Advent of Eternity - Chapter 8 (Patreon)

A few minutes later, Stix and Knell headed out of the room and back down the stairs.

“Don’t feel too bad,” one man called. “You can’t expect to last too long on your first time.”

“Hence why I am hitting the bar,” Knell said with an exaggerated sigh. He broke away from Stix and sat down at the bar, sliding a copper coin across the counter. “A glass of Red Lady, please.”

The bartender smirked and poured Knell a large glass of red wine. He’d chosen the cheapest one for a reason. Knell took a small sip, watching Stix out of the corner of his eye as she strode out of the tavern looking indignant. He waited a minute, then stood.

“You know, I think I could give it another shot,” Knell mused. He poured the rest of the wine into his waterskin and raised it with an embarrassed grin. “Liquid courage for later.”

“Don’t waste all your coin in one night, boy,” the bartender said with a snort. “Unless it’s with me. Then feel free to spend all you want.”

Knell inclined his head, taking another swig and heading out the door. As he’d guessed, three men and a woman had surrounded Stix near the side of the street. A few passersby had stopped a healthy distance away to enjoy the night’s entertainment.

“There you are!” Knell called loudly, his staff clicking against the stone as he made his way toward them. One of the men – the one that had been standing behind Stix in the inn – turned to face him.

“We’re busy here, boy. You can speak with her once we’re done.”

Knell ignored him and slipped past the men, twisting to the side to avoid getting grabbed. A faint yellow glow lit in his eyes, but it faded as quickly as it had come.

“We were just leaving, gentlemen,” Stix said loudly. “I don’t have what you’re looking for, but please leave me alone.”

“Don’t act so distant, girl,” another man said, then nodded at the woman with him. “Give Lilly the stone and nobody gets hurt.”

“I don’t have it,” Stix said. “I already told you, I sold the stone.”

“Lies,” he spat, drawing a long dagger. “We got ways to make you talk without killing you, girl. The city ain’t the safe haven you seem to think it is. Rory, grab her down.”

“Hold on,” Knell said, putting himself between them. “Let’s not come to blows here.”

Rory bared his teeth. “You got in my way once already today. Step off, three legs. James, give me my dagger.”

The other man tossed him a blade and Rory pointed it at Knell.

“Oh?” Knell asked. “Are you going to make me to? Show off to your big friends by punching the boy that can’t fight back? You’re a lot of talk for a weak little man that has to gang up on a woman.”

Rory grabbed Knell by the front of his shirt. “You’re lucky we’re inside the city, you little shit.”

He shoved Knell, knocking him to the ground and sending the staff clattering from his grip. and Stix rushed over to get his staff and help him stand. Knell turned back to face Rory, blood red liquid dripping from his nose, and fixed him with a furious glare.

“Going to cry?” Rory asked with a snort. “Be happy you got away with a broken nose and get out of here.”

Knell raised his pinky finer to the man and made a hooking motion. He’d learned that particular insult from his father after someone had dropped a whole roast hog in a fire, and it had yet to fail him. Today was no different. Rory’s cheeks turned red in fury. “That’s it, shitstain. I was going to let you go without doing anything else, but you’re asking for it now.”

Rory lunged to grab him. Knell’s eyes flickered yellow and he leaned forward, sliding under the man’s hand. He twisted his body so that Rory’s dagger was headed straight for his chest.

The blade made an audible thunk as it pierced through his shirt. Knell grabbed the dagger, his eyes going wide. A red flower bloomed from the stab wound and he staggered back, the red liquid dribbling from his lips.

“You stabbed him!” Stix screamed. “They’re trying to kill us!”

Rory’s compatriots backed up, eyeing him with horror.

“What are you doing, you idiot?” Lilly asked. “You stuck the kid!”

Knell ripped the dagger out with a groan, leaning heavily on his staff. “I won’t let you kill me without a fight, you bastard.”

Rory started to stammer out an explanation. Knell whipped his staff up between the man’s legs. He doubled over with a surprised curse, but didn’t stay there for long. With a roar, Rory lunged at Knell.

A loud thunk ran out as Knell struck the man in the side of the head with the end of his staff, sending him crashing to the ground. He knelt, pressing a hand against his neck, then shrugged.

“Oops. He’s dead.”

Rory’s companions drew their weapons. Knell touched his stomach, then pulled out the waterskin, which had a huge hole in its side. “Oh, look at that. I don’t think he actually stabbed me. The Gods are smiling upon me today after all. Sorry about the mix-up.”

“Mix-up my ass. You killed Rory,” Lilly yelled. “Don’t leave this little shit alive.”

One of the men charged at Knell. He leapt back, his eyes flaring yellow, just in time to dodge a swing from one of the men.

Shadows gathered around Stix and she lunged at Lilly, driving a blade into her chest before she could react. Knell tripped over his own feet, knocking his assailant’s sword to the side with his staff and headbutting him hard in the chin.

While the man was staggered, Stix dashed behind him and drew her knife across his throat. He gasped, grabbing at his neck in an attempt to stem the wound.

Knell threw his body weight against him, pushing the man past Stix and into the path of James’ blade. The sword bit into the dying man’s shoulder. Before he could rip it free, Stix stabbed James in the stomach, twisting the blade before pulling it free. The last assailant crumpled to the ground, dead.