FOREVER KNIGHTS: #5 Subjugation of Beasts

Northern Netherwood, Netherlands

TEVERIUS

Teverius walked the Netherwood. Collecting both Limilus and Rider Stones. Both can be ground into toxins.

Tev liked to keep some on hand for emergencies. When Tev rounded the dense trees of the Northern Netherwood, he emerged into the tiny clearing where the white blooms of the Limilus patch would be visible.

His mind was on watching Serdephe earlier. She’d been on the hunt. Usually is, in-fact. And when she’d spotted a quarry she’d drew a bow and fired. He’d been surprised at her accuracy. She fell a Noni instantly. Kicking it into the underbrush as she shouldered her bow and continued her walk.

Where’d she learn to use a bow? He realized it was likely she’d been training herself. She excelled with weapons of any kind. And she enjoys varying them. He’d seen her using various daggers, a hatchet and even a thin spear.

Now bow and arrows. He shook his head bemusedly.

But to his surprise, he saw the shining white back of a strange creature on all fours, crouched plucking the blooms and stuffing them into a rough sack.

“Who are you?” Tev demanded.

“Essius.” His head popped up as he hissed. Bobbing like a serpent considering striking. “Who are you?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Collecting Limilus…”

“Leave.”

Essius shook his head. Baring white teeth like a feral animal and skittering sideways on all fours toward Tev. Quickly.

Tev drew his hatchets, moving to the ready. Prepared to maneuver them to behead the creature.

But he was shocked when he saw the bark armor of a dark back intervene between them.

A Targue? He frowned at it.

The Targue took a brutal chunk out of Essius’ arm while the man shrieked and flailed backward. Tugging at his arm and slipping on the grass as he tried to crawl backward.

The Targue gave a low snarl and his jaws snapped loose, releasing Essius who whimpered, scrambling from the Limilus patch.

When the broad lumbering beast slowly rounded to face Tev. Tev recognized his pale blue eyes. The big dog came to rub his shoulders against Tev’s legs lovingly.

Tev stroked his back fondly. “What are you doing Groomsman? Have you been following me?”

Tev frowned. He’d ordered Groomsman to obey Serdephe.

Why does he keep wandering back to me? Tev felt it was out of character for the normally obedient hound.

He gnawed his cheek. Unless he is following orders…

To protect me? Pondering it a moment he dismissed it as idiocy.

Surely she’s forgotten me by now. It’s been years…