Chapter 5
Bree was a very attractive woman.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJJZEGLQTP
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a toned figure from her time as a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybMX7WyoCH
Blade and now serving as a Captain in the Eluvian military. Instead of her88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Bh4B5NnV
regular soldier attire, she decided to wear tight brown pants, brown booties,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4yRNqRmm5
and a white sleeveless blouse. It looked as though she took a lot of care in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX3XIkLV1M
her choice of attire as he had to try hard to ignore the feeling welling up in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOZfiCwpfn
his chest. They weren’t together anymore.
“Oh Vander, I’ve missed you.” She88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyIYPluhrW
reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her hand as he pulled back.
“You don’t get to do that88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4baVjKETXr
anymore.” Vander took a step back into his room. “You made your choice six88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTUeZpBlmG
months ago and I’m not one to play second fiddle to someone else.”
“Come on.” She scoffed. “You know88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi4thlIMpZ
I had no choice. My father forced me into this, I couldn’t disobey him.”
“Not even for someone you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrp6gpVmn2
professed to love?” he snorted. “I’d have left the Blades if you asked, but you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeuxmKekun
dropped me as soon as your father snapped his fingers. You never loved me Bree,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uPtwCdmfm
not really.”
“Vander, that’s not fair.” He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjE5I1kcJz
voice was starting to rise. “I spent a lot of time this past six months88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ckUIki3x5
thinking about us. I will tell my father to end my engagement to Leon, so we88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtFvZwxkMX
could be together.” Vander’s heart pounded at the thought, but he wouldn’t allow88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hlYALi5QG
himself to be ruled by his emotions.
“I’m sorry, but you made your88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtMh8yWVXi
choice and now we both have to live with it.” He walked towards the door and88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBRZG4w1pD
held it open. “It’s time for you to leave.” She sat there in the middle of the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXGiJUIMqP
floor her face flushed with rage. She clenched her fist and for a second he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WdNPn3ifd
thought she was going to swing at him. She thought better of it but made sure88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqfsaX5s1E
to slam her shoulder into his arm as she left. She didn’t even say goodbye.
“Give me the word and I’ll rip88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndUttABdMv
her throat out.” Shea snarled. Vander walked over to rub her head.
“I don’t want to give you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAqZ3H1x2Y
indigestion.” He teased.
He had known Bree since their time88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWf0Jgkpj1w
as recruits roughly eight years ago when they were both sixteen. They had88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuglksfNTbD
gotten close, along with the other members of their squad, but after an88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwv1WfhyEb
incident during their first mission cost the lives of their training officer as88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E9evLJc8V
well as two of their comrades, they hadn’t been the same. They had clung to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3SF2fhc41
each other during the rougher times and grew close. They had been each other’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hP2jTzhjU
first, a bond he thought would cement them together for the rest of their88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyJmCPiKSz
lives. But six months ago, that had fallen to pieces. He had done a lot of soul88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5tGOunTf5
searching while he was in isolation with his new recruits and decided that he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZinkyWwnM
would keep things professional between them, nothing more, nothing less. She88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwONNlYYuF
had ended things with him for her father’s favorite and got engaged to Leon88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrVYapQBcL
instead. That was something he wouldn’t readily forgive or forget.
He rubbed Shea’s head then88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSNBdGHsnM
promised to bring her back some beef from the kitchen when he returned later.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez8D4OBiYV
He didn’t want to be late for his recruits first night out since joining. He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo1J5zgFCT
left his sword behind because he doubted he would need it, then left the room.
If there was a lot of people88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBCIWI2O3b
before, there was even more now. People were crammed against the walls and the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLUMqGHk9z
servers were having issues making their way through everyone. A larger square88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDj6Jih66vp
was opened up between the booths and musicians for more people to dance the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprsdOJb03r
night away. Upon stepping into the floor, he saw Alexander’s head poking up88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BFszWkqZ9
above the crowd. It was one of the perks of being friends with a giant. His88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrESKeGVOb
voice thundered out to order some food and drinks for his table sending a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiSG1QAYiw
couple of the servers scrambling to fulfill his wishes. Vander snaked his way88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDl7wIFfTh
through the crowd dodging flying elbows and kicking feet to get to the table. Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9Txjaker6
was still wearing the clothing he had on earlier, but he left his uniform top88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnuuymSMx2
at home and instead opted to wear a black leather jacket.
