Chapter 13: Swear Allegiance to Your Lord, Now, Kneel
Blood trickled along the curve of the throat and neck muscles, flowing toward the collarbone, where it slightly pooled before continuing down the chest.
The leading Centaur seemed to feel every beat of the carotid artery, each pulse almost meeting the cold edge of a blade. His body was stiffer than during his training, so rigid that he dared not move.
He was terrified that even the slightest movement would be misunderstood, and that the curved blade would instantly sever his throat.
Surrender or die. As he hesitated, the answer became painfully clear.
His barbarian-like, unrefined gaze slowly cleared, and he trembled as he looked at Romon.
Romon nodded, gesturing with his hand, "Let go."
Nini, the cat-eared girl, flicked the blood from her blade and vanished in the blink of an eye, disappearing from the back of her horse.
"Swear allegiance to your lord, now, kneel."
The leading Centaur clutched his neck, his horse's legs bending silently as he knelt before Romon. The other Centaurs, seeing this, followed suit.
Romon counted briefly—there were 20 Centaurs in total, only five of which were females, and they appeared to be very young.
"What's your name?" Romon asked the leading Centaur.