Blood Revenge

Chapter 14

A few days later, I decided totake Chaser for a quick ride through the Briarwood. Feeling extremelycautious, instead of just my usual dagger, I took my sword and a fewknives as extra precautions.

An hour into my ride, I felt achill go down my spine and I knew I was being watched. I slowlyreached for my sword, waiting for my stalker to make himself known.It didn't take long. Seconds later, Stefan jumped from the woodsbeside me, spooking Chaser and causing him to dart sideways and dumpme into the dirt. I took a moment to catch my breath before jumpingup and going on the defensive.

The first thing I noticed as wecircled each other was that Stefan's usual blue eyes were a sicklygolden color. "I knew you weren't Stefan," I snapped angrily.

"He's in here somewhere,"the impostor smirked. "He really did cross the veil to save you. Ijust came along for the ride."

"Son of a bitch!" I growled.That put a damper in my 'kill him' strategy.

He came at me first with inhumanspeed. Thanks to my bond to Reif, I was able to dodge his attack andgo for an offensive strike of my own. My weapons were about uselessso I threw them to the ground and swung at him as he passed. My barehanded attack startled him, but he was quick to recover. "So that'show it's going to be, mortal? Taking your soul will be easier thanI'd anticipated."

"Not if I can help it," Icountered, waiting for him to come at me again.

The fight didn't last long.When he came at me the second time, I grabbed him by his arm andswung him into a nearby tree. His back slammed hard against the trunkand he grunted as the wind was knocked out of him. I took theopportunity to twist his arm and I heard the bone snap. He cried outin pain and swung the other arm to hit my face. I stumbled back,releasing his broken limb and catching my balance by hitting anothertree. He tried to pin me by my neck to the trunk but I ducked hisoutstretched arm and came up, first burying my fist in his gut thenthe heel of my hand made contact with his face. I felt the bone snapin his nose and blood began gushing from his nostrils. I used hispartially dazed state to roll away from the tree, pick up my swordand use the pommel to strike his temple and rend him unconscious.

Thanking Reif for my added speedand strength, I knelt to turn his head so he wouldn't choke on hisown blood. If Stefan was truly in there, I had to try and save him. Ijumped and spun around at a sound on the road. My sword was pointedat a wide eyed Weston. "I thou' ye migh' need a hand," hesaid.

"West, you startled me," Isaid, sheathing my sword and searching for my dagger.

He trotted up on his gray mareand hopped to the ground. "Ye took 'im qui' easily." Hesmirked, kneeling to press two fingers to Stefan's neck. Noddingwhen he was satisfied he said, "I'm glad I stuck with ye.Things're startin' ter get int'restin'."

"I don't think he wasexpecting me to be so fast. A mistake he won't make again. Let'sget him back to the castle and tied down before he wakes," Isuggested.

West helped me to haul Stefan'slimp body over the saddle of his mare and we tied him down so hewouldn't slide off. Then I hopped up on Chaser and gave West a handup to ride behind me. When we reached the castle grounds, Beri was atthe stables chewing out two soldiers about letting Stefan out oftheir sights.

"Beriima!" I shouted as weapproached at a canter.

She spun, obviously upset. Whenshe saw me and Weston sharing Chaser, her eyes flicked dangerously tothe other horse. "What happened?" she demanded as I pulled Chaserto a stop and West and I dismounted.

West took Chaser to get himsettled while I started working on Stefan's bonds. "Gathereveryone in the dungeon," I said shortly as the soldiers who hadbeen getting reamed out started to help me.

"Commander..." Beri startedto protest.

"Go now!" I ordered.

"Yes, commander," she snappeddefiantly through gritted teeth and spun on her heel to stomp off anddo as I'd asked.

"Take him to the dungeons andtie him down. Use the shackles if you must, but make sure it'stight. I don't want any more muck ups," I snapped to thesoldiers, and then followed West to the barn.

"What're ye goin' ter do?"he asked, slowly taking Chaser's bit from his mouth. West alwayshad such a calm air about him, and it made me take a deep breath andtry to settle my own nerves.

"I've had those two take himto the dungeons and shackle him up. I want to know who that is," Isaid.

"How d'ye plan on findin'tha' ou'?" he frowned.

"Anders can read auras. Ifthat's not Stefan, he'll know right away. If not..." Ishrugged. "I've found torture works very well on most."

A brief flash of shock crossedhis face before he could quash it. "Ana," he said before I heldmy hand up to stop him.

"You have no obligations to meor my people," I said. "If you don't agree with my methods, orif there will be a problem, feel free to go back to Valkyrie. I'llhold no grudge."

He squared his shoulders andlooked me straight in the eyes. "Yer the one in charge. I ain'tone ter question authority."

 "Good man," I smiled. "Now,let's get to the dungeon before we miss the show."