King of the Seditious
A Fire Begins

The guard Queen Riaura had spoken to, re-entered the Nightway bailey and conferred with his Captain in low voices while the Queen peered out the window slit to watch the interchange. Explaining to his leader that the queen suspected the interloper was there to try to negotiate the release of the Nauvree, whom she was holding captive in a chamber on the third level.

“What’s your name?” One of the King’s Guardsmen, backed by the Captain of the Guard approached the man. Demanding an answer.

“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 captain shouted back. Shock written over his face 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 man lifted his hands showing he held no weapon and tilted his head. Blue eyes piercing on the captain. “What do you do?”

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

“I’m no one’s boy.” He gave the man a chiding look. Chin lifting. “They call me Savage Jack.”

The captain knew the name. But not well enough to know better. He jerked his sword and lunged to pierce the stranger. Bent on obeying his queen.

Savage Jaxson 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 man’s face as he wrenched the helmet from the man’s hands. Swinging it brutally to crash into the captain’s skull. Making him collapse to the dirt. Savage Jaxson caught the back of the man’s collar and lifted him enough to use his own sword to cut his throat with slow precision.

Riaura screeched in outrage when Savage met her look to do it. Peering up at the second story window where the Queen’s blonde head was protruding.

He straightened with a grin.

“Evening, Queen.” He saluted with a finger as he began whistling as he strolled through the bailey.

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

Her eyes roved the grounds to assure no one else was in it. “Kill him!” Her order charged over the bailey.

The assassin below laughed and jogged across the bailey.

The archers hesitated, afraid of killing their own people for the threat of one man. They took a moment too long and he was diving between knights descending to block him from the castle door. Every time they drew a weapon on him, he cut them down with it. Ferociously.

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 The Nauvree.

But this thing killing her men in her bailey. He moved fast. Too fast. And with precision. There were enough knights to drive him down off the steps, but it seemed not enough to get him off his feet.

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.

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

After operating the gate to let the army Alazar had assembled into the castle bailey. Savage was off. Ambling back out of Nightway between the surging crowd rushing in, with the casual stroll of a man walking the mid-morning market.

Merwood, Dread Hideout

SAVAGE JAXSON

Savage was working his way back toward the Blue Lark. His task in Nightway completed, he returned this way. Headed back to his realm.

What he liked best about the Merwood was the denseness of the trees. There were few trails winding through these woods. It allowed him to travel by his favorite means. He strode along the branches, moving to the next tree. Using the dangling vines and huge leaves to grip with as he transitioned to new trees. Surefooted as any creature designed to be in these trees.

Off the ground. I like to see what’s coming.

He wove to the next tree. Wondering how the Nauvree’s overtaking of Nightway Castle would pan out.

It’d benefit the Blue Lark to have an ally in such a prominent position.

Hearing the faintest rustling along the forest bed he peered down and saw a black serpent writhing from under the leaves and moss littering the forest floor. Soon he glimpsed another. And another, shaking dirt from their scales as they peered up at him. Feeling human eyes, he turned and saw a blue-eyed woman staring up at him. Her gaze locked.

He immediately sensed danger. Recognizing the cimmerii shadows around her. She’s one of Radix’s.

“Who are you?” He asked. Pretending to be oblivious.

“Karina.” She whispered. “Who are you?”

“No one of note.” He shrugged.

“I think ye are…Methinks me Master been looking for ye…”

“That so?” He dropped to a lower branch so he could better see her, remaining well from her reach. Sensing what her intent was, he’d no intention of dropping to the ground and letting those snakes get a bite of him.

“So, what do you intend, Woman?”

“To take you in.” She shrugged. “Or kill you.”

“Your little snakes or down there and I’m up here. How so?”

“Them.” She gestured above and he realized his mistake.

She was a distraction.

Looking up reluctantly he winced at the sight of several Sarabi perched in the branches of trees above him.

I’d have heard them if they came while I was here.

She had them waiting…

His eyes skimmed over them. Realizing there were too many. His one advantage was they’d not be able to move well in the dense branches.

No flying in these woods.

When the first one dropped, gliding toward him he stepped from its trajectory. But the one shooting at him from the opposite direction managed to rake talons along his back.