Okay . . .
He waited for the commander to continue.
“I’m curious, Quiakides. If you hate your father so much, why did you save his life?”
Knowing he probably should keep his mouth shut, he answered with the single truth. “I deserve the right to kill him. I’ve earned it. No one else is going to take that from me.”
Savage actually choked. “Damn . . . you are one cold-blooded motherfucker.”
“I have enough Andarion in me that I crave the day when I can feel his blood sliding through my fingers.”
Savage nodded. “I feel your pain, little brother. But you know what Andarions say about revenge?”
“Pleitylent yhatte ghyspylte ynya skilia vâkani, útan pleitylent acao bauett hyacæ yweliani drexen eist.”Blood vengeance spilled hot burns to the bone, but blood vengeance served cold soothes even the most battered of souls.
His answer must have amused Savage, who coughed to cover his laughter. “I was actually thinking more along the lines of,Beware the sword of vengeance, for its blade is just as sharp on the back as it is the front. Lacking all sight, it doesn’t see what it hits, nor feel the pain that it causes. It tastes every bit of the blood it draws, and it cries more, more, more. For once started, its appetite becomes insatiable. So think you twice before you grasp that hilt, and find your hand locked to a fate that is as likely to strike the one who wields it as the one it’s meant to lay low.”
“That might mean something if I cared about living.”
Savage inclined his head to him. “Then I have a proposition for you.”
“That is?”
“There’s a group of us who want to see The League demolished. We’ve had enough of being their caged lorinas, sent out to kill without consent or choice. You interested?”
“Absolutely.”
Savage handed him a card. “That’s my number. I’ll let you know whenever we have a meeting. But you betray us, and we’ll have no mercy on you.”
“I don’t betray anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”
He inclined his head and put his sunglasses back on, then turned to leave.
Nykyrian stopped him. “Can I ask one question?”
“You can ask.”
“Is Shadowborne a member of your group?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“If he isn’t, you might want to think about it. He seems like a decent guy.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Huwin wants him dead. If he were an animal, Huwin wouldn’t bother. It’s the humanity in Shadowborne that scares him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Eve sighed as she waited for customs to clear her. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” She glared at Jedi who stood by her side.
“Relax. It’s legit cargo.”
Why did she doubt that?
Because the Tavali never have legit cargo.
How she hated needing money so badly that she was stuck doing errands for pirates.
