Chapter 5
Bree was a very attractive woman.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawwIEzrKYz
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a toned figure from her time as a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKgliTiDx5
Blade and now serving as a Captain in the Eluvian military. Instead of her67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTmk0gggmz
regular soldier attire, she decided to wear tight brown pants, brown booties,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazPgigPyfT
and a white sleeveless blouse. It looked as though she took a lot of care in67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27YKpDPC9j
her choice of attire as he had to try hard to ignore the feeling welling up in67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutM2SIVNIG
his chest. They weren’t together anymore.
“Oh Vander, I’ve missed you.” She67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ANKpl4IX
reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her hand as he pulled back.
“You don’t get to do that67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuZogtT0g1
anymore.” Vander took a step back into his room. “You made your choice six67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhzqFFkFdL
months ago and I’m not one to play second fiddle to someone else.”
“Come on.” She scoffed. “You know67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXGcnRTotB
I had no choice. My father forced me into this, I couldn’t disobey him.”
“Not even for someone you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi1Db8PozZ
professed to love?” he snorted. “I’d have left the Blades if you asked, but you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVg4PFxft6
dropped me as soon as your father snapped his fingers. You never loved me Bree,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdybmHemylt
not really.”
“Vander, that’s not fair.” He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooBK1ws2ez
voice was starting to rise. “I spent a lot of time this past six months67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjR4O3HeIl
thinking about us. I will tell my father to end my engagement to Leon, so we67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBypDDOiJD
could be together.” Vander’s heart pounded at the thought, but he wouldn’t allow67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCjrK6xtvK
himself to be ruled by his emotions.
“I’m sorry, but you made your67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy10PcAeDTr
choice and now we both have to live with it.” He walked towards the door and67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSEglAVPfs
held it open. “It’s time for you to leave.” She sat there in the middle of the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXsbfcC3fI
floor her face flushed with rage. She clenched her fist and for a second he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxCa5ziMBn
thought she was going to swing at him. She thought better of it but made sure67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3NjGmWuHX
to slam her shoulder into his arm as she left. She didn’t even say goodbye.
“Give me the word and I’ll rip67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4AqQAAaoe
her throat out.” Shea snarled. Vander walked over to rub her head.
“I don’t want to give you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso5VxoHbqr
indigestion.” He teased.
He had known Bree since their time67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhfzgI4KsS
as recruits roughly eight years ago when they were both sixteen. They had67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlvAJir8bN
gotten close, along with the other members of their squad, but after an67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHRXIxYwHK
incident during their first mission cost the lives of their training officer as67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJYR0lBxub
well as two of their comrades, they hadn’t been the same. They had clung to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHKRQhXjPm
each other during the rougher times and grew close. They had been each other’s67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbfsAvfcAy
first, a bond he thought would cement them together for the rest of their67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSUkYCJHQY
lives. But six months ago, that had fallen to pieces. He had done a lot of soul67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHbIrsGGCm
searching while he was in isolation with his new recruits and decided that he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuBzYc5hAc
would keep things professional between them, nothing more, nothing less. She67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF35Yz9JJf
had ended things with him for her father’s favorite and got engaged to Leon67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG5GvSFAhL
instead. That was something he wouldn’t readily forgive or forget.
He rubbed Shea’s head then67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljfQ0s2joF
promised to bring her back some beef from the kitchen when he returned later.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWWLEgU0Hk
He didn’t want to be late for his recruits first night out since joining. He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPfCkuA6Hk
left his sword behind because he doubted he would need it, then left the room.
If there was a lot of people67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTFdaPlb0s
before, there was even more now. People were crammed against the walls and the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N7xWNKI3Q
servers were having issues making their way through everyone. A larger square67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ngogJ2cgg
was opened up between the booths and musicians for more people to dance the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ssxcff5Wn
night away. Upon stepping into the floor, he saw Alexander’s head poking up67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjPEVRtt16
above the crowd. It was one of the perks of being friends with a giant. His67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw93QSWlCQd
voice thundered out to order some food and drinks for his table sending a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCve0SVt5s
couple of the servers scrambling to fulfill his wishes. Vander snaked his way67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtJF4O1nsr
through the crowd dodging flying elbows and kicking feet to get to the table. Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkuTKukFhi
was still wearing the clothing he had on earlier, but he left his uniform top67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g2CFSHVxG
at home and instead opted to wear a black leather jacket.
