The Exile's Redemption (The Heart of a Tyrant Book 1)

by Reece Dinn

  'Passion? Fuck off.'

  She pulled a knife off the rack hanging on the wall. 'Make me.'

  He made to grab it. 'I'll ram it up yer arsehole if yer come anywhere near me with that.'

  'I'm countin' on it.'

  'You two lovers stop yer yammerin' an finish up with the food,' said Wopamu, the fat, old warehouse owner who spent most of his time either asleep, or out at the market pretending to sell rugs as a cover for Cutter residing in his place. Cutter paid the rent in exchange for using the warehouse as he saw fit. Wopamu got to keep any profits he actually made from his rugs, which wasn't much, and he got to eat for free with the rest of the Cutters. It was a fine arrangement, as far as Awon could see, very favourable. When he took charge he'd kill the fat old guy and take the warehouse for himself. Or burn it down out of spite. It was a dirty place anyway.

  'Shut yer mouth too, fat man,' Awon snapped back. 'An' she ain't my lover. Least no more.'

  'Could do worse, lad. Ugly cunt like you.'

  'A man of taste,' said Farma.

  'Gods,' mumbled Awon.

  'Even if the gods did help us they wouldn' be helpin' pricks like you,' said Farma.

  'Maybe.' He carved off another slice of meat.

  'Yer hear we might be teamin' up with the Merchers?'

  Awon dropped his carving knife. 'Wha'?'

  'Heard it from Batterox. 'im an' Red were talkin'. Reckon they're gonna try an' cut a deal with 'em. Wha' yer think?'

  'Why would they team up with us? It weren't too long ago we were at war with 'em. They hate us.'

  Farma shrugged again. 'Things change. Or at least they like power more than they hate us. Hope so anyway. Could do with the help.'

  'Teamin' up with an enemy sounds dodgy.'

  'Ain't got no choice.'

  'The girl's right,' said Wopamu, his eyes closed and leaning back in his chair as he spoke. 'Ain't got no choice. Yer all'll be dead soon if not.'

  'Fuck you, fat man. It ain't happenin',' said Awon vehemently.

  'It's only rumour,' said Farma.

  'Don't sound like rumour.'

  'The fuck do they know?' she said with a giggle.

  'More than you.'

  'Doubt it.' She twirled around, her black and white skirt spreading out wide as she did.

  Awon continued to carve the meat while doing his best to ignore her. The greens were still steaming in the pot.

  'Those greens not done? Been in there a while,' asked Awon.

  Farma shrugged. 'How would I know? Can't cook.'

  'Get 'em out of there and put some more in. Fer fuck's sake.' He stabbed the knife into the slab of meat. 'Yer fuckin' useless. What do yer even do around 'ere anyway?'

  'Be pretty.'

  Awon laughed, genuinely, to his surprise.

  She raised her knife at him again. 'Sayin' I'm not pretty.'

  Awon pulled the knife out of her hand and levelled it at her throat. 'Pull a knife on me again an' I'll open yer up.'

  She flashed him a big grin, revealing those broken, yellow teeth to him. Definitely not pretty. He put her knife back in the rack and was about to pull his own out when one of the other Cutters came into the kitchen, a scruffy, dirty looking guy with surprisingly pink lips. He could throw a decent punch too, Awon had observed.

  'Boss got sumthin' ter say. Come on,' said Pink Lips.

  Awon and Farma followed him out into the main part of the warehouse. The remaining members of the Cutters were sat around the tables, every guy expression weary, defeated. There were even less of them than there had been just an hour ago. Red was missing. Awon assumed he'd taken some guys with him to defend Suchai District. Batterox and Ekviv were gone too.

  Farma tried to hold his hand and he growled at her, flicking her hand away. Norox, Ten, and Helma were sat at the back. He went over to join them, leaving Farma to either follow or find her own place to sit. He didn't bother looking back to see which she did.

  Norox snorted at him when he approached. Ten nodded. Helma smiled pleasantly. She smiled a lot at him lately. Awon found he quite liked it. He sat down next to Norox. To his relief Farma had sat down in between two other guys, who for some reason both nudged closer to her.

  'Know what this is about,' he asked Norox.

  'How would I know? They barely acknowledge I'm here.' He made a soft, whining sound.

  'Maybe if yer did sumthin' useful, other than whine, they would.'

  Norox snorted again. 'Red has gone to make sure the Drowners don't take Suchai, I think. Took Batterox, Ekviv and some others I don't know with him.'

