Chapter 40
Vander rushed out from behind the tree84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5z7U2IzF8
and immediately rolled to the ground as two arrows embedded themselves in the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAp7HpGwrC
dirt right where he had been standing. Despite being assassins and spies, it84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7iXgefjPe
seemed as though the Green Serpents were crack shots with the bow, but he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡST4nTGl1qN
decided to see what would happen when they faced someone who was expecting84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ706VjFb7yd
them. He scooped up a couple of rocks from off the ground and palmed them as he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYqCB5sFlV
charged his enemies.
More84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dNACkZHAv
arrows were thrown at him, but it seemed as though they were drawn quickly84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73XtQtooTQ
without much aim. Some whizzed over his head while others got stuck in the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmchTSquJWb
ground a few feet in front of him. One came dangerously close to him, but he84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqG5hMa8sT
smacked it away with his sword. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzGEmhtlIj
movement. Taking quick aim, he threw a rock hitting a Serpent’s shooting hand.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdYh4ESDh5
With a cry of pain, he dropped the bow, but drew a knife instead.
“I’ll84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMkKbVOj7c
gut you.” He snarled and rushed him with the dagger poised low. Vander stepped84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6NehkKn01
back as the dagger was thrusted forward. He grabbed the serpent’s arm and84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjewL9GMDg1
yanked the poor man off his feet before slamming his palm into the guy’s nose.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqrwgtEAPz
Blood spurted as his nose broke and embedded itself into the brain, killing him84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8xj85bsxt
instantly. He quickly lifted the body up as two arrows hit him in the back. He84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYklkxkzJv
rushed forward using the freshly made corpse as protection until he could see84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoene1giAiU
who he was looking for: three Serpents standing in front of him.
Unlike84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvk5OCWDu9
the one he had just killed, these three looked like veterans. They had deep84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSLXd9Chzq
green face paint and wore outfits that helped them blend into their84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRLOpMPd0L
surroundings. There was a hardened look in their eyes as they stared at him.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJdB82nb49
Knowing their bows would be useless if close combat, they lowered them to the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyw4x3bIGs
ground then removed their quivers. Each one removed a large knife from the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4XvsH0l1w
sheathe strapped to their backs.
“You84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1udzGxlCm
might be a Blade, but you aren’t a match for all three of us.” One of them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQHg53A9on
growled. As if practiced, they spread out keeping Vander between them. From84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDuEpbiCdk
here he could tell that the knives were poisoned, one wayward scratch would84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXdDdgEOx1
send him to the afterlife, but he couldn’t stay here as he was. That was just84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6Y8trPNpp
asking to be killed.
Vander84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CrpC7o4et
threw the dead serpent at the one in front of him. As he fell scream in a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqaPghbAa
tangle of bodies, Vander went to the left to handle the one there. He slashed84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06QiY8n7hZ
with his sword, but the serpent was nimble. He rolled over the sword strike,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0HNND8nT1
landing on his feet. He stabbed with the daggers, but Vander grabbed the wrist,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL79hDSbLJi
guiding it away from him. He kicked out the back of the leg sending the Serpent84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWbeQ4Ue3Z
to the ground. As he fell, he brought his boot up catching Vander in the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gfCrGyjtE
stomach and sending him flying onto his back. He rolled and brought his sword84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg6VqYHS4t
up in time to block the second serpent’s daggers. He pushed him stumbling84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOqrT2V84l
sideways then scrambled to his feet. Before the serpent could adjust, Vander84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4ivvcDfbi
slashed his back open with his sword.
Blood84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP0KtO4o8q
sprayed as the man stumbled and fell to the ground. There was no time to check84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUSVfzE2hT
to make sure he was dead as another was on him. The man was a whirlwind with84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhsAxojY96
his daggers, spinning, slashing, and stabbing. The dagger cut his pants,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoCqHMSI5l
jacket, and shirt, but luckily it wasn’t deep enough to draw blood, but soon84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeGHALpn2G
enough he could get past his guard. He wanted to keep one alive for84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqpJKpugkO
interrogation, but that didn’t seem like it would be likely. So, he waited for84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv7izdsrEy
a brief opening before cutting down with the sword. With a scream, one of the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFK0E3itp7
serpents’ hands hit the ground in a bloody heap. Before he could scream more,84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxqo2LWiKO
Vander cut his throat.
“Die!” The serpent who had been84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAXsynuCwm
tangled up jumped from behind him. Panic raced in Vander’s chest. He had84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3g7O0vJFdh
forgotten about him and now it was too late for him to protect himself as the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aIP9MnErk
daggers raced towards his throat. Acting on instinct, he lunged underneath the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTLjcChMhK
daggers grabbing the serpent around the waist bringing them both to the ground.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyt5hfB9EV
Vander’s fingers turned to claws as he tore out the man’s throat.
He could feel the demon clawing84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HyyayRuwZ
closer to the surface. It wanted out, a way to release its aggressions, but now84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiU3BYOQBg
was not the time. Vander bit down on the impulse shoving the beast back into84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAIzXZDgcc
the recesses of his soul. Soon, but not now. He had to get Kiara and Eliza back84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tGMoyxR2e
first then all hell could break loose.
