Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 21

That night, scouts tried to find him, and on entering his sphere of influence, he caused them to sleep. The orb gave him better sight than heart light, but he suspected it was related. They woke, hovering. A crude wind chime interrupted heart light. A bamboo torch flared to life. Shen was holding a fire snake next to the pitched bamboo, stuck in the ground. The one man, and two adolescents, were hovering, their toes barely touching the ground. Their eyes were big. Shen put the snake in a jar. He went to the man.

“I am sorry, I can’t negotiate with you,” Shen said He cut a rope, and the man shot into the air and out of sight. His scream lasted till the rebound knocked the air out of him.

Shyo was the middle boy. Shen pointed his knife at him.

“Will you submit to my authority?” Shen asked.

“I am going to kill you,” Shyo said.

Shen cut the rope. Shyo went up and disappeared. He screamed. There was interruption as he rebounded, and then continued screaming. Shen pointed the knife at Brent. His eyes were even bigger than before. Somewhere in the distance, another scout tripped a rabbit trap and went skywards, yelling out in the dark. In truth, Shen was annoyed because the kid was likely hanging upside down and would have to be cut down. He smiled at Brent.

“Command me,” Brent said.

“It’s a small thing. No, it’s a big thing. Keep the boys off the sparring field tomorrow,” Shen said.

“I don’t understand,” Brent said.

“Keep all the boys, and any of the middle boys off the sparring field. Pretty simple request,” Shen said.

“Okay,” Brent said.

“Seriously, Brent. I have no malice to you or anyone. If the boys are on the field, they will be seriously hurt, or dead,” Shen said.

“What are you going to do?” Brent asked.

“Win,” Shin said. “I will take the sparring field, and everyone on it.”

Shen put away the knife, adjusted ropes, and Brent came to his feet. The noose around chest under arms was widened so Brent was released, fell to his feet. He looked up, but couldn’t see the others. His hands remained tied behind his back.

“Brent,” Shen said. “I seriously don’t want anyone to die. I will own the sparring field tomorrow, and everyone on it. Please, convince everyone that doesn’t want to die to stay off the field. Tell the guard. Tell everyone who will listen to you. Keep the boy safe, and I will be indebted to you.”