Chapter 5
Bree was a very attractive woman.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsauCwtmJT
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a toned figure from her time as a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHz7D4PvPd
Blade and now serving as a Captain in the Eluvian military. Instead of her110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPPHoICc8Q
regular soldier attire, she decided to wear tight brown pants, brown booties,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBPrED4D2S
and a white sleeveless blouse. It looked as though she took a lot of care in110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitgJreFVKv
her choice of attire as he had to try hard to ignore the feeling welling up in110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMfmfc6lRo
his chest. They weren’t together anymore.
“Oh Vander, I’ve missed you.” She110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6uksRXYJ1
reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her hand as he pulled back.
“You don’t get to do that110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIewuAbwjSB
anymore.” Vander took a step back into his room. “You made your choice six110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLJdjQu7Wl
months ago and I’m not one to play second fiddle to someone else.”
“Come on.” She scoffed. “You know110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD8rfuxVKA
I had no choice. My father forced me into this, I couldn’t disobey him.”
“Not even for someone you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY9MKgnT3i
professed to love?” he snorted. “I’d have left the Blades if you asked, but you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEboCNxJ7B
dropped me as soon as your father snapped his fingers. You never loved me Bree,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB9XFCftFK
not really.”
“Vander, that’s not fair.” He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob9rUXsKOh
voice was starting to rise. “I spent a lot of time this past six months110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Mj1v4jaw
thinking about us. I will tell my father to end my engagement to Leon, so we110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsZv8G5OUw
could be together.” Vander’s heart pounded at the thought, but he wouldn’t allow110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sH4jHgbLE
himself to be ruled by his emotions.
“I’m sorry, but you made your110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJCSBp1bNm
choice and now we both have to live with it.” He walked towards the door and110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUhs0H4MWZ
held it open. “It’s time for you to leave.” She sat there in the middle of the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1aMQY3yTC
floor her face flushed with rage. She clenched her fist and for a second he110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvZ7zfuZE3
thought she was going to swing at him. She thought better of it but made sure110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTJ20baqcf
to slam her shoulder into his arm as she left. She didn’t even say goodbye.
“Give me the word and I’ll rip110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9mujOgcjU
her throat out.” Shea snarled. Vander walked over to rub her head.
“I don’t want to give you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ4DOM17GB
indigestion.” He teased.
He had known Bree since their time110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0d0PXJ2h6
as recruits roughly eight years ago when they were both sixteen. They had110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfxM0sXZhT
gotten close, along with the other members of their squad, but after an110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRwYTQZNcv
incident during their first mission cost the lives of their training officer as110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaxb4Gks8M
well as two of their comrades, they hadn’t been the same. They had clung to110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefSQoYs7ow
each other during the rougher times and grew close. They had been each other’s110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSwDIEpmG6
first, a bond he thought would cement them together for the rest of their110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnQPAVObqT
lives. But six months ago, that had fallen to pieces. He had done a lot of soul110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPelMgc4aFC
searching while he was in isolation with his new recruits and decided that he110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGPjwkubc8
would keep things professional between them, nothing more, nothing less. She110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxATvY31ZY1
had ended things with him for her father’s favorite and got engaged to Leon110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpKLsStnqW
instead. That was something he wouldn’t readily forgive or forget.
He rubbed Shea’s head then110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77MZmP124e
promised to bring her back some beef from the kitchen when he returned later.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyI7jF5fPG
He didn’t want to be late for his recruits first night out since joining. He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZAdVIXd7p
left his sword behind because he doubted he would need it, then left the room.
If there was a lot of people110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX00XJKYswu
before, there was even more now. People were crammed against the walls and the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmjtqrDplT
servers were having issues making their way through everyone. A larger square110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSWHhLtaUG
was opened up between the booths and musicians for more people to dance the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDcaLG8AsS
night away. Upon stepping into the floor, he saw Alexander’s head poking up110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6CYGMJxSw
above the crowd. It was one of the perks of being friends with a giant. His110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGE0TeZI02
voice thundered out to order some food and drinks for his table sending a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXAtFoixqR
couple of the servers scrambling to fulfill his wishes. Vander snaked his way110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdWmw4F5lG
through the crowd dodging flying elbows and kicking feet to get to the table. Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM49YpMxe3
was still wearing the clothing he had on earlier, but he left his uniform top110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtW8l17XQD
at home and instead opted to wear a black leather jacket.
