A Demon in Silver (War of the Archons) by R.S. Ford

Author:R.S. Ford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Titan

28

THEY watched from the copse as the tallymen strung Josten up by the neck. Livia could feel Mullen growing more agitated as his friend dangled from the oak.

He took his axe from his belt and began to move towards the edge of the small wood. Livia grabbed his arm before he could break the tree line.

‘No! That’s what they want, don’t you see?’

Mullen didn’t look at her but continued to watch his friend being tortured. ‘I don’t give a shit. If that’s what they want I’ll fucking well give it them.’

‘They’re hanging him from that tree to draw us out. It’s the highest point for miles. They want us to see.’

Mullen stopped and stared, his teeth grinding. Livia could see how white his knuckles were. ‘Am I supposed to stand here and watch him die?’ he growled.

Livia still gripped his arm, watching as the rope loosened and Josten fell to the ground. ‘You know this is the only way, Mullen. Unless you give me up to them.’

Mullen nodded and looked at her. Clearly he was considering it. Of saving his friend by sacrificing her to the tallymen. Instead he shook his head. ‘You’re one of us now. We don’t abandon our own,’ he said, before moving back further among the trees.

Livia watched as they hung Josten up once more and let him fall. From this distance she could recognise Randal. He had brought more men with him this time – eight of them in all – as rough and ruthless as the last bunch. Gothelm was determined to have his prize.

‘I’ll go to them,’ she said.

‘What?’ Mullen replied.

She turned to face him. Her mind made up. ‘I’ll go to Randal tonight and offer myself to Duke Gothelm if he sets Josten free. It’s the only way. There are too many of them to take on, even if we set up an ambush.’

Mullen smiled. Then he laughed. ‘You’re sweet,’ he said. ‘And brave, I’ll give you that. But as soon as those bastards have you, Josten is dead. Fuckers like that keep no bargains. They wouldn’t deal two hundred silver for you, they’re not about to let Josten free.’

‘But we can’t fight them. There are too many.’

Mullen put his axe back in his belt. ‘We’ll see about that, lass.’

With that he sat and rested his back against a tree trunk. Livia saw that the tallymen had taken Josten down now and were marching him back towards the little town. She felt helpless. Desperate. But Mullen was probably right. Their only option was to fight.

Night came in quick and cold, and Livia found herself pacing in anticipation. Mullen rose as it grew dark, his face grim and determined as he strode toward the town. He looked quizzically as Livia began to follow him.

‘Where the hell are you going?’ he asked.

She looked up at him, setting her jaw and doing her best to stare him down. ‘Fucking going with you,’ she replied. Livia had to admit the curse word felt good as she said it.

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