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The daylight hits his eyes and he stumbles, his knees colliding sharply with the stone steps. He stifles the cry from his lips as agony shoots up his thighs into his hips. The two men by his side heave him back to his feet, muttering angrily under their breath. Logan forces his head up, he will not cower. As much as he wants to, he cannot walk unassisted and each step tires him. After another stumble and a glance downwards, they curse him. They call him a murderer and a coward and question why he is still alive. Blood seeps from his torn knees and drips steadily down his legs.
They bring him outside and the sun presses down on him. He closes his eyes momentarily so that when he opens them the glare is not so harsh. Many men stand around, all of their faces angry and still clouded with grief. Logan finds it difficult to meet their gazes. It is such a deep hatred rooted in all of them and it rolls off them in waves. Logan is number one enemy and no one could possibly doubt it. The grip on his arms tightens as the two men push forward, sending warning glances to a few whose fists clench as he passes.
Then he sees a familiar face, yet not so familiar. White blonde hair forms like a halo around her, the sun spreading blondes into it. Her mouth parts slowly and she pushes her way to the front, ignoring the men who frown down at her. She licks her lip and turns to a man by her side. She whispers hurriedly to him and receives an answer. Understanding dawns in her eyes. She watches him with sadness. He passes her and he feels her eyes follow him. He does not look back. He cannot draw attention to her.
They drag him up the steps to the manor where the guards at the door scowl openly at him. They quickly move to open the doors and he is dragged inside. Logan finds his footing and, with great effort, manages to stand tall. The men chuckle darkly at his side and pick up their pace, knowing it will make him struggle to keep to what he intends to do. Doors ahead of them open to the great hall. They hurry through and stop once inside.
A gasp falls from someone's mouth and Logan searches for the source of the noise. His eyes scan past Lord Kier and Lady Aileen who look down their noses at him, disgust clearly evident. Gethin and Gavriel speak between themselves, the only sign they know he is has been brought in is that they refuse to look his way.
Then his eyes fall on her and they stick. Tears shine in her eyes but she does not let them fall. Her red hair is weaved intricately around her head, held up and away her slender shoulders. Her grey eyes, framed by thick black lashes, do not waver from him. She was the source of the noise. She was not able to hide her shock quickly enough. Seeing how being in the dungeons has affected him pulled on her heart strings. Seeing him again brought so many feelings rushing back. As if drawn by an invisible string she steps towards him. Logan holds his breath.
His name forms on her tongue. He waits to hear it from the voice he has spent so many nights dreaming about. If only she can give him a chance, he thinks. All she needs to do is hear him out. Her lips part as she takes another step forward, the pull too strong to care if her family find her behaviour odd. "Lo..." his name is cut off as someone takes her hand and she turns back, the connection severed.
Logan looks to the man. Tall with black hair and dark brown eyes. Jealousy tears at him. This man is able to simply reach out and take his Siren's arm. He has now completely captured her attention. With steady, patient hands he guides her back to her earlier spot. His hand falls to hold her waist when they stop and his fingers curl inwards, keeping her in place. She chooses to remain, even putting her hand over his. The man's eyes flick over to Logan's. His expression remains blank but he whispers soothing words to Zara.
"Logan." He forces himself to follow the new voice and a smile grows on his face. Sparrow wrings her hands awkwardly before her. She glances sideways at Lord Kier before stepping forward to Logan. Lord Kier moves to protest but a glare from Wolfe quiets his voice. Sparrow takes Logan's hands briefly before quickly embracing him. Logan wraps his arms around her and hugs her tightly. A tear slips down Sparrow's cheek as she feels his ribs through the worn and dirty material. "Have they even fed you?" she whispers, her voice sounding harsh to both of their ears.
"They have." Logan pulls away and tightens his jaw as the two men refuse to release him. Sparrow quickly assesses both men and how Logan seems to be able to stand on his own.
"Tell your men to release him. He is weak and unable to run." She commands of Lord Kier, whilst not bothering to look his way.
"My men are there for your protection." He replies with ease.
Sparrow rolls her eyes and Logan shakes his head with amusement. "Then tell your men to back up. I do not need their protection. You belittle me as a warrior." Gethin nods at his father. Lord Kier sighs heavily before giving the sign to his men. They release Logan's arms and step back. "Further." Sparrow taunts. They glare sharply at her. Her hand slips to her belt where several daggers lie. The warning is clear. They back further away.
Wolfe steps up to her side and he sucks in his breath sharply before chuckling. "Never thought we would be in this position." Logan chuckles in reply and shakes his head.