Vander spent some time going84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8lTigTx4d
through the pockets of the dead serpents to see if they had left behind any84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLjc84dZU8
tools for him to use. He found several poisoned knives and needles, but the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ272muRsll
rest were weapons that would be too much for him to carry so he discarded them.
Before leaving84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbjspUwL8u
the area, he dragged Briar and Forest’s bodies back towards the road. He never84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2LQrthria
should have brought them here. This was his penance and his alone. Now they84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnmitEFyNp
were dead. He would have to carry that burden, but he swore he would make the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeugU5lIaQC
Serpents, and Eve, pay for what they had done.
He remembered the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pPG7E2EOO
village from his travels across the country. He knew that it would be heavily84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ23ruAetdm
fortified, especially now that the challenge had been issues towards him to get84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFfmqqBVp3
the queen back. He would have to come prepared. So, he scooped up a bow along with84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUps5wMa0Nn
a quiver of arrows. They would know he was there, but only after some of them84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwibDvsxjs
had died.
The sun was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJIeBrD2ni
beginning to rise when he spotted the walls through the forest. The village was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb1dnpm738
aptly named because it bordered the forest. This was a hunting village, taking84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIm3hLebG8
out small game and deer to feed everyone. He wasn’t quite sure when the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxowhdQCv9j
Serpents moved in, but it must have been recently as they have had no reports84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v9NLJtqQq
of the village being under attack.
As he looked at84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPns4hKWZu
the front gate, he noticed several men wearing green cloaks and talking amongst84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEXqzr4Vpj
themselves. Without caring about who they were, Vander notched an arrow to his84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP0DLB4E3w
bow, took aim, then fired. The arrow took a guard in the throat and before the84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cra43nmtt
others could react, several more arrows flew into parts of their body. One took84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSZywSSDIc
an arrow in the shoulder, while the third took one through the knee. Both went84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotS0X3gdg3
down screaming, but they weren’t killing shots. It was enough to bring more84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU0i8ifw8s
Serpents out for him to kill.
They were pouring out of the village84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUf6r7XaPB
now to get vengeance for their fallen comrades. He only had time to take down84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBsdNSJGob
two more before the rest were on him. He tossed aside the bow and quiver and84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXqUdX4NUb
drew his sword to strike against his attackers.
The first one went down with barely84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVXqwCkBi5
any effort. He sidestepped out of the way and ran him through. He blocked a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7xh4sNGvA
strike from the next one then pushed him aside, but soon he was overpowered by84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJElm6Q3l23
the sheer volume of people. As he raised his sword, one kicked his wrist84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8mBQOf82t
sending it spiraling out of his hand. He was punched in the jaw and knocked to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPMe1fA6bq
the ground. He tried to fight back, but several pinned his arms and pointed a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJBuPGyssN
sword right at his neck.
“Stop!” Vander heard Eve shout. She84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF88K7GFTV
pushed her way through the group and if he held out any hope that she hadn’t84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVofyBstgdb
betrayed them the look in her eyes combined with what she was wearing sealed84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5QjaeMcLT
her betrayal in stone.
She wore a sleeveless green shirt84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRFc3Lvl71
showing off lean muscles and a massive snake tattoo going down her left arm.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXqoM1ejgX
Her hair was pulled back but covered with a green hood. She wore two daggers on84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ed3djGBH8
her belt.
“So, you did betray us.” Vander spat.
“Betray you?” she laughed. “I was84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wrALIWXF5
never apart of you.” Now that he got a good look at her, he realized that she84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyyddJg5Z2
had been messing with him from the beginning. She was broader than she looked84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2k1HAj9c5
before, more heavily muscled. She wasn’t sixteen, she was likely someone older84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO3Eech5qO
than he was. It also explained the gaps in the recruits’ skills. She had been84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9DkFwo8j2
playing them for fools since the very beginning.
“They trusted you,” Vander struggled.84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK65nmD5Sl
“I trusted you.”84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX3gaszxmq
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“I’ll have to make a visit to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaph0S30oMy
whoever your informant is.” She grinned. “He almost ruined everything, but84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrJMN3zpK9
luckily you were so easy to fool. Get him up.” Vander was hauled to his feet by84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQSyhcqxIH
several strong hands. “We will take what we need from you then I will spend a84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tf2gBaNhu
lot more time cutting you to pieces. I’ve always wanted to hear you scream.”
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Maybe, just maybe, Peyton will come84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9rUGeUeFa
here himself that way he could show everyone that he was innocent. He would84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7fLI0jmyl
have to bide his time and wait, however. Hopefully his reinforcements would84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtLoz9b2TQ
arrive to save them, but he shouldn’t count on it. If Peyton knew they were84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWRV36itOu
mobilizing the army he would make it quick. For now, he willed his body to84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nAoas9Zh4
relax. However, he wasn’t going to let them get away with it. He and the demon84Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkwW4Ys8DK
were going to have a lot of fun before they were killed.