“About time you got here.” Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhbQehjbXx
grumbled. This man did not like large crowds, but he came out to spend time67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNmfW7LxTs
with his friend. A sacrifice that wouldn’t go unrewarded tonight. “Would me67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6jujaRkWj
seeing Bree storming out of here have anything to do with it?”
“Some.” He motioned for the bigger67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pPXoIc6K6
man to slide over so he could sit down. “She told me she would end the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV8bQnv23q
engagement with Leon to have me back, but I told her that I wouldn’t get back67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyCqGbNvAz
with her. She made her choice six months ago and I won’t be played for a fool67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtuoW7iunz
again.”
“You turned that down?” Forest67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wrcISybWE
gasped. “I would have thrown myself at her if she asked me to be with her.”
“You’d throw yourself at a bear if67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcp9rbO6jk
you think you’d get lucky.” Briar snorted. Forest shoved her then she shoved67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BXIg0An1u
him back. It would have devolved into a fight if Rooster hadn’t pulled them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09h9EXw9ef
apart.
“We’re here to have fun.” He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkpWke4s3j
snapped. “Not get thrown out of here before we even had a drink.”
Each of them had dressed in their67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7YKflc1Az
best clothes for tonight. Most of their clothing was now a little too small67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w71nRub6e
since they had each packed on a ton of muscle since they left the city. He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxClwDmdkv6
guessed that he would have to make a request to his grandfather to give them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp2NYk2wWT
some money for new clothing. The only one that seemed to have gotten clothing67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQTaW3ZJp9
that still fit was Eve. Unlike the others who wore pants and a shirt, she had67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqglBIPK8BM
decided to wear a long white dress and shoes. Even Chicken had decided to dress67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFDFmWX3Uc
for the occasion and leave her oversized clothing at home. She wore a brown67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhj1OHJVzc
buttoned shirt and a pair of tan pants. He wondered if Eve had lent the outfit67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW5HEVXHD6
to her.
“Each of look very nice.” Vander67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2axYY6V5zh
nodded his approval. “Remember, tonight feel free to eat and drink as you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU1gTRI1QT
please, but there will still be training tomorrow as usual, and I will not go67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9YBfKtJiX
easy on you just because you are hung over.”
“Come on Forest, let’s go dance.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJCrbxOMic
Briar pulled on his arm, removing him from the booth. He protested fully but67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxyKiGGtOZ
allowed himself to be led away by her. She grabbed his arm, placed the other67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBHciF7cov
one around her waist and started leading him around the dance floor making sure67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u7msflH8k
not to bump into anyone along the way. Within moments the two of them were lost67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdkYM111X8
from sight.
“Will you dance with me Vander?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLnbjd936F
Eve looked down at her lap. It took him a moment to register that she had been67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMDGOT1aSp
the one to ask him and not Chicken.
“He has two left feet.” Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIKdWczkAF
slapped him on the back. “I’m you’ll find someone to dance with you out on the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1mOEBd2xJ
floor. Look,” they turned to where he was pointing and saw two young men67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUSnMfKFT6
smiling at her from the other side of the Inn.
“But I want to dance with-“
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Vander forced a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91WfqVupX1
smile. “I’m a bit worn out from our travels today, so I think I’ll sit tonight67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPv9IAMjLL
out. Shall I call you over once our food is here?” Nodding angrily, she walked67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuwLM8tcoS
from the booth, grabbed both young men by their arms and pulled them onto the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix2xSzDRAg
dance floor.
“What about the two of you?” Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kwCNyTdkU
asked Rooster and Chicken.
“I think I’m just going to read.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84lkq65gr0
Chicken removed a thick leather-bound book from her bag from under the table.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnZV3BybBc
The title was called: The Life of Boris Britebyrd, The First Blade. He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2eYxPOE7d
didn’t know that she was into history, seemed as though the two of them had67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdGWZG6eII
quite a bit in common.
“I’m okay just sitting here.” He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppshZ5pMmC
looked wistfully out towards the dance floor. Tracing his gaze Vander saw that67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4YCC7kQ11
he was watching Eve dance with the two men. It looked as though she was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1eNDa9HVh
enjoying herself, but that might also have been for his benefit.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCkK35y9IO
Vander asked.
“Because I see the way she looks67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKHLfgqpQJ
at you.” Rooster grumbled. “And I can’t ever hope to compete.”
“It’s just a crush.” Vander67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02go42qPX4
reached over to place his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “She will get over it.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3raUorBJ42
Besides, no one could say no to you. You’re a wonderful kid and you won’t know67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeVpmnd6C0
unless you try.”
