Chapter 289 Trying to find a way

Chapter 289: Chapter 289 Trying to find a way

Talia’s POV

I turned back to the cell, and I gripped the rod in my hands. My mother was watching me, and I saw the hope in her tired eyes.

"I am coming, Mother," I said. "I am going to get you out now."

The rod groaned against the silver, and I felt the metal bite into my palms, but the bars did not move. I pulled harder, and I felt the sweat dripping down my face. My arms were shaking, and my muscles were screaming, but I did not stop.

"Come on," I grunted through clenched teeth. "Come on!"

The rod slipped, and I stumbled forward. I caught myself against the bars, and I felt the silver burn my skin, but I did not pull away.

"Talia," my mother said, and her voice was filled with worry. "You are hurting yourself."

I shook my head. "I do not care."

I wedged the rod between the bars again, and I pulled with everything I had. The rod bent slightly, but the bars still held firm. They were too strong.

I let out a cry of frustration, and I slammed my fist against the bars. The silver burned my knuckles, and I felt the blood welling up beneath my skin.

"Talia," Kaelen said, his voice weak but steady. "Let me try."

I looked at him. He was standing a few feet away, with his body swaying. He could barely stand, so he could not do this.

"Kaelen, you cannot even stand," I said.

He shook his head. "I can still try."

"Kaelen..." I started to say.

"Please, Talia," he said. "Let me try."

I looked at him, and I saw the determination in his eyes. He would not give up, and he would not stop trying.

"Fine," I said. "But if it gets too much, you stop."

He nodded. "I will."

I handed him the rod, and he stepped forward. His hands were shaking, and I could see the pain on his face. But he wedged the rod between the bars, and he pulled.

The rod groaned, and I saw the muscles in his arms straining. His face was red with effort, and I could hear his breathing, ragged and shallow.

"Come on," he whispered. "Come on."

The bars creaked, just a little. But they did not move.

Kaelen let out a cry of frustration, and he dropped the rod. He stumbled back, and I caught him before he fell.

"Kaelen," I said. "That is enough."

He shook his head. "I almost had it."

"You almost collapsed," I said. "Sit down, and rest."

He looked at me, and I saw the frustration in his eyes. But he was too weak to argue. He let me guide him to the wall, and he slid down against the stone.

I looked at Kaelen’s hands, and at the burns that were spreading up his arms. The blisters were forming on his fingers, and I could see the silver still eating into his skin. He needed protection, and he needed something to cover his skin.

I looked around the dungeon, searching for anything I could use. The cells were empty, the floor was bare, and there was nothing.

"Talia," my mother’s voice came from behind me. "Look at me."

I turned to face her.

She reached down and tore a strip of cloth from the hem of her tattered dress. It was thin and worn, but it was clean. She held it through the bars.

"Use this," she said. "Wrap his hands and neck."

I stared at the cloth. "Mother, you need that."

She shook her head. "I have been wearing rags for fifteen years, Talia. I do not need them as much as he does."

I took the cloth from her, and I felt the tears prick at my eyes. "Thank you, Mother."

She smiled. "Go quickly, and help him."

I walked back to Kaelen, and I knelt beside him. He looked up at me, and his eyes were glassy with pain.

"Talia," he said. "What are you doing?"

I held up the cloth. "My mother gave me this. I am going to wrap your hands and neck."

He shook his head. "You do not have to do that."

"Yes, I do," I said. "Your skin is getting worse."

I took his hand, and I began wrapping the cloth around his fingers. He winced from the pain, but he did not pull away.

"I am sorry," I said. "I know it hurts."

He shook his head. "It is fine."

I wrapped his hands carefully, covering every inch of burned skin. Then I wrapped his neck, covering the welts that had spread up to his jaw.

When I was finished, I looked at him. "How does that feel?"

He flexed his fingers. "Better. Thank you."

I looked at him, and I felt the love in my chest. "You need to stay alive, Kaelen."

He almost smiled. "I am trying."

I turned back, and I looked at the rod on the ground, then at the silver bars. They were still standing, and they had not broken.

But I was not giving up.

I picked up the rod, and I turned back to the bars.

"Talia," my mother said. "Please be careful."

I looked at her. "I will, Mother."

I wedged the rod between the bars, and I pulled.