Chapter 5
Bree was a very attractive woman.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YqATGB3Li
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a toned figure from her time as a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW4BX3SC3J
Blade and now serving as a Captain in the Eluvian military. Instead of her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHCpnwrbyw
regular soldier attire, she decided to wear tight brown pants, brown booties,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRj3oqC4mR
and a white sleeveless blouse. It looked as though she took a lot of care in23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgn53iDLT8
her choice of attire as he had to try hard to ignore the feeling welling up in23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxkFKUpB7z
his chest. They weren’t together anymore.
“Oh Vander, I’ve missed you.” She23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxZIVM5Qlg
reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her hand as he pulled back.
“You don’t get to do that23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdG6fgemk6
anymore.” Vander took a step back into his room. “You made your choice six23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrp1SogL7c
months ago and I’m not one to play second fiddle to someone else.”
“Come on.” She scoffed. “You know23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsenUPJYdu
I had no choice. My father forced me into this, I couldn’t disobey him.”
“Not even for someone you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsp60toM94
professed to love?” he snorted. “I’d have left the Blades if you asked, but you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaSEfcqyYy
dropped me as soon as your father snapped his fingers. You never loved me Bree,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7IZBP2ypO
not really.”
“Vander, that’s not fair.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtQWiLWcMQ
voice was starting to rise. “I spent a lot of time this past six months23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6O8xyDih9
thinking about us. I will tell my father to end my engagement to Leon, so we23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6r7JvzbAh
could be together.” Vander’s heart pounded at the thought, but he wouldn’t allow23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsHqL2H88l
himself to be ruled by his emotions.
“I’m sorry, but you made your23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSefZrP6i8
choice and now we both have to live with it.” He walked towards the door and23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MvvWFSAZg
held it open. “It’s time for you to leave.” She sat there in the middle of the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyXMWpvCpl
floor her face flushed with rage. She clenched her fist and for a second he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VCo1xlRGU
thought she was going to swing at him. She thought better of it but made sure23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNQWCztJ0y
to slam her shoulder into his arm as she left. She didn’t even say goodbye.
“Give me the word and I’ll rip23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUQiktIZO3
her throat out.” Shea snarled. Vander walked over to rub her head.
“I don’t want to give you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvfAySuPxD
indigestion.” He teased.
He had known Bree since their time23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1oqialSqP
as recruits roughly eight years ago when they were both sixteen. They had23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrT38iCAzp
gotten close, along with the other members of their squad, but after an23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbCioqkCOV
incident during their first mission cost the lives of their training officer as23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5FvpXksEp
well as two of their comrades, they hadn’t been the same. They had clung to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIXxPyr8FD
each other during the rougher times and grew close. They had been each other’s23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZehrD8pyrq
first, a bond he thought would cement them together for the rest of their23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVp927vLbR
lives. But six months ago, that had fallen to pieces. He had done a lot of soul23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaMdGppMQR
searching while he was in isolation with his new recruits and decided that he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsumCGhD6U
would keep things professional between them, nothing more, nothing less. She23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHkVEhdF0X
had ended things with him for her father’s favorite and got engaged to Leon23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltFM8ytGVJ
instead. That was something he wouldn’t readily forgive or forget.
He rubbed Shea’s head then23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxVOoTX1jU
promised to bring her back some beef from the kitchen when he returned later.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQ6Ve0wbIC
He didn’t want to be late for his recruits first night out since joining. He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BkuSVYaQC
left his sword behind because he doubted he would need it, then left the room.
If there was a lot of people23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrH7aL11GX
before, there was even more now. People were crammed against the walls and the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDM5gmy6iu
servers were having issues making their way through everyone. A larger square23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5AubJd9kL
was opened up between the booths and musicians for more people to dance the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV71xGBvJYk
night away. Upon stepping into the floor, he saw Alexander’s head poking up23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBXA9jf0lO
above the crowd. It was one of the perks of being friends with a giant. His23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKUzxyY8YZ
voice thundered out to order some food and drinks for his table sending a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7YeKMML4W
couple of the servers scrambling to fulfill his wishes. Vander snaked his way23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKsgZHUAQS
through the crowd dodging flying elbows and kicking feet to get to the table. Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyreSUMo9Lj
was still wearing the clothing he had on earlier, but he left his uniform top23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TVaRiZ0LT
at home and instead opted to wear a black leather jacket.
