Chapter 21: I was made for the stage

Chapter 21: I was made for the stage

Alright mutt, want to take your place on the stage? Or do we need to drag you up here?

Dantes smirked. Dont worry, I was made for the stage. He began walking forward, his escort dispersing now that it seemed like the elves were going to honor their part of the bargain. He saw Tel grinding his teeth as he walked toward it, and saw Pinion wearing an impish grin. Maybe if he was lucky hed be able to kill him too.

Dantes climbed up, and Reivare leapt up on to it with grace, seemingly just so that he could look down on Dantes as he crawled up. Reivare was nearly a foot taller than him, and his wiry lean muscle and tattoos showed in sharp contrast to Dantes slightly below average height, practical many pocketed jacket, and underweight frame.

Dantes looked out into the crowd. He made eye contact with the Clan Stonedust leader, Iron in the Mine, who lifted a drink toward him with a cruel smile. He saw a half dozen people exchanging goods with a gnome running a gambling stand for the consortium. He guessed that odds were high on him dying after no less than four racial slurs and stereotypes were shouted at him by the elves. He caught sight of Syn toward the back, wearing the face of an orcish onlooker. He was surprised to see that she wasnt working, but noticed the brief wink she gave him. He wondered if she knew exactly what he was planning, or just knew him well enough to guess that he was planning something. The rest of the crowd was mostly unknown to him aside from the occasional gambler hed rolled dice with, or merchant hed traded with. They were here for entertainment more than anything. He couldnt blame them, It could be hard to break up the doldrum of the Pit.

So, dog, do you want to lay down while I drive, Reivare pulled the rapier smoothly from its place embedded in the stage, This into your heart, or do you want to stand and take the chance that you may flinch and Ill need to stab you more than once?Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Ill stand.

Reivare smirked, and flourished the blade above the crowd. The Mutt thinks hes brave. Well see if thats the case when I move to run him through.

His toadies chuckled at his joke.

Dantes kept making minute adjustments to where the rats were, looking through Jacopos eyes where he was crouched on a nearby roof to keep track of where everyone was standing.

Dantes moved to stand at the opposite end of the stage and gave a wide smile spreading out his arms. Im going to give you one last chance. He said, his voice carrying over the crowd and drawing everyones full attention.

Reivare lifted his rapier and steadied his hand perfectly in line with where Dantes heart was. Lost your mind with fear, eh? One last chance for what?

To surrender.

He laughed. Here I thought you might have half a brain. Im afraid Ill have to decline, mutt.

Attack! said Dantes, and the rats hed called answered in kind, three dozen of them swarming up Reivares legs, biting and clawing at him.

He screamed, clawing wildly at himself, and flinging his already wounded form against a nearby wall in an attempt to remove the rats that were swarming across him and tearing into his flesh. Several died as he tried to fight free of them, and Dantes could feel the last bits of favor he had rapidly fading with each rats death.

Reivare was flailing wildly with his rapier, but Dantes risked lunging for him anyway, not wanting to attempt the attack after the favor ran out and the rats stopped serving as a distraction. He drove his shiv into Reivares chest, pushing it into him with all of his strength.

Reivare managed to give Dantes one more hate filled look before he collapsed, all light leaving his eyes.

Dantes fell backwards, panting heavily, the sounds of chaos still carrying across the undermarket. Even half exploded with rats all over him, Reivare had still nearly killed him. Had it been a straight fight, he never wouldve had a chance. Still, it wasnt as if straight fights were ever his forte to begin with. He looked down at the rats, still tearing at the corpse.

You guys can leave if you want, or eat for a minute or so while I catch my breath. Thanks for all your help.

One of the rats, a mottled gray one with fangs sharp as daggers peered up at him, blood dripping from his fangs. The eyeballs are the best part.

Dantes nodded. Uh-huh thanks for sharing.

Once hed caught his breath, Dantes went over to the body, gently brushing the rats away while he searched it. He took the sheath and belt from it, and found that they shared a similar boot size so replaced his own with Reivares pair, which must've been far nicer considering they were in miraculously good shape in spite of the explosion that had otherwise shredded his lower half. He found a small glass vial filled with dust that he pocketed as well as a handful of gold coins. Once he was done looting the body, he grabbed the corpse by the long gold strands of hair and picked up the rapier. He dragged him through to the center of the Undermarket, sure to let everyone see what he was doing.

Those who were looting, or fighting all stopped to look at him, and the chaos around him quieted enough that more and more people took notice of him. He didnt see a single living full blooded elf, which meant either theyd all died, or more likely, theyd ran for it when they started exploding.

When he was certain that he had an audience he lifted the body and head up by the hair so no one could deny who it was. He raised the rapier, and swept it in a slow circle all around himself, aiming the point at everyone that surrounded him.

Let this be a lesson to everyone. Dont. Fuck. With. Me. With that, he dropped the corpse and walked out of the Undermarket. The path clearing for him silently as he did so.