Phantom: Chainfire Trilogy Part 2

Hundreds of arrows all lifted as one to point right at the woman. She froze still and silent, appraising the threat. Like Richard, she obviously knew that her talent was no match for this many massed men with weapons that could be released with a twitch. It would take only one twitch to end her life.

"This man is my prisoner," Six said to the commander in a quiet but firm voice. "I was just taking him to the queen for — "

"He's my prisoner now. Go back to the castle. The grounds belong to the Order now. This is no longer the queen's — or your — dominion. This man is ours now."

"But I — "

"You are dismissed. Or do you wish to break our agreement, and have us slaughter the whole lot of you?"

Six's blanched blue eyes swept the hundreds of men aiming arrows at her. "Of course our agreement stands, Commander." She turned her intense eyes on the man. "I have honored it, as agreed, and so will you."

He tipped his head in a slight bow. "Very well. Now, leave us to our duty. As agreed, you, as well as those in charge here, may go about your business, go where you wish, and my men will not accost you, them, or the castle staff."

With one final murderous look at Richard, she turned and stalked away. Along with the commander and all his men, Richard watched the witch woman glide through the opening in the wall and up the bloody path among the dead and dying, not giving them so much as a second look as she headed for the entrance to the castle. Men parted for her, letting her through.

The commander turned back to Richard. "What is your name?"

Richard knew that he couldn't give his real name. He couldn't even give the name he grew up with, Richard Cypher. If he did, he was liable to be recognized for who he really was. His mind raced as he tried to think of another name he could use. The name Zedd liked to use when he needed to disguise his identity popped into his head.

"I'm Ruben Rybnik."

"Well, Ruben, I will give you a choice. We could skin you alive, stake you out, slit open your belly, and let you watch as the vultures pull your intestines out and fight over them."

Richard knew he wouldn't have to face such a fate, because all he would have to do was attack and the archers would kill him. Still, he didn't want to die. He couldn't help Kahlan if he was dead.

"I don't much like that choice. You have another?":

A sly smile spread on the man's face, befitting the reptilian half with the scale tattoos. "Yes, as a matter of fact I do. You see, the different divisions of the army have Ja'La teams. Ours is made up of a mix of my men and the very best of those we have come across — men blessed by the Creator with exceptional talent.

"It was quite impressive the way you made your way through all those men and to the opening in the wall, like you were making your way toward a goal. You continued on toward that goal without allowing yourself to be stopped no matter what the men threw at you… well, you're a natural point man."

"Dangerous position, being the point man."

The commander shrugged. "That is the game of life. We are absent a point man right now. He died in the last game. As he was evading a blocking man he missed a catch and the broc stove in his ribs. They punctured his lungs. It was a messy, painful death."

"That doesn't sound like a very tempting job."

The commander's eyes gleamed with menace. "If you would rather, you can take your chances without your skin, watching the vultures fight over your bowels."

"Would I get the chance to play the emperor's team?"

"The emperor's team," the commander repeated. He stared at Richard for a moment, interested that he would have asked such a question. "You really are a competitive sort." He finally nodded. "All sanctioned Ja'La teams dream of having a chance to face the emperor's team. If you show your worth, and help us win tournaments with your skill as point man, then, yes, you might very well get the chance to play the emperor's team. If you survive that long."

"Then I'd like to join."

The commander smiled. "You are thinking of being a hero? Is that it? A Ja'La player who is cheered? A player of renown?"

"Perhaps."

The commander leaned a little closer. "I think you are dreaming of the women such a victory would earn you. The looks in the eyes of beautiful females. The smiles of attractive women."

Richard thought of Kahlan's beautiful green eyes, her smile.

"Yes, that thought had crossed my mind."

"Crossed your mind!" The man snorted a laugh. "Well, Ruben, banish the thought. You are not a player who has come to join. You are a captive, and a dangerous one at that. We have provisions for players of your kind. You will be put in a cage and taken by wagon. You will be let out to play, or to practice, but otherwise you will be no more than a caged animal. During practice sessions you will have to work hard to learn to work with the rest of the team, to learn their strengths and weaknesses — after all, you are the point man. But even so, you will not be one man alone."