Iron Maidens (Scythian Dawn Book 4) by P.K. Lentz

Author:P.K. Lentz [Lentz, P.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: IronAge
Published: 2019-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Four

Arixa spent most of her time in the Healer’s facility watching Nakht and Alood operate on Ivar. She couldn’t tell what they were doing, of course, and when she asked, she didn’t much understand the answers. Eventually, at somewhere close to the twelve hour mark, Nakht turned from his work and limped away on his bandaged and braced leg.

Arixa grabbed him. “Is it done?”

“I believe so,” Nakht said heavily. “To a minimum standard. Not my own minimum or Alood’s, but... a minimum.”

“As long as he can move and grip a weapon. Wake him.”

“No,” Nakht said. “Take him as he is and leave. Once he wakes, you’ll know whether or not you still need me alive.”

Arixa laughed derisively. He had a point. If she discovered after leaving Kemet that Ivar’s operation had been a success, killing Nakht would require a time-consuming return trip, worthwhile only for one consumed by a lust for revenge.

Fortunately for Nakht, that description didn’t fit Arixa at present. But then, she was not the one most wronged by the Healer.

“Leimya,” Arixa said, “it’s your decision.”

Leimya stepped up to stare stone-faced at her violator, who looked shiftily back, seeming ready to run, as if that would spare him. Just to remind him that it wouldn’t, Arixa caused silvery metal to dance on her fingertips.

“You are vile and deserve punishment,” Leimya said at length. “Maybe death. I think there are other Healers who could help Ivar. You’re not as indispensable as you claim. There’s no reason I’d regret killing you.”

Fear in Nakht’s eyes put the lie to his expression of defiance. “You would.”

“I could do it myself and sleep well. I should. But I won’t, even though you don’t deserve my mercy, and it probably won’t change you.” Leimya turned her gaze to Alood. “Maybe you can change him, if Arixa’s right, and you’re decent. I just want to put this place behind me. You’ve spoiled my memory of it.”

Nakht breathed a visible sigh of relief just in time for Leimya to stride closer and plant her knee in his groin. As he doubled over, she grabbed his head and slammed it against a nearby work surface. He slumped to the floor, groaning.

Walking away, Arixa smiled genuinely at her half-sister. Leimya didn’t reciprocate or even hold the glance, but just exited the room in a way that bespoke finality. At Arixa’s nod, Baako went after her.

“You’re a lucky vermin,” Arixa said to Nakht, bending to his level. “I’m pretty sure before I came to Kaleb Sha, I would have killed you first and dealt with the consequences later. I don’t like this outcome. But I can live with it if she can.”

Earlier, she had seen and made note of what drug the Healer used to sedate his pink subordinate. She grabbed a dose of it and swiftly injected the Healer, who groaned and slumped. Maybe the drug worked similarly on Gorosians.

If not, so be it.

Standing, she went to Ivar’s bedside, where Alood stood behind the same moving chair that had been used to wheel Ivar into the facility days ago.

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