Boyett-Compo, Charlotte - Wyndmaster 1 by The Wyndmaster's Lady (Samhain) Read Free Book Online

trying to get between her and the doorway. “She should not see this! Do not
    let her see! He is unclothed and?”
    Those men who had entered the doorway beyond, and who were now ringed about something in the
    center lit by the torch in the leader’s hand, were strangely quiet as her father scuffled with two other
    massive warriors who restrained him. His furious words, his demands that she be spared whatever
    gruesome sight lay beyond made Celeste cringe as she was pulled steadily forward until she stood behind
    the backs of the men who formed a barricade in front of her.
    “Bring her here,” she heard the leader say in a husky voice.
    “No!” her father shrieked. “Celeste, no! Do not go in there!”
    The men in front of her turned to look back at her with fierce, brooding eyes then—like a silent
    wave—shuffled aside, fanning back in an arc to each side to allow her a view of what lay beyond.
    “See what your father has done,” Vargas spat.

Chapter Five
    When he had heard the noise coming down the stairs, Sierran had thought it was his torturer coming
    back. He had been unable to stop the fear that pushed at his throat. The mere thought of more pain, the
    prolonged sting of the slow, deliberate slices into his flesh set his insides to shaking. At the moment he
    heard Vargas’ unmistakable bark of a voice, he thought he was dreaming, but then he’d realized his men
    had come for him and he closed his eyes in thanksgiving to let fresh tears streak down his temples.
    Slowly turning his head toward the harsh glare of the torch that lit up the room, his narrowed gaze fell on
    Vargas and the agony in that man’s stunned eyes hurt more than any cut that had come from the Dungeon
    Master’s blades.
    “Bring her here,” he heard Vargas say and wondered who his man meant. What woman should see the
    awful things done to him? He was looking into Vargas’ green eyes—pleading silently with him for
    understanding—as a young woman was drawn forward and he shifted his attention from the soldier to
    her in surprise.
    “See what your father has done,” Vargas told her.
    At first there was nothing to see save the man bound to the high slab but as a drop of blood fell over the
    side of the gray stone to plop to the floor, her lips parted in shock.
    “Take her away!” Lord Charles screamed. “Do not allow her to see this!”
    “Move your little ass, wench,” Vargas said. “We want you to take a damned good look.”
    Her legs feeling like stone, Celeste reluctantly came closer to the slab. Very slowly her attention shifted
    upward from the crimson stain on the floor to the ghostly pale face of the prisoner. She saw dark brown
    wavy hair falling over the man’s sweaty forehead. She saw livid bruises on his face then as full horror set
    in, she saw the scores upon scores of cuts on the flesh of his arms and chest. She came to an abrupt
    halt—hearing her father’s protests coming from far, far away, all sound slowly fading to silence—her
    horrified stare locked on the grisly sight of the man’s myriad cuts. Once more her gaze lifted to his
    wounded, amber-colored eyes and something dark passed between them only a fraction of a second
    before her eyes rolled up in her head and she began to fall.
    Vargas leapt toward the girl, cursing as he did, and grabbed her in a rough embrace before she hit the
    floor. Swinging her up in his arms, he looked to Sierran for help.
    Sierran was unable to speak for the gag between his teeth. MacDougal hurried forward to the head of
    the slab and bent over to slit the bloody material with his knife. His commander looked up at him for a
    moment as Mac gently pulled the material from Sierran’s mouth.
    “Commander?” Vargas asked over the enraged shrieks of the Dungeon Master whose eyes were
    bulging and who was practically foaming at the mouth.
    Shifting his attention to Lord Charles, watching the man buck and twist in an effort to reach the woman,
    Sierran knew he had a way to