Book 2 Chapter 10: Splinters

Book 2 Chapter 10: Splinters

I froze Elise as she lunged and moved to the side, letting her fall with a thud to the ground. I caught the older of the attacking guards by the hands as he attempted to stab me with a Ren style sword.

The Khan moved as quickly as I did, knocking the younger of the guards hand away as he went to draw a pistol on him. He fired a shot into the ground, and the Khan struck his nose with a firm palm, shattering his nose. He followed that up with a knee strike that made ribs crack before he tossed him to the side like trash.

I started squeezing the older swordsmans hands, hard. I saw his eyes widen as he attempted to loosen his grip and pull away, but I wouldnt let him. I slowly increased the pressure at first then, suddenly, I squeezed full force, shattering the bones in his hands. He collapsed to the floor, screaming.

The third guard, the one that hadnt attacked us, was surprised and slow to react, but he recovered with dignity, disarming the two men the Khan and I had dispatched, calling for more guards, and hauling Elise back into her seat, where she eventually unfroze.

I looked down at the two other guards who were now hunched over either screaming in pain or passed out. Thats two more people to interrogate.

The Khan nodded, but looked at me. Sara. You believe she was framed?

I nodded. I wasnt certain, but between the evidence I found, and Elises reaction, Id say shes likely innocent.

Elise spat at our feet. None of you are innocent.

The Khan knelt down in front of Elise, embodying that same kind of quiet calm that led him to sending both her and Sara to confinement rather than lashing out and killing them where they stood. He looked her in the eye. Why Elise? You served me so long. I cannot imagine this betrayal was for something material.

I serve at the pleasure of my lady.

He shook his head. There is no reason to continue trying to shift blame onto Sara. Your attempt to frame her has already been revealed.

She looked him in the eye. I. serve. My. Lady.

The Khan stood. I will start with your fingers. Whether you cooperate or not, you are already dead. The speed and method are up to you.

I watched as the guards picked up their two injured former fellows, and the Khans wife Carmilla appeared shortly after. He looked at her. My guard has been compromised. Those two, he pointed at those whod attacked us, are to be interrogated to determine who else may be involved, and any other information they can provide. He pointed at the third guard, the one whod helped us. He shall be in charge of the investigation.

He nodded.

Ive heard from your other wives that you dont talk about her, or about your first two very much.

He nodded again.

Your third wifeyou killed her yourself right?

He nodded a third time, stonefaced.

Did you see the body?

The Khans eyes narrowed. Why?

Elise, served you for a long time after you killed her. You yourself were surprised that she couldve been the one to betray you, even if it had been ordered by one of your wives. That got me thinking, who could change her allegiance like that? Then when she kept repeating to you, I serve my lady, thats when it clicked. I said the name Jantai, and her face twitched. So Im asking again. Did you see the body?

The Khan looked down at his hands, and took one of the splinters embedded in his fist. He drew it out slowly, then repeated the process until his hands were clear of everything, but blood. No. The body was never found.

I nodded. She betrayed you to some raiders right? So she had connections, mustve been biding her time, waiting for a chance to strike.

He chuckled. At the time, the Horde was also considered a raider group. Thats what all rulers of the wastes begin as. Jantai had chosen me as a husband, but shed been in love with another, an enemy. She gave us up to them, and cost me my first wife. I killed the man shed betrayed me for in front of her, slowly. She I granted the mercy of a single shot, leaving the corpse for the crows. He shook his head. Perhaps that was a mistake.

Im not certain its her yet. Its just a theory.

The Khan moved over to a table, grabbing a shotgun and a knife. I will know the answer myself by the end of the day. I left that guard in charge of the investigation, and I will allow him to continue it, but the interrogations themselves... I must show my men I am not above taking part in these things directly. A small smile crept across his lips, one that didnt meet his eyes.

I simply nodded. I was fairly certain his men were under no illusions about his willingness to get his hands dirty, in any situation, but it was also clear that wasnt what it was about. Id brought up something that the Khan found deeply enraging, or rather, it brought itself up and I pointed it out, and he wanted to take some of that rage out on those who had betrayed him and his people.

There were many words that could be used to describe the Khan. Brutal, cruel, cunning, vindictive, but the one I always thought of when I spoke with him was practical. Id gotten a glimpse into the old world through my travels and books, which told me that they didnt believe violence was the right choice, though they clearly felt it was the only one in the end. The truth is violence is always the answer, the only question was how it needed to be applied. The Khan knew where to apply violence, and how to channel his own, thats what made him the Khan. I wasnt the sort to feel pity normally, but in that moment I felt a tinge of it for the men he was planning to interrogate.