Chapter 41 13. Dacus's Left Hand
The next day, the dark road.
Malus Darkblade is in big trouble. He killed a noble steward in Clar Karonde and failed the Trial of the Hacksir Voyage. Now, he is in debt, and his father, Lehan, can forgive the debt with just a nod. But he is a burden to his father, and his father will not agree.
Malus's father disliked him, but he didn't throw him to death at birth. His birth was a bargain between his mother and his father. His half-siblings seemed to sense this, too. They were much older than him and could kill him at any moment. However, they stopped short of monopolizing the family wealth, leaving him to wither and rot.
Malus had been foolish, naively believing they were too preoccupied with other machinations to plot his doom. But how had they known he was selling goods in Clar Karonde? And who were those dignitaries who had waved to him from the city walls the day before yesterday? Clar Karonde was far to the northeast, one of the most remote of Naggaroth's great cities. Could a courier have outrun the assassins of Khaine, galloping down the coast through the Chillheart Sea and the Malice Sea? Was that even possible? Or were they communicating through the sorceress's crystal ball?
These questions tormented Malus throughout his journey down the Dark Road. Ignoring the Slave Gate, Kalond Kaar, and sailing directly to Clar Kalond was unorthodox and rash, yet even so, his enemies awaited him. And even then, he thought with disgust, there was that damned letter.
In Clarkalond, at the Night Warden's Castle training ground, Daquus was still being beaten by Kesley, but it was better than yesterday, at least he could block it.
Suddenly a waiter came in and said that there was a man named Duruchi from Nagarond in the waiting room who wanted to see Daquus.
"Naggarond? Has the Witch King Malekith noticed me? Has he sent someone to ask me to learn the dark arts from him?"
With doubts in his mind, Dacius asked the waiter to invite the distinguished guest to the reception room.
He practiced with Kesley for a while, but he didn't say anything when asked. He just repeatedly showed Daquus how to move and draw his sword.
"Sorry, Kesley, that's all for today. I have to go meet a distinguished guest." After saying that, Dacus saluted Kesley.
Kesley returned the greeting and then looked at Walter. The meaning was very clear: you don't have to go, I'll practice with you.
Daquus put on the three-piece set of noble robes, Hadrica, and noble curved sword, and walked towards the reception room.
After walking a few steps, he heard Walter's screams and the sound of weapons falling to the ground. He knew how badly Walter was beaten without looking back. Walter was only good at horse riding, and his martial arts skills were not as good as his. He shook his head.
In the reception room, a middle-aged man named Duruchi was sitting quietly. Dozens of family guards were ready to take action. They were all a little nervous. They were keenly aware of this quiet Duruchi and his extreme danger, even though his left arm was missing.
Outside the reception room, Butler Dia was waiting to meet Daquus.
"Who's in the room?"
"Master, he should be a black guard!"
Darkus looked at Butler Dia in surprise. Butler Dia nodded in confirmation and said, "Master, I will go and report to the young master."
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The living room was long and wide, with a Hag Graves marble table in the middle, about 10 swords long (one sword was 2.4 meters long), and the man was sitting at the far end of the table.
Seeing Daquus come in, he stood up and nodded, and said calmly: "Nagarond, Bainie Bloodbane, I salute the Hellbane family and salute you."
"Darkius Hellblight."
After greeting, Bainie looked at the family guards around him. They looked at Daquus and shook their heads slightly at him.
Dacus estimated the length of the table and said, "This isn't the right way to treat guests. It wouldn't be good if word got out. You guys should go out first and leave the door open!"
After saying that, he adjusted the angle of the chair and sat down, supporting himself with his left hand on the table and one foot on the ground. He even scratched the ground to make sure that he would not slip, then adjusted his sitting posture so that he could rush out at any time.
At this time, Kesley entered the reception room carrying a scimitar executioner knife, looked at Daquus's sitting posture with contempt, and then stood on his left.
The family guards were filing out, and Bainie looked at Kesley with suspicion.
"Let me introduce you. This is Kesley, the family law enforcement champion of the Hell Disaster Family. He is not in a position to speak."
Bainie stared at Kesler for a long moment, then nodded and said, "I've heard of you in Naggarond. I heard you're quite good at fighting."
Kesley raised the curved executioner knife and shook it.
"Okay! Let's practice later!"
Daxus was speechless.
Bainie began to introduce himself: "I was once a Black Guardian, Lord of Annihilation, and Master of the Twelve Towers."
Out of courtesy, Darkius didn't stare at his missing left arm.
Bainie laughed at himself and said, "Of course, that was all in the past. I'm useless now."
Dacius asked suspiciously, "Then why did you come to see me?"
"I came to you on the oracle of Edrezer, the Lord of Blades, to teach you martial arts. I heard that you can't even beat a monkey?"
Dacus thought, "Wow! Why is this Druki talking about something so irrelevant? Thank you, Molayg Heg, praise you! My dear old grandmother."
Then, Dacreus said carefully, "Excuse me, where is your left arm, Coran Blackhand?"
Bainie nodded dejectedly and said, "Yes, Koulan took the initiative to challenge me to a duel. He said he had made a new breakthrough."
"How long have you been in service?"
Bainie raised his head and said proudly, "Three hundred and eighty-eight years!"
"Fuck! What are your conditions?" Darkus quickly added, "Except for me to defeat Koran Blackhand, everything else is fine."
Baine was choked and didn't know what to say. Daqiu could see that he was a pure Duruchi, a Duruchi who only knew how to fight and kill.
Dacus stood up solemnly, straightened his noble robes, and said, "I know a place that should be able to restore your arm. You should avenge this vengeance yourself!"
Bainie was stunned, hesitated for a moment, stood up and said, "I have no children. Wealth and land are of no value to me. Where is that place?"
Dacus smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry. There's no point in worrying. I'm probably the only one who knows that place. When the opportunity arises, I'll take you there. I mean what I say! Is it time for the competition now?"
After saying that, he walked out of the reception room.
In theory, all eight winds of Duruchi magic could be used, but they lacked the means to teach them. Five thousand years ago, there was a powerful male life mage. Unfortunately, Malekith read a prophecy of destruction, foretelling his own death at the hands of a male mage. Thus began the birth of the most deplorable and untrustworthy creatures of Duruchi society: the warlocks. Malekith cursed them with the Hollow Spell, and their souls have since wandered between the mortal realm and the Realm of Chaos. Slaanesh, the god of love and art, grew his hold on their souls. As this hold tightened, dark runes shimmered with life upon their flesh, and unholy flames slowly pierced their skin, tormenting them.
Afterwards, Malekith put a bounty on the heads of the new generation of warlocks. Once found, they would be locked with red-hot steel chains and brought to him, and he would let the warlocks experience the beauty of this world.
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