Page 33 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
CHAPTER 16
Am I Your Favorite Bard?
Brownie
“You take joy in my defeat! I knew it!”
Brownie felt the rush of vicarious victory fade as General Knolith accused Rufus. The naga watching from the viewing windows also quieted, and many began to whisper among themselves.
“No! I, um …” Rufus grabbed his exuberant tail. “I simply enjoyed the fight?”
“If it helps, I think we all enjoyed the fight,” Brownie interrupted. No sense watching a rivalry story turn wrong when she could join in and steer everyone in the right direction. “It was a short bout, but your ice sword blast was as beautiful as your footwork! And you both managed to land a hit. Doesn’t that make you happy?”
“What? Happy?” Knolith had dragged his fierce eyes away from Rufus and stared, confused, at her.
“You literally froze the clothes off of Rufus.” Brownie pointed to the fluffy bare chest of the beastman, his sleek muscles covered only by his neutral golden coat.
“She’s right.” Rufus nodded. “It was a close call. And I might not be so lucky next time.”
The tunic he’d sported earlier was a frozen, rumpled sheet lying on the other side of the ring.
Knolith looked between it and the beastman.
“I told myself that I would defeat you, and I will. No matter how long it takesss,” the lizardkin declared. His robes gently swayed without any discernible breeze. Brownie wondered if there was a perk for that. “This was just the beginning. Be prepared for the winter sssolstice. Iwillinherit my rightful place as commander general!”
“I thought the Dark Enchanted Forest was a meritocracy?” Brownie interrupted. Both men faced her again, and she shrugged. “Was I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong, Bard,” Knolith said. “But Iamdestined to be the commander general!”
“Did Madame Potts say so?” Brownie asked, still confused where the certainty came from. “Was there a prophecy?”
Rufus was the one who actually answered. “It’s not like that, so far as I’m aware. He just wants the job.”
“Wantsss the job?” Knolith repeated, incredulous. “My father was the commander general, as was his mother before him. Our family has been the right hand of the ruling house of Nilheim forthirteen generationsss!”
“The point of a meritocracy is to let everyone have the opportunity to compete. It prevents more deaths in the long run,” Rufus said gently.
“My father died ofshamethat I did not inherit his title, and I ssswore on hisdeathbedthat I would defeat you. You know this!”
“Your father died of shame?” Brownie interrupted again. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Rufus frowned. “His father died of a heart attack—and he’s not deadnow. Old Dame Julith got to him in time with a Revival potion. I saw him at the St. Veralyn’s Day Tourney last month.”
St. Veralyn’s Day was a holiday celebrating Dragon Veralyn the Green, who’d defeated an evil knight named Sir George of Lindale. Brownie knew many songs featuring the knight’s evil deeds—primarily his well-known dislike for dogs and horses. And the one time he’d kidnapped a dragon’s princess and tried to marry her. Luckily, Veralyn went after the poor girl. Imagine the audacity!
Arranged marriages were stressful enough. Look at Henrietta’s. Her parents had tried to marry her off to an idiot marquess who couldn’t tell the difference between a lyre and a lute! At least the System controlled title contracts for things like marriage or having children. Such things required both parties to select [Yes].
Knolith raised his hand dramatically then made a cutting motion between them, his martial sleeves elegantly flowing with the movement. “Iwillreclaim my rightful place. And Iwilldefeat you at this Winter Solstice Tourney.”
“I’ll accept your challengethen.” Rufus waved a hand dismissively and went to retrieve his frozen tunic. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go find a new shirt.” The commander general walked over to Brownie. He slipped on his vest and offered her his free arm. “Shall we?”
She waved goodbye to the lizardkin as she followed Rufus off the plateau and into a cavern stairwell.
“Where’re we going?”
“Have you had a chance to see the city yet? There’s a restaurant with live music overlooking the Carn Waterfall,” Rufus offered. “My treat after getting attacked by one of my generals?”
Ambient sunset light from the many small window holes carved into the stone blended with the magical lanterns overhead, casting shadows on the stairs.
