Won't take much more to get him babbling like a drunken whore.' He popped a thumb joint for emphasis. Shatters stopped beside me and smiled cruel, hungry smile. His hands were long and expressive, like an artist's, and he was constantly cracking his knuckles as he walked. The Agonyman was small, even shorter than I, with broad shoulders and no neck to speak of. Shatters came walking into the candle's circle of light, his two assistants behind him. Don't worry,' said a voice from the darkened warehouse around us. 'I need to know who he sold it to,' I said. I placed his head gently back on top of the barrel and stood. Despite all he had gone through, he was still able to summon up a piercing look and give me the weakest shake of his head. When Athel finally came back up from wherever he had been, I could see the Angels weren't on my side tonight. I knelt next to what was left of him and waited, hoping it would end here. If the Angels had any mercy, they would let him crack the rest of the way right now. His eyes glassed over, and his jaw wobbled softly as he argued it over inside. So, either you tell me where to find that reliquary, or I come back after my people have done some more persuading.' 'You've put me in an awkward position, Athel. 'You told me earlier, remember?' I let him think back on the pain and remember why he had decided to talk the first time. I tapped one of his ruined fingers, making him gasp. 'Wouldn't cross you, Drothe-you know that.' 'If it's coming,' I said, 'why did I have to chase you halfway across the city? Why did I have to drag you off that skiff as it was launching into the bay? Doesn't seem like you've been playing straight with me, Grinner.'Īthel shook his head, his hair tugging gently in my hand, and grinned weakly. I leaned forward and locked my gaze with his, trying to hold his attention by force of will.Īthel tried to swallow, but coughed instead. 'Athel!' His dark eyes snapped open, feverish in their intensity. 'Grinner,' I replied, 'want to tell me something?' I could tell he was having trouble focusing on me in the flickering light. His voice was slow and rusty as he spoke my name. I waited for him to notice me in the candlelight. I said his name again.Īthel's eyes opened and began wandering around the shadowed room. I don't have to like what I do sometimes. If any of the sympathy or pity I felt showed on my face, so be it. I wove my fingers into his hair, took hold, and raised his head so he could see me. 'Hey, Athel.' His eyelids fluttered once. I slapped the smuggler lightly on his sweaty cheek. I avoided looking at the bloody mess that had once been his hands and feet. He was naked, his arms lashed across the top of a barrel, the rest of him collapsed behind.

A long night of torture will do that to a person.

In fact, he didn't look that good at all.

Among thieves by douglas hulick