Chapter 8

It was night. Sar did not know how he knew that. He was in a prison without windows somewhere under the capital. How he knew it was the night, he had no idea. May be it was his instinct. A sharp sound of a lock being opened could be heard. Sar looked at the sound. In the torchlight he saw two beautiful and proud eyes looking right at him. It was Kira. "I have decided", she said, "I have chosen to trust you." Sar looked at her in surprise. He expected that they would let him stay in the prison for a few more days. " There is no need to be surprised. And one more thing. I'm warning you do anything that opposes the rebellion or betray us in any way I won't hesitate to our my dagger into your heart. I will kill you myself", she said. Sar nodded in assent.

"For now follow me. I'll take you to the dormitories. You can rest there for the night."

" But- I really want to know where I am. These tunnels under the capital.. "

Suddenly Sar was pinned to the wall by Kira. He felt a prick at the base of his throat. With a start he realized that Kira had pointed a dagger at his throat.

"Who told you about the tunnels? Tell me before I slit your throat. How do you know about them?"

Sar was surprised. He looked at her in the eyes and told calmly, " I apologize. I overheard you talking to the person who brought me here. You mentioned something about these tunnels. I shouldn't have overheard your conversation. "

"That's not possible. How did you hear us from the prison? What else did you hear?" , she asked.

"I heard you telling that boy named Kin to go to bed and call Joey and Val. He also told you about the wedding feast." , he said.

Kira let go of him and sheathed her dagger. She stared at him deeply for a few minutes.

Under the deep gaze of a beautiful pair of eyes, Sar felt a little uncomfortable. But he managed not to flinch or show any weakness.

Kira blinked. In her eyes there was a respect for this man. Anyone would have avoided looking at her eyes or flinched when she stared like that. She had been always told that her eyes were beautiful . An old woman had once taught her how to utilize its potential fully. Anything too much beautiful was always scary. She could scare a person by just staring at them deeply. They would be pressured by her stare. It was an old psychological trick and it worked.. ..except now. The man before her had a very strong will power.

Kira led the way to the dorms. She went to Kin's room. It had an empty bed. She opened the door. Kin who was sleeping awoke. He saw Sar. He looked at Kira in surprise. She looked at him and signalled that they would talk tomorrow. "Go to sleep both of you. And Sar use that bed. We have a big day tomorrow. You have to wake up early." , she said.

Kira entered her room. She looked around at those familiar walls of her room. The small stars she drew when she was young. She slowly sunk into her bed. She was exhausted. She had to sleep in order to remain alert the next day. She was afraid to close her because once she did the nightmares would begin. As she was about to close her eyes, she had a fleeting thought. How on the earth was Sar able to overhear their conversation. The prison walls were sound proof. She knew all the secrets of the tunnels. It was her family's secret passed down from generations. No one outside the rebellion knew about its existence.

She knew for a fact that no sound could be heard in the prison from outside. Then how could he hear? The exhaustion got hold of her and she drifted to sleep. She forgot all about her doubts.

The leader of the rebellion succumbed into her nightmares...