Slavers of the Savage Catacombs by Jon F. Merz

Pity, that.”
    Ran smiled. “I guess you’re right. After all, if you weren’t, then you wouldn’t be as prosperous as you are.”
    Yasseh blew out a smoke ring and sighed. “Danger comes with the territory. At my age, I don’t have to keep going out on the caravans, you know. I could easily hire someone else to oversee them. But you know why I still do it?”
    “You enjoy the uncertainty,” said Ran. “The risk attracts you.”
    “Aye,” said Yasseh. “What else is there in life that lets you know you’re truly alive if not for the risk of death? Only when we are close to the edge of oblivion do we fully appreciate what it is to draw a breath, see a sunrise, or lay with a woman. I’m never as happy sitting around a city some place as I am when I’m out on the roads that connect civilizations. I get to meet new people. I get to see places most never do. Even with the risk of attack, this is a fine life.”
    Ran eyed him. “And if the attack is legitimate and you die in the process?”
    Yasseh shrugged. “Then it is Argul’s will that such a thing happen to me.”
    “Argul? Is that your god?”
    Yasseh blew out another smoke ring. This one failed to float high. He frowned at it and then shook his head. “Argul was my second wife. And never has a more bitter, hate-filled woman walked the grass of this world. She cursed me to die when my proclivity for chasing skirts got the better of me. So far, I’ve kept that curse at bay.” He smiled. “But I suppose one day it will catch up with me. You can’t put that much hatred out into the universe and not expect it to manifest somehow.”
    They were distracted by the sound of an approaching horse. Yasseh turned, and Ran saw a broad smile spread across his face. “Ah, my son is here at long last.”
    Ran turned and nearly forgot to control himself. The man on the approaching horse was none other than Ejul the bandit. But Ran managed to keep the shock from registering with a quick series of shallow breaths.
    Ejul paid him no mind anyway and smiled at Yasseh before sliding down out of the saddle. Ran could see that Ejul’s two stumps had been fitted with two metallic hooks that enabled him to ride the horse.
    Yasseh embraced his son and then pulled away. “Better now?”
    Ejul held up his hooks and shrugged. “Thank you for the gift, Father. They will enable me to perform many tasks. Not as much as I would like, however.”
    Yasseh turned to Ran. “You see the sort of danger that exists. My son, Ejul, here was out of town for a few days. He was attacked in a village by a crazed swordsman who hacked off both of his hands. Can you imagine such a thing?”
    “The world can be a terrible place,” said Ran.
    “And a wonderful one for sparing my only son,” said Yasseh. He turned to Ejul. “This is Ran. I’ve hired him on as security for the upcoming trip.”
    Ejul eyed Ran for the first time, and the shadow warrior felt the man’s gaze rove over him, quietly appraising him. After a moment, Ejul frowned. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
    Ran wished for nothing more than a convenient disguise at that moment. But to shrink and become shy would only confirm any suspicions Ejul might have. So instead, Ran did the opposite and opened up with a hearty laugh. “I shouldn’t think so. I’ve only recently arrived in the city. But perhaps we passed in the streets.”
    “I’ve only just returned myself,” said Ejul. “Where did you come from before this?”
    “Naran.”
    Ejul smirked. “That place. It’s a wonder you made it out of there alive.”
    “Not really a wonder,” said Yasseh. “Ran is a skilled warrior. Even Gunj says so.”
    Ejul’s eyebrows creased his forehead. “Is that so? Well, you must be very special, indeed. You’re lucky to be able to wield those swords. I no longer have such luck, myself.”
    “And yet you are handling this adversity as well as any man could,” said Yasseh. “I am extremely proud of you for