214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcJE7BqcL7
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAvARckkpz
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dv3ojtCwg
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ujgBtrYx3
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRMYHE7qmK
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDJasYCFr5
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybNAdOdrO8
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qFuks526C
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHC8sQDTaX
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6IswnuJkl
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpoEcW4I18
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtuhd9tZjf
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nSptKLTkJ
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL15gQPynx
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Jk7DCUqTq
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 looking214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYKlc3pK5q
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcMobjdM2E
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKLOjNzcWu
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCjWzDbcov
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA53BXct0P
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 a214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkWyTrpYbD
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5GWhaJTnl
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKkXt5igXz
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwEJG82xif
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNh7P1l7fL
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 size214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHJYhzXahv
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwcwqAALvS
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV1oJDOp63
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLLAMP1VUE
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1TngY0nug
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIvFhtuoIU
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuUOEUlmC4
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDanguMsxd
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMz0dnKYhJ
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yNFsEuWhP
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0KnGeHIzy
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 head214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcEicFIR0H
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyarWTbCLb
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE14GSzjEd3
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC12WZn71j
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 was214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xyKTFvjC7
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNZZyaiLqK
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfo2ozSenq
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvLO7rJ6bY
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsfcW1TZ9t
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOrBzsuLbI
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWAHJGl8jj
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBwPnbIrQN
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3LrsSpBeV
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 practice214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYrDjPcpP5
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBtnisVr9y
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SOUCsFswl
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigzlx5I58o
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 demeanor214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR59M4DVa2
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDDI6zZlHV
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAX18VZsAu
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 and214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLBJMn0uTA
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVAhkCAZh2
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItXKwnz2j7
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 dead214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83JkduVcsY
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg49lAeHh81
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX2VV7cwyR
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtbTVIp4j7
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lBZiO5N9S
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49QtPUbYhq
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfBP8j5IFj
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy9rVUG0u3
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzLK1zDHWB
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8VHMrnqmd
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsBh9jpURG
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPuElLOu8w
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyg632rt72
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ouZrafCZ1
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. They214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn4FrNOfKk
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbc2X9AhCV
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61QJI5vH19
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uktFRsgy4
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 his214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZJZAyfkWm
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf2Uhi1Dvo
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayTqZ3m5up
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWLmELEATV
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxRGvaCgBr
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAeBdPAUIk
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLshcU9NrQk
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIjnajYz0I
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eSkiGv68V
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChrNcYv11n
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2c3xZ1bnVX
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO9mSz2QA4
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 sidelines214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4PYMgrsyo
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFbJFDGSkM
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 group214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ4ZU5JMT3
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMghq1Uzhz
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqQyJvaHBd
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 fight214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JCfILpMnJ
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 to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtfZ3wrod8
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 moment214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAR7MN0bTP
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpndMcau4L
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uyxEGGnbX
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSnezbvTuE
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 go214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDclhZvaz8j
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 by214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN0oqdIUDT
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3QUcM23v1
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUA4sYQQjo
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYkkjiDgNP
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’t214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6sYcDaHzt
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXOdFHA1kV
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKhP5bwOVo
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7zSVl30rY
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 in214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW2TjXxHqp
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’s214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBLrd5b13q
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnRqheSPdZ
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ow1a8Wg8W
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocZMA99Bp8
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz8m3s8Gn8
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4b5xeAeI4
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30UI2CWu4l
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 which214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6UTOdQVbW
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpG3Inl37L
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PUVGFLmbG
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfROG7AHlxg
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 of214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiWVSwpfeE
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMc2PHGLli
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4znOxbfHfC
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 think214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu0bojCw0K
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR0gZ5mBNy
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. The214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMmB1h6VVe
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe57NeBoHpR
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVY5rTd6j37
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vSXALojFH
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 too214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3HUuwKiAC
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCNQVmwW5N
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.” Vander214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqByClXILMz
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjuGKuItET
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzutcEgrFq
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA9nZhTCH2
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiHodQ6GLs
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 then214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkD2JhmzmdG
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV0KZA5HJs
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukzDiOgEbK
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ27jv7hrZ
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. She214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc9ntQfgdO
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 really214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbilMQ88AUq
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEydQVRUToI
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfV4Oc2sbf
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WE8riytm1
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 up214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF7LBJtkus
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkSkK7KAme
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmQcsTfb9G
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBxYqp8YO2
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl18GUdPnZ
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA8PoAJyQc
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. Between214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeOZbhSElU
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRaTtlofQE
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymuWI6GFmH
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tzd6njCPa
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMK4FF7aoz
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYGsHMubqE
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXZ3n0o7gp
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 bleeding214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uC6cNddkl
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuo2U7siN0
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhmy9d457V
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfHZfhR0SV
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 have214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr6SBtWwQD
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwbstnnlPy
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS7I8tPonr
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcuPLrsnCp
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQRqMpNUmY
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX86DxF6b1X
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkqezORCs4
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wf9up5V6H
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 the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWcVcOEi9P
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG9MxErn8A
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUiq3j8U6X
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBMBC1dHnL
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlSLK5399R
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, he214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzY2RWr30U
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZcUd1o5ev
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRaCoH4UFl
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqDHbe0dRK
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBv1FqoEuq
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO8r28fQRO
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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