Read Online The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion by Larry Robbins - Free Book Online
Authors: Larry Robbins
Ads: Link
Engineer, save your breath. I fear you will need it. You see, we are at a critical point in our…negotiations with your crew.” There was more laughter which Tallun stopped with a raised hand. “Try as we might we have been unable to extract a location for your kingdom. Your gallant Captain, a man for whom I have no small amount of admiration, has refused to furnish us with this small piece of information. Even the deaths of several of his crew loosened no tongues.” Tallun wrinkled his brow as if in deep thought. “So, I am afraid we have come to a point in our discussions where more incentive is called for.”
Kal felt two emotions competing for dominance within his consciousness. The first was overpowering pride at the knowledge that his crew had resisted whatever hellish tortures had been visited upon them by their captors. At least up until now, the location of Aspell was still kept secret from these criminals. The second emotion was absolute fear that it was now evidently his turn to be questioned. He prayed to the stars for strength.
As Kal watched, Tallun beckoned to one of his crewman, one of the ugliest humans that Kal had ever before beheld. The man produced a double-headed axe that he had been hiding behind his back. He handed it to his Captain.
Kal must have reacted to the sight of the weapon because the rest of the crew erupted into laughter again.
Tallun waited until it died out. Then he slowly advanced upon the engineer with the axe in both hands. “Now, this is where the process gets unpleasant, I’m afraid. I have decided that the people of Kylee should visit this kingdom from which you have come. We bear your people no ill will. We simply wish to discover for ourselves if this magical place where citizen and King are equal exists.
“Now then, since we have had no success with your crew and the noble Captain, I have no one else except you to ask. Even patience such as mine eventually grows thin, so this is how we will do this. I will ask you one question only. If you refuse to answer, I will remove one of the good Captain’s limbs, let us say… his left leg.”
Kal froze. Resisting torture to himself was one thing, but watching a good friend being brutally maimed was something else again. As frightening as that prospect was, Kal knew that he would not be able to comply with this maniac’s wishes. The lives of Gann and all of the crew were not so valuable that their beloved kingdom could be endangered in trade.
Tallun took a long look at Kal. He then turned to look at the gagged figure of the Captain. He shook his head, then took two slow practice swings with the axe. He then again faced Kal. “Now then, here is my question, and bear in mind that it must be answered in terms that my navigators and quartermasters can decipher.” He paused for a brief moment, then asked, “Where is your kingdom.”
Kal stood on the deck of the ship he had designed feeling totally helpless but resigned. In his heart Kal knew that Gann would understand, indeed he would approve. Aspell’s Chief Engineer stood as tall as he could. He looked directly into the outlaw chief’s eyes. “You can kill every man in my crew, including myself, but I will never give you what you seek.”
To Kal’s amazement the entire crew on the deck of the Wind of Aspell erupted into chaos. It appeared to him that roughly half of the outlaw crew was shouting curses while the others were cheering. Tallun himself was one of those cheering and laughing. The cacophony went on for several minutes before Tallun waved the crew into silence. He went over to Bonn, and held out his hand. The big sailor, who Kal was thinking of as the probable second in command after Tallun, was frowning deeply. He reached for a bag that was tied to his waist sash. With obvious reluctance he dropped the bag into Tallun’s waiting hands. The clinking of coins within could be
Kal felt two emotions competing for dominance within his consciousness. The first was overpowering pride at the knowledge that his crew had resisted whatever hellish tortures had been visited upon them by their captors. At least up until now, the location of Aspell was still kept secret from these criminals. The second emotion was absolute fear that it was now evidently his turn to be questioned. He prayed to the stars for strength.
As Kal watched, Tallun beckoned to one of his crewman, one of the ugliest humans that Kal had ever before beheld. The man produced a double-headed axe that he had been hiding behind his back. He handed it to his Captain.
Kal must have reacted to the sight of the weapon because the rest of the crew erupted into laughter again.
Tallun waited until it died out. Then he slowly advanced upon the engineer with the axe in both hands. “Now, this is where the process gets unpleasant, I’m afraid. I have decided that the people of Kylee should visit this kingdom from which you have come. We bear your people no ill will. We simply wish to discover for ourselves if this magical place where citizen and King are equal exists.
“Now then, since we have had no success with your crew and the noble Captain, I have no one else except you to ask. Even patience such as mine eventually grows thin, so this is how we will do this. I will ask you one question only. If you refuse to answer, I will remove one of the good Captain’s limbs, let us say… his left leg.”
Kal froze. Resisting torture to himself was one thing, but watching a good friend being brutally maimed was something else again. As frightening as that prospect was, Kal knew that he would not be able to comply with this maniac’s wishes. The lives of Gann and all of the crew were not so valuable that their beloved kingdom could be endangered in trade.
Tallun took a long look at Kal. He then turned to look at the gagged figure of the Captain. He shook his head, then took two slow practice swings with the axe. He then again faced Kal. “Now then, here is my question, and bear in mind that it must be answered in terms that my navigators and quartermasters can decipher.” He paused for a brief moment, then asked, “Where is your kingdom.”
Kal stood on the deck of the ship he had designed feeling totally helpless but resigned. In his heart Kal knew that Gann would understand, indeed he would approve. Aspell’s Chief Engineer stood as tall as he could. He looked directly into the outlaw chief’s eyes. “You can kill every man in my crew, including myself, but I will never give you what you seek.”
To Kal’s amazement the entire crew on the deck of the Wind of Aspell erupted into chaos. It appeared to him that roughly half of the outlaw crew was shouting curses while the others were cheering. Tallun himself was one of those cheering and laughing. The cacophony went on for several minutes before Tallun waved the crew into silence. He went over to Bonn, and held out his hand. The big sailor, who Kal was thinking of as the probable second in command after Tallun, was frowning deeply. He reached for a bag that was tied to his waist sash. With obvious reluctance he dropped the bag into Tallun’s waiting hands. The clinking of coins within could be
Similar Books
