Chapter 5
Bree was a very attractive woman.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ5qyq3K3M
She had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a toned figure from her time as a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZMdr1Qau4
Blade and now serving as a Captain in the Eluvian military. Instead of her109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiKmI5IWNR
regular soldier attire, she decided to wear tight brown pants, brown booties,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlF9mHZsDg
and a white sleeveless blouse. It looked as though she took a lot of care in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoUVwBXPui
her choice of attire as he had to try hard to ignore the feeling welling up in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTM4TCSsDS
his chest. They weren’t together anymore.
“Oh Vander, I’ve missed you.” She109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGbkDlXlII
reached up to touch his face, but he grabbed her hand as he pulled back.
“You don’t get to do that109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fIAKILsnH
anymore.” Vander took a step back into his room. “You made your choice six109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOVMdBRk0l
months ago and I’m not one to play second fiddle to someone else.”
“Come on.” She scoffed. “You know109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W7qU0l4YG
I had no choice. My father forced me into this, I couldn’t disobey him.”
“Not even for someone you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzcf6CattL
professed to love?” he snorted. “I’d have left the Blades if you asked, but you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL7iypwiex
dropped me as soon as your father snapped his fingers. You never loved me Bree,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQJHToo7zk
not really.”
“Vander, that’s not fair.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw6SLEIwIS
voice was starting to rise. “I spent a lot of time this past six months109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfNxyGV4oD
thinking about us. I will tell my father to end my engagement to Leon, so we109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFTPBH07ge
could be together.” Vander’s heart pounded at the thought, but he wouldn’t allow109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SMAkxdwDm
himself to be ruled by his emotions.
“I’m sorry, but you made your109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUC5Gyez05
choice and now we both have to live with it.” He walked towards the door and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95KUpYZk3p
held it open. “It’s time for you to leave.” She sat there in the middle of the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5xPv27Nni
floor her face flushed with rage. She clenched her fist and for a second he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3oiolkEzT
thought she was going to swing at him. She thought better of it but made sure109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS2keJlY3H
to slam her shoulder into his arm as she left. She didn’t even say goodbye.
“Give me the word and I’ll rip109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2fuf89UBi
her throat out.” Shea snarled. Vander walked over to rub her head.
“I don’t want to give you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRtudxHi5l
indigestion.” He teased.
He had known Bree since their time109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe7c07CvJt
as recruits roughly eight years ago when they were both sixteen. They had109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iiXL1lG33
gotten close, along with the other members of their squad, but after an109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJknIdnybXL
incident during their first mission cost the lives of their training officer as109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhy4M1W3Nrw
well as two of their comrades, they hadn’t been the same. They had clung to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPLAtJED11
each other during the rougher times and grew close. They had been each other’s109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyFOjyZjUV
first, a bond he thought would cement them together for the rest of their109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjujUrp4QJQ
lives. But six months ago, that had fallen to pieces. He had done a lot of soul109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbH8ebKVEr
searching while he was in isolation with his new recruits and decided that he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0DZZaLoc4
would keep things professional between them, nothing more, nothing less. She109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhap8TXp4L0
had ended things with him for her father’s favorite and got engaged to Leon109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1hNp59jsU
instead. That was something he wouldn’t readily forgive or forget.
He rubbed Shea’s head then109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnIMW7VkyF
promised to bring her back some beef from the kitchen when he returned later.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxCbtYdi0u
He didn’t want to be late for his recruits first night out since joining. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CxcI7qKgy
left his sword behind because he doubted he would need it, then left the room.
If there was a lot of people109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIsOjWaK6O
before, there was even more now. People were crammed against the walls and the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGoGd1MpZL
servers were having issues making their way through everyone. A larger square109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9lynTZ18d
was opened up between the booths and musicians for more people to dance the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q83fay2N0
night away. Upon stepping into the floor, he saw Alexander’s head poking up109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eEI5RZFIn
above the crowd. It was one of the perks of being friends with a giant. His109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Rzleou1M
voice thundered out to order some food and drinks for his table sending a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoCNYo1WLs
couple of the servers scrambling to fulfill his wishes. Vander snaked his way109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNxUt2TLxn
through the crowd dodging flying elbows and kicking feet to get to the table. Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDXKp3DMsn
was still wearing the clothing he had on earlier, but he left his uniform top109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuPpMmOb70
at home and instead opted to wear a black leather jacket.
“About time you got here.” Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcVCG0hKTI
grumbled. This man did not like large crowds, but he came out to spend time109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnR2ommv59
with his friend. A sacrifice that wouldn’t go unrewarded tonight. “Would me109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvz9Kp5Cgb
seeing Bree storming out of here have anything to do with it?”
