Interregnum by S. J. A. Turney

sweetly.
    The big man’s hands dropped slowly to his sides. Athas smiled at him.
    “I’m now going to remove the fork” he said slowly and clearly. “You’re going to have to reach up very quickly and grasp your throat to prevent too much blood loss. After that you’re going to leave. We have a medic in the corner, but I doubt he’ll feel inclined to help you.”
    Mercurias laughed as Athas continued. “I noticed an apothecary on the way into town. If you can get there without too much blood loss, you’ll be alright, but it’ll cost you a packet and you may never speak again, coz I think I touched your voice box. Be happy. I could have stuck your windpipe. Ready?”
    The big man, a stunned and stupefied look on his face, nodded, causing him to wince as a fresh gout of blood pumped out around the fork.
    “Go!”
    Athas removed the utensil with a bold, sweeping stroke and a great quantity of dark blood splashed onto the floor. A fraction of a second later, Jorun was out of the tavern, one hand clutching his throat very tight. The sergeant bent down and gingerly, trying to avoid the bulk of the blood, picked the two weapons up from where they lay. He tossed the mace onto the bar.
“Sell it to pay for the cleaning” he said loudly.
As Mercurias continued to grin and Quintillian sat dumbfounded, the sergeant stepped to their table and placed the sword on it.
“Clean it up lad” he said. “It’s reasonable quality and it’ll do you better than the two knives.”
    The other men by the door hadn’t moved except to step inside. Now Athas turned to them. Quintillian gritted his teeth waiting and watched with bated breath as the large sergeant reached the group. Athas stopped in front of ‘bear skin’.
“Captain Tythias” he smiled. “It’s been just far too long.”
He reached out a hand and the scarred warrior took it warmly.
“Athas?” he replied. “Nice fork. Yours, or just handy at the time?”
    The entire band of warriors now entered the bar and Quintillian realised he hadn’t released his breath for too long. As he gratefully exhaled, he looked up in wonder. He was remarkably surprised to find someone that didn’t actually want to kill them all. The group wandered around the bar and settled themselves among the men of the Grey Company who were already here. Captain Tythias reached the bar and leaned next to Captain Tregaron.
    “Kiva” he greeted the leader of the Grey Company warmly. “Sorry about that. Should hire soldiers not gorillas, I suppose. Still, he’ll not do that again and at least he’ll shut up now.”
Kiva smiled a rare genuine smile.
“Tythias” he replied equally warmly. “Nice to see you. Thought you were out east somewhere.”
The scarred captain nodded.
    “We were,” he said “but the only lords with enough power and cash to pay my extortionate rates are round the gulf here, so we came back. I was actually on my way to see Lord Bergama. I gather he’s in need of good men and he’s one of the least dislikeable employers at the moment.”
    Kiva scowled.
    “Was” he spat. “Was one of them. We’ve just left his lands and I think we were the only ones who did. Lord Celio’s in residence now and he is a bastard. Bergama’s probably been broken in the streets by now. Shame you weren’t here a couple of days ago. The Grey Company and the Lion Riders would have stood a better chance together. It’s been a long time since we’ve worked in concert.”
    Tythias slammed his fist on the bar.
    “Damn!” he cursed. “Who the hell else is going to be willing to pay us? I’m not working for that vomit-bag Celio and the only others worth joining are halfway round the gulf or more. Don’t forget, I charge more than you.”
    Kiva shrugged.
    “Depends whether you’re picky” he replied. “Velutio’s hiring and he pays best of all. I know he hates me, but I’m not aware of anything he’s got against you.”
    Tythias made a ‘so-so’ motion with his hand.
    “I’m not