The door of the holding room groaned as Tahla pushed it open, the sound echoing off the stone walls. Beside her, Malik walked in quietly. He had insisted on coming with her to speak with Varek again and see if they both could get some information out of him. Tomorrow, at first light, Malik was due to leave for his clan’s territories again. Their time together had been a brief reprieve from the chaos that had consumed her life and she was very grateful for his presence and his help.
They entered the room and Tahla stopped in her tracks as she took a look at Varek. He looked disheveled but entirely unbothered. They had, again, asked him to leave. She needed him to believe she didn’t want him there to buy enough time for Aldous and it was working because Varek continued to refuse.
"I am tir
