AN: Warning for Rat King I suppose… You should know what he is like by now. He just made me up the rating for this fic… I don't even know… I'm just gonna go hide somewhere… See you next time.
The Rat King
Matthias is frozen on the spot, staring in horror at the group of rats blocking the only way back out. The Rat King is looking comfortable where he stands, flanked by three of his men. They are all dressed in their normal rags and just for a few seconds Matthias wonders how they made their way through the districts and all the way to the castle, without raising any alarms.
The wooden door is cold against his back and Matthias has never felt so small in his life.
"Are you not happy to meet me?" Rat King says, faking hurt, but his voice and grin betrays the exact opposite.
Still not willing to give up so easily, Matthias grips harder around his spear.
His reaction does not go unnoticed by and the Rat King frowns. "That is no way to greet an old friend," he says, still in the same mockingly sweet tone that would make anyone sick. He then gives a sharp nod to his men. "We better teach him some proper manners. Tie him up."
Matthias explodes into action, throwing himself forward with his spear aimed at the Rat King. He is not going to take down four rats on his own, but he is going to do his best to take down their king in the process.
The Rat King of course expects the move, and easily sidesteps the tip of the spear. The three other rats use the opportunity to move in close around Matthias. One of them grabs a hold of the spear, tearing it out of his hands and the other two go for his arms. He screams, punches, kicks and fights back with everything he has got. Any training he received from Torleif in the last few months mean nothing now. He bites and scratches at them like a feral cat
It is not worth much. Two rats have hold of his arms and the third barrels into him, slamming him to the floor, knocking the breath out of his lungs. He kicks out against the rat's face and feels a jolt of satisfaction as he hears a crunch and a grunt of pain as the Rat's nose breaks under his boot. The other two pushes his shoulders and arms down and the third move out of reach of his legs, clutching his face.
"For fucks sake," the Rat King says from the sideline. "Come on people, he is just one man. How can it be to tie up one man." He sounds bored and he is not moving a finger to help his men but perfectly content to stand on the sideline and offer snide commentary.
The third rat with the broken nose, grumbles through the blood flowing down his face and pulls a length of rope out from his rags. "Just hold the bastard down!" he snarls to the two others.
Matthias has to give up the fight. With two guys holding him down, there is not much he can do as the third rat loops the rope around his wrist a few times and draws it tight, tying it off with a few simple but effective knots.
Once the rope is secure, the two rats holding him down begin patting down his pockets. They quickly find his pitiful excuse for a knife, his maps and the pouch of ashes and keep going through the rest of his pockets more carefully so they will not miss anything.
The Rat King appears in Matthias's vision as he leans over, still grinning. "I don't understand why you even bother fighting me," he says sweetly. "You should know by now that I don't make my move unless I have full control over the situation." He sighs and it is all just mocking. "Did you really think you could beat me?"
Matthias growls in response. He does not even have words to express his anger.
One of the rats makes a sound and holds up Matthias' key to the districts and castle.
The Rat King takes it from his hands, frowns and gives Matthias a curious glance. He makes a quick signal for his men and Matthias finds himself hauled to his feet and forced to face the King. The other two rats are still holding onto his arms to prevent him from getting any ideas of fighting back.
"Well, this is quite interesting," the Rat King says, raising one of his eyebrows pointedly. He pulls out his own keys from his pocket and holds the two of them up next to each other. The difference between the two of them are painfully obvious. "This just raises so many more questions than what I initially had." He moves past Matthias and checks out the massive door at the end of the corridor. He tests both of the keys, looking annoyed when neither yield a result. "Get this door open," he snaps. "I do not want the guards to find us out here."
One of the rats lets go of Matthias' arm and fishes out a set of lockpicks from his rags, setting to work immediately. The third rat with the broken nose takes the time to glare daggers at Matthias as he dabs carefully at his nose with the edge of his sleeve.
The Rat King taps his foot impatiently as he waits, but he does not really look worried that they are about to be discovered any time soon. He even leans lazily against a wall as he watches his men work.
It takes a few minutes and the entire group grow increasingly tense as the seconds tick by. The rat working on the lock curses quietly on occasion as his tools make sounds of protest against the lock. "There better be something good behind this door," he hisses quietly, his voice dark and raspy. "I've never worked on a lock this difficult before."
The Rat King only grins wider.
The lock finally makes a new sound and the rat in charge lets out a long sigh of relief.
