Page 112 of Oath of Rebellion

"You're no king. You're a savage mockery of what a leader should be. Killing your sister and parents? Bleeding the people dry with taxes to pay for your bloody war?"

His heart hammered in his chest, and his stomach twisted. Anger threatened to choke him with smoke, but he breathed in the crisp air of peace and out a steady stream of green poisonous gas.

It sank to the stone, billowing up around their heads, growing in intensity. His nose began to bleed as the use of too much magic. This was more than even blasting the entire castle with the sleeping gas during the robbery.

The drakin king was tougher than most humans, but he wasn't immune. He began to choke, his eyes and nose dripping and his flickering hands burned brighter, a beacon for Knox to attack.

Knox launched himself at the king's legs and tackled him to the ground. They rolled with grunts, and Knox straddled his torso. He landed a blow to Gastone's head, making it snap to the side. Wet-hot drops of crimson splattered across the stone.

"Burning down the forest? Blowing up homes and half the city? Those people have done nothing to you but obey unjust laws that benefit only you. Bleed and die on a battlefield for a war only you want. No more," Knox ground out as he rained down a flurry of blows with claws as sharp as any dagger.

The king roared, a burst of flame shooting out from him as he bucked. Knox fell back, his stomach twisting and his eyes growing heavy.

The king whipped an elbow up and drove the point into his jaw, his red-shot eyes wild with madness. Knox bit his tongue, the taste of copper flooding his mouth. Pain pulsed through his head, making him see stars.

Knox grunted and kicked out, his tail whipping out to seek its target. Gastone rolled out of the way, the venom landing uselessly on the ground. He had to stab the king through the heart and inject his venom. The poison breath wasn't working fast enough. It was his strongest weapon, and the king had to die.

Knox' stomach twisted with guilt at what Eirwyn would say about it, but the king was mad with power. Knox scrambled to his hands and knees and dove at Gastone again just as he began to gather more magic. The two tumbled, exchanging blows and kicks with merciless force.

Knox' tail wrapped around the king, trying to hold his arms down and block punches. The king twisted a wrist and the magical burning rope wrapped around Knox' tail, jerking it back. The king landed a blow to Knox' temple.

Blood stung his eye. His breathing became labored and still he pushed more gas into Gastone's face. The king choked, and the flickering flames on his hands shifted from red and white to blue.

His claws raked through the king's jacket, shredding it and drawing blood. Gastone's hands burned Knox where they hit, the sharp sting of pain in his ribs making it harder to breathe.

The magical rope tossed him back, dragging him by the tail. A mixture of red blue flames shot at Knox, but he rolled just in time.

The flame hit the stone, melting the wall. Knox' heart stopped and his eyes widened. The king's arms shook, but he didn't stop.

Knox blew green gas at the king and roared, launching to his feet and picking his opponent up around the waist to slam him onto the stone tile.

His tail struck down at the king's face. Gastone's Red-rimmed eyes widened, and he pushed up with his arms. The barb punctured through the jacket, and the king jerked, bucking Knox off again and throwing a blast of sputtering blue heat.

The heat didn't hurt Knox, more scales covering his body the longer they fought. Knox twisted, watching the king shake off the venom. He wasn't sure if he'd broken the skin or not. He had to try again.

He angled his tail as he reached up to grab the king's hands in solid scale covered claws. The king wrapped the burning whip around Knox' arms and jerked.

Knox went flying over the king's head, landing on the edge of the railing. Venom splattered on the king's sleeves as Knox landed a few feet away.

He blinked, looking down at the crowd below. There was a clattering and clanging of battle, but Knox couldn't tell which side was winning.

Knox groaned and blinked the pain away. He shook his head trying to clear it of the ringing, then rolled to his side to find Gastone.

The king was already on his feet. He brought his boot down on Knox' throat. Knox grabbed his foot and twisted, his heart beating wildly. His tail twisted out to gain leverage for a strike.

"Die... already," Gastone panted, his nose bloody and one eye swollen shut. He raised his shaking hands, blue flames flickering as he reached for more magic.

Vines twisted around the king's back leg and jerked. A sputtering fireball shot out, disintegrating the vines even as the king stumbled. He hit the edge of the melted stone wall as Knox came to his feet.

A feminine cry rang out, "No!"

The king stumbled to his knees, his eyes rolling back in his head as he fell to the stone. Knox didn't stop as blue flames still covered Gastone's hands. He dove again, stabbing down with his tail and puncturing his throat.

The king's mouth opened and closed like a fish on a hook, and Knox jerked his tail back. A small pinprick mark was at his neck, a trace of green ooze around it.

It would take a few minutes, but Knox breathed a sigh of relief.

Then his tail was jerked back.

---