Sydney flexed her arms again, trying to loosen the rough rope that circled her wrists. Her stomach still churned. It was bad enough witnessing a brutal, senseless murder. Knowing that the girl died in her place only exacerbated Sydney’s guilt. LeiLani had been selected for her shared Hawaiian heritage with, and physical resemblance to, the female relic hunter.
Sydney’s forehead was braced against the heavenly coolness of a tiled wall. Every inch of her body ached. Attila had no qualms about striking a woman and no sense of fair play. She’d been little more than a living, breathing punching bag to the would-be warrior. She hadn’t been questioned, nor was she given any explanation for the beating. And an utter lack of reaction among the young guards told Sydney that this line of cruelty was nothing new to them.
None of this made sense. She had been ostensibly enlisted to find the Sword of Mars, but had yet to do any searching. Another woman had been taken on her account, yet she remained alive. The contradictions were snowballing and she was no closer to understanding any of it.
A girl arrived, a child of no more than ten. Short blond hair spiked out from a babyish face, and curious green eyes stared at the older woman’s brown ones. The little girl slid a tray to the floor and silently pressed food between Sydney’s lips, alternating with sips of water and some kind of bitter, unsweetened tea. Mismatched clothing hung loosely on the girl’s thin frame. A dressy pink lace blouse topped grungy jeans, and a green sock covered one foot, while the other was deep mustard yellow. She shuffled around in worn huarachi sandals that looked to be about one size too large.
Once the meal was completed, the child untied Sydney and walked to a blank corner in the featureless room. The little girl scooted down the wall and sat on the bare wood floor, her expression expectant.
Too surprised for words, Sydney pushed herself up, fighting off a wave of nausea. "Um, does this mean I can go?" she finally managed. Her words sounded tinny and distant to her ears.
The child said nothing, merely pointed at the door.
Syd rose unsteadily and stumbled toward the portal. Her feet suddenly seemed disconnected and awkward, and only determination drove her on. She encountered a few of the kids in the corridors, but she was having a hard time remembering which direction she was going or where she had been. Fortunately, a helpful young man of about twelve offered to guide her. He led her to another door and set her hand on the knob. "Your friend is waiting," he said with a slight lisp.
"Thank you," Sydney said politely. She pushed the door open and broke into a huge smile. "Nigel!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "Long time no see! How’s it going?" She stumbled forward and gave him a big kiss, giggling when his jaw went slack in surprise. "I think they drugged me," she confided.
Then, she promptly passed out.
Go to Part Twenty Five.