{"id":6067,"date":"2018-01-29T13:52:43","date_gmt":"2018-01-29T18:52:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=6067"},"modified":"2018-02-07T10:26:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-07T15:26:10","slug":"silver-serpent-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/silver-serpent-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Silver Serpent Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

Silver Serpent
\nChapter One: Arcana Unleashed<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every hot breath that left her lips felt as if it could be her last.\u00a0 She limped on, rounding a corner in the dark of night, only the meager flames in those streetlamps offering her any sanctuary.\u00a0 And they were far and few between.<\/p>\n

She heard her pursuers behind her\u2026 How many were there?\u00a0 It mattered not.\u00a0 In her current condition, if any of them found her, all was lost.\u00a0 She cursed herself, knowing better than to rush headlong into a trap like that.\u00a0 The Brotherhood had practically announced every move, and still, she strode into it as though she were unbreakable.\u00a0 Her ankle spoke to the truth of that matter.<\/p>\n

No, it was her hubris that hobbled her that night.\u00a0 She had seen it all before and swore she would not walk down that same path.\u00a0 A helpless chuckle left her lungs then; she wasn\u2019t exactly walking.<\/p>\n

A shadow stretched down the alley, cast by a distant streetlamp. \u00a0She couldn\u2019t see its owner but knew they were up to no good.\u00a0 Blowing out a deep breath, she leaned against the nearest stone wall and tugged the rapier from the sheath on her hip.<\/p>\n

The Silver Serpent would not go down without a fight.<\/p>\n

As the fellow drew farther from the light, he came into view in a way that made his shadow look like the real threat.\u00a0 Small and unimposing, he held his short sword out to the side like someone who had never been trained in its proper use.\u00a0 Still, she knew better than to make any more assumptions.\u00a0 She wouldn\u2019t make that mistake again.<\/p>\n

He sauntered up to her with a grin on his face.\u00a0 Though night had come to Argos and they lingered far from the streetlamps, his eyes were sharp enough to confirm he had found his mark.\u00a0 There could be no mistaking it\u2014she was the Silver Serpent.\u00a0 Auburn hair fell beneath that black tricorne hat and would have shielded her face well enough that she didn\u2019t need the domino mask that covered her eyes.\u00a0 The rest of her ensemble was a combination of form and fashion: a choker with a red gem in it caught the reflection of those distant flames; leather gloves and boots were fitted to her form perfectly; a black jacket was unopened beneath an exquisite leather belt; and her shirt was low enough to highlight a gorgeous shape.<\/p>\n

The thug lingered on that part the longest.\u00a0 He licked his lips at the thought of his helpless prey before him, all alone on that cold night.<\/p>\n

She waited there, steadying her breaths until little wisps of steam ceased to leave her lips.\u00a0 Standing as straight as she could, the dare was made to her foe to cross the distance and see just how helpless she was.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t keep her waiting long.\u00a0 As he drew close, he leapt out at her like an eager housecat.\u00a0 She was no mouse, though.\u00a0 She leaned on her uninjured leg, spinning a pirouette around his awkward lunge.\u00a0 Her rapier smacked against his rump, nudging him against the wall she had been using for support.\u00a0 The Silver Serpent hunched low as she backed away, favoring that wounded ankle.\u00a0 From her vantage, she saw the shade of red on the man\u2019s cheeks, and a click of her tongue pushed him farther.<\/p>\n

That sole member of the Brotherhood charged forth, swinging his sword with reckless abandon.\u00a0 She scoffed as she took the time to dodge those pitiful attacks, and as he grew winded, she lifted her sword, catching the weakest of his blows with ease.\u00a0 With his weapon halted overhead, she balled her fingers into a fist and struck his chest.<\/p>\n

All the air was expelled from his lungs, and he bent over as if he could find his discarded breath on the stone below him.\u00a0 The Serpent stepped forward to deliver another dizzying attack, but her ankle wobbled beneath her.\u00a0 A kick like that would have to wait for her to recover.<\/p>\n

That was only if she recovered, she reminded herself.\u00a0 Though that man produced awkward sounds while trying to catch his breath, she heard other rapid footsteps in the distance.\u00a0 That leg would only heal if she found better sanctuary than the light beneath those lamps.<\/p>\n

Bracing against the wall like she had done, the thug didn\u2019t notice her approach.\u00a0 He turned his head just in time to see her lunge forward with the basket of her rapier.\u00a0 That was all he would remember from that night, for it struck him in the temple, spilling him to the ground in a heap.\u00a0 As he ceased his struggle, breath finally entered his lungs again.<\/p>\n

She turned about and allowed herself another moment of weakness, laying the tips of her gloved fingers against the wall.\u00a0 With adrenaline fading fast, she was reminded of the pain in her leg and was left to wonder if it grew worse since that encounter.<\/p>\n

