Chapter Five
The Tools of Persuasion
Hewn from rock, dimly lit by small glow boxes on the low, arched ceiling, the narrow steps went down at a sharp incline, almost like a ladder.
What if I stumbled? Hands bound tight behind me I couldn’t reach out to catch myself. But the people here were expert at leading a slave down to her torture and punishment; Ramla had witnessed it in disguise many times. Targon let up on the leash just enough and Shara placed her hands on my shoulders behind me. And down we went.
We passed several landings, each about thirty steps apart. Passages led to either side, stretching out to infinity with dozens of iron bound wooden doors on opposite walls. Down one passage on the third landing, a petite woman, harnessed and hooded, was led toward us by Kovus, the man