“Some.” He motioned for the bigger109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRhl4w0hKj
man to slide over so he could sit down. “She told me she would end the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI0kT95Lf6
engagement with Leon to have me back, but I told her that I wouldn’t get back109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUt8YRSh46
with her. She made her choice six months ago and I won’t be played for a fool109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzEokWu9Za
again.”
“You turned that down?” Forest109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi7ZoDNJkX
gasped. “I would have thrown myself at her if she asked me to be with her.”
“You’d throw yourself at a bear if109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EpHKM55fz
you think you’d get lucky.” Briar snorted. Forest shoved her then she shoved109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95jf5TSDwi
him back. It would have devolved into a fight if Rooster hadn’t pulled them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0dPDgqmeJ
apart.
“We’re here to have fun.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzABJLhHZRM
snapped. “Not get thrown out of here before we even had a drink.”
Each of them had dressed in their109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn92xX2FFTr
best clothes for tonight. Most of their clothing was now a little too small109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTTkTHBrlX
since they had each packed on a ton of muscle since they left the city. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmjFz5aZXp
guessed that he would have to make a request to his grandfather to give them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhZDCA4lDY
some money for new clothing. The only one that seemed to have gotten clothing109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLhTJ1nYVG
that still fit was Eve. Unlike the others who wore pants and a shirt, she had109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EoAAfZ6py
decided to wear a long white dress and shoes. Even Chicken had decided to dress109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmy9XGjEZJ
for the occasion and leave her oversized clothing at home. She wore a brown109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGyo9Gfrea
buttoned shirt and a pair of tan pants. He wondered if Eve had lent the outfit109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDWlSukgIV
to her.
“Each of look very nice.” Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwlOVd1Q2g
nodded his approval. “Remember, tonight feel free to eat and drink as you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI31iuuBGD
please, but there will still be training tomorrow as usual, and I will not go109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFoZ0qgnGl
easy on you just because you are hung over.”
“Come on Forest, let’s go dance.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd3giEFB4T
Briar pulled on his arm, removing him from the booth. He protested fully but109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7RU9iKJC4
allowed himself to be led away by her. She grabbed his arm, placed the other109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz0nWrmIUZ
one around her waist and started leading him around the dance floor making sure109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrgXK60uGT
not to bump into anyone along the way. Within moments the two of them were lost109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZE1ipcZgM
from sight.
“Will you dance with me Vander?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98MsQ7gTTa
Eve looked down at her lap. It took him a moment to register that she had been109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0clAplePKH
the one to ask him and not Chicken.
“He has two left feet.” Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayDiQ0ugxU
slapped him on the back. “I’m you’ll find someone to dance with you out on the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeisP9d1CT
floor. Look,” they turned to where he was pointing and saw two young men109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCGT5BUIfI
smiling at her from the other side of the Inn.
“But I want to dance with-“
“I’m sorry, Eve.” Vander forced a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqPKdgGPFD
smile. “I’m a bit worn out from our travels today, so I think I’ll sit tonight109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeTX5ZsOCU
out. Shall I call you over once our food is here?” Nodding angrily, she walked109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy2iph7cX4
from the booth, grabbed both young men by their arms and pulled them onto the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpwRMSEh1z
dance floor.
“What about the two of you?” Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OrJTEe2Kb
asked Rooster and Chicken.
“I think I’m just going to read.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5M9YLBlos
Chicken removed a thick leather-bound book from her bag from under the table.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLr8MWIja5
The title was called: The Life of Boris Britebyrd, The First Blade. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjPtt2jgSt
didn’t know that she was into history, seemed as though the two of them had109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KWCSEEBoj
quite a bit in common.
“I’m okay just sitting here.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvVAVxxYY6
looked wistfully out towards the dance floor. Tracing his gaze Vander saw that109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3lDVBUCPD
he was watching Eve dance with the two men. It looked as though she was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1WdW2SAE6
enjoying herself, but that might also have been for his benefit.
“Why don’t you ask her to dance?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8On8xCva8A
Vander asked.
“Because I see the way she looks109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj2n8tQU9A
at you.” Rooster grumbled. “And I can’t ever hope to compete.”
“It’s just a crush.” Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtCxlFePU1
reached over to place his hand on Rooster’s shoulder. “She will get over it.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5AwEVjn3o
Besides, no one could say no to you. You’re a wonderful kid and you won’t know109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2BSudyxaO
unless you try.”
