An Order of Death

Chapter Five

An arc primed for execution that even the God of Death himself would be proud of was swung toward the closest soldier, the double-bladed axe aimed for his neck. However, at the last moment, the Vahan man stepped to the side so it missed. It merely grazed his cheek instead.

While Oryal was occupied, the other man, whose long, black hair was pulled into a bun on the top of his head, sent a wave of savage flame at the bounty hunter. Ivory grass caught alight as it soared past, creating an impenetrable wall between them.

Oryal dodged the fire, the heat of it licking his boots. It only fuelled the anger blazing in his eyes.

"Look at this guy with his pretentious axe," the first man with a closely shaved head scoffed. "Using an expensive blade isn't going to give you the skill to wield it."

"Walk away now while you still can. You've bothered the wrong people," spoke the second. Embers still sparked from his fingertips, preparing for another dose of scorching fire. "For what reason you attacked, I don't know, but it's surely a foolish one."

My breath caught in my chest as I watched hidden behind the foliage, the air frightened to escape into the world beyond. Oryal was out there facing both of the soldiers and I was scared. Hiding.

Part of me longed to help the bounty hunter in some way, but I had no clue what I could do. All I knew was poisons and how they affected each creature on the continent. Of course, I didn't have any with me. I wouldn't be able to find a way to use it from my position anyway.

I felt so useless. I brought Oryal into this mission for Noxol and I didn't want him to get hurt because of it.

In response to their taunts, the horned man returned his axe to the holster on his back.

What was he doing? My expression matched the puzzled features of the Vahan soldiers. I had to stifle my sigh. If he got injured now because of his own stupidity, I wouldn't feel as bad.

"Protecting people is not a foolish motive." A butterfly the shade of a fierce dragon's flame landed on the blade of his axe as Oryal raised his hand toward the soldiers. Thick, twisting vines burst out of the ground, poised to strike the enemy. They wrapped around the men — tightly squeezing to dig thorns into their skin and bind their limbs together — hoisting them into the air by their legs to dangle them upside down.

What sort of magic was this? I had never seen a power so elegant yet vicious. It was as if the Ivory Forest had granted him a gift to deal with the Vahan soldiers swiftly, blessing him with the ability to use the flora to his advantage.

One of the soldiers unsheathed a thin blade from his belt, breaking free from his restraints, and swung it upward to sever the rest of the vine. Before he could make it very far, another vine surged forth and knocked it from his grip, sending it soaring until it landed in front of my hiding place.

Emerging from the foliage with hesitant movements, I picked up the sword. The steel was heavier than I expected, almost falling to the ground again at the surprise weight, but I held onto it tightly. In the centre of the hilt was a ruby shaped like a climbing flame — the perfect match for its wielder.

"That's her! That's the girl we're after!" yelled a soldier as he kicked against his restraints.

Oryal turned back to look at me with a frown. "You should have stayed hidden."

"It seems like you have this under control," I replied with a shrug.

The flames faded as they ran out of fuel to feed from, allowing the bounty hunter to step closer to the Vahan men. "I'll give you the chance to explain who sent you and why you need to kill this lady."