Isaacran a finger along one of the embedded knives, thinking.It was obvious, bynow, that the necromancer was listening to their conversations.She could sensetheir life, and she could smell their breath, and every pulse of their heartwould echo in her ears like a church’s bell, and it was only natural that shewould spy on her opponents.
Butwhat was she doing, exactly?This information from Soren was inexplicable.
Whyspare the pirates?
Whyfocus all her effort on Soren herself?
If thenecromancer had listened to all their thoughts in the necropolis, she wouldhave heard Zaria’s desire to spare the crew, as well as her insistence thatSoren was the most dangerous of the lot.This, in turn, would explain how sheknew to focus her efforts on the captain, but it would not explainwhythe sorceress had decided to act this way at all.She had no reason to obeyZaria’s wishes, let alone escort her crew to thesurface.
Forher, the crew of pirates would have represented a valuable source of energy andnourishment.It was a way to prolong her parasitic life.
Why hadshe spared them?
“Mycrew’s abandoned me!”Soren yelled.“All I got is sword and powder!And youknow what?I ain’t stupid!I won’t be seeing daylight again!”
“That’syour own fault, capt!”Zaria yelled back.“No one forced you down here!”
“Shutyour flappin’ cunt!If my fate is sealed, then I’mtaking you with me!You’ll never see that treasure so long as I’m drawingbreath!”One more knife slashed through the bones around them.“Face me, youcraven whore!”
“Zaria,”Isaac said.
Thehyena turned to him.
“Saywhat you want to your captain.”
Sheblinked, splintered bone falling from her mohawk.
“Saywhat you want to your captain,” Isaac said, “before I kill her.”
Zariagripped her poleaxe.“Soren!Captain!Listen clear, now!”
A rabidsnarl echoed across the chamber.
“Joinus!”Zaria shouted.She silenced Isaac before he could argue.“That’s your onlychance!If you want to live, stop being such a principled cunt and help usfight!Fight the bones, fight the mages!We’ll make it outta here if we juststop fightin’ each other!”
Sorenlaughed, like a prisoner facing the gallows.“You gonna cut me in on thetreasure, are you?You think a hoard of gold’s gonna buy your life from me?”
“Fuckthat!”Zaria replied.“You’re lucky I won’t shove a goblet up your arse!You’regetting your life, and nothing more!”
Anotherknife stabbed into the desk, skittering out through the bone, tumbling over thefloor, and skittering down the hole of the elevator.Isaac was beginning towonder how many she had.
“Iwon’t be insulted by your mercy!”Soren shouted.“Not after what you’ve done!Mylast pleasure will be watching the light fade from your eyes!”
Zariashook her head, taking a deep breath.
“You’llnever last!”the bunny screamed, her voice so hoarse it was like a rasping ofbone.“Even if I’m gone, the others will know!Every ship of the fleet will bebraying for your blood!That gold down there won’t protect you!You’ll behunted to the end of your days!You’ll never know a different crew again!Eventhe sands will flay you for your crime!I promise, on my word, as a creatureborn of the desert, the stain of your sins will blacken your soul to the lastputrid breath, you gutless wastrel!”
Therewas a pause.
“Isaac,”Zaria said.“Would you kindly kill this cunt for me?”
Henodded.“Cover your ears.”
Shepressed her ears down as he cast a spike of ice, the frozen point sticking outof his palm like the tip of a spear.He angled his hand up towards the ceiling,aiming carefully.He loosed, and a thin stream of ice erupted from his arm,fanning out into a flat, thin triangle, which formed a crust of crystalstalactites on the ceiling.He made sure those crystals were large and sharp.When he was done, the entire length of ice hung like a diagonal curtain fromdesk to roof.
“What’sthis?”Soren said, almost laughing.“You trying to scare me, human?”
Isaacdid not reply.