“About time you got here.” Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloYUlDRrnf
grumbled. This man did not like large crowds, but he came out to spend time110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SeTpbWFC8
with his friend. A sacrifice that wouldn’t go unrewarded tonight. “Would me110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmVZ0Lh6wW
seeing Bree storming out of here have anything to do with it?”
“Some.” He motioned for the bigger110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS4tOrGTnS
man to slide over so he could sit down. “She told me she would end the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5iGwiDwYF
engagement with Leon to have me back, but I told her that I wouldn’t get back110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jn9kFJdXj
with her. She made her choice six months ago and I won’t be played for a fool110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJfzv6Y0Mz
again.”
“You turned that down?” Forest110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQqPyKK4VW
gasped. “I would have thrown myself at her if she asked me to be with her.”
“You’d throw yourself at a bear if110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbExMuH6QA
you think you’d get lucky.” Briar snorted. Forest shoved her then she shoved110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJnu7bBH1S
him back. It would have devolved into a fight if Rooster hadn’t pulled them110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyZwiMqpgJ
apart.
“We’re here to have fun.” He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTty7IzECB
snapped. “Not get thrown out of here before we even had a drink.”
Each of them had dressed in their110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLM3mn0d1E
best clothes for tonight. Most of their clothing was now a little too small110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzLLVYr5qy
since they had each packed on a ton of muscle since they left the city. He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTOFgkjjb7
guessed that he would have to make a request to his grandfather to give them110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGouNXiyH9
some money for new clothing. The only one that seemed to have gotten clothing110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RXP1Osj7s
that still fit was Eve. Unlike the others who wore pants and a shirt, she had110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSG1vb4Fae
decided to wear a long white dress and shoes. Even Chicken had decided to dress110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R9CNQ5LAb
for the occasion and leave her oversized clothing at home. She wore a brown110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxE3IAUW8tV
buttoned shirt and a pair of tan pants. He wondered if Eve had lent the outfit110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg0PSqhLO1
to her.
“Each of look very nice.” Vander110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd48GkwKxFA
nodded his approval. “Remember, tonight feel free to eat and drink as you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD6y7ecRKY
please, but there will still be training tomorrow as usual, and I will not go110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssliuqn2a8
easy on you just because you are hung over.”
“Come on Forest, let’s go dance.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9GlD1j5fu
Briar pulled on his arm, removing him from the booth. He protested fully but110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRW6LN9y3v
allowed himself to be led away by her. She grabbed his arm, placed the other110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr0FVXJO5T
one around her waist and started leading him around the dance floor making sure110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rVMVki6uX
not to bump into anyone along the way. Within moments the two of them were lost110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraNki1teHO
from sight.
“Will you dance with me Vander?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCIVFxQ2cE
Eve looked down at her lap. It took him a moment to register that she had been110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgjHHUXhIe
the one to ask him and not Chicken.
“He has two left feet.” Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxC3shAUhv
slapped him on the back. “I’m you’ll find someone to dance with you out on the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFVCKg8kIU
floor. Look,” they turned to where he was pointing and saw two young men110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq7Ci01CrN
smiling at her from the other side of the Inn.
“But I want to dance with-“
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Vander forced a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEd24zPd48H
smile. “I’m a bit worn out from our travels today, so I think I’ll sit tonight110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVab7tCdPcY
out. Shall I call you over once our food is here?” Nodding angrily, she walked110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMddGi6M9V
from the booth, grabbed both young men by their arms and pulled them onto the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvF2F2YGS5
dance floor.
“What about the two of you?” Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLDKAJxhcj
asked Rooster and Chicken.
“I think I’m just going to read.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayto4V0vZi
Chicken removed a thick leather-bound book from her bag from under the table.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NYvCfSaYo
The title was called: The Life of Boris Britebyrd, The First Blade. He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd2rz4YaIa
didn’t know that she was into history, seemed as though the two of them had110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2zrB27t7t
quite a bit in common.
“I’m okay just sitting here.” He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlFydXHJ60
looked wistfully out towards the dance floor. Tracing his gaze Vander saw that110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOeVBwDYPU
he was watching Eve dance with the two men. It looked as though she was110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaDzp3O3Zn
enjoying herself, but that might also have been for his benefit.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NcpKTvi7u
Vander asked.
“Because I see the way she looks110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡct598DKS3B
at you.” Rooster grumbled. “And I can’t ever hope to compete.”
“It’s just a crush.” Vander110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QRL3BVBWH
reached over to place his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “She will get over it.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mlRrXQE8o
Besides, no one could say no to you. You’re a wonderful kid and you won’t know110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtgDatblQU
unless you try.”
