Page 197 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
“Four hundred and seven?”
“Yes?” Rufus rubbed the back of his neck, rueful. “Why?”
“That’s disgusting.” Brownie crossed her arms. “No wonder you look like someone stabbed you in the kidney.”
“How do you know—”
“Knife training. I’ve seen a lot of things. Now,whydo you have four hundred and seven notifications?”
Rufus shrugged. “I am the right hand of the king, and in charge of the security of the Black Fortress. That means my abilities keep track of the personnel within the castle. I have notifications about the movement of the army, the well-being of the citizens, follow-ups with the patients I’ve mediated before, and—”
He stopped, seeing the horror that played across Brownie’s face.
“And you process that many notifications …every day?” She suddenly wanted to give her beastman a very big hug.
Rufus shrugged. “Give or take.”
“That’s … I don’t know what to say. Do you want a hug?”
He smiled and threw an arm around her, leaning in closer on the carriage front bench. “I would never say no to a hug fromyou.”
“Tease.” She poked him in the side with a finger, but then slid her hand behind his back and leaned into him. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
The Black Fortress loomed ahead. It was very black and very imposing, with a moat surrounding the tall black stone walls. The bridge was wide, leaving room for two large golems to guard either side of the gateway into the castle.
And standing in the middle of the path was a familiar lizardkin, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
Rufus leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Do you think Gerda is having to pay for him standing there, or does it only count if he decides to cross the bridge?”
“Cross the bridge, I think,” she replied. “He hasn’t technically stepped onto the bridge yet, so she might not be charged at—Spoke too soon.”
The lizardkin took a step forward to block their path. His hands were on his hips, as was his sword, and he announced with his usual grandeur, “Commander General Rufusss Triever, I challenge you to a duel!”
“Alright.”
“You can’t talk your way out of—What?” The lizardkin must have had no faith in Rufus’s promise, since he’d obviously expected the beastman to refuse.
“I accept your challenge.” Rufus hopped down from the wagon and walked over to Knolith. When he was within punching distance, the beastman raised one paw. Knolith flinched, but Rufus simply placed his hand on the lizardkin’s shoulder and smiled at him. “Let’s do it right now.”
“You’re seriousss?” General Knolith asked, eyeing Rufus suspiciously.
“Completely,” Rufus confirmed. “You defeat me, and I’ll step down from my positionandnot compete at the upcoming Winter Solstice Tourney.”
General Knolith purposefully shrugged off Rufus’s hand and took a step back. “You’re making light of my abilitiesss.Again. But we will see who has the last laugh!”
With that, the lizardkin turned on his heel and marched toward the training grounds of the castle.
Brownie jumped down to join Rufus as he followed Knolith. The lizardkin’s robes swooshed in a breeze reserved only for the swordsman.
“Thatmust be a perk, right?” Brownie whispered to Rufus. “Or a passive skill?”
Donna snorted.
“Oh, that’s a perk. Definitely. A waste of one, in my opinion,” Rufus agreed, reaching out and taking her hand as they walked.
Behind them, news of the fight spread like mage fire. People closed up shop and gathered, and a single imp flying over the fortress saw the commotion and teleported away.
