FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Alazar came off the hilltop shaking his head. Overlooking Nightway had yielded no new movement in the bailey.

No one’s awake yet.

Alazar walked back through the Warwood and headed for Warlock Grove. Perhaps listening to the burble of the wake and the soft pops of the rupturing bubbles will calm me. But his step slowed as a stench carried to him.

Cimmerii. He eased pass Warlock Grove and out onto the meadow of Nightway. Shocked by the rapid movement of small black rodents scurrying around every edge of the Nightway moat.

Too many. He dropped to his stomach. And crawled through the high grass to reach one of them. Lifting his short blade he jammed it in the Cimmerii’s body. It whipped around and sunk teeth into the soft flesh between his index finger and thumb. Unleashing searing venom. That made him dizzied with pain.

Evil. Gritting his teeth and shaking his head to toss off the sensation he crawled through the grass, following the scuttling sounds of the next one. Moving in on it, he lowered to his belly the same as before. Killing this one without by puncturing its neck and removing his dagger and letting it slump over. Bleeding out.

He found the next one the same. Hearing its claws scraping roughly along the gray stone of the castle wall. This time Alazareth heard murmurings atop the castle wall.

They’ve spotted either me or them. Alazar kept his head ducked but didn’t stop his mission to cleanse the meadow of the dark creatures.

It made for a painstaking morning. But he was meticulous in slaughtering them all. Knowing they’d expand and pinken into the human forms of soulless people. Marred with the black blotches of rot.

NightGuards would find where he’d stacked the bodies near the wall. Far from where Riaura wanders the meadow.

It’s safe for her again.

Later in the morning, he sensed her in the forest before he saw her waiting at the Wake.

“Alazar!” She rushed to grip his biceps under his sleeves, as she often did. Peering up at him excitedly. “He’s so kind. I wanted to tell you!”

She didn’t notice the black ooze tainting his hands and partway up his forearms. She almost smeared it on her when she touched me.

I have to wash off the Cimmerii blood I spent the morning spilling for you.

“Is he? What have you to tell?” He turned from her to splash damp water on his face. Exhausted from worrying about her all night then slaying Cimmerii.

“What’s wrong?” She deflated a little.

“I worried for you.” He turned on his haunches to tell her.

“Yes…I’m sorry.” She shuffled her feet, chewing her lip.

He drew a breath. “Go ahead. Tell me.”

“He played with the children and the hounds in the Castle. No harsh words. Only endless patience.” She beamed. “He asked me many things.”

“Such as?” He stood and leaned his shoulder and hip against the tree next to him crossing his arms over his chest. A leery note entered his voice. His cloak swished as he moved from her reach.

“If I prefer satin or silk, colors I enjoy, and flowers I favor.” She sighed and flopped on the nearby boulder.

Always satin. You think silk feels dirty.

Green as your eyes is your favorite color.

Any wildflower untouched by men. But Trifler’s Wife is your favorite because it is rare and hard to obtain. He frowned.

When’d I learn all that?

The wake sloshed. He heard the slight roll of pebbles in the bottom and the tiny pops of bubbles rising to the treetops. He watched a few rupturing near the canopy.

He didn’t want to see the unusual softness in her expression or the high note in her voice signaling her excitement. Concentrating, he heard the rapid beating of her heart and smelled the slight change in her pheromones.

Please don’t let him harm her. He sent the words Heavenward.

“Not many men have given you that kind of attention Riaura.”

“I know I’m not particularly lovely.” She murmured.

What? He reared back frowning.

“Where does this come from?” He asked appalled. Sensing there was an underlying jab to her words.

“You don’t think me pretty.”

I prefer grown women.

“I think you very young.” It was the nicest way he could tell her.

“Well, he made me feel…Special.”

Special how?

“Did he?” Alazareth’s brow rose.

“I’m unsure what to think. He is pleasant, but his eyes follow my every movement. I’m unsure why yet.”

I know why. But I don’t care to think about it.

Her gold hair draped her waist along her green riding tunic. A perfect shade matching her sparking eyes. Her pert nose was a lovely accent to lips which had filled over the last few years, he supposed. Unliking what this assessment forced him to conclude.

She’s no longer the girl I knew. Recognizing it was like being kicked in the stomach. He dismissed the realization.

“I’m not.” He grumbled.

“Then, why?”

Oh, I will not be the man to explain that to you! Alazareth sealed his lips.

Riaura gave him a long assessment but knew the steel in that look. He’d be unrelenting.

He looked away. Rolling off the tree he turned to walk deeper into the grove.

Riaura lifted her skirts to give chase. Ducking low hanging branches until she caught up to him. Clutching his forearm to jerk him around. “Tell me, Alazar.”

He spun to face her. “I haven’t the words to explain it to you.”

“Why are you angry with me?”

I’m not angry with you!

“I’m not.” He sighed. “I couldn’t be angry with you. You’re probably the only one in this world that can say that.”

I haven’t as much patience for even my own twin.

She looked at him skeptically, but he’d say nothing further.

I’ve said enough. He shook his head at himself and vanished into the trees.