“Alright, but later.” He sighed.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWT6ZvETbrK
He became quiet up then proceeded to stare out the window until the food109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BBvbcp2rP
arrived. The server placed down a basket full of bread, a bowl of hearty stew109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJP7IxXpph
for each of them along with a tankard of beer and many glasses. Vander asked109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa3H6E13FV
her to bring him some Dwarven Whiskey as well. She came back a couple of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmmMNPgmOn
minutes later with several shot glasses and the bottle.
Rooster and Chicken wasted no time109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfDZuaR6PV
and started digging into their food. They never let food grow cold or go to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME0ytlYKbY
waste. A pair of bottomless pits which stemmed from their time homeless and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91M76SaXGn
never getting enough to eat. Forest and Briar came after a few minutes. Briar109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XialE8HwJ
was grinning ear to ear while Forest slumped into the booth breathing heavily109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo7OhXC2WS
and sweating profusely from his brow. Briar helped prop him up before starting109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmeXXVG9qo
to eat. Eve was the last one to make it back to the table. She was out of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM8e0dcRKp
breath, her face flushed with exhaustion. She sat down next to Chicken not109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXl0NOevstm
looking up at Vander as she started to eat.
As the music thrummed into his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSD4Kjh4G8
head, he started feeling ill. Loud noises and people sitting so close to him109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UNUHECiR8
wasn’t something he enjoyed. His senses were being assaulted and he needed some109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CYY6lzuJa
air, but first he wanted to make sure the recruits were taken care of.
“Congratulations on making it109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuMAfx2KIv
through your first six months of training.” Vander said. “Alex and I couldn’t109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu8brWNOBd
be prouder of all the progress you made since we started and while things might109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez7QSGKmeZ
not get easier from here on out, I know you all make fantastic Blades. So, eat,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNgQLDpw1S
drink, and party to your hearts content.” Four of the five of them cheered.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctZtLBRZRa
Vander poured them each a shot and they all tossed it back at once. “Will you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamcBKmrWly
make sure they get home alright?”
“Of course,” Alex looked109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bZkN7g4X4
concerned. “Is everything alright with you?”
“Too much noise for me to handle.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Cslse7CF1
Vander explained. “I just need to step outside for a few minutes okay?”
“Alright, just take it easy.” Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLenDkNJVO
said with a slight frown. Vander excused himself from the table. He went109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjj7O0dtpm
through the kitchen then out the back door into the cool night beyond.
Nighttime in the city was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E39g8FEg8
different from the forest. Out there the sky was clear you could count the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRy2sA55Ip
stars or try too at least. Humjir’s light shone everywhere even in the darkest109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH82Bwdzebz
corner. The animals made sounds of course as the night hunters prowled the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHxq7trdBS
ground and sky, but there was a rhythm to it. There were times he and Shea109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU60suON9RH
would stay out under a large tree listening to the animals as they relaxed from109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfoInwDMJL
the day’s activities. Often enough Alex would come out to wake them out because109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I57KgrUc4
they had fallen asleep in the grass. Here, there was nothing soothing about it.
Humjir couldn’t be seen from the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMzbO3V4vJ
city aside from the highest tower in the King’s estate. You could only see a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSiPEN538J
couple of stars, but even then their lights were muted. Then came the sounds109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKwLQSp5EF
from humans, not animals, that showed how rotten the city truly was. The sick109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGBwE72BcP
could be heard coughing all night long as the homeless shuffled along looking109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK8dQ9xo8a
for a place to stay, any place that would take them. The hungry wails of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04bl0l3avr
children often fell on deaf ears because everyone else was too busy partying109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShSabZvU63
the night away. He couldn’t help but wonder how many people inside the inn109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7MRXqb2Gi
right now children at home starving had while they were drinking the night109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSEiRr9D6z
away. Both he and Shea were of one mind that they would be happier living in the woods away from all these people, but109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiZuTGZekW
duty called and neither of them wanted to turn their backs on their friends.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRmcEFRMxz
Perhaps, one day, they would be able to retire somewhere far from here.
He was so lost in thought that he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PfKzbuG2V
failed to notice the door opening behind him. “You should really be more109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zcjJjny4B
careful out here.” Julianna said. He wasn’t one to startle easily, but he leapt109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KGt8R9Vx0
from his boots once she spoke.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO2iI4bexQ
growled. She wrapped her arm through his and pulled him to his side.
“Don’t be a pansy.” She giggled.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsJpQkxy2o
He could smell the slight tang of booze on her breath. Her face was flushed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplN0aGOb1R
bright red, and she was breathing heavily. The strap of her dress hung loosely109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LwTWuuYvQ
on her shoulder, so he reached over to pull it back up for her.