The rats seem to have a practices routine for breaking and entering and they move into pre-planned positions. They push Matthias towards their King, and he grabs a hold of the rope, keeping him like a dog on a leash. He does not have much of a choice but stand still. He is tied up and weaponless and if he does run like this, he will not get far. His best hope is biding his time and pray a different opportunity arises even though the rats are not likely to give him one.
The three others gather round the door, all of them pulling out various weapons. One of them open the door and the two other slip in silently. He joins them a minute or so later and the three of them spend a few more minutes in there before one of them finally pokes his head out and declares the room safe.
The Rat King pulls Matthias close with the rope and then shoves him through the door before following himself and closing the door behind them.
The rats have lit up a few torches already, and one of them are working on a few more further in that bathes the room in a dim glow. The Rat King lets out a whistle, clearly impressed. Even Matthias feels how his own jaw drops at the sight.
The room is large and every single wall has shelves from floor to sealing, all of them filled to the brim with various item. Matthias can see books, scrolls, crystals, boxes, bottles both full and empty and plants. The entire room smells strongly of dirt and almost spicy and sharp. Whatever it is makes his nose itch and his eyes water. In the middle of the room stands a large work table, also filled with various items, most of which he has no idea of the purpose for. There are strange combinations of bottles and glass tubes along with mortar an pestles.
"Search through everything," the Rat King commands. He laughs quietly and walks further into the room, pushing Matthias ahead of him. "I might just have an idea of what kind of things we can find in here, and I am pretty sure we just struck gold." He looks right at Matthias and his truly disgusting smirk is back. "If I am right, then this is going to change everything.
It is a struggle for Matthias to keep his face more or less neutral. He does not want the Rat King to know just how right he is, but that might be a loosing battle before it even begins, because the Rat King pulls out a very familiar pile of papers and spreads them out over the large table.
"I believe you will recognize these," he says pleasantly. "They are yours after all." The creatures with sharp ears and even sharper teeth seem to glare at him almost mockingly from the pages that describes in detail how certain magical creatures work. The Rat King shuffles around the pages, and tracks Matthias eyes as they move across the pages. "I just can't figure out what a nobody like you were doing with this kind of reading material." He begins laughing. "To be honest I would have expected a lot less text and far more naked women. I am pretty sure stuff like this is far beyond your level."
"What makes you so much more suited than me?" Matthias snarls. "You're nothing but a common thief."
The Rat King releases a mocking laughter in response. Even one or two of the rats make sounds of amusement as the continue tearing through the various items on the shelves, but still keeping an ear on their conversation.
"I am so much more than just a thief," the Rat King says once he gets his laughter under control. He leans against the table as he gives Matthias a smirk. "I told you my name one, my real one, Ove Kolbekk. Used to be a time when half the city knew that name, at least anybody important." He sighs as reminisces his days of glory past. "I was the leader of the most prominent merchant guild in the entire Kingdom."
"Thieves guild, more like it," one of the rats whispers with a laugh as he dumps a few different pouches on the table for his king to sort through. "Under the façade that is. There was some proper trade to keep the guards off our trail of course, but mostly we dealt in illegal weapons and fencing of stolen goods, brawling, gambling, a few shakedowns." He then bows respectfully and returns to his work.
"Don't forget about our share in the brothels," the Rat King adds brightly after him. "That was the best deal I ever made in my life." His grin shows off his various missing teeth. "The discount we gained from that deal was amazing." He stares at the roof and sighs dreamily.
Matthias barely manages to stop himself from gagging in disgust. He considers offering a condolence for the poor working girls that would have anything to do with any of the rats and even more if they have to deal with their king. For once, his brain and mouth agree that it is for the best to keep his commentary for himself
"It was a good system," The Rat King says, looking back at Matthias. "Very profitable for people like my and those working for me. I was a great businessman, probably the best in the entire city I could argue. Well, until the King found out he lost profit to us and wanted us gone from existence." He shrugs nonchalantly and empties a few of the pouches out on the table to inspect the contents further. "The king quietly ordered my arrest and execution." He gris cruelly and Matthias suspects the story does not have a pleasant ending. "Lucky for me I had loyal men in the army back then and tipped me about the coming raid." He eyes Matthias expectantly.
Matthias wrinkles his nose, repressing another shudder as his skin just feels itchy and uncomfortable under that stare. "I suspect you want me to ask what happened next," he says flatly, hating how the Rat King enjoys telling him about all the horrible things he has done and watching people react to them.
