Kings Game

Chapter 122 - Traps

(1)

Kell watched Roran follow after the scrawny kid called Sephyr. Her last memory of Sephyr was from the Crucible. She'd watched Sephyr run away while Roran, helpless and unarmed, found a way to fight and kill a Champion. It had been one of her formative memories of Roran, of his resourcefulness and his willingness to keep fighting even when everyone else had given up. She still admired him for that, it was a trait she often found lacking in herself.

Pelkha turned and went the opposite direction. "Come on," she said. "You can't linger here."

Kell and Nul let themselves be led away from Roran. "This has to be a trap," Kell said, deadpan.

Nul grunted.

Pelkha kept walking straight forward, not a word to either of them.

"Yup," she said. "Definitely a trap."

"And yet we walk into it headfirst," said Nul.

"Wouldn't be any fun otherwise."

"You and I have very different-"

Whatever Nul was saying was lost to Kell as the floor opened up beneath her. Her stomach gave out for a brief moment as she became weightless. Then instinct kicked in and her etchings sparked as they activated.

She tumbled through the air for several seconds before landing on her feet with a thump. She was in a large cavern, well lit by fairy rock lanterns. It was spacious and surrounded on all sides by doorways, each of them guarded by a portcullis. Looking up, Kell guessed that the cavern was four stories tall. It was a perfect place for a massive fight.

"Quite the landing," said a voice.

Kell turned to find a tall Champion walking towards her. He carried a thick half sword in his hand and wore the vestiges of Tasos's court. Kell scoured her brain for a name.

"You're Rhout. Haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"

"I've been busy," said Rhout. "So have my comrades."

Another dozen Champions came out of the corridors. Kell recognized a few of the faces but it wasn't anyone she was particularly close to.

"Were you all preparing a party for me? Is this for my impending victory over Tasos? While I love the initiative, you should at least let me kill the bastard before you throw me a party."

Rhout chuckled. "No, I'm afraid this party is for Pelkha. She wants you out of the way so she can deal with Roran and Nul. It's up to us what happens, so long as you don't interfere."

Kell barked out a laugh. "Pelkha thinks she can take on Roran and Nul? Oh, that is the laugh I've needed all week. You do know Roran is a demi-god, right? You all watched him kill Destra, right? Anyone that goes against him is going to get slaughtered."

"Yeah, we accounted for such details," said Rhout. "We took countermeasures. We also thought it would be prudent to bring countermeasures against you as well." Turning to one of the Champions, Rhout called, "Bring him out."

One of the other Champions marched out an old man wearing black robes. Kicking his leg, they forced him to a kneeling position. He looked up at Kell with big puffy eyes.

Kell felt her heart drop. "Oh, Carrick. They got to you."

"I wasn't quick enough with my knife," Carrick said. "Sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. You always did so much for us. I'm sorry this is how it ended up."

"It doesn't need to be a bloodbath," said Rhout. "You play nice, and we'll keep Carrick here alive. You just have to sit tight until Roran and Nul are taken care of, then we'll let the dusty old clerk go while you settle things with Pelkha. If you decide to get ornery, however..."