Gathering Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page B

eyes.
    â€œYou’re a rebel.” He squinted at her. “Not too many girls I know like to fight.”
    She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a response, keeping her mouth shut until he left to speak to another guard. Their voices were low, but Lysandra watched as their expressions grew more smug and self-satisfied with every word.
    Lit only by torches set into the hallway walls, the darkness of these sunken dungeons was oppressive. The metal bars were coated in slime, the walls caked with filth. The hard dirt floor spread with straw made for an uncomfortable bed during the few fleeting moments Lysandra had been able to sleep since her arrival. Echoing down the corridor were the horrible sounds of other prisoners, those who laughed at nothing, cried at everything, or talked to themselves like men and women who’d lost their minds long before their lives.
    It was a nightmare.
    But she would stay strong. She had no other choice.
    The second guard looked over at her and nodded. “Very well. We need some entertainment today. Get her.”
    The first guard unlocked her cell and roughly dragged Lysandra out by her hair. Her first instinct was to fight, but she held back. This might be her chance to escape, and if so, she needed to pretend to be weak and docile. Locked behind the stone walls and iron bars she had no chance, but if he were to take her outside, she might be able to flee—although the thought of leaving without Gregor gutted her.
    But he didn’t take her outside. The guard led Lysandra down the dim and narrow corridor to another cell. He shoved her through the door and she fell to the floor hard enough to bruise her knees.
    Though it was very dark, she knew someone else was in there.
    The two guards stood on the other side of the iron bars, grinning. One threw something metallic into the cell and it landed a few paces away from her on the dirt floor.
    A knife. She flicked her gaze up to the guard.
    â€œYou like to fight, rebel?” he asked. “Give us a show.”
    Suddenly, another prisoner came surging out of the darkness, rising to her feet and shoving Lysandra hard in her chest, causing her to stagger back into the wall. She was a girl, taller and more bulky than Lysandra, with a dirty face and matted hair. She snatched up the blade and stared at it for a moment with a wild look in her eyes.
    â€œGo on, then,” the guard urged. “Whoever wins gets to eat today. Let’s see some blood.”
    The other girl’s gaze snapped to Lysandra’s. Then, with a cry, she charged at her, clutching the knife.
    Lysandra was hungry and weak, but she hadn’t lost her mind—not yet. She’d arrived here two days ago with three other rebels who’d survived the battle—Tarus, Cato, and Fabius.
    She knew King Gaius had ordered them here to be publicly executed, to be made an example of. She didn’t expect to be pardoned for her crimes. And she didn’t expect anyone in shining armor to break in to rescue her.
    But those had been her expectations her entire life. She was different from other girls who dreamed of strong husbands and a houseful of drooling babies. She’d been a warrior from the beginning. She would be a warrior till the end.
    And that end was
not
going to be today.
    She dodged the knife easily and shoved the girl away.
    â€œWhat’s your name?” Lysandra asked.
    â€œMy name?” the girl said, her gaze narrowing. “Why?”
    â€œI’m Lysandra. Lysandra Barbas.” Introductions could make friends of strangers, and this girl—she wasn’t her enemy. They were both prisoners here; they had common ground.
    â€œI don’t care who you are.” The girl lacked skill but was determined in her attempts to stab Lysandra.
    â€œNeed a little help, rebel?” The guard opened the door and shoved another prisoner in. He was short and skinny and wore a fearful expression.
    Before Lysandra had a