Mage of Silence

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Pain rolled over Castien once again and he struggled to escape from it. Then he felt gentle hands and heard a soft voice.

“Be still. I must put the balm on your wounds if they are to heal.”

Castien’s eyes flew open and he looked into the eyes of an angel, albeit an ancient one.

She smiled gently. “You’re safe now, among friends.”

A male laughed behind Castien. “He might well debate that description once I’m done questioning him, although at least I won’t use torture as a prod to make him answer.” He stepped into view. “You, my friend, look like hell, but you will survive thanks to Madam Neville. I suppose you would like to know how you ended up here and not in a prisoner’s grave.”

Castien nodded and the male proceeded to tell him of his rescue from the Baron’s clutches. It seemed the message that drew the Baron and his minions from the torture chamber had been arranged by the one who stood in front of him, Castien’s companion, the elf Daeron. Once the Baron had left the torture chamber, Daeron and one of his elven lieutenants were able to sneak up and overcome the guards outside the room. They slew them silently and then rescued Castien. Daeron told Castien he’d had his doubts he would survive long enough to bring him here.

Castien looked around and then at Daeron and knew from his response fear must have been written on his face.

“Only Richard and I know where we are, even Madam Neville is in the dark.”

She nodded and then gently continued her ministrations. Already the pain was fading. Castien tentatively moved his shoulders, winced, and she put a hand on him to restrain him. “Too soon, you do not wish to reopen the wounds. Relax and let the balm do its work.”

“How did they capture you?” Daeron asked.

The blonde b***h, Castien’s fingers moved as he tried to communicate with signs exactly what he meant. He felt frustrated when Daeron shook his head in puzzlement. Then Daeron held up his hand and Castien looked at him, hope and a question in his eyes. Daeron nodded. “Ange is here, I rescued her as well,” he said. He went out of Castien’s line of sight for a moment and returned to hand him a sheathed dagger. Castien took it from him with a sigh of relief, without her he could not fully communicate. Taking Ange in his hand he pricked his wrist, so the blood flowed. She drank her fill until only one drop clung to her tip, which he then lifted to his lips to take on his tongue.

“How long do you have?” Daeron asked.

“As weak as I am, perhaps ten minutes so ask your questions.”

“Who betrayed you?”

“Marcella, the blonde b***h,” Castien hissed.

“Hell. Because you would not go to her bed, I suspect,” he responded. A smile briefly crossed his lips. “But she didn’t know about Ange?”

“No. Do you think I’d still be alive if she had? The Baron would have known how to make me talk and, well…” Castien looked away. “I can do many things but withstanding pain is not one of them, not the kind he had planned for me.”

“Castien, it’s all right, not many can, truth be told. That’s why…” This time Daeron was the one who looked away.

Castien sighed with comprehension. “That is why I was chosen, because you knew I could not reveal what I had found out to the wrong people. It’s all right, Daeron, I understand.”

“Perhaps, but that doesn’t make it right, what I’ve put you through.”

“You needed the information, I got it and survived. And now I’d better tell you before I can’t.” Castien glanced at Madam Neville.

She caught his look and smiled. “I’ll step outside. Call me when you’re finished. Believe me, I don’t want to know what’s going on any more than you want me to.” Castien started to apologize and she patted his shoulder. “You have your job, I have mine, and honestly I prefer to keep them separated.”

When she left Castien proceeded to tell Daeron what he had found out, which he managed to do before Ange’s magic left him. Daeron listened and memorized it all. They had made it a policy never to write anything down. When Castien went silent Daeron asked how long he thought it would be before he could talk again. Castien signed, “One day,” and he nodded.

“Rest, Castien. Madam Neville will take care of you and hopefully we can get you away from here and to Angelcynn soon. I want you there and safe.”

“You need me for another job,” Castien signed and Daeron admitted he did.

“I’m sorry but with your skills you’re the only one I trust to carry it out successfully.” He sighed as he told Castien he had one week to get back in shape. “With Madam Neville’s considerable talents you should be ready.”

Castien looked at his hands. The fingers on one had been burned by the Baron in his efforts to make him talk. Daeron saw, growled, and went to call Madam Neville back into the room. She came over and took Castien’s hand. He felt a strange warmth flow from her and watched as the burns lost some of their fiery redness.

“He’ll be fine, Daeron, worry not,” she told him and he nodded in response.