The sound of low male voices drifted into the cell but the prisoner didn't stir from the narrow cot where he lay curled, knees drawn tightly to his chest. There were always guards stationed in and out of his cell so he had gotten used to hearing them speak to each other in hushed tones.
He was never without proper supervision but the guards never spoke to him. They were not allowed to address him directly, as ordered by the prince himself.
Their muffled conversation and the little he could glean from them had been his only source of entertainment since being detained in the dank room. It had gotten to the point that he could scarcely tell most of their voices apart.
His body stiffened when he heard keys jingling in the lock, followed by the sound of the stiff hinges creaking as the door was pushed open.
