FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls

Nightway Castle, Nightway

ALAZAR

Alazar dropped the torch heedless of the fact that the nearby bedspread immediately ignited. The room burned brightly, but he was heedless. Shaking his head.

I let her think I was weak. Let her think the torture had worn me down. Despite that it was anything but true.

In-fact it invigorated me to this cause, if anything.

Alazar heard the shout from the bridge tower as a man ambled toward Nightway Castle. Alarming the wall guards. So, it begins.

Alazar was focused on listening to what happened in the hall outside the chamber but still heard the interchange in the expansive bailey.

“Let me in!” The stranger shouted from the other end of the bridge. Seeing the grate was down at the bailey entrance despite that the bridge was lowered.

Riaura heard the call and went to the window slit in the hall to peer out. Barely glimpsing a male shadow just beyond the light of the torches.

Alazar heard her familiar step, caught her scent. Roses.

“Ensure he’s not armed!” She ordered the knights on the wall. They shouted to the bridge guard.

The Tower Guards added fuel to the torches to brighten the area as the man lifted his tunic. Baring his torso and turning a leisurely circle before raising his empty hands to reveal he was unarmed.

The bridge guard lifted the spined gate to let him into the bailey.

Not close enough to see that the man’s eyes glowed gold in the dark as he peered between the square bars.

The boy jogged up to Riaura to look out the window with her. “Do you know him, My Queen?”

“I don’t think so.” She murmured thoughtfully, not recognizing the voice calling to the knights below. “But I’d hazard a guess he’s here to negotiate for our prisoner’s release.” She glanced at the locked door where she knew Alazar lurked.

“What’s your name?” One of the knights demanded as he approached the stranger.

“Jaxson.” He grinned lazily.

Riaura’s breath stilled and she lurched out the window slit to scream into the bailey. “Kill him! Kill him now!”

“He’s unarmed, Your Highness!” The knight shouted back. Shock written over him that she’d want an unarmed man slaughtered in their bailey.

“He won’t be! I know who he is. Kill him!” She shrieked furiously in her panic.

The intruder lifted his hands showing he held no weapon and tilted his head. Blue eyes piercing on the knight. “What do you do?” He tsked. “Obey your crazed queen’s command and kill an unarmed man or see what I have to say first?”

The knight’s brow furrowed, and he drew a breath. “Who are you, Boy?”

“I’m no one’s boy.” He gave the knight a chiding look. Clucking disapprovingly as his chin lifted. “They call me Savage.”

The knight knew the name. But not well enough to know better. He jerked his sword and lunged to pierce Savage Jaxson.

Savage swept the sword under his arm to lay flat along his hip as he rolled in close to the knight. Smashing an elbow into the knight’s face as he wrenched the helmet from his head. Swinging it brutally to crash into the knight’s skull.

The knight collapsed to the dirt.

Savage caught the back of the knight’s armored collar and lifted him enough to use his own sword to cut his throat with slow precision. Staring up at the window where he’d heard the queen calling from.

Riaura screeched in outrage as she met Savage’s stare.

He straightened with a grin. “Evening, Queen.” He saluted with a finger as he began whistling as he strolled further into the bailey.

“Archers!” She shouted. Forcing them to turn and aim into the bailey.

Her eyes roved it to verify no one else would be hit. “Kill him!” Her order rang out.

The assassin below laughed and jogged across the opening.

The archers hesitated, afraid of killing their own people for the threat of one man. They took a moment too long and when they fired, he spun and swung the helmet. Accurately knocking two arrows from piercing him as he leapt a third. And now he was across the bailey and diving into a group of knights descending to block him from the castle door. Every time they drew a weapon on him, he cut them down with it. Ferociously. Methodically working his way through them.

Fortunately knights within the castle rallied at the door. It was thrust open and they poured out onto the stairs. Riaura dangled out the window to see in the dim light. Horrified to see the assassin moving like nothing she’d witnessed before.

And she’d seen Alazareth.

But this thing killing her men in her bailey was a whole other animal. Moving too fast. Too lethal and highly precise in every attack. No motion wasted.

There were enough knights to drive him down off the stairs, but it seemed not enough to get him off his feet. He backed down step after step but still violently swinging a sword. And he managed to get another one.

Operating each sword independently as his head whipped side to side so he could combat dual opponents simultaneously.

“We’re losing against one man?” She whispered in shock.

The night was suddenly eerily silent beyond the bailey and her eyes were drawn up. Watching in terror as men poured from every corner of the moor, rushing the castle. Clearly the Seditious Lot.

Riaura yanked back inside and headed down the hall to the room where Alazareth was. Knowing he could stop what was happening.