– or I was. Not only have I ended his supply of slaves, I’ll spread the word
to the other slavers that if they deal with him I’ll undercut their prices in
the other markets and drive them out of town as well.’
Zalbar smiled with new distaste beneath his mask. ‘You knew what he was doing
with the slaves and you dealt with him anyway?’
‘Killing slaves for knowledge is no worse than having slaves kill each other in
the arena for entertainment. Either is an unpleasant reality in our world.’
Zalbar winced at the sarcasm in the slaver’s voice, but was unwilling to abandon
his position.
‘We have different views of fighting. You were forced into the arena as a
gladiator while I freely enlisted in the army. Still, we share a common
experience: however terrible the battle: however frightful the odds, we had a
chance. We could fight back and survive – or at least take our foe-men with us
as we fell. Being trussed up like a sacrificial animal, helpless to do anything
but watch your enemy – no, not your enemy – your tormentor’s weapon descend on
you again and again … No being, slave or freedman, should be forced into that.
I cannot think of an enemy I hate enough to condemn to such a fate.’
‘I can think of a few,’ Jubal murmured, ‘but then, I’ve never . shared your
ideals. Though we both believe in justice we seek it in different ways.’
‘Justice?’ the Hell Hound sneered. ‘That’s the second time you’ve used that word
tonight. I must admit it sounds strange coming from your lips.’
‘Does it?’ the slaver asked. ‘I’ve always dealt fairly with my own or with those