The vigilante let a quiet growl shake her chest.\u00a0 If she hadn\u2019t been delayed by the pointless endeavor, she would be halfway home by then.\u00a0 The thought of it had her shambling forward quicker, but every step on that battered ankle forced her to wince and a fretful breath through gnashed teeth. She drew from the alley into a wider area of the streets.\u00a0 The homes and shops were strewn about farther from each other, but the darkness seemed more prevalent, as those lights from the hanging lanterns were farther around corners.\u00a0 One of those bends would be just dark enough, she thought.\u00a0 It would hide her well enough while her foes from the Brotherhood tried to track her down.\u00a0 In time, they would move on, and she could find a more permanent sanctuary far from where they had triggered their trap.<\/p>\n

The Serpent was already shaking her head.\u00a0 It could take longer for her pursuers to move on than she wanted.\u00a0 By the time she could aim for home again, the sun might creep into the sky.\u00a0 At that point, everyone in Argos\u2014criminal and layman alike\u2014would be trouble for her.<\/p>\n

No, she reasoned, she had to move along\u2014though she soon realized the way was filled with more obstacles than she anticipated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is as far as you go,\u201d she heard.\u00a0 When she whipped about, she saw him there: a ruffian she\u2019d thwarted on more than one occasion.\u00a0 It was only his silhouette she spotted, but she was sure it was him.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve overestimated your odds this time, Serpent,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re outnumbered, and you\u2019ll not be getting away from us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will you ever learn, Thoro?\u201d she asked.\u00a0 Her voice was deep and sultry, more powerful than the women the Brotherhood associated with.\u00a0 Just hearing her own voice was enough to prop her up, and she brought her rapier to bear once more.\u00a0 \u201cI am not the prey.\u00a0 You are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes the prey overwhelms the predator,\u201d the man countered.<\/p>\n

At once, the Silver Serpent understood it was no longer the two of them in that quiet part of the city.\u00a0 Another pair of thugs from the Brotherhood was there, surrounding her on either side of the street.<\/p>\n

Thoro came closer, his fierce gaze locking onto the wounded vigilante.\u00a0 The man was young, but his eyes were filled with experience.\u00a0 Pain, regret, guilt, and fear were a part of his life far too often, but that wicked smile he wore was the most terrifying thing the woman had seen in some time.\u00a0 \u201cThis is where your story ends,\u201d he promised.<\/p>\n

At once, his companions moved in, brandishing their own weapons.\u00a0 The Serpent alternated glances at those brigands circling like vultures.\u00a0 She might have been able to fend them off, but those other rapid footsteps, those hoots and hollers, made it clear even a victory against those two would be hollow.<\/p>\n

\u201cBring her to me alive,\u201d Thoro ordered.\u00a0 \u201cAnd leave her pretty.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always wanted to see what was beneath the mask.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she gripped the sword in her hand, she waited for the men to fall in on her.\u00a0 That adrenaline would flow through her again, and she would use as much as she could to last through the attack, but she knew her odds were dire.<\/p>\n

Another noise resounded above, and she cursed her luck.\u00a0 Thoro had no shortage of allies, it seemed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you know it isn\u2019t safe for a woman to be out here alone at night?\u201d<\/p>\n

She arched her eyebrow, for that voice was familiar enough to resonate with her.\u00a0 She let it repeat in her mind, and once it registered again, she blew out a weary sigh.\u00a0 That voice was<\/em> familiar, though it had been forced deeper to disguise its owner.\u00a0 Still, she recognized it well enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are all kinds of unsavory folk about this late,\u201d he went on.<\/p>\n

The Silver Serpent looked to Thoro, and his gaze confirmed it.\u00a0 The latest arrival wasn\u2019t one of his.\u00a0 She slipped out farther into the open, closer to her criminal adversary, and glanced up to the roof of that building to see her rescuer above.<\/p>\n

Clad in green and brown, his dirty blond hair was caught in the night breeze.\u00a0 Her keen eyes caught sight of the feathered arrow nocked to his bow, though the rest of his audience could barely make sense of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow who\u2019s this,\u201d Thoro demanded, \u201ca devoted fan?\u201d<\/p>\n

The fellow on the roof stood straighter upon hearing that query, squared his shoulders, and looked upon the men below with a wry grin.\u00a0 \u201cI am the Emerald Adder,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

The masked heroine did everything in her power to stifle the groan trying to force its way from her lips.\u00a0 While the thugs below muttered about the strange name, the fellow above deflated.<\/p>\n