He receives a wide grin in return. "You are learning how the game works at last, my boy," the Rat King replies excitably. "I'm quite proud of the stunt I pulled off that day, I would hate for anyone to miss out on that story."
One of the rats look up from his work for a few seconds to stare at his king but then quickly turns away and scuttles away to a shelf that is further away, apparently uncomfortable with the conversation all of a sudden. There is discomfort on his face which the Rat King appears to take notice of, and he of course, only grins wider as he laughs at his own subordinate.
"The guard in my service told my rats what were to come the following day and I just made plans accordingly." The Rat King continues undisturbed. "They were planning to raid my business at the busiest time of day to take down as many of us in the process as they could. Me, of course, my best thieves and bodyguards and any business associates." He fishes out a knife from a pocket somewhere and spins it idly between his fingers as he talks. I could have gone to ground, but if the soldiers found my place empty they would know they had a rat in their midst and the hunt would continue."
He sighs dramatically and Matthias decides the man is far too fond of his own voice. "So what did you do," he asks between clenched teeth, knowing that is expected from him, pretending that he is keeping a normal conversation going, trying to ignore the rope that is digging into his wrists.
The Rat King gives him an almost approving nod and leans against the table, relaxing to keep his story going. "I invited all my," he pauses as he thinks, "competitors, let's call them that, in for a serious discussion on how to solve issues between us. They would be foolish not to show up with a few of their men to try and figure out what I was plotting even if they did not trust me for a second." He chuckles to himself. "I also happened to have a lookalike ready for such events. With so many people wanting me dead it is a reasonable precaution should somebody want to stab me during a business meeting."
"That fucker did not know what e was signing up for," one of the rats adds in passing as he offers up more loot for the king to inspect. "He thought he was just there the pretend he was the boss for a few hours and get a big payout for taking the risk in place of our King should our enemies attempt a coup. We have done it so many times and nobody has ever noticed it was not actually one Ove Kolbekk leading the meeting."
The Rat king shrugs and twirls one edge of his moustache around his finger. "It was quite genius. I asked my most loyal men to stay away for the day. My thieves were out doing their work and out of harms way. The guards were certainly convinced it was me they were dragging away for prison and execution when they rushed in and arrested everybody in sight. They were not going to listen to my lookalike as he swore up, down and sideways all the way to the gallows that he was not me."
Matthias does not have words. "You let another man die in your place," he says eventually.
"Of course!" the Rat King exclaims as if it's the most obvious thing in the world to do. "I will sacrifice anyone if that mean saving my own skin, anyone. There is a reason I've made it this far in life." He grins cruelly and leans in closer. "And here you thought I was just another dumb thug that doesn't even know how to read didn't you?"
Matthias only grumbles quietly in response. He is smart enough that he knows not to reply to that question out loud.
"So," the Rat King says after a short silence where all he does is watch Matthias curiously. He taps his fingers against the papers he has spread out on the table. "Are you going to tell me how you got a hold of these?"
Matthias glares defiantly back in return.
"I thought not," the Rat King says, but he does not sound disappointed or surprised and shrugs. "I don't know if you know this, but there are some interesting guidelines and formulas in here. I actually had to go around and ask a few sources what they could tell me of the subject." He shows off his numerous missing teeth in another grin and Matthias wishes he could punch out the rest of them to shut him up for a short time. "This is very illegal reading material and most of my sources were horrified to see it even existed which makes me think the information is very valuable."
He pulls out one of the pouches of ash he stole from either Berwald or Tino and places it on the table along with the one he just stole from Matthias. "I was confused at first," he continues, and he truly seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice, no longer caring if Matthias is playing along. "I wondered what the hell you would need all this crap for, but then I realized, you are preparing for a fight against something that is not human. The only think I can think of that is not human in this city is that damned commander." His eyes look wild as he thinks and then his entire face lights up much to Matthias' horror. "Gods, you figured what he is and how to kill him and it is all in this book." He drags a hand through his greasy hair and laughs.
The rats pauses their work just long enough for Matthias to notice their eyes glint cruelly from various corners of the room. Matthias' stomach sinks as he wonders if he just guaranteed Lukas' death. They can probably see the truth written all over his face.
"I suppose you won't give me details on what exactly he is either," the Rat King says and when he sees Matthias' face he snorts in annoyance. "You don't have to shut up about this just to spite me," he continues. "We both gain from you telling me."
