hands, they turned easily on his bony wrists. Alec could easily slip a finger into the space between arm and band.
Perhaps, he smiled darkly to himself, the bands had been tighter before two weeks of abuse and scant rations had taken their toll. Apparently no one, not even Mardus, had taken that into account.
Looking up, he found Thero staring at him. It sent a chill over his heart. Irtuk Beshar had made a speaking puppet of the wizard before; who was it now, looking at him out of those foggy eyes?
"Thero," he whispered, taking one of the man's cold hands in his own. "Do you know me? Can you understand what I say?"
Thero gave no sign of understanding, but his gaze did not waver.
Alec shook his head, hardening his resolve. They had nothing to lose and everything to gain. If the dyrmagnos was spying on him through Thero's eyes and alerted Mardus, then he'd just shed a little of his own blood and force their hand tonight.
"I've had enough, Thero. I'm done going along like a sheep to slaughter," he went on softly, tearing a strip from his tunic and tucking it around the mouth plate of the branks. Thero offered no resistance as Alec moved the crude gag into place.
"You need to keep quiet no matter what happens next, all right? You hear? No matter what, don't make a sound."
Alec stood up and grasped Thero's thumbs firmly. Placing his foot against the young wizard's chest, he took a deep breath and yanked the thumbs with all his strength, twisting sharply as he pulled.
He'd seen Seregil do this trick, but had never had the nerve or opportunity to try it himself.
To his mingled relief and amazement, both joints dislocated cleanly on the first attempt. Thero's thin hands folded in on themselves with sickening ease, allowing Alec to work the bands off. There was no time for gentleness; fortunately whatever magicks kept Thero dazed held until the second band was off.
As it slipped free, he gave a soft, strangled groan and curled forward against Alec's knees, holding his limp hands to his chest.
Resetting the joints proved less easy. Alec could feel the bones skating around under the skin as he pulled and strained, trying to seat the bones back in their sockets. He could hear Thero's breath whistling harshly around the gag as he fought not to cry out. Both of them were drenched with sweat by the time the job was done.
"Damnation!" Thero whimpered, still biting down on the mouth plate.
"Not so loud," Alec pleaded, holding
Thero's head against his chest to muffle any cries.
His own stomach was doing a slow lurch of its own.
"I'm sorry, it was the only way. Are you free of it?"
Thero nodded. "Saw, "eard everythin". Couldn't move—Saw every—"
"So did I," Alec told him, patting his shoulder. "We've got to forget that for now, while we figure out how to get away from here. What about these, though?" He pointed to the wristbands, unwilling to touch them again. "Can the necromancers tell you're not wearing them?"
Thero sat up. "Don' know, "magos work."
"What about your magic?"
Before Thero could answer, they heard the warning sounds of the guards moving around outside. Alec's heart sank as he listened to their footsteps fading away.
Thero hid the wristbands in the shadows behind him.
Alec moved a few feet away, out of the light.
This is it, he thought coldly, rising to his feet.
Whatever happens, this is it.
A moment later Ashnazai entered carrying a small lantern. The sudden light stung Alec's eyes and he looked away, noting as he did that
Thero sat half-turned to the wall, wrists out of sight in his lap.
Ignoring the young wizard, Vargul Ashnazai closed in on Alec. "I trust you're prepared for the evening's entertainment?"
There was a mad possessiveness in his manner; not even the fear of Mardus was going to get in the way of whatever obscene pleasures he intended to grant himself tonight. The man's raw hatred was a palpable force in the confines of the cave. Trapped in the gaze of those hungry black eyes, Alec suddenly felt his plans of escape turning to dust in his hands.
"What about the guards?" Alec managed, his voice a hollow whisper. He was grasping at straws and they both knew it.
Ashnazai set the lantern on the floor beside him and pulled off his gloves. "They're of no concern. No sound will be heard beyond these walls until I choose to allow it. And even if it did, who would rush to your aid? Duke Mardus, perhaps? How fond he is of you! Almost as fond as I, but distracted just now by practical concerns. Fortunately, I have no task at the moment except you."
"Ah, I have been patient," he crooned, raising one pale hand to stitch a spell pattern on the air. "How I have waited for such a moment as this."
"So have I, necromancer!"
Alec scarcely had time to realize that the harsh, ragged voice was Thero's before he was blinded by a brilliant explosion of light. A screech of rage or pain rang out, but Alec couldn't tell which of them it came from.
Blinking away the black spots dancing across his eyes, Alec saw the twisted remains of the branks lying on the ground at Thero's feet. He also saw with alarm that whatever spell Thero had cast, it had only wounded Ashnazai, and not nearly enough.
Bloodied but still standing, the necromancer rounded on Thero, hands raised for another attack.
Tearing the open lock off, Alec pulled chain from around his neck. Grasping a length of it in both hands, he sprang at Ashnazai, got the chain around the necromancer's throat, and yanked it tight.
Vargul Ashnazai writhed like a huge serpent, tearing at the chain. Alec pulled it tighter and dragged him to the ground. He'd never strangled anything before, but rage proved a willing teacher. Nothing existed except the feeling of power coursing through his body as he braced a knee against the necromancer's back and hauled the chain tighter until it cut into the flesh of his hands and the necromancer's throat.
"This is for Seregil, you son of a bitch!" he snarled. "For what you did to Cilia and Thryis and Rhiri and Diomis and Luthas and Thero. And me!" He yanked the chain back and heard bones snap.
Ashnazai went limp under him, head lolling.
Alec pushed him onto his back and stared into the hated face. Ashnazai's tongue protruded from his foam-flecked lips. His bulging eyes were wide with agony and surprise.