“About time you got here.” Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UNkHw9BtP
grumbled. This man did not like large crowds, but he came out to spend time23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmboTZEBwe2
with his friend. A sacrifice that wouldn’t go unrewarded tonight. “Would me23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshVxHVLevd
seeing Bree storming out of here have anything to do with it?”
“Some.” He motioned for the bigger23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw3iinTs5X
man to slide over so he could sit down. “She told me she would end the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFyTSvT0t4
engagement with Leon to have me back, but I told her that I wouldn’t get back23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDy2O9w8fE
with her. She made her choice six months ago and I won’t be played for a fool23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DrtBOUEU0
again.”
“You turned that down?” Forest23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFNZUBiZkj
gasped. “I would have thrown myself at her if she asked me to be with her.”
“You’d throw yourself at a bear if23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLpWekx4TV
you think you’d get lucky.” Briar snorted. Forest shoved her then she shoved23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lTABITENj
him back. It would have devolved into a fight if Rooster hadn’t pulled them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS7KvIjXXB
apart.
“We’re here to have fun.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6ZA4FvEvW
snapped. “Not get thrown out of here before we even had a drink.”
Each of them had dressed in their23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTnbh3QmMi
best clothes for tonight. Most of their clothing was now a little too small23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBFcXGI0mp
since they had each packed on a ton of muscle since they left the city. He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewycdB5iFc
guessed that he would have to make a request to his grandfather to give them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ712rPmYqGE
some money for new clothing. The only one that seemed to have gotten clothing23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mYFEuhThV
that still fit was Eve. Unlike the others who wore pants and a shirt, she had23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8jXHAPIDp
decided to wear a long white dress and shoes. Even Chicken had decided to dress23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMuoiNwmoo
for the occasion and leave her oversized clothing at home. She wore a brown23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt0HktK3Kw
buttoned shirt and a pair of tan pants. He wondered if Eve had lent the outfit23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKsO6E8gx3
to her.
“Each of look very nice.” Vander23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UtsBuszIB
nodded his approval. “Remember, tonight feel free to eat and drink as you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jkHQzhMrt
please, but there will still be training tomorrow as usual, and I will not go23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakvDPD7FXE
easy on you just because you are hung over.”
“Come on Forest, let’s go dance.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsxJxHCy41
Briar pulled on his arm, removing him from the booth. He protested fully but23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjnSQ6LIJf
allowed himself to be led away by her. She grabbed his arm, placed the other23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKOv1V7kIg
one around her waist and started leading him around the dance floor making sure23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNnzYZaSnk
not to bump into anyone along the way. Within moments the two of them were lost23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJldB7ILmMH
from sight.
“Will you dance with me Vander?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbimm7BmxWb
Eve looked down at her lap. It took him a moment to register that she had been23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXU5UHU06M
the one to ask him and not Chicken.
“He has two left feet.” Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qs6QbepVL
slapped him on the back. “I’m you’ll find someone to dance with you out on the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdxyr7eCnL
floor. Look,” they turned to where he was pointing and saw two young men23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1xfmZBpyw
smiling at her from the other side of the Inn.
“But I want to dance with-“
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Vander forced a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvI59Yrtwo
smile. “I’m a bit worn out from our travels today, so I think I’ll sit tonight23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvlIKATFDp
out. Shall I call you over once our food is here?” Nodding angrily, she walked23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKkhM3RPXS
from the booth, grabbed both young men by their arms and pulled them onto the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnLVYwMgtN
dance floor.
“What about the two of you?” Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIaWh8915t
asked Rooster and Chicken.
“I think I’m just going to read.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFubS2TvXQ
Chicken removed a thick leather-bound book from her bag from under the table.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f1YIZaRsp
The title was called: The Life of Boris Britebyrd, The First Blade. He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n6dAZFULa
didn’t know that she was into history, seemed as though the two of them had23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESm5wbt8Kk
quite a bit in common.
“I’m okay just sitting here.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT6qVxiTkz
looked wistfully out towards the dance floor. Tracing his gaze Vander saw that23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKUxVLfBsc
he was watching Eve dance with the two men. It looked as though she was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5EIRKkYbn
enjoying herself, but that might also have been for his benefit.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuFMjeILnb
Vander asked.
“Because I see the way she looks23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJgrZjrgsK
at you.” Rooster grumbled. “And I can’t ever hope to compete.”
“It’s just a crush.” Vander23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFn686Q1T2
reached over to place his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “She will get over it.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbZcdTDNQI
Besides, no one could say no to you. You’re a wonderful kid and you won’t know23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV80gXFWD3s
unless you try.”
