189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzgDqHVg1K
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvo1bBEso3
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMNQc4K8d7
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFC3JXVxJ6
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgedbwX4AaS
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSixYtLTTxC
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65rH8wBKZ1
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMi1flc31l
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi6pRmfy0z
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMF2waqIlt
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugdu6j6dQ7
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU1Y5ykKyf
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNGkXgIFCt
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkziVZrHwK
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNbNoKHbIF
the ranks of the worlds greatest military might.
Inside the singleton building, all the way in the room closest to the training ground, a man sat at his desk looking189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERREZw6bDX
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv7axgdx1C
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOHWLFVHqP
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTZ2c7P8II
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXL1IxWav3
the letter. It was addressed to him.
Vander was in his twenty-fifth year of life and his eighth year as a Blade. He had been promoted to Captain a189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc51Z0MHrgP
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF4itnie8s
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LIt5kyASb
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzq0bV5WZr
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbfjOhA9Og
Alexander, who instructed them in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander was a giant of a man standing well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his arms the size189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kw6dzI5By
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKq4O4I1VZ
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88c83MiENd
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd94Br6dD8K
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgQ1vC6LZb
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6zFMIqhyJ
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VSSlJ8iwp
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToPDXnUdxW
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVYuVtAidf
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycZ6iK7syv
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP1lP3jgN0
the only life he knew.
He turned to look at his bed where a massive white wolf stared at him with concern in her eyes. Shea tilted her head189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUvxn5um23
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvOl3YrMtN
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZaAGzft13
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpov3HcdGaK
enough for Shea to snake her way through the opening.
He put the jacket on to protect himself against the cool springtime air as he left the building. The jacket was189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWrXnZei1E
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ia21CFkGm
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NJCwBo2kY
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyJ76twsxG
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuzJk1jX9U
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mEfurVwZe
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQCoD9IHJM
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ftSZR8zD
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1TfKtrmv1
the shade as her master did his duties.
Alex acknowledged him with a slight nod of his head, but he soon turned back to watch the trainees practice189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz6OTkMLOA
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa6VGN6dy2
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRKpZ0jI0Y
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KITGDp7Xi
use muscle groups they didn’t normally use it their training.
“How’s everything coming?” Vander asked. He stood with his hands held behind his back, his eyes or demeanor189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOKGNI0Iar
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t4eDDxmPP
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb4u4YxS9e
their progress is still slower than I would like.”
Vander watched as the siblings Rooster and Chicken squared off against each other. Rooster was bigger and189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsLHMWfn94
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PpOtsinIO
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwQN4DFtML
headlock where his size would have the advantage.
He wasn’t quite sure where the two of them had come from before making their way to Eluvia, but they were both dead189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXIlzMe2yD
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTJY5GvbGu
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7YtGWI7NE
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrgebmHpsb
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhH3S9jOO6
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xFautgQqr
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixrRxnTdFo
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5e0DAC829D
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXVaSjtYmJ
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I2iGU37FD
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim2InOl255
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC2KXwYbCa
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYuWTFQLR3
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD5WsgGjMJ
the rest could barely stand. Her dark black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Briar and Forest, he was unsure if they were siblings or not, sat next to each other their faces unreadable. They189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgMimh1mEE
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog7taF2U1R
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEkXu09vN8
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BQkXkuZui
up against, she would throw hands with anyone who looked at her funny.
Forest was her opposite. He wore his blonde hair sheared short; his blue eyes always looked for a way to take his189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuE1V73pep
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts10fwVDnN
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNyGAXgJ7O
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV81v7RzQ2P
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnWXHXpooh
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0gKSVt9ey
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSk7tuqepd
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJhPgAh4HA
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd28HNFKhRC
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiem9kKVMdc
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy8OKuifHd
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvNjl8vW7k
fired back with an answer.
“How about we fight him?” she suggested. “All we’ve done is fight each other while he sits on the sidelines189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OEMIAaRfI
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x6HzlxpvV
didn’t show it, Vander was happy with her proposal.
“What do you think?” He turned towards his friend. If Alex was surprised, he didn’t show it. It was how their group189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGzAnTs0Mo
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsO6e26l6b
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwEYzAceML
them, and it would be a good lesson for these recruits as well.
“I’m down, but don’t come crying to me when you lose.” Alex growled.
“I have a better idea though.” Vander removed his jacket before handing it to Alex. “How about the five of you fight189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZj0s4VfKg
me? I want to see how much you all have improved.”
“Do we get something if we win?” Briar asked. “Otherwise, it won’t be fun for us. I’d rather get beaten up trying to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aJC0kWPD8
get something than nothing at all.”
“Do the rest of you agree?” They all looked at each other then nodded their heads. Vander thought for a moment189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EkGE4di8Z
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87i69gUHYh
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFPJoKrljW
which will include drinks.”
“Aw yeah!” They got their feet and cheered. The food in Eluvia was much better than the food they had out here.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y5t6dzygG
The fact they wouldn’t have to pay was just a bonus.
“Settle down!” Vander shouted over them. “If you want a wager, there must be something in it for me as well. If I beat you, you will go189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj1bw8aoo9
for a run in the forest with twenty pounds added to your packs.”
“Anything but that.” Rooster groaned.
“Come on,” Vander grinned. “Out of all the things I could ask you to do, a run through the woods is small by189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXsVZx0J3
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1AgQxVVfG
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq5MuE9Y52
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEdNLpZdRK
good to tell them that now.
“Mind if I go first?” Rooster got up from his spot on the ground and went to stand in front of his mentor.
“What would you like to fight with?” Vander asked. “Swords, knives, fists? Take your pick, whatever you want.”
