|
The
Bandit King
"You're nothing but a sniveling coward, just another
bully, trying to live from other people's labor," Catriona said.
Gadion rose and slapped Catriona across
the face, hard. Cat's head snapped back, lip bloodied. She spat on
Gadion's silk shirt.
"You sound like a Solamnic." He sighed,
wiping the bloody spittle from his shirt. "Such romantic notions as
peace and fair play have no place in the real world. There is no such
thing as nobility where power is concerned. Those who have power, use
it. Those who do not, covet it." He moved close to Catriona as his
guards held her tight. "Quite simply, young lady, I do what I do because
I can, just like everyone else."
"You're more than a weakling and a
coward," Catriona shot back. "You're a fool."
"And you are an idealistic youth,
unlearned in the lessons of life." Gadion took Catriona's chin in one
hand, and his fingertips brushed her cheek. "You need to learn that the
strong can take what they want."
Davyn's muscles tensed. He guessed if
he pulled back hard enough on the rope he could free Catriona from the
guard's grip. Apparently one of the other guards had the same thought,
because at that moment a knife was pressed against Davyn's ribs.
Catriona jerked out of the bandit's
grip. "You'd better make sure they tie me tight. I assure you, I can
kill you without my hands."
"You really are a hopeless case,"
Gadion sighed. "You're full of romantic notions of order and justice.
Very well."
Without warning Gadion suddenly lunged
forward, driving a short dirk into Cat's stomach. Caught completely by
surprise, Catriona grunted and gasped, slouched over a Gadion pulled out
the bloody, thin-bladed knife.
"I grant you the rest of your life to
think about your foolish notions," he said, wiping the dirk on his red
sash.
"Throw her in the cell with her
friends," he commanded Sten. "Let them watch her die a noble death."
|