"Neither did I. I am sorry that you had to come all this way to see me." Sparrow shakes her head at Logan's nonchalant reply.
"I had to sign to say that I would not try to rescue you, that you would be put on trial for your crime." Wolfe's voice drops. "I, however, would be willing to go to war for you."
"As would I, my father supports my word as well. Both lands will happily come to your rescue." Her eyes flicker over her shoulder where the Ricell family look irritated that words are being exchanged without them being able to hear. "You look truly awful, I cannot believe they treat a Lord so badly before his trial." She exclaims loudly.
"No." Sparrow raises her brows, her mouth twisting at his response. "One life is not worth thousands."
"I cannot leave you to die here." Wolfe growls lowly. He brings Logan into a brotherly hug. "Give me permission to get you out of here now." Logan pats him on the back and pulls away.
"You know that I cannot do that." His green eyes dart to the Ricells. He takes Sparrow's hand and speaks loudly. "Congratulations on your wedding." Sparrow swiftly colours. "I am pleased you have each other, you will be able to support each other through whatever happens." Discreetly now he says, with his lips barely moving, "Make sure you are watched over the next two days by someone from these lands, trust me."
Wolfe does not catch the words and frowns but Sparrow nods slightly. She clasps his hand back. "Know that your family are thinking of you and we will do everything we can."
A door opens and a woman slips in, drifting over to Zara's side. Logan looks over at her. She offers a miniscule smile.
"That is enough." Lord Kier motions with his head and the guards step up to his side again and grip his arms. "You have seen him now. You know he is alive and well. We will alert you as to when the trial will be."
Wolfe grabs Sparrow's hand. He pulls it away from the daggers. He nods at Lord Kier. "He is alive, well would be stretching the truth. I expect better from you. Until his trial he will be fed food at least three times a day. He has not yet been proclaimed guilty." He tugs Sparrow back but she pulls from his grasp.
She throws herself around Logan's neck and squeezes tightly. "Be strong, my ally." She steps away with one last dagger and she bows her head to him in respect. He feels the cool metal against the skin of his back and laughs internally. He is not surprised that she would break rules so easily.
She goes back to Wolfe's side and slips her hand into his. He leans down and whispers something into her ear. She nods and they both turn to the Ricells. Logan is dragged from the room. The doors shut behind him and he lets out a long breath.
"You are being treated well, you know that do you not?" One of the guards says in a cool, tired voice. Logan chooses not to reply. "You have not been tortured, you have not been starved nor had water withheld from you. You have even been able to see your family and you will have a trial. You deserve none of that."
"Quit it. He is not worth your breath. He killed Jasiel."
"I did not." Logan says softly. The men pause before digging their fingers into his skin.
"Do not lie." They order with barely disguised contempt. Logan does not understand why they try to hide it.
They move on and take him out of the manor. Halfway across the grounds to the entrance of the dungeons a voice calls out. A distinctly female one. "Wait!" They look over their shoulders but Logan is unable to do so. He does not want his ears and his eyes to disagree. "I must speak to the prisoner."
"Miss..." A sharp look silences his next words.
"I will put it another way. I order you to stop and I order you to stand at a distance. He will not run." The men bite hard down on the tongues but do as ordered. They release him and step away. They do continue to watch but are not close enough to hear.
Logan turns slowly. His ears did not deceive him. There she stands there, in all of her outstanding glory. He looks over her shoulder but it is only her. The man who seemed far too comfortable with her has not followed her. "You are not afraid that I will kill you too." The bitter words spring from his mouth but strangely he does not immediately regret them. He will later.
She visibly shudders, her mouth turning down upon hearing them. "Please do not do that Logan. It is not you; you do not behave like this."
"I do not murder either but you believed that easily enough." The men watching fidget; seeing the annoyance on both Logan's and Zara's faces. Zara shakes her head at them; she does not want them to interfere.
"The blade was poisoned and it must have been someone he trusted. Who else could possibly have done it? I do not know why you did but please, for me, admit that you did. I wake up in the middle of the night and I struggle. If you have any feelings left for me, end my pain. Give me closure."
"I cannot do that. I will not lie to help you. I am innocent and your brother's murderer is somewhere out there and only he can give you closure."
She licks her lips and shutters back tears. "You are just making all of this so much harder on everyone. There was only you, me and my brothers. I wish there was someone else, I really do." With a flick of the wrist the men come back to his side. "When you are ready to plead guilty call for me and I will be there. Maybe we can actually be honest with each other." She looks at the two men. "Take him back to his cell."