|
He moved her out and through the crowd
quickly and quietly. Every face in the place turned to watch Korvis
lead Emerald, the most feared name in the territory, out the front
entrance of the tavern. And not a single person moved or attempted
to aid Emerald. Most looked askance of her, towards the ground.
After all, they would be rid of her and the evening could finally
get back to some sense of normalcy. Then again, normal was a word
that didn't quite apply to this place. She turned to look back at
Brik and Bone. They would be like lost children without her. “What
about them,” she said. “I can't just leave them here.”
“T.F.B, Emerald. It's not my
fault you chose mindless brutes for protection.”
“You're a bastard, Korvis.”
“Among other things, Emerald.”
The bounty hunter thought for a moment as he pushed her out the
door and into the darkened street. “Tell them to go to your
ship and wait for you there. At least they'll be safe… for a while.”
“Bastard.”
“It's your choice.”
“Fine,” she hissed. She
whistled for them between her teeth. A moment later, the loud rumbling
sound of the two Corenti goons came thundering out of the Tavern.
A worried look was plastered on their beastly faces. Korvis yanked
her arm tighter now. Emerald winced. Brik let out a howl of disapproval.
Bone grunted his displeasure. “Go… go to the ship. Go on,”
she ordered, “do as you're told!” The two goons lumbered
away reluctantly, each taking a turn looking over the other one's
shoulder to see if she was still there. They faded into the night,
their grunts echoing in the distance.
“Now that that's out of the way… you
have an
|
|
appointment with the Tribunal Head of Mecada
Three,” Korvis informed her. “You remember that little world,
don't you, my dear?”
“Little slime ball of a world I
stole the Twelfth Combine Regent's scepter from. Supposed to be worth
a fortune on Baratic Prime,” she confessed.
Korvis removed a pair of manacles from
one of the pouches in his cloak and slapped one of them around Emerald's
right arm. The arm was in excruciating pain now. He yanked her arm
up a little higher. He heard her give a slight gasp, no more. What
he really wanted was to hear her cry out. He knew that once the enemy
cried out in pain, it was a sign of surrendering oneself to their
captors. He'd seen enough bloody battles in his life to know.
“What're you gonna do, Korvis,
rip my damned arm out of it's socket?” Emerald said angrily.
“If that's what it takes. Just
shut up and do as your told, woman.” Korvis commanded. “I'm
in charge of this little party, not you.”
“If you think so.”
“I know so,” he reassured
him.
Emerald gave a low sounding laugh as
her response. Korvis grabbed her left arm and wrenched it behind her
back. Emerald began to struggle. Her body was like a taut rope. She
was quite strong. Korvis took three quick steps forward and placed
his chin in her back and forced her to the ground. Emerald fell, face
first into the dirt, the full weight of Korvis landing on her in the
process. She tried to twist her way onto her back, but Korvis held
her fast. She began kicking upwards with her legs. He rammed a knee
square into her back and heard her give an audible yelp as he knocked
the wind out of her momentarily. |
