3
Torben groaned as Antauros cradled him in his arms and made his way gingerly up the stairs from the vault to the great hall of Karpella Castle above. In front of him, Eleusia walked holding a lantern high above her head to light the way, and the two were led and followed by a retinue of Princess Theodora’s guards, four on each side.
‘You’ll be ok, Torben, just hang in there. I know you’re strong, you’ll get through this.’
Antauros spoke to Torben even though he had no idea if he could hear him or not. He guessed not given that the young man was no longer aware of his surroundings and that only signs of life that he was now exhibiting were the groans of pain that rattled from his throat.
‘Eleusia, are you absolutely sure about this?’ the minotaur asked, worry written across his face.
