Page 107 of Oath of Rebellion

Scarlet trembled in his arms and gasped, gripping his shirt tightly. "The king."

Panic shot through him at her fear, and Knox handed her into Ashur's arms. "Take her. Get them to safety."

"What are you doing? You can't go out there alone."

Knox turned to go back toward the cellar, righteous anger burning in his chest. "I'll buy you some time. Go, get them safe, then initiate step two of the rebellion."

Ashur nodded and turned back to the crowd. Knox strode with purpose, unlocking the hatchet that hung from his belt. He wiped his forehead and stepped into the cellar.

The king stood with his legs spread wide and hands behind his back. "Ah, there you are. I've found you."

Knox' brow rose. "Were you looking for me?"

The king's jovial smile turned down, his face reddening in the soft light from the lantern. "I was actually. A little birdie says you're the leader of the Robins. Would you care to join me upstairs? These cellars are such dreary places."

Knox' eyes narrowed and he widened his stance. "I'd rather not."

The king shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. No manners. You will address me as your majesty."

Knox snorted. "You're no king of mine."

The king's hands glowed orange as he gathered magic. "I guess I'll just have to teach you etiquette myself."

The king's smile turned into a wide grin, and Knox' heart began to race with adrenaline. He widened his stance. The king threw a fireball, and it exploded above Knox' head. Boxes fell from the shelves.

Knox jumped out of the way, but more boxes rained down on his head. He lifted his tail and arms as they crashed down on him, his hands shifting and his arms growing scales. The wood splintered, and Knox heaved, throwing them off with massive claws.

The king raised a hand and a fireball exploded to the left then another to the right. Knox was thrown to the floor, trapped between burning boxes. Smoke began to fill the room.

He coughed and beat at the flames as he struggled to his feet. There was a soft pop and a fine, black dust settled over the room. A shot of pain ripped through Knox' head, making him groan as he came to his knees.

A coil of rope lashed around his upper arms, binding his tail and arms to his sides. The rope burned, and he roared. It turned into a cough as blood filled his mouth.

The cellar floor was filthy beneath his knees, but it was the pain that made him groan. The pulsing magical rope was made of white hot fire.

He flexed his shoulders, stumbling to his feet as he pushed against the bonds. They squeezed tighter, the air rushing out of him in its ruthless grip. His shirt began to smolder at the hot coil of fire. He panted with shallow breaths, grunting as he strained.

The king laughed.

Knox froze, then looked over to the stairs.

The boxes that had fallen all around were now burned to ash, and the smell of smoke hovered in the air and on his clothes. Eirwyn wouldn't like all the dirt and grime.

His chest burned as he coughed through the smoke, his own green gas sinking to the floor to mix with the smoke.

"Ah, there you are. I had wondered if you were the type of drakin who was resistant to fire, but it seems like you're tougher than the average human like Eirwyn."

Knox spit, the metallic taste of blood making him want to gag. His blood boiled in rage. This monster had been throwing fireballs at Eirwyn since she was a child? The terror had to stop.

"You've been hurting her, you monster," Knox said, struggling against his bonds and widening his stance.

The king stepped back, a snarl of disgust on his face. The king shook his head and spread his hands wide, fire glowing from his palms.

"Monster? No, you're the ugly scaly monster, you low-life, no good bastard."

Gastone threw another fireball, and Knox jumped to the side, straining against the rope as it tightened. He crashed to the soot covered floor. Pain raced up his side, and he grunted as he saw spots.

Gastone continued with no change in his tone from the exertion of magic. "Imagine my surprise when I realized that not only was Eirwyn alive but she was slumming it with the leader of the Robins. Who–by the by–was a drakin too."

---