“Why would you do that? I’m no threat to you.”
“To gain your sympathy. From what I know ofLeonidas, he will protest your imprisonment.”
Leo would fight for her. The knowledge brought comfort.
“Do they let us out to exercise?”
He made a scoffing sound. “What do you think this is? A treat for the well-behaved and favored? I keep myself sane by exercising several times a day.”
“Do they kill prisoners?”
He hesitated, and everything inside her pulled tight. Gwenyth wished she hadn’t asked.
“Yes.”
No sugarcoating his answer. “What is your name?”
“Martinos.”
“Are you a dragon?”
“Yes.”
“Can’t you use your dragon to escape? Use your flames or something similar?”
“Such the innocent,” Martinos mocked. “I wear a druid-made bracelet that keeps my dragon trapped. Without a druid’s aid, I cannot remove the bracelet, short of chopping off my arm.”
“That would be drastic.”
“Yes. You didn’t tell me your name.”
“Gwenyth.” As she said the name, it felt wrong, yet no alternative presented itself.
“Well, fair Gwenyth. I can’t say I’m sorry to have someone to talk to. It gets lonely down here.”
“What about the others in the cells?”
“They’re on the upper levels, but this is the original dungeon. I’ve been the lone prisoner here for the last year.”
“Oh.” Gwenyth wondered how he remained sane. The prospect of staying here even one day filled her with trepidation. “How do you keep yourself sane?”
“Who said I was? According to those who put me here, I am a psychopath and capable of great cruelty.”
“Are you?”
He issued another of those humorless laughs. “Wait and see.”
“Apart from exercises, what do you do? It’s so dark down here.”
“You get used to the darkness,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Your eyes will adjust.”
She hoped so. One light shone from the far wall—probably enough light for the guards to carry out their duties.
Martinos described his day. “Exercise comes first. If I ever get the chance to leave or fate allows me to escape, I want to seize the opportunity. Back when I was a free dragon, I used to paint. I’d made a name for myself and had a small shop. I specialized in portraits, but I also enjoy—enjoyed—painting scenery.”
“When Leo and I walked through the castle to meet his parents, I noticed a large number of portraits. Most of those depicted seemed dour and disapproving.”
She received another forced laugh from Martinos.
