Description
A Year Less Three Days – Alyx Jae Shaw
When Lias’ wife was kidnapped, all his skills as a woodsman couldn’t save her—or himself. Captured, sold repeatedly to different masters, Lias endures abuse, torture, and worse. By the time his latest master buys him, Lias is little more than an animal.
At times, Necromis, a knight of the Order of the White Bear, would like nothing more than to oblige his aggravating new charge, but one thing stays his deadly hand: Lias is his last hope. The day of reckoning is coming, and there’s only one way out of this bargain—capture the heart of a broken slave, or Necromis’ soul will forever belong to Bonecracker.
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EXCERPT:
The knight left the bed chamber, ignoring the sounds of Lias raging against his chains. He gave the bowl of meat to a passing servant and walked to a large arched doorway that led outside to a wide balcony that overlooked the forests surrounding his home. The rain was coming down in torrents, and the lightning flashed across the sky, lighting up the surrounding area, showing for the briefest moment a trail of distant smoke rising from the trees.
“Not even in the rain, does it stop,” muttered the knight.
He heard something shuffle behind him, and he sighed quietly as he smelled a rotted stench like every battlefield he had ever known.
“What do you want?” he asked irritably.
A tottering horror shuffled to his side, a monster made of broken bones and rotting bodies forced into some semblance of a living creature.
“Necromis, is that any way to greet your dearest friend?”
Necromis stretched, enjoying the rain. “If you were my dearest friend, then no, it would not be. Again, I ask—what do you want?”
“Only to remind you that time runs short.”
“I still have a year.”
“A year less three days, and this is the fifth slave you have brought home. Why do you persist in this nonsense? You were happy enough, once upon a time, in your evil. Look at all you have gained! You are a knight of the Order of the White Bear! You have a fine mansion, horses, servants, a full wine cellar… the king himself plans to name you his heir, since he has no children of his own. At least, not anymore. Why waste your time on some pointless quest for redemption?”
Necromis smiled faintly. “Perhaps I would be more content if you did not plan to kill me in one year less three days.”
“That was the bargain. You said you would give your life to become a knight of the Order of the White Bear. To have all the things they have. Now you seek a way out of the bargain.”
“Because you lied to me.”
The monstrosity chuckled. “I’m a demon, it’s what I do. And what lie, pray tell, great knight?”
“You said I would have everything they have. Everything. That included Sterling.”
The demon sighed through its three rotting heads. “Can I help it if a master kills his slave in a fit of passion?”
“You knew the bargain included Sterling. And now he is dead when he should be here with me!”
“He belonged to another, who used him as he saw fit. Stop snivelling over a dead whore. Be grateful I gave you a chance to escape the agreement at all. Though I must say you are not having any luck. Would it amuse you to know they say I myself reside in your new little pet? It amuses me, certainly. I will enjoy watching you try to tame that one. He’s as bitter as you, only far better at expressing it.”
“I’ll do it,” said Necromis softly.
“And if you do not, there are other slaves. I will enjoy watching you lose your temper and butcher this one. He holds so much hate and anger within him that he is sure to cause you to ascend to new heights of brutality. Still, you should show him a little gratitude. He did bring you your next meal.”
“Yes. I suppose he did.” Necromis looked up at the night sky just as the lightning turned the dark brighter than day.
“And you will be so good as to bring the bones to my campfire in the woods,” said the demon.
“Yes, yes, now be on your way. I have plans to make, and I wish to eat in peace.”
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