Page 79 of A World Enough

“Guard? Shoot him through the head if she doesn’t answer with a location.”

He struggled and pleaded, and Ninti balled up her fist so tight, she was hurting her hand.

Vorka reached forwards and put her hand on the young man’s head, and a soft glow emanated from her hand. The monk immediately calmed down. The part of him that was frightened or scared disappeared.

“Where is the Map Keeper?” Davor asked.

Vorka looked up at him and said, “I don’t know where she is.”

The Drazani guard shot through the monk’s head, leaving a smoking hole and the smell of burning flesh.

“What did you do to him before he died?” Davor asked.

“I took away his fear. I made him calm and ready for the end. He knew I could never give up that which I do not have. I don’t know where she is,” Vorka said.

Davor rubbed his chin. “We heard a rumour she was running with a wolf and made her way to Ziggy’s World.”

“I know nothing about that.”

“Bring another,” Davor shouted. He leaned over Vorka. “And this time you won’t get close enough to take away their pain.”

Vorka looked into his eyes. “It doesn’t take much for your polite persona to slip away.”

“Davor—” Ninti started to say, but Vorka stopped her, and no doubt covered for Ninti’s pleas for mercy.

“Your race resorts to violence at every opportunity. Think about what you could do for people. Heal the sick, help worlds with your weather technology, allow people to work for a fair wage and live out their happy lives—instead you pretend to be gods and make people live in misery.”

Ninti had a quick decision to make, and she chose the one that Davor would expect. She lifted up her hand, and a golden ball of energy sat in her palm. “You will regret that, Vorka.”

Davor held up his hand. “Ninti, stop. As much as she insults us, we need information from her.”

Ninti slowly lowered her hand, her point well made to Davor.

Vorka continued, “You will never know the joy of helping another without the hope of anything in return. Danu and her people taught us that.”

“Danu,” Davor said. “The ones who you follow as gods and who were nothing more than mortal.”

“Danu and her people did nothing but teach us and share their technology.”

Their conversation was stopped when a female monk was dragged in. She was breathing heavily but not begging for her life. Vorka knew she understood the consequences. It was a truth that the people of Danu understood. The Map Keeper was more important than any of them.

Because if the Abnobians got hold of her, they would kill billions.

“Let’s try this again,” Davor said. “Where is the Map Keeper?”

Vorka put two hands on the ball handle of her walking stick and squeezed. “As I’ve said to you before, I have no idea.”

Vorka looked down at the woman about to be killed. “You understand, don’t you?”

She nodded. “Yes, Vorka.”

“None of you value their lives?” Davor was losing his cool.

Even though he had all the firepower, Vorka had the dominance in this room.

Ninti was proud of her and her monks. Even though the pressure was incredible, and through what she’d seen right in front of her, Vorka kept steadfast and protected the greater good.

Ninti always suspected it wasn’t just the portals Vorka was protecting. There was more to it, but Ninti would never ask since Vorka clearly thought it should be kept secret.