For once, I had something to be thankful for - Aimes's presence beside me as we followed the guard up the stairs from the dungeon. I was ready to fight if he'd been ordered to stay in the cell alone.

Immediately, a range of ugly possibilities had run through my head. What if somebody hurt him while I wasn't there? What if they took him away and put him someplace else to keep us separated and scared?

Having him next to me gave me strength. Whatever was coming, I didn't have to ...