“About time you got here.” Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MZptyMN9v
grumbled. This man did not like large crowds, but he came out to spend time88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOLD8MfgbY
with his friend. A sacrifice that wouldn’t go unrewarded tonight. “Would me88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOJoSk1hnW
seeing Bree storming out of here have anything to do with it?”
“Some.” He motioned for the bigger88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5bbsAVwfa
man to slide over so he could sit down. “She told me she would end the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUZ0Y8bM1B
engagement with Leon to have me back, but I told her that I wouldn’t get back88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS3PhhUZRA
with her. She made her choice six months ago and I won’t be played for a fool88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJzL60hzOT
again.”
“You turned that down?” Forest88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxKCYwP69z
gasped. “I would have thrown myself at her if she asked me to be with her.”
“You’d throw yourself at a bear if88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZlyKXcNWY
you think you’d get lucky.” Briar snorted. Forest shoved her then she shoved88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzIC5HKVwj
him back. It would have devolved into a fight if Rooster hadn’t pulled them88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwctfXi1cR
apart.
“We’re here to have fun.” He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKKTmEP3xU
snapped. “Not get thrown out of here before we even had a drink.”
Each of them had dressed in their88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLOdiTY2Xi
best clothes for tonight. Most of their clothing was now a little too small88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHLjdeOKAJ
since they had each packed on a ton of muscle since they left the city. He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsameMAlxiu
guessed that he would have to make a request to his grandfather to give them88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ5M7WwFQR
some money for new clothing. The only one that seemed to have gotten clothing88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPuzoVHMfw
that still fit was Eve. Unlike the others who wore pants and a shirt, she had88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4Zmki8Jpl
decided to wear a long white dress and shoes. Even Chicken had decided to dress88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tluJWNoQA
for the occasion and leave her oversized clothing at home. She wore a brown88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB0bo3b1WL
buttoned shirt and a pair of tan pants. He wondered if Eve had lent the outfit88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSX9wRpxwz
to her.
“Each of look very nice.” Vander88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfLR4DMmDe
nodded his approval. “Remember, tonight feel free to eat and drink as you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf51AmlGAf
please, but there will still be training tomorrow as usual, and I will not go88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzREuLwh9x7
easy on you just because you are hung over.”
“Come on Forest, let’s go dance.”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLIIhjarh7
Briar pulled on his arm, removing him from the booth. He protested fully but88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA3GFdbUYE
allowed himself to be led away by her. She grabbed his arm, placed the other88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6ZAtJcfFK
one around her waist and started leading him around the dance floor making sure88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiGWp8B54I
not to bump into anyone along the way. Within moments the two of them were lost88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmHinxd5nu
from sight.
“Will you dance with me Vander?”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmS1Wfb8s2
Eve looked down at her lap. It took him a moment to register that she had been88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOthBhBihS
the one to ask him and not Chicken.
“He has two left feet.” Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMlZEtACFP
slapped him on the back. “I’m you’ll find someone to dance with you out on the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZNZ0mA42G
floor. Look,” they turned to where he was pointing and saw two young men88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyORmC9MxE
smiling at her from the other side of the Inn.
“But I want to dance with-“
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Vander forced a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRuIJFSZ3f
smile. “I’m a bit worn out from our travels today, so I think I’ll sit tonight88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62vNkgfmVW
out. Shall I call you over once our food is here?” Nodding angrily, she walked88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywxRaMmqRN
from the booth, grabbed both young men by their arms and pulled them onto the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy51VOHBZeQ
dance floor.
“What about the two of you?” Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmKplYpSXw
asked Rooster and Chicken.
“I think I’m just going to read.”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxcb8OYXB9
Chicken removed a thick leather-bound book from her bag from under the table.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOssqcVHko
The title was called: The Life of Boris Britebyrd, The First Blade. He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPxYVpXX66
didn’t know that she was into history, seemed as though the two of them had88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jmGnwLasJ
quite a bit in common.
“I’m okay just sitting here.” He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJUJbIvlST
looked wistfully out towards the dance floor. Tracing his gaze Vander saw that88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMaHqYwnpT
he was watching Eve dance with the two men. It looked as though she was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjiCcH1GF6
enjoying herself, but that might also have been for his benefit.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg0Pvut2zo
Vander asked.
“Because I see the way she looks88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DYRjvMsVD
at you.” Rooster grumbled. “And I can’t ever hope to compete.”
“It’s just a crush.” Vander88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn3bhW93Sw
reached over to place his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “She will get over it.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvrRMK5IN9
Besides, no one could say no to you. You’re a wonderful kid and you won’t know88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEfuEf892f
unless you try.”
