45
The Dangerous Business of Treason
“Where is that b****y boy with my water and wine?” Mortain muttered. He kicked at the empty bucket. It went sailing into the dirt wall. The guard at the door flinched. There’d been another guard, but he’d sent him in search of the servant who’d been gone nigh one tick of the moon longer than he should have.
The boy far more valuable to him, Brandyn, slumped over in the chair, sleeping. It could not be restful. Mortain hoped it was not. He hoped the boy was plagued with nightmares of what would happen if he didn't cooperate. Nothing in his young imagination could prepare him for it. Mortain drew energy from the boy’s fear. It sustained him, as wine sustained men.
Mortain intended to kill him either way. The Blackwood heir was useful now for the infor