“Alright, but later.” He sighed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZJx0rMX9n
He became quiet up then proceeded to stare out the window until the food67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxf1gI7Kln
arrived. The server placed down a basket full of bread, a bowl of hearty stew67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnuNF1baIp
for each of them along with a tankard of beer and many glasses. Vander asked67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUE9YwT1Nl
her to bring him some Dwarven Whiskey as well. She came back a couple of67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgBoM6TiOg
minutes later with several shot glasses and the bottle.
Rooster and Chicken wasted no time67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HCJMPUj7A
and started digging into their food. They never let food grow cold or go to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk6kTEl9au
waste. A pair of bottomless pits which stemmed from their time homeless and67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWzDAOcxkK
never getting enough to eat. Forest and Briar came after a few minutes. Briar67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhFB5tpfm9
was grinning ear to ear while Forest slumped into the booth breathing heavily67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytQTAUZjxf
and sweating profusely from his brow. Briar helped prop him up before starting67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgzQqpygiU
to eat. Eve was the last one to make it back to the table. She was out of67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgM1Gkj0vh
breath, her face flushed with exhaustion. She sat down next to Chicken not67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXr1YXwXms
looking up at Vander as she started to eat.
As the music thrummed into his67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKwlkRlWUU
head, he started feeling ill. Loud noises and people sitting so close to him67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwUtYmm9XL
wasn’t something he enjoyed. His senses were being assaulted and he needed some67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm729j4CGPi
air, but first he wanted to make sure the recruits were taken care of.
“Congratulations on making it67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlBtuAh0Vx
through your first six months of training.” Vander said. “Alex and I couldn’t67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmaEz75DH1
be prouder of all the progress you made since we started and while things might67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ0bvwn7Ii
not get easier from here on out, I know you all make fantastic Blades. So, eat,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4KD71gbBP
drink, and party to your hearts content.” Four of the five of them cheered.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXHOIN47dy
Vander poured them each a shot and they all tossed it back at once. “Will you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDut53tOH4
make sure they get home alright?”
“Of course,” Alex looked67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg01kqO8KV
concerned. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Too much noise for me to handle.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTriS88epS
Vander explained. “I just need to step outside for a few minutes okay?”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA94DKpv6M
said with a slight frown. Vander excused himself from the table. He went67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mumKfSE7C
through the kitchen then out the back door into the cool night beyond.
Nighttime in the city was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWTbZoMhOP
different from the forest. Out there the sky was clear you could count the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCHZBOawgy
stars or try too at least. Humjir’s light shone everywhere even in the darkest67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ87S7z2HJe
corner. The animals made sounds of course as the night hunters prowled the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtAGUAxBed
ground and sky, but there was a rhythm to it. There were times he and Shea67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Z5v5mcQJs
would stay out under a large tree listening to the animals as they relaxed from67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAYZgXUzcP
the day’s activities. Often enough Alex would come out to wake them out because67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbDGlxNKat
they had fallen asleep in the grass. Here, there was nothing soothing about it.
Humjir couldn’t be seen from the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYr607q8Wy
city aside from the highest tower in the King’s estate. You could only see a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTh6Qf3seH
couple of stars, but even then their lights were muted. Then came the sounds67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQKvLC7X2K
from humans, not animals, that showed how rotten the city truly was. The sick67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexBVLc39mg
could be heard coughing all night long as the homeless shuffled along looking67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3aME1ZcjY
for a place to stay, any place that would take them. The hungry wails of67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT7Q55ue5O
children often fell on deaf ears because everyone else was too busy partying67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKX7HXxM4f
the night away. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people inside the inn67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT4F86m4dD
right now children at home starving had while they were drinking the night67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1K8DPkeqi
away. Both he and Shea were of one mind that they would be happier living in the woods away from all these people, but67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQHnaxCwe9
duty called and neither of them wanted to turn their backs on their friends.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyCU4wgb5b
Perhaps, one day, they would be able to retire somewhere far from here.
He was so lost in thought that he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH1pwmCL8I
failed to notice the door opening behind him. “You should really be more67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJujUAg2xP3
careful out here.” Julianna said. He wasn’t one to startle easily, but he leapt67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboiw4YSVI9
from his boots once she spoke.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwEVU5zDhM
growled. She wrapped her arm through his and pulled him to his side.
