The Sixth Discipline
Page 96
***
Ran-Del could tell from Quinn and Merced’s expressions they expected Francesca to fire. Quinn had her arms crossed over her chest, and Merced stood next to her with his own weapon already drawn.
Francesca wouldn’t do it. Ran-Del could read her indecision, her anguish. She wanted Hans dead, but she didn’t want to have to kill him.
Just as Francesca dropped her arm with a sob, Ran-Del stepped behind Hans Leong and jerked his head back by his hair. Three startled faces stared at him as he drew his knife and sliced Hans’ throat in a quick motion that completely severed the major arteries in an instant.
Blood spurted everywhere, and Ran-Del swiftly pushed the body to the floor so that none of it reached Francesca.
His wife stood with a stricken look in her eyes. “You killed him,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ran-Del nodded. Unconsciously, his left hand touched the red bead on his caste bracelet. “That’s why your father brought me here, Francesca. He knew that one day you’d need a warrior.”