Chapter twentyAfter the first blazing realization of the dreadful compact drawn out between Shank and Kataki, the thought uppermost in my mind was that I must not kill this arrogant and cruel bastard of a Whiptail.
If a slave killed a slavemaster, the retribution would be so frightful everything of suffering previously endured would pale into insignificance.
His whip hauled me towards him. He was a big fellow, clad in mesh, bright and bulky, well fed. His downdrawn Kataki face with the snaggly teeth and dark eyes bore down on me.
“By Koskei of the Daggered Tail! A trick that would not fool a green coy! C’mere, you cramph, and I’ll stripe you!”
He expected me to try to pull back, to draw away from him. Instead I surged forward, inside the bight of the lash. My left hand freed the coil o
