The King's Lover

Caius felt the sword fall from his hand as pain filled his wrist, but even that felt numb. He had only managed to strike Ryder a few times, and none were fatal. Ryder, on the other hand, had landed several slashes, worsening the effects of the poison currently flowing through his bloodstream.

Caius staggered, not wanting to fall. He tried to glance toward Rose, but he couldn’t even turn his head in her direction and more importantly, he couldn’t take his eyes off Ryder.

Ryder closed in, also dropping his sword with a devious smile. When he got close enough he punched Caius hard on the side of his face. Caius was propelled backward, his head snapping dangerously to the left—still, he didn’t fall.

Ryder closed in, punching him again, and then again, until Caius’s lips were busted and his face was bruised. Still, he didn’t fall. Annoyed, Ryder kicked his legs out from under him, and Caius crashed to the ground, his armor clanking loudly against the earth and rocks.

Ryder was on him in an instant. "I told you to walk away, little boy!" he said, raining blows down on Caius’s face.

"Don’t worry, I won’t kill you," he said between punches. "I’m simply returning the favor."

Suddenly, Ryder let out a cry of pain as a dagger was stabbed into his back. He swung around and struck Rose, who fell back. Ryder cursed, lifting himself off Caius, ready to attack her.

Caius immediately reached for his sword, which had fallen nearby, fighting through the numbness and moving his hand with all his strength. He grabbed the sword and drove it through Ryder’s stomach with all the strength he had left. Then he collapsed back to the ground, all his energy spent.

Ryder turned to Caius with a startled expression, mouth open, blood pouring from his lips. His expression twisted into something sinister as he pulled the sword from his stomach, ready to impale Caius with it.

The sound of stone hitting bone echoed through the forest as Rose slammed a rock the size of a helmet right on top of Ryder’s head with all her might.