The Crushing of Pace - Part 6

"A threat from a defeated man?" Rivera said, a contemptuous look on his beautiful face. "If you surrender here and now, perhaps we would allow your men to go free, and only take your life."

"Would you?" Oliver asked.

"We would not," Talon said grimly. He would not lie to a foe that he respected – not with words. "The High King has given us our orders. Try not to hate us too much, vanquished one. You have earned my respect."

"Respect?" Oliver said, still struggling to find his balance, as he tried to put some sort of strength in his arms. His legs hardly seemed to want to move, and his head was ringing with dizziness. He wanted to pass out and go to sleep again, more desperately than anything else, but his hunger would not allow it. "I would ask for more than your respect. I will snatch victory from you."