"A minor one," Kaz returned. And not surprising, either, he thought, to find that you've so little honor left in you, Scurn. He was tempted to tell Scurn the truth, that only those with honor were reflected in the axe face, but decided better of it.
"I'll examine this oddity later." He noticed the pouches hanging on the belt of Kaz's kilt. "What have we here?"
Kaz squirmed, but could not keep Scurn from taking not only the pouches, but also Kaz's knife. The captain put the blade in his own belt, then inspected the contents of the pouches. One bag he tossed away with disgust, no doubt having located nothing of value. From the other he removed several coins and, lastly, the medallion that Delbin had brought to Kaz from his dream.
"So, a souvenir of greatness." Scum snorted in disdain. "Don't know why you kept this. You never cared about it much."
If Scurn expected a response from Kaz, the prisoner was more than willing to disappoint him. Kaz watched his captor pocket the medallion. Then Scurn commanded, "Bring these two. The high priest wants to see them."
"What would the high priest be wanting with simple folks like us?" asked Ganth, still maneuvering for some information.
"You… nothing. Him…" Scurn used Honor's Face as a pointer, thrusting it at Kaz. "He's been in the high priest's eye for some time now." The disfigured minotaur snorted with laughter. "When I was told that Hecar was coming here and that I should arrest him, I was glad to do so, even if I didn't know why. Now I know why… You were baited, Kaz, baited like a fool of a fish."
One of the searchers came up to them as they departed the stables. He saluted Scurn. "No sign of the kender yet, Captain. It's as if he vanished. No one's seen him. We're questioning everyone nearby."
Kaz brightened at this news. Grinning, he said, "Looks like the high priest might be a little annoyed with you, Scurn. You let a kender slip out of your grasp and escape into the city. Nethosak will never be the same."
Scurn spun and struck Kaz with his hand, sending the prisoner staggering back. "It might be that he'll be annoyed about that, but we'll find the little pack rat. He can't escape Nethosak." To the warrior who had reported, Scurn commanded, "Return to the guard. Get another squadron out. I want the entire southern part of the city searched from top to bottom. He'll try for the gates at some point, probably before daylight. I want him."
"Aye, Captain."
When the warrior had departed again, Scurn studied both of his captives, giving special attention to Ganth. "Now I remember you, Old One. I thought you were dead."
"I have a way of coming back."
"Not this time. Not you or your son." Scurn grinned at Kaz. "Now you'll answer for everything you've done."
"The past is over. It was settled long ago. I don't understand you, Scurn. I don't understand you at all. You still think about the past, even now?"
"You betrayed the dream, Kaz. You turned your back on our destiny. That's the greatest of your crimes in my eyes. No one can turn their back on our destiny. You're a coward. You have no honor."
"Funny," interjected Ganth, "but I was just thinking the same about you."
Scurn looked ready to lash out, but chose not to. Instead, he turned on his men. "Well? What're you waiting for? The high priest wants to see them both right away. Move!"
As they were dragged off, Kaz quickly looked around, searching for some sign of the kender. He saw none. Paladine, hear me, Kaz thought. Let him be careful if he flees to Helati.
There had to be a spy among those in the settlement. That was the only way they could know so much about him. One, possibly more, of the refugees was an agent of the guard. If Delbin went there, the high priest would hear of it. Kaz knew they would stop at nothing to satisfy the high priest… even if it meant destroying the settlement itself and everyone who was a part of it.
"Helati…" he whispered. No one would have any notion of the danger they were in, and Kaz could do nothing to warn them.
Delbin ran out of the stables, darting past a minotaur occupied with trying to subdue Kaz's father. He felt terrible about leaving both of them, but Kaz had said he had to leave, and he always did what Kaz asked… even if he usually changed his mind later and did the opposite. Delbin was determined to rescue his friend, but first he had to make certain he lost any of the bad minotaurs who were dogging his heels.
I'll rescue you, Kaz. You'll see! Kaz was a true friend, the nearest thing to a family Delbin really had. Kaz always got uncomfortable when Delbin mentioned what a good friend he was. Yet the minotaur understood him better than other kender did.
Behind him he heard a minotaur shout. The shout was far away and probably didn't even concern him. Delbin started thinking about where he should go next. The minotaur city was so fascinating that he kept wanting to stop and look at things, but he knew that Kaz was in trouble, so he had to hurry.
I have to do something to help him and Ganth! He liked Ganth, too, in great part because the elder minotaur treated him almost like a grandson. But what could a kender do?
"This way!" roared a deep voice, this time definitely a lot nearer.
Delbin looked behind him and saw an enormous shape closing in. They were very near, all right. He had the advantage of being small, which made it hard to see him in the dark, but he was unfamiliar with the area. It would have been nice to set a few traps for his pursuers, but he was in a hurry. Maybe he'd even have to kill a few of them, albeit in self-defense. Kaz would be proud of him if he did.
"Cover that street!" shouted the voice.
They were even closer now. Delbin spotted a darkened alley ahead of him and giggled. Like all kender, he was good at playing hide-from-the-bad-guys, a game all youngsters of his race learned in their childhood, just in case. The alley looked as if it led to another good hiding place. There were all sorts of good buildings in which to hide.
Delbin giggled again, then shook his head and whispered to himself, "You should be quiet, Delbin, because if you don't, those soldiers might hear you, and then they'll catch you before you can kill a few…"
He squeezed down the alley, then slipped through an even more narrow opening between two buildings. The minotaurs could certainly not follow him here. Delbin cracked a smile as he darted around another corner. This was actually fun. He just wished Kaz could be here to enjoy the game.
"Don't worry about that!" Delbin whispered, reminding himself. "Find a good place to hide, then come up with a plan to rescue Kaz!"
He was certain he would think of something. He had always been a clever fellow. Had not Kaz said so? Delbin had helped him against the dark elf Argaen Ravenshadow and those nasty ghosts down in the cold south. He could certainly help his friend against a few stupid minotaurs.
"I'll come up with a real good plan, Kaz. You'll see! I'll save you and Ganth and Hecar, and then we'll all ride home together. I'll make it a really good plan that you'll be proud of and all the other minotaurs will be surprised about!"
Delbin, of course, was blissfully unaware of how Kaz, not to mention the others, would have cringed at hearing any plan of his. A kender plan was more likely to backfire on those involved than it was destined to succeed. Of course, to kender, that was part of the fun.