Carrick watched intently as the slave was worn down. If he concentrated, he could hear the boy's heartbeat, racing against his chest as exhaustion crept in.
Though his expression hardly changed, Carrick felt a strange pride and satisfaction in hi slave's determination. There had been no cries of pain, no silent pleas in his eyes for the fight to end, no fear on the strong, taut face.
None of Liam's wounds were serious but together they would be a stinging, burning pain that only added to the fatigue and the leaden weight of the slave's muscles as he forced himself to continue fighting.
The vampire considered for a moment, then decided to try one final test He angled his forearm and snapped his wrist with a blow against Liam's blade,disarming him and sending the sword clattering to the ground a couple of metres away. Carrick stepped back and watched to see Liam's reaction.