  'Figured.'

  Cutter entered the warehouse a couple of minutes later, arms folded the way he did when he had something important to say. Without someone by his side he was less intimidating. Awon knew all too well though that Cutter was the most dangerous guy of them all, despite his diminutive size. Those that had been with Cutter during the ambush had gotten away mainly due to the gang boss cutting up most of the Konar that'd chased them without him taking a single hit, somehow. Awon would loved to have seen it.

  'Tonight, we're going on a raid,' said Cutter, facing the room from the entrance to the kitchens. 'Going to strike back. Hit them where it hurts.'

  'The Drowners hideout?' someone at the front asked.

  Cutter shook his head. 'With the Konar looking out for them, not a chance. No. But we're gonna destroy their money supply. See how they buy support when all their money's gone.'

  'Money? That sounds shit,' Awon said to Norox. 'That guy's right. We should be attackin' the hideout.'

  Norox grunted.

  'They get a lot of money from the booze they hoard and sell,' said Cutter. 'Destroy that and their money will soon run dry.'

  One or two guys cheered, the rest remained quiet.

  Cutter stomped his foot. 'Come on you bastards. You're gonna need more fire in your bellies if this is gonna work. Are you ready?'

  Awon cried out, beating his chest hard. 'Let's kill 'em.'

  'That's the spirit, lad,' said Cutter, pointing at him.

  'Thought this was a stupid idea?' Norox whispered to him.

  'It is, but yer know, yer gotta show the boss support when he needs it,' said Awon. 'Besides, a fight's a fight.'

  Norox shook his head and looked away, pulling a face. It irritated Awon whenever he did that lately, the look that suggested he was above everything that was going on around him. The broken fins all over his body though were proof that he wasn't.

  'We leave at sundown. Make sure you're ready. We get one shot at this. Don't fuck up.' He pointed at the Brebuu, some of the other guys, then motioned for them to follow him out the back.

  'So we ain't eatin'?' said Awon. 'Spent all day cookin' for nowt?'

  'I'm not hungry anyway,' said Norox.

  'I am. Might eat some of it 'fore we go.'

  'I'm hungry too,' said Helma. She tapped Ten on the chest. 'You?'

  Ten shook his head. His face was deathly pale with worry. A common occurrence these days.

  'I'll bring you sumthin,' she said. 'Gonna 'ave ter eat if yer goin' raidin' tonight.'

  Ten mumbled something but she didn't seem to hear. She got up as Awon did and followed him without saying a word.

  'I need ter speak ter yer,' she said when they were in the kitchen.

  'No one's stoppin' yer,' said Awon.

  'It's about Ten. He's scared shitless. He ain't no fighter. Yer know it. Cutter keeps makin' 'im though. He's gonna get 'im killed. Only so long he can 'ide at the back.'

  'What do yer want me ter do about it? He doesn't exactly listen ter me.'

  'Get 'im outta 'ere. He's done enough. He got yer out. It's time ter get 'im out. Pay 'im back.'

  Awon pulled the knife out of the slab of meat. 'He's Cutter's guy now. Not sure he can get out.'

  'Help 'im, please. Every time he makes 'im go fight it makes me sick. I keep thinkin' he's gonna die. That I'm gonna be left 'ere without 'im. I can't bear it. Please?'

  Awon carved a sl
ice of meat off the slab. 'First Norox, now you too. This is the best we got. The best chance we 'ave of gettin' somewhere in life. Yer jus' wanna throw it away cos yer scared? We gotta fight. Cutter needs us. We win we'll 'ave the city.'

  'They're losin', Awon. Yer not see it? We stay we're dead. Or in prison, an' yer know they'll kill us in there.'

  Awon suddenly felt the need to slap her, the weird excitement he felt when he was around her rapidly fading away. 'Yer can't leave. Yer owe me.'

  'We owe you?' she scoffed. 'Fuck do yer figure that? We went an' got Cutter ter come an' save yer skinny arse.'

  'An' who saved yers when Tombu came ter take yer back with 'im? Stopped 'im from beatin' on Ten? Yer owe me.'

  'Owed you. Guess we paid yer back.' She looked up at him sadly. He really wanted to slap her.

  He carved off another slice of meat, then noticed that the greens that Farma was supposed to take out were still in the pot steaming. They were all shrivelled up now, completely inedible. He pulled the pot off the stove.

  'Useless bitch,' he muttered.

