FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

Rhyers Hall, Mane Country

RHYERS

“You told me to get out of the house if I thought something was wrong with him. Something is wrong.”

With Sam?

“What?”

I stayed at Marshall Manse for a month making sure he was the same man I knew before. He didn’t seem aggressive.

“You asked him to isolate to his chamber but as soon as you were gone, he kicked the door out and was demanding I come out of my chamber. He started kicking my door, but the servants came.”

“What happened?” Rhyers was worried.

I should’ve never left her.

“He changed completely when he saw them. Saying he thought he heard me shouting but maybe it was just an insect.”

“I wasn’t screaming until he started hitting my door!” Her eyes welled with tears. “Sam would’ve never scared me like that before. You were right, Bodin.” She stepped into him and hugged under his arms.

His hovered around her shoulders a moment before he surrendered and enfolded her warmly. “You’re okay, Ebs. I’m here.”

“He’s never been violent. I don’t understand what’s happening.”

He’s turning Cimmerii. The evil is growing in him. Rhyers grimaced.

“He’s drifting away.” Rhyers murmured into her hair.

“I don’t want him to!”

“We can’t help him, Ebs. Nothing we can do.”

“Why is this happening to him!” Tears streamed her face. “I was so happy he’d come back!”

“It’s not his fault. It’s Radix. He seeps in like acrid smoke and darkens the soul. He’s an evil you can’t imagine.”

“I know Sam doesn’t look like himself anymore. And he smells bad.” She leaned back to scrunch her nose symbolically.

The rot.

“Come hold me.” She walked him toward the bed in the chamber he’d led her to.

He was forced to move backward in step with her. Glancing over his shoulder to keep them from tripping. “Ebony…Eb-Ebs! What are we-”

His legs folded over the edge of the bed and they tumbled atop it. With him cradling her to soften the fall and her with her snotting nose shoved into his shirt.

Heedless that they both nearly fumbled over the edge, she curled up along his side. Keeping her face tucked into him as she cried with abandon.

He patted the back of her head awkwardly. Unsure how to comfort her more than that.

I’m going to have to kill my friend to keep her safe. He realized. Staring at the ceiling forlornly as she dozed into a deep slumber. Snoring softly against his chest.

Looking down at her face he wished to do anything but that.

Rhyers was only laying there. Wide awake when he heard the first soft footfalls in the hall. The woman. Serdephe.

The steps stopped at Teverius’ door and she knocked lightly.

“No.” Tev’s answer was muffled by the door. “I’m not letting you in, Sweetheart.”

“I just want to talk…”

“No you don’t!” Tev whispered in a hushed voice. “I know you. And I’m not making love to you while you’re intoxicated.”

“Why not?” She stomped lightly in frustration.

The door cracked. “Because that is not how I wish it to be.”

“Let me in.” She insisted.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No. You’re not coming in.”

“I’ll make a scene in this hall.”

“You wouldn’t.”

I’m afraid she will. Rhyers cautiously covered Ebony’s ears. As he suspected a broken scream barely started in the hall before it was cut off. He covered her mouth.

“Told you, you’d open the door.” She whispered triumphantly.

“You’re an awful woman.”

“I am no lady.” She admitted.

“No you’re not.”

“You said-”

“I know what I’ve said.”

What has he said? Rhyers was faintly curious.

Get out of the hall you too before you have my servants talking. He willed them. Hearing the door click softly shut.

Well she made it into the room.

Rhyers rather hoped Tev would stay true to his word. I’ve no wish to hear that.

It’s mighty hard to unhear…