I was hauled downstairs without any fanfare. My twisted-up hands hadn’t even been cuffed. An adjutant helpfully suggested to rectify this mild oversight and got his lights knocked out. I couldn’t tell if the assistant was faking it for brownie points with the boss, or the slug was that amped up. However, even I knew he ought to be grateful to have avoided the blade. Raktkalis must be in an exceptionally good mood.

Altercation has taken everyone’s eyes off the prize and given me a chance to flee.

As if I was that stupid. I’ll still need those legs when another, real opportunity presents. Remembered painfully well how deceptively swift these brutes have been. For whatever unrelated reason, I suspected that training regimen has been upped since then.

The high lord strode off towards a car without even casting me a glance. He just expected me to follow like I was a part of his whipped retinue. Now I really wanted to bolt. Sadly, none of this was optional and I still desired to keep my legs.

Dark dammit. I’ll lose them either way. Wouldn’t I rather be kicking and screaming? Few things have ever been remotely as terrifying as getting into that warmly lit coffin on wheels.

“Come,” scion commanded hoarsely. I had a bad feeling about repeated instructions. I was forced to reluctantly oblige.

It was just the two of us inside, bar the driver behind divider. Rest of his entourage got into far less cushy contraptions. Adjutant got scooped up by a comrade, making me think they both ought to have been actors instead.

I found attentive, predatory gawk affixed upon me when I looked back. Almost startled. Ample amount of adrenaline running through my veins saved me from that embarrassment. I was expecting everything, even if couldn’t appropriately resist.

“You’re not what I expected either,” I muttered out voicelessly just before car’s engine completely drowned it out.

Raktkalis craned his head again. Was I about to get my spleen shattered next? For speaking casually to the lordling, or not enunciating clearly enough. One thing we’ll never be wanting for were flimsy reasons. Then again, would they be reasons or excuses? Although he didn’t need either.

“What happened to your voice?”

What happened to your face? I wanted to ask in return, but teeth remained clenched. Physically couldn’t force myself to mouth off at this tightly-wound explosive. I felt it in my marrow – he cut throats for much less. One swift flick, just for the hell of it.

The apprehension was puzzling, because this stick of dynamite had only recently climbed out of his teens. And yet, the menace he radiated was unmistakable. People meant to rule were unattainably different. Why did I ever think having a thick wad of cash would raise my status up off the floor?

Shouldn’t let my mind wander under that piercing attention.

What was it he really wanted to know? Was he not aware? Or was this merely an idle chitchat? No, certainly not that last one. More importantly, why was I under an impression he was omniscient?

I pointed towards the prospective general, then put my hand on the throat to mimic choking as much as the pulpy fingers allowed it.

He grinned with self-satisfaction. The bastard was actually happy. Of course. We weren’t en route to paint fingernails and gossip about the boys.

“It won’t be necessary anyway,” he added as an afterthought, or an explanation. He’ll take away whatever ability to communicate I have left, too. I’ll be a husk. An object.

Some contempt must have shone through, or I might have stared at the budding rash tad too hard. Whatever the case, Raktkalis figured the sentiment out. Fingertips ran down his newly blemished face as he promised, “You’ll have to pay for that, too.”

I coughed several times and forced out as loudly as I could, whilst staying legible, “En-n you’ll h-have to we-ahr a m-mahsk. Learn to take a joke.”

Final part came out in a simple rushed hiss. There must have been a force field to dampen all trivial sound around this eminent personae. Or merely a decent soundproofing in the car.

Whichever the case, he heard.

Princeling responded with a threat that hadn’t had an ounce of humour in it anymore, “You’ll be the one learning to take it.”

Yes, I was aware.

That was why I wasn’t twiddling my thumbs. I mean I was trying to, but they’ve been thoroughly broken. Stealthily uncorking a naptime with two barely functioning fingers has been an experience. Alert eyes never veered off my face as if trying to read my mind. Unfortunately for him, I was good at acting. I was absolutely sure no strain has showed.

The sleeping gas has begun dispersing in this small space. In my triumph I almost missed it, but it became obvious as moments ticked by.

I didn’t hear Raktkalis breathing. He must have stopped at the same time that I did. He expected it, waited for it! Graciously provided me with the chance to do my worst.

As if adding to the insult, a beeping insistently warned about the contaminants in the air too. There’s never been a chance. His exultant smirk promised so much suffering.

I really missed my voicebox. I would have sworn up a storm in this environment that neither could draw a breath in!

I wasn’t confident in this standoff. My lung capacity couldn’t have been as great as that of a man, trainees of whom could outrun me without breaking sweat. Kicking his teeth in wouldn’t have gone right either. Man’s hand absently caressed the hilt of the darned sword.

Explosives it is. Must be the only trick he hadn’t seen me use, and hence would suspect the least. I tossed the substance at the divide with hopes to get to the driver, or at least crash.

Smoke filled the compartment immediately. World shook. My ears were ringing. I couldn’t tell whether I’ve accomplished anything.

One thing was clear. I’ve grossly miscalculated the act.

It was such a terribly small, armoured space. The blast, even from such a tiny petard, was brutal. Pressure change hit me like a train.

Senses grappled for anything solid. Mind dimmed. Seeking any sort of clarity, I instinctively inhaled and began violently coughing. That was the end of my barely conscious actions.