Secrets and Guardians: Devious Intentions by H. Chambers (hot novels to read txt) 📕

developed a totally blank, if wonky, expression. Hurrying out Cain told him to remain there as Kerdred would probably want to talk to him later.

'Ask him if I've still got a job,' Igmy shouted innocently behind him.

Cain knew Kerdred would be livid, he had to divert blame from himself. Even though it was Kerdred who sent those guards with Darius, he should have had other men relieve them this morning and check who was actually in charge of the dungeons. He hadn't had this problem in Sirenia or any of the other towns they had taken in Korin. Kerdred sometimes expected him to sort out too much.

Later that night Igmy was called before Kerdred, as he walked in he winced when he saw all the other people there. They had found the dead guards, but nothing of Darius or, as they believed, the other prisoners. Kerdred watched Igmy walk into the room, if he had been born like that his mother would have suffocated him and told his father it was a still birth. In Thantos such aberrations of nature were not tolerated. Igmy recounted what he had told Cain, and Cain nodded saying he had in fact sent men down to take over. Igmy realised Cain was having to cover his back and therefore made no attempt to correct him. Cain had obviously told Kerdred that unbeknown to him the men he had sent down were Darius's men, but stating he didn't understand why they had also released the other prisoners. Giving Kerdred a question which would hopefully distract his mind. Cain wanted all this over with, he was, he admitted to himself, sick of clearing up the mess.

Kerdred knew losing Darius was not brilliant but he was only planning to use him to taunt Hylaw. Sending him the odd body part, some of those white teeth or a few of Darius's perfectly manicured fingers. He felt more annoyed that he had been cheated out of his fun, he had wanted to watch the horror on Darius's face as the torturer got to work. Did that make him evil? Kerdred lost in his thoughts did not even realise a malicious smile had crossed his face.

Igmy watched; this man was mad.

Cain watched; he wondered how long it would be before Kerdred became totally deranged. It had begun many years ago when Kerdred had lost Shade and his unborn child. It had become his obsession to try and find her. Kerdred had once and only once confided in him about his dreams. In them an old hag would appear in his room, she would prod him with her stick and give a cackling laugh. Sometimes she would talk about Shade, one day Shade would have her revenge, 'She'll be the death of you,' the hag would mock. So real did these dreams seem that to him, he had tried to hit the old woman; but she would just laugh and disappear. Cain wondered whether the old hag still came into his dreams and whether that was slowly driving him crazy.

Kerdred came out of his thoughts and gesturing to Igmy said in a low, overly calm voice, 'Take him to his dungeons, this time make sure he doesn't escape and tomorrow have him questioned more effectively.'

Torture, thought Igmy, oh dear.

Igmy was taken back to the dungeons and thrown into one of the cells. It was late and dark. There were two men posted outside and one inside. Igmy sat in the corner of his cell and felt in his breeches, he had taken the precaution of hiding the skeleton key just in case. He had no intention of escaping, not that there was much chance of that anyway even with the key. He didn't want to kill the guard, he didn't particularly want to die either, but he would not be tortured. Igmy waited, the man had looked tired, he probably had had very little sleep the night before and having only one prisoner safely locked up, Igmy knew it wouldn't be long before he would be asleep. It wasn't long, soon Igmy could hear him snoring. It wasn't long before Igmy killed him with a sharp blow to the neck and it wasn't long before Igmy had packed sacks and straw in and around the table. Taking the lantern he set the whole thing on fire and walked back to his cell with the man's dagger. He hoped it wouldn't hurt too much. He looked down at the blood running from his wrists it was a strange feeling, he hoped when he got to that 'other place' he didn't look the same. Glancing up he found a very old woman smiling at him, was that a dead ancestor he wondered.

With the help of her stick she bent down in front of him, 'Do you want to know how this all ends?' she asked.

Igmy felt like giggling, 'Now that would be fun,' he said.

'Take my hand,' said the old woman.

Igmy reached out and took the old woman's hand. Funny, he thought, the cut on my wrist has gone.