By the Throat

“Ah, Kaldoran, it is a pleasure to finally meet you!”

The former General of Medicinal Affairs was trying very hard to remain calm as the massive, clawed hand of the Void Lord clung to his throat, dangling him above a very, very high drop.

“W-w-what d-d-do you w-w-want?” Kaldoran stuttered, shaking, holding on to the Void Lord’s arm in desperation. His eyes darted around helplessly, looking for any sort of escape route. But Kaldoran had been caught unaware, disarmed and was now completely at the Void Lord’s mercy.

“What do you think I want?” Kenon smiled cruelly, enjoying the sensations of fear that were radiating off this rather small, skinny Rethan specimen. “Come on, I’d like to hear what you, an esteemed member of the medicinal society, think of what I have done with the place.”

Kaldoran snarled, but what remained of his voice turned into an airless gurgle as the Void Lord’s claw tightened further around his neck. Unable to control his instincts, Kaldoran kicked his legs aimlessly, only to gradually slow down.

“Are you not going to talk?”

No response came from the terrified Rethan. Kenon tutted to himself, just as a voice behind him interrupted the whole situation.

“Uh, High General, he cannot breathe. You are suffocating him.”

Kenon glanced over his shoulder at the bulkier Rethan standing behind him. Vaksavar had been a rather helpful servant so far, even if he had to remain chained up so that he didn’t try to escape.

“Do you need air?”

“Yes, High General. We need to breathe to live.”

The Void Lord chuckled, then gently placed Kaldoran back on solid ground. Regaining his composure, Kaldoran immediately tried to flee, only to fall forwards, his legs somehow chained to the ground.

“Are you going to talk now?” Kenon asked.

Kaldoran shook his head, rubbing his face and trying to orientate himself. He rolled over to see his oppressor and snarled again, but the snarl turned into pained gasps for air once more as the Void Lord’s claws wrapped around his neck again.

“Ser…” Vaksavar interrupted again. This interruption though was not as well met as the previous one. “Ser, I… I think it might be wise if I spoke to Kaldoran. In a slightly more private way. Because we are risking him locking up and refusing to speak. And we are risking killing him before he can give us any information.”

Kenon grunted, then threw Kaldoran down at Vaksavar’s feet. “You have five minutes.”

“And..?”

“If you fail me, it will get messy here.”

The Void Lord vanished in a cloud of inky black smoke. Vaksavar glanced at Kaldoran, then sat down beside him.

“You… you traitor…” Kaldoran finally spoke. “Assisting that… that thing…”

“The choice is pretty simple. Unless you have a way off this planet, you either serve the new High General or you are killed…” Vaksavar explained. “Unless you can provide him what he wants.”

Kaldoran closed his eyes, his shoulders dropping. “Then I guess I will have to die. I cannot offer what he wants. I cannot.”

“Why not?”

“Because I do not know how to assist him. I am many things. I am a surgeon, I am a statistician, but I am not in any way a specialist when it comes to the Secret. I have no knowledge that he does not already have.”

Vaksavar leaned forward, putting his hands on Kaldoran’s shoulders. “Surely there is something you can offer. Medical advice. Information. Something that may be of interest to Kenon. I do not agree with anything he does, but there has to be something, anything you can offer. He wants to make the Rethavok better. He will do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means cutting a bloody swathe through Rethans like ourselves.”

“Why should I?”

“Let me put this another way: the Rethavok would be worse off without you. We…”

Before Vaksavar could finish, the Void Lord reappeared, glowing ominously.

“Have you decided to pledge your allegiance to me, Kaldoran? Or will I have to feed you to the fishes and the snakes?”

Kaldoran struggled up to his feet, then bowed. “No… I cannot assist you when it comes to the Secret, it is… beyond my knowledge… But I can offer assistance in… other ways.”

“Like?” the Void Lord sneered.

“Like…” Kaldoran stuttered, desperately trying to think. “Like the best nutritional diets to make us bigger and stronger. And… all the secrets that previous High Generals… left buried… Not that there are many of them, but there are some… curious tales to tell…”

Kenon stared at Kaldoran, then smiled. “Hm. You are a smart being after all… Very well, I accept your offer. Now come with me and tell me everything…”