Blake woke with a sword at his throat. A quick glance around the lavish bedroom showed his men subdued and bound. Starlight glinted from the narrow sword held by Kor. Blake could only glare venom.
“This fine man was good enough to show us the way,” Kraken said, tossing the man from the alley beside the bed. “It was the least he could do seeing as how we spared his life.”
Blake moved to sit up. He didn’t take his eyes from Kor’s blade.
“Let’s parley,” Kraken said, and pulled a chair to sit across from Blake.
“I have nothing to say to you,” Blake said, his voice calm and genial.
“Shame.” Kraken leaned back looking at the dark ceiling. “We just don’t have much time. No time for torture. No time for burrowing into your mind. What would you do in my place?”
Blake barked a derisive laugh. “Me. I would take you onto my ship. Whip and starve you. Let my men rape you. Keep you alive by a thread, and in a few weeks, I would ask what I wanted to know. If I still had a ship.” Blake gripped and twisted the heavy coverlet though his voice was soft. Even in the low light dark smudges could be seen where his dirty hands were grinding into the fabric.
Kraken nodded. “Shame. Still, I’ll ask. Reaper dead?”
Blake stared at the window.
“Yes,” Kraken said.
Blake’s breathing slowed.
“These all your men that you know of?”
Blake blinked.
“Yes. Though you hope there are more.”
Blake furrowed his brow.
“Or recruit more. Any of Reaper’s?”
Blake attempted a blank face.
“Not that you have seen or heard. That’s good,” Kraken said. “Now to the Al’Ri. How long have you been a slave?”
Blake swung his head to glare at Kraken. His nostrils flared. His breath came short.
“Don’t deny it,” Kraken said. “Only you believe that lie.”
“I am not a slave.”
“You really think they want you for an ally? Think they will tolerate any pirate as their power grows? You never struck me as stupid before. Evil, yes. Not stupid.”
Blake started to rise and hit the point of Kor’s blade. He sat back hard.
Kraken crossed his legs. “So? The Al’Ri?”
Blake sneered a one sided smile. “I’ll take great pleasure in what they will do to your little pet. I only wish they’d keep you alive to see it.”
Kraken shrugged. “Why are they after her so hard? I don’t believe for a moment it has anything to do with this war.”
Blake smiled. “Don’t know. The Hunter didn’t say.”
“I believe you. I also believe that you wouldn’t be satisfied with that. I know your spies found something.”
Blake pressed his lips together and tried not to laugh.
“Well, I guess I can wait a couple of days and just ask one of the Masters when he or she gets here.”
Blake lost all color in his skin. His eyes were wide. His breath held. “We need to leave now.”
Kraken shook his head. “No. I think I’ll leave you for them to find. Since you have nothing for me, I’ll have to go to the source.”
“You’re a fool. An idealistic fool. Leave now and you may get a few extra days of life.”
“No.”
Blake swore. All the sand was falling from beneath his feet. He could feel his life fleeing. “Then kill me now.”
“No.”
Blake lowered his head. It wouldn’t be as simple as throwing himself on the blade. “They think your girl is the next Des’Tras,” Blake whispered.
Kraken stood.
Kor back away, dropping the tip of the blade.
“Des’Tras? You sure?” Kraken asked.
“Now who’s lying to himself?” Blake asked, the sarcasm molasses thick.
Kraken paced to the window, he could see Haven in the distance. “Truce?”
Blake laughed. “Never. I’ll bend you over yet. You’ll -”
“No.” Kraken said.
Blake didn’t see the move that ended his life. Kor flicked his wrist and Blake’s head rolled, the sound of his next word lost to nothing.
Blake’s men started calling for mercy and begging freedom.
Kraken heard nothing. He stared down at Haven. “Kor, I leave it to you. I need a minute.”
Kraken walked out. He passed Gabb and the others, and walked out into the star lit garden. He looked up into the sky and cried.
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