Black Salt

Black Salt - Chapter 10

 A floppy haired youth with a fuzzy scrap of beard ran up to him as he stepped into the dying afternoon. He drew his sword so fast it sang, and the young man's face lost all colour as he backed away, palms out. "No, sir, no! Please!"

Nikias kept the blade out. He had the house wall at his back, and he used peripheral vision to check for anyone approaching on the flanks.

Nothing.

He looked at the young man, who was white and trembling. "If Black Salt sent you they must be getting desperate."

"No sir, you don't understand."

He tapped the sword so the metal rang like a temple bell. "Help me."

"Would you put the sword away, please?"

Nikias shot him a savage grin, and stepped closer. As he did, the young man scrambled backwards.

"Or you could keep it out! It's a nice sword. Very nice. Uh, I came- I came to talk to you. It's about Leaina."

"My daughter!" He stepped in, faster than before, and again the young man shot back, so his back almost touched the far wall. "Tell me where she is. I want to know she's alright."

"She's fine. She's fine! She's at my house-"

He sprang forwards, and used his free hand to shove the youth against the wall. He pushed the blade against the youth's neck. "Have you come to bargain for my daughter's life? When they find you, they won't even recognise you were a man!"

The youth writhed and twisted his head back, his eyes squeezed shut. He splayed his arms and flattened his hands against the wall, not even trying to fight. "No," he said. "Who would send me?" Nikias caught the stink of hot piss, and heard it spatter on the paving stones. Disgusted, he let the kid go, stepped back, and sheathed his sword.

He sighed, and massaged his temples. He felt unusual warmth in his face. "You shouldn't run at me saying things like that. My arms are covered in scratches and stab wounds from when a boy, much like you, tried to kill me."

The youth sank down, back to the wall, still pale and shaking. He smelt of piss and fresh sweat. "Leaina's at my house, sir, because... We want to get married."

Nikias tried to laugh and gasp at the same time, and it came out as a painful, hacking cough. "Married! You're that Leonides she mentioned. You're no soldier. You're not even a man!"

"Leontas. I'm an artist. Why should I be a soldier?"

"She can't marry you. The idea's preposterous. Look at yourself!"

"I love her."

"But how can you protect her?"

Leontas looked up at him. His face had regained its colour, and though his face had turned red, his jaw looked set and defiant. "Protect her from what?"

Nikias stared at him, and then he walked away, shaking his head.