Retaliation by Bill McCay

Author:Bill McCay
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-04-03T11:24:03+00:00

CHAPTER 10

REVELATIONS

The guard station was a minor one-just two men sta-tioned in a small side street off the market square.

That didn’t stop Skaara from turning up for inspec-tion. He intended to keep every security person on his toes for the Convention. Too much was riding on the meetings to allow some fool even to disturb, much less disrupt the deliberations.

The pair of slouching guards-one miner, one farmer-snapped erect when he came down the street.

Skaara stopped with them for a moment. “Keep your eyes open,” he said. “I don’t want a sandfly getting in-“ Gunfire erupted. It seemed to come from the direc-tion of the council hall. Both guards took a step toward the disturbance, their rifles leveled. “No!” Skaara snapped. “Stay here. No one comes in or out through this street.

Wait for orders. I’ll check this out.”

He hadn’t brought a rifle because, like everything in his improvised army, they were in short supply. But he had tucked one of the smaller weapons-a pistol- into his belt.

Skaara waited until he reached the square before he broke into a run. A crowd was gathering-he’d have to use the honor guard at the door to break them up. But his sentries were bunched in the doorway as some of the council servants tried to push their way out.

“It’s the Urt-man!” a cook screamed, her voice hys-terical. “He’s killed Kasuf and Nakeer!”

A low moan shook through the assemblage. Some crowded closer, hoping for a show.

Others began to break away, to pass the news.

Skaara cursed. He’d have to send out runners to all the guard posts. If word of this got out, with the city in its present mood, it would be like setting a torch to tinder.

He pushed his way to the entrance and took com-mand. “Where are the squad leaders?” he demanded.

One of the second-line commanders answered. “Aha and Perre went in at the first shooting.”

Skaara frowned. He hadn’t heard that. “Guard the door,” he ordered. No one goes in or out until I say otherwise. That includes them.” He directed a bully-ing glare at the bawling servants. “And send a runner to the other guard posts. I don’t want wild rumors circulating.”

“It’s the truth!” the cook yelled. “I came in after the warriors! There was blood all over!”

He whirled on the woman. “Shut up!” he snapped.

Then Skaara pushed inside. A few of the servants pointed the way to the feasting chamber, as if he’d never been there before. He pushed open the main door-and found himself looking down a rifle barrel.

“Sir!” The warrior, a farmer recruit named Perre, raised his weapon. “Aha took most of the men to chase the assassin. I figured I’d do more good here, on guard.”

The damned cook had been right with most of her screaming. Nakeer was indeed dead, his head blasted with several bullets. There was indeed blood around, most of it leaking from his father. But Kasuf was still alive, although his face was gray.

“Father.” Skaara reached out to Kasuf, only to real-ize that while his father’s eyes were open, they were unseeing.

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