Free Demands of Honor by Kevin Ryan

allowing Gurn to surprise him. The
flen
had something planned, and Gorath realized that he had misjudged the coward. He had never thought Gurn would take any direct action against him.
    â€œWhat do you want, Gurn?” Gorath shouted before he was even close enough to see the men’s faces.
    â€œGorath,” Gurn replied, his voice showing uncertainty. He was wondering, no doubt, how Gorath knew who he was in the dark. Good. His men would be nervous too. That would work to Gorath’s advantage.
    â€œWe need to talk further,” Gurn said, coming close enough so that Gorath could finally see his face, and the faces of his four men. Gorath was pleased to see that they
were
nervous. Good. He intended to give them more to worry about, if necessary.
    â€œIs it really talk you are here for, Gurn?” Gorath said, making the question a taunt.
    â€œAh, yes, I have grave concerns about the course of action you have set for us,” Gurn said, gaining confidenceas he spoke. Immediately, Gorath saw that Gurn would need to speak for a few minutes to gather his courage before this began.
    Well, he would not engage in such a dance. Gorath took two steps toward the group and was pleased to see them all take a step back. “Are you here to kill me, Gurn? You
five?
” Drawing his
mek’leth,
Gorath swung it in front of himself a few times for emphasis. “I did not expect to hunt tonight, but a man does not always choose his fate.”
    Gurn took another step back. “You have put us all in danger,” he muttered.
    â€œNo, you have lain down with
flen.
You are upset that I would not lie down as well. Now, either stand aside or you will see how much danger
you
are in.”
    Gurn held his ground and said formally, “A judgment has been rendered against you.”
    â€œBy the council?”
    â€œBy me,” Gurn said.
    â€œAre you prepared to carry out the judgment yourself?” Gorath said as the other four men drew their weapons.
    â€œThe stakes are too high here to trust our future to single combat, as much as I would enjoy it.” Gurn made a hand signal and the four men began to spread out.
    â€œLet me ask you, are the stakes
ever
low enough for you to do your own fighting?” Gorath said, taking another step forward. He judged that if he got a little closer to Gurn, he could reach the man before Gurn’s people could stop him.
    â€œYour skills as a hunter and a fighter are legendary among our people. For that, if for nothing else, you haveearned my respect. But the future belongs to those who see beyond the next hunt, and those who use greater weapons than simple blades,” Gurn said.
    â€œOne at a time, or shall I end your cowardly lives together?” Gorath said, making eye contact with each of Gurn’s men. They were nervous. They didn’t have the false courage of bullies with an advantage.
    â€œDestroy him together. Take no chances,” Gurn said.
    A red haze descended over Gorath’s vision. The time for talk was ended. He knew he had little time in which to act. The four men in front of him were cowards, and he had no doubt that he could best each of them individually, but he knew he would not get that courtesy from this lot.
    Now he had one goal: get to Gurn before the others could get to him. His ancestors had a simple axiom:
When outnumbered, attack.
Gorath didn’t hesitate. He attacked.
    Racing forward, he let out a fierce battle cry and slashed at the man on his right. The guard was too surprised to offer a serious defense, and Gorath felt his blade make contact with the man’s neck. He didn’t wait to see what happened to him and kept moving forward. He only had one desire now: kill Gurn. And do it before he further poisoned their people.
    Gorath was peripherally aware of someone slashing at him from behind. A blade raked down across his left shoulder, cutting him deeply. Gorath ignored the wound, leaping the last steps to