“Ōbhin,” Stone grunted. “Can you believe this fog? It’s thick as my ma’s stew, and that stuck to your ribs.”
“You can walk away,” Ōbhin said. Stone talked the most when nervous.
“Can’t,” he said as Hook appeared next.
“You don’t want to disobey Ust, do ya?” said Hook, brandishing his namesake before him. “You thought you could, Ōbhin.”
“Do I need to kick your teeth in this time, Ust?” Ōbhin asked, tense. He was waiting for the corpse dogs or the shambling death to spill out next. For the flap of dead wings above. “I already embarrassed you in front of your men. You want me to do it again?”
The glow in the fog grew brighter and then Ust appeared out of the swirling white, the light shining from his eyes. Around that glow, Ōbhin could make out drying streaks of blood, crimson tears. His normal mane of thick, tangled, and greasy hair was gone, shaved away. A pattern of crimson streaks crossed his scalp like he’d been cut open and closed up.
Ōbhin saw no wounds for that blood to spill from.
Ust stood naked and in a powerful stance, the cords of his muscles bugling across his exposed body. More blood streaked his inner thighs and his hands. Smears spilled over his feet. When Ust blinked, the light winked out for a moment. A queasy writhe went through Ōbhin as the rest of the bandits materialized behind the unnerving bandit leader. Whiner Creg, his backsword held low, spat. Laynet, Jamis, Naston, and Anbrian flanked like a pack of dogs eager to tear apart their master’s prey.
The only one not present was the archer, Handsome Baill.
“Niszeh’s Black Tone,” cursed Ōbhin, “what did Dje’awsa do to you?”
Ust looked down at his hands, the light shining from his eyes spilling over his muscles. The skin of his head looked puckered in places like something thin had been inserted between it and the skull.
“Dje’awsa’s a petty man,” Ust said. “He doesn’t like being defied, not even a little bit. He seems to think he’s royalty or some crap. Quite the opinion of himself. Of course, the things he knows. The things he can do to a person.”
“For a price. What, my death?”
“And Avena’s.” Ust smiled. “He was real disappointed not to get his hands on Carstin. Apparently, a man near death, hoverin’ on the edge, is an interestin’ specimen to work upon.”
“So he had to settle for his corpse?” demanded Ōbhin.
“Corpse? Don’t know ‘bout that.”
“You dug it up for him. You delivered it to him.”
Ust burst into laughter. “Oh, if that’s what you think. Well, those aren’t my secrets to share. I’m here for one thing.”
“Killing me on Dje’awsa’s behalf?” Ōbhin drew his tulwar. He activated the emerald. The deadly hum filled the air, emerald painting the eddying fog.
Stone stepped back and brought his maul into a guard position. The smirk on Hook’s face vanished. He swallowed. The other highwaymen recoiled while Ust marched forward. He didn’t have a weapon, not that any sword could survive a resonance blade’s cut.
“No walking corpses to seize me and hold me down so you can kill me?” Ōbhin demanded. “You think your rabble has the skill or the weapons to defeat me? I’ll cut you all down. I’ll leave you bleeding in the road crying for your mothers to swaddle you and hold you to their sagging teats. I’ll sever your legs. Your arms. I won’t kill you, I’ll cripple you!”
“Dje’awsa might be petty, but he knows not to bring his . . . amusements to Dualayn’s estate.”
“So you remember that Dualayn is under the Boss’s protection,” Ōbhin said. “When he finds out you’ve threatened Dualayn and his servants, Grey will have you all gutted. I don’t have to lift a finger.”
“We won’t harm Dualayn. Right, boys?”
Nervous laughter echoed behind Ust. Stone didn’t join them while Hook brayed like a donkey.
“I just want Avena,” said Ust. “I’ll break anyone who stands in my way.” He grinned. Through the glow of his eyes, Ōbhin could see only a dark maw between Ust’s lips. Hungry, devouring. “You and those other two guards at the gate can walk away.”
“You’ll let me live? I though Dje’awsa wanted me dead.”
“He can kill you himself. This is your chance. No hard feelings. You taught me a valuable lesson that day, Ōbhin. I’d grown lazy. Lax. Thought I had achieved all I could. My band, some coin, the pleasure of women. What more did I need?” His hands balled into fists, the muscles in his body bulging. Across his pecs and his abdomen and up his arms, veins popped out against his naked flesh. His skin creaked like it stretched to contain his newfound strength. “It motivated me to find power. To step beyond the limits of my flesh. Dje’awsa changed me, Ōbhin, and it is all thanks to you. So walk away with my thanks. Keep running, and you might even escape Dje’awsa. What he plans to do to your corpse . . .”
“Why run?” Ōbhin demanded. “I’ve found a place I like. I’m tired of being a vagabond.”
Ust chuckled. “Always a woman that gets you into trouble. You had your warning. I’m coming for Avena. She’s a saucy thing. Might replace Ruvine with her and—”
Ōbhin launched into his attack, an overhand swing to cut Ust in half. This wasn’t murder. This wasn’t bursting in on a public house by carving through the wall and cutting down a surprised man. This was defending his employer’s estate. The blade hummed as it slashed down at Ust.
