FOREVER KNIGHTS: #2 Rise of the King of Assassins
A Familiar Target at the NetherRunnel Pass

The weaving walk down from Stone Peak in the dark was a dangerous jaunt. Marked by the boy’s refusal to ease against Okine’s grip.

Okine is losing patience with him. He could hurt him. The boy’s frame was still very small. Okine could snap his back in an instant. Chavias swallowed. Walking behind them as he considered ways to try and help the child if Okine moved to hurt him.

Between the snuffling sounds of driters, the hazardous hooves of wild horses, and the talons of rare giant birds, there were many dangers in the mountains. And at the bottom was the Netherwood. Walking through the mass of dense trees, held additional dangers. The lights of tiny flying fey, whose neon hearts were visible beneath their translucent skin.

Vicious little creatures. Chavias watched them warily. Knowing they had a ferocious bite when incited.

He swatted one away from his bicep. Snarling in agitation.

“Quiet, Beast.” Udora snapped reaching for him as though to cuff him as Okine had earlier.

Chavias caught her wrist savagely. Reflexively tempted to snap it. But startled by the frailness of it, he refrained.

The trees opened into the path to Gilwynn Village which their troupe of Targue and Firoque took.

Nonis straggling behind.

Rustling so loudly every creature this direction must know we’re coming.

Chavias couldn’t help wondering. What are we after?

But he was given no clue until the path reached the NetherRunnel Bridge. One of the few crossings over the rushing river was constructed of wood and stabilized with giant boulders on each side. Ropes strung across as rails.

Looking precarious as hell. Chavias eyed it askance.

In the pitch darkness Chavias’ gaze had been fixated on that bridge and the water surging underneath it. But now he caught a whispering footstep and realized the Cimmerii had parted and tucked into the trees. We’re waiting on prey.

What are we hunting? Chavias’ stomach had begun to sink. That steps too quiet to be human. Too quiet to be Cimmerii. And Chavias realized what he so badly didn’t want to believe.

We’re hunting another of my kind. As he thought it, he saw the flash of white brightening the dark. His eyes flashed yellow to focus on what he saw.

A returning shine of light blue sparked from the trees toward the bridge.

And Chavias realized that they were in a standoff. He was staring into the gaze of Teverius. His white-haired Forever Knight brethren.

Dammit, Tev.

Tev was fast. Unholy fast. But Chavias watched the Cimmerii pouring out of the trees and taking the bridge and knew there were too many.

He heard a hissing cry from the sky and looked up. Catching sight of Sarabis in the air. Descending toward Tev who had to leap from their reach. Skidding toward the bridge.

They’re driving him toward us.

Tev looked up at the black cloud of devil birds and then to the ground littered with Nonis and Targue. His gaze lifting to meet Chavias’.

Udora Novavax crouched next to him. Her body distorting until she appeared half feline, half serpent, covered in striped hair. The sound emerging from her was clearly inhuman.

He’s the target.

Teverius…

Chavias had only one thought. Beat him badly enough he can't rise to fight.

Its the only chance we have of them not killing him.

And Chavias set to work.