Book 4 Chapter 19: Silent Auction 1/2

Book 4 Chapter 19: Silent Auction 1/2

Brixaby took a step back in shock, looked down at Arthurs bloody arm, and then narrowed his eyes.

Let us talk, he said, placing one clawed hand on Arthurs shoulder.

Knowing he meant to draw Arthur into his Personal Space, Arthur nodded. Thanks to Brixabys nullification powers, theyd be able to talk there despite the fact time moved. It would only seem like an eye-blink to people on the outside.

But the Personal Space card wasnt Brixabys. It was Arthur's.

Fiery pain arched from his heart where the card rested down to his arm before coming back again. Arthur kept from screaming only because the air felt like it had been punched out of him.

He wrenched away, hunching over.

Cant, he grit out, breathing hard.

A few people glanced his way, carefully, from the corners of their eyes while trying not to look like they were watching too hard. Hopefully, they would just think that he had injured his shoulder fighting Bradley.

Arthur couldnt afford to be seen as weak.

Arthur, Brixaby started to say, but Arthur shook his head.

Cant use my cards right now, he said in a low undertone.

Brixabys eyes widened. This is unacceptable, he hissed. The link between us is still strong. I can feel it. You must be able to use your cards. I will get you to a healer

Arthur breathed in and out carefully, mastering the pain. The intensity had gone down quite a lot. Now the connection between his heart and his broken card anchor throbbed.

He was likely doing so well because he had a few levels of Pain Resistance. Otherwise, that last move might have made him pass out.

He felt a bit of sympathy for Bradley for having three cards ripped out of his chest at once. But only a little bit.

If we leave, we forfeit the cards, he said.

Brixabys jaw snapped shut. He looked torn, though Arthur guessed he was leaning toward picking Arthur up and just flying off with him anyway.

Brixaby really, really loved new cards, but his ultimate loyalty was to his rider. Most of the time.

Too bad Arthur also really, really loved cards. Also, he knew Lopezs men didnt have the power to keep things under control. People were cowed, thanks to Arthurs takedown of Bradley, but the moment Arthur left, the strongest would try to reassert themselves. And theyd likely kill any witnesses. Who would be left to say that a second wave of scourgelings hadnt shown up?

No, Arthur could wait a bit to see a healer. The pain from his shattered card anchor wasnt getting worse as long as he didnt activate his cards.

I want to see this through, he told Brixaby, firmly.

The dragon hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh, dipping his head. Very well. But when we return to the city

Well go to the hospital, Arthur said. Marion would likely know someone who could see to the card anchor and would keep his secret.

Meanwhile, the adventurers who werent actively harvesting under the Sheriffs watchful eye and a few who were were giving Arthur and the still unconscious Bradley glances.

One man in particular with a bald head and weird lips that were hardened into a point like the beginnings of a beak, approached the down man.

He stared at him for a moment with greed in his eyes.

Hes still alive, then? Something about the tone of his voice suggested he could easily change that if Arthur gave the go-ahead.

Arthur moved to stand between them. Though he didnt like Bradley, hed worked hard enough to see the man at least come out of this alive. He is.

The beaked man stared at him. Then, coming to a conclusion he snorted. Pity. He owes me money.

Then you can ask him about it when he wakes up.ReAd latest chapters at n0v(e)lbin.co/m Only

The man snorted again, but then turned around and walked off. He walked like a bird, too, all stiff legged and awkward.

Pah, I would have very much liked those cards. Joy could have used the toxin, too, Brixaby said.

With a shake of his head, Arthur turned to him and spoke quietly. I couldnt let anyone know what our powers were. Plus, Lopez and his men will be scanning everyone to make sure no one sneaks extra cards away. You think they wont notice if I suddenly have three more cards and Bradley has none? That wasnt even going into the fact he couldnt put those cards in his heart or shattered card anchor.

Yes, yes, well Lopez should give you all the cards you want, for doing his job, Brixaby said, loud enough for one of the undersheriffs to hear.

Then he moved off to help harvest cards from the scourgelings' corpses.

Arthur stayed put under the guise of guarding Bradley. The truth was, he thought he might lose consciousness if he moved around too much.

Kinetic shield was the more popular out of the two. Someone had already placed 4 points on it.

The Last Resort card would have been useful to Arthur with his Nice Shot card, but it was too rich for his blood, already being up to 8 points.

No one had bid on Rainbow Knight, however.

Arthur put down 6 points on Kinetic Shield and 4 on Rainbow Knight.

Brixaby was mulling over What Was Once Broken, when Claude arrived, smiling, and placed a full ten points on it.

Brixaby showed the man his teeth but had only been feeling half-hearted about the card.

Let us look at the body modification section, he said to Arthur.

That was by far the most popular with all the adventuring groups, and bids were thick and fast with a few cards already on their second page worth of scrawled notes. Teams were pooling together resources for the best of these.

A speed enhancement card seemed to be the focus for many.

Arthurs attention was drawn away by Brixabys sudden purr of delight. This is perfect for me. I will have it!

Intrigued, he stepped over to read the card his dragon was focused on:

Scales As Hard as Stone

Rare

Body Modification

The wielder of this card will have any bodily scales turn as hard and impenetrable as stone, without affecting flexibility, weight, or movement. Stone scales will have normal resistance against temperature and will not change color.

This is perfect for me, Brixaby exclaimed, loudly. Why was this made from a scourgeling and not a dragon?

I kind of want to see the scourgelings that this came from, Arthur said, amused.

They walked back to the bidding board and Brixaby let out an indignant squawk. Who dared put 4 points on my card?

With a flourish, he picked up a spare writing tool in his claws and wrote down a bold 5.

The moment he did, the man with the weird beak-like lips approached, looked at the paper, and then added 8 points.

You dont even have scales, Brixaby pointed out.

In answer, the man rolled up a shirtsleeve which was covered in mottled skin.

Brixaby made a dismissive sound. That is lizard skin, not scales. This card will not work for you!

Well, I dont see your bid on the top for it, the man said.

Arthur frowned. Brix

But Brixaby had already moved and wrote down 10 points.

He turned back to the beaked man with a smug expression.

Thats fine, I didnt want it anyway, the man said dismissively, and then walked away.

Had Arthurs arm not been burning with pain, he might have face palmed. The man had just clearly egged Brixaby onto spending all his points. Likely, hed been seeking revenge for not being able to harvest Bradleys cards.

Well, Brixaby seemed pleased with his top bid, so Arthur kept his thoughts to himself.

And, with that bid, they had used all of their points.

Lets go, Arthur started to say, gesturing toward an open area to wait.

Just then, a commotion broke out.

A small, skinny man whod been one of the few besides Arthur and Claude without visible body modification had obviously captured the attention of the wrong people. Arthur didnt see the actual theft, but the man was trying to flee straight across the flat plain.

Knowing he had zero chance to escape, Arthur stood back and watched the show.

(Note only because I know Ill get questions. This is a two-parter, and you really think Ill let Arthur go through all this and walk away without any cards? )