Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,12

in him not to attack, to fight. But that only led to a more severe beating.

Have to stay strong.

If escape was at hand, he didn’t want to be incapacitated and unable to leave if the opportunity arose.

That was assuming Del came back.

Balthazar strolled around him, pausing at his back. The muscles in his shoulders bunched. An involuntary reaction. The bastard saw it and laughed.

“Do I make you tense?” He came around to the front and stared down at Ivar. The man was several inches taller and quite a bit heavier. All of it muscle.

“I’d say I have reason.”

He stroked his beard and nodded. “Maybe so, but you haven’t been the most cooperative of guests.”

Ivar shrugged. “Can’t tell you what I don’t know. Whoever brought me here hit me a bit too hard and scrambled my brain.”

“So you say.” Balthazar struck, backhanding Ivar so hard his entire body spun around and slammed into the stone wall. Only sheer willpower kept him on his feet.

He spat blood onto the floor. “So I know.”

“You’re a tough bastard, I’ll give you that. But if you can’t tell me why you were running around with a Gravasian blaster and dagger, you’re not really much use to me.”

He had no memory of it. “You sure it was me?” The banter usually devolved into a beating, but Balthazar seemed to enjoy working up to it. And he was hoping to put off the inevitable as long as possible.

“Oh, I’m very sure. I was going to sell it and make a small fortune. Seems the Gravasians got word and sent an assassin. Killed everyone and recovered the tech.”

Ivar whistled slowly, even though it hurt like hell. Balthazar really had to be crazy. “I’ve heard Gravasians don’t mess around.” That was an understatement. Little was known about the planet or the people. Only that they were a huge military power and never ever sold their tech to others. Like all his other memories, they were factual with no emotions attached.

“No, they don’t.” Balthazar stalked toward him and wrapped his huge hand around Ivar’s throat. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

“I didn’t cost you the money. That was on you. Used a middle man, didn’t you? Didn’t want to risk your own neck.” It was a guess, but a calculated one. His mind was still sharp, even if he didn’t have any personal memories.

Balthazar gave a roar, tightened his hold, and lifted Ivar right off the ground. With his airway cut off, he began to choke. He brought his knees up and shoved at the same time he lifted his arms between his captor’s arms and thrust them apart. There was nothing calculated about it. It was pure instinct.

The bigger man’s grip slipped. Ivar sucked in air and started to slide to the ground, but he grabbed the wall behind him for support. If he went down, he’d get kicked until he passed out. He was still sporting bruises and healing his ribs from the last time.

“You’ve got some skills.”

He shrugged. “Not enough, it seems.” His voice was hoarse and he coughed several times.

In the blink of an eye, Balthazar went from raging mad to laughing. His moods fluctuated wildly, making him unpredictable and dangerous. “No, not enough,” he readily agreed. “I need to find out who you are. You had Gravasian tech. If you stole it, maybe they’d offer a reward for you.”

“Maybe I’m Gravasian.” Something he’d considered and discarded, given his limited knowledge of them. His mouth was drier than the desert planet of Kalaman. He’d give just about anything for some water.

“Not a chance. Everyone knows those bastards rarely leave their planet. When they do, it’s a whole fleet of them.” He stroked his beard again. “There are their assassins, but if you were one of them, you wouldn’t have ended up here, now would you?”

Ivar’s shoulders slumped slightly. You’re stronger than that. The unknown voice echoed in his brain. He pushed upright and stared directly at his captor. “No, I’m not one of their assassins.” While he was well-trained, he didn’t have the skills, the instincts of a trained killer. Otherwise, he likely wouldn’t be in this predicament.

Your mind is a weapon.

He forced himself to shrug. “I doubt the Gravasians would want me.”

Greed twinkled in Balthazar’s eyes. “Oh, you think not, do you? If you stole their tech, I can guarantee what they’ll do to you will make your stay here seem like a vacation.” He turned to the jailer. “Keep him alive.