“Alright, but later.” He sighed.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K4ZlESk9e
He became quiet up then proceeded to stare out the window until the food110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rqdCEM9sn
arrived. The server placed down a basket full of bread, a bowl of hearty stew110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnSWbQyR1W
for each of them along with a tankard of beer and many glasses. Vander asked110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOEFLlbyTR
her to bring him some Dwarven Whiskey as well. She came back a couple of110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdLi1V4mqx
minutes later with several shot glasses and the bottle.
Rooster and Chicken wasted no time110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDgvW8fgn3
and started digging into their food. They never let food grow cold or go to110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxD4ADbW1q
waste. A pair of bottomless pits which stemmed from their time homeless and110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrjERLYBee
never getting enough to eat. Forest and Briar came after a few minutes. Briar110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR25soeLNh
was grinning ear to ear while Forest slumped into the booth breathing heavily110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4W9SshlpG
and sweating profusely from his brow. Briar helped prop him up before starting110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EoLXVscGl
to eat. Eve was the last one to make it back to the table. She was out of110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikqDWhg2wi
breath, her face flushed with exhaustion. She sat down next to Chicken not110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtB9hSnZDt
looking up at Vander as she started to eat.
As the music thrummed into his110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2BpOB8cnR
head, he started feeling ill. Loud noises and people sitting so close to him110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2hFSxEPYs
wasn’t something he enjoyed. His senses were being assaulted and he needed some110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CWJSdiiGS
air, but first he wanted to make sure the recruits were taken care of.
“Congratulations on making it110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVlrpq8M9L
through your first six months of training.” Vander said. “Alex and I couldn’t110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FclOHV2ZF
be prouder of all the progress you made since we started and while things might110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoilZ8Qyzc4
not get easier from here on out, I know you all make fantastic Blades. So, eat,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTfv1NA93q
drink, and party to your hearts content.” Four of the five of them cheered.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHB8pfR8l4
Vander poured them each a shot and they all tossed it back at once. “Will you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcckMAv0pS
make sure they get home alright?”
“Of course,” Alex looked110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHp3dwkCCG
concerned. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Too much noise for me to handle.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19qvP5shJP
Vander explained. “I just need to step outside for a few minutes okay?”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPb25WOUoD
said with a slight frown. Vander excused himself from the table. He went110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfHfEpZOPN
through the kitchen then out the back door into the cool night beyond.
Nighttime in the city was110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Dkr8fLSq
different from the forest. Out there the sky was clear you could count the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2vm3yDzVg
stars or try too at least. Humjir’s light shone everywhere even in the darkest110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp44pI2mTpI
corner. The animals made sounds of course as the night hunters prowled the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWPtcVk3n8
ground and sky, but there was a rhythm to it. There were times he and Shea110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXccpTytF8r
would stay out under a large tree listening to the animals as they relaxed from110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9E9YsqT0u
the day’s activities. Often enough Alex would come out to wake them out because110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ73lgIIeig
they had fallen asleep in the grass. Here, there was nothing soothing about it.
Humjir couldn’t be seen from the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f9A1hPHsa
city aside from the highest tower in the King’s estate. You could only see a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7igTgiucwv
couple of stars, but even then their lights were muted. Then came the sounds110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7dp7C7PS8
from humans, not animals, that showed how rotten the city truly was. The sick110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeizXpoUDt
could be heard coughing all night long as the homeless shuffled along looking110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNAGXs9ds7
for a place to stay, any place that would take them. The hungry wails of110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1apcjaCol
children often fell on deaf ears because everyone else was too busy partying110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhOwHGetOP
the night away. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people inside the inn110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvZpvQ1F5s
right now children at home starving had while they were drinking the night110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIdkbvgYkR
away. Both he and Shea were of one mind that they would be happier living in the woods away from all these people, but110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh6qx3cvSw
duty called and neither of them wanted to turn their backs on their friends.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe1TkmHKgE
Perhaps, one day, they would be able to retire somewhere far from here.
He was so lost in thought that he110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwdAmSHuvE
failed to notice the door opening behind him. “You should really be more110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbwcxvVF4P
careful out here.” Julianna said. He wasn’t one to startle easily, but he leapt110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTE8bYQSVv
from his boots once she spoke.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXy57cTuHS
growled. She wrapped her arm through his and pulled him to his side.
