Ascension Of The Throne Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Read chapter 4 of Ascension Of The Throne by YLost on NovelPedia.

The hideout was a tomb of shadows, its wall slick with mildew and studded with rusted bladesThe ait hung heavy with stench of blood and burnt herbs..The damp wood beneath Cain’s boots groaned as he slumped into a chair, his jaw still throbbing where the brat had landed his punch. His fingers traced the old scars on his chest,a habit whenever he felt rage crawling up his spine. But tonight, his hands trembled. Not from pain. From sheer, boiling humiliation. With a sharp exhale, he slammed his fist against the table. “That brat.” His other hand found the hilt of his sword, gripping it until his knuckles turned white. “The job was simple. Retrieve the old man. How the hell did it fail?” Vexis cackled in the corner, his bandages slithering over his burnt pale skin as he tended to his wounds. “HEHEHE, maybe he is a stray dog with sharp teeth.” “Shut your goddamn mouth,” Cain snarled, his voice sharp enough to cut steel. “His moves weren’t street trash. They were trained—precise in a way you don’t learn in alleys. Familiar, almost.” Bruce, a mountain of scarred muscle, gnawed on a hunk of roasted boar, grease dripping down his chin. His eyes, wide and childlike, flicked to Cain. “Boss… know him?” Cain scoffed. “Hell no. I don’t deal with kids.” Cain spat, his tone venomous. “And why the hell are you eating? You let that barkeep toss you like a sack of grain!” Bruce whimpered, clutching his meal to his chest like a scolded child. His massive frame seemed to shrink under Cain’s glare, a strange contrast to the destruction he could unleash. Vexis leaned forward, bandages hissing as they coiled around his arms. “Do we tell the boss?” Cain’s grip tightened on his sword, his knuckles whitening. “If he finds out we lost the messenger, he’ll skin us alive—” “Oh, but I already know.” The voice slithered from the walls, icy and distorted. The air thickened, the single overhead light dimming to a sickly glow. Bruce covered his face like a child hiding from a nightmare. Cain who had never once feared battle—felt his spine lock in place, his throat drying.. Vexis’s bandages stiffened, their ends curling like frightened worms. Cain’s scar burned crimson, a jagged line of fury etched into his skin. “Boss! HEHEHE—it’s not what you—” The air thickened. “You don’t need to lie, Cain, dear.” The voice was silk wrapped around a dagger. “I saw everything. ” Cains stomach dropped. “Oh, it was quite entertaining . The infamous Hunter—tossed around like a ragdoll. A lowly tavern owner breaking your ribs. That boy disarmed you. Should I send a memory of it to our client? I imagine it would give them a good laugh.” Cain’s throat tightened, his pulse roaring in his ears. “I’ll burn that tavern to ash. Give me a day—” “Silence.” The word crushed the room, silencing even Vexis’s manic laughter. “A tavern keeper. A child. And you return empty-handed. How… amusing. The man’s already dead. We needed to question him. But oh, I suppose it’s good that he’s gone.” Cain clenched his fists strong enough for his veins to pop. His jaw tightened, brows frowned and clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. “But my humiliation—” “ Shut it. ” The voice cut through him like a blade to the throat. Cain froze. “The mission for House Veyra isn’t finished,” the voice said, suddenly cold. “And funding your pathetic revenge isn’t part of it. Await for your next mission, I won’t accept any excuse this time, unless you prefer your head to be served as supper” The air snapped back to normal, like a storm passing in an instant. The voice was gone. Cain’s body loosened, but the tension remained, curling in his gut like a sickness. “Well, that could’ve been worse,” Vexis muttered. Cain ground his teeth. The floor cracked beneath his boot as he stomped down. “GOD DAMN IT!” ******** The Iron Oak Tavern still smelled of ale and roasted meat, but the usual rowdy energy was gone. Instead it carried an unusual unease in the air. Chairs were broken, tables shattered and the atmosphere wa