Matthias clenches his jaw shut.
"Guess I will just have to figure it out on my own," the Rat King grumbles. "I already know the answer is in these papers. Your reaction tells me everything, and there is no other reason for you to carry this around." He rifles through the papers once more, making sure that Matthias is watching. "I know that the King would not want the common rabble to have access to this information or the ingredients that can stop him, so of course he would outlaw this kind of paper and all the herbs that could be used against him. I know for sure that if I knew how to kill the fucker, he would have been dead years ago and I'm pretty sure most of the guards think the same." He looks closer at a few of the pouches his men brought. "I am also pretty sure that the king would want to keep a tight leash on his beast and have the possibility of stopping him should he ever go against his own master, so I am pretty sure I can find the ingredients I need, right here in this room."
Matthias can feel sweat dripping down his forehead.
The Rat King is far too clever. He is going to figure out all on his own how to murder Lukas. Matthias does not even have to be here, the Rat King is just enjoying watching him sweat.
The Rat King begins flipping through papers in earnest. "Let's see what we have got here," he says. "If I assume the damn commander is one of the things in these pages and that the King has the relevant ingredients in this room, then it is just a matter of match the ingredients to the page and I will know." He looks annoyed at the prospect of sorting through everything on the table. He glares at Matthias. "This will all just go easier if you just cooperate. If you would just tell me what I want to know I might even go easy on you."
"What exactly is your definition of easy?" Matthias says dryly, attempting to hide his fear. He can see no way out that does not include death. He does not believe for a second that the Rat King's offer is genuine. None of his other have been so far. "You mean you will consider letting me go?" Matthias ask flatly, already knowing the answer.
He receives a face full of foul breath as the Rat King leans up right in his face. "Of course not," he says with a mockingly. "You have defied me far too many times and I cannot let an offence like that slide. I would lose all respect back in Mud Town if I allow you to live, but if you help me now I might kill you quick rather than make your last few hours feel like an eternity." He smiles. "I am a very patient man and I love watching people suffer. I will make you beg for death in the end and even then I won't give it to you."
"I think I'll pass," Matthias says, repressing a shudder. He could lie. He could tell them that Lukas is something other than he is, but the Rats read him too well and with his inability to read, he does not actually know what else is described on those pages. They will only get angrier if they catch him in a lie.
The Rat King does not look amused, but he does lean far enough back that Matthias can catch a breath of fresh air. "Have it your way," he snarls, "but I can promise you will regret it." He places a few pages to the side in a separate pile. "Some of these things appear to only have a female shape, I think we can sort those out." He makes a quiet whistle and flips a page over to show Matthias a drawing of a woman with twisted features and sharp claws. "Damn, I would hate to find myself in her bed," he comments idly and places the page in the pile before he continues.
Matthias still refuses to reply.
"Some of these things appear to live in water and never venture on land," the Rat King continues as he sorts out even more pages. "Trollbunden obviously does not fit that category either, so that excludes a few more. Underground creatures that dwell in the mountains, I doubt it." He sits up straighter as he puts down a few more pages and the stack in his hands is significantly smaller and he grins broadly in success. "Well, now we are getting somewhere."
The Rats appear to have finishes their search for valuables and they draw closer to the table, curious to find out more and they eye the remaining few papers with interest.
The number of pages that remains after the sorting is significantly shorter that Matthias would have liked.
The Rat King spreads out the individual pages and begins opening the pouches of various herbs and flowers to look at each of them and match them up with the drawing that have faded after the long journey across half the Kingdom, stuffed into the bottom of a backpack. Whenever he matches up a drawing with the matching ingredient, he glances up at Matthias, gauging his reaction.
Matthias bitterly regrets bringing the damned book in the first instead of burning it. He cannot read it and he only knows the foxglove from the picture that Eir pointed out to him so long ago. He could maybe have kept the one drawing and nobody would be able to guess the reference. Now he can only hope that the particular page is one of those left behind on the floors of the safehouse, trampled, covered in mud and lost forever. His hope is apparently not worth much.
The Rat King spreads out more on the pages and then sees the purple flower among the pages on the table and he tries to keep his breath calm as he moves his gaze to the other side of the table and the various plants.
"He recognizes one of the pages on the right," One of the rats hisses quietly, stepping further out of the shadows.
Matthias curses internally. He forgot the other rats were also keeping a very careful eye on him, not just their King.
