11.8
Craven tells Solomon he is a reasonable man and will allow Solomon to pick which limb they amputate.
Solomon resists the urge to rush out of the cage and attack the assembled cullsmen, instead using the narrow cage entrance as a bottleneck. He manages to kill all but one of the cullsmen.
The last cullsman runs, leaving Craven alone with Solomon.
Solomon tells Craven he is a reasonable man and will allow him to choose which limb Solomon will remove.
Craven pleads with him and even offers to give him a job as a cullsman.
Solomon refuses and severs Craven’s right leg below his knee.
He uses a blow torch to seal the wound shut.
He is enjoying himself until he realises that Tia has just watched the whole scene unfold.
He vows to limit her view of the cruelty and bloodshed in future and instead show her a world of laughter, song and light.
Solomon drags Craven towards the nearest dogs, but as he nears, cullsmen enter the caverns.
Solomon realises he has to choose between hurting Craven and saving Tia, as he won’t have time to do both.
He chooses Tia and they flee.
They find a way out through the abandoned mines and into the countryside.
Solomon memorises the name of the nearest village.
Solomon becomes like a father to Tia, she like a daughter to him.
He puts together the Freelands and tries his best to make the world a better place.
And he begins to put plans in place to defeat his enemies.
Next chapter is here
Too Many Humans 