“You needed a drink to come out109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY2nMJo13h
here and greet me?” he teased. “I thought you were braver than that.”
“Oh please.” She rolled her eyes.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh4eBUHP3f
“This wasn’t for you. Some of my patrons like me enough to buy me something to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtXmyblrQW
drink and dance with me. I just came out here for a breather.” The two of them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDj1TP4ZWd
stood there in silence leaning up against the side of the building. Julianna109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sj44rtO7C
placed her head on his shoulder, but she remained stony faced and still.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HumfmXwqO
“Vander.” She said after a few minutes.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Did you get the closure you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0kzEHRqbN
needed with Bree tonight?” He looked down at her. There was a wistful look on109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWNFMpuUBu
her face as she looked straight ahead.
“Heh.” He laughed. “I was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ljb56duv
wondering how she made it past you. You let her in didn’t you?”
“Guilty.” She spoke softly. “If109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoJ0HN3Kn3
you were going to take her back, I was going to throw you out of the Inn. Once109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFm8wcAZRr
she stormed off pissed as hell, I knew you made the right choice.”
“You’re always looking out for me,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7daoIYOu1
thank you.” he bumped her shoulder lightly with his. She smiled up at him with109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAdJerlDlY
a slight blush on her face. The two of them sat out there for a little bit109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0lJeuaG3y
without speaking. The quiet night air helped him soothe any aches he may have109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDbhVSKlQp
had plus her company was a welcome boon. He knew that she didn’t harbor any109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFORGw3l2Sg
feelings for him, neither him for her, but their friendship would stretch for109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhc1iQ3ltDZ
years to come, he could feel.
A sudden shout along with the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZI5qR53yM
breaking of glass broke the serene quiet air. Julianna turned too him with a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoDMQlKyHm
concerned look. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He frowned. “But109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR8p8WCM7m
stay here, let me go look.”
“It’s my Inn.” She snorted. “I109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfu5OUQiJe
won’t be waiting outside like some helpless damsel. Let’s go.” Shaking his head109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiyMYfR3Bi
as she rushed past him, he hurried behind.
As soon as she walked through the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoGW5hYx2n
door, he pushed her head down as a glass mug hit the wall next to them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdlCrP428D
shattering upon impact. Shards of glass rained down over them, but they slid109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jidszSME6
right off his sleeve. Thankfully there was no liquid inside.
“Bring that white-haired bastard109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG4xSHcxtz
out here this instant.” Someone shouted. Vander recognized the voice as Leon’s,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6M7P3JOm8
so he must have been talking about him.
“Fucking Bree.” Vander pushed past109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEIOsvwQEM
Julianna through the kitchen and into the main Inn. Right in front of the door,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Q1ODKdv6
flanking both sides keeping anyone from either entering or leaving were four109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ezBD91u9G
Blades, in uniform, with their hands on the hilts of their swords. Standing in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNQ1myJcgV
front of them was Leon with his sword out pointing to the ground. Vander met109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPLO5sgsCD
Alex’s eye. He was standing in front of the table blocking the recruits from109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxGABVvMbZ
being spotted by the pissed off Captain. Their eyes met. Alex shook his head109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69VJhPJtJ9
and motioned for Vander to leave out the back, but he was going to leave these109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvIhWgW5BE
people here to take Leon’s wrath. As a captain he had a duty to uphold the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzAr09f2ML
standard of the Blades, so he pushed his way through the crowd to stand in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qtrKVWOKs
front of Leon.
“What are you doing?” His voice109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt15XnwHHl
boomed. He made no attempt to hide the annoyance in his voice. “Is this how a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW8ZXwQdmO
captain of the Blades is supposed to act? Drawing your weapon in a business and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RklujRvk7
trying to intimidate everyone here? What’s the matter with you?”
“There you are you bastard!” Leon109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3xGsFdcfG
raised his sword pointing it at his chest. “Why was Bree here? What did the two109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc1YliS5i3
of you do?”
“Is that what this is about?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGRPg2XKO6
Vander scoffed. “Nothing happened, I sent her home, end of discussion. Now it’s109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFbLaATL5v
your turn to get going before I report this to the Commander.”
“And you expect me to believe109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZlfKVn5qZ
that?” Leon laughed. “You were gone for six months and the day you come back109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bWD3Jzzjz
she comes to visit you? You’re full of shit.”
