Traitor General (Gaunt’s Ghosts Book 8) by Dan Abnett

Author:Dan Abnett [Abnett, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: The Black Library
Published: 2005-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Eighteen

Desolane drew one of the vicious ketra blades from under the drifting smoke-cloak and set it down on the table beside the pheguth.

The pheguth turned slowly to look at it. His ear and hip were wrapped in surgical wadding. He had been given pain-killers for the first time, on the advice of the doctors of fisyk. They hadn’t helped with the headache.

‘What’s this for?’ he asked.

Desolane spread one hand on the table, fingers splayed.

‘For punishment. Punish me, pheguth.’

‘What?’

‘I failed to protect you. You were injured. You are now permitted to exact punishment.’

‘I’m sorry?’ The pheguth looked up into the pale blue eyes behind the bronze mask.

‘For failure. For my failure of charge as a life-ward. You are allowed to exact punishment.’

‘What sort of punishment? Am I supposed to kill you?

Desolane shrugged. ‘If that is what you desire. For this type of failure, a master would ordinarily sever one of his life-ward’s digits.’

The pheguth sat up sharply. ‘Let me get this straight. You’re suggesting I should hack off one of your fingers?’

‘Yes, pheguth.’

‘Because I was attacked?’

‘Yes, pheguth.’

‘Don’t be so silly, Desolane. It wasn’t your fault.’ The pheguth settled back against his pillows. They made a fine change to his usual sleeping conditions. He was quite enjoying the luxury.

‘I was absent, and you were left vulnerable,’ Desolane said. ‘I don’t think you understand. I am a life-ward. I am bred to protect my charges. You are my charge. Please punish me.’

‘I’m not about to chop off one of your–’

‘Please!’

The pheguth looked up at Desolane again. ‘You seem very anxious to be maimed, life-ward.’

‘The Plenipotentiary is outraged by today’s attack. He is insisting that I am not fit to guard you.’

‘Well, I don’t believe that’s true. I believe you’re very fit. You saved me from those gunmen.’

Desolane shrugged slightly. The life-ward’s hand remained splayed on the table. ‘Please,’ Desolane said again.

‘No,’ said the pheguth, turning away. ‘This is just stupid.’

‘Pheguth… understand me. If you don’t punish me, the Plenipotentiary will decide I am not fit to guard you. He will replace me. You hate me, pheguth. You fear me. But you will hate and fear the ones who might replace me even more.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘The other life-wards available for assignment. They would not… treat you as well as I do. They would make your life harder. Don’t let them. I have grown to like you, pheguth. I would hate to see you… discomforted.’

The pheguth sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. ‘So, unless I maim you, I will subject myself to greater cruelties?’

Desolane nodded.

‘Great Throne!’ the pheguth murmured. Desolane flinched. The pheguth picked up the blade and balanced it in his palm for a moment. ‘You want me to do this?’

‘For your own sake, pheguth.’

The pheguth raised the ketra blade and–

Put it down again.

‘I can’t. The truth is, I have grown to like you too. You look after me, Desolane. You understand me. I couldn’t begin to hurt you.’

‘But… please, pheguth…?’

‘If it’s so important to you, take off your own digit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.