“Alright, but later.” He sighed.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqTEXHKgZe
He became quiet up then proceeded to stare out the window until the food88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDw0L7oB6z
arrived. The server placed down a basket full of bread, a bowl of hearty stew88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeW0vuwpK9
for each of them along with a tankard of beer and many glasses. Vander asked88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uZwdc48ZX
her to bring him some Dwarven Whiskey as well. She came back a couple of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL6HLUXt8Y
minutes later with several shot glasses and the bottle.
Rooster and Chicken wasted no time88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1WpjrEcda
and started digging into their food. They never let food grow cold or go to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5t6ZJt9On
waste. A pair of bottomless pits which stemmed from their time homeless and88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0GkS43oXL
never getting enough to eat. Forest and Briar came after a few minutes. Briar88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBjyDZ9zeW
was grinning ear to ear while Forest slumped into the booth breathing heavily88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDTkoh5EaV
and sweating profusely from his brow. Briar helped prop him up before starting88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSXBTT1LQo
to eat. Eve was the last one to make it back to the table. She was out of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEOVqTiqIA
breath, her face flushed with exhaustion. She sat down next to Chicken not88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePA78sHVQ5
looking up at Vander as she started to eat.
As the music thrummed into his88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsih0tJ1sLQ
head, he started feeling ill. Loud noises and people sitting so close to him88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcAOPZzmUh
wasn’t something he enjoyed. His senses were being assaulted and he needed some88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjbH8RdcJC
air, but first he wanted to make sure the recruits were taken care of.
“Congratulations on making it88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztdNgZCZ2S
through your first six months of training.” Vander said. “Alex and I couldn’t88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPODllOUeh
be prouder of all the progress you made since we started and while things might88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaDyv8I045
not get easier from here on out, I know you all make fantastic Blades. So, eat,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XiRxfPLQB
drink, and party to your hearts content.” Four of the five of them cheered.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkdMxmE2YF
Vander poured them each a shot and they all tossed it back at once. “Will you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdHGSStPzW
make sure they get home alright?”
“Of course,” Alex looked88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO0AwckVfT
concerned. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Too much noise for me to handle.”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDULOHsVhxY
Vander explained. “I just need to step outside for a few minutes okay?”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NXXEZ9lUH
said with a slight frown. Vander excused himself from the table. He went88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeh0JvO2lV
through the kitchen then out the back door into the cool night beyond.
Nighttime in the city was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7IJbf1j84
different from the forest. Out there the sky was clear you could count the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA0tcI8s4z
stars or try too at least. Humjir’s light shone everywhere even in the darkest88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8n1pGE00s
corner. The animals made sounds of course as the night hunters prowled the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTWRlxrcoj
ground and sky, but there was a rhythm to it. There were times he and Shea88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgCAF8gsyR
would stay out under a large tree listening to the animals as they relaxed from88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2I14yE7YB
the day’s activities. Often enough Alex would come out to wake them out because88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4i76rMUt7
they had fallen asleep in the grass. Here, there was nothing soothing about it.
Humjir couldn’t be seen from the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxa4Imn4LQ
city aside from the highest tower in the King’s estate. You could only see a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbklsbBEyWV
couple of stars, but even then their lights were muted. Then came the sounds88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZuZz3aztl
from humans, not animals, that showed how rotten the city truly was. The sick88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzjcbMCEKd
could be heard coughing all night long as the homeless shuffled along looking88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnqLQTO31K
for a place to stay, any place that would take them. The hungry wails of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1ZYvqt3t7
children often fell on deaf ears because everyone else was too busy partying88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYag5MjjbXH
the night away. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people inside the inn88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMH24lbPVF
right now children at home starving had while they were drinking the night88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SeL39xOHL
away. Both he and Shea were of one mind that they would be happier living in the woods away from all these people, but88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvFYQpj5VA
duty called and neither of them wanted to turn their backs on their friends.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ6L1QryqA
Perhaps, one day, they would be able to retire somewhere far from here.
He was so lost in thought that he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgjbqgZfpn
failed to notice the door opening behind him. “You should really be more88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXzJgk2XUw
careful out here.” Julianna said. He wasn’t one to startle easily, but he leapt88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VKCvTN8Vl
from his boots once she spoke.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1MOwI8MJE
growled. She wrapped her arm through his and pulled him to his side.
