“I can’t? I didn’t know that was a rule.”
“Women like to make up rules to befuddle you,” Maldynado said. “It’s part of living in their world. Get used to it.”
“Give me some ideas, Akstyr,” Amaranthe said, ignoring Maldynado.
“Well, you could probably kill it with powerful magic,” Akstyr said. “Once created, they’re very strong though. Even their makers can barely control them.”
“Why would a wizard make something he couldn’t control?” Amaranthe asked.
“The wizards can control them. Sort of. Soul constructs obey basic commands like ‘go kill that man’ or ‘watch my back while I work,’ but they’re made from the owner’s mind. Well, his soul, if you believe in that. They end up with the same temperaments as their creators, only they don’t know about laws and stuff. They’re just…”
“Creatures possessing all the evil of man without any of the restraints society places on us?” Books suggested.
“I guess,” Akstyr said. “They’ll obey their creator’s orders, but they’ll do it their own way.”
“Sounds like Sicarius,” Books said.
“Sounds much worse,” Amaranthe said. “Sicarius may have been trained to put pragmatism ahead of feelings, but I think he’s fairly innocuous as long as you don’t get in his way. To be honest, he seems kind of mellow to me.”
Maldynado snorted.
Akstyr snorted.
Books had the audacity to say, “For the first time, I think you’re letting your feminine side blind you. You’re romanticizing him.”
Amaranthe blushed. “Fine.” How had they gotten on this subject? “You don’t have to agree with me on that. I’m more concerned about Arbitan and this creature at the moment.”
“Maybe you could sway Larocka to help us,” Books said. “If she knew what Arbitan was, would she still support him? If she’s a native-born Turgonian, you’d think she would feel more loyalty to the empire.”
“I don’t know.” Amaranthe shrugged. “Arbitan is a handsome man, and they seem…close.”
“How could she fall for a slimy Nurian wizard?” Maldynado asked.
“Even an intelligent woman can be taken in by a pretty smile,” Amaranthe said.
“Really?” Maldynado asked. “Because every time I try my pretty smile on you, you put me on watch or give me work.”
“Not now, Maldynado,” she said. “Let’s focus.”
“Been wondering if I should be looking for a girl for you,” Maldynado grumbled.
Akstyr snickered.
“Perhaps her interests are simply elsewhere,” Books said. “Remember, she thinks Sicarius is mellow.”
“Mellow,” Maldynado said. “Oh, sure. Throw a girl in his bed, and he’d probably start doing push-ups on her breasts.”
The snickers intensified to guffaws, and not just from Akstyr.
“I’m glad everyone’s enjoying this dungeon bonding time,” Amaranthe said, “since we’re probably going to be tortured to death in a few hours.”
That stilled their guffaws. Silence descended on the cell. Amaranthe was glad for the darkness, since her cheeks felt a tad warm again.
“Think there’s any chance of Sicarius coming to break us out?” Akstyr asked.
Amaranthe felt a similar hope, but… “Now that we’ve executed the plan and failed, he has no reason to risk himself for us. It would be more logical for him to try something on his own, and he is nothing if not logical.”
Maldynado snorted. “Why don’t you just say we’re of no more use to him, so he’s leaving us to be tortured?”
“I think I did say that. Regardless, we’re going to have to get out of here ourselves.” Amaranthe stood up and groped around. If she could find a puddle of water or something slippery, maybe she could loosen her bonds. “Anyone have any ideas?” She bumped into somebody’s head.
“Certainly,” Maldynado said from beneath her. “Come sit on my lap and we’ll discuss them.”
She paused thoughtfully.
“Amaranthe.” Books sounded scandalized at her silence. “Please assure me you’re not considering succumbing to this troglodyte’s advances.”
“Well,” she said, “I was debating the merits of certain fluids as a means of loosening ropes, but let’s, ah, explore other possibilities first.”
Footsteps sounded beyond the door. Frowning, Amaranthe turned. She had hoped they would have longer.
The lock thunked as a key turned in it. She shuffled forward, tensing to spring if an opportunity arose.
The door swung open. Basilard stood in the hallway. Alone.
Amaranthe held her breath, barely daring to hope. She studied his face, searched the eyes behind all those scars.
Basilard pulled a knife from one of numerous sheaths. Maldynado jumped in front of her, lowered into a defensive crouch.
Never breaking gazes with Basilard, Amaranthe stepped to the side and extended her arms. He carefully sliced through the ropes and waved her into the hallway. After an indecisive pause, he cut Maldynado’s bonds as well. Books and Akstyr lined up for the same treatment. As soon as they were free, the men charged for the stairs. Amaranthe hesitated.
Basilard lowered his knife and stared forlornly at the shreds of rope on the floor. Surely, his choice tonight had condemned him. Originally, Amaranthe had only hoped to talk him into freeing them. After his act of kindness, she felt compelled to see him to safety. But then, she was not going anywhere safe.
“Do you want to come with us?” she asked.
He rotated his head, turning sad blue eyes on her. He shrugged ambivalently but followed when she headed for the door.
They caught up to the others on the floor above where the stairs bisected a hallway. Books and Maldynado had stopped to argue.
“The exit is this way.” Maldynado pointed one direction.
“We can’t just leave; we have to do something.” Books pointed the other way.
“I am doing something,” Maldynado said. “I’m leaving.”
Amaranthe pushed past them and into the hall leading deeper into the house. She was surprised when all of the men followed.
“Do you know where we can find Larocka?” she whispered to Basilard. “I just want to talk to her, see if she’ll reveal what’s been set into place as far as the emperor’s assassination.”
Basilard lifted a shoulder but took the lead.
The group climbed a dark staircase and entered a short hallway. At one end, black night pressed against a frost-rimmed window. They had reached the ground level. A door marked the other end of the hall. The sound of voices and a staccato of footfalls came from behind it.
Surely, their escape couldn’t have been detected already.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Amaranthe whispered to Basilard.
He shook his head.
She eased the door open and peered into a vast, dimly lit kitchen. When she spotted no one, she led the men inside. They passed multiple fireplaces and stoves. Storage bins, mixing bowls, and giant cauldrons cluttered rows of tile counter tops. On the other side of the kitchen, light leaked under a second door. The voices grew more pronounced as Amaranthe neared it. Though she could not make out words, a definite urgency edged them. Different speakers seemed to be moving in and out of the area.
When she hesitated, Basilard moved past her and slipped through the swinging door. She hoped that meant he was bringing back information. In the meantime, she considered looking for another staircase leading up, since the one she had used on her previous visit was in the midst of the commotion. Although, if something important was happening on the ground floor, Arbitan and Larocka would likely be the middle of it.
Amaranthe cracked the door and peered through. Someone blurred past her narrow angle of vision.
A loud crunch came from behind and she jumped. The door swung closed and almost smacked her on the nose. She turned to find Maldynado eating, practically in her ear.
She glared at him.
“What?” Maldynado stuck a hand out, displaying a row of crackers. “You want one?”
Books grabbed the crackers out of Maldynado’s hand. “This is not the time for snacking.”