Wednesday Excerpt, "Repercussions"

Mandrean became flustered and stood in front of his throne. “If he cares so much for you then where is Grithinshield?”

Anvar stood straight and tall in front of the emperor. “You said it yourself. He must have been delayed in a manner of which we are unaware. One thing I am certain of, though, is that Linvin will come if there is breath in his body. He may not make it in time to save me, but he will come. When he arrives, I would not want to be you. He will be sure to finish you this time. Bringing Linvin here will be the last mistake you ever make.”

“This fight will be different. I have you as a hostage.”

Anvar leaned forward and said, “Suppose he doesn’t care. He knows you will kill me regardless. Why surrender to your threats? What else do you have?”

Mandrean began to stammer and sat down. “I have the Blue Sapphire.”

“You had it before and Linvin beat you. What else do you have?”

“I have the staff for it now.”

“That only makes your magic equal to his and as you know, they cancel each other out. Therefore, it doesn’t matter. What else do you have?”

“I have an army.”

“Linvin killed nearly seven legions almost entirely by himself last time you fought and still had strength to defeat you. What else do you have?”

“I have my superior fighting skills.”

“The same skills Linvin faced while half dead and still was able to stab you and leave you for the buzzards? That’s your last line of defense? You had better make sure Linvin is more tired this time.”

Mandrean felt where the scar had been on his abdomen. “Linvin only beat me because my armor was not fitted properly and left a gap. This time I have a new set of plate mail made by the finest Dwarven craftsmen. With my family’s sword, I will defeat him once and for all.”

Anvar quickly pictured how a slow-moving, overweight man like the emperor would fare against the nimble, quick lightning attacks of Linvin in his dragon scale armor with Falconfeather at his command. He decided not to give too much away prior to the fight. “That will be a sight to behold.”

Mandrean practically leapt out of his seat and began to circle Anvar. For his part, the prisoner looked unimpressed and showed no signs of being intimidated. “Look at you,” said Mandrean. “So smug in your belief in Linvin. Well he has abandoned you. While you toil in prison, he goes on about his life without you. Perhaps my agents were wrong about his feelings for you. He went without a mother or father for most of his life. Why would he care what happens to you?

“After all your posturing, you’re just scared to die. Every day you must look at that cell window and see if there’s frost on the bars. What are you afraid of? You’ve lived a long life, Old Elf.”

“I do not fear death.”

“Of course you don’t. You fear being the cause of Linvin’s death. Your bluffs will not fool me. Linvin adores you like a father and in that twisted mind of his he’s going to think he can save you two. If only he knew my plans, he would see that it is just not meant to be.”

“You, on the other hand are far too confident and sure of yourself. It is time to remind you that you are a prisoner. Guards.” The four goblins Acreas had sent as an escort came forward and stood behind Anvar.

“I want him to suffer and suffer mightily,” Mandrean ordered. “Do not puncture him, however, we would not want him to expire too soon.”

The emperor placed his hands behind his back and began shuffling toward his exit. “This exercise is about power, Anvar. It takes power to inflict pain. You and your nephew have been the cause of a great deal of pain to me. It is time you saw my power and learned what real pain was like.”