no . . . don’t!
no . . . don’t! You . . . you’re making a big mistake. There are thirty officers. You couldn’t possibly kill half of us. We . . . we just weren’t expecting you this evening anymore,” said the man, now no longer trying to hide his fear.
“Only thirty. We’re late. I’ll bet they’re asleep. We hardly even need to use the girls. The boy over there walks like a ghost. Won’t be the first sleeping man, or room full of men, he’s slit the throat of, hey boy?” said Cap, quietly oily and evil.
Keilin did his best to look villainous and grinned, producing a long knife from his sleeve. “Go now, O master?” he asked eagerly.
“No. I think this gentleman has decided to show us the way past his friends. Then in a few miles we’ll let him go . . . if he’s been good,” said Cap, showing his teeth to the jelly that had once been the pride of Amphir’s force.
They’d been so intent on terrorizing the officer that they hadn’t noticed his sleepy relief coming along the pier. This man’s eyes suddenly focused on the drawn swords. He screamed and ran.
“Hell’s teeth. That’s torn it!” swore Cap, “No, Leyla! Don’t shoot. After him. We may still get past before they’re up and organized.” But they were too late. Already bleary-eyed crossbow-armed men were spilling onto the pier.
The river quay was a long dock running parallel to the river with three piers leading in over the muddy shallows, rather like an “E” with the long edge in the deep water. The river height obviously varied considerably, and the main dock had to be built out where it could be used at all seasons. They were on the center spline of the E leading to the shore. Keilin could hear the clatter of men running across the wooden slats in the mist.
“Well, gentlemen,” Cap said calmly. “It appears we have a stand-off. Several of you are going to die before you can crank those bows, so don’t even start. Leyla, drop the first man that tries.”
“We have a policy to condemn—” began one man.
“ Yes, we’ve heard. But if it comes to a fire‑fight I’m going to kill you first. So it won’t do you much good personally,” said Cap in a matter-of-fact voice. “And with that sort of threat waiting for us, we