Blades & Lies

The rhythmic pounding of hooves thundered through the misty Velthorne woodlands, the crisp morning air thick with the scent of damp earth and pine.

Evelyn's grip on the reins was tight, her eyes scanning the dense foliage ahead as their hunting party rode deeper into the forest.

She could feel the tension in the air, the unspoken challenge woven into this hunt.

This wasn't about sport.

This was about survival.

And Velthorne and Alistair Veyne were watching.

Beside her, Damien rode with practiced ease, his silver eyes glinting with something almost amused as he glanced her way.

"Nervous, love?" he murmured.

Evelyn scoffed, keeping her gaze forward. "I don't get nervous."

Damien smirked. "Then why are you gripping your reins like they owe you money?"

She ignored him, adjusting her hold. "I assume you've hunted a draken before?"

"Once or twice."

Evelyn shot him a sharp look. "And?"

He grinned, tilting his head slightly. "And they don't like being hunted."

Before she could respond, Velthorne called out ahead.

"We'll split into groups," he announced. "The draken was spotted near the eastern cliffs at dawn. Lord Aldric, Lady Evelyn—you'll ride with me and Lord Veyne."

Evelyn felt a twist of unease at those words.

It wasn't an accident.

Velthorne wanted them close.

To test them. To watch them.

Damien, of course, acted as if it were nothing, giving her a slow wink before urging his horse forward.

Evelyn muttered a curse under her breath and followed.

The forest grew denser the deeper they rode.

The sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, casting everything in a ghostly green hue.

Velthorne rode ahead, his posture relaxed yet alert, while Alistair Veyne remained silent, his cold gaze scanning the terrain.

The draken's tracks were easy to follow—massive clawed footprints embedded into the damp soil, leading deeper into the trees.

Evelyn could feel it.

The weight in the air, the tension in the earth beneath them.

The draken was close.

Then—

A low, guttural snarl rumbled through the trees.

Evelyn's horse stamped uneasily, ears flicking back as the sound echoed through the dense undergrowth.

Damien exhaled. "Ah. There it is."

Velthorne smirked, pulling his crossbow from his saddle. "Now, let's see what kind of hunters you truly are."

Evelyn tensed.

Because this wasn't just a test of skill.

This was a trap.

A flash of movement—then chaos.

The draken burst from the undergrowth, a monstrous blur of obsidian scales and sinewy muscle.

It was larger than a warhorse, its reptilian form low to the ground, its golden eyes burning with primal fury.

Then—it charged.

Evelyn barely had time to kick her horse into motion, dodging as the beast's powerful tail swung through the air, striking the ground with a thunderous crash.

Damien was already moving, drawing a dagger from his belt, his expression almost delighted.

"Well," he called, "this is promising!"

Evelyn shot him a glare before yanking her sword free, steering her horse to the side as the draken let out a piercing snarl, its razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.

Velthorne and Veyne had pulled back, watching from a distance—waiting.

Evelyn ground her teeth.

This wasn't a hunt.

This was a proving ground.

Either they survived this fight, or they died proving they weren't worthy players in Velthorne's game.

The draken's massive claws slashed through the air, striking toward Damien—

But he was too fast.

He vaulted from his horse, flipping midair before landing on the beast's broad back.

Evelyn cursed.

"Show-off!"

Damien just grinned, driving his dagger deep into the draken's hide, the blade sinking between armored scales.

The creature let out a roar of fury, twisting violently as it tried to throw him off.

Evelyn didn't hesitate.

She urged her horse forward, swinging her sword in a swift arc, slicing across the draken's exposed flank.

The beast let out another shriek, whirling toward her now.

Perfect.

If it was focused on her, it meant Damien had the opening he needed.

"Anytime now, Aldric!" she called.

Damien laughed, bracing himself against the draken's neck before driving his second dagger into its spine.

The beast shuddered, its massive form collapsing forward, its snarls turning to guttural gasps.

And then—silence.

Evelyn caught her breath, wiping her blade against her cloak before turning toward Velthorne and Alistair Veyne.

Neither man had moved.

They had simply watched.

Judging. Measuring.

Velthorne's lips curled slightly. "Impressive."

Alistair Veyne, however, remained unreadable.

Then, slowly, he dismounted from his horse, stepping toward them.

He stopped just a few feet away, his sharp gaze flickering between Evelyn and Damien.

"You fight well," he admitted.

Damien smirked. "Was there ever any doubt?"

Alistair studied him for a long moment.

Then—he smiled.

And it wasn't a friendly smile.

It was a smile that said, I'm going to figure you out.

That was when Evelyn knew—

They had survived the hunt.

But they had just stepped into an even bigger game.

And Alistair Veyne?

He was going to be a problem.