Vendetta's Rise (The Dragon Realms Saga: Book 1)

Chapter 11

"His name is Elucard. A lowly brat from some shoddy no-name fishing town. He is the first student that my fool of a blade kin, Legion, has taken under his wing. I've been eying them closely. You are stronger, Keth. Know this and wield it well. Elucard doesn't have the stomach to be a Rabbit. I want him to suffer."

Malady spoke to a young elf of about fourteen years old. He had fair skin, short brown hair, and a strong back that years working as a farm boy had shaped far before his grueling Black Rabbit training. He was hand-picked by Malady along with several other lads, but it was Keth that rose to be Malady's favorite pupil.

Keth raised an eyebrow to his master. He'd been kneeling and intensely listening. He enjoyed the power that his blade had given him over others. Another attribute that his master favored. "Elucard, Master?" Keth asked, eager to enter The Blood Forest and make his master proud.

"Both, dear Keth."

"But Master Malady, Legion won't be in The Blood Forest!"

Malady slit his one good eye. He had lost the other to Legion when they were younger. He sneered at his student's vain attempt to grasp his plan. "Fool, Legion will suffer when he finds his student's mutilated body has been swallowed by the forest. He may never take another student again." Malady smirked imagining the pain on his rival's face, "His legacy will die with Elucard.

Keth nodded, his eyes lit up with the knowledge of his actions bringing such pleasure to Malady.

"Take those that you would call 'friends' with you. Share the burden with those idiots, and do not get yourself killed. Remember, allies are like mules. They only live to serve you."

"Yes, Master."

***

The spider-shaped tree was large and had countless contorted branches that wildly sprawled in several directions. Protruding from the bark were spiky thorns. Rippled leaves carved out the tree's features like serrated razors.

Kneeling in the heavy shadows of the tree were the three elves: Izian, Geven and Myler. Their wrists were tightly bound behind their backs and welts and bruises spotted their faces and bodies. A thick mixture of spit and blood dribbled down their mouths. Only Izian's eyes were fixated on Keth. Spitting out broken pieces of teeth, he chuckled, "If I was free, I'd teach you some manners."

Keth was growing irritated as he waited for the main event. He slowly knelt down to Izian's level. Exposing a dagger from his belt, he slapped the flat of it on the Izian's face, "You were trained by Baines and Ridge?"

Izian nodded.

"Very well, it seems Elucard doesn't care for his friends, perhaps you will save them instead." Keth stood calling for his grunts to untie Izian. "Toss him a blade."

Izian checked the sword's balance and crouched down in an aggressive stance. He wondered if Elucard really abandoned them again--abandoned him again--but he quickly shook away his doubts to concentrate on the task at hand. He was the most skilled of the trio and a rising student of his teachers. Without him, Myler and Geven were lost.

Keth cast a glimmering smile, "Say when."

Izian clenched his teeth with rage and let out a furious growl. He rushed at Keth, plunging his sword in the air, but Keth leaped to the side, retaliating with a smart diagonal slice up and across Izian's side. With a graceful jump, Keth spun around with a butterfly kick that crushed into Izian's jaw.

Izian was flung backwards flipping to the ground. Grasping in pain at the soil, he recovered quickly, and responded with a flurry of spin kicks of his own, each one nimbly dodged. Izian attacked again more aggressively. He saw an opening in Keth's defensive dance and swept at his feet. Keth effortlessly dodged the attack but was met with a surprise flash kick that sent his head reeling backwards.