🐲 Dragon and Phoenix (Path of Light and Fire Book #2) (Completed) 🐲

Chapter 47

Nine Years Ago

Scout's body lay just a few feet in front of him, wrapped from head to toe in a dark cloth and prostrate along the wooden planks. He was soaked in alcohol and Turrent's nose burned from the acidic smell. Once upon a time, he had craved liquor as a sign of his manhood. After this day, however, he was sure he'd no longer have a taste for the stuff.

The Elders stood in a semicircle around Scout, and all the Acolytes gathered into the room. Hebi stood in the front of the class, flanked by Kaizoku and Resu. Turrent hadn't had the chance to talk to him since he'd returned, but he could tell his friend had been crying. His face was puffy and his eyes bloodshot. Yet not a single tear caressed his cheek. The punishment for showing his emotions here and now would be swift and brutal.

Turrent stood behind Elder Reppin, his handler, with Scout's sword belt feeling awkward on his waist. They made him dress like Scout today, down to the black headband on his forehead. They were sending a message to whoever had put Scout up to murder of Okkai's daughter. Even there had been no reckonings he was aware of, it showed that Scout was right even in death.

Reppin cleared his throat, the years of smoking tengoku giving his throat a raspy tone. "The Acolyte before you broke the Blood Oath. He took a contract without permission and paid for his life."

Turrent's fingers twitched, but he stopped short of making a fist. He was not privy to the workings of the Elders, and he had no warning what to expect, but he was starting to see the plan. They would put this all on Scout.

Reppin grabbed Turrent by the shoulder and pulled him forward. "This Nameless ended his dishonor by putting his sword through his chest. When the occasion called, the last of your class ended the life of the first."

Hebi's eyes widened, and he stared at Turrent. Those were not eyes of anger or fear, but of confusion. Turrent kept his eyes forward, too ashamed to meet those of his best friend.

Former best friend.

Turrent focused on his breathing, but failed to slow the quickening of his heart.

Reppin reached into his coat and flung an Acadian dueling stick into Hebi's arm. "Do we have a problem Acolyte?"

Hebi grabbed his arm and gritted his teeth, then he shook his head. It was Reppin's favorite punishment as those things were fragile and impossible to remove without lots of effort and blood. Worse than a kick to the abdomen would be the pain you inflicted upon yourself to avoid infection. Turrent had never understood how Reppin weaponized those things.

Reppin adjusted his hunter green jacket and continued. "Let him be a deterrent to the call of betrayal and glory. Let his actions be a deterrent against your growing egos."

Turrent was so focused on ignoring Hebi that he almost dropped the torch in his hand. They weren't only putting the blame on Scout, they were building him now to replace him. To be the model Tsuchinan for the rest of them.

Reppin nodded to Scout and Turrent tossed the fire on his body, the heat irritating the wound on his face. He chanced a look at Hebi, but he stood there calmly, watching as his little brother's body burned before him.

"Teams will be selected tomorrow," Reppin said. "Get some sleep."

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The first thing that tipped him off was the scent.

It was a busy day in Covica. Merchants shouted at the top of their lungs as always, trying to gain the attention of some passerby. As a Son of Durai, he got special attention. Given he'd just left the castle, they ignored his weapons and his general sneer. Yet under it all was the feeling Gaia was just next to him, ready to guide someone to the afterlife. He hadn't expected Suharto to keep his word and perhaps it was just his paranoia.

When the bald head peeked from behind the nearby building, Turrent knew he was right.

Hebi? I killed you.

Turrent turned around, looking back towards the castle. He was far enough away to spot any trailing guards, but none showed. It seemed strange they would send one ghost, but would not send the army after him.

Assuming it was Suharto or Misaki. I could have finally lost my mind.

"So, we gonna kill 'em or what?"

Turrent put his hands on the hilt to his short swords. That was Kaizoku's voice. The last thing he needed was the man licking his blood again. The last time he'd done that, he and Hebi had almost killed him.

Hebi strolled down the street, hands in his snakeskin slacks. "When a man calls you friend and kills your family, of course you have to kill him."

"You're dead," Turrent said. "Both of you."

Hebi lifted his hands from his pockets, his snake tattoos swirling along his fingertips. "Yet here we are, walking down the streets of Covica in broad daylight. Seems Schewa decided to give me another go at killing you."

Turrent snickered. "Since it worked out so well the last time."

"Last time, they didn't have me."

Turrent looked to his right. The man looked familiar, with his two short swords on his waist. He wore black tights and a sleeveless black shirt which revealed burn scars running up the length of his arms. A black bandana pushed the hair out of his eyes, revealing similar welts from the flames on his face. His voice sounded the same as it had these past few days, full of derision and anger.

"How?" Turrent asked.

"You were right, Hebi," Scout said, his gloved hands wrapping around the hilts of his weapons. "It wasn't enough he murdered me in cold blood. He even took my style."

Turrent touched the scar on his cheek.

"There's more where that came from, Nameless." Scout said. "You won't catch me off guard this time. I'm ready for you."

Turrent grabbed two throwing knives from his wrist sheaths. "Turrent."

"What was that Nameless?" Scout spat.

"My name's Turrent."

Turrent drew on electricity, spinning and flinging his knives at Hebi and Kaizoku. Then he pulled his short swords and sprinted after Scout, determined to put him in the ground again.

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A/N: This chapter runs a bit long, so I decided to split it into two. I'm still tweaking the second half, but it should be good to go in the next couple of days.

So what do you think is going on? Let me know in the comments.