“Don’t be a pansy.” She giggled.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0GNLFnt5v
He could smell the slight tang of booze on her breath. Her face was flushed110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcdxXm6iGt
bright red, and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress hung loosely110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c3ggo7gng
on her shoulder, so he reached over to pull it back up for her.
“You needed a drink to come out110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnHIo2HYCv
here and greet me?” he teased. “I thought you were braver than that.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH90kzd9or
“This wasn’t for you. Some of my patrons like me enough to buy me something to110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1p3X4fA2z
drink and dance with me. I just came out here for a breather.” The two of them110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW4ijV6UHT
stood there in silence leaning up against the side of the building. Julianna110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUn55DDAzW
placed her head on his shoulder, but she remained stony faced and still.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzMFs1wBIB
“Vander.” She said after a few minutes.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Did you get the closure you110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMKaJFnAaZ
needed with Bree tonight?” He looked down at her. There was a wistful look on110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHJAg7uY7E
her face as she looked straight ahead.
“Heh.” He laughed. “I was110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGbU5l1ewh
wondering how she made it past you. You let her in didn’t you?”
“Guilty.” She spoke softly. “If110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjukzONZAFv
you were going to take her back, I was going to throw you out of the Inn. Once110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNApf28bJX
she stormed off pissed as hell, I knew you made the right choice.”
“You’re always looking out for me,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wuia6WPzI
thank you.” he bumped her shoulder lightly with his. She smiled up at him with110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMjxUSSF6l
a slight blush on her face. The two of them sat out there for a little bit110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm9WVWH2ei
without speaking. The quiet night air helped him soothe any aches he may have110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEkvt41JoR
had plus her company was a welcome boon. He knew that she didn’t harbor any110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU47rbde0v
feelings for him, neither him for her, but their friendship would stretch for110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEWlpFohmb
years to come, he could feel.
A sudden shout along with the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBhKONCftG
breaking of glass broke the serene quiet air. Julianna turned too him with a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngjmweIIwu
concerned look. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “But110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC6M6iaIEh
stay here, let me go look.”
“It’s my Inn.” She snorted. “I110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYawF8bpzF6
won’t be waiting outside like some helpless damsel. Let’s go.” Shaking his head110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wIFioOP46
as she rushed past him, he hurried behind.
As soon as she walked through the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBr057qetp
door, he pushed her head down as a glass mug hit the wall next to them110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUrbLkzP2K
shattering upon impact. Shards of glass rained down over them, but they slid110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbqjnwgA5f
right off his sleeve. Thankfully there was no liquid inside.
“Bring that white-haired bastard110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQMWVOFPnf
out here this instant.” Someone shouted. Vander recognized the voice as Leon’s,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwDDFOu3QX
so he must have been talking about him.
“Fucking Bree.” Vander pushed past110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgdHQgLBgh
Julianna through the kitchen and into the main Inn. Right in front of the door,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIixXV2a6vq
flanking both sides keeping anyone from either entering or leaving were four110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56sY1meT00
Blades, in uniform, with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Standing in110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwMX1q0nVN
front of them was Leon with his sword out pointing to the ground. Vander met110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbLQ9PhpMg
Alex’s eye. He was standing in front of the table blocking the recruits from110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurBDvyJTQe
being spotted by the pissed off Captain. Their eyes met. Alex shook his head110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpmxq7Dvjy
and motioned for Vander to leave out the back, but he was going to leave these110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVslvzJZfC
people here to take Leon’s wrath. As a captain he had a duty to uphold the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2IsgEAR62
standard of the Blades, so he pushed his way through the crowd to stand in110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvHWFLwiPt
front of Leon.
“What are you doing?” His voice110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp6LZfQx6V
boomed. He made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Is this how a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW9ZmoS2bA
captain of the Blades is supposed to act? Drawing your weapon in a business and110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4YwsZ4DtQ
trying to intimidate everyone here? What’s the matter with you?”
“There you are you bastard!” Leon110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QlLUszWZB
raised his sword pointing it at his chest. “Why was Bree here? What did the two110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdctCTFn7vy
of you do?”
“Is that what this is about?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaI2Hf6rUI
Vander scoffed. “Nothing happened, I sent her home, end of discussion. Now it’s110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8GUgNvRXo
your turn to get going before I report this to the Commander.”
“And you expect me to believe110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0YI68c73H
that?” Leon laughed. “You were gone for six months and the day you come back110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXHAtvf3MN
she comes to visit you? You’re full of shit.”