The rat king smirks victoriously and looks up. "There is a reason I have been so successful all my life," he says lightly, with all the careless attitude of someone who knows he has already won a game long before it should end. "I am very good at reading people, and I also have people with me who can do it for me." He turns to the rat that spoke up. "Which pages did he take an interest in?"
The Rat singles out a few pages and pushes the others toward the pile they already excluded. There are maybe ten left on the table.
Matthias tries to look away, but one of the other rats appear almost immediately and forces his head right back so he has to look. With the ropes around his wrists, he does not have the strength to fight back.
The Rat King moves his fingers across each individual page and keeping a piercing eye on Matthias. "You cannot read," he says. It is not a guess, he looks sure in his statement. His smile is ever widening as he pushes aside three more pages that contain only text. "You just know the drawings." He eventually singles out a page, the one with the purple flower.
Matthias swallows.
The Rat King picks up the page and begins reading slowly, muttering to himself. "Well, this certainly changes things," he says thoughtfully. "I already figured out what those pouches of ashes were for when I first began reading through this book after I took it. A general protection charm against supernatural monsters and such." He picks up the stolen pouch of ashes and tosses it casually into the air a few times. "It would truly be a disaster for the King if everybody in the city knew they easily had the means to defend themselves against one of the worst fears if they just emptied out their fireplaces."
The rats laugh. It does not sound genuine, but it is enough to placate their king. Matthias is beginning to suspect he has an order for them all to pretend to have an interest in everything he says, because he certainly seems to enjoy the sound of his own voice and does not care if people listen or not.
"This foxglove is very interesting," he continues and then whistles, sounding impressed. "Oh I cannot wait to try this." He empties the remaining pouches until he finds what he is looking for. "We might finally get rid of the damned thing."
"My lord," one of the rats dare speak up, but he shrinks back immediately at the cold glare he receives in return for interrupting his king. "We might want to move this conversation somewhere else soon or else we might be discovered."
The Rat King appears to mostly ignore the advice from his rat, he is still too busy trying to make Matthias uncomfortable. "I knew it was a good idea to keep a tail on you," he says and leans so he can whisper right into Matthias' ear and swarm his senses with the smell of rotting teeth and sewage. "I knew right from the beginning that you and your little friends would try to weasel your way out of our agreement and I don't appreciate that." He leans back a little. "When I heard rumors about your little gathering last night and knew I had to act quickly and follow you myself. You have gathered so many citizens to do something, trying to stay sneaky, but I wonder what you are planning."
"We are not planning anything," Matthias snarks. He is not going to contribute anything useful to the conversation willingly."
"That sounds very convincing," the Rat King says back, clearly not impressed. "I don't really care what your plans are. They will serve me just fine. I just want my damned black powder and armor and you are keeping it from me!" He snarls angrily, accompanied with a shower of spittle. "We had a deal!"
The rats shuffle back, seemingly nervous.
The Rat King takes a deep breath as if to center himself, but he still has red spots of anger on his normally pallid face. "It is fine. With the key I will find those things on my own later. This might even have been for the best. The normal soldier in this city is no threat to me, but Trollbunden he is quite something else. If he puts his mind to eradicating my nest, he is the only one that might succeed. I am glad to know now that I can stop him first."
"Good for you," Matthias snarls.
"Oh, I'm not done with you yet." The Rat King hisses back. "I have what I want now, I don't need you anymore. Your only purpose now is entertainment. I told you I would make you suffer for not cooperating."
"What are you trying to do, talk me to death?" Matthias is done being quiet. There is no use in self-preservation any longer. The Rat King will kill him eventually anyways. Sooner would probably be better.
The Rat King's face grows dark. "You'll regret you words, mark my word." He pushes a finger into Matthias' chest. "I have much better plans. You obviously don't care about your own life, but you do care about your friends. I have more men keeping an eye on your friends, it won't be hard to get a hold of them."
Matthias feels cold, immediately regretting his taunting words.
The Rat King bares his teeth, knowing he just hit a nerve. "I did not expect you to send your little spitfire out of the city," he growls. "It will be a little harder to get a hold of him, but I am sure he will return eventually. You see, he was quite entertaining, I wasn't done with him yet. Making him suffer as your larger friend watched, had some great fun with that." He chuckles, deep in his throats as his eyes glint cruelly. Maybe I can make one of them kill the other for sake of mercy. I love giving lovers the option of killing their partner to end their suffering rather than face more torture."
