Akisane drew a card and found a prince of coins. He sat there studying the watercolor and gold leaf design and realized his heart wasn’t into the game. Perhaps that’s why he was losing.
Shank tapped this blade hand on the table and pushed a handful of silver forward.
Laying a flush down, Bahram waited for the groans and scooped up his winnings. “He who is was slow to strife stands a greater chance than a king against the Chaos Lords. So I applaud this group who let me empty their pockets and don’t redden with anger.”
Darksun pulled at the scabbard. You could be leagues down the road. Thailoc has one hand free, which means he will summon the Core Shield. It makes him invulnerable.
Akisane took each card that Bahram dealt. If he’s not invulnerable without it, why didn’t the elemental druids destroy him?
Indestructible and invulnerable are two different things.
A barmaid's gaze snagged on Akisane one too many times to be accidental. He thought of his experience with the necromancer and shivered. However, he was intrigued nonetheless. Still, he remembered Duke Akitomo’s view of the common people. When they said my Lord, listen to the note of disdain. They would slit your throat and take everything you have given the chance. Even the most beautiful common girl has a flaw in her quality that makes her useless, even if it’s not visible from the outside.
Through the tavern window, an old farmer handed out weapons, many of which were modified scythes with the blade turned upward. Some of his father’s outlook must be true. Dunaguard was preparing for violence.
This place is doomed. Flee from Thailoc!
Amat folded his arms and sat back petulantly. “I never get the good cards.”
Boney fingers full of rings rearranged a hand. “Like men, cards are neither good nor evil, and they must work together,” Bahram said.
Akisane stole a glance at the brown-eyed girl across the room. She leaned forward to fill a glass of wine. He turned away and examined his fellow goons. “You guys went to the capital some months back. How was it? I’m thinking of heading that way.”
The blade stump thumped on the table. “I have no fond memories of the place. Not growing up, and not on our last visit. It left me like this.”
Bahram made a sound of agreement. “Nasty business. I won’t be going back.”
Shank stood. “I’ve had enough of games for today.”
Bahram beamed as he swirled his pile of coins. “You know what they say about the lucky man?”
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“Save it,” Shank said and then noticed Lopside approaching the table.
The blacksmith gestured with his massive arm to a man and woman. The man’s face looked like a rotten potato, and his eyes were almost swollen shut. “Tell Lord Akisane what happened.”
The woman curtsied and kept her gaze down. “When the Butcher came to collect the poll tax from our house, we gave him everything we could.”
The mangled face of the man nodded.
She started crying but wiped her face and eyes with the back of her wrist to keep talking. “We gave him everything we had. We gave more than we could. When he turned to leave, our youngest son darted past me before I could catch him. The Butcher hit…” Her voice broke, and she shook at the shoulders.
Lopside put a hand on her arm and looked Akisane straight in the eye. “He killed their son. The little guy hit him in the leg with a tiny fist, and his response was to backhand with a gauntleted fist.”
Akisane winced but pushed the image away. He didn’t need to know all the suffering in Dunaguard. It wasn’t his problem. He’d have to leave anyway. “I told you I’d deal with the Butcher.”
“Do you think it’s just him?”
Duke Akitomo would do what he wanted with anyone, including his family. Perhaps given the opportunity before Thailoc broke free, Akisane could deal with the Duke, but it was unlikely. “I’m offering you more than you realize.”
“You could be like the lords the Good King surrounded himself with in his prime.”
Akisane downed his wine and took his jacket. “Have you noticed how they have a habit of dying in accidents?”
“If you could live it… I know you’d do the right thing.” Lopside had no idea…
Akisane carried the most infamous blade to ever exist. He was the Herald of Destruction. Soon he would lead Thailoc on a path that would level everything in his path. Which was why he had to act quickly and rid himself of Darksun. “Just take me to the Butcher.”
When they left the tavern, Shank spoke in a soft voice. “Why are you doing this?”
“I have a cold hatred of my father that was clouded by fear. It’s not much different with the Grand Captain. He’s as if you wrung all the most repugnant aspects out of the Duke and created a man from it.”
“The sword’s gone to your head.”
“I know. I intend to get rid of it.”
Oh, it’s not that easy. Darksun cackled in Akisane’s head.
Akisane walked with the group but wished he’d rode. Dirt blew in rivelutes along the cobbles. Supposedly the farmland lacked rain, and not only had it made the demands on the peasantry more difficult, it’d created a constant dustiness. It felt gritty between his teeth. He had to beat it from his clothes.
Less rain meant fewer commodities to pay the Butcher. It meant less to eat. It meant suffering. But wasn’t that the job of the peasants? They were foundation of the kingdom, and foundations bore the burden and sometimes cracked.
Lopside pointed to a flour mill. “Not far past that wagon, we’ll find him. I can circle around to the other side there, and we can crush him in the middle.”
Akisane squinted to make out the Butcher. Yes, there was the beast. “No, I intend to take care of him myself.”
Lopside looked at him like he was a madman. “Yourself?”
Henry (Akisane)
Level: 13
Focus: Telekinesis
Secondary focus: Shadow walker, fire walker
Weapons: Darksun Sword - 85% corrupt, decay+12