Chapter 152: Throats, Part II
The clang of metal echoed across the blood-red plains drowning in the setting sun as Rhaegar’s sword met Daro’s with a force that sent a jarring vibration through his arms.
The King’s Gold sang as the blades collided, each strike producing an ominous, metallic hum that reverberated in their ears.
"Look at you," Daro sneered, his voice carrying over the wind as he deflected another swing from Rhaegar’s blade. "The proud Beast King. Do you even remember who you used to be? Or did your crown crush that part of you?"
Rhaegar snarled, his amber eyes blazing as he pressed forward, their swords locking in a deadly embrace. "I haven’t forgotten, Daro. I just outgrew the petty, spineless schemer you’ve always been."
Daro’s lips curled into a grin, his black hair whipping around his face as he forced Rhaegar back with a sudden, powerful push. "Outgrew? No, you abandoned it. Abandoned us. You left the tribe, the only people who ever took you in. And for what? To rule over a kingdom of beasts who killed your mother?"
The words hit their mark, but Rhaegar didn’t falter.
"And what about you, Daro? Siding with the queen? Selling your soul for power you’ll never deserve?" He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing Daro to leap back to avoid the strike. "You were always second best, and now you’re nothing but a pawn in her game."
Daro’s grin faltered, anger flashing in his dark eyes. He lunged, their blades meeting again in a shower of sparks. "A pawn?" he hissed, his voice low and almost venomous. "Then let me show you what a pawn can do."
Their movements were a blur, the King’s Gold catching the fading sunlight as they danced across the battlefield.