Matthias is shaking now.
"I will do that when I get a hold of them," the Rat King continues. "Maybe I'll just start easy. I could go for the girl. She is still in the city and not going anywhere."
Matthias snaps.
He throws himself at the Rat King completely ignoring his tied hands and claws for the Rat King's neck.
The Rat King is already prepared for such a reaction. He easily sidesteps Matthias and pushes him towards the table.
He gives Matthias another push and Matthias' bounds hands cannot stop him from crashing down on the table top. The Rat King is quick to put all his weight against Matthias' back to keep him down until he is wheezing for air with his chest trapped between the table and the Rat King. "You just don't learn, do you, boy?" he snarls.
He fights back purely on instinct, but he has no leverage from this position. His hands are still tied and stretched out above his head, his fingers scrabbling for purchase against the wood. His shoulders ache as they are twisted into the unnatural position. He kicks back, but he cannot seem to hit anything.
Then the Rat King pauses all of a sudden.
Matthias is still pinned, but the weight on his back eases up. He has his cheek pressed against the table, and realizes that the sleeve of his tunic has slipped up past his elbow in the scuffle, exposing the markings on his left arm.
"Well, this is different," the Rat King says quietly, his usual bravado somehow gone. He grabs Matthias' arm with his own, still keeping his weight down to keep Matthias trapped against the table. He must signal for one of the rats to take over for him and keep Matthias down as he can feel new hands on his back as the Rat King appears in his vision once more.
"I have seen many tattoos in my time, but nothing that ever appeared like this." The Rat King says. His voice is soft and sickly sweet. He knows he has just found something of value. He drags his fingers along Matthias's arm, tracing the symbols.
Matthias shudders under the touch. It feels wrong and makes him sick to his stomach. He does not want anybody touching the markings. There is a new kind of panic rising in him, but he cannot move. "No," he whispers weakly The mark burns underneath the touch of the Rat King, almost as if it is protesting on its own. "Don't."
The Rat King ignores him and keeps running his fingers along the red symbols. His gaze looks distant as he thinks. "I wonder," he says to himself and Matthias can just barely see how the Rat King's gaze wanders from Matthias arm to the end of the table where he has mockingly displayed the keys, the papers, the pouches and the Foxglove. Every single piece of the puzzle is right there in front of him and Matthias can see how the Rat King connects all the pieces and how his mouth drops open in shock just before he begins grinning.
"That can't be right?" he whispers in disbelief. "That is why you are fighting me so hard on this information," he says. "You don't want that creature dead at all!" He tears a hand through his hair in a display of shock. "How is that even possible? That key you kept yourself does not belong to a guard, it is too fancy. I found that strange and only the king or the commander would have access to this kind of book. The king would never give it to you, that much is obvious. I don't get why the commander would sell himself out, except…"
He goes quiet and so do the rats.
Matthias can see their eyes glinting in the dim light. Full of cruelty.
"You care for him," the Rat King say. He sounds so excited and a little hysterical. "I thought my men was crazy when one of them told me you talked to the commander in the streets one night. Yes, e fought you afterwards, almost killed your girl, but you talked for quite a while before that happened. The big question is, does he care about you as well?"
Matthias can no longer hold back his tears. He heaves for breath against the table as his left arm burn in protest and his head is filled with noise. Not only is the Rat King going to kill him. He is going to kill everyone that Matthias cares about and he cannot even fight back.
"This is your lucky day, boy," the Rat King whispers and ruffles Matthias' hair. "This means you still might have some value to me and I can keep you alive for a little while longer." He chuckles and licks his lips. "I wonder what sorts of favors I can extort from the commander if I threaten you."
They hear a loud snap from the doorway, followed by a thud from something heavy against the floor.
"The only thing you can expect from me is death," a cold voice says firmly.
The Rat King whirls towards the door to face the new arrival.
Matthias manages to twist just enough to turn as well, as the rat holding him down forgets himself and he sees one of the rats lie lifelessly on the floor, his neck twisted in an unnatural angle, clearly broken.
Lukas is standing in the doorway. There is murder in his eyes and not a trace of humanity. They never even heard him open the door.
The Rat holding Matthias down let go and bolts toward the door with the other remaining rat, both of them pulling out knives as they throw themselves at the commander.
Lukas easily sidesteps the first attack. He grabs a hold of the rat's cloak as he runs past and yanks on it to pull him back. He unsheathes his sword in the very same movement and severs the rat's spine when he is withing reach and pulls his blade back out just as quickly.
