The Rust District earned its name. Everything was rusted, broken, or rotting.
Kael limped through narrow streets. People watched him from doorways and windows. Evaluated him. Predator eyes.
"You look like easy prey," Soulrender observed. "Wounded. Armed but barely standing. They're wondering if you're worth the trouble."
"Great."
"Show strength. Even if you don't have it."
Kael straightened up. Ignored the pain in his leg. Kept his hand on the sword hilt.
A group of men stepped out from an alley ahead. Five of them. Armed with clubs and knives.
"Hey there, friend," the leader said. Bald head, missing teeth. "You look lost."
Kael stopped. "Just passing through."
"That's a nice sword you got. Worth something, I bet."
"It's not for sale."
"Wasn't offering to buy it." The man grinned. His friends spread out, surrounding Kael.
This was going to happen. Kael was too tired to talk his way out.
"Finally," Soulrender said eagerly. "A meal."
"I need money," the leader continued. "You need to not bleed to death in our street. We can help each other."
"How's that work?"
"You give us the sword. We let you walk away. You find a healer. Everybody's happy."
"Except I won't have a sword."
"You won't need one if you're smart enough to run."
The other four laughed.
Kael sighed. "Last chance. Walk away."
The leader's grin faded. "Kid, you're outnumbered. You're hurt. You think you scare us?"
"No. I'm trying to save your lives."
"How charitable." The man pulled a rusty machete. "Get him."
They came at him together.
Kael drew Soulrender. The black blade seemed to drink the light.
The first thug swung his club. Kael cut through it and kept going. The blade took the man's arm. He screamed.
The second rushed in with a knife. Kael parried and slashed across his throat. Blood sprayed.
"YES!" Soulrender roared as it drank.
The third and fourth hesitated. Too late. Kael was already moving.
Two quick strikes. Two bodies falling.
The leader stood frozen. The machete trembled in his hand.
"I told you to walk," Kael said.
The man dropped his weapon and ran.
Kael let him go. He knelt beside the bodies. Four dead. The sword had already taken their strength. Not much—they were street thugs, not warriors—but something.
His leg wound tingled. Started to close. The sword was using the stolen life to heal him.
"See?" Soulrender said. "Practical. Efficient. You're wounded, they're dead, problem solved."
"They were just thieves."
"They tried to kill you. Don't pretend to be noble. You need to survive. This is how you survive."
Kael stood. The sword was right. He couldn't afford mercy. Not here. Not now.
Faces watched from windows. Saw what he'd done. Saw four men dead in seconds.
Word would spread fast.
"Good," Soulrender said. "Let them fear you. Fear means they'll leave you alone."
Kael cleaned the blade on a dead man's shirt. Started walking again.
The streets seemed to part for him now. People saw him coming and got out of the way.
He needed shelter. Food. Information about Julian's next move.
A sign caught his eye. The Broken Tooth. A tavern. Light spilling from dirty windows. Noise inside.
Kael pushed through the door.
The place went quiet. Every head turned to look at him. Rough men and women. Killers and thieves. The bottom of society.
His kind of people now.
A woman behind the bar raised an eyebrow. Older, scarred face, sharp eyes. "We don't serve children."
"I'm eighteen."
"And I'm the queen. What do you want, boy?"
"Information. A room. Food."
"That costs coin. You have coin?"
Kael pulled out a silver ring. One of the thieves had worn it. "This enough?"
The woman examined it. Bit it. Nodded. "For tonight. Food's extra."
"Fine. And I need to know about someone. Julian Voss. What's he doing?"
The room got quieter.
"That's dangerous knowledge," the woman said carefully. "Lord Voss has long reach."
"Lord Voss can go to hell. What do you know?"
A man stood from a corner table. Big, scarred, armed. Looked like muscle. "You got a problem with Lord Voss?"
"Several."
"Maybe you should leave. This is a respectable establishment."
The woman behind the bar snorted. "Respectable. That's rich."
The big man ignored her. "I'm giving you one chance, boy. Walk out. Now."
"Or what?"
"Or I throw you out."
Kael set Soulrender on the bar. Let them see the black blade. Let them see the blood still on it.
"You're welcome to try," he said quietly.
The big man looked at the sword. Looked at Kael's eyes. Something he saw there made him pause.
"Not worth it," he muttered and sat back down.
The bar slowly came back to life. Conversations resumed. But people kept glancing at Kael.
The woman poured him something that might have been ale. "You killed those men outside."
Not a question. Statement.
"They didn't leave me a choice."
"There's always a choice. You chose quickly. Efficiently. No hesitation." She pushed the mug toward him. "You're either very good or very stupid."
"Both, probably."
A smile flickered across her face. "I'm Marta. I run this place. You want information about Voss, you're not the only one."
"Who else?"
"There's a dealer in the back. Smart woman. She trades in secrets. Might be interested in talking to you."
"What's her name?"
"She'll tell you if she wants you to know. Back room, red door. Don't cause trouble in my bar or I'll have you gutted."
"Fair enough."
Kael picked up the sword and walked toward the back. Past tables full of dangerous people. They all watched him go.
A red door at the end of a hallway.
Kael knocked.
"Come in," a woman's voice called.
Kael pushed the door open.
The room was small. Lit by candles. Papers and maps covered the walls. A woman sat at a desk.
Dark hair. Sharp features. Eyes that evaluated everything.
She looked up at him and smiled.
"Well," she said. "You're interesting."
"So I've been told."
"Covered in blood. Carrying an unusual sword. Running from someone." She gestured to a chair. "Sit. Let's talk."
Kael sat.
This woman might have answers. Or she might be another problem.
Either way, he was committed now.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 5