The Name of Evil Chapter 16

Escape

Regaar came to see Silna’s empty cell shortly after his minions discovered the missing guards. His raging howls filled the tunnel, and the echoes reached into the wheelhouse. Hilko was still alive and escaped with his prisoner for the Faters. That meant the runner still had the Nalith. If word got back to the Chara, it meant trouble. While the Amryno would never dare to send their men into his lair, the authorities could send guards to patrol outside his tunnel world. They would harass and pinch off access to the tunnels. Such a move would cause him difficulty, since the Hamars would stop flowing. Smuggling of goods and prostitution kept him in control among the doomed ones.

The one-eyed man ordered the unfortunate entrance guards imprisoned in the woman’s empty cell before he went to his quarters. His public vow that they would die in Silna’s place sent a shock wave through the rest of his hired underlings. The reactions comforted him as he reached his large stone table, where his servant held a mug of his favorite Highland wine. The large man chugged it down, glowering at those men who waited for his next orders.

 Epi was standing nearby, a pale-skinned man who knew the best places to rob the rich Chara through his network of bribed Amyrono guards. While not as large as some of his enforcers and guards, Epi was intelligent and ambitious. On top of that, he was one of the few who could get the Parasites to work for him. He knew the thug wanted Silna’s job, since Epi often frequented the Pleasure Tunnel for young men. Regaar did not trust him, but he found uses for the man’s abilities. The first came to mind as he considered how to trap his prey.

“Epi, I want to find Silna and Hilko, then return them to me alive,” Regaar growled. “Five hamar each for Hilko and Silna when you capture them, and I’ll let you run the harlots in the Pleasure Tunnel.”

The thug’s expression brightened at the news and immediately began leaving the room.

“Hold it,” Regaar ordered. “I want you to use the Parasites to kill them if they get near the hole to the lepers. But I want the bodies and everything they carry. No one goes to the Amryno with anything. If I hear someone fails to execute my orders, I’ll chain you inside an abandoned shaft to die. Do you understand?”

Epi nodded and continued his journey out of the tunnels. Regaar took a seat and began drinking another cup of wine placed before him. The one-eyed man scowled as he mentally pictured the torture he would inflict upon the odd couple who thwarted his efforts.

~~~

Hilko took another look at the Nalith. Even in the dim light of a single candle, it gleamed. Its deep shine appeared like liquid silver metal. The runner stuffed it back into his leather pouch, unsure what to do with it. Still, he refused to leave it where one of Regaar’s people would find it. Hilko knew every one of the Regaar’s men would be after them.

He picked up the canvas bag, which held the few possessions he owned. The smuggler made sure he had his wool blanket and his hammock along with the metal plate. He walked across the small room they called home and took the small bottle that held the four thieves’ vinegar. After he placed the ghost repelling liquid and a few candles inside his satchel, he found Silna staring at him. His expression showed a suspicion that he’d never seen before.

“What is it?”

“How did you know about the cavern roof falling in?”

He slung the canvas sack over his shoulder.

“We don’t have time to talk about that right now. I promise I’ll explain when we get to the Colony. It’ll be morning before too long.”

Silna’s face turned pale.

“What are you talking about? I’m not going down there to catch their disease.”

“Do you have another way to get out of this place?” He glanced out the window entrance impatiently. “Regaar’s goons will find us soon if we don’t move. I’m not waiting around for them.”

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