FOREVER KNIGHTS: #2 Rise of the King of Assassins

Stone Peak, Black Mountains, Battling Border (Radix’s captive for four years)

CHAVIAS

Chavias fought a mind haunted by nightmares. Vile things Radix had made him do. And vile things done to me.

Black bloody nightmares that plagued his mind every moment his eyes were closed.

He’d been practicing abandoning his body to Spirit Run. Visiting other places. Other people.

Making his mind blank in his body, as it traveled with his spirit on its adventures.

He’d managed to acquire a journal. But carrying it and holding the ink feather to write took extreme concentration. Since his body was not able to physically manifest, he was far from being able to touch people.

But I’m learning fast.

Today he abandoned his body and the awful images haunting him to roam the beauty of the Paladines. Running his fingertips across leaves and grunting in frustration when they simply passed through.

Blinding pain tore into his dream ripping the walls apart and making his vision blur. He was thrown back into his physical body, waking to agony. Having so recently healed from his wounds, he’d only yesterday emerged from the coma of anguish. He looked down at his heaving chest and saw it cut nearly in half from his right nipple to left hip. Skin and muscle parted, and blood filled the wound obscuring how deep it ran.

Palming it in an effort to hold it together he looked up at Okine who stood over him gleefully. A rusted dagger in hand. Dripping with Chavias’ blood.

“Wakey wake, Slave.” He cackled. “Time work.”

Chavias hated being called that. But it is what I am.

“What?” He blinked blearily, trying to sit up and grunting against the pain. Inspiring Okine’s hearty laughter.

“Gilwynn Village.”

“It’s a fine village.”

“Not when done.”

Chavias angled up on his elbows, gasping against the burn.

Ouch! Already his wound tried to seal but didn’t lessen the sharp bite of pain.

“He wishes me to raze it?”

“He wish nothing. He order.”

Chavias shook his head but clambered awkwardly to his feet.

“Now.” Okine tossed an elbow into Chavias’ cut abdomen.

Making Chavias grunt and double-over. Hand splaying to catch him from hitting the floor as he dropped to all fours. Huffing in agony. Clutching his side with his other hand.

“Move, Slave.” Okine grunted. “Take boy.”

Gilwynn Village, Netherlands

Gilwynn was in some of the greenest country in Ardae. The trees were heavy with soft leaves, forming circular orbs atop their trunks. The grass was lush and bent underfoot to make a softer tread. Wildflowers scattered along the dirt roads meandering into the village.

It was smaller than its sister village to the West, Greenway and had far less commerce but villagers still came in for trading at the booths.

Booths which now spanned all along the buildings as one first entered Gilwynn Village. Banners hung from string behind the buildings indicating the market would be open in two day's time.

Chavias arrived in Gilwynn mostly healed but still favoring one side. Why am I here?

He knew lighting the town on fire would draw every Forever Knight in the area. He was mentally calculating how many that’d be based on where he last knew they resided. Too many.

A crow cawed and landed on his shoulder.

Same one? He wondered.

I should name it.

I’m drawing the knights to Gilwynn so Radix can go somewhere else. Chavias knew when he saw the size of the Targue and two flying Sarabi lumbering in the direction of the NetherRunnel bridge.

What’s that direction?

“Fire.” A Firoque man behind him rasped. Already mottled with the black blotches that marked him as being telepathically connected to Radix. He reeked of the odor of evil.

Rotting human bodies.

“Fire now.” He hissed at Chavias who grunted in response. Highly tempted to lop off the ugly thing’s head but knowing there’d be consequences back in Radix’s lair.

Consequences I’m too weak to withstand just now.

He glanced around the empty street hoping no one would emerge. No one I have to kill tonight. He willed.

Nonis nipped at his heels. An annoyance he continually kicked back as they herded him on. Their eyes watching him for Radix.

Dread weighed heavily on him when he saw two men rounding the booth at the end of the walk.

"Savage. Hide over there." Chavias pointed next to the booths where there was a small notch behind one that the small lad could fit in.

The heavy crow squawked and launched from Chavias’ shoulder. Taking to the sky on powerful black wings.

He was instantly grateful the Dread boy was armed with a dagger. And that I’d told him to hide aside the booths.

Oh, no. He closed his eyes and drew a steadying breath when he recognized them.

Two young men, brothers. The older one, James, had once served as Alazareth’s squire. Both had walked behind him through Billar Canyon.

Forever Knights.

They froze. Their eyes wide on him. “Chavias.” One murmured.

Chavias did the same. He stopped walking entirely. His gaze slid to the blonde-haired boy crouched next to the booths.

He slowly lifted the small knife in his fist, giving Chavias a questioning look.

No, Little Savage. Chavias gave a subtle shake of his head and the boy slowly lowered the knife. Gold eyes narrowing.

Just keep moving. Chavias willed the two men. He lurched forward, intent on walking around them.

“We know what you do now!” James called.

“You kill us!” The other added.

James drew a dagger from his boot, his brother pulled a hatchet from his waist.

And Chavias had a decision to make.