The third rat does not last long either. He appears almost uncoordinated against Lukas' fluid movements.
Lukas disposed of him in a few steps and slices his throat completely open, exposing most of his neck and almost severing the head from its body.
Matthias is just about to push himself off from the table to help Lukas, not that he needs it, but his entire body is shaky and slow to move. He does not even get one step before the Rat King grabs him by the neck and pulls him backwards, away from the battle. There is a knife at his throat in the next second and he freezes, not daring to move a muscle.
Lukas looks unaffected. He looks almost predatorial in the way he moves and watches them.
It is quite eerie to see. Most people when being threatened, especially with the life of somebody they care about would be scared to make the wrong move and eager to take a few steps back and negotiate their way out. Lukas only stalks closer, and his sword is slowly dripping blood on the floor as he assesses the situation.
Matthias is gripping at the Rat King's arm with his bound hands but finds it unyielding. He can feel his own pulse against the cold blade on his throat, beating rabbit quick in fear.
"You take one step closer and I'll kill him!" the Rat King shrieks, and if Matthias was not in such a precarious situation, he might feel good about the Rat King getting a taste of his own medicine. "Put down your sword! I'll do it!"
"If you kill him, you're already dead," Lukas says back, still sounding calm and not like he just killed three people in the last minute.
Matthias can feel how the Rat King tenses behind his back as he considers his options. In an instant he moves, He pushes Matthias towards the wall and gives himself a boost towards the table where he grabs for the pouches of ashes and the scattered foxglove.
Matthias' back hits the wall with a crash and it knocks the air out of him, and he sinks to the floor.
The Rat King is quick, but Lukas far quicker.
The Rat king barely manages to close his fingers around one of the pouches of ash before Lukas is upon. Lukas grabs the Rat King's fist and slams it into the table hard enough to make him drop the bag with a yelp of pain and knocks the knife out of his other hand.
The bag somehow survives and the ashes remain safe.
Then Lukas drops his sword to the ground with a quiet clatter and wraps his hand around the Rat King's neck and lifts him into the air. He pushes the Rat King against the closest wall and holds him there.
Matthias huddles up in a ball only a few steps away from them and watches in horror. His memories flashes back to the night that it was Vilje caught in that same grip.
The Rat King is clawing at the hands around his throat, kicking wildly with his legs but finding no purchase as his toes barely touch the floor.
"You don't have to do this!" the Rat King shrieks hoarsely. "I am worth more to you alive than dead!"
"You are worth nothing to me," Lukas hisses back. His voice is so cold and empty it Matthias shivers where he is covering away in his corner.
"I have ways of stopping the rebels from taking the city, I can help your King!" the Rat King still pleads, ranting away every single reason he can come up . "I know the rebels are planning something, I have ways to find out what, and then you can stop them. You just have to let me go!"
"I am not loyal to the king," Lukas hisses icily.
Matthias can see how the Rat King pales as he realizes he has nothing of value, no leverage. For once, he is the helpless one. Lukas' tone is cold enough to terrify Matthias as well.
"You threatened someone I care for," Lukas continues.
The Rat King gives up on trying to pry open Lukas' fingers and reaches into the folds off his cloak and lashes out with a new knife from his many pockets.
Lukas grips the Rat King's hand with his free one and twist harshly until the Rat King drops his knife with a yelp, much like he did the bag of ashes and the other knife. Lukas then closes his fingers around the Rat King's index finger ever so slowly, earning a terrified yelp in return.
Without warning, Lukas snaps the digit and the Rat King screams. The crack is loud and sickening.
"Please!" the Rat King begs. "There must be something I can offer you. Anything. Please just stop!"
Lukas moves on to the next finger and snaps that one as well earning another scream. "You touched something you should not have," Lukas hisses and snaps a third finger. "I know who you are and what you do. I know what kind of man you are. You deserve no mercy." He looks feral as he takes revenge on Matthias' behalf and there is a growl at the back of his throat that makes him sound almost like a wild animal more than a man.
Matthias does not recognize this Lukas, the possessive tone in his voice or the rage. It is absolutely terrifying, and Matthias feels so very weak and small as he is the reason behind it all. He cannot move away from his spot, his legs refusing to obey him. His arm has gone numb as the bond busses angrily underneath his skin. He is just a useless pile on the floor, watching Lukas tear a man apart.
