Neversfall - Ed Gentry [115]
Taennen stared at the man for a long moment before driving forward, his blade sinking into Jhoqo's gut. He twisted the weapon, eliciting a groan from the man. "You did not fail. I learned the lesson well."
Chapter Twenty-Five
Adeenya limped toward Taennen as he emerged from the tower. Strips of cloth applied by one of her men stemmed the blood flowing from several wounds. The sword in her hand was dull, covered in gore that hid its sheen. She motioned toward the tower but did not ask the question.
Taennen nodded and scanned the courtyard. The fight was over. Weapons, shields, and armor littered the ground. Many Chondathans were dead, their bodies scattered across the stained courtyard. Those who had surrendered or been knocked out were being corralled by the formians at the front gate. The monstrous prisoners, goblins and others, were also dragged from the prison building and lined up at the gate in chains. Many of them screeched in protest but were quickly quieted by the formians.
"How many of ours did we lose?" Taennen asked.
Adeenya grimaced and said, "More than half. There are barely a dozen of us left now."
Taennen nodded and stared at the rain-laden clouds, wishing they would drop their burden on his face to cool and soothe him.
"Why did he do it?" Adeenya asked, staring at the sky.
"For the good of the South," Taennen said. "He felt he had to."
Adeenya dropped her eyes to face him but said nothing.
"What now?" she asked.When Taennen did not answer, she continued, nodding toward Guk. "They can take us easily now."
"They could," Taennen said.
"So we win the citadel just to become worker slaves?" she asked.
"No," Taennen said.
"So they'll leave, having helped us out of kindness?" she said, incredulity obvious in her tone.
"No. They received their compensation," he said, pointing to the shackled monsters and unconscious Chondathans the formians were dragging away.
Adeenya's face wrinkled before her eyes went wide. "No! You didn't…"
Taennen said nothing, only stared at Guk, who returned the gaze. Adeenya looked away.
"We needed them," Taennen said, not looking at her.
"You're a slaver. You realize that, don't you?" she said.
"We needed their help. Without the formians, we'd be dead by now and Jhoqo-" Taennen swallowed. "The Mulhorandi would have their goods."
"Giving those men to him makes you no better than a slave trader."
Taennen nodded. "Maybe that's true… I don't think I know what a crime is anymore. Is it worse to cheat, or to kill? And who decides that?"
"The laws decide," Adeenya said.
"They follow laws too," he said, pointing to the formians. "Their laws are just different from ours…"
"They're wrong," she said. "Not to them," he replied.
"Laws can't be subjective like that," Adeenya said. "Their meaning, their purpose, must be agreed upon for them to work."
Taennen shrugged. "And when does that happen?"
Adeenya did not respond but furrowed her brow.
"So everybody should just break the laws they don't agree with, like Jhoqo did?" she said after a few moments.
"No," he said. "But they should have the courage to stand against the ones they feel are wrong."
"I don't see the difference," she said.
Several breaths passed in silence. Then Guk approached them, stopping a few steps away. He seemed no worse for the battle, showing no injuries at all.
"You'll leave now?" Taennen asked.
"My other people will come soon to help us move the new workers," Guk said.
"And then?" Taennen asked.
"We will gather our strength," Guk said. "Some workers will stay. Others will join the main hive. More from there will come here."
"And then you'll come back for more workers," Taennen said.
"Yes," Guk said.
"Until then," the Maquar said. The formians honesty, while brutal in impact and