  'So yer not gonna do anythin'?' asked Helma, her little face screwed up like a child's. She was the same size as a child, and at certain angles looked like one too. But at other angles, when he could see the curve of her body, or small breasts, through her faded brown dress, his imagination wandered. That knowing smile she sometimes gave him did it too, and he'd be overcome with the need to kiss her. But not at this moment. This moment she was just a child.

  'No. I got a war to win,' said Awon, waving her away. 'Gonna show Cutter how good I really am.'

  'Well fuck yer then,' she spat. 'We're gonna leave, with or with out yer help. Norox too. Yer can die by yerself.' She made to leave.

  Farma stood in the doorway, blocking her exit.

  'What's goin' on?' she asked.

  'Nuthin',' said Helma.

  'Don't look like nuthin'.

  The two women glared at each other.

  'You can fuck off an' all,' snapped Awon, breaking the two women's eye lock. 'Couldn't even steam some fuckin' greens.'

  'Wha?' She glanced at the pot removed from the stove.

  Gunfire wails split the air. Something exploded, followed by the battle cries of dozens of guys.

  'We're bein' attacked,' someone cried.

  'Fuck,' screamed another.

  More rifle fire.

  Awon pulled his cleaver from his belt and the knife from the meat. 'How the fuck they know we're here?'

  'Konar,' said Wopamu, rising from his chair. He was surprisingly calm.

  'Konar?'

  'You lot pissed off the wrong people.'

  Awon advanced on him.'Yer fuckin' bastard. Yer sold us out?'

  Wopamu shrugged. 'Nothin' personal. Had no choice.'

  Ten burst into the room, knocking Farma into Wopamu. 'Fuckin' Konar,' he screamed.

  Wopamu shoved Farma aside and made to make his exit through the barracks.

  In the doorway behind Ten appeared a Konar. He had his back to them, his short sword in one hand, rifle in the other, fighting off another of the Cutters. Awon rushed him and stabbed the knife through the back of the Konar's neck.

  Two more Konar out in the warehouse turned and aimed their rifles at him.

  Awon tried to pull his knife out of the Konar's neck, but it wouldn't budge.

  The muzzles of the Konar's rifles illuminated.

  'Fuck,' cried Awon.

  There was a loud bleating and a huge figure crashed into the two Konar, skewing their aim. The rifles fired. One beam shot over Awon's head, the other blasted into the kitchen.

  Norox smashed the two Konar down, beating on each of their faces with a fist, swiftly reducing them to bloody pulps. The two Konar fell still within moments, but Norox continued to beat on them.

  Awon's ears rang, but he could still hear well enough. He rushed over to the enraged Norox. 'They're dead,' he screamed at him while attempting to grab his arms.

  Norox stopped and glanced right. Another Konar was advancing on them, sword at the ready. Norox shoved Awon away and sprang up, and as the Konar attacked he grabbed the guy's sword arm, then stabbed the guy in the face with one of his broken fins. The fin sunk all the way in, then blood gushed out of the large wound as Norox yanked it out. He threw the Konar to the floor. The guy's face was now just a gaping, blood sodden hole in his head.

  The Konar were swarming into the warehouse, attacking the fleeing Cutter guys.

  'We need to go NOW,' bleated Norox.

  Awon nodded, and the two ran into the kitchen.

  Wopamu lay dead in the doorway to the barracks, a gaping hole in his chest were a bullet beam had burnt through. The sight made Awon smile. Norox picked up Helma with one hand, Ten with the other, and charged after those Cutters fleeing deeper into the barracks, to the tunnels below.

  Awon glanced about for Farma, but couldn't see her, and to his surprise felt a pang of worry. Realising that she'd probably fled down the tunnels he followed after Norox.

  The Brebuu was stood in the tunnel entrance, rifle at the ready, standing guard while a couple of other guys fled down below.

  'What is happening?' the Brebuu cried, hoping someone would answer.

  Awon stopped. 'Konar raid. Wopamu sold us out to 'em. Dead now though. Fat prick.'

  The Brebuu's already big eyes widened even more. 'Wopamu?'

  'Come on,' Norox bleated at Awon.

  'Go on,' said the Brebuu.

  Awon nodded and ran down into the darkness. There was rifle fire behind, then he heard the Brebuu thunder after him seconds later. The tunnels were cramped with people, all of them taking the right hand turn, so Awon went that way too. Norox was up ahead, scraping through the tunnel, his bulky body too big to squeeze through at speed. He no longer had hold of Ten and Helma. Awon ran into the yegeyor's back.

