James West - Shadow and Steel

“Guess,” the Kelren snarled.

Ulmek held the blade before his face, admiring its edge. “Just a name,” he whispered, moving to stand over the sea-wolf. He abruptly sliced the dagger across his palm, then clenched his fist. Blood squeezed between his fingers, dripped onto the man, covering him with small crimson coins.

“Your pain does not frighten me,” the Kelren scoffed. As Ulmek’s blood continued to drip, the sea-wolf’s bravado gradually vanished, until he began bucking against the restraints. “What are you doing? What do you want?”

“Your name,” Ulmek said again, as if it were the simplest of requests. He shook the sack at his belt. Whatever was hidden within the burlap prison stirred, making the coarse fabric dance. “For the moment, a name is more than enough.”

Looking at the sack, the slaver’s eyes bulged. “Rallin,” he blurted. “Rallin of the Blackfish.”

Ulmek cocked an eyebrow at Leitos. “Surely, he jests?”

Leitos shrugged uncomfortably. “Why would he?”

“ ‘Tis true!” Rallin bellowed.

Ulmek knelt at the slaver’s side. “You have done well, Rallin of the Blackfish. Now I need to know the best way to get aboard the Night Blade .”

The sea-wolf stiffened, resoluteness replacing the panic in his stare. “I’ll never tell, you accursed-”

Rallin’s retort became a short scream when Ulmek thrust the dagger under his kneecap. When he stopped digging, Rallin’s head dropped back. “You cannot break me,” he panted.

“You mistake me,” Ulmek said; Leitos had never heard or seen the man look so serene. “I do not want to ‘break’ you. I want to rescue my men. Surely you understand?”

The sea-wolf held silent, and Ulmek worked the blade deeper into the joint, steel grinding through gristle and sinew. The sound set Leitos’s teeth on edge.

Sweat sprang from the slaver’s pores, and a stink of terror wafted from his skin, an odor Leitos knew all too well from the mines of his childhood. He felt no pity, for men like this had chained his people and countless others, all without a care that most would suffer horribly and eventually die in the hands of Alon’mahk’lar.

When Ulmek canted the blade, prying up Rallin’s kneecap, the man lost control of his bladder. Ulmek’s nose wrinkled in distaste, but he did not relent.

“Tell me how to take the Night Blade , and I will leave you with the ability to walk. Hold your tongue, and….” Ulmek levered the dagger. A hissing screech burst through Rallin’s teeth.

“I do not think my dagger will loosen his tongue,” Ulmek said, and withdrew the blade.

The sea-wolf lay gasping. His rolling eyes found Leitos. “Kill this inbred bastard for me, free those above, and I’ll see that you are safe among my people for the remaining days of your life.”

A shiver of revulsion passed over Leitos’s skin. “You think I would betray my own for the promise of becoming one of you?”

“The Faceless One rewards his followers,” Rallin said.

“The Faceless One seeks to destroy all humankind,” Leitos answered hollowly.

“Lies, boy! Exaggerations and blasphemies, spread by fools. I tell you, we have lives worth living. We serve him, and in return, he rewards us, allows us to sail and take plunder of his enemies-our enemies. Stay with these men, and you’ll be hunted all your days. The Brothers of the Crimson Shield are the true betrayers. Stay with them, and you’ll die by the sword or wither in chains. Side with us, and reap the blessings of our master.”

Leitos said nothing, but he noticed Ulmek’s scrutiny.

“Well, little brother, what will it be?” Ulmek asked. Leitos frowned at the question, spoken as if there was actually a choice. Ulmek dropped his gaze to Leitos’s hand. He had unknowingly drawn his sword. “Will you cut me down and free him?”

“No. Never,” Leitos said. “I … I meant to end his drivel.”

“Then why not do it?”

“Would you stop me?”

“No.” Ulmek stood away with an inviting gesture. “Kill him. He and those like him have preyed upon your people long years, much as they have preyed upon mine. He deserves death. Take your vengeance.”

Rallin looked between them. “Don’t listen, boy. To kill a servant of the Faceless One is a grievous crime.”

Leitos gripped the hilt of his sword, knuckles going white. He stepped forward, eyeing Rallin’s pulse throbbing in his neck. That was where the blade would fall, stilling the Kelren’s lies. In an instant, it would be over. The sword swung above his head, his muscles went tight and hard. In a blink, he could destroy this lying, hateful beast. A blink….

Leitos abruptly lowered the sword, settled back on the soles of his feet. “We need to learn his secrets. Killing him serves nothing.”

“You are learning, little brother,” Ulmek said solemnly.

“A test?” Leitos asked in disbelief.

Ulmek nodded. “Each new day is filled with challenges and obstacles. We learn from them, surmount them, or we do not. To be a Brother of the Crimson Shield is to overcome more often than you fail … and to survive, of course.”

While Leitos considered that, Ulmek reached into the sack at his belt, and carefully drew out a large rat. He held it up for Rallin to see.

“In the alleys of Zuladah, they are not so willing to let a man handle them,” Ulmek said, deftly avoiding the vermin’s nipping teeth. As he looked into its shiny black eyes, the creature calmed. “On a ship, though, rats are used to men tromping about-they do not like us overmuch, but they tolerate our presence.”

“You are a fool if you think a rat will make me betray my own.”

“You overestimate yourself,” Ulmek said placidly. He raised a bloody finger to the rat. It stretched out its nose, whiskers dancing eagerly. “Or, perhaps, you misjudge the persuasiveness of hungry vermin.”

Rallin went still as stone. “What … what do you mean to do?” he demanded.

“One way or another, I will have the answers I require,” Ulmek said. “That is all. Your life, your pain and suffering, are all meaningless to me, while my the men of my order are my life. Answer my questions, Rallin of the Blackfish, and you will walk out of here … a whole man.”

“Gods good and wise, you are mad!”

“Refuse to tell me what I need … well, no matter. Another will, and you will have been ruined for nothing.”

“Do not do this,” Rallin pleaded.

Ulmek went on, as if the sea-wolf had not spoken. “After this little fellow tastes blood, he will call to his companions. More will come, and more still. Dozens, maybe scores. After they lick away the blood, they’ll taste the honey. By then, a swarm will have covered you, frenzied with hunger. They will start digging then, and chewing-their claws and teeth are so very sharp.”

“Do not do this!” Rallin repeated, howling the words.

“They will devour your manhood, burrow into your bowels, eat their way to your beating heart-but only if I let them.” Ulmek pulled another rat from the sack.

“I cannot watch this,” Leitos muttered hoarsely.

“You must,” Ulmek said. “I must. Even Rallin, here, must see how far I am willing to go in order to free our brethren. The Faceless One and his agents have forced their war and their chains on us far too long. This night, all that ends. No more running. No more hiding. No more submitting.”

With some effort, Leitos stood his ground, and glanced at the slaver. “You can escape the judgment you deserve,” he said, voice cold. “The choice is yours-a choice that you have never given to those you kill or enslave. Tell us how to defeat the Night Blade . Tell us how to get our brethren safely back, and you will be spared.”