“Alright, but later.” He sighed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt8onGspde
He became quiet up then proceeded to stare out the window until the food23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb74SYEUAUY
arrived. The server placed down a basket full of bread, a bowl of hearty stew23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoYTLOOz3i
for each of them along with a tankard of beer and many glasses. Vander asked23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm1Vl06y67
her to bring him some Dwarven Whiskey as well. She came back a couple of23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQj5rhHLxO
minutes later with several shot glasses and the bottle.
Rooster and Chicken wasted no time23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLmzeqIyKc
and started digging into their food. They never let food grow cold or go to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4skntkhXpt
waste. A pair of bottomless pits which stemmed from their time homeless and23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV313STPid
never getting enough to eat. Forest and Briar came after a few minutes. Briar23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2lJQACDGx
was grinning ear to ear while Forest slumped into the booth breathing heavily23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaqMNusCPf
and sweating profusely from his brow. Briar helped prop him up before starting23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCuV0OkIrk
to eat. Eve was the last one to make it back to the table. She was out of23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBJjJmgAQY
breath, her face flushed with exhaustion. She sat down next to Chicken not23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1SM9aTsS7
looking up at Vander as she started to eat.
As the music thrummed into his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ1A39HS1S
head, he started feeling ill. Loud noises and people sitting so close to him23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmnASLeGDx
wasn’t something he enjoyed. His senses were being assaulted and he needed some23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXlzKwYLqD
air, but first he wanted to make sure the recruits were taken care of.
“Congratulations on making it23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8OoB2DsZw
through your first six months of training.” Vander said. “Alex and I couldn’t23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWaRIcjkVg
be prouder of all the progress you made since we started and while things might23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfns1Ywtg4
not get easier from here on out, I know you all make fantastic Blades. So, eat,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtftIYuDAsu
drink, and party to your hearts content.” Four of the five of them cheered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLloaeM9Riw
Vander poured them each a shot and they all tossed it back at once. “Will you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QKJSC0gk6
make sure they get home alright?”
“Of course,” Alex looked23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9LkV9EPwC
concerned. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Too much noise for me to handle.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWZ77TltiZ
Vander explained. “I just need to step outside for a few minutes okay?”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7KPrrBYDT
said with a slight frown. Vander excused himself from the table. He went23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3tSrHAEZO
through the kitchen then out the back door into the cool night beyond.
Nighttime in the city was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVNamWsov9
different from the forest. Out there the sky was clear you could count the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh1g7eIRFm
stars or try too at least. Humjir’s light shone everywhere even in the darkest23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2qeGy7gfl
corner. The animals made sounds of course as the night hunters prowled the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ7QM6Wi54
ground and sky, but there was a rhythm to it. There were times he and Shea23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1pisSl5XM
would stay out under a large tree listening to the animals as they relaxed from23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR5s1YgKhi
the day’s activities. Often enough Alex would come out to wake them out because23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycFQCkgvS9
they had fallen asleep in the grass. Here, there was nothing soothing about it.
Humjir couldn’t be seen from the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcYSmJXnOp
city aside from the highest tower in the King’s estate. You could only see a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqXeqdaqv4
couple of stars, but even then their lights were muted. Then came the sounds23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkjRqCfAXy
from humans, not animals, that showed how rotten the city truly was. The sick23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLUBrq9vxx
could be heard coughing all night long as the homeless shuffled along looking23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3nYGT40S0
for a place to stay, any place that would take them. The hungry wails of23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4qOmhYmsp
children often fell on deaf ears because everyone else was too busy partying23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeYwuDhG0l
the night away. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people inside the inn23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEKT6v3TAA
right now children at home starving had while they were drinking the night23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZfdbTtW4L
away. Both he and Shea were of one mind that they would be happier living in the woods away from all these people, but23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw88PREIbp
duty called and neither of them wanted to turn their backs on their friends.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYEBSWgfNM
Perhaps, one day, they would be able to retire somewhere far from here.
He was so lost in thought that he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6IVaZCFLp
failed to notice the door opening behind him. “You should really be more23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kdTGhv9lB
careful out here.” Julianna said. He wasn’t one to startle easily, but he leapt23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKCirhyfbo
from his boots once she spoke.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjtHvvWDW0
growled. She wrapped her arm through his and pulled him to his side.
“Don’t be a pansy.” She giggled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp0vbOQZTc
He could smell the slight tang of booze on her breath. Her face was flushed23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCGpnqknha
bright red, and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress hung loosely23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmcthHkddB
on her shoulder, so he reached over to pull it back up for her.