“It’s true.” Julianna pushed her109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6se5VdW604
way through to stand by Vander. “I let her in, and she left five minutes later109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq0klgzhwa
crying. I suggest you take it up with her and get out of my inn.”
“Now you have your new bitch109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u1i8ITosL
covering for you?” Leon snapped. “Take this punk outside, we will settle this109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnreFrGHvFV
like men.” The four Blades guarding the door moved forward towards the crowd.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChgfNuJRgZ
Alex pushed past to stand by Vander causing the four of them to pause mid-step.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnOfNX9ShB
“Alex, stay out of this, this doesn’t concern you.”
“It concerns us all when you use109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd2PqHdI8x
your power for your own ends.” Alex snapped back. “You came to a private109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNN2lfyfNl
establishment, threatened citizens, and are threatening a comrade, one that,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lr6mvslsZ
until recently, outranked you. This is an abuse of power especially settling a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97Uw3AiQUH
private affair.”
“You think that matters to me?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZpJZAjmop
Leon asked. “When my honor is on the line? Do what I ask or I swear I will use109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViPY43MpDJ
everything in my power to crush you.” Vander stepped out until they were face109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lQK8ro64r
to face.
“Is that a threat Leon?” Leon109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2s1Hwnduct
responded by pushing Vander backwards then bringing his sword up underneath his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDm4hVl0J4
chin.
“No this is a- ahhhhhh!” Shea109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx5KfWQt8o
leapt out from nowhere and bit down on Leon’s sword arm. Vander could hear the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya0ZnRrm6J
bones crunching in his arm as she screamed out in pain. He dropped his sword109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFP9pAWwud
then tried to wrench her mouth off his arm. Blood sprayed as everyone started109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGIwp1tGv9
screaming. Vander saw Leon’s goons rushing towards her, so he rushed forward blocking109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQNrCpTk5Q
their path.
“Shea, release him.”
“But-“ her voice echoed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwltt2JlyaM
back.
“NOW!” She released him, but109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJSwX3NPmc
jumped out of reach and bared her teeth. With blood dripping down his arm, he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoVj1MV7Mn
slowly got to his feet. His face was red with rage.
“Your mutt will pay for that.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII9A30Q66u
whispered. “You will all pay for standing in my way.” He grabbed his sword,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvtwp4dXZx
spun around, and thrust at Vander. Because he was facing away from Leon, Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuw6yTj34V
couldn’t anticipate the move. However, in his rage, he missed anything vital,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoipw23Wpi
but he still carved a deep gash into Vander’s side. He fell to the ground109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaCGtVO7EM
holding the wound as blood seeped through his fingers.
“Damn it.” Vander groaned. “What109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FZANNhLfX
the hell is the matter with you?”
“You’ve looked down on me for too109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NPUi4PrX1
long.” Leon spat. “Now it’s time you tasted defeat.” Leon lifted his sword109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkzd0gYRae
again, but Alex got there first. His fist collided with Leon’s face sending him109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVWnvrf1XZ
sprawling onto the ground.
“You crossed a line and not even109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYZTvEBsqC
your father will get you out of it.” He snapped. “You four, get him out of here109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtjump40BJ
before you find yourselves thrown onto the streets and not even Viggo Visc’s109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDjlNousVv
influence will keep you safe.”
“This isn’t over.” Leon growled as109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxhLIGLd3O
his four lackies picked him up off the ground and dragged him out. “You better109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAbofMURtc
find yourself a new job, Alex. I’m coming for your ass.” Vander heard rushed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxXSRY6jAT
footsteps coming towards him. Julianna placed a towel over his hand to help109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNpqUfoj9z
staunch the bleeding.
“Let me see.” She whispered. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8ZSwIqLPp
winced with pain as he carefully moved his hand. “It’s deep but didn’t hit109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSeiBSyxXm
anything vital. We are going to have to stitch you up.”
“Fine.” Vander allowed himself to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbaBIg6pjc
be lifted to his feet. “Alex, will you make sure the kids get back safely?”
“We should get you to a doctor.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam9m0zRQWe
Alex said, but Vander shook his head.
“I’ll be fine.” He gasped. “Pay109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOta5Kk67tJ
for everyone’s meal as an apology for Leon’s outburst. There should be enough109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9yMCUNxcS
money to cover it in my room. We will also pay for the damages here.”
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“I understand.” He said. Alex109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESshkgXUJo
began to shout, but Vander’s eyes started to close. The blood loss was more109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZdofbtV9J
than he thought as he had difficulty staying awake. The last thing he saw was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUUd04lUII
Shea leading the way upstairs towards the room.
