FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls

Dread Hideout

SAVAGE JAXSON

Beaten and with a bad injury to one knee, Rhyers had moved slow. Until Savage slung one of Rhyers’ arms over his shoulders and helped him walk the winding road to the Blue Lark.

“Can we say we’re even?” Rhyers gave him a wink.

Savage tilted his head in acknowledgement. I’m glad. I don’t like owing anyone.

“I owed you for saving that which is most precious to me.” Savage responded with a shrug.

Rhyers’ expression changed. “She means that much to you?”

Dimurah? Absolutely.

He thought I was as black-hearted as everyone else says. He wasn’t particularly surprised.

“She does.” He said off-handedly.

“Had you not shown up and soundly slaughtered both the advisor and the pugilist, I doubt there’d be much of me for my brothers to salvage.”

“But the creature got away.” Savage muttered.

The pasty white thing running on the ground.

Unsettling little bastard. Savage recalled glimpsing it now and again when he resided in Radix’s lair. He’d never much liked the look of the thing.

“He’s easy to track. I’ll find him again. Besides, I got what I really needed.” He lifted a leather bag and plunked it on the table. It clanged heavily.

Whatever treasure he’d taken from Danbury. Savage had watched him do it.

Savage had stabbed Yuen with his own dirtied blade and let him suffer. Dimurah’s guards will be disappointed. But at least they can come back home and watch over her.

Phalanx could use some rest. Protecting my Barter Queen is restless work. Savage knew it well.

He’d moved on to the bounder, but the man was unarmed. So, I played his game.

“I’ve never seen anyone throw a punch so fast.”

Savage had ducked once, struck twice. Ducked a few more times and hit the bounder in the face from every direction until he’d collapsed like a board.

Rhyers had clambered to his feet and limpingly retrieved the bag from the carriage. Much to Danbury’s objections.

Then we hit the road to the guild.

Savage focused on their step as they wove through the close trees of the Dread Hideout. Getting closer to the Blue Lark by the minute.

“What was so valuable you nearly lost your life for it?” Savage asked.

“We protect sacred things.” He weakly lifted the bag. “This is a sacred thing.”

“Fair enough.”

Blue Lark Guild, Dread Hideout

Once inside the guild, Savage made way to the Winter Haven. Kicking open the door resulted in the usual hush of the crowd. “Murah!”

Where is she?

“Dimurah!” She corrected. Straightening from behind the counter to shout back.

“We need a room.”

Blue eyes widening she saw the severity of the situation. And the serious look on Savage’s face. “Take him to the second one on the left.” She pointed upstairs. “It’s empty.”

Savage helped Rhyers take the steps. He’s more injured than I thought.

It was getting harder for Rhyers to put any wait on it. And every time he bent it for the next step he winced and huffed through his teeth.

He’s in agony.

Murah followed them up. “Is that the Tracker?”

“Aye.” Kill beads in his hair clacking together as he nodded.

“What’d you do to him?”

“Me?” He frowned over his shoulder. “I saved him.”

Why does she always assume it’s me that caused the harm?

“You don’t save anyone!” She argued.

“I saved you.” He said under his breath.