“You needed a drink to come out23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMHXxjzbb1
here and greet me?” he teased. “I thought you were braver than that.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezdLyXqj6R
“This wasn’t for you. Some of my patrons like me enough to buy me something to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXnJ20fcoQ
drink and dance with me. I just came out here for a breather.” The two of them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSxUgp1N2
stood there in silence leaning up against the side of the building. Julianna23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzV5dtm83P
placed her head on his shoulder, but she remained stony faced and still.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNrbtFMyw7
“Vander.” She said after a few minutes.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Did you get the closure you23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnsxS2X8Vk
needed with Bree tonight?” He looked down at her. There was a wistful look on23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5QGHNZXh9
her face as she looked straight ahead.
“Heh.” He laughed. “I was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTfBZeUnj3
wondering how she made it past you. You let her in didn’t you?”
“Guilty.” She spoke softly. “If23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl14HADMjP
you were going to take her back, I was going to throw you out of the Inn. Once23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j0W0miUtK
she stormed off pissed as hell, I knew you made the right choice.”
“You’re always looking out for me,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNhlENpukQ
thank you.” he bumped her shoulder lightly with his. She smiled up at him with23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSIWQ9yVno
a slight blush on her face. The two of them sat out there for a little bit23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AmqdYFodQ
without speaking. The quiet night air helped him soothe any aches he may have23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8oeHKmnAw
had plus her company was a welcome boon. He knew that she didn’t harbor any23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeni0c3sv6
feelings for him, neither him for her, but their friendship would stretch for23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY05rRe4W1l
years to come, he could feel.
A sudden shout along with the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG8HMMehUu
breaking of glass broke the serene quiet air. Julianna turned too him with a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvPJxit5Eh
concerned look. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “But23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXXxEdWYRY
stay here, let me go look.”
“It’s my Inn.” She snorted. “I23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRoNVKUs9P
won’t be waiting outside like some helpless damsel. Let’s go.” Shaking his head23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXErzoh9Ci
as she rushed past him, he hurried behind.
As soon as she walked through the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprZQMfohzE
door, he pushed her head down as a glass mug hit the wall next to them23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth6HfpDrIP
shattering upon impact. Shards of glass rained down over them, but they slid23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVnT6YJmS1
right off his sleeve. Thankfully there was no liquid inside.
“Bring that white-haired bastard23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREkl9dtVUr
out here this instant.” Someone shouted. Vander recognized the voice as Leon’s,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE75CC5o8p
so he must have been talking about him.
“Fucking Bree.” Vander pushed past23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrcMgv6RyY
Julianna through the kitchen and into the main Inn. Right in front of the door,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJBvDLZbxD
flanking both sides keeping anyone from either entering or leaving were four23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQvx0YB7JW
Blades, in uniform, with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Standing in23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIdxumzYYs
front of them was Leon with his sword out pointing to the ground. Vander met23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y9toVmRcy
Alex’s eye. He was standing in front of the table blocking the recruits from23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FWLcsZoqZ
being spotted by the pissed off Captain. Their eyes met. Alex shook his head23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu8RCfLEEO
and motioned for Vander to leave out the back, but he was going to leave these23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQyX6QwOgR
people here to take Leon’s wrath. As a captain he had a duty to uphold the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsM6fZnXFA
standard of the Blades, so he pushed his way through the crowd to stand in23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uZ4luVTNg
front of Leon.
“What are you doing?” His voice23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV7fI7buur
boomed. He made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Is this how a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxa1oT1DOf
captain of the Blades is supposed to act? Drawing your weapon in a business and23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKo5o4x20z
trying to intimidate everyone here? What’s the matter with you?”
“There you are you bastard!” Leon23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2g1QrfaQt
raised his sword pointing it at his chest. “Why was Bree here? What did the two23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OG1UbV3cB
of you do?”
“Is that what this is about?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdb19A8qYG
Vander scoffed. “Nothing happened, I sent her home, end of discussion. Now it’s23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNCAnw7yzb
your turn to get going before I report this to the Commander.”
“And you expect me to believe23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0SppTPHdA
that?” Leon laughed. “You were gone for six months and the day you come back23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77uwOMRJRb
she comes to visit you? You’re full of shit.”
“It’s true.” Julianna pushed her23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VOYReuRh2
way through to stand by Vander. “I let her in, and she left five minutes later23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kLJue6yRq
crying. I suggest you take it up with her and get out of my inn.”