“It’s true.” Julianna pushed her110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iIqwKMrWw
way through to stand by Vander. “I let her in, and she left five minutes later110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGzlEoygDb
crying. I suggest you take it up with her and get out of my inn.”
“Now you have your new bitch110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvo3aYS7ad
covering for you?” Leon snapped. “Take this punk outside, we will settle this110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi3tDH3bWh
like men.” The four Blades guarding the door moved forward towards the crowd.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljdfA9mLQI
Alex pushed past to stand by Vander causing the four of them to pause mid-step.110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXNWsIwJyY
“Alex, stay out of this, this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns us all when you use110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAmWJDVKi0
your power for your own ends.” Alex snapped back. “You came to a private110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3MIeiECdV
establishment, threatened citizens, and are threatening a comrade, one that,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou4unbSwxH
until recently, outranked you. This is an abuse of power especially settling a110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i5wB7oK2H
private affair.”
“You think that matters to me?”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwovSG1XZ1
Leon asked. “When my honor is on the line? Do what I ask or I swear I will use110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8JzDPYuEe
everything in my power to crush you.” Vander stepped out until they were face110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4KnEOMBKP
to face.
“Is that a threat Leon?” Leon110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEaXVtKHo8
responded by pushing Vander backwards then bringing his sword up underneath his110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPihKHrshRH
chin.
“No this is a- ahhhhhh!” Shea110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lq7CMgYlM
leapt out from nowhere and bit down on Leon’s sword arm. Vander could hear the110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEGOv85zzM
bones crunching in his arm as she screamed out in pain. He dropped his sword110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ245tAogqn4
then tried to wrench her mouth off his arm. Blood sprayed as everyone started110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOr2h4eXlh
screaming. Vander saw Leon’s goons rushing towards her, so he rushed forward blocking110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBfrjZZLnC
their path.
“Shea, release him.”
“But-“ her voice echoed110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqmiedLtKX
back.
“NOW!” She released him, but110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAZdTezZcw
jumped out of reach and bared her teeth. With blood dripping down his arm, he110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOiLJ8wfbg
slowly got to his feet. His face was red with rage.
“Your mutt will pay for that.” He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Agu0xJsQR
whispered. “You will all pay for standing in my way.” He grabbed his sword,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2rVwRt5AA
spun around, and thrust at Vander. Because he was facing away from Leon, Vander110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPRW95tdq3
couldn’t anticipate the move. However, in his rage, he missed anything vital,110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPAicDl7JV
but he still carved a deep gash into Vander’s side. He fell to the ground110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPYLjMDNFR
holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Damn it.” Vander groaned. “What110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmG7j0SDHe
the hell is the matter with you?”
“You’ve looked down on me for too110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweYygG9Yld
long.” Leon spat. “Now it’s time you tasted defeat.” Leon lifted his sword110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhThrZPELAu
again, but Alex got there first. His fist collided with Leon’s face sending him110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUwUubyRrf
sprawling onto the ground.
“You crossed a line and not even110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSENGYwAke
your father will get you out of it.” He snapped. “You four, get him out of here110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBZw0duviB
before you find yourselves thrown onto the streets and not even Viggo Visc’s110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaZLwsQiXK
influence will keep you safe.”
“This isn’t over.” Leon growled as110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sd6RzNW8I
his four lackies picked him up off the ground and dragged him out. “You better110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwrDBq1516
find yourself a new job, Alex. I’m coming for your ass.” Vander heard rushed110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7P2tLRsuh
footsteps coming towards him. Julianna placed a towel over his hand to help110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UTF5tHL0C
staunch the bleeding.
“Let me see.” She whispered. He110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUs8GMWLhr0
winced with pain as he carefully moved his hand. “It’s deep but didn’t hit110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp68nEKqVhp
anything vital. We are going to have to stitch you up.”
“Fine.” Vander allowed himself to110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuH8m2RCMl
be lifted to his feet. “Alex, will you make sure the kids get back safely?”
“We should get you to a doctor.”110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOox8XdrnE
Alex said, but Vander shook his head.
“I’ll be fine.” He gasped. “Pay110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlvsQ0F1hh
for everyone’s meal as an apology for Leon’s outburst. There should be enough110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKRyQDDqAz
money to cover it in my room. We will also pay for the damages here.”
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“I understand.” He said. Alex110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjeVffBWPy
began to shout, but Vander’s eyes started to close. The blood loss was more110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbGntqvWLk
than he thought as he had difficulty staying awake. The last thing he saw was110Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP21uU8qt3
Shea leading the way upstairs towards the room.