“Don’t be a pansy.” She giggled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA5iBJo3IZ
He could smell the slight tang of booze on her breath. Her face was flushed67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHafcQKaEB9
bright red, and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress hung loosely67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3BcyQZAp7
on her shoulder, so he reached over to pull it back up for her.
“You needed a drink to come out67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsKmECKhLR
here and greet me?” he teased. “I thought you were braver than that.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4as56J0Il
“This wasn’t for you. Some of my patrons like me enough to buy me something to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0YZEDGZCj
drink and dance with me. I just came out here for a breather.” The two of them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0mfoGGaxu
stood there in silence leaning up against the side of the building. Julianna67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYVS4zUi42
placed her head on his shoulder, but she remained stony faced and still.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gi6GPjChS
“Vander.” She said after a few minutes.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Did you get the closure you67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84e8wlaYP2
needed with Bree tonight?” He looked down at her. There was a wistful look on67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaoZEBkEhQ
her face as she looked straight ahead.
“Heh.” He laughed. “I was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUSoUb3FX4
wondering how she made it past you. You let her in didn’t you?”
“Guilty.” She spoke softly. “If67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3y77mQK8w
you were going to take her back, I was going to throw you out of the Inn. Once67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2pW8NuVEw
she stormed off pissed as hell, I knew you made the right choice.”
“You’re always looking out for me,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WpKR437Br
thank you.” he bumped her shoulder lightly with his. She smiled up at him with67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABgQuYc2W3
a slight blush on her face. The two of them sat out there for a little bit67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq49NmPVJXA
without speaking. The quiet night air helped him soothe any aches he may have67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrkOwySRS5
had plus her company was a welcome boon. He knew that she didn’t harbor any67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21EOilGGnH
feelings for him, neither him for her, but their friendship would stretch for67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAPzmx7Ma3
years to come, he could feel.
A sudden shout along with the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy0Yn3kICr
breaking of glass broke the serene quiet air. Julianna turned too him with a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4144qQSLJx
concerned look. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “But67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVodfvkvzhX
stay here, let me go look.”
“It’s my Inn.” She snorted. “I67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QNyHnEBqL
won’t be waiting outside like some helpless damsel. Let’s go.” Shaking his head67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRJVnFmHm8
as she rushed past him, he hurried behind.
As soon as she walked through the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlqmIsu4E
door, he pushed her head down as a glass mug hit the wall next to them67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPmPl306Ru
shattering upon impact. Shards of glass rained down over them, but they slid67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMQwZUatgL
right off his sleeve. Thankfully there was no liquid inside.
“Bring that white-haired bastard67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtJY0K4hCD
out here this instant.” Someone shouted. Vander recognized the voice as Leon’s,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxqLq7ZJGd
so he must have been talking about him.
“Fucking Bree.” Vander pushed past67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvAin2hbzm
Julianna through the kitchen and into the main Inn. Right in front of the door,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIbesRkPfj
flanking both sides keeping anyone from either entering or leaving were four67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoDueBR8X0
Blades, in uniform, with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Standing in67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6hRGdT4mB
front of them was Leon with his sword out pointing to the ground. Vander met67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYldqfXp3T2
Alex’s eye. He was standing in front of the table blocking the recruits from67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzxgLqqIYt
being spotted by the pissed off Captain. Their eyes met. Alex shook his head67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcKn8y4WwO
and motioned for Vander to leave out the back, but he was going to leave these67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHTxceBSix
people here to take Leon’s wrath. As a captain he had a duty to uphold the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1jAFD8F4G
standard of the Blades, so he pushed his way through the crowd to stand in67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5UPxMLEcP
front of Leon.
“What are you doing?” His voice67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIflIczL9bK
boomed. He made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Is this how a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoU04tL1N4C
captain of the Blades is supposed to act? Drawing your weapon in a business and67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1v2h0rBWV
trying to intimidate everyone here? What’s the matter with you?”
“There you are you bastard!” Leon67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHUek9nPl5
raised his sword pointing it at his chest. “Why was Bree here? What did the two67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW8tNsH1We
of you do?”
“Is that what this is about?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVHRJLJl7y
Vander scoffed. “Nothing happened, I sent her home, end of discussion. Now it’s67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTb4j9LrM8
your turn to get going before I report this to the Commander.”
“And you expect me to believe67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u9aVrbJYN
that?” Leon laughed. “You were gone for six months and the day you come back67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK2LwTM54e
she comes to visit you? You’re full of shit.”
“It’s true.” Julianna pushed her67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R70826vKS
way through to stand by Vander. “I let her in, and she left five minutes later67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud9rfJ7br7
crying. I suggest you take it up with her and get out of my inn.”
