King of the Seditious
Ambushed

Making him yelp before he swung around the tree. The next two dropped, aiming their wings along their sides to drop like rockets. Before he could move from their path, they hit him from two different directions. Sending him careening from the trees. Spinning until his head aimed at the ground. He managed to tuck his head and land on his shoulders and back. Grunting at the impact.

Snakes immediately sunk in venomous teeth. He grimaced against it. Feeling his gaze blur.

He climbed to his feet shaking his head. “Fine beast ye are…” She cooed. Reaching to caress his chin.

“If you’re intending to draw a blade on me, please do so…” He invited. Not seeing one anywhere on her at a glance. Blinking against his blurred vision.

She outstretched her arms as she turned. “I ’aven’t one on me.” She turned. Displaying her arms. As she turned a slow circle. “Hard ta ta’e a blade from an unarm woman, aye? Me know ye Code, Savage Jack.” She lisped.

His gaze flitted to where a dark spot seeped on her shoulder, and he brought down a fist there.

Crumbling her to her knees on a wail. “True but I can still hit a woman that attacks me.”

He took a couple stumbling steps.

“Get ’im!” Karina wailed. Gesturing to the Sarabi sitting in a circle. And they did. Biting and tearing ravenously. Ripping at his arms and legs while he turned to try and combat them.

A huge man busted through the trees carrying a giant heavy woman. But Savage was stumbling and swaying, his vision too blurred to identify the newest party.

“Viking!” This man roared. Summoning another charging creature from somewhere behind Savage.

The first man. With a familiar voice swung his weapon.

A war hammer. And crushed in the head of one Sarabi with a sickening smash. Another man entered the clearing, launching up a tree where he rained down a hailstorm of arrows.

Savage collapsed, dizzied from venom and loss of blood. Hearing the sounds of a fight but too confused to determine what happened.

He looked over at the blue-eyed brunette next to him and saw her lying still, mouth agape. He blinked down and saw arrows littered her chest.

He flopped his head to look at the archer but couldn’t identify him.

But apparently this woman was his first target.

He must’ve known her. Savage fought to stay awake. Struggling to lean up but finding his arms and legs didn’t respond to his commands.

When the sounds of fighting stopped a man blocked out the light from the tree canopy as he stood over Savage Jaxson. “Good to know, at least that if ye get enough Sarabis together even you can be brought down…Mortal after all…”

Savage worked hard to focus. Seeing the familiar long red hair and blue eyes. “RedBayne.” He muttered. Tight-lipped. “You wanted the Blue Lark.” He his head slumped at the realization.

“No, Savage. I’ve no desire to man that bin of cutthroats. I came here to save yer arse.”

Savage grunted. “Nobody’s ever saved me afore…” He pondered.

“Well,” RedBayne hefted him, tossing him roughly over his shoulder. “There’s a first for everything…And I’m Acel RedBayne right now. I’d rather everyone in these woods didn’t know the rest.”

Acel? It occurred to Savage he’d never known RedBayne’s real first name.

“Where are you taking him?” The huge blonde archer asked.

“To Bast’s valkyrie. To see if she can work her magic on him.”

“Whose Bast?” Savage choked. Coughing slightly on the slow trickle down his throat as he dangled over RedBayne’s back.

“Bast.” RedBayne twisted to look at him. “King of the Castle of Water. I thought you knew everything there was to know about this country…”

King of the Castle of Water.

The Protector. Savage recognized the names Radix had often cursed.

Chavias’ truest friend…The one man even Savage Jaxson could never locate. Always a step behind.

Savage didn’t rouse again until he heard an echoing door kicked closed behind him. And a booming voice rising from across the huge marble foyer.

“Who is that?”

“King of the Assassins.” RedBayne muttered.

“You know how I feel about assassins!” The man boomed.

Savage winced. His head pounding and weak from blood loss. Wanting nothing more than to be in his bed in his tent in the Blue Lark.

Or better…In Dimurah’s…

“Would you rather they all operate in their devices or under his code.” RedBayne nodded toward Savage strung down his back.

The other man grunted. Apparently seeing the logic in that.

“Come, Bast. I won’t bother you with him. I’m hoping your valkyrie will use her artful healing hands to piece him back together.”

“Well, keep him away from my daughter until I know what manner of man he is.”

“Done.” RedBayne grunted.

“Valkyrie!” He roared up the stairs.

Making a tiny shadow emerge on the second level.

“I need your help.” RedBayne said.

“Really?” The woman didn’t sound impressed.

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“Up your rear, would be ideal.” She grunted.

Well, she speaks like an assassin.

They took the stairs and Savage grunted nearly every step as his lungs compressed on against RedBayne’s shoulders.

Enough of the damn stairs! Thankfully, they finally reached the second level.

The woman leaned over to peer at his face. He blinked at her, but his vision was too blurred to distinguish anything but a wash of white hair.

“Is he even still alive?” She cried. “He’s torn apart!”

“Well, yes…” RedBayne admitted.

“Did you do this?” Her voice was accusing.

“No!” RedBayne was outraged. “I saved his skinny arse! Just help him.” RedBayne headed into a nearby chamber and tossed him on the bed. None to gently.

Savage groaned upon landing.

“I hardly see why I’m needed with your tender care.” She looked up at RedBayne, twice her size.

But Savage couldn’t see her expression. He blinked blearily, moaned, and fell into unconsciousness.

“Now look, what you’ve done!” Was the last thing he heard the woman say, before he succumbed completely to the blackness.

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