Page 47 of Nightingale

Vexation that it tookRianto set her free.

She unleashed it all at the bandits, turning into a whirlwind of knives as they pounced. One darted for her left in an attempt to surround her as the other two moved towards her center and right, trapping her between the steep mountainside and the wall of their bodies. She refused to let that happen.

With a quick jump back and up, her heel found the stone. Vrea used it like a springing board and pushed off, gaining an inch into the air as she came down at them. Her daggers found a home in the middle male, sinking deep into his chest cavity as he screamed for help, and life. It came in the form of his friends as they tried to cut her off once more, only to meet a quick end as well.

A slash to the left’s chest, large enough that there would be no coming back for him. A chop to the right, as she severed his arm from his shoulder and left him to bleed out on his own. They both went down and she was free to turn her attention towards the next wave that hopped over the canyon lip and grabbed at their weapons.

A hammer, and an axe.

Different than she was used to fighting against, but not impossible by any standards. Her focus would have to be divided between the weight of the hammer in order to avoid gettingsmacked by the rectangular shape, and dodging under the cutting edge of the axe.

Both of the rogues refused to move forward, as if all they saw was a small girl with nothing more than a pretty face. She’d been told that she was alluring before, beautiful by the definition of the phrase. Even her brothers commented on her looks before, saying that it would help her become a better warrior because they wouldn’t expect it.

“Are you coming or not?” Vrea dared them to move, feigning boredom as she twirled her trusty daggers, more than delighted to have the solid feel of them back in her fingers. It was something she hadn’t realised she missed until they’d been gone, something she longed to have back.

Now they were.

And so was the weapon in the form of a woman.

Some would say it was a deadly thing.

They struck, the fat hammer swinging above her head as she fell into a roll and swiped at the back of his knees, aiming for the weak spot that would take him down for good.

He moved out of the way just in time and she met nothing but air, whirling around as she spun on her knee. The axe followed suit, and she angled her chin away before it could take a chunk of her flesh with it.

Vrea rose and darted back, blocking another advance with her daggers in the form of an X, one across the other as the hook of the axe slammed into the middle of them. She grunted at the additional weight they added, sliding back in the dirt as the man added his shoulder to force her off. He kicked at her knee, a bark of pain escaping her as she stumbled down, losing her grip.

Rian’s head turned towards her, slamming his fist into the face of the man he was in the midst of fighting with, breaking his nose in a clean hit and cleaving the air with a grotesquecrunch.

She found her footing quickly before it could end her, runningto Rian’s horse and yanking the bow free, tossing it over her head and grabbing the quiver full of arrows. Her daggers were quickly placed back at her sides as she hoisted the leather strap over her shoulder. Vrea dashed to the side of the pass and she threw herself against the wall for a second height advantage. Her fingers flailed as she struggled to find a safe nook, taking loose pebbles with her as she slid down it.

Her hand caught on a small ledge, her body slamming into it with anoomphf.The fiery sensation rocketed against her ribcage and she inhaled sharply to regain her breath before she hauled herself up the side.

Vrea climbed.

And she was followed.

The taller of the two males started up after her, finding natural juts in the rock as he jumped from one spot to another. The length of his arms were an additional help as he lifted himself up faster than she would ever be able to.

The second turned his attention to the Prince, who sent his elbow flying back into a groin, shoving his sword directly through the back of a neck and jerking it to the side with a sickeningsnapas the man died.

He removed it and didn’t bother to wipe it clean as he angled it with his arm and struck up a round with another, swiftly avoiding the axe to the side of his head. She kept taking moments to care for his welfare, even if everything inside of her screamed against it, told her that it was a foolish idea.

She couldn’t help it.

For some reason, there was an ounce of care for the Moordian Prince.

A flicker of attraction, a lick of desire and a dash of curiosity that all mixed into a fascinating, slightly terrifying swirl of confusion. The dinner, the hallway incident where he’d kissed her and tasted of pepper and a fueling fire. Even if he’dstoked her rage in that moment, insulted her and made her want nothing from him again, there was still that temptation of pinning him to the ground and seeing what came of it.

What was it that he said?

“I’m going to fuck you like I hate you.”

Vrea wanted that more than she wanted air.

She wanted to see how he fulfilled that promise, and there were multiple ideas that swirled in her head together. Especially after she’d seen the full glory of him as he’d entered the stream.

Maybe tonight she’d try.

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