There is a fourth snap and the Rat King breaks down in sobs, his still good hand grasping lamely at Lukas' arm. "Please," he cries. "There must be something that you want! We can make a deal."
"Whatever I want from you I can already take," Lukas replies, baring his teeth like an animal. He curls his fingers around the last unbroken finger on the Rat King's hand.
The Rat King whimpers. He looks truly pathetic where he dangles from Lukas' grip. There is nothing left of the confident King of the slums with men to keep him safe from any threat and willing to follow his every order without hesitation. He is truly alone now and has to be the one to pay for his own sins.
Lukas twists his hand and the last finger on that hand breaks. He leans in close, seemingly not bothered by the stench of the Rat King or his pathetic pleas. "I will let you know what I want from you." He shifts his grip to the other hand and letting the Rat King's feet touch ground once more.
Those legs are too weak to support the owner and it is still Lukas' hand around his throat that keeps the Rat King standing. "You will pay for everything you did to him." He gives the tinies nod towards Matthias who just shrinks further back.
Lukas grips the Rat King's other hand almost gently.
The Rat King weakly attempt to pull it back, but he is too weak and only whimpers as Lukas tightens his grip.
"You touched him," Lukas hisses, "and for that I will take your fingers and your hands." With a swift motion he twist, breaking all fingers at once and twists even further until the Rat King's wrist snaps as well with a serious of sharp snaps and only then does he let go.
The Rat King wails as the broken bones grind together, but Lukas is not done with him.
Lukas draws pulls out a small knife from his belt. "I will have your tongue for threatening him, and for all your orders you gave that caused him harm!" Lukas snarls.
Matthias closes his eyes, not wanting to see what Lukas does, but he hears the knife slice through flesh, and he hears the Rat King's gurgling scream around the blood pooling in his mouth. There is also the wet thud as the offending tongue hits the floor.
Matthias blinks his eyes open and sees the Rat King stare at him with wide eyes. It looks like he is trying to talk, but everything is coming out as gibberish and accompanied by a gush of blood spilling out of his mouth and down his jaw to soak up in his dark clothes. He might be begging Matthias for mercy for all he knows, there is truly no telling.
That makes Lukas snarl furiously and he grabs the Rat Kings head. He brings his knife up, right under the Rat King's right eye, then he hisses. "I will have your eyes for looking at him wrong." He does not wait for the Rat King to panic, he plunges the knife right in, puncturing the eye, then moves on to the next and then he let's the Rat King drop like a sack of potatoes to the floor.
"I will take your legs for hunting him down!" Lukas stomps on his knees, one at the time and the bone crunches under the force.
The sound leaving the Rat King have turned into harsh, wheezing breaths, too weak to continue screaming. Every time he tries moving, he whimpers pathetically and stops. His body is too broken to move anymore. He tries to stare around the room with ruined eyes and gurgles nonsense around his missing tongue.
How they have not attracted the attention of the entire castle by now with all the noise is a mystery.
Lukas crouches down beside him, resting his hand almost gently on the Rat King's shoulder to let him know Lukas is close since he can no longer see. "I would let you suffer until your body gives in on its own," Lukas says softly, but there is no warmth in his tone. "You wanted him to suffer. It would be a fair payback to leave you like this, let you suffer as you have made others do and like you wanted him to." He moves his hand to wrap around the Rat King's throat. "Lucky for you, I am far too impatient for that. The last thing I will take from you is your life and I want to be the one to take it from you. Your life for making his miserable."
There is almost relief in the air as Lukas closes his hands around the Rat King's throat, blocking off his air to end his suffering.
The Rat King twitches a few times as his body fights on instinct, still not wanting to give up on life, but then he stops and Lukas lets him drop to the ground for the last time with a quiet thud.
Matthias shivers in the sudden silence, where even his own breathing sounds loud. He knows that he should move, get out of this room, but he does not dare.
Lukas is standing up, every muscle in his body tense as he glares at the body of the Rat King and breathing harshly.
Matthias has no idea to interpret the turmoil he can feel over the bond. He is afraid that if he moves, Lukas will not be able to tell the difference between a friend and a foe in his current mind space. He does not have a chance of running either. His legs feel weak, his arms are still tied and Lukas is far faster.
"Lukas," he whispers softly, praying that he can reach through the haze of slaughtering the Rats.
Lukas turns around slowly and Matthias holds his breath.
Lukas' eyes are glowing blue in the dim lighting.