Free The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin Page B

that you don’t care what I believe, Thaloo. I believe that you’re just running your mouth while you figure out how you can get something out of me.”
    Thaloo completely ignored Murray and continued to forge ahead with his monologue.
    “What do I believe, you ask?” Thaloo croaked. “I don’t care where the light came from. All I know is everyone has a script. I’m a Grievar, yes, but I was never a real fighter; I knew that right off. Don’t like to get hit. I like the business of fighting, though. That’s my path, Pearson.”
    “Do you know how many out-of-work Grievar come my way looking for bit-heavy patrons? I connect them. Or how many of these little scumling lacklight kids I bring through my door, sniveling off the street without a bit to their name? I play my part and I put them on their lightpath. Most of them won’t make it or even survive, but I give them a chance to do nature’s bidding, to find their place in this world of ours.”
    Murray didn’t even try to speak, knowing the toad would continue smacking his lips until he caught his fly.
    “I know that we each must play our part. I’m not meant for the Circle, but without me, how would others survive? You just needed to play your part too, Pearson. You are a Grievar Knight, through and through, meant for the Circle, meant for the Citadel. And yet… you forgot how to follow your path. You forgot how to play your part.”
    “I didn’t forget anything. That’s exactly why I’m here. To play my part. I’m a Grievar Scout and the Citadel has tasked me with bringing prospects Upworld,” Murray said.
    Thaloo grabbed a small wad of gummy material from a vat on his desk, shoving it into his mouth and chewing voraciously. “Your part is to take the batch of kids we’ve set aside for you, like every year. And yet, like you did during your Knight days, you are trying to deviate from that path.”
    “Those kids you send up with me every year aren’t Citadel material. You know that. They can barely walk, let alone fight. We both know the deal you have here. You send the Citadel your scraps and keep the meat to yourself, and for that luxury, you have the honor of lining their war chest with every sale you make.”
    “Very perceptive, Pearson.” Thaloo slurped. “What would you have me do? Send my finest Grievar with you? Why not take my top ten? What you ask does not make sense. However, with the Citadel’s purse behind you, you could take my very best.”
    “I only want one, though. A boy called Cego—he arrived recently.”
    Thaloo raised an eyebrow. “Ah. The blind boy who suddenly opened his eyes. He certainly surprised many of our patrons, defeating Grinder like that.”
    Murray knew he had to downplay the potential he saw in Cego. “He’s fast and quick-witted. I think I can make something of him.”
    Thaloo was silent for several moments, his dull eyes shifting side to side. “Clearly, you see something more than is apparent in this Cego. Why else would you force your way into my office and cause such a stir? Why deviate from your path again, Pearson? Perhaps you have an eye for things like this. Perhaps you have foreseen this boy to be next Artemis Halberd himself.”
    “I’ll give you the standard purse for just Cego,” Murray said. “Usually I bring up a dozen kids for that price.”
    “Clearly, you aren’t authorized to expand the Citadel’s purse beyond these meager sums; otherwise, you would have just bought him outright. So, why should I just give him to you? What will you give me for this favor, Pearson?”
    Murray breathed out. He knew it would come to this. “I’ll fight for him.”
    Thaloo stopped chewing. A wide, toothy grin spread across the fat man’s face.
    *
    Cego listened to the lapping of the tide against the shore. He dug his hands into the black sand beneath him, feeling the tiny granules slip between his fingers and fall back to the beach.
    He sat cross-legged in the surf, the breeze flattening his hair