“Don’t be a pansy.” She giggled.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJkxpl8Pfv
He could smell the slight tang of booze on her breath. Her face was flushed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriKC5jjzkH
bright red, and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress hung loosely88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYnLZql6Wu
on her shoulder, so he reached over to pull it back up for her.
“You needed a drink to come out88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPZ7bXS6kH
here and greet me?” he teased. “I thought you were braver than that.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFme8BalXX
“This wasn’t for you. Some of my patrons like me enough to buy me something to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWmjd8bbkG
drink and dance with me. I just came out here for a breather.” The two of them88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG9wsfgFvf
stood there in silence leaning up against the side of the building. Julianna88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2n9DRUExY
placed her head on his shoulder, but she remained stony faced and still.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1eHqyg09C
“Vander.” She said after a few minutes.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Did you get the closure you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGg7sNIzho
needed with Bree tonight?” He looked down at her. There was a wistful look on88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrt3xNKoph
her face as she looked straight ahead.
“Heh.” He laughed. “I was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cOXheMeNS
wondering how she made it past you. You let her in didn’t you?”
“Guilty.” She spoke softly. “If88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQww7t1GhUa
you were going to take her back, I was going to throw you out of the Inn. Once88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3XwB9STZq
she stormed off pissed as hell, I knew you made the right choice.”
“You’re always looking out for me,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtxvvnQ2RO
thank you.” he bumped her shoulder lightly with his. She smiled up at him with88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWeCAHSjTI
a slight blush on her face. The two of them sat out there for a little bit88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCbTX6b0dF
without speaking. The quiet night air helped him soothe any aches he may have88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlHfeJuSTI
had plus her company was a welcome boon. He knew that she didn’t harbor any88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjLmq1KNej
feelings for him, neither him for her, but their friendship would stretch for88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ejextEpOq
years to come, he could feel.
A sudden shout along with the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XRDHvLlwu
breaking of glass broke the serene quiet air. Julianna turned too him with a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkEkKVdYEw
concerned look. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “But88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5Iy9QSAYV
stay here, let me go look.”
“It’s my Inn.” She snorted. “I88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWdtt6bn0I
won’t be waiting outside like some helpless damsel. Let’s go.” Shaking his head88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaeMO3oTf6
as she rushed past him, he hurried behind.
As soon as she walked through the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwVMsYZZC9
door, he pushed her head down as a glass mug hit the wall next to them88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSa2oD5H1H
shattering upon impact. Shards of glass rained down over them, but they slid88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxsvYMkHPP
right off his sleeve. Thankfully there was no liquid inside.
“Bring that white-haired bastard88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cyb2ld26j
out here this instant.” Someone shouted. Vander recognized the voice as Leon’s,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqMUqh2xWF
so he must have been talking about him.
“Fucking Bree.” Vander pushed past88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvvymDQpX2
Julianna through the kitchen and into the main Inn. Right in front of the door,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoXmHtM0vb
flanking both sides keeping anyone from either entering or leaving were four88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlctbrpGJm
Blades, in uniform, with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Standing in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUABZpgWDcf
front of them was Leon with his sword out pointing to the ground. Vander met88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1tHOFuM67
Alex’s eye. He was standing in front of the table blocking the recruits from88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCJndIRrrC
being spotted by the pissed off Captain. Their eyes met. Alex shook his head88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1zymdm2fs
and motioned for Vander to leave out the back, but he was going to leave these88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxWd934Hpv
people here to take Leon’s wrath. As a captain he had a duty to uphold the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90jdvPrOXw
standard of the Blades, so he pushed his way through the crowd to stand in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoQOnf3e1R
front of Leon.
“What are you doing?” His voice88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW0spRCJy1
boomed. He made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Is this how a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCn4ZyrzLH
captain of the Blades is supposed to act? Drawing your weapon in a business and88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs89xTtSLrI
trying to intimidate everyone here? What’s the matter with you?”
“There you are you bastard!” Leon88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR0Xfsrc11
raised his sword pointing it at his chest. “Why was Bree here? What did the two88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTyO8n5UG5
of you do?”
“Is that what this is about?”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHCAns39ZY
Vander scoffed. “Nothing happened, I sent her home, end of discussion. Now it’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbilQzallG
your turn to get going before I report this to the Commander.”
“And you expect me to believe88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlX772IHMa
that?” Leon laughed. “You were gone for six months and the day you come back88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMAoHOINxm
she comes to visit you? You’re full of shit.”
