"Hexilizan-" he started.
"Call me Hex," the sun-dragon said. "It's what my friends call me."
"Okay, Hex," Pet continued. "Isn't it a little suspicious that you show up talking about the unfairness of imprisonment on the very night that Blasphet escapes? Aren't you his nephew?"
"Yes," said Hex, swinging his head down to Pet's level. He brought his jaws to within inches of Pet's face, then said, calmly, "So's Shan. What's your point?"
Pet's familiarity with sun-dragons meant he wasn't easily intimidated by them. Still, with Hex's carrion-scented breath washing over him, Pet somehow lost his train of thought.
"My brother had nothing to do with Blasphet's escape," Shandrazel said. His tone made it clear there would be no further speculation on this point.
Pet nodded. "Right."
"Of course, it would be the fifth tongue," Jandra muttered. All eyes turned to her as she stood, stretching her back. Jandra, standing next to the captive, said, "I'm going to wake her. I guess we should tie her up first?"
"I'm pretty good at that," Pet said, glad that another of his talents would be of use.
Jandra crouched next to Pet as he wrapped the slumbering assassin in the oversized towel. She reached out to touch the white nappy fabric, wiping away the blood and saliva that coated her fingers after her molecular surgery on the girl's tongue. She was startled by the texture of the cloth, the way the ridges of her fingers ran against the weave. Suddenly, she was intensely aware of her own skin, of the beads of sweat that coated her face and neck, and of the way her clothes clung to her body. She felt every tiny bump in the bricks beneath her knees. Her every nerve cell became a hundred times more sensitive. What was the helmet doing to her now? She closed her eyes, trying to regain control. Now it felt as if her skin was one giant eye that could see in all directions, but instead of perceiving light it sensed heat. The two sun-dragons at her back glowed like furnaces. Pet emitted a torch-like warmth as his muscular body rolled the assassin in the towel, mummifying her. Jandra opened her eyes as he ripped the loose end of the towel into long strips, then used those strips to tie the assassin in a tidy bundle.
As he worked, she stared at his bare torso. The well-defined muscles in his shoulders clenched and coiled as he worked. Her eyes wandered down his long arms to his perfectly formed hands, the fingers so graceful yet powerful in their movements.
"Done," said Pet. "She won't get out of that."
"You're Vendevorex's apprentice aren't you?" Hex asked. "Jandra, I believe?"
"Yes," Jandra said, standing to face the sun-dragon. Hex bore a family resemblance to Shandrazel, the same vivid red coloring of his scales fading to orange and yellow tips. Hex's eyes were a dark green, almost black, similar in shade to the ivy that covered the castle's rocky walls, while Shandrazel's were a brighter emerald. The deep wrinkles around Hex's eyes made it apparent that he was many years older than Shandrazel.
"I've heard of you," said Hex. "It's rumored you command the same supernatural powers as the wizard."
"I won't claim to be his equal," said Jandra. "Still, I'm improving. I'm flattered you've heard of me. I'm a little embarrassed I hadn't heard of you."
"You aren't the one who should be embarrassed," said Shandrazel, apologetically. "Our father was a strict adherent to the old ways. After Hex lost the contest, my father never spoke of him again. It's my father who deserves the shame here."
Androkom said, "We can discuss family history later. Every second counts if we hope to find Blasphet. Wake the prisoner."
Jandra didn't like the new high biologian. She found him overly bossy. Still, he was right. There was no point in putting this off.
"How will you wake her?" asked Hex. "With magic? It's said that you command the elements."
"I'll command an element, all right," Jandra said, walking toward the bath. She reached down and picked up a wooden bucket that sat at the edge. It was already full of water. She headed back to the bound girl. "Call it magic if you want."
She upended the bucket, aiming the deluge at the girl's shaved head. The prisoner coughed and sputtered in the aftermath. Her eyes jerked open.
"Where am-" The girl's face went pale, as if she were terrified by the sound of her own voice. She struggled within her cotton cocoon. Her wide eyes darted around the room.
"That's right. You can talk," said Jandra. "Where's Blasphet?"
"I'm a Sister of the Serpent!" the girl screeched, arching her back as she strained against her bonds. "I'll kill you all!"
"Sister," said Jandra, putting her foot on the girl's belly and forcing her back down, "You're not killing anybody tonight. You may as well relax and answer our questions."
The girl grew quiet, glaring at Jandra. She stuck out her tongue defiantly. Then with a sudden jerk of her jaw, she bit an inch from the tip. Tears filled her eyes as she rocked her head back and forth, blood speckling her cheeks.
"Oh for the love of…" Jandra grumbled, picking up the tongue. "I can keep sticking this thing on all night." Although, in truth, she wasn't looking forward to putting her fingers near the girl's mouth with her awake.
"Dissolve her teeth," said Androkom.
"What?" said Jandra. "No!"
"Why is the idea so repellant?" asked Androkom. "This human is willing to maim herself. If you dissolve her teeth she won't bite off her tongue again.
"I know," said Jandra. "But…"
"It would be torture to maim a captured foe," said Pet. She was surprised by his intervention. Pet had his shoulders pulled back and his head held high. He could look like a confident leader when the role demanded it. "Stand your ground, Jandra. I was a victim of Albekizan's torture. The day when helpless humans suffer beneath the talons of dragons must be at an end."
"She wouldn't be suffering beneath the talons of a dragon," said Androkom, frustrated to be explaining the obvious. "Jandra's human."
"It's you who gave the command," said Pet. Jandra wondered why Pet was so willing to talk back to Androkom. Was he trying to impress her?
"No one is giving anyone commands but me," Shandrazel said. "I may wish to be the king who brings an end to kings, but, at this moment, I am king. Jandra, I respect your aversion to hurting another. Still, the information this woman possesses is of utmost value. Perhaps losing her teeth will make her more cooperative. Will you reconsider?"
"No!" said Pet.
Jandra was a little annoyed he spoke for her. "No," she said. "I have no qualms about using my powers in self defense, but this is too much to ask."
"This is what I was talking about," Hex said, in a scolding tone directed at Shandrazel. "King for barely a week and already you would issue a command to torture. What degree of physical pain will you need to inflict to break the will of a fanatic who bites off her own tongue?"
"We shouldn't be discussing this with her listening," said Androkom.
"Agreed," said Shandrazel. He nodded toward the small army of guards that had by now gathered in the courtyard. "Take her to the dungeons. Secure her tightly. I'll be down in the morning with… further orders."
Pet leaned close to Jandra. "I'm proud of you," he said.
"I'm a little surprised by you," she whispered. "I didn't expect you to stand up to Shandrazel."
He placed a hand on her shoulder and drew his lips closer to her ear as he whispered back, "I'm a little surprised myself. But, having been on the receiving end of torture, I honestly don't want to see it inflicted on even my worst enemy."
The warmth of his hand seemed to fill her entire body. She found her eyes drawn to his lips, and the pearly white teeth that gleamed behind them. Propelled by instincts she didn't quite understand, she leaned into him. He wrapped his arms around her in a strong hug. Her cheek was pressed against his bare shoulder. He stank of fish, but beneath that was a musky aroma, the smell of his sweat. It took all her power to resist sticking out her tongue to taste him. What was happening to her?