Butcher stood next to an occupied chair holding Carina with a knife pointed at her stomach, at Claskan’s soon to be child. Both simply stood frozen, there faces devoid of emotion. Dego smiled at his good fortune from the chair. The furniture within Claskan’s chambers had been moved and stacked in the back, leaving only the crazed, smiling Dego staring at him. It was clear that this was planned long before he arrived at the castle with Dego in tow.
Claskan grabbed his stubbly face and massaged his jaw as Dego stared at him. Neither spoke while Claskan’s eyes darted from Dego, to Butcher and Carina. His mind filled with thoughts of how he could possibly diffuse the situation. There were rules, but only Dego knew them.
Claskan spoke with a deep, haggard voice. “What do I have to do to free