“It’s true.” Julianna pushed her88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFfRLLnAo6
way through to stand by Vander. “I let her in, and she left five minutes later88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBpzGsQU1D
crying. I suggest you take it up with her and get out of my inn.”
“Now you have your new bitch88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtKJRwr0oV
covering for you?” Leon snapped. “Take this punk outside, we will settle this88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxKgEmmm7K
like men.” The four Blades guarding the door moved forward towards the crowd.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttwQOaTokW
Alex pushed past to stand by Vander causing the four of them to pause mid-step.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsAxJOlC6c
“Alex, stay out of this, this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns us all when you use88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV87tbQy1Vw
your power for your own ends.” Alex snapped back. “You came to a private88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhMkMWVvul
establishment, threatened citizens, and are threatening a comrade, one that,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8OT9BdnaN
until recently, outranked you. This is an abuse of power especially settling a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoT4BqjxCh
private affair.”
“You think that matters to me?”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuCnXjqifQ
Leon asked. “When my honor is on the line? Do what I ask or I swear I will use88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwPxfjGPVB
everything in my power to crush you.” Vander stepped out until they were face88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHusYKMGYm
to face.
“Is that a threat Leon?” Leon88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTttLgcyiq
responded by pushing Vander backwards then bringing his sword up underneath his88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ647dK33p2x
chin.
“No this is a- ahhhhhh!” Shea88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6ED0bdnx9
leapt out from nowhere and bit down on Leon’s sword arm. Vander could hear the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt5ppMeXGW
bones crunching in his arm as she screamed out in pain. He dropped his sword88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kMyoTHfEC
then tried to wrench her mouth off his arm. Blood sprayed as everyone started88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR12Ruzgv2U
screaming. Vander saw Leon’s goons rushing towards her, so he rushed forward blocking88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4PRk4J01U
their path.
“Shea, release him.”
“But-“ her voice echoed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI4uDuSJzS
back.
“NOW!” She released him, but88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcefPHORNmC
jumped out of reach and bared her teeth. With blood dripping down his arm, he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllq3pxSQEY
slowly got to his feet. His face was red with rage.
“Your mutt will pay for that.” He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETyVPpEDwj
whispered. “You will all pay for standing in my way.” He grabbed his sword,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFp9H0xDoh
spun around, and thrust at Vander. Because he was facing away from Leon, Vander88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wJLQjYPNJ
couldn’t anticipate the move. However, in his rage, he missed anything vital,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT3mbUksI8
but he still carved a deep gash into Vander’s side. He fell to the ground88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2NzmIrNfD
holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Damn it.” Vander groaned. “What88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrWTySImIn
the hell is the matter with you?”
“You’ve looked down on me for too88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhLZ3V3wW0
long.” Leon spat. “Now it’s time you tasted defeat.” Leon lifted his sword88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJrZ0MSu5B
again, but Alex got there first. His fist collided with Leon’s face sending him88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsrnHdHeA1
sprawling onto the ground.
“You crossed a line and not even88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQI4ONDtEZ
your father will get you out of it.” He snapped. “You four, get him out of here88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQxJq9Vb9B
before you find yourselves thrown onto the streets and not even Viggo Visc’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFoenE2hWt
influence will keep you safe.”
“This isn’t over.” Leon growled as88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOpLQ5vq82
his four lackies picked him up off the ground and dragged him out. “You better88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOYuniTnlP
find yourself a new job, Alex. I’m coming for your ass.” Vander heard rushed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcDWv8TZsY
footsteps coming towards him. Julianna placed a towel over his hand to help88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtF9zV01F4
staunch the bleeding.
“Let me see.” She whispered. He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5Z93cBGH7
winced with pain as he carefully moved his hand. “It’s deep but didn’t hit88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxzxJ5TUmF
anything vital. We are going to have to stitch you up.”
“Fine.” Vander allowed himself to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg5hQypKch
be lifted to his feet. “Alex, will you make sure the kids get back safely?”
“We should get you to a doctor.”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ954KG8rXvg
Alex said, but Vander shook his head.
“I’ll be fine.” He gasped. “Pay88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdlY6kB2Tz
for everyone’s meal as an apology for Leon’s outburst. There should be enough88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyzH8ku9sI
money to cover it in my room. We will also pay for the damages here.”
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“I understand.” He said. Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNZ4wZJbts
began to shout, but Vander’s eyes started to close. The blood loss was more88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL9gvo3j9S
than he thought as he had difficulty staying awake. The last thing he saw was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X99My66GN
Shea leading the way upstairs towards the room.
