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“So tell me, Little Fox,” the woman still crouched over him snarled, “how many Dragonborn lives do you think yours is worth?”

“I’d say at least ten. Why do you ask?” The snarky words had left his mouth before he could stop himself, so the hard slap that followed wasn’t exactly a surprise.

“You are worth less than nothing, yet four people died for you today.”

Was he supposed to feel guilty?

“Sorry, I’ve been locked in a cell for the past week, so I’m a little out of the loop of current events.”

“The chief commander just executed four innocent Dragonborn in your name.”

“I doubt they were innocent.”

Her hand came down, clenching around his throat once more as she leaned forward, their noses nearly touching.

“Sari’s crime was trying to get a message to her friend. She was sixteen.”

“If her friend was a treasonous rebel, she deserved what she got. Just like the rest of you dragon-filth.”

He knew he had probably taken it too far, but he enjoyed seeing her face flush. And it did so with such a crazed passion he wondered if she might explode. Still, he wasn’t expecting the punch that followed. His head snapped back, hitting the wall behind him with a crack. He let out a curse and bent forward, hands reaching for his face. There had been no snap of cartilage, but even touching his nose sent a shock of pain through him.

He cursed, looking up at her through watery eyes. “Impressive right cross.”

“Sofia,” the other woman hissed from behind her. It was under her breath and perhaps she didn’t think he’d hear her, but he smiled widely.

“Sofia, huh? Nice to finally meet you, oh captor of mine.”

“Get out of here,Flor,” Sofia hissed back.

“Why? So you can kill our best chance at—” this time she had the forethought to not finish. Fox was only a bit disappointed. He was too focused watching the emotions flying acrossSofia’sface.

With only a flash second of movement, there was a dagger pressed against his throat, her hand steady where she gripped it.

“You had that and you punched me?”

“It was satisfying.”

“So why bring knives into it?” He gave a pointed look down at the cold metal against his skin. “Scared of me?”

“I just want to see you bleed.”

“Sof, the others are going to hear something. We’re going to get caught.”

Fox tilted his head, careful to not press the blade any deeper into his skin. “You’re not supposed to be here, oh captor of mine? I’m honored you wanted so badly to talk to me.”

The tip of the dagger pressed in, drawing blood, and he bit back the hiss that crawled up his throat.

“Let’s start from the beginning,” she said. “You’re going to help me get into the chief commander’s house unseen. Then we’re getting the rest of the innocent Dragonborn out of that prison.”

“That is a fascinating assumption. Especially for someone who just punched me while I was tied up.”

“You’re going to help me. Whether it’s now or after I cut off each one of your fingers and toes is up to you.”

“Sofia,” Flor said again, this time moving as if to stop her. But she didn’t grab for her, didn’t physically restrain her, and Sofia didn’t move.

“Leave unless you’re going to help.” The words came out in a hiss between her teeth.

Fox felt the first trickles of fear when Flor listened, setting down the lantern, eyes wide as she backed out of the room.