The lesson of a life time.

Vazza, huddled with the rest of her family; watched the man slap his lieutenant across the face, an act of humiliation.

” We have our orders.” He snarled.

“This is wrong, sir, they don’t know anything about him.”

The man pointed to Vazza, “that brat is his child; I’d say that was knowledge of him. The law is clear, all immortals and half breeds are to be exterminated; we cannot risk them contaminating our bloodlines.”

“An immortal, by definition, cannot be killed.” Vazza’s voice was tentative but it had a distinct undertone of scorn in it.

“You half bloods can though. They’ll get the message that they are no longer welcome on this world when we kill their offspring.”

“Sir, we can ignore our orders, let...” The lieutenant tried to renew his protest.

“You have no stomach for this work.” The man sneered slashing at the lieutenant’s torso. “Now you just have no stomach.” He laughed at his own joke for a moment before returning his attention to the terrified family.

Vazza was left until last; an extra punishment she was informed by her tormenter. She used the time to study him. Not what he was doing to her younger brother, not what he was doing to their mother, but him. His features; his scars and most off all his eyes; even as he drew the knife across her own throat her defiant gaze never left him.

***** ***** ***** *****

“My lord king, you are tired. I would consider it an honour if you’d allow me to deal with the rest of the prisoners.” Vazza said, from her hard earned position at his right. Twenty years had passed since the night her family had been killed; that she had nearly died. Only she hadn’t died, she was indeed her father’s daughter. In the years that had followed she had trained hard and learnt some painful lessons to get here, all for this one task. She tried not to allow her eagerness show, the king would pick up on it and that would make him deny her.

“My advisor will take over; have the next prisoner brought up.” King Hecro ordered after a brief pause. He still didn’t trust her, though he had no idea why he felt that way, she had been nothing but an asset since she had joined his court, there was just something about her.

“No need. There are many prisoners and the hour grows late, it will be quicker if I go to them.”

“Very well. Captain Radit will see to your needs. I have other duties so do not disturb me; for any reason.” He said, if she got into trouble it was on her own head.

The cells stank of sweat and other bodily fluids. Most cells, those round the walls, had several occupants but the three in the centre each held a single occupant.

“My lady we can still do this upstairs, there is no shame in…”

“These men have waited a month or more for justice I am not going to allow a little discomfort deny them this chance of freedom.” Vazza said. “Is this the list for the prisoners?” She asked, taking down a piece of slate from the wall.

“It is.”

“Then you may leave me. I will send any I deem to be worthy of freedom up to you. Under no circumstances are you, or your men, to come back down.Is that clear?”

Captain Radit was a little startled at the change in her tone, her gaze was fixed on one of the cells and for a fleeting moment he thought he saw fear in her eyes. It was known that she had a troubled past though no one knew the details but there were always rumours. “The keys to the cells and shackles.” He said handing them over.

Vazza waited until the last of the footfalls echoed round the cells before heading to the centre chamber. "Don't worry, I'll be back in a while. I just wanted to set things up; she informed the occupant, conjuring up a table with a variety of knives on it.

"You're one of them. What you think I'll be scared by these? They are nothing." He spat. Vazza smiled and walked to the next cell, to her reason for living these past years.

“I see here you’re a torturer and a killer.” She said, formally, as she entered the next room and read the charges from the slate.

“You want me to show you how?”

Vazza laughed, “as a matter of fact I do. I have a deal for you, you prove your worth as a torturer and I may see fit to let you live.”

“May? That’s not much of a choice.”

“But it is a choice, nonetheless, deal or die?” She offered, releasing his bonds as she spoke.

He lunged at her as soon as his hands were free but an invisible force threw him back against the far wall and held him there. “You’re a witch?”

“Not quite but I am the one holding you there, pscionics are great for that, now last chance; deal or die?” She repeated.

“Deal.”

“Good choice.” She was already heading out the room, “You coming?” She added as she released her hold on him.

“Me?”

“No, your imaginary friend.” She made no attempt to hide her contempt of him.

The next cell also had a singe occupant. A tray of knives lay ready on a table to one side of the man chained in the centre of the small room.

“Who is he?”

“That’s what you’re here to find out; consider it a test, I want to see how good you are.”

“I’m the best.” He said confidently.

“I doubt that, but proceed.” Vazza said.

He selected a large, heavy blade from the assortment available and went to pry open the prisoner’s mouth with his free hand.

“Stop.” Vazza ordered immediately. “I’ve always considered leaving them their tongue helps when I want information. Try again.”

“Fine, I was only doing it for you; you’ve no idea how much a grown man can scream.” He said as he plunged the knife into the man’s leg.

