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James nods and then motions for the girls to move out of the way and into the corner of the room away from the door. He allows them to sit before returning his attention to Jiron and Buka.

“Now,” begins Jiron. “I have some questions for you and if you answer them, we’ll leave and no one will be hurt.”

Buka’s eyes flick from Jiron to James then back again. “Seems I am at your mercy, for now,” he states. Neither fear nor anger is present in his voice, though his eyes tell of dire consequences in store for them later.

“We are looking for someone,” he says. “And the trail has led us to you.” Moving the knife away from Buka’s throat, he still keeps it near just in case.

Buka grins an evil grin at him. “What makes you think I know anything about this person?” he asks. “And why would I tell you anything?”

Jiron pulls forth the necklace and holds it before him. “Do you remember this?” he asks. “We met an acquaintance of yours who told us he got this from you.”

“So?” he asks.

“I want to know where the person is you took this from?” demands Jiron.

Then suddenly he breaks into laughter, hardly the response they were expecting. “What? Are you planning on rescuing him?” Again the laughter rolls forth.

“So you know it was a ‘him’!” exclaims Jiron triumphantly.

He nods his head and the laughter continues to roll out of him.

Jiron glances to James and sees the confusion mirrored on his friend’s face that he himself is experiencing.

As the laughter subsides, Buka regains his composure and says, “I haven’t laughed like that for some time.”

“Why is it funny?” asks James.

Buka turns his attention to him and replies, “You don’t think I’m going to tell you anything do you?” Then he sits up on the edge of his bed. “Damn northerners.”

“This northerner is going to kill you if you don’t tell me what I want to know!” Jiron demands as he moves in closer.

Buka looks up at him and shakes his head. “I don’t think so,” he tells him.

“I will!” insists Jiron.

Buka comes to his feet and says, “Then do it!” Staring him in the eye, Buka dares him to kill him. When Jiron fails to follow through on the threat, he snorts. “I thought not.”

Bam!

Jiron’s fist connects with Buka’s nose and knocks him back to the bed. “We aren’t leaving here without the information,” he states.

“I ain’t telling you anything,” Buka says. Rubbing his nose, he makes sure it isn’t broken then looks up at Jiron standing over him. Then he gets a thoughtful look and says, “Unless you do me a favor first.”

Looking doubtful, Jiron casts a quick glance to James then returns it to Buka. “What kind of favor?” he asks.

“One that’s been needing to be done for some time,” he replies. “If you do this for me, I’ll tell you exactly where you can find the one who had that necklace.”

“How do we know we can trust him?” James asks Jiron.

“You don’t,” Buka replies to James. Then to Jiron he says, “Fair trade, a favor for the information.”

“What’s the favor,” he says.

“There’s a person in Cyst that has caused me problems from time to time,” he explains. “I want you to take care of him for me.”

“We aren’t going to murder anyone for you,” Jiron tells him. “Even if it means not finding out the information.”

Shaking his head, Buka says, “It isn’t his murder that I want.”

“What is it you want?” James asks.

“His right hand,” he replies. “I want you to bring me his right hand and I’ll tell you what you wish to know.”

James expects Jiron to reject the offer right away and is amazed that he’s even contemplating the request. “You can’t be thinking of doing it are you?” he asks.

Jiron glances to him for a moment before asking, “Why haven’t you taken care of this before now?”

“He has many friends here,” he explains. “If I were to move against him, the situation would become more troublesome. Should you do it, I won’t have to worry about such things. After all, if you succeed, things work out well. If you don’t, you’re just northerners they’ll execute for the attempt.”

“Who is it?” he asks. James is absolutely astounded that he even asked.

“His name is Kir,” Buka replies. “He’s a