What Lies Within (Book 5) Read Online Free PDF

imprisoned. It’s that simple.'
       'You will release my son?'
       Hellia nodded. Leth realized she must be in communication with Urch-Malmain, for how else could she have known he was imprisoned? Was he speaking directly into her mind? It seemed the only explanation, but was a skill Leth had not known he possessed. Could he communicate so only with Hellia, or with others too? Leth had perceived no evidence of such communication when travelling with Rasgul and Count Harg and their companions.
       He wondered at Hellia. Her combat ability was unexpected, and though no expert she certainly had some adroitness, as well as spirit and guile. Were these her own skills, or had Urch-Malmain somehow implanted them when performing his vile modifications upon her personality?
       'Well, Swordbearer?'
       She had Prince Galry by the hair. His chin was raised, the scimitar-blade pressed firmly to his exposed windpipe.
       The fight went from Leth. He let his sword-arm drop and the weapon clattered to the floor.
       Hellia smiled. 'That is the wise course. And the key, please.'
       With some difficulty Leth burrowed beneath his breastplate and withdrew the key to Urch-Malmain's chamber. He tossed it across.
       'Now kick the weapon away behind you.'
       The scimitar skimmed down the passage and skittered off a far wall.
       'You were dense and ridiculous to think you could get away with such a move,' said Hellia, and Leth was more sure than ever that she was speaking Urch-Malmain's words. 'Whatever possessed you? And after you have received such kindness here? I think a lesson is in order.'
       She suddenly wrenched Galry's head back further and with a sharp movement slid the blade across his throat. Bright blood sprang forth. Leth cried out and threw himself forward. But in precisely the same instant little Jace had also thrown herself at Hellia, screaming, 'No! You leave him! You leave him!'
       Jace had seized Hellia's luxuriant dark hair, yanking furiously. Leth arrested Hellia's swordwrist and with his other fist punched her hard in the face. Hellia fell back, cracked her skull on the lip of a step behind, and lay still.
       Leth turned to Galry. Blood poured from a long gash into his clothing, but though pale and shaking he breathed without difficulty. Jace's sudden distraction had deflected the force of Hellia's motion, and the sword had penetrated nothing vital. But if Jace had moved a pulsebeat later . . .
       Leth clutched the two children to him, his heart hammering painfully against his ribcage. Then he quickly tore a strip from the tail of Prince Galry's shirt and used it to staunch and bind the wound. This done, he stood and gazed down at Hellia's naked form, limp upon the steps.
       What are you? He could find no rancour in his heart towards her. She was not responsible. She had once been someone else, wrenched from her own world and transported here to suffer Urch-Malmain's grotesque violations.
       Yet she remained, undeniably, utterly dangerous.
       Leth crouched and lifted her in his arms. As he carried her down the steps he was struck, not for the first time, by her beauty. Her body was warm against him, the skin soft and supple. The scent of her was stimulating in his nostrils. Her eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted. She might have been sleeping. Leth wondered again who she could be.
       Carefully he carried her into the chamber from which she had stepped. There was a door on the other side; Leth laid Hellia on a divan then crossed to investigate. Beyond the door an occupied passage led away, he did not know where. He closed the door again and returned to Hellia. A livid bruise was already blooming on her cheek where he had struck her. Nearby her discarded clothing lay in a heap on the floor. Leth lifted a green linen chemise and tore it into several strips which he then used to secure her wrists and ankles so that she would be unable to move when she awoke. Another strip