Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 447(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
“You talk too much. You try to confuse us. He told us to kill you before you could utter a word, then cut your head off or you would talk endlessly even while we cut off your head,” the toothless man said with a chuckle.
Torin sped past his wife and delivered a powerful blow with his fist to the man’s jaw that had blood spewing from his mouth as his head flew to the side.
“Talk about cutting my wife’s head off again and the next time you’ll get a knife to your gut that will leave you to die slowly while the birds pick at your innards.”
The other man paled as he stared at the toothless man who was busy spitting blood that would not stop spilling from his mouth.
“Thank you for that bit of information,” Flora said. “I am sure your leader will be happy to know you shared it with us.”
“What information?” the red-haired man asked, bewildered. “Gordy didn’t give you any information.
“Thank you for his name. It will make it easier to identify him when word is sent to his leader that he has spoken with us,” Flora said.
“Keep your mouth shut, Lester,” Gordy ordered and spit out another mouthful of blood. “She’s trying to trick us. I told her nothing.”
“You just told me your friend’s name,” Flora said with a smile.
“Damn!” Gordy mumbled and sneered at those laughing around him.
“You also told me that your leader warned you about talking with me which tells me that the man who placed the bounty on my head is familiar with me, most likely a friend of my family since I chattered endlessly at home but never when I was out with my parents. I am sure your leader will be thrilled to learn that you passed information on to us that will help us locate the man.”
“Bloody hell, Gordy, if Lord Torin doesn’t kill us, Mordred will.” Lester’s eyes widened when he realized that he had revealed their leader’s name.
“Either way we are done for,” Gordy said, hanging his head, blood dribbling down on his shirt.
Flora turned to her husband. “That was much easier than I expected.”
Kinnell turned his head away laughing, and more laughter came from the warriors and Walsh’s mercenaries and Walsh himself.
“I believe your wife would stop a battle with words alone,” Walsh said, trying to contain his laughter.
“We were warned,” Lester said. “Do not let her talk. Mordred cautioned all of us repeatedly. He warned that her words are like weapons, and she hits her mark every time.”
Torin noticed his wife’s brow scrunch, but she said nothing. Something about Lester’s words had disturbed her. He would wait until they were alone to ask her, not sure it was something she wished to share with others.
“What are you going to do with us?” Lester asked.
“You are going to lead us to Mordred, and he is going to give us even more information,” Torin said.
Gordy raised his head. “He will never talk.”
“Like you two didn’t talk?” Torin challenged.
They both shook their heads.
“They’re right,” Walsh said. “Mordred’s reputation will be ruined if he talks. No one will trust him, not that he can be trusted to begin with but news like this will finish him.”
“Simply talking with him may get us the information we need without him realizing it,” Flora said.
“She talks to Mordred, and he is doomed,” Lester said, shaking his head.
“Thank you again for letting me know he is vulnerable to questions,” Flora said, her smile turning wide.
“You never could keep your mouth shut, Lester,” Gordy said. “Always going on and on, boasting how you know things no one else does.”
“What do you know that no one knows, Lester?” Torin asked, stepping toward the man.
“Look who’s talking too much now,” Lester shouted at Gordy.
“I can tell you what he knows,” Flora said, and all eyes turned on her once again.
“You know nothing. Nothing at all,” Lester said in a panic.
“Your frantic worry just confirmed my suspicion,” Flora said.
“Now she gets more information,” Gordy said with disgust.
“This information benefits you, Gordy,” Flora said, and the man looked with surprise at her. “Lester here was told that he would get your share of the bounty if he killed you once the job was done and he had my head.”
“You bastard,” Gordy said.
“That’s not fair, Gordy,” Flora scolded, “since you were offered the same deal.”
“Damn, Gordy!” Lester said.
“That’s not all,” Flora said. “Your leader probably offered the same deal to others in your crew. He no doubt never intended to share such a sizeable bounty with any of you. That amount of coin would allow him to go anywhere in the world, never to be found.”
“Bloody hell!” the two men shouted.
“That sounds like something Mordred would do.” Walsh grinned and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. “So, which one of you takes us to Mordred and which one dies?”