wiped the sweat off my face and saw that he was smiling- playing the fool.
“No mixing colors sir. They made us choose who would take the lashes for mixing colors.”
“And that was this one’s sister, eh? So how’d you like that boy-o?”
“But it was not enough for the underpriest sir. He went to flog her next. So, I stopped him, permanently.”
He smiled and clapped for me, but he shook his head and turned to Lazarus again.
“Sir, you said… what happened to you in the war?”
“Oh yea, alright then. I’m from Vinland City. We were only just ordered to Ulfbar and didn’t make it there until sunrise- same as the Swillians. It wasn’t the first time they sailed in under the guise of trade. Gojinus had filled the mines with spies and stockpiled weapons just outside the entrance. His troops were hiding under full Bahgeshi long robes whilst unloading boxes of flash powder bombs, swords, cannons. They had supplies, enough to take the eastern kingdoms and keep marching inland. The whole city was dead in a classic ‘L-shaped ambush’ and we rode strait into the heart of it like fools. The implants have always been the source of their power, but, Kane wanted us to show off his Drakkah Gauntlets to the world. Gojinus never knew what hit him, and most of his troops ran to the mines to hide from a dragon they never saw. The results were astounding. One Commando can thwart an invasion, two can defeat an army.”
He played with Major Talon’s cannon while he spoke, tightening the latches on the sliding rail and tracing the stitches where it was weaved into the many layers of custom fitting, leather plated greaves. The control switches were similarly weaved into the gloves themselves, allowing the thumb to operate a pressurized safety switch. A poke to the back of the assembly revealed a secondary switch, for a more controlled level of distant fires while stationary. Bertrada’s long blade, with that raptor’s talon hook of steel, shot to full extension. Kru sniffed at the ringing springs, licking the oils out of his nostrils.
“The Tipril are hardy and the Harlot’s Guild saved Vinland on their own. But Ulfbar is nothing but greedy lords and their hungry miners- always has been. We burned through every boat and slaughtered every hired sword, but it was too late. No one would have questioned the Bahgeshi garb in the presence of all those goats. The lords even had the nerve to walk into the open streets, and celebrate the Swillians for reopening the trade routes. The pox was never a backup plan, it was their primary objective.”
“What about Captain Mauler?”
“He was too injured to go on.”
“So you had to take his hilt?
“That’s how Mauler wanted it. He might have survived until morning but no one else would have. I did what was necessary. I did what was asked of me by my master.”
“Even though it meant murder?”
“If you catch me run through a spit with only one leg left- you had better do the same.”
“But, you earned your freedom.”
“Whatever happened after that is between Kane and me. He is indeed the wisest of all Lantos and deserves his place as king. And you had better learn to respect his authority.”
“You’re the greatest hero Dante’s Isle has ever seen. Why have you been away so long?”
“The moment the pirates smelled blood in the water, they crawled out of every dark corner of the sea. Thousands of parents lost their children every winter, and they went on to refill the pirate ranks come spring. Spent nearly a decade slashing and slaying and still, it did nothing but feed the demon. Mauler never had a family, and the demand for a trial was a sham. I thought you- of all people- would’ve figured that out by now. If you get orders to go to prison, you will go. Besides, vengeance is a rare treasure. Few ever find it to be truly satisfying. Charles taught me that. Damned monster hunter and his jungle wisdom.”
He paused, playing with the swiveling assembly that
“No mixing colors sir. They made us choose who would take the lashes for mixing colors.”
“And that was this one’s sister, eh? So how’d you like that boy-o?”
“But it was not enough for the underpriest sir. He went to flog her next. So, I stopped him, permanently.”
He smiled and clapped for me, but he shook his head and turned to Lazarus again.
“Sir, you said… what happened to you in the war?”
“Oh yea, alright then. I’m from Vinland City. We were only just ordered to Ulfbar and didn’t make it there until sunrise- same as the Swillians. It wasn’t the first time they sailed in under the guise of trade. Gojinus had filled the mines with spies and stockpiled weapons just outside the entrance. His troops were hiding under full Bahgeshi long robes whilst unloading boxes of flash powder bombs, swords, cannons. They had supplies, enough to take the eastern kingdoms and keep marching inland. The whole city was dead in a classic ‘L-shaped ambush’ and we rode strait into the heart of it like fools. The implants have always been the source of their power, but, Kane wanted us to show off his Drakkah Gauntlets to the world. Gojinus never knew what hit him, and most of his troops ran to the mines to hide from a dragon they never saw. The results were astounding. One Commando can thwart an invasion, two can defeat an army.”
He played with Major Talon’s cannon while he spoke, tightening the latches on the sliding rail and tracing the stitches where it was weaved into the many layers of custom fitting, leather plated greaves. The control switches were similarly weaved into the gloves themselves, allowing the thumb to operate a pressurized safety switch. A poke to the back of the assembly revealed a secondary switch, for a more controlled level of distant fires while stationary. Bertrada’s long blade, with that raptor’s talon hook of steel, shot to full extension. Kru sniffed at the ringing springs, licking the oils out of his nostrils.
“The Tipril are hardy and the Harlot’s Guild saved Vinland on their own. But Ulfbar is nothing but greedy lords and their hungry miners- always has been. We burned through every boat and slaughtered every hired sword, but it was too late. No one would have questioned the Bahgeshi garb in the presence of all those goats. The lords even had the nerve to walk into the open streets, and celebrate the Swillians for reopening the trade routes. The pox was never a backup plan, it was their primary objective.”
“What about Captain Mauler?”
“He was too injured to go on.”
“So you had to take his hilt?
“That’s how Mauler wanted it. He might have survived until morning but no one else would have. I did what was necessary. I did what was asked of me by my master.”
“Even though it meant murder?”
“If you catch me run through a spit with only one leg left- you had better do the same.”
“But, you earned your freedom.”
“Whatever happened after that is between Kane and me. He is indeed the wisest of all Lantos and deserves his place as king. And you had better learn to respect his authority.”
“You’re the greatest hero Dante’s Isle has ever seen. Why have you been away so long?”
“The moment the pirates smelled blood in the water, they crawled out of every dark corner of the sea. Thousands of parents lost their children every winter, and they went on to refill the pirate ranks come spring. Spent nearly a decade slashing and slaying and still, it did nothing but feed the demon. Mauler never had a family, and the demand for a trial was a sham. I thought you- of all people- would’ve figured that out by now. If you get orders to go to prison, you will go. Besides, vengeance is a rare treasure. Few ever find it to be truly satisfying. Charles taught me that. Damned monster hunter and his jungle wisdom.”
He paused, playing with the swiveling assembly that
Similar Books
