Death and Honor: Book 2 of 2 Read Free Page A

have a name?”
    “Of course I have a name.” The girl shot him a scathing glare. “I’m Kaylin. So this is what he meant when he said I’d wish I was dead before he finished with me.”
    “The man seemed eager to get rid of you. He didn’t even negotiate. What did you do to make him so angry?”
    “I broke into his house and helped myself to a few choice items. How was I supposed to know he was one of the biggest black market smugglers in the city? I’ve been living in a cell for the past week eating nothing but bread and water. This morning some goon comes in, bashes me in the head, and the next thing I know I’m here.”
    “And I thought the slop we had to eat was bad.”
    Jackson laughed and Xander threw him a grin. It was good to hear the boy laugh. He’d withdrawn more than usual the last few days. The wagons started down the road again, some light remained and Hess didn’t seem inclined to waste it.
    “When do we stop?”
    “When it’s completely dark. They’ll feed us then it’s back on the road at first light.”
    “Same routine every day?”
    Xander nodded. “Except for today when we picked you up.”
    “Where are we headed?”
    “Some slave market in the south. Which city or how far south I have no idea.”
    Kaylin leaned back and put her arm over her eyes. “My head’s going to burst. If I fall asleep save me some food.”
    “Sure.”
----
    T he cage was pitch black when Kaylin stirred. She shifted around in the dark. Xander reached out and found her arm. She flinched away.
    “Relax, I just want to find your hand so I can give you your supper. It’s gotten cold though.”
    “I don’t care. At this point my stomach is so empty anything will be an improvement.”
    Kaylin’s hand touched his knee. He grasped her wrist and set the bowl in her hand. “It’s full so be careful.”
    She slurped at the soup and after a few seconds said, “Why did you save this for me? You could have eaten it yourself and I’d have been out of luck.”
    “I said I would. In the time I’ve been a slave I’ve learned the only ones we can count on are each other. Besides, two bowls of that garbage would probably kill me.”
    She laughed and he smiled in the dark. “Listen.” She leaned over beside him and he felt her breath on his cheek. In a voice barely a whisper she said, “In about four hours I’m going to break out of here. Why don’t you come with me?”
    “You can’t,” Xander spoke just as quiet. “Hess’ll expect it. The man that sold you warned him you’re slippery.”
    “I’m not waiting around to be sold. When the moon sets I’m out of here. Come with me or stay, I don’t care, but I’m going.”
    Kaylin pulled away, but he reached out to stop her. Xander tried to put as much urgency as possible into his voice. “It’s not only you that will suffer when you fail. Hess will choose another child to be punished along with you.”
    “Do you want to remain a slave?” Kaylin asked. “You can’t accomplish anything without taking a few risks.”
    “I know that,” Xander said. “I’ve thought of little besides escape since I woke up in this cage, but I’ll only get one chance. When the time’s right I’ll act and not before and I’m telling you the time is not right.”
    “I appreciate your concern but I’m going and that’s it.”
    “Good luck then. If you should manage to escape I beg you to tell someone about Hess. I understand the penalty for slave trading is quite severe and he deserves whatever he gets.”
    “You have my word.” Kaylin leaned back and resumed her meal.
    Xander lay awake long into the night straining to hear any sign that Kaylin might be trying to make her escape. Part of him wanted to shout an alarm in the hope that the rest of the kids might be spared any punishment when she got caught. Unless she had a way of dealing with those mastiffs he knew she’d get caught. He couldn’t do it, not if he wanted to look at himself in the mirror again