Wind-Scarred (The Will of the Elements, Book 1) (47 page)

“
I'm
tired of going over this,” Valerie Estavon rolled her eyes and
tossed her idly curling hair in irritation. “There was barely
enough time after the attack for anyone to reach the door, much
less escape. So I'm going to ask you again, who tried to kill me
and where did they go?”

Stephen cringed. It was going to be one of those
days. “I swear to the Mother and all the Elements, I've told you
everything I know!” His voice cracked in fear. “There were three of
them. They knocked me out. When I woke up, they asked me some
questions about the fire. That's all I remember, you have to
believe me!”

He cast a desperate look at the gorgeous
fire-kissed, leader of the Besmirched, a woman with power beyond
his understanding, and winced. She was toying with one of the
knives that Velor had set out. That was never a good sign. He tried
to gulp down his perfectly rational fear and bulled ahead. “I-it's
just like I said. I hadn't recovered from being kicked in the head,
and I didn't see everything clearly, b-but the three of them just
huddled together and then they were gone.”

“Stephen, honestly,” Val chided him, the
flickering light from the torches playing shadow games across her
fair features. “The story about a door in the air? Again?” She
shook her head, pursing her perfect lips. With a sigh, Val glanced
up at the early morning light that shone in through a window high
on the wall. Stephen felt the delicate brush her power as the
torches dimmed, letting in more natural light. From outside, the
clanks and whirs of the city of Eastpoint waking up to a new day
began to fill the air.

Stephen's eyes darted around
the room.
No no no, the shadows are all
wrong
. Panic fluttered in his stomach as he
carefully tried to judge the time by the light from outside, from
the way it hit the rough stone walls of the little room.
I need more time, then maybe it won't last quite
as long.
He shook his head against the
thought, casting a mournful glance at the restraints around his
wrists.
If I can't keep her attention,
she's going to-

“I'm very disappointed in you, Stephen. A month
and a half in my care, and still we have nothing to show for it.”
Val made a disapproving sound as she played absently with the
gleaming knife. “After what you did back in Helena, I really
expected so much more.” She held out the wicked little blade,
sighing again.

Velor stepped out from the shadows, taking the
knife with a small bow, his cadaverous face stretching into a
smile. Long, spindly fingers traced the length of the blade as he
waited patiently for the inevitable.

“
No,
wait!” Stephen cried out, refusing to look at the man.
I have to pretend like he isn't there,
he thought desperately, wracking his brain for
something to keep Val's attention.
As long
as she's interested, she won't let him- No! Don't remember that!
Can't remember...
“I-I've just remembered!
They, um, they were upset about something. Yes! Something that they
saw when they were watching your procession. And... and the dark
one, he called the girl... Susan, no, Sally... Sarah!”

He licked his lips, eyes
darting to the tray of meticulously arranged tools.
Don't think about those.
He looked up into Val's golden eyes pleadingly.
I just need to keep her
talking
, his mind raced for something to
say.
Sooner or later, she'll leave, and
the longer she talks, the less time she has for
me
. “H-he wanted the girl to see something.
And... and, I don't know, I remember something about a sanctuary or
weapons-”

“
Velor, I'm afraid that's all we'll get out of him today,” Val
shook her head sadly, cutting him off. Stephen's face paled as he
tried to think of something, anything that would keep her
attention. “I just don't know what to do with you, Stephen. I've
tried everything.” She took a dainty step around the table and
gently
caressed his face.

“
P-please,” he whimpered, staring into her eyes hopelessly. “I
don't know what you want from me.”

“
Just
the truth, dear one,” the elementalist cooed, delicately brushing a
stray lock of hair back from his face. “I want know what you saw,
and I want to know why you're holding back.” She smiled winsomely
at him, then continued, in exactly the same tone of voice. “Velor,
please start with something hot. Maybe if we give him a bit to
build on, he'll show us something new.”

“
No no
no, please,” Stephen struggled weakly against the bonds on his arms
and legs as Val backed away, an apologetic smile on her lips. He
watched in horror as the knife began glowing a dull, sullen orange
in Velor's hand. In desperation, he called to the heat in the room,
tried to fight back, to get free, anything. Val's will clamped down
on his attempt like a vise, stopping him cold.

“
Yes, that's good,” Val
encouraged him softly. “Just show me a glimmer of the power that
burned out that little valley, and I promise that I'll take you
back to my bed, just like when we started.” She glanced at the
window again and pouted fetchingly. “No gag today, Velor. It's so
nice outside.” Valerie Estavon sighed contentedly, eyes returning
to Stephen. “I want everyone to hear his lovely voice.”