The Forgotten Faithful: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 2) Cajiao, Jez (best selling autobiographies TXT) š
Book online Ā«The Forgotten Faithful: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 2) Cajiao, Jez (best selling autobiographies TXT) šĀ». Author Cajiao, Jez
āYouād let me fight him, sir?ā Thomas asked, and the Paladin nodded in satisfaction.
āYouāre still a man after all, eh? Good. Iāll have use for that fire in your belly. If I let you fight him, will you swear the Oath?ā
āWhat Oathā¦sir?ā Thomas asked, shifting his jaw, and probing his teeth with his regrown tongue. It felt as though some of the teeth had been replaced, but some were still sharp and jaggedā¦he could live with them, though, as long as he got his chance here.
āSwear to obey the orders of the Church of Nimon, to follow where He leads, and to face the false gods wherever they skulk. Swear to obey the commands of the Holy Order, and one day, who knows, boy? You might end up standing as a free man again. Or youāll be kept, as appropriate to the crimes youāre accused of.ā The Paladin nodded toward Boris and the others, and Thomas paused, thinking quickly. Heād be signing his life away, property of the Church to such a strict degree that even a slave wasnāt. A slave always had the hope of escapeā¦butā¦heād be a soldier again. Heād be able to move around the camps, even earn his way up the ranksā¦if he were lucky. Heād heard the horror stories of the Oathsworn, the Warriors of the Nightā¦but heād heard the good tales as well, and at least heād stand a chance this way.
āIāll swear, sir, if I get a chance at him?ā Thomas said, jerking his head toward Boris, and the Paladin grinned at him.
āExcellent! Perhaps this morning isnāt a waste of my time after all!ā He clapped his gauntleted hands together. āNo time like the present. Form a ring!ā he shouted, gesturing to his men, and in short order, the prisoners, transport wagons, and guards had formed a rough circle around Thomas, Boris, and the Paladin of Nimon.
āSirā¦the collar?ā The Church solider asked again.
āHmmmā¦ no, I think not. For now, it stays on. He can earn its removal,ā he mused, looking Thomas in the eye. āMage?ā
āNo, sir, Arcane Soldier,ā Thomas said, getting a raised eyebrow as a smile quirked at the edge of the Paladinās mouth.
āReally? Well now, thereās a rare gift. How many spells?ā
āFive, sir. āFlame Touchā, āMagic Missileāā¦ā
āBest you keep them to yourself, son; weāll talk later. For now, youāve got the chance to prove yourself, followed by an Oathbinding as a Slave-Aspirantā¦ā The Paladin said with a nod toward Boris, whose face was a mix of fear and fury.
āEās a criminal! Eā attacked me when I werenāt ready, anāā¦ā Boris spoke up quickly, pointing at Thomas.
āThen youāve got the chance to face him fully aware now, havenāt you? How wonderful.ā the Paladin said, cutting him off. āIāll admit Iām curious, thoughā¦ if an Arcane Soldier attacked you without warning, yet you still managed to defeat him, why are you a simple jailor, rather than leading a squad now? Hmmm?ā Then he turned to look Thomas up and down, noting his condition and dismissing it as unimportant. āIf youāre a real Arcane Soldier, boy, youāll be able to beat this streak of shit easily, even as weak as you look.ā
āIf not, then youāre a liar, and I expect this jailor will beat you to death, in which case Iām out a potential soldier. While Iāll regret the loss of a man, Iāll not have liars in my forces. Last chance to back out.ā
āIāll rip off his head and shit down his throatā¦ Sir.ā Thomas said, shifting from foot to foot, ready to fight. āDo I get a weapon, or do I have to do it with my bare hands?ā he asked, focused on Boris with laser-like precision.
āWhat do you use?ā
āAnything, sir. I trained in spear, sword, mace, lance, and Morningstar.ā Thomas replied, still focused on Boris, watching the sweat beginning to bead across his forehead. Thomasās injuries were still there; most had been healed, but months of beatings, deprivation, and abuse couldnāt be reversed in a single spell. He was weaker than heād ever been in his life, and absolutely desperate for the chance to kill his hated attacker.
The Paladin nodded to the soldier that had unlocked Thomasās restraints, and he sighed, pulling his own mace from its hook on his belt.
āYou better not damage this, laddieā¦ā the soldier quietly warned Thomas, handing the weapon over before stepping back.
āWell then, letās see what you both can do,ā The Paladin nodded, his mustachios quivering as he grinned at the two men standing before him, and he stepped back.
Boris lunged forward immediately. His regulation short sword whistled through the air, the tip cutting a thin line across the ragged, filthy jerkin Thomas wore.
Thomas had judged the distance as best he could, moving back a single step and bringing the mace up to catch Borisās left forearm as the jailor lashed out with his cosh, trying to end the fight quickly.
Boris screamed, dropping the cosh from suddenly numbed fingers. Taking a quick step back, he yanked the sword back around, only for it to clang off Thomasā hastily raised mace.
Thomas twisted his wrist, deflecting his opponentās sword to the side, and kicked Boris hard on the inside of his left knee, staggering him.
Boris half-fell backwards, the encircling men and women moving with him, and he thrust frantically with his sword, rust spots standing out clearly. Thomas leaned aside, lashing out and grabbing the jailorās wrist, pulling him forward.
Thomas grinned into the terrified eyes of the man whoād tormented him, beaten him, and tortured him for months, and he brought his borrowed mace around to smash down onto his forearm.
The flanged mace hit with sickening force, and Thomas felt the bones shatter under the blow.
Boris
Comments (0)