“Well done, you’ve managed to kill him with your first strike. I thought you were good.” Vazza said in disappointment. She pulled the knife free of the leg, bright red oxygenated blood pumped from the wound. She moved behind the chained man. “You are getting off lightly on this one, Captain Thyro. I know what you’ve done to those like me, consider this justice.” She hissed softly as she drew the edge across his throat. Releasing him from the chains she kicked his corpse aside. “Cesrue” she added looking at the would be torturer. The chains came to life, wrapping themselves around his wrists and ankles.

“It was a good strike.” He protested, trying to move out of reach.

“If you were aiming for his artery it was, otherwise it was pretty bad.” She said, stripping him with the bloodied knife.

“I can do better.”

“You’d be hard pressed to do worse. Don’t worry though, I plan to teach you; the way I was taught. A true torturer is an artist, not a butcher. You made a good choice in going for the leg. Your mistake was your choice of knife. Yes it’s big and heavy but it is a butcher’s tool, it has no place here.” Vazza said tossing it on the floor. “Now this, this is an artist’s choice.” She said holding out a small paring knife. With a deft motion she slid the flexible blade under the skin a few millimetres and sliced off a small piece of his skin. He screamed as the cold air hit the exposed flesh beneath.

“You…” He broke off into sobs.

“You done?” She asked after a minute or two. “ You see how that gives us pain but not death.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Go ahead.” Vazza said with a smile.

“As soon as I get out of here.” Anger helped him control the pain.

“That assumes you’ll be getting out of here. Now shall we continue with your lesson.”

“No.”

“Too late, you took the deal. You never did ask what it was, did you.” Vazza reminded him. “Now, where was I, oh yes the choice of blade. As we’ve demonstrated the paring knife has a great deal of flexibility making it a great starting option. This one offers us that same flexibility but with a bit more sturdiness. Ideal for more penetrating cuts, observe.” She added as she selected a short bladed knife, she slid the blade into his abdomen and pulled it upward. She kept the wound shallow enough to avoid any major organs but made it deep enough to reveal his breast bone. A few expert flicks of the knife opened him enough to expose the ribcage. “Quit wriggling. ” She ordered as she was forced to withdraw the knife for the second time to avoid doing too much damage. "The key here is not to start too low, the intestines have a nasty habit of forcing there way out of even a small opening; not fatal true, but it is messy. A good torturer avoids unnecessary mess."

“Just kill me.” He begged, in between screams.

“That would be rude. I promised you an education, this is how I learnt the art, now pay attention this part is important.”

“I changed my mind, I choose death.”

“Too late. Now, once the ribcage is exposed you need to take care not to puncture anything vital, I find this the best method.” She explained as she showed him another blade, this one was slightly angled and sharp at the curve; like a can opener. She used it to slice through the bone that attached the ribs to the rest of the skeleton.” Of course art is always open to interpretation so you may find a better…” She stopped as she realised that he’d finally passed out. She smiled, replaced the knife on the tray and headed for the next cell.

“I choose death.” The occupant said as soon as she entered. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know first; if that’s your pleasure.”

“I’m saddened to hear that. I can understand it though. Take the keys and your friends; you’re free to go.”

“You know who we are don’t you?”

“You are what I could’ve been. I’m too far gone to be of use to your cause now but I will do what I can from here; time is a factor so get going.” Vazza said, the rebellion had begun two decades too late for her, but there were others that they could save and that was enough for her. “I’ve work to finish here, tell the captain all is well and I’ll be up shortly.” She added as her prisoner began to moan.

“What of…”

“He sealed his fate a long time ago. None of your which is your concern, now get moving.”

“We would welcome you in our ranks.” He said as he released his companions and headed up the stairs to freedom.

Vazza just shook her head, she had but one purpose on this world now and it wasn’t their rebellion. She returned to her captive. “I see you decided to return; about time.” She snapped, it had been close but she’d made it just as he was regaining consciousness. “Where were we? Oh yes, the ribs. What I was saying before you so rudely passed out was, art is open to interpretation, others tend to go for this blade…”

“Can I try?”

“No. I grant you some things are best learnt by doing, this isn’t one of them though. How can you truly know what hurts without experiencing it first hand?”

“Why me?”

Vazza smiled, “Orders.”

“You don’t have to follow them…”

“I recall a lieutenant making a similar plea once. You gutted him.” She said, watching the realization of who she was sinking in. “You were wrong by the way. We half bloods can be immortal, it all depends on the genes that get passed on. I suppose I could have been as merciful as you and killed you swiftly; but I wanted you to know just a little of what I’ve endured since you came into my life. I was tested like this by my father’s people, not just for a few moments like you, but for years. All because of what you did that night; they needed to ensure I wasn't a plant. I only regret I don't have that sort of time to waste on you.” She said coldly, her hatred showing only in her eyes; eyes that watched him without mercy as she sliced across his throat.