“Now you have your new bitch23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pSSm8b8kW
covering for you?” Leon snapped. “Take this punk outside, we will settle this23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbO0DLyybD
like men.” The four Blades guarding the door moved forward towards the crowd.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP8hYvoS5u
Alex pushed past to stand by Vander causing the four of them to pause mid-step.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqatpOfog1m
“Alex, stay out of this, this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns us all when you use23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WWLHBr7og
your power for your own ends.” Alex snapped back. “You came to a private23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWc0eDls4P
establishment, threatened citizens, and are threatening a comrade, one that,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbUdJE2CK1
until recently, outranked you. This is an abuse of power especially settling a23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHMikpLecL
private affair.”
“You think that matters to me?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4I39gM6st
Leon asked. “When my honor is on the line? Do what I ask or I swear I will use23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6aeC3IMC8
everything in my power to crush you.” Vander stepped out until they were face23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LTkeZVvYm
to face.
“Is that a threat Leon?” Leon23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryZrOdDPq8
responded by pushing Vander backwards then bringing his sword up underneath his23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBmwjr9cAV
chin.
“No this is a- ahhhhhh!” Shea23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo2veSv53n
leapt out from nowhere and bit down on Leon’s sword arm. Vander could hear the23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KZHBfxDpa
bones crunching in his arm as she screamed out in pain. He dropped his sword23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE9yDNCTuL
then tried to wrench her mouth off his arm. Blood sprayed as everyone started23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Mojmw5Oah
screaming. Vander saw Leon’s goons rushing towards her, so he rushed forward blocking23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvTkiWJ6xx
their path.
“Shea, release him.”
“But-“ her voice echoed23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyxqR6Qw9J
back.
“NOW!” She released him, but23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicCwZinTGN
jumped out of reach and bared her teeth. With blood dripping down his arm, he23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwVZLFxkxp
slowly got to his feet. His face was red with rage.
“Your mutt will pay for that.” He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcTPyvVvXp
whispered. “You will all pay for standing in my way.” He grabbed his sword,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7kmxlilI1
spun around, and thrust at Vander. Because he was facing away from Leon, Vander23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKEolQxPrE
couldn’t anticipate the move. However, in his rage, he missed anything vital,23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwfTHh5Eix
but he still carved a deep gash into Vander’s side. He fell to the ground23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AC0ZqK7WC
holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Damn it.” Vander groaned. “What23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvx5CkK6tr
the hell is the matter with you?”
“You’ve looked down on me for too23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyHLVQ4NTR
long.” Leon spat. “Now it’s time you tasted defeat.” Leon lifted his sword23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIwbhTAhX7
again, but Alex got there first. His fist collided with Leon’s face sending him23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL5fHtQZny
sprawling onto the ground.
“You crossed a line and not even23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNU4CkLteN
your father will get you out of it.” He snapped. “You four, get him out of here23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZcMt1vHUR
before you find yourselves thrown onto the streets and not even Viggo Visc’s23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr8oGaqTMP
influence will keep you safe.”
“This isn’t over.” Leon growled as23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE9Rvlz16q
his four lackies picked him up off the ground and dragged him out. “You better23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck7UXQaySM
find yourself a new job, Alex. I’m coming for your ass.” Vander heard rushed23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtNpHloGJm
footsteps coming towards him. Julianna placed a towel over his hand to help23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Fm47AgHO
staunch the bleeding.
“Let me see.” She whispered. He23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsJG9Q8aVj
winced with pain as he carefully moved his hand. “It’s deep but didn’t hit23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfcKbBdzQt
anything vital. We are going to have to stitch you up.”
“Fine.” Vander allowed himself to23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCQszHrgq7
be lifted to his feet. “Alex, will you make sure the kids get back safely?”
“We should get you to a doctor.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgduuCiNE4
Alex said, but Vander shook his head.
“I’ll be fine.” He gasped. “Pay23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflus4lhoqE
for everyone’s meal as an apology for Leon’s outburst. There should be enough23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERoq9NpODP
money to cover it in my room. We will also pay for the damages here.”
23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpGN5tJ5Ck
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“I understand.” He said. Alex23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy3JOtneBc
began to shout, but Vander’s eyes started to close. The blood loss was more23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv1uzIsEJl
than he thought as he had difficulty staying awake. The last thing he saw was23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhG5yMgVs0
Shea leading the way upstairs towards the room.
