Urake’s actions as he pulled a chair out and sat down before folding his hands and looking up expectantly.
“This impertinence will not be tolerated. Guards!” The guard appeared that Urake had only moments before stared down.
“Take this scoundrel to the brig and feed him bread and water for three days. That should put him in his place.” Balinor took on a smug expression that decided Urake on his course of action.
“I would not recommend that course of action, unless of course you enjoy pain. Honestly, I would prefer not to hurt you.” The guard had already been unbalanced by the Asgare’s reputation and stopped uncertainly at Urake’s words.
“You would dare to threaten one of the Queen’s men?” Balinor was again aghast.
“I was threatened with confinement, bread, and water first if you might recall Balinor.” Urake saw that the knight might still be able to go a few more shades of red although he was probably nearing the extent of his chameleon abilities.
“I will remove you from this chamber myself if you don’t leave now.” Balinor placed his hand on his ever present great sword menacingly. Redzyn and the other officers present looked on nervously.
“Bravo…” Urake clapped dramatically. “I always admire a man that is willing to do what he orders his underlings to do. It seems as if he is more honest with himself and I admire honesty.”
“This just goes to show why we shouldn’t make deals with lowlifes. They lose their proper respect. Get out now. This is my last warning.” Balinor loosened his great sword in the sheath as if in preparation. Redzyn gripped his chair in preparation for a rapid escape from the area immediately between the antagonists. Urake pulled three of his knives from under his cloak. Two throwing knives and a fighting dagger with a knuckle guard and laid them on the table along with Ice Heart. The knight and other spectators intently watched the knives as he placed them.
“Respect is earned, not inherited. I respect a man that I can’t kill. Not that I want to kill you, mind you, It would be far more effort than I wish to spend on you. You see, that great sword of yours is long, heavy and cumbersome. In this small room you would be unable to swing it and would be better served by leaving it in its sheath. If we were on a battlefield, it would be a different thing entirely. On a battlefield I could plant this throwing blade through your helm slot without even having to get up. In here, I could simply slide this blade between your plates through your heart and be done with it.” The others in the room remained deathly silent until Balinor broke in with a sneering smirk.
“Words are one thing, but we outnumber you five to one.” Urake chuckled quietly before responding.
“Indeed. That is why I have these three fine blades on display. Without using my sword and with only these three knives, I could kill everyone in the room in the time it would take you to draw. No offence intended, I really didn’t come here to kill anyone and I still wouldn’t even if Balinor were to have a lapse in judgment and attack me.” Urake figured that if he had wanted to, he could eliminate Balinor with one of the throwing blades, then the guard behind him with the fighting knife. The other throwing knife would have been for the cocky looking young major at Redzyn’s right with the shorter sword. Redzyn himself was here for his experience and knowledge. In the Clan Wars he might have been an accomplished fighter, but that was decades ago. The two remaining men on the other side of the table were handicapped by their chairs and would only take a moment or two to eliminate.
“Are you threatening us?” Redzyn spoke up after Urake finished speaking while Balinor glowered.
“No. I have no reason to threaten anyone here today. I always considered threats to be rather pointless. If you really mean to kill someone, why warn them? If it is for chivalry, then I can name a dozen chivalrous knights that no longer draw breath because their honor required them to warn their superior opponent. Arlin Briar Heart is a tale about the thief that put three fletchings in the chest of the brave knight that challenged him. Brave but a fool. One never warns another unless he is a fool and I never warn my opponents. Perhaps intimidate,