Born a Monster-Chapter 465

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465 One Night, Outside Whitehill

I sent to Black Legs.

he admitted.

He blinked at me.

I turned my back on a poisonous spider that was larger than the backpack it settled on. he sent.

๐’‡r๐™š๐™š๐“Œ๐™š๐‘๐—ป๐‘œ๐˜ท๐—ฒ๐˜ญ.cเซฆ๐‘š

My backpack jerked as he looked around.

he sent.

.....

But for all his doubts, we survived that night, and in the morning he had his fill of bats. (Minus three, because the mother could ask for her release, and those of her two daughters (who were able to send pictures and sticky feelings).

Black Legs asked.

I said,

[Transformation: Human, Achean Lineage has begun. Please do nothing stressful for the next thirty three minutes and twenty seconds.]

The transformation process always leaves stray bits outside; Black Legs was happily scarfing them down as the red faded from my vision and my pulse began to slow.

I cursed.

Black Legs said.

Hrm. Humans, second or third place in most things? No, not by a long shot. But they were... flexible.

I sent.

I said.

he said.

He leapt onto a nearby tree trunk.

he sent,

Dang it. What was I suddenly doing wrong or different? I used to have friends... er, okay, maybe not. Maybe they were all attracted only by the money or loyalty to other people.

But, once Iโ€™d gotten past the patrols, I made it to the house of someone who obviously wasnโ€™t my friend. His mansion was guarded; both humans and hounds patrolled the grounds. I decided to make my way around the front, approach through the gate.

โ€œI wouldnโ€™t move suddenly, if I were you.โ€ a man said.

I blinked into the darkness. โ€œI call upon...โ€

โ€œAnd nothing that resembles magic, if you want to keep your skin intact.โ€

โ€œMostly intact.โ€ said the short one, โ€œWeโ€™ll be scuffing you up a little bit.โ€ ๐‘“๐™ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆwe๐˜ฃ๐™ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒl.com

From looking at him, I was able to ... almost ... locate the other. I knew where he was standing, where he HAD to be standing. Still, it seemed he literally stepped out of the shadows.

โ€œUnless there is reason, perhaps, not to be doing that.โ€ he said.

I squinted at him. โ€œAre you, perhaps, brother to Gerald the Blade?โ€

He smiled. โ€œCousin, and sometimes a sparring partner. How do you know him?โ€

โ€œYou wouldnโ€™t believe me if I told you.โ€ I said. โ€œBut before we get to this, are you on Lord Oriestes-sonโ€™s side, or against him?โ€

He stopped, sword suddenly in his hand. I pulled Heartโ€™s Defender from my own inventory.

โ€œTHAT blade,โ€ he said, โ€œis sadly in need of some sharpening.โ€

โ€œI am aware.โ€ I said. โ€œIt happens when you use your weapon.โ€

The shorter man circled around to my right.

Into my left hand, I drew the barberโ€™s razor. Iโ€™d have preferred one of the shields, but I didnโ€™t think either of them was going to give me the time to strap it on properly.

โ€œRandal, stop.โ€ the taller man said. โ€œThis boy is under half his maximum health, already.โ€ And to me, he said. โ€œWhen was the last time you ate?โ€

โ€œA few minutes ago.โ€ I said. โ€œFound some berries.โ€

โ€œI mean an actual meal, lad. Cooked food, infused with care and bursting with nutrition.โ€

I shrugged. โ€œOnly a few days, now.โ€ I said. Randal, I noticed, hadnโ€™t stopped. He was working himself around to my back.

โ€œIs that so?โ€ he asked. โ€œFortunate for you, then. But rather than steal a meal, how about you...โ€

Randal chose that moment to use Shadow Step. I kicked backward, grabbing for the very arm he was trying to work around to get his dagger at my neck. A quick pull, and he was prone before me.

And the otherโ€™s blade was flat against the bottom of my chin.

โ€œThat,โ€ he said, โ€œwas impressively better than most people do.โ€

โ€œProfessional wrestlerโ€™s throw.โ€ Randal said, actually sounding happy about it. He made no effort to rise. โ€œBest drop your blade before he makes you drop it, kid.โ€

Instead, I put both weapons back into inventory.

โ€œNow.โ€ said the taller, โ€œhow do you know my more famous cousin?โ€

โ€œHe tried to train me to fight, once.โ€ I said.

Randal began laughing, all need for stealth abandoned.

The taller slid his blade forward, pricking my neck. โ€œTry again.โ€

โ€œI told you that you wouldnโ€™t believe me.โ€ I said.

โ€œAnd so I donโ€™t.โ€ he said, sliding just a few inches forward, to hold his blade in place, but with an easier to maintain bend in his arm. โ€œNow, try again.โ€

I yawned. โ€œYou wonโ€™t believe this either, then. I literally cannot lie to you.โ€

โ€œThe missus will know the truth of that.โ€ Randal said.

โ€œBind his wrists, if you please. Behind him, this time.โ€

โ€œThis time?โ€ I asked.

โ€œThere was an unfortunate time, this once.โ€ Randal said.

โ€œIt was last week.โ€ tall man said.

โ€œAnd having her wrists before her, a young lass thought to work her hands free and run for it.โ€

Tall man looked away. โ€œWe ended up having to kill her. So donโ€™t think weโ€™ll hesitate to do the same to you.โ€

โ€œNah.โ€ Randal said, tying my wrists one across the other. โ€œHe wonโ€™t give us any problem. Not when there might be a meal in it for you.โ€

I sighed. โ€œProvided weโ€™re headed to the house, I suppose I have no reason to cause either of you problems.โ€

It was not the missus, but Lord Mortimer himself who met us on the wooden porch that surrounded his house. โ€œMister Durham, Mister Hapston. This is a clear case of why both of you are OUTSIDE the property tonight.โ€

Randal looked confused. โ€œWhat do you mean, your lordship?โ€

โ€œLook at our guestโ€™s eyes, if you would, gentlemen.โ€

They did so, Randal reacting with shock, the other with annoyance.

โ€œYou may leave us now, gentlemen. And remember, attention to detail.โ€

I flexed, loosening the rope enough to slip my wrists free. It was only when I brought it around in front of me that I realized that I had broken it in two places.

Waste not, want not; I popped a loose end of it into my mouth and began chewing.

โ€œSo, Mister Rhishisikk, to what do I owe this visit?โ€ he asked.