Dreiki pretended not to notice as he continued his walk, making a mental note of the alleyways most removed from prying eyes. He wondered if the fate of ‘Argo’ is one he would have had without people like his mother and Savekio to give him the power to resist it.
Finally, when he had walked himself into a dead end, he turned to face his pursuer, “Oi, who’re you? And what do you want? I aint got money on me, so shove it!”
The figure said nothing, instead stepping closer. Dreiki flashed the brand on his shoulder, “Better not cause no trouble, I’m the Caprirona’s son. You mess with me, you’re messin’ with a Venator Knight!”
“Oh I’m well aware of that. Didn’t your pappy ever tell ya to watch out for poachers?” The xio gave him a toothy grin, one which reminded Dreiki of the monster back in Punuuk. It wasn’t difficult to act afraid.
Dreiki flashed his knife, “Come any closer and I’ll gut ya, hear me?”
The xio lurched forward, slipping a scimitar from its sheath.
Dreiki ducked, sparks flying overhead. He focused on them, igniting it in a burst of blinding fire. He attempted a double leg to get him on the ground, but the difference in size and strength was too much. The xio sprawled out and pried him off, slamming him against the wall.
He knocked the wind from Dreiki’s lungs with a heavy knee to the gut. Dreiki was on wobbly legs, raising his guard and weakening a punch which shattered the brickwork behind him. Dreiki swiped with his knife, his blade finding purchase in his thigh.
“Fuckin’ brat!” The xio cried out, wind encircling his blade.
But it wasn’t his magic. The scimitar slipped from his grasp and scattered off to the side. Before either Dreiki or the xio understood what was happening, a bulky figure speared his shoulder into the xio from behind.
There was something off about him, and the moment his rescuer was able to grapple both of the xio’s arms and still punch him in the ribs, Dreiki realized what it was.
This person had four arms.
“Rix!”
“Got it!”
Dreiki looked to the end of the alleyway to see a winged figure holding a spear. Wind whistled around it, a greenish glow illuminating the air, his eyes piercing the dark alleyway.
“Wait!-” Dreiki shouted but it was too late. The spear cut through the air and pierced the xio’s skull, pinning him to the wall. Blood spattered over Dreiki’s face.
“Bullseye!”
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The four armed figure turned to face Dreiki, “You okay, kid?”
“Why did you kill him?”
“Judging by how much you were running your mouth, I guess no one’s told you to watch out for poachers. We were saving you from getting kidnapped.”
The winged xio jogged over to them, “Ah, you’ve probably never seen someone die before, right? Sorry about that. You’re safe now, though, don’t worry, what’s your name?”
Dreiki didn’t know if he should explain why he wanted the xio alive, so he kept up his cover, “I’m Argo, who are you two?”
“I’m Rixam, that four-arms over there is Gornax.”
He waved with both of his left hands, “Sup!”
Gornax’s skin was the color of bronze, but his hair was white as quartz. He was built, and a little topheavy thanks to his extra pair of arms. He towered over Dreiki just like any full-blooded xio his age might. Like Dreiki, he lacked a tail, but he had a second distinct pair of horns on his head.
Rixam long pitch black horns and thick dreadlocks which had been pulled into a tight ponytail. Just like his companion, he was built like a bull, but Rixam had a lankiness about them. His skin was a dark brown, and he had a pale three-pronged scar running up from his right knuckle to his shoulder. Finally, his smooth bluish tail forked near the tip like he was meant to have two but they hadn’t separated properly. Two bat-like wings sprouted from his shoulder blades, reminding Dreiki a little bit of Ezo.
They both looked to be adults with their size, but their faces betrayed their age. By Dreiki’s judgment, they were only two to three years older than him.
They could see the way Dreiki was looking at them both, “Don’t be scared, we’re both mixed blood. Judging by your lack of tail you’re mixed too right? Which one is it?”
“Which one?” Dreiki asked not understanding his question.
“I mean like are you part human, elf, or what? Maybe dwarf? And which parent?”
“Half human on my…” He had to stop himself from saying ‘dad’, “On my mom’s side.”
Gornax threw his arms up in the air with an exaggerated sigh, “Alright Rixam, you win this round.”
Rixam chuckled, “I’m half Devil on my moms side myself,” he said proudly, pounding his chest.
“This extra pair of arms is thanks to my dad. He was a Hecatonchires”
“Me and Gornax like to bet on which side a Noxa shares their non-xiozian half. That’s Five drachs when we get home Gorny.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Gornax said, flicking him off twice.
Dreiki couldn’t help but like the two of them, “Why did you help me?” he asked, not understanding why they were so eager to share their origins with him.
“Why wouldn’t we, kid? You’re just like us right?” Rixam said, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a Venator Knight’s tattoo, “You’re a Noxa born to a Venator Knight too.”
Dreiki was shocked. Other than Luna, he had not encountered anyone else with a Venator Knight’s tattoo. He started to wonder if it was common for their offspring to be half-breeds. He looked at the dead xio.
“Do you know where he was going to take me?”
Rixam squatted down on his heels, flexing his wings, “He was probably planning to drag you down somewhere the sun doesn't shine. Although, the sun doesn't really shine much anywhere here.”
“Do you know exactly where, though?”
“Of course, but it’s not like that’s helpful. They’re all armed to the teeth. Trust me kid, we’ve tried. Not enough firepower, but if you join me and Gornax, one day we’ll have enough Noxa in this town to start a little rebellion.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Dreiki said seeing Savekio and Luna drop down out of the corner of his eye, “I think it would be better if the two of you joined us instead.”