FOREVER KNIGHTS: #6 Malevolent Attentions
Baby of a Brethren

Chavias was back in the dank caverns. My eternal prison. He smelled of coagulated blood and dirt. Sitting in the sparse cell eying his dirty hands.

How many of my own kind have they pulled apart?

He’d felt such peace lying next to her. Something I no longer deserve to feel.

He was aware he toyed with fire being so close to the temptress. She could bring me to my knees, that one.

Chavias heard the soft tread of the demon strolling the caverns. Where Chavias’ body lie.

His heart sank. Dreading the moment the demon would enter the cell to command him go deal death.

At least sitting here thinking of the beauty with stray curls teasing her face and slipping chemise, focused his mind. What life could’ve been had I not ended up here…

But here I am.

If I wish to see her again tonight, I’ll need my rest. So, I need to accomplish whatever mission the demon has dealt me. And get back here to rest, before nightfall.

I shouldn’t even bother. I should handle the task as I know I must. And leave be this girl Radix so desperately desires to control.

She’ll be a weapon. He winced. Against my brothers.

The men that had once been my brothers. He corrected himself morosely.

“Chavias!” The old demon croaked. Creaking open the bars of his cell door.

In misery, Chavias crawled from the bed next to her and rushed to return to his body.

Reaching it just as Radix’s staff struck him in the shoulder. He lurched to a sitting position. “What?”

“What who?” Radix challenged. Chin lifting.

“What is it, My Liege?” Chavias’ gaze fell to the jagged stone underfoot as he choked down remnants of his pride.

“I have orders for you.” Radix shifted in discomfort and Chavias realized Radix was suffering deeply. One hand shielding his ear. The other jabbing Chavias with the staff.

Chavias’ brows drew together.

“There is a cry. A wailing I cannot bear. I need you to replace it for me. It is powerful. It has awakened me.”

“What is it?”

“A baby of one of your brethren.”

“You want me to kill an infant?” Chavias’ jaw set.

“That would quite make my day, but you will refuse, and I haven’t the patience to battle wills with you just now.”

Chavias was shocked.

“Find it for me. I wish to know what it is.”

“I won’t harm it.”

Radix nodded. “Find it now.”

Chavias’ lips were tight, but he gave a single nod as he slid from his cot and tugged on his plain brown tunic, putting on black leather boots to go combing Ardae for an infant.

Radix left the cavern with a hiss of fabric.

Chavias glimpsed a bit of blue which had been washed slightly from under his cot. Calisto’s cape. He panickily kicked it back under the cot. Praying Radix hadn’t seen the item Chavias stole so long ago.

The cape Calisto was bound to. The one she was forced to return to when she grew weak.

Chavias refocused his thoughts as he strapped on his dagger belt, catching the wreak of it.

One of my brethren is a father now. He pushed that thought aside. Don’t think about that. The deep ache at knowing he was no longer part of them to celebrate this joy had flickers of envy coursing through him.

I just want to get back to her. I’ll replace the baby and rest again so I can see her…

Sabine.

Continued in BOOK SEVEN:

Forever Knights -King of Assassins