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Blindsided
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Savage alerted before daylight at the sound of a woman’s step entering his tent. Strange. This is usually when Murah is leaving not arriving. He was still. Waiting.
The form lay behind him. Sliding closer. A slim hand wrapped around his side to flatten against his stomach.
Not her touch. He instantly rolled to his opposite side. Catching the spike aimed for his lower back. Wrenching it from her fist as he moved.
She tried to hold it. Following his momentum to land nearly atop him.
He reflexively sunk the spike into her forehead. Slowing enough to stop it after piercing the skin. Before it split bone. He dragged it down between her brows and lightened the pressure as he tugged it down the side of her nose and to her jaw.
Disloyal Wench. He caught the light of her blonde curls in the blackness. Though he’d already suspected it was she.
She squealed in pain.
I left Phalanx in Winter’s Haven. He
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“Yes!” Danbury declared. “I want vengeance!” “What would you have me do?” “He plans to raid me again. An assassin I keep on my coin has told me of his intent.” Radix’s wooden chair creaked. His interest is piqued. “How did he find out? The Boy is hard to track.” “He was boasting in the Rum Runnel.” Boasting. Savage would never boast of a plan. This is a setup designed for Radix’s minions. “Hmm. And your assassin is sure it was him?” “He knows him. They’re comrades. Well done Danbury!” There was silence where Chavias assumed Danbury beamed with pride. Then Danbury’s step as he was exiting Radix’s chamber. Chavias planted his feet and waited. Danbury turned in the dark and couldn’t see him. Slamming into Chavias and the sullied bucket before him. Smearing Danbury’s fine clothes. Danbury squawked and lunged backward. “What have you done. You fool!”
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“Eternally.” Dimurah hissed up at him in answer to his question. His gaze roved her agitated face. “I dearly hope not.” Unable to resist he dropped a quick kiss to her cheek. She twisted her head away and stalked back behind the bar. Still angry with me. Annoyance made his jaw twitch as he watched her. “That’s the way it is to be then?” She tossed him a quick look. Jerking her head to one side in assent. “Fine. I have other things to attend to anyway.” He stomped across Winter’s Haven, to stand perilously close to where ColdKill leaned against the pillar laughing as he jested with one of the benched tables. Savage was unmoving until the entire table quieted, and all eyes lighting on him. At length, ColdKill slowly turned. Tankard in hand. “Ah, you’re still alive! I heard you were ambushed.” “You heard wrong. An ambush implies you didn’t know it was coming.” Which I did.
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Phalanx and the Seditious were partway across the glen but had begun to slow at the sight. There were shouts of objection and yelled threats. Savage’s gaze was fixated on Danbury who leisurely lifted the sword and hooked it under Savage’s throat. Notching his chin higher as he pressed the tip into Savage’s chorded throat. Savage felt the quick bite but was unblinking. “It’s a shame I can’t gut you here. After all you’ve done, it’d be the least warranted.” Danbury said in an enraged voice. Nearly shaking with the desire. You’re too afraid of Radix. Coward. Savage gave him a lopsided grin. Archers had climbed from the second carriage and more paid guard from the third. They all circled around him. Weapons at the ready. “Now whose outmanned?” Danbury taunted. “We shall see.” Savage said emotionlessly. It has yet to be determined. “Yea. We shall.” Danbury gloated as he sheathed his short sword and pulled h
