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As suspected, we had emerged in the middle of the forest. The thick trees could hide us from view, but if they ran a scanner, it would give away Ravik’s presence. My suit’s camouflage would keep me undetectable. While we ran for cover, I opened a com link to Krygor.
“Ravena?” he asked, answering within seconds of my system establishing the connection.
“We’re in the woods, about one kilometer radius from the cabin, due north,” I said without preamble. Typing frantically on the armband of my suit—that had also gone online once we’d cleared the shaft—I sent him the coordinates. “Hostiles incoming. Hagan is leading them.”
“Krygor?” Ravik asked.
I nodded.
“Boros warned us something was going down with Hagan rallying the Fifteen,” Krygor said through the com. “We’re less than fifteen minutes away. Stay safe.”
“Hurry.” I ended the com then turned to Ravik. “Fifteen minutes max.”
What a strangely coincidental number.
We exchanged a look, both coming down to the same conclusion: we could hold until help arrived. Their blood was ours.
Taking cover behind one of the giant trees, the trunk at least two meters in diameter, I activated my suit’s disrupting field, which I hoped was strong enough to prevent any scanners they might use from detecting Ravik’s presence.
Less than three minutes later, angry voices reached us. My hearing, enhanced by my suit, allowed me to distinguish their words clearly.
“For the hundredth time, Hagan, what is the meaning of this?” Raylor Caldes asked, his irritation unmistakable. “We have the Guldan spies. Let’s just take them back to Ravik’s Hall and end this.”
“There’s another. And I have a surprise for you all,” Hagan said, sounding smug.
A few knowing laughs hailed his comment.
“And what surprise would that be that should interest the remaining Fifteen and the Magnar’s most vocal detractors?” Boros asked, blatant hostility in his voice.
Hidden by my armor’s cloak, I leaned to the side to have a look at the men as they closed the distance to our location. Three Braxians I didn’t know had blasters trained on three shackled Guldans who appeared to have been fairly roughed up.
“Something that will solve all of our problems, once and for all,” Hagan snapped. “I will not sit by, idly waiting to be taken out by a madman!”
“Wait, what?” Raylor asked. “I thought we were here to capture the last Guldan spy. What’s going on?”
Hagan stopped next to a dark rock and pressed his foot on the grass in a specific pattern. Seconds later, the ground parted, and the lift platform appeared.
“What is that? Where does it lead?” Raylor asked again, the tension steadily rising in his voice.
“The hunter’s lodge,” Hagan said, in a hard voice. “You know damn well what’s going on.”
“Oh no! No, no, no!” Raylor said, backing away. “Have you lost your mind? You touch that female, and you will bring civil war upon us. Do you have any idea what the Magnar will do to you and your clan?”
“You are a fool, Hagan,” Boros said. “Take these Guldans to Ravik to earn his favor, and forget all this madness. Whatever your feelings towards him, both he and his female have done good for Braxia.”
“How?” Hagan yelled. “By emasculating us and putting our females to work? He’s making us weak. Braxians are warriors! That Guldan whore has him so enthralled he’s only thinking with his cock. He learned nothing from the past and impregnated her. It is time we remind him of the ways of Braxia and end his reign.”
“Ancestors!” Boros whispered, looking at the men around him. “Fifteen Braxians. You’ve brought us here to repeat that abomination from all those years ago. You are insane! I will have no part in this!”
“Nor I,” said Niklas Colben, coming to stand by Boros.
“Nor I,” said Raylor, joining them.
“He will kill you both!” Hagan shouted, pointing at Boros and Niklas. “You were part of the Fifteen. And you, Raylor, he’s had your first born flayed over a fucking half-breed. Have you no pride? Have you no honor?”
“I lost a son because of his own stupidity!” Raylor yelled. “He almost brought down my entire clan with him. Whatever my personal feelings about the Magnar, I am no traitor to Braxia. This is treason!”
I cast a shocked glance towards Ravik who stared at the tree trunk as if he could see the men through it, seething rage on his face.
