Read Online Heirs of the Fallen: Book 03 - Shadow and Steel by James A. West - Free Book Online Page A

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.”
    Rallin’s gaze darted from the lively rats held in Ulmek’s hands, and back to Leitos. “I … I’ll tell you … just don’t put those rats on me. I swear, to all the gods that heed men, I’ll tell!”
    And so he did, telling of Kelren strategies and how to overcome them, of signals and how to answer them. He also revealed that Telmon intended to lead the Brothers into a trap that would get them all killed.
    When he finished, fresh tears were spilling from his eyes. “You will let me live, a man whole … as you promised, yes?”
    “No,” Ulmek said, and tossed the rats onto the slaver.
    Rallin began screaming before Ulmek hustled a stunned Leitos up out of the hold. His initial shrieks were merely cries of fear. By the time Ulmek shut the hatch, the sounds of agony filled the hold.
    “Do not fret,” Ulmek said to the chained Kelrens. “Do as you are told, and I promise you will fare better than your mate.”
    Naked terror shone in the eyes of the sea-wolves, and Ulmek laughed.
    Back on the main deck, under the cover of night, Rallin’s cries vanished beneath the sounds of the sea, and the wind singing through taut stays and shrouds.
    “Telmon!” Ulmek shouted good-naturedly. He cast about, found Telmon, and strode aft under a sky bursting with bright stars.
    The sea-wolf looked up from tying off a stay to a wooden cleat, suspicion flitting across his face. “Where is Rallin … what did you do to