Lost Empire (9 page)

He turned back to face the trembling girl once more. She was now on her feet, with Jacob standing protectively in front of her. “Well, my dear lady,” he said in a voice that was far too calm, “it seems that within the hour we will all have a better idea...of how good a swimmer you are.” Cheers rose up like a storm as swords pumped up and down in the air.

Eric stepped directly in front of the captain, his dark eyes blazing but his face remaining deathly calm. He hissed in a soft dangerous tone, “I’m fully aware that you are a cold, calculating man. I’ve no doubt you would sell your own family members if it meant a little extra coin found its way into your pocket. So I won’t even bother pointing out how sick and demented your sense of justice is.” When Najus looked away for a second, Eric reached out and turned the man’s cheek so they were face to face once more. A shocked gasp filled the room. “Don’t turn away from me when I’m speaking to you.” His face was calm and his voice steady. “You clearly have no morals to speak of, so let’s talk business. Your contract depends on the four of us arriving in Shangti. Not three. Even if you have no understanding of morality, you still understand business. No?”

“
Stupid boy,” the man whispered harshly. Having a private conversation in a small room full of people proved to be more than difficult, but he spoke as softly as he could. “You think I don’t know that? What would you have me do?” He spared a quick glance toward the men, most of whom were wearing wicked grins. “These men are not here because of their values or loyalty. Their skills at sea are second to none, but they must be controlled. Violence is the one primal instinct that every man responds to.” He gripped Eric by the collar. “Don’t you see? There will be a mutiny if your friend doesn’t die for what she’s done. I can’t show any weakness, or it will be me at the bottom of the sea, and I’m not dying for any of you!” He shoved Eric back and turned back toward the men. In a clear, booming voice, he said, “It seems as though the dark sea will be opening her watery hands to receive a gift. Prepare the whore!”

Najus was no fool. The truth of his words cut through Eric like a sword. The verdict had not been personal; it was the only course of action the man could take. Eric’s mind swirled with emotion. Desperation. Panic. Time crept along like cold tree sap as his eyes swept the room. Athel was on her knees with her head hung low, clearly beaten and resigned to her fate. Jade and Jacob’s faces were masked with horror as their eyes begged him to do something. The cheers of the men could be heard as their toothless mouths seemed to work in slow motion. Hundreds of different scenarios along with their probable outcomes flashed through his mind like streaks of light.
Too many, can’t take them all
.
Can’t show weakness
.
Animals...can’t be reasoned with
.
Must...must beat them at their own game
.
By the Gods...Athel...forgive me
! The farm boy from Bryer knew the last of his innocence was about to die.

“
Yes, prepare the whore,” he shouted. Stunned faces spun toward him as murmured whispering quickly filled the small room. In three strides he was on Athel, who never so much as flinched. Reaching down angrily, he grabbed a fistful of beaded hair and snapped her head back violently.

Jacob rushed at him. “What the hell are you—”
CRASH!
A hard backhand from Eric sent him sprawling across the floor. Jacob shook his head several times as Jade rushed to his side. The room spun in circles as he tried to shake off the hard blow. With Jacob’s face cupped in her hands, Jade glared at Eric with fire in her eyes. His face was like steel, cold and emotionless.

“
But will you all really find justice in granting this
thing
such a merciful fate?” Using a fistful of hair, Eric whipped the disgraced woman’s head back and forth as he spoke. “She took the life of one of your own, and now she has earned the peace of a watery grave? Eternal sleep? That is mercy, not justice!” Energy and excitement began to fill the room. Calls for
real
justice and
true
pain rang out as fists pumped in the air. “True, I travel with this thing, but she has already served her purpose. And not once has she proved her loyalty to me.” The cheers only intensified. “I will be the hand of justice this day. Tie the whore to the mast!” He threw her face down on the floor before the cheering mob.

