The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

followed by Qilo while Zion remained behind to guard Sedom. They turned the corner, finding a long hallway filled with heavy steel doors. A small open window stood at the top of each of the doors so those on the outside could see within.

The two men looked into each window as they rushed down the hall. Rosanheer suddenly paused at one door, not bothering to look within. He waved the group to his location.

“She's in here.” He pointed inside a small room. He held Sedom back with an outstretched hand as they approached. “Be prepared. She wasn't treated kindly.”

Sedom slapped his hand away. “Don't patronize me. I can handle it.” She paused for a moment, blinking her uncertainty. How was it that he knew what room Ratisha was in or her physical state? He hadn’t looked inside the room yet.

“We know you can handle a lot of things, but this is your friend and she's here because of you. Don't do anything stupid,” Zion muttered low.

Sedom continued to blink her concern. What wasn’t Zion telling her about Rosanheer? She shook her concern aside and looked inside the room.

A light lime-skinned Marisheio woman sat within the room, her hands tied around the back of a chair. Her legs were also tied to the back legs of the chair. Beneath her bottom there was no seat, only an empty space where her urine and feces gathered. Her head was down and covered by her long black hair, much of which was missing in gaps.

Zion's face contorted as he glared at Sedom. “I thought you were joking about her being a Marisheio? Don't we have enough of those running around Gathow?”

“Watch it, Zalmin,” Rosanheer grumbled back.

“Not all Cloves are Marisheio,” Sedom scolded Zion.

“Chadon, we have a problem.” Qilo interrupted. He pointed to Ratisha. “I've seen this kind of torture before. They break her legs and then force her to sit like that until they've healed. She'll be no good to walk out of here on her own.”

“One of us will need to carry her,” Sedom spoke back looking at each man for a volunteer.

Rosanheer raised his hand. “No problem, Chadon.”

“You’re injured. There’s no way,” Sedom returned.

Zion hesitantly raised his hand. “I’ll take her,” he offered. Sedom agreed.

“I foresee another problem. We don't know how much she's been compromised. I suggest you allow me to talk to her, see what she knows about you,” Rosanheer offered.

Sedom's eyes glistened as they focused on Rosanheer. “Why? Whatever she's told them hasn’t helped them to find me.”

“Patto,” Qilo pointed out.

Sedom nodded. She didn’t want to think that they would use Ratisha to get to her, especially in as bad of condition as she was in. “If you insist, be kind,” she ordered.

He agreed with a nod. “If I keep her thinking she's a prisoner, she'll be more complacent and it will help buy us some time to get out of here. I'll leave the rest to you once we're clear of the compound.”

Zion grimaced as they watched Rosanheer enter the room. “You do realize he used to be an interrogator for the Marisheio?” Zion mentioned, his eyes closed as if he could already see what was about to happen… and it frightened him.

Sedom nodded. “He's under my pay,” she mentioned, hoping that because she was paying him that it mattered.

Inside the room, Rosanheer circled Ratisha, examining her as she sat crumpled in her seat. She exhaled a shuddering breath as he approached her. Sweat beaded on her brow as her entire body shook. He rested his hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump.

“You must have been beautiful before this,” he whispered. “Why would you allow yourself to be placed in such a compromising position, sister?” he asked.

“You do… what you… have to,” she exhaled in a shuddering voice. “You're new. What's the occasion? Is it my birthday already?” she hissed behind missing teeth.

“They want answers,” he leaned in on her, looking her in the eyes. “I get answers,” he said low, but sternly.

“Doubtful,” she gulped. “I have none to give. There is very little… I know and,” she gulped hard, blood trickling down her chin, “I’ve told your people everything… I know.”

“Enlighten me about what you do know… the Narkoy child?” he mentioned.

Ratisha meekly rolled her head on her shoulders. “She was a child. I treated her for a fever when her guardian brought her to us. I didn't know anything beyond that,” she spoke softly back.

Rosanheer grabbed her by the throat, forcing her back against her seat. Ratisha screamed out from the pain in her legs. “The truth, faas!” he yelled.

“She was a sick child… that’s all I knew!” she screamed back. “Guardian… said they needed… transport to Ryion Sital.” She began coughing violently. “I gave them… a ride. That's all,” she wept. Rosanheer slowly released her throat so she could breathe. “That's all. Her name was kept secret… I didn't know,” she whispered. Sedom glanced over at Zion, curious of his reaction.

He toyed with his pistol for a moment and then turned to Sedom when he realized she was watching him. “She keeps the truth hidden well, but it's obvious to me she's lying. About what, I guess you're the only one who knows,” Zion mentioned to Sedom.

Sedom jiggled her foot nervously as she thought back to the night she came to stay with Ratisha and Patto. “She knew who and what I was. Iya accidently let my name slip, but she never turned her back on me,” Sedom spoke low.

Rosanheer turned to the door, staring directly at Sedom as if he heard her. She continued to watch him, curious if he had heard her. It was then she noticed his hands. Clove fingers were typically quite pudgy. Rosanheer’s fingers were long and thin like a Zalmins’. She picked up