Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3)(28)

The general turned back to his collared, pinioned son. “You haven’t learned a thing while you’ve been gone, have you, boy?” Karn drew back and slammed his fist, hard, into Destin’s middle, folding him in half. Evan could hear ribs cracking. Then he punched him in the face, snapping Destin’s head back.

Breaker sprang forward, moving faster than he’d ever moved before. He sank his teeth into the general’s calf and hung on.

Karn swore, trying to shake off the growling dog. Finally, he drew his belt dagger and slashed, practically decapitating the dog. Breaker managed to yelp once, then landed in a heap on the floor. The general kicked him aside with his booted foot.

“Stupid butt-fart of a dog,” Karn said. He looked at Destin, who stood, collared, arms pinned, eye purpling, blood streaming down his face. Evan knew Destin had loved that dog, knew he must be in considerable pain, but he displayed no sign of it, no hint of emotion. It was as if he’d retreated to some long-standing shell of survival, where the general couldn’t get at him.

As if seeking easier prey, the general turned to Evan. “So,” he said. “Who are you, mageling?”

Evan said nothing.

Karn drew his knife. “Speak, boy, or I’ll cut out your tongue.”

“Mother hired him to do odd jobs around the place,” Destin said, in a bored voice. “He claimed to be a handyman, but I haven’t seen any sign of it.”

“Is that so?” Karn barked a laugh. “What sort of odd jobs do you do, boy?” The way he said it, it sounded filthy.

“He spends most of his time sleeping and eating and sneaking off to town.” Destin’s face was blank, his jaw tense, his glittering eyes sending a message to Evan. Play along.

“That’s a dirty lie,” Evan said. He turned to Karn. “I’m a hard worker, sir. I do whatever needs doing—farming, kitchen work, chopping wood.”

“You are a pretty boy,” Karn said. “You’re not his little sweetheart, are you?” He nodded at Destin.

Evan adopted a puzzled expression. “I don’t know what you mean, sir.”

Karn waved the knife beneath his nose. “If I cut off your nose and your ears, you wouldn’t be near so pretty, would you?” He shot a look at Destin, as if to see his reaction, but Destin displayed none.

“Or maybe we could just gut-stab you and leave you to die.” Again, he shot a look at his son.

“Why don’t you just kill me and be done with it?” Destin said.

Stop baiting him, Evan thought desperately, unable to watch. It was as if he felt every blow the general landed.

“I never said anything about killing you,” Karn said to Destin. “That would be too easy. Your mother has done her best to ruin you, but I’m going to make you a man if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Maybe it will be,” Destin said. “Is that why you brought half an army? Because you were worried you couldn’t handle it on your own?” That earned him another punch to the gut.

He wants his father to kill him, Evan realized. He’d prefer that to what’s in store for him. I’ve got to figure out some way to help him. The best way to do that is to convince Karn there’s nothing between us.

“I don’t want to be killed, either,” Evan whined. “I’m more useful alive than dead.”

“Is that so?” Karn said, rubbing his chin, eyeing him speculatively. “We always need mages in the Ardenine army. If you really are a mage. Have you ever thought about a military career?”

“No, sir,” Evan said, feigning eagerness. “But I would like to learn more about magery. That’s why I took this job.”

“You seem like a likely lad. Let’s see what you’re made of. Let him loose,” he said to the soldiers pinning his arms.

They released him and stepped back.

Karn pointed at Destin. “Hit him.”

Evan, his stomach sinking into his toes, looked from Karn to Destin. “You want me to hit him?”

“That’s what I said, didn’t I?” Karn pushed him toward Destin. “Don’t hold back,” he said. “Smash his face in.”

“General.” It was the only man there not dressed in soldier garb. “It’s already late. We’re going to have to leave soon if we’re going to catch the tide. We can’t risk spending another night here.”

“We’re nearly done here,” Karn said.

“Come on, handyman,” Destin taunted. “Give it all you’ve got.”

Evan looked into his eyes and saw the pleading there. He wants me to hit him. He’s trying to save my life.

Evan took a breath, made a fist, and aimed for Destin’s middle.

“Hit him in the face,” Karn ordered. “It doesn’t count if you don’t draw blood.”

Evan licked his lips, thinking, I can’t do this. Destin’s eyes said, Yes, you can.

Evan pulled back his fist and aimed for Destin’s already-bleeding nose. Blood is blood, he thought.

When he connected, Destin somehow wrenched free of his captors, lurched forward, wrapped his hands around Evan’s neck, and began to squeeze. As he did so, Evan felt him drop something into the neck of his shirt. It slid down his chest and landed in the waist of his breeches. It buzzed against his skin, and he knew it was Destin’s amulet.