“Swords please.” Vander nodded to Alex who walked towards the fence where their weapons were hanging up. They didn’t189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjV0ztLn96
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cwlYlv17T
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyB9wotG90
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTxTNpDAIZ
could still build muscle and train how to use them.
Alex handed one of the swords to Vander before crossing the field to hand the second to Rooster. He stood in189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ00wsM91L
between them, off on the side, and raised his hand. “Begin!” He shouted.
Rooster being the plucky little kid he was, launched himself forward swinging the lump of metal aiming for Vander’s189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYixXkhQYq1
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXiGAiUfEb
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY28CO61mqv
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa1D06IuAr
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOjVXs4Sv9
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aieSIENPR
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL40mlLr4Xw
flushed with anger.
“Swings are wide, and you rush in when you should be a little more cautious.” Vander said. He held out his hand which189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOwAppg6R3
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtADuwIZwcZ
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOoXEI03bt
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLVCulK0ja
his spot on the ground.
Chicken shook her head which didn’t really surprise him. She wasn’t much of a fighter preferring the safety of189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE09LXlFdw
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftz3IjfsUH
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtulw4S4FK
weights and sat down next to her brother.
“Do you mind if we come at you together?” Briar and Forest asked. That was surprise to him as he didn’t think189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRd2HURm6K
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyEhnu3KoK
Perhaps they would surprise him so he would allow it this time.
“What weapons would you like to use?” The two of them looked at each other before nodding.
“Bare hands.” A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Vander stripped off his jacket and tossed it to Alexander. The189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiakPtSzt7R
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4pGR457Uz
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuOeEuweQ3
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYs6dP9kzT
at attention then smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Forest and Briar raced off in opposite directions trying to get him in a pincer movement. While he was focused on one, the other could take his back and grapple him before he had a chance to defend himself. So, he did what anyone in his position would do, he struck first. He went after Forest because he was the strongest of the two. He must not have expected the attacked because he barely had time to defending himself from the punch Vander threw at him. Forest blocked directing the strike away, but it clipped his ear. He stumbled sideways clutching the side of his head. Vander grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in front as Briar came in with own punch. She collided with Forest and knocked him to the ground.
“I’m so sorry.” Briar gasped. She held her hand to her mouth as she watched Forest struggle to his feet.
“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.” Vander whispered in her ear. She spun around to hit him but was too189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBGlHidUUg
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkjRtYyF40
finished her with a punch to the jaw knocking her to the ground.
“Briar!” Forest struggled to his feet. Vander kicked him in the ribs knocking him back down.
“If they two of you are going to be worried about each other during a fight, you leave yourselves open.” Vander189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wrzxOi82Y
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFkU6AxRaD
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZksxuVoOO
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGZbC4VrK0
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mAqnLrtyk
sustained would last a few days. It would be a painful lesson for them.
“This makes it my turn.” Eve got up from the ground and brushed off her pants. She walked over to the rack then189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHGH1jhOuE
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlknGnqWhV1
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRHXYRjkU5
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c9cAwdmoX
other in an underhand grip.
“Would you like me to use daggers as well?” Vander asked.
“Use whatever makes you comfortable.” She shrugged. He rolled his shoulders and motioned for her to come at him. She189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oC7sDkPwM
didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge.
The fight was quick and brutal. She was quick with the slashes, but as they were lumps of metal, they didn’t really189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwqduc6Jvr
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKImt1m7C7
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLj2dfzV7r
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolis9V5n6B
away. Daggers, like fists, were an intimate way to try and kill someone.
As Eve stabbed down with a dagger, Vander brought his arm up to block the strike. At the same time, she stabbed up189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuBaIg2hQd
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc7X5j1ePj
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bZTYHQLDT
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDuaeHnAK2
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3kPPL6Si4
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6x3WsFpqi
brought her head back then slammed it into Vander’s face.
He felt his nose crunch under the blood. He stumbled backwards clutching his hand over his gushing nose. Between189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOephuWwB0U
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFufwUnrml
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTo8eBhodh
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSujzlEkNs8
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8hSDegxmN
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTgoCq3Kuz
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7BhmRSMfq
ground, but he was heavier and stronger than she was.
“I yield.” She gasped. Vander got up off her and took the handkerchief Alex offered him to staunch his bleeding189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY6ZaAG80I
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRganksAfyf
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyfXLqDE5l
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyWHoRidPM
blood out onto the grass.
“I’m lucky I have more experience with these kinds of fights.” He explained. “In a few more years she would have189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo05bPgoLlW
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhTCtRrdTg
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CyCTNxjBp
fighting.” Alex explained. “It’s a mess.”
“Eve is the strongest of the group, but I’ve seen the way she looks at them. Seems she thinks they are dead weight.189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hioWq7itf
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxH6B19Seh
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZuQa8BYef
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwBWbcHIzt
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADnKCcB27c
feet before trotting after the recruits.
“I’ll get lunch ready.” The two of them went their separate ways.
After Vander washed his face and changed his clothes, he sat down in his chair willing himself to relax. In the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XzxULEEia
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cCfgZWFtU
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjrw7TrnHk
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD5lSiDtXx
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3pgjAxHDm
open the door then jumped onto the bed to curl up and go to sleep.
As he sat watching her, he remembered the letter from his grandfather that had come earlier. Grabbed his knife, he189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWDePmUVXr
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoJnvTPxdV
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMJqwIW0O0
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxrDcIws5Z
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Al4IS4EK2
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAeARdRSLd
trust me on this, come back.
-Your grandfather, Charles
P.S. This is a Red Alert.
Once he read the Red Alert, he knew that it was an emergency. Only a couple of things would warrant his grandfather putting that in a letter recalling him and none of it was good. The rest of the letter didn’t matter to him. He crumbled it up and slipped it into his pocket. He rushed outside to call the others to him.
They would have to leave tomorrow.
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