FOREVER KNIGHTS: #6 Malevolent Attentions

I have reached across time and space to move things Radix sought to use as weapons against the Knights. Through spirit-running I’ve been able to foil Radix…Often.

Protecting the Forever Knights as best as I could. Trying to save their lives…

When I wasn’t taking them. Trying to muster some good in myself…

I’ve been tainted by evil. The kind of evil I can never come back from. I’ve been filled with, burned with, and tormented by, it until I’m only a shell of who I was…

God help me.

From the Journal of Chavias Derenoe.

Stone Peak, Black Mountains, Battling Border

CHAVIAS

Chavias was summoned from his cell. Dreading why he was summoned to Radix’s personal chambers today.

Was it day? There was no way to tell in the blackness of the caves. But it feels like morning.

Chavias rounded the wall and saw Radix speaking to a Firoque woman Chavias hadn’t seen before.

She looks frail. She was particularly thin. Even for a Firoque. Her skin already sallow. And webbed with black veins.

She was leaned close to Radix.

Even from the entranceway, Chavias was nauseated by the odor of her. Foul.

“Here is what you will say.” Radix lifted a clawed hand which sent up a cloud of ash between Chavias and them as Radix whispered to her. Blocking Chavias from hearing.

“Chavias.” The ash wall fell in a sweep of dry powder. And Radix stood facing Chavias.

Chavias winced and lurched back. Revolted that the hated man was so close. “You have a mission today.” Radix clutched his thick shoulder, dirty fingernails biting into the skin.

He knows how he disgusts me. It was a pointed violation. Chavias abhorred his touch.

“Guard her.” Radix tossed his head to the woman. “Take her to the Worthington Boy.”

“Why?”

“That is my business, slave.”

Chavias’ jaw ticked. “And if anything happens to Worthington, I’ll take a whole army down this mountain to kill your beloved Captain. I know where he is now. And while his knights flounder in a power funnel I can sweep in and pick them off like scavenging corpses.”

Chavias felt the heavy throbbing of his heart in his chest. Very afraid that strategy would work. Not as well as he says though or he’d have initiated it already. And a furtive glance at Radix’s stone chessboard revealed no Cimmerii clusters.

He needs them where they are right now.

But that doesn’t mean he’d be above such a vindictive maneuver if I disobey. I’ve no choice. It was a harsh reality.

Radix walked back to her and patted her shoulder.

Like he usually does creatures that are going to die. He suspects she won’t survive this little journey.