  'Speed up,' cried Awon, shoving Norox hard, forcing him through.

  The Brebuu bellowed behind him.

  Metallic footfalls echoed from above.

  'Attack from behind,' yelled the Brebuu, spinning around, rifle at the ready.

  Norox scraped through the tunnel, Awon right behind him, continuing to shove him forward. The Brebuu bellowed, then the wail of its rifle reverberated through the tunnel, the sound amplified in the confined space. Even through the ring of his ears Awon heard the screams of the Konar that the Brebuu had shot.

  They broke into a wider part of the tunnel and charged on. Awon didn't recognise this route, he hadn't notice them take a different turning than normal, he'd been too busy running.

  More rifle fire, then the Brebuu crashed into Awon's back.

  'Faster,' it bellowed, although Awon could barely hear it in his ringing ears.

  The tunnel began to rise and there was dim light up ahead.

  'Where we goin',' shouted Awon.

  The steep tunnel sapped Awon's strength, but he struggled on, the Brebuu shoving him forward a painful help. He couldn't tell if the Konar were still following. They emerged into daylight.

  Something hissed.

  The Brebuu knocked Awon forward then dived to the ground. Awon landed hard on his side. Norox crashed down beside him.

  An explosion rocked the ground and shook the air. Rubble rained down, battering and pelting them. A big piece hit Awon hard in the middle of his lower back. He nearly vomited from the shocking pain. When the rubble had fallen, and the dust settling Awon raised his head. Behind them the tunnel entrance had been sealed. What had been a hole in the ground was now just a mound of rubble in a small crater.

  They were in the middle of a courtyard of some kind, surrounded by white stone walls on all sides. A heavy looking, brown wooden gate lay in the middle of the right hand wall. The courtyard itself was empty save for five chained up trobaam moaning and trembling by the far wall opposite the gate.

  Cutter and the other guys who'd managed to escape stood, or sat, panting around the courtyard. Ten and Helma sat holding each other nearby. Awon got to his feet and poke
d Norox in the back of the head. The yegeyor got to his knees, his long face dropping, yellow eyes glistening. A tear ran down his cheek.

  'You alright?' asked Awon, rubbing a finger in his ears, trying to get his hearing back.

  'I killed them,' said Norox. 'Three men.'

  Awon slapped him on the shoulder. 'It's about time. Mighty impressive.'

  Norox looked at him. 'They were going to kill you. I had to stop them.'

  'Yeah. Thanks for that. Fuckin' Konar cunts.'

  Norox made a whining sound, then a rumbling one.

  'Yer blooded now. Proud of yer,' said Awon.

  'I shouldn't have done that. I didn't need to kill them.' Norox wiped a tear from his eye.

  'They'd 'ave killed yer if yer didn't.' He pointed at Norox's broken fins. 'An' after what they did ter yer, they 'ad it comin'. Don't fret about it.'

  Norox rumbled again.

  'What happened?' yelled Cutter, walking amongst his guys. 'How did they know where we were?' There were even less of the Cutters now, barely two dozen remained, excluding Red's small crew.

  'Apparently Wopamu sold us out,' said the Brebuu.

  'Wopamu?' That fat old prick doesn't have the courage to shit in the dark. He wouldn't dare sell me out.'

  'Dead now. Got what was deserved.'

  The Cutter kicked a stone at one of the guys still on the ground. 'Up on your feet then, lads. Gonna have to do something I didn't want to do. We need to keep our heads low. Got a walk ahead of us.'

  'Where we goin'?' someone yelled.

  'To get some reinforcements,' Cutter replied.

  'Oh no,' said Awon. 'He's goin' ter the Merchers.'

  Chapter Forty Two

  They approached the gate with caution.

  The Merchers' hideout was a small, old fishmonger's called 'Fotanamu's Great Catch'. Few people knew it was where the leader of the Merchers resided, most people thought that their hideout was the Crude Oil Developers up in the Business District. Awon had been surprised when they'd headed down a tier and then across the city to Qwobed district.

  'Why'd they hang out 'ere?' he asked the Brebuu.

  'It's unknown knowledge,' it mumbled back.

  Awon sniggered. 'Yer old and wise, ain't yer?'

  Cutter knocked on the back gate of the fishmonger's. He appeared a little nervous and vulnerable, his usual calm gone.