Before she could blink, a dozen hands grabbed at every inch of her clothing. Many began fondling her breasts as they roughly hoisted her to her feet. Athel didn’t fight back. She barely even seemed aware of what was happening as the shouting men dragged her away and up the stairs. Najus just watched as she disappeared over the last step.

Eric approached him quickly with a look that bordered on rage. “Get it. Now! Bring it to me.” Najus hesitated a second before nodding. He turned and all but ran into his private quarters, which were not far away. Eric just watched as his head began to spin. Everything felt like a dream as time inched along, like he was somehow watching from outside his own body. He was only faintly aware of Jade screaming in his ear as she punched his shoulder over and over. Jacob was yelling something in his face with a finger pointed at his forehead. Muffled gibberish was all he could make out as their mouths spewed nonsense in slow motion, though.

Najus came back with what looked like a sword handle with braided black leather instead of a blade. He handed it to Eric without saying a word, never once meeting his eyes, then turned and walked up the steps. Eric coiled the cruel instrument around his wrist before following the captain upstairs as the foggy dream continued. He didn’t remember there being this many steps. It seemed to take forever as he put one foot in front of the other.

When he finally reached the top step, Eric’s eyes went straight to Athel. She was now tied to the mainmast by two thick black ropes, one around her feet and the other across the back of her neck as she faced the pole, her bare back completely exposed. A great deal of her clothing had been torn away, perhaps more than was necessary.

The winds blew hard as the sails whipped and rolled with the violent gusts. The sky had turned a greenish black, with some of the dark clouds moving in opposite directions. There was no doubt a violent storm was brewing. Many eyed the angry sky uneasily until they saw Eric, then he received their full attention. He didn’t say a word as he marched up behind her and unrolled the wicked weapon. He was only now seeing it up close for the first time.

The length of the eight-foot whip was made up of black leather twisted around into a thick braid. The final two feet fanned out into five individual strands, each tipped with a hooked piece of razor-sharp metal. The sight of the cruel weapon chilled him for a moment, but this was not the time to concentrate on such trivial things. There was no time for weakness.
I will do what I must
.

His voice rang out, “A watery sleep is a mercy you have not earned this day.” He cracked the whip in the air three times, making it snap just behind Athel’sear. “This very tool has humbled many who thought they were brave, many who felt they were somehow above the laws of our brotherhood. But on this day, it will feast on the flesh of a traitor!”

With that he rolled it back and let loose. Five deep lines of red formed instantly across his friend’s back as she cried out. Without hesitation, he reared back and snapped it again. A loud sickening
crack
rang into the night as five more red lines crossed the others. He snapped it again and again as blood began to run freely from her back, making it impossible to make out any individual lines. With nearly every strike at least two of the hooked metal ends clung to her back as they bit deep. It took one or two jerks just to free them before sending them right back.

Forked lightning cut a jagged path through the sky as he lashed her one last time. The bright, blinding flash lit up the deck. The men squinted then rubbed their eyes, as if that would dismiss the haunting afterglow. Only seconds passed before the heavy downpour began. The blood from Athel’s back thinned immediately in the heavy rain, exposing many deep ridges.

She was no longer screaming, nor did she even seem to be conscious. The men who had cheered earlier now stood in complete silence. In fact, many had walked away with a hand over their mouths. Eric finally stopped and took a few deep breaths as he wiped rainwater from his brow. He held the whip out toward the quickly thinning group. “Would anyone else like a go? Anyone feel that justice has not yet been served? Now is your chance if you still seek revenge. Speak now!” Nobody moved an inch. Most eyes simply fell to the deck while others looked away all together. “Very well then. You there,” he pointed to a thin man in a red-striped shirt, “cut her down. I’ll take the whore with me. Not quite sure I’m done with her yet!” He forced out a shrill laugh. It was gut-wrenching, but he had to sell it.
I will do what I must...to save her life
!

