Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]

Something coiling and black wrapped around my foot. A tentacle?

The world turned again. My face hit the stone, sword clattering down but somehow gripped onto. I was dragged back, away from Salem and toward a turn in the street, from which a hideous mass of skin and tentacles emerged.

Merlot?

Was that Merlot!?

Its giant maw opened, ready to draw me in and devour me.

"No."

The one word from Salem cut the beast off. With an agonised roar, it launched me like a frisbee. My armour skated and screeched across the stone as I skidded over the street and slammed through two wooden market stalls. I hit a tree and came to a groaning stop.

"I would not put it past you to survive being eaten by him. If I take my eyes off you for but a moment, you'll find some ridiculous and contrived way of making it out. I mean, really, I give you a pendant with a Rune upon it and you use that to forge your Path!" Salem hissed. "What are the chances?"

My Path…? But that was based on how I fought. What I did. I got more combat skills because I was a Blacksmith who put himself in danger. My head flopped back. Silver glinted above me. The tree I'd struck wasn't a tree at all. Or not a normal one. I slapped a hand on its trunk and Stoked the Forge.

"Is this fate?" Salem swept the Ironwood branches that reached out to entangle her aside.

—Forged Destiny [Book 9: Ch. 18]