Deadly Games

He hesitated, and Basilard wondered if he hadever considered the possibility. Any child without parents wouldspeculate about that, wouldn’t he? Maybe he didn’t care about suchthings. Most of the time, he did not seem human.

“I was told not, but I suppose it’spossible,” Sicarius said.

“Hm.” Litya stopped at his side and laid ahand on the hard ridges of muscle armoring his abdomen. “I’ve notseen you in action, but based on your reputation and what I seehere…” Her hand roamed, and Basilard looked away. “I’d definitelybe interested in researching your heritage further,” she said. “Wehave extensive resources and could help you if you were sointerested.”

Sicarius said nothing.

“Your Commander of the Armies Hollowcrestdisappeared last winter, did he not?” Litya asked. “He’s rumored tobe dead, but there’s speculation that this may be untrue since thecurrent emperor has not appointed a successor to what must be avital position for you militant Turgonians.”

She tilted her head, watching Sicarius.Basilard wondered if she found his unreadability as frustrating asmost. She showed no sign of it. Too busy being intrigued by him, hesupposed.

“If it’s possible the man is still alive andincognito,” Litya went on, “I’d be curious to speak with him,perhaps compare notes….”

“He’s dead,” Sicarius said.

“You’re certain?”

“I killed him.”

“Ah.”

“It’s possible he left notes,” Sicarius said,surprising Basilard. Sicarius never volunteered anything,especially not to people on the other side. He must be angling forsomething.

“Oh?” Litya asked. “And you’d know where theywere?”

“In his hidden office in the ImperialBarracks.”

“I suppose you know where this office is andcould retrieve such notes if properly motivated?”

“Even if I said yes, you would be foolish tobelieve I could be trusted to do so for you,” Sicarius said.

Basilard frowned at Sicarius, wondering athis tactics. He ought to either stay silent-which suited his normalproclivities-or play along and try to get the woman to let himgo.

“Thank you for the warning,” Litya said.

“You let him off that table, and he’ll killyou,” came Taloncrest’s voice over the sucking and clanking ofequipment. “He’s killed people for daring to do a lot less thancapture him. Also, Hollowcrest hated the mental sciences, so you’dfind little that interests you in his notes. Anything he did was ofnatural means.”

“Much can be done with nature,” Litya said,though more to herself than in response to Taloncrest.

“Hollowcrest used to keep notes on mytraining,” Sicarius said. “He researched widely before I was bornand applied techniques from many cultures, current and past.” Hetilted his head slightly. “If you intend to turn your fetuses intowarriors, blood will only get you so far.”

So, Sicarius had reached the same assumptionabout what these people were doing down here. Litya did not correcthis assumption.

“Indeed,” she said.

“Litya,” Taloncrest said, “I told you yourfunds and assistance would win you my long-term advice ontraining.”

“You’re a doctor, not a legendary assassin,”she said.

“I am-I was-an officer in the Turgonian Army.I’ve been training to fight since before he was born.”

Litya snorted. “Perhaps I should let him goand you two could spar for dominance.”

Yes, that would be good. Maybe they would bekind enough to release Basilard as well.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Taloncrest said.

“You are right,” Litya told Sicarius. “Itwould be foolish of me to release you. Unless there is a price atwhich your assistance-and your word that you will offer itfaithfully-can be purchased.”

Sicarius neither offered his usual blunt “no”nor proposed a deal. He ought to promise the woman to help if shewould simply unlock him first….

Instead he remained silent.Almost…thoughtful. What could this woman have that he might want?But then, what did Amaranthe have that Sicarius wanted?Basilard reluctantly admitted that he knew the man very little,despite the six months they had worked together. If it was onlysome whim that kept him with the group, might not another comealong that interested him more?

“There is a price,” Litya guessed fromSicarius’s silence.

Sicarius’s expression never changed, but hiseyes shifted to focus on one of the tanks.

What? Did he want a child? One born in somecrazy scientist’s laboratory? If so, why? Though Sicariushad the personality of a particularly bland, pointy stick, itseemed he could find a woman to bear a child for him if he wishedit. Though maybe he did not want some random woman’s blood for achild. Not if he could get some specially selected female“ specimen” to help breed a babe who could be his equal-or perhapsmore-one day. Basilard grimaced at the idea of Sicarius as afather, training some child with the same heartless techniques thathad been employed on him.

It was hard to imagine Sicarius evenwanting a child, but he met the woman’s eyes and jerked hischin for her to approach.

Litya hesitated but leaned closer, her chestbrushing his. She tilted her head so he could whisper in herear.

The guards had stood mute through theexchange, but they tensed at this closeness.

Basilard signed, Bite her!

Nobody was watching.

Sicarius said something Basilard could nothear, and the woman leaned back.

“Interesting,” she said. “I’ll considerit.”

She snapped her fingers and the guardsclicked their heels, coming to attention.

“Fully secure the other man,” Litya said. “Wedon’t need him talking with his fingers any more, and I want to getsamples.”

The guards tromped toward Basilard. He lethis hand drop, as if in defeat, but his fingers touched the edge ofthe knife pressed behind him.

While Litya gazed speculatively at Sicarius,Metya eased past the guards and brushed her fingers across an orbnext to the head of Basilard’s table. It had been dark and dormant,but it flared to life under her touch. She considered him for amoment, judging his weight for a dosage probably. Nothing about hergaze suggested he would get a chest caress or any dealoffers.

She was close and this might be his lastchance.

A guard reached for his wrist. Basilardballed his hand into a fist and jabbed it into the man’s nose.

With half of his body secured, he did not getmuch power behind it, but his hand speed gave the blow forceenough. The guard stumbled back, grasping at his nose.

The other man raised his pistol. Knife inhand now, Basilard leaned out and slashed the blade at the guard’swrist. Though swift, the blatant attack sent the man leaping backin time to avoid it. That was all Basilard needed.

Before Metya could likewise scurry away, hegrabbed her arm. He spun her as he pulled her against his chest touse her body as a shield, and he pressed the knife against herthroat.

The guards froze, one on either side ofBasilard’s station. They raised their pistols, aiming for his head.The one with the blood streaming from his nose gritted his teeth,finger tense on the pistol. He wanted to fire. Badly.

Basilard should have been terrified, but hehad been in life-or-death situations too many times to fall apartwhen faced by one. Anyway, he did not think they would fire withMetya so close. Unfortunately, he could not bargain with his handsbusy holding the woman. Nor could he imagine one of the guardsoffering him a clipboard to scrawl a note while he held a knife totheir employer’s throat.

Sicarius watched but did nothing. Strappeddown, he could not help physically, but Basilard would haveappreciated verbal assistance. He could speak and handle thebartering. But Sicarius said nothing. Basilard lifted his eyebrowsexpectantly. Sicarius gazed back.