Shadowstruck

Chapter 4 Part 4

They had walked through the marketplace for a while, Noah leading the group, and they were now seated on the edge or a roof overlooking the town. Noah and Cooper had placed themselves between April and Sean, and were currently discussing swords.

"I mean, yeah, most people have shields, but this is fine for me." Cooper nodded towards the sword sheathed on his back. "Then I get a free hand to slap whoever I'm fighting."

Noah laughed. "Or...you can use your free hand to have a second knife."

Cooper smirked and glanced over. "Oh? A second one?"

Sean leaned forward. "You have knives?"

April shifted so she could look at the brothers. "Not right now, but yes." She laughed at their confused expressions before nudging Noah. "You gotta show them now."

He sighed, still grinning. "Alright." He stood up and made a grabbing motion at the air, leaving two shiny knives in his hands. "Second knife."

Cooper smiled wider and jumped to his feet. "Whaaaat?"

Sean looked up. "I'm confused."

Noah threw a knife across the roof and watched it fizzle into dust and disperse into the air. "Second knife: gone."

Cooper ran towards the spot it disappeared, eyes dancing. "Holy shit."

"Language."

"Shush, Sean."

Sean rolled his eyes and turned the Noah. "I thought you had the shields. I've never seen the knives when you two fight."

Noah shrugged and tossed the other knife between his hands, thinking. "I never really have to use them. April usually has the offense side covered. I just keep her from dying."

She stood up. "And it's appreciated."

Cooper grabbed his sword, ignoring the quick metallic screech. "En guarde?"

Noah turned and shifted his feet. "Anytime."

Clangs filled the air as the two of them fought, trading lighthearted insults back and forth, both grinning widely.

"So what's his artifact?" Sean stood next to April, arms crossed.

She looked over her shoulder. "He's got the guards as artifacts, which he uses most of the time, but he's Powered. He can summon anything." She nodded towards the two boys. "Most of the time it's the knives."

"Huh."

They fell silent as the fight continued.

"So the staff is your artifact?"

"Yep. What about you?"

Sean nodded at the book. "That."

Quiet again.

Then a head popped up from the ladder they had climbed to get to the roof. "Hello?" It brightened upon seeing the faces. "Oh! Hi!" They climbed up the rest of the way. "You guys look like you're having fun."

April smiled. "They are." She paused, studying the girl. "We can go if you need us to."

The girl waved her off. "Nah, you're good. I just heard some sounds and thought I would check it out." She stuck out her hand. "I'm Koko."

She shook Koko's hand. "April."

Koko's eyes widened. "Ooh! You're the, uh, the king's knight, right?"

She laughed and bowed a bit, winking. "The one and only."

"So...why are you out here?" The boys noticed the newcomer and stopped fighting, Cooper re-sheathing his sword and Noah letting his fizzle out before they walked over. They looked at each other before speaking in unison. "It's her birthday!"

Koko gasped dramatically and started jumping up and down."Happy birthday!"

Noah laughed. "The king let us go." He turned to April, winking. "I think I forgot something down by Second Alley. Would you be so kind as to go grab it?"

"You are a chaotic dumbass and my best friend all at the same time." She saluted and started down the ladder, rolling her eyes at the faint 'Thank you!' that followed.

She jumped the last few feet and jogged back up the street, turning and waving to the rooftop she had just been on before running back up the pathway.

She knew that by Second Alley, he didn't mean the shop itself - rather the alley behind it. She turned the corner and snuck behind a wall, finding a folded piece of paper with her name on it. She opened it.

'Happy birthday, April. - Noah (PS: Look behind you.)'

She looked over her shoulder and almost got knocked down from a hug. "April! Oh my god!"

She laughed and hugged them back. "Chrysie!"

They held on tighter. "It's been so long!"

April didn't speak, trying to keep the tears from falling. "Yeah, it has," she whispered.