Taker Of Skulls(8)

In the light, he could see that Sasha was a tall, slender, good-looking woman, with pale skin and raven black hair. Her eyes were large and her nose was hooked, her lips were full and sensual. She had an intense, haunted gaze that she focused on them one at a time. She was clad all in leather, with a pick slung from a hook on her belt and a knife strapped to her thigh. A missile weapon of strange design hung over her back. Looking at it closely, he realised it was an alchemical stonethrower of dwarven make. It was a potent weapon if she knew how to use it and had the right ammunition.

“You’re keen,” Kormak said.

“I want the money,” she said.

“You won’t get it until we get back from the mountains, safely,” said Kormak.

“You were willing to pay an advance to Otto and his lads.”

“On consideration we might reluctantly have decided not to do so,” said Karnea.

“That is disappointing news,” said a booming voice from the door. Otto stood there flanked by two members of his gang. “Me and the boys expect to be paid what we were promised.”

“I don’t think we’ll be requiring your services,” said Karnea. She smiled beatifically at him, seemingly unaware of the menace in his voice. Otto slapped the palm of his meaty hand with the head of his hammer.

“A little bird been whispering lies to you, has she?” Otto asked. He strode closer, loomed over the table. More of his men entered the Axe and Hammer. The other customers, sensing trouble, buried themselves in eating their food, or scurried towards the doors of their rooms.

Kormak rose from his seat and Boreas did the same. Sasha had her pick in her hands now. Karnea removed her glasses and placed them on the table in front of her. “I can understand your disappointment but there is no need to be rude. You will not need money for supplies since you will not be going with us, but I am willing to pay you something for your trouble.”

Thinking he sensed weakness, Otto said, “I think you should pay us what you owe us. A deal is a deal.”

Kormak stepped between the prospector and Karnea. He smiled and said, “The lady has been kind enough to offer to pay you for your trouble. I think you should take her offer while you are still capable of doing so.”

Otto was still looking at Karnea. “Or what, you will kill us all?”

“Just you and anybody who tries to help you,” Kormak said. Something in his tone got Otto’s full attention. The prospector looked at him as if for the first time. He slapped the hammer against his palm again. He looked Kormak up and down and said, “You really think you can do it? Get your blade out before I can smash your fool head off and kick it all the way back to Aquilea?”

Kormak said, “Why don’t you try and we’ll find out.” Otto looked as if he was contemplating exactly that.

The barman brought a crossbow to bear from under the bar. “If you want to keep this up, do it somewhere else. Any blood gets spilled in my place, I’ll be the one doing it.”

“Only got one shot in that thing, Lucian,” said Otto.

“One shot is all it will take to send you to hell,” said Lucian. “Now get out of here and don’t come back.”

The stable boy and some other big lads were entering now. Otto sensed the odds were shifting out of his favour. He let his hammer drop to swing from its leather strap on his wrist. “We’re not done yet,” he said to Kormak and turned on his heel and left.

Kormak looked at the Innkeeper, “Thanks,” he said.

“No bother,” said Lucian. “Can’t have his type threatening the customers. Bad for business.”

Karnea coughed. “You could just have let me pay him off,” she said. “It would have been much less trouble.”

“No trouble,” Kormak said.

“Yet,” she replied. “We won’t get to the city if you get us all killed.”

“We won’t get to it either if you give away all our money.” He knew she was right but he felt he had to say something.

“I don’t think a few silver will put us in the alms’ house.” Kormak saw Sasha’s eyes narrow slightly. She was paying careful attention. She was starting to realise that Karnea was a very wealthy woman.

“Men like Otto always want more,” Sasha said. “You’d only be buying off trouble till another day.”

“In another day we will be out of here, if you are ready to show us to Khazduroth, young lady,” said Karnea. It was odd to hear such words coming from Karnea’s lips. She did not look any older than Sasha. Still, something about her mannerisms suggested a great difference in their ages.