Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [65]
The two warrior-priests had hold of Wulfe. The boy squirmed and twisted and kicked wildly. Looking very grim, the two men dragged the boy back to where Raegar was standing.
“What do we do with the little turd?” one asked.
“Take him to the Temple,” said Raegar.
Wulfe cried out in terror and struggled frantically to escape.
Skylan rose to his feet. The strange and frightening lethargy appeared to be wearing off. “You’re not taking him anywhere, Raegar. The boy stays with me.”
He started to take a step toward the warrior-priests who had hold of Wulfe. Pain shot through Skylan’s right arm. He gasped and stifled a groan.
Raegar continued to issue orders. “Take the boy to the enclave. Lock him in the special prison cells where we keep his kind. I will attend to his purging tomorrow—”
Wulfe twisted about and sank his teeth into the priest’s arm. The priest gave a cry and let go his hold. Wulfe squirmed out of the other guard’s grip and ran to Skylan.
“Don’t let him take me,” Wulfe cried. “He’s going to murder me!”
“Fetch him,” said Raegar, glowering at the priests.
Skylan put his arm protectively around Wulfe. “He stays with me—”
The pain was like nothing Skylan had ever experienced, as if he’d thrust his arm into a kettle of bubbling, red-hot, molten iron. He doubled over, clutching his arm and moaning.
The other Torgun watched in uneasy silence, not sure what was happening.
“Thus does Aelon punish those who defy him,” said Raegar. He gestured. “Take the boy.”
Wulfe gave a howl. Skylan could do nothing to help him. He felt as though his arm were being burned off. Aylaen took hold of Wulfe and wrapped her arms around him.
“You can leave him with me, Raegar,” she said. “I will be responsible for him.”
Raegar hesitated, not quite certain how to handle this situation. He did not want to offend Aylaen, but he did want the boy.
“You do not understand, my dear,” he said at last. “I am taking him to the Temple because he puts all of us in danger. I am doing this for your own good. He is a child of the fae. He is a danger to everyone, including yourself.”
“He is a boy, Raegar,” said Aylaen, and her voice was tinged with scorn. “He will be safe with me.”
“You are blinded by ignorance, Aylaen, and therefore Aelon forgives you for your defiance,” Raegar said. “I don’t want to have to harm you—”
“Enough!” said Zahakis. His face grim, he walked over to Aylaen, seized hold of Wulfe, and wrenched him from her grasp. When Aylaen started to protest, two of the soldiers drew their swords. She stood by helplessly as the warrior-priests walked off, dragging Wulfe with them.
Wulfe twisted around to look over his shoulder. “Skylan, don’t let them take me! He’s going to kill me!”
“Torval,” Skylan prayed grimly, “I need your help.”
Zahakis was standing directly in front of Skylan, his back turned. Zahakis was weary, or he would have never made such a mistake. Skylan’s right arm still burned like it was on fire. Using his left hand, Skylan reached for the Tribune’s sword.
It seemed to Skylan as if every bone in his right arm shattered. He could no longer feel his hand. Nausea wrung him. He fell to his knees, retching.
Zahakis bent down.
“I’m going to give you some advice, young man,” Zahakis said softly. “Quit fighting. You cannot win.”
“Would you?” Skylan demanded hoarsely. His face was bathed in sweat.
“Yes. Because I am a man of sense. You might even grow to like it here,” Zahakis added. “You and your people will fight in the Para Dix, which means you will be treated far better than most slaves. You might earn your freedom—”
“Rot in hell,” Skylan said through gritted teeth.
Zahakis shrugged and walked off, motioning his soldiers to come with him.
The priests hauled Wulfe to the carriages. The boy had gone limp in their grasp and Skylan wondered if he’d passed out from fear. Raegar cast a lingering look at Aylaen, who turned away. Raegar went back to the carriages. He would not permit Wulfe to be taken into the carriage, but ordered the priests to walk back to the Temple. The carriages rolled off, the soldiers walking