When the last rope was snapped loose, she melted down the pole. Eric scooped her up gently and draped her over his broad shoulder, then turned and headed back toward the stairs, all the while hearing the many whispers behind his back. The gruesome plan had worked, but not without paying a steep price. Athel would live to see another day.
There is no turning back time. My soul can never be saved
. With a heart so heavy it felt like lead, he thumped down the stairs with Athel slung limply over his shoulder. He was soaked to the bone, but he hardly noticed.

When he got to the door, he hesitated a moment. No doubt Jade and Jacob were inside waiting for him, but no sound came from the room. It was deathly quiet. He turned the knob and slowly pushed back the door with poor Athel still draped over his shoulder. The room was dimly lit with only two oil lanterns placed at separate corners of the floor, their sickly flames barely running on fumes. Jade sat on the floor in silence, staring at the dying flame while Jacob rose to his feet. He marched over to Eric in three brisk strides.

“
Give her to me,” he said angrily. He reached up and cradled the unconscious woman’s head, then lowered her into his arms. His movements were slow and caring. He walked over to the bedroll he had prepared and lowered her down with her back facing up. Her hands were opening and closing now as she began to writhe and squirm. She was obviously now conscious and in extreme pain. Jacob lowered himself down to the floor next to her, whispering in her ear and trying to comfort her any way he could.

Eric turned to face Jade. He had no idea what to say as her blank, emotionless gaze met his. He wanted to scream at her, scream out that there was no other way to save her. He wanted her to scream at him, to throw something at him, to show some kind of emotion.
By the Gods, say something
! But when he took a step forward, she took two back, never taking her eyes from his.

His knees went weak. The pain was almost more than he could bear.
The woman I love is afraid of me
.

Chapter 6

Eric leaned back against the wall, his legs straight out and hands flat on the floor. It was getting late, and keeping his eyes open was proving to be more and more difficult. He watched as the other two worked on Athel’s wounds. As much as wanted to go over and help, he knew it was probably best to just stay out of the way for now.

No matter which way he moved his head, it seemed their backs were always facing him. They also appeared to be working their hands very hard all of a sudden, more like kneading a piece of dough than tending to someone’s wounds. Faster and harder they moved as their shoulder blades moved up and down, popping and cracking with the forced effort. “Guys? Hey, is everything OK?” he asked as he watched on with rising concern. The two ignored him, continuing to work at their feverish pace. Pushing...pulling...their frenzied effort only intensified as grunting and groaning now joined the popping sounds. “Hey! What are you guys doing? Hey, is she Ok?”

They abruptly stopped their rapid movements and held still for a moment. Then their heads suddenly twisted back to face him as their bodies remained forward. Their faces held a clear resemblance to Jade and Jacob’s features, but their skin looked like gray porcelain covered with white cracks. Deep-set, bloodshot eyes stared back at him. “Why don’t you ask her yourself!” shrieked Jade in a shrill, unfamiliar voice while her lower jaw clicked up and down like a wooden puppet’s.

Athel sat up straight with a series of loud clicks, as if someone were winding a watch. Eric found himself staring at a white polished skull with black beaded braids fanned out wildly. The clicking jaw worked away in a random pattern, not matching the words coming out. “Did you think I would find this better than death?” A flood of black beetles began to flow from the open jaw, crawling down her neckline and back up into empty eye sockets as wicked laughter filled the air.

He sat forward with a jolt and opened his eyes, drawing in a sharp breath. There he was, still sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, just like before he fell asleep. He nearly froze at the all-too- familiar scene before him. Both Jade and Jacob were down on their knees attending to Athel. If they had noticed him jolt awake, neither one showed it as they continued their work. A light knock came from the door. Eric caught a chill as he rose to answer it, realizing for the first time that he was damp with sweat. He assumed some of the moisture had to be left over from the earlier rain.
This couldn’t all be sweat...could it
? After wiping a hand across his forehead then drying it on his shirt, he opened the door.