Blood, Honor and Dreams (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #2)

“I don’t need to be held,” Sovaesh objected and braced his hands on the desk. “Just get it done with,” he added, his gaze locking on Lord Avanti.

“So be it,” the Lord said with a faint smile and then dropped the chain back into the box. With a faint smile he pushed the box idly toward the edge of the desk and looked directly at Truce. “Do it,” he ordered in a voice that brooked no arguments.

Truce hesitated. He wanted nothing to do with any of this and the idea of using the chain sickened him. He swallowed heavily and considered holding his ground.

“I’ll do it,” Nate offered happily, already moving toward the box.

“Your brother will do it,” their father said, his voice firm and his eyes still locked on Truce.

“Do it, Truce,” Sovaesh whispered.

With a sick feeling in his stomach, Truce moved forward and picked up the chain. It seemed light in his hands despite what it was. Taking a deep breath he moved to stand behind Sovaesh and lifted the chain. To his surprise his hands were not shaking as he carefully lowered the device and placed it along the man’s back.

“Make sure it lines properly. I have no wish to be a cripple,” Sovaesh said quietly, his voice holding no anger at all.

Truce nodded and adjusted the chain to as close to perfect as he could manage. His gaze lingered on the faint marks crossing the man’s pale skin and he realized the stories about Sovaesh were, in fact, true. These lash marks were further proof of it. Unable to keep himself from looking, he tilted his head slightly to get a glimpse of Sovaesh’s arms. Around each wrist the skin was puckered with manacle scars. He swallowed heavily again and tried to fight down the sick feeling that was building in his gut. Despite everything the Assassin had endured to prove his loyalty, he was still being forced into this.

“I don’t want to stand like this all day, Truce,” Sovaesh growled.

Truce felt himself nod despite the fact that the man obviously couldn’t see him and checked the alignment of the chain once more. He spoke the command word for the device in a barely audible voice and watched the metal sink into the man’s back.

It would wrap around the spine with delicate tendrils of wire. He knew how the item functioned well enough from his lessons. This was the first time he had ever seen one used on anyone but a slave, though. They were usually reserved for those that were of very little value to the house. There was always a risk that they would damage the spine if the one placing the chain wasn’t paying enough attention. With a disobedient slave however it scarcely mattered. The general belief was it saved the slaver the trouble of having to kill the slave if it failed, and if it worked, well then you had a very obedient slave. Truce had never even heard whispers of a “chained” slave becoming unruly.

He stepped back from the desk once more and watched with held breath as the Assassin once again stood straight. If there was any damage or pain the man didn’t show it. Truce had always heard that the chaining process was excruciating, but Sovaesh hadn’t made a sound. Perhaps it was mental pain they spoke of, the knowledge that you had just lost all hope and free will.

“Well then, I’m so glad that is over with. Here is a new list of your marks, Sovaesh. I realize that you will be unable to reach some of them due to the barrier over Sanctuary but do see that the others on the list are dead soon.” Lord Avanti’s voice was light and chipper now and Truce simply stared at his father in disbelief.

Sovaesh looked down at the offered paper and only hesitated a moment before accepting it. With a neutral expression he scanned the list of names and then nodded to his Lord. Still silent, he began to dress himself once more, moving a bit gingerly as he pulled his shirt on. His gaze tracked Lord Avanti and Nate as they left the room, talking quietly with each other as they walked. When the door had closed behind them he looked to Truce and smiled faintly.

“My daughter chose well in you, Truce. You are a good man despite your name. I hope you don’t cry when I kill those bastards though.” He winked and continued getting dressed while Truce gaped at him.

The man was chained now, though he didn’t seem to realize the implications. If he made any move outside of the Lord’s pleasure the chain would snap his spine in several pieces and bore into his mind. The death was a horrible one and inescapable, no matter how fast you healed. “I’m so sorry this happened,” Truce said quietly, unsure if he was talking to Sovaesh or everyone in the room.

“Not half as sorry as your father will be,” Sovaesh replied as he pulled his mask up over his scars. “Go home, Davi. I’ll be there later tonight. The lord has work for me,” he said and bowed his head to Truce before leaving the room.





Chapter 24





Gaelyn





Snarls erupted from the cage as Shade dumped the last of the meat scraps into the pen. He stepped back several feet and watched the goblins feeding. There was a smaller one to the back that seemed to be getting the best of the portions without the snarling fuss the others were making. Shade kept his eye on the creature and noted how it would wait for a fight to break out between its larger brethren and then slip down low to grab the choice pieces from under them. It didn’t seem to be snarling or spitting either as was normal for the goblins.

“One of every species, I suppose,” he said quietly and turned to find Charm watching him with a raised eyebrow.

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