Born a Monster Chapter 257

257 Servant of the Axe – Shi Xinyi Lives

Chapter Type: Character Interaction

The general lived in a small tent, for now. It rested on a raised platform, and I could see the planks cut to make walls with. Whatever shortages there were of lumber elsewhere, there seed to be an abundance locally.

He finished signing three dispatches, handing them off to couriers. They took off at a dignified trot, not running but also not taking their ti.

“So,” he whined in a nasal voice, “tell all you know of Shi Xinyi.”

I cleared my throat. WHO?

Oh, him.

“He ca among us like a thunderbolt, challenging entire units to co at him. I have heard his mother was sentenced to guard a gate for daring to win a contest. Not much else, to be honest.”

“And tell this – was he taken alive?”

“That is my understanding, but not sothing I saw with my own eyes.”

.....

“And now the part that matters. I have been offered to trade your life for his.”

“Hardly a conundrum.”

“I agree. The exchange is to take place this evening.”

WHAT? I an, sure in terms of raw power...

“Great general, this guard begs dispensation to speak!”

“You feel we should behead the captive?”

“Yes, great general.”

The general sighed, and began speaking as though to a small child. “Can you count our siege weapons?”

“General?”

“Our siege weapons. The things that throw large rocks over long distances. How many of the nearly one hundred we have built are still operational?”

“Sixteen, at the last ti I could count them, lord general.”

“So... roughly one in six?”

“I do not dispute the general’s math.”

“Would you like to be fired from one at the top of the citadel wall?”

He properly kept his vision lowered.

“Most n would be on the ground begging not to.”

The guard sighed. “I will not disgrace my ancestors by begging, but no, I would not choose to be hurled at the enemy wall. I have neither Shi Xinyi’s luck, nor his chi abilities. From the top of the wall, I would not have dared to leap off and confront the enemy in all their strength.”

“Such is the greatness of that hero, that he survived all three of these improbable things. Do you disagree he is fated for a glorious death?”

“Nobody would dare to debate that!”

“And is languishing in prison sothing that should happen to such a hero?”

“Well, there is a prophecy regarding this very prisoner...”

The general took in a deep breath. “A prophecy, you say. That he shall slay our great leader, Zaodong Hwang?”

“Yes, lord general.”

“You have had charge of him for several days, have you not?”

“Yes, I have.”

“And you’ve not been killed by him? Not once felt truly threatened by him?”

“I would have killed him in an instant!”

“Excellent. Then you can see that he is clearly NOT worth the value of Shi Xinyi. We make the trade.”

“But... but... he will continue to live.”

“And so will Shi Xinyi. Raise your head, look in the eyes and tell he is more fierce, or more mighty, or more skilled than our warrior hero. I will order you to behead this monster now, and that will be the end of this matter.”

“I...” He kept his gaze lowered, and sighed before raising his eyes. “I would have my cousin returned safely. Fuck Zaodong Hwang, if he is ever so inept to be taken out by ... by THIS. But in loyalty to our leader as well, we should be ready to execute him, if this is a trick by the defenders to free him, or if Shi Xinyi has been hard.”

“Excellent! I have had trouble finding just that balance of loyalty and realism among my own n. Shi Gong, you shall take charge of four dozen n commanded by my daughter, whom you do NOT command, am I clear on that point?”

“I would never...” he visibly cringed as her masked gaze (a brass oni mask, eyes glowing red with obvious enchantnt) fell upon him. “I understand, great general, and thank you for the trust that you are showing .”

“Excellent. Review your troops, and then move out. Let them see from the wall that we have brought their dragon-man... Oh, so sorry, their dragon-eunich back to them.”

So truths do not need to be spoken; other than a bit of silver that sohow got inside , THAT wound was healing nicely, little as there was to heal down there.

He took a look at his soldiers; I took a look at his soldiers. They weren’t quite champion level, but they’d give the average Norvik soldier a pretty even fight.

“Well, we’re burning daylight, let’s go.”

Shi Gong advanced toward the gate, just within range of the archers on the walls. Then I was moved to the front of the formation. I guess this was really happening, since nobody attempted to shoot arrows.

I also noticed that Kumanchu hadn’t co to lay claim to . There was a reason I didn’t want him to do that, a reason I could sotis rember...

Ah, well, if it were important, I could rember it later.

Actually, it made no sense for to want to go back to him. I don’t think I’d sworn him anything. And, I an, a lot of the evil things that happened to were directly from his decisions.

But there was movent, first above and then at the Rice Gate. Slowly, it opened, and the portcullis raised. A group of about equal to our size ca out. Nobody I recognized... no, wait. Maternity armor. I couldn’t rember her na, but I knew her as a friend.

Too bad I had to kill her for being on the other side as Kumanchu.

Wait, wasn’t I on the other side from Kumachu? Wasn’t that what this whole prisoner exchange thing was about?

Wait, why couldn’t I rember whether I was Kumanchu’s prisoner or not?

“Let them advance most of the way.” Shi Gong said. “It would not do us well, to make the exchange, and then be betrayed by arrow fire.”

And this was done, both sides marching up to within sling and javelin range of each other.

Shi Xinyi was easy to spot; he stood a head and a bit above any other man there. He was muscled, and his dark skin... wait, was that second level skin? I an, obviously I picked it up from the kobolds so long ago, but how had HE gotten that?

He walked tall, with a broad smile. No marks of torture on him, which cause a bit of Envy to just ding off my sin armor. ng Wa advanced with him, Shi Gong with .

The two Shi cousins embraced, hands going to not-quite-polite places. Whatever, I had my own reunion.

At least I knew exactly what I wanted to say.

“ng Wa,” I said, “I appreciate this gesture, but I ought to return to the fu dog, Kumanchu.”

“Tell your noble won that, before you go. Decorum, and all.”

“Of course.” I said. “I’m certain they shall understand.”

And they DID understand, if not the way I wanted.

“Fires, children of the hell flas, hear , fear , and obey! I am the Blacksoul Madonna, and I command you to consu all of these curses on my doltish husband. IGNITE CURSE!”

Oh, I scread, and there were many hands holding down. I thrashed my neck, and gnashed my teeth. I think I begged and cursed, but I honestly don’t rember that part clearly. And then, rcifully, I passed out.

I awoke with more bruises than at any other point since I’d been captured, and the taste akin to a healing potion in my mouth. Soone had beaten about the eyes, and broken two... no, three of my ribs.

And I was hacking up phlegm that tasted of charcoal.

Oh, and so barbarian or other had rolled onto my back.

“Ugh.” I said, and then made a bunch of unintelligible noises.

“Yes, husband. I may have burned a good bit of you, as well.” Madonna told .

“Hrmph.” Kist added. “Teaches him right, losing another fight. Be honest, you fought while at or below half health, didn’t you?”

“Eyeaaa.” I gargled.

[Serious Injury: severed vocal cords.]

[Serious Injury: singed lungs]

[Serious Injury: exposed spinal column. (priority healing)]

Just as a curiosity, I tried to feel back there, underneath the copper-scented bandages. Kist slapped my hand away.

“No, you do NOT sever your own spine by scratching that.”

I sent.

“That was akin to sothing we might have done in the hells.” Madonna said, “Where did you GET that beast of a curse?”

“You owe a silver.” She told Kist. “He’s still talking coherently.”

.....

“Fine, here. I’m not sure he’s TALKING, but that was the spirit of that bet. Now give it back.”

“No, I won this one fair and square.”

“You said he’d be missing his eyes or sothing when he got back. You owe a silver.”

“Fine, take this one. I’m keeping my prize.”

But, by the rcy of family ties, I was back among my friends.