Page 51 of The Beast

Farlan’s lips twisted into a misshapen smile. “Ye left me to die.”

“Do ye really think I was in any shape to do more than survive? I was thrown overboard, half-crazed with whatever illness I had contracted. It was by pure happenstance that I was found and rescued.”

“We swore to return for the other,” Farlan yelled. “Ye did not keep yer word to me.”

“What do ye want from me?” Duncan asked holding his arms out. “That we are both free is a miracle.”

Farlan huffed and held out his right arm in the direction of Duncan’s home. “Ye have a grand home, a beautiful wife, servants…” He hesitated as if searching for words. “I lost everything. The year before I was finally released, the last of my family perished. I was not there to stop it.”

“That is not my fault,” Duncan said. “The blame for all our misfortunes lies on the heads of our captors.”

“They are dead,” Farlan said with an unfocused look past him. “I hunted every single one of them down and ensured they suffered. They all died begging me to kill them.”

It was then Duncan understood he was on the man’s list of people he planned to kill. He took the man in. Although smaller than him and not fit, Farlan was used to fighting past pain and would also be strengthened by hatred and the need for revenge.

“Ye should give yerself the opportunity to enjoy life. After what we went through, we deserve to have good things happen.” Duncan’s sword was strapped to his back, Farlan had no visible weapon.

“I am living and doing exactly what I wish,” Farlan replied walking closer. “Do ye not see that this is what gives me a reason to rise in the mornings?”

At one point Duncan had also plotted revenge. However, over the years the urge had become weaker. “How long has it been since ye escaped?”

A bark of laughter erupted from deep in Farlan’s chest. “Escape.” He laughed bitterly. “I was starved until barely conscious and then like ye, thrown overboard to die. Eight years ago.”

Farlan shook his head. “Despite being held with ye all those years, ye never told me where ye came from. I had to search for a long time.”

He’d purposely never spoken of home; it was too painful. Obviously, it had bought him years of reprieve from Farlan’s quest to kill him.

When Farlan moved closer, Duncan considered unsheathing his sword. “I do not wish to fight ye. Return to yer home and start over.”

“Do not dare tell me how to live my life. Do ye not see? I have nothing to live for.” Farlan motioned to his midsection. “I can never lie with a woman; my manhood was damaged. Ye remember that do ye not? Or is it something ye also chose to forget?”

“I remember it all, ye included. We were captives, chained in the same place for years. How can I not remember?”

“Ye left me to die,” Farlan insisted.

“I am not responsible for ye. I wanted to help. I tried to find the ship, but it was gone by the time I recovered.”

The disbelief in Farlan’s face made Duncan stop attempting to explain. The man was mad with hatred and would not hear or allow anything to distract him from what he planned.

“Kneel before me,” Farlan said, his gaze locking with Duncan’s. “Beg for yer life.”

The words were familiar. It was what their torturers often said to give them false hope. Hope they would not be hurt or killed.

“What are ye saying?” Duncan could not believe the words from his former friend’s mouth.

Farlan came close, nose to nose with him. “I said, beg.”

“Ye are mad,” Duncan replied and stumbled sideways when Farlan struck him hard on the side of the head.

Before he could recover, Farlan raised the large stone he’d hidden in his hand and hit him again.

Movement compounded the throbbing in his temples. Duncan struggled against the binds at his wrists and ankles. He was gagged so it was impossible to call for help. With each pull, his legs rose from the ground higher and higher, and he realized Farlan was pulling him to hang upside down.

His sword remained strapped to his back, but it was impossible to reach it bound as he was.

After several tries to say something, he gave up as his voice was barely audible. If Caelan was out looking for him along with the guards, there was a possibility they’d find him. He’d been careless to think that Farlan only wanted to talk, or to perhaps ask for work.

He turned his head to search for his mount. It was not visible, but it did not mean Farlan had not tethered it to a tree nearby. The horse was his only hope. The animal was not trusting of strangers, which would have made it difficult for Farlan to get to him. Once again, he scanned the area, but the only horse visible was Farlan’s.