Dear readers, tonight with us is a man, an Acquisitioner — a mortal who loves taking risks and chances, but lives by a code. He’s here to tell us about immortals conquering as gods and a tiny band of rebels preparing to take back their world.
Tell me a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?
I spent my early years on the island of Mallach. It’s a paradise tainted by my father and his thieving cutthroats. As ya can imagine, it has the usual sweat reeking beerhouses like this one, and houses of pleasure to keep the men entertained. Fortresses govern the hilltops, piers rule the docks, and impenetrable defences stand sentry beneath the waves.
Keeping with tradition, I was born at sea. The night of my mother’s anguish was the only time my father released her from her cell. Ya see, she was the one person he couldn’t control, a Chashmalim, a mind speaker, so he’d locked her away.
From the moment my legs held my weight, I began learning the Acquisitioners trade. I can see by ya expression ya have heard of em. Then ya know we take pride in knowing our enemy.
Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?
Are ya serious? I just told ya, he locked my mother away.
Apologies, I never set the questions.
Well, I cut my teeth on a dagger handle if ya want to call that a toy. I did have a dog for a while. My father said it made me soft. I ain’t cherished nothing since.
As for memories, after several failed attempts to free my mother, and swearing I’d never give up, my father killed her as well. The flare in his eye as he waited for my rage is something I’ll never forget.
That’s quite a history. So how did you end up working for Meciel and what is it like?
Meciel wanted an Acquisitioner, and everyone knows I’m the best. We don’t always see eye to eye, and before ya ask, it ain’t coz the old hermit says he’s immortal. Who cares if he’s crazy, believing he and others like him came from another realm? He required an army. I knew where to recruit men. He needed ships. I knew how to build em.
He pays well, better than I’d make on the hostage racket. So I put up with his talk of impending war and everything else… Makes me wonder though. Have you seen the empires they’re building and the size of their gigantic sons? Maybe they are gods, though Meciel denies it.
Truth is, he ain’t keen on my sideshows. He insists I focus on his tasks and nothing else, but I got a reputation to uphold. Life ain’t only about silver. I’m the best Acquisitioner on the seas for a reason, and doing the jobs nobody else will keeps me at the top.
What can you tell me about this latest adventure?
I can tell ya one thing, Sojin is excited. All he wants is to kill the god who murdered his mother. The way he sees it, we’re finally heading in the right direction. Don’t get me wrong, he’s got skills, trained him myself, so I know how good he is, but he ain’t ready. Anyway, we just met Meciel in Lithanos and picked up the one he’s chosen to lead his army.
Continue reading “Ammo (of A Voice That Thunders, by Cully Mack)”
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