Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

dug out bits of dirt with your hands and feet each time you moved upwards, dislodging dirt as you climbed. Below her, Baindan was ducking his head as dirt showered down upon him.

And then there was Siray’s shoulder. She tried to climb the ladder mostly using her legs to propel her upwards, but every reach and pull of her arms strained the newly repaired outer layers of the muscle and made the area around the bone ache. So she climbed steadily and evenly, carefully controlling her face and movements so that no one would guess at her hurt. She couldn’t let them know that they had an advantage over her before the fight had even begun.

As Siray climbed, she heard the sounds of many boots approaching and recognised the steps as those of the other captives, lining up as per the normal morning routine. This time, she knew, there would be at least nine fewer pairs of boots. And even though Siray hadn’t really gotten to know Annbov that well, the female had been part of Wexner’s unit, even if only for a short time.

The sounds of the many hurrying steps had stopped, and as Siray covered the last lengths of the rope ladder, she heard Raque speak to her and Baindan from above and behind.

‘It seems that an exciting night has passed,’ Raque was saying loudly for all to hear, ‘with several of your number attempting an escape.’

Siray had almost reached the edge of the pit.

‘We did, of course, catch them, as you can see.’

Her heart gave a quick leap at the captain’s words. Maybe her friends were still alive—maybe they had been captured, but Raque was going to punish them in some other, no doubt cruel, way. It would be terrible, but she would be there for her friends at the end.

Siray’s hope flared as she pulled herself quickly over the edge of the pit, new energy helping her to roll clear of both the edge and the ladder, before kneeling up and looking around her.

Her heart dropped even faster than it had risen as she spied nine body bags laid out before the rows of captives. Seeing the line of lumpy bags containing her friends spread out not more than a few steps away was far worse than anything Siray could have pictured.

She didn’t even try to get to her feet, although it wasn’t exhaustion that kept her kneeling down in the dirt. Behind her, she heard Baindan emerge from the hole and stop just behind her and to one side. He, too, must have spotted the bags. She couldn’t tear her eyes from them, and couldn’t bear to look at the faces of the other captives, whether they were filled with pity, scorn, or hopelessness.

‘And it seems that we also had some excitement in the pit during the night, with one pair emerging as victors.’ Raque’s voice had grown louder still, and some part of Siray’s mind recognised that the captain must be drawing closer.

Perfect, she thought. She shifted the angle of her chin slightly, watching his feet approach, and tensed, preparing herself to spring. He stopped close by, his next words for her and Baindan.

‘I’m sure Master Herrin will be pleased to see the pair of you back in training this morning. No doubt he will have his own special reward for your rebelliousness yesterday.’

Siray’s brows shifted, just the tiniest bit, and she halted the lean she had begun in Raque’s direction. She didn’t understand. The captain wasn’t calling for her and Baindan’s immediate execution but instead seemed to be saying they would rejoin the others for training. Was this a special privilege, given that the two of them had proved themselves in the pit? Maybe it was because the captives’ numbers had to be under fifty by now, and the Faction wanted to keep a certain amount.

Whatever the reason, Siray let her shoulders drop slowly from their set position and stood carefully. If they were going to let her and Baindan rejoin the other captives, put them with another unit, then her attack upon Raque could wait. At least until she was better prepared.

The captain pointed impatiently towards the rows of waiting captives. ‘I suggest you fall into formation quickly,’ he growled.

Another soldier yelled out a command, and the first row of captives began to march off. Siray hurried with Baindan towards the group, heading towards their usual places, unable to think of what else to do, and kept her eyes on the ground until she arrived at the edge of the group, not wishing to see the empty spaces she knew would be there, and which would match the swelling emptiness inside her.

Yet after brushing past one person, she was forced to look up when someone else said gently, ‘Going to walk through me, are you?’

Siray’s gaze shot upwards, and the first thing her eyes saw was the kind face of Genlie, whose eyes were shining brightly at her, even though her face was carefully controlled.

Siray almost froze in stunned relief, and she felt her heart throb painfully in her chest. She staggered forwards, altering her direction just slightly, both exhaustion and happiness making her steps ungainly. As she moved past Genlie’s tall form to take her place, they clasped hands quickly, for just an instant. A sob rose in Siray’s throat, and she fought it back down. Genlie was real. Genlie was alive.

As Siray moved past Kovi into one of the two gaps in the row, her stare flicked to a face with golden eyes.

Zale’s eyes were lit with a burning fire that seemed to devour her face hungrily, and as glad as she was to see him safe, Siray found herself unable to hold his gaze, and she felt a new sense of ease once she had turned around.

Then another voice whispered to her. ‘Took you two long enough.’

Siray glanced to the side and saw Tamot, his eyes shadowed but reassured, and as Baindan brushed past her, she closed her eyes