I STAGGERED BACK in shock. Our eyes met, and it was as if some terrible knowledge had been passed between us.
The Tafur took my surprise as an opening and dug his hands into my face. I pressed the poker into his neck even harder. Then I heard bone crack in his neck. His eyes bulged, a final, desperate resistance. A trickle of blood seeped from his mouth. A moment later, his legs began to give way. When at last I let go, the Tafur crumpled to the filthy prison floor.
I stood over him, breathing furiously. My mind hurtled back again.Tafurs... I saw them ravaging their captives in their filthy tents. I saw them butchering the Turk who had spared me, then darting like beetles to the crypt, scavenging for spoils. What were they doing here in Bor俥? What did they want with me? With Sophie?
Suddenly I heard shouts and commotion. The prisoners were clanging the bars in their cells.
Now, with what little time we had left, I had to get Sophie out of here. I rummaged over the Tafur's body, frantically searching for a key.
I ran my eyes about the keep. Keys must be here somewhere.
I turned toward Sophie, eager to let her know that I would help her escape.
But the sight of her left me rigid as stone.
She was slumped against the bars, her face icy white. Her eyes, a moment ago mad with terror, seemed calm and far-off. I did not see her breathe.
Oh,God ,no...!
I crawled to her, cupped her face in my hands. Sophie, stay with me. You can't die. Not now.
She blinked, barely more than a tremor. A glimmer of life appeared in her eyes.
