In Enemy Territory - Shannon West Page 0,81
if you release us immediately.”
The commandant laughed. “I’m not afraid of your father.”
“Then you’re even more of a fool than I thought you were,” Larz said, staring calmly back at him.
“He means to kill us all, Larz,” Ryan said softly, glaring at the commandant. “He believes himself to be some kind of general behind the Assassins’ Order, the one that’s been committing political assassinations all over Axis territory, not to mention killing innocents and children. He’s a murdering bastard. He made Mikos transform to his tiger by telling him he would kill me if he didn’t. And now he’s planning on making Mikos hunt me to my death through the jungle.” Ryan glanced sadly over at Rasc. “He probably plans to do the same with you. I don’t exactly know who you are, but you’re human, so that’s good enough for him.”
Kylon put a protective arm around Rasc’s shoulders. Larz was the first to recover. “You must be joking.”
“No, I thought the consort was quite concise and accurate in his description. All except the bastard part. That’s just hurtful, Ryan. And I didn’t kill any innocent children—that’s also inaccurate.”
“Liar! You murdered the former ambassador’s mate and his five-year-old child!”
He shrugged. “The mate, yes. And it was necessary for me to remove the ambassador too—the man was getting on my nerves with his constant interference, and he was going to return here. However, I gave no orders to kill any child. So you see, much of what you accuse me of is simply not my fault.”
Ryan snarled at him and took a step toward him, but Larz pulled him back. “Whose fault would it be then?”
“Don’t be tiresome,” he sighed. “Collateral damage is always unfortunate, but it happens occasionally.”
“You monster,” Ryan said, shaking his head.
“Sticks and stones, Consort Ryan. Isn’t that another human expression? At any rate, have a care not to make me angry. I’m trying to keep this civil.”
“Civil?”
“That’s the idea. I’m a very civilized man. And afterward, after you and the other human have been dispatched, then I and my men will conduct our Hunt for the Tygerian tigers.” Turning to look at Rasc, the commandant said, “I expect you and Ryan both to give me a good experience, gentlemen. I do hope you’ll at least try to evade the tigers and if you do manage that, I hope to track you down myself.”
Kylon made a quick, furious move toward him, and the guards raised their disruptors, pointing them at his chest. Larz put out a hand to stop him. “No, Kylon. Don’t give him the satisfaction.” He turned back to the man who called himself a general. “Where is my brother? Take me to him.”
“Exactly what I had in mind. Say goodbye to your companions, then, and come along. The next time you see them, you may not be in any ‘shape’ to recognize them,” he said, laughing softly.
Rasc clutched Kylon’s arm, feeling that this was all some nightmare and couldn’t be reality. Kylon turned toward him, pulling him close and whispering in his ear, “Don’t worry, nobyo. Even if I have to do this thing—if I have to go through with it—I would never hurt you. Even in my tiger form. Do whatever he tells you to do and don’t fight him. He’s dangerous, and if you don’t play his game, he’ll kill you.”
“He’s going to anyway,” Rasc said miserably. “And you won’t know me once you change into your tiger.”
“I’ll know you. Trust me.” Kylon gave him another of the brief, hard kisses and turned quickly away and left the room, brushing roughly past the guards. Larz said a few soft words to Ryan and then followed him. That left just Ryan and Rasc alone in the room with the general and two of his guards.
“What now, you contemptible bastard?” Ryan asked. Rasc backed up a few steps and looked over at him in amazement, his estimation of the consort rising higher by the second. He would have been terrified to keep insulting the general like that, especially seeing as how he was flanked by two armed guards. But then again, they were pretty much dead already anyway. Maybe Ryan was right. Why not go out with some defiance?
“Now, since you ask so nicely, I will leave you two to make a plan to escape your pursuers. In a few hours, someone will come in and give you your supplies and you’ll get on your way. You’ll be given some food, a knife, and a