“Now you have your new bitch67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3hS3AB3wn
covering for you?” Leon snapped. “Take this punk outside, we will settle this67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPHTzKaei
like men.” The four Blades guarding the door moved forward towards the crowd.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qPvgWTAo5
Alex pushed past to stand by Vander causing the four of them to pause mid-step.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdTCgo9uA8
“Alex, stay out of this, this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns us all when you use67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZCkannvz9
your power for your own ends.” Alex snapped back. “You came to a private67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw25dmehbl
establishment, threatened citizens, and are threatening a comrade, one that,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC09BY93RHv
until recently, outranked you. This is an abuse of power especially settling a67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNycyD3PlrX
private affair.”
“You think that matters to me?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1GxaOgmgu
Leon asked. “When my honor is on the line? Do what I ask or I swear I will use67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UAGdzwQ6j
everything in my power to crush you.” Vander stepped out until they were face67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSZ4RMk9ly
to face.
“Is that a threat Leon?” Leon67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIScaEjnebh
responded by pushing Vander backwards then bringing his sword up underneath his67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1rr4dnCLj
chin.
“No this is a- ahhhhhh!” Shea67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP2HBdCXt7
leapt out from nowhere and bit down on Leon’s sword arm. Vander could hear the67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sSiBFZnTo
bones crunching in his arm as she screamed out in pain. He dropped his sword67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1mCgahmaW
then tried to wrench her mouth off his arm. Blood sprayed as everyone started67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUYjvnMebw
screaming. Vander saw Leon’s goons rushing towards her, so he rushed forward blocking67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWfNFQlkgc
their path.
“Shea, release him.”
“But-“ her voice echoed67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf4w7ij2Dp
back.
“NOW!” She released him, but67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA1dLr9rv4
jumped out of reach and bared her teeth. With blood dripping down his arm, he67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ubQHZTrQg
slowly got to his feet. His face was red with rage.
“Your mutt will pay for that.” He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8ZftlsBhZ
whispered. “You will all pay for standing in my way.” He grabbed his sword,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKBhG0HOuk
spun around, and thrust at Vander. Because he was facing away from Leon, Vander67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxe6MuEIrn
couldn’t anticipate the move. However, in his rage, he missed anything vital,67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYwyK6kjP2
but he still carved a deep gash into Vander’s side. He fell to the ground67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGqLijb803
holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Damn it.” Vander groaned. “What67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklSzNCv7EU
the hell is the matter with you?”
“You’ve looked down on me for too67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkfM7OP12A
long.” Leon spat. “Now it’s time you tasted defeat.” Leon lifted his sword67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMaPT0K5oP
again, but Alex got there first. His fist collided with Leon’s face sending him67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ekqSgEfDS
sprawling onto the ground.
“You crossed a line and not even67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9ZyUiBMZC
your father will get you out of it.” He snapped. “You four, get him out of here67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREFvEKQkoX
before you find yourselves thrown onto the streets and not even Viggo Visc’s67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gxhiaxKjw
influence will keep you safe.”
“This isn’t over.” Leon growled as67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVQaAuFcXH
his four lackies picked him up off the ground and dragged him out. “You better67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjROCLwqg2Y
find yourself a new job, Alex. I’m coming for your ass.” Vander heard rushed67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpNyS6jjl8
footsteps coming towards him. Julianna placed a towel over his hand to help67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowUYuyEP7w
staunch the bleeding.
“Let me see.” She whispered. He67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjdXfLP85c
winced with pain as he carefully moved his hand. “It’s deep but didn’t hit67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vl3mZVOIl
anything vital. We are going to have to stitch you up.”
“Fine.” Vander allowed himself to67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoK9KciJkW
be lifted to his feet. “Alex, will you make sure the kids get back safely?”
“We should get you to a doctor.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSx7RTlweU
Alex said, but Vander shook his head.
“I’ll be fine.” He gasped. “Pay67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aVbFjF9De
for everyone’s meal as an apology for Leon’s outburst. There should be enough67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13WtYRqhMP
money to cover it in my room. We will also pay for the damages here.”
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“I understand.” He said. Alex67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZbpXLHMiW
began to shout, but Vander’s eyes started to close. The blood loss was more67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNmZ3wGr6E
than he thought as he had difficulty staying awake. The last thing he saw was67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WvgEw2FH6
Shea leading the way upstairs towards the room.
