Advent of Eternity - Chapter 71 (Patreon)

Everyone’s gaze shot to Sorfina. Her eyes widened and she took a step back. “I have no idea how that got there.”

Maya’s eyes narrowed and she shifted into a fighting stance.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Hawk said. “You actually were plotting. Thunder, I wish I could say I’m surprised you stooped this low.”

“I’ve been set up,” Sorfina snapped. “Why would I steal something so worthless? It’s just gold!”

“She’s right,” Thunder growled. “Listen –”

“I got promised the third-strongest item in the room,” a pirate spouted out. “Anyone else?”

Two hands rose. The tension thickened and Thunder pressed his lips together.

Sorfina and Maya stepped back as the mood in the room shifted rapidly. Sorfina’s eyes flicked to Knell and he let a grin stretch across his face. Recognition finally flashed in her eyes and she pointed at him.

“You! That’s the bastard I put a bounty out on Blackfoot Bay! You can’t trust him as your informer. He’s setting us up!”

“This kid?” Hawk asked, stalking up to Knell and grabbing him by the chin. Knell didn’t resist as Hawk examined his features, then prodded at his cheeks. “I remember that bounty, Sorfina. The kid’s got a staff, but you were very specific about a terrible scar covering half his face. Nothing’s here. He’s as smooth as a baby’s bottom. You’re a lying wretch, woman. And frankly, that doesn’t explain the overpromised treasure. Thunder was playing a little game with us, and I think you’re part of it.”

“Calm down,” Thunder said, raising a hand. “I know this looks bad, but–”

“Like I’d listen to you,” Hawk snapped. “No wonder you’re so insistent on our cooperation. You’re playing us all for fools.”

“I this because I’m the strongest!” Thunder snapped. “We’ll all get an equal share of the rewards here, but I needed everyone to work together to do that. None of you would have agreed if you didn’t think you were getting one of the strongest items here. Now that we’re here, we can work something real out.”

“You’rethe Strongest?” A tall woman in black clothes asked. Everyone froze. Knell hadn’t even noticed her when he’d entered the room. It was like she’d come out of nowhere, and that made him fear her more than any of the other people in the room.

Her face was beautiful, like it had been chiseled from ice. There was a terrifying grace in her step as she approached the pirate spokesperson. She didn’t even use magic, but everyone stepped back regardless.

“Captain Dread,” Thunder said, backpedaling. “I meant amongst the Blackfoot Bay pirates, of course. There’s no need for you to get caught up in our troubles.”

“No, I don’t think you did,” Dread said, running her tongue along her lips. “I came here to claim that key on the dais. That is why I lent you my aide. Your petty squabbling is wasting my time. I trust you haven’t promised that to someone else?”

Thorn shook his head empathetically. Knell’s hands clenched. He hadn’t accounted for Dread stopping them. Why did she even care about what they did? She could have broken the damn dais open on her own. If she made the pirates stop fighting, all his work would be for naught.

A small form bounced over to stand beside Dread and tugged on her coat. Everyone drew in a sharp breath as the pirate snapped down to look at who dared to touch her. Knell suppressed a groan.

It was Hau. She tugged on Dread’s clothing again. Dread clicked her tongue and, to the surprise of everyone, leaned down. Hau whispered something into her ear and Dread’s eyes flashed. She stood again, her eyes slowly roaming across the room. They caught on Knell for an instant and his blood went cold. His hands tightened around his staff.

“That being said,” Dread said, moving her gaze away, “I can say one thing. There is indeed a traitor in your group. You have five minutes. Deal with it.”

The air crackled with tension.

“I knew it. You dirty, backstabbing bastard!” Hawk roared, drawing his sword. He lunged at Thunder, who batted the strike away. The large man was still clearly weakened from opening Mount Bloodwater, but he was no easy target.

“You’ve signed your death warrant,” Thunder snarled. “Kill this traitor! Whoever does gets his share of the reward!”

“To me,” Hawk yelled. The captains split into groups and magic swarmed the air. Fire bloomed and explosions crashed through the room, sending gold and priceless artifacts flying. Battle cries rose up as the Captains and their attendants descended into a brawl.

Knell darted for the center of the room, his eyes lighting yellow. He ducked as a bolt of lightning flew over his head, meant for a pirate beyond him. Stix and Cyll ran along the edges of the room, meeting back up with him as they skidded to a stop before the dais.

Drawing on all his power, Knell cast Slow. His face returned to normal as he let Exhume drop. The invisible barrier resisted him as he tried to force the spell to take hold on the barrier surrounding the dais. For a moment, it held strong. Then, with a snarl, Knell pushed through. The spell leapt from his fingers and the energy crumbled, fading away as if it had never been there.

Stix grabbed the ship in a bottle and Knell snagged the key from the dais. Cyll threw him over his shoulder and darted for the exit, Stix hot on their heels. As they ran, Knell turned to where Dread was standing. He reared back and lobbed the key at her.

Her hand shot out and she grabbed it, a smile stretching across her face. She tipped her hat to him, then slipped into the shadows as if she had never been there. Hau waved to Knell, winking before she vanished as well.

The last think Knell saw of the room was Maya as she dashed for the dais, reaching out to grab the huge Boon at its peak. Then Cyll turned a corner and they were gone.

“It won’t be long,” Knell wheezed, bouncing on Cyll’s back as the large man sprinted down the hall. His body ached and he could already picture all the white hair he’d gained from overloading his spells so badly, but he was confident it had been worth it. “With the shitstorm going down and the best loot missing, I imagine it won’t be long before at least some of them realize they’ve been tricked.”