\u201cKill the moron, and bring me the woman,\u201d Thoro bade.<\/p>\n

At once, the man above made his foes certain he was not a mere imitator.\u00a0 He brought his bow to bear and took aim.\u00a0 As he peered through one narrowed eye, the Serpent glimpsed behind the green domino mask, so much like hers.\u00a0 In the darkness, the slim ring of gold around his pupil was apparent. With a subtle thrum, he loosed his missile, and it screeched forth, striking the brigand closest to the woman.\u00a0 The thug tumbled to the ground and cried out, cradling his bloody thigh.<\/p>\n

The Silver Serpent made good use of her gift, turning about and lunging at her next nearest opponent while he was distracted by his companion\u2019s screams.\u00a0 She grimaced as she bore the weight on her damaged leg but remained standing regardless.\u00a0 With a graceful spin of her blade, she knocked the crude sword out of that thug\u2019s hand and followed with a sideways slice up his hand.\u00a0 He yowled and grasped his palm, hopping back just far enough away to avoid another deadly bite of that rapier.<\/p>\n

Thoro had seen enough.\u00a0 He strode forward, pulling his own sword from its sheath, a scraping sound reporting its presence.<\/p>\n

The Serpent set her eyes on that weapon, noting how similar it was to her own.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019ve changed your weapon, Thoro.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve merely added one to my repertoire.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll never best me at the rapier,\u201d she assured.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The resonant thrum of the bowstring could be heard again, and Thoro dipped out of the way, avoiding the projectile shot forth from the archer above.\u00a0 The bandit looked up at him with a furrowed brow and shook his head as he turned his attention back to the masked woman before him.<\/p>\n

His prey limped forward, willing to meet him and his deadly attack head on.\u00a0 At once, their rapiers clashed, sending a metallic note far into the distance.\u00a0 The Serpent heard those other members of the Brotherhood closing in but knew her focus had to be on the lone man before her.<\/p>\n

As Thoro took the lead in the fight, he demonstrated some skills and maneuvers that shook his foe off balance.\u00a0 She flashed her eyebrows, oddly proud of the man who had been naught but a pain in her backside before.\u00a0 In that darkness, with a wounded leg and a burning in her lungs, she realized he had become a rival of growing talent.<\/p>\n

When the Emerald Adder struck out with his bow, the member of the Brotherhood dodged again.\u00a0 That arrow snapped when it reached the stone street, Thoro well out of reach.\u00a0 The fellow in green above growled as he drew another arrow from his quiver.<\/p>\n

A chorus of steel on steel rang as the duel grew more intense.\u00a0 Thoro set the pace and the momentum, and the costumed heroine favored her leg as much as possible.\u00a0 He pushed forward, but the woman refused to give any ground, forcing him to dance around her instead.\u00a0 She placed her weight upon that sturdier leg, meeting his attacks with an impenetrable defense.<\/p>\n

Thoro may have grown in skill, but he was no match for the Silver Serpent.<\/p>\n

And she had at least one more trick up her sleeve.<\/p>\n

Knowing that her enemies\u2014Thoro\u2019s allies\u2014were closing in on their position, she feigned several parries, enticing the man closer and closer.\u00a0 A glance to the rooftop let her see her would-be savior was looking over his shoulder to fetch another arrow.<\/p>\n

It was time, and she knew it.<\/p>\n

As Thoro drew close enough for her to smell his powerful musk, she let him know even a cornered serpent still had fangs.\u00a0 Her free hand slid to her hip, and she tugged a leather pouch from her belt.\u00a0 In a continuous motion, she rotated that arm in a circle and slammed the container to the ground.<\/p>\n

A loud pop resounded, and it was the only warning the member of the Brotherhood would receive as a bright light flashed.\u00a0 Thoro cried out as the flash powder stole away his vision.<\/p>\n

The man above knew not to waste the gifted opportunity.\u00a0 He aimed with his bow one last time and took a moment to breathe.\u00a0 Once more, a golden circle highlighted his eye as he caught Thoro in his sight.<\/p>\n

In all that commotion, the man from the Brotherhood couldn\u2019t focus on the thrum of the bowstring.\u00a0 The arrow screeched forth from above and thumped into the muscle of his shoulder, and he fell to his knees when his legs shuddered.\u00a0 A scream rang into the air as he contended with his pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n

The Silver Serpent watched as her ally dropped from the roof of that building, landing in the street upon bent legs.\u00a0 He ran to her side and propped her up, bearing some weight to allow her injured ankle some relief.\u00a0 They hastened away from those injured fellows, farther into the darkness.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re a fool,\u201d the woman chastised.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re not ready for something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He bore a smile as he ushered her along.\u00a0 \u201cNeither were you, it seems.\u00a0 If I wasn\u2019t here, things could have gone much differently this night.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sigh pressing past her lips, the Silver Serpent offered him a nod.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re right.\u00a0 Now you have another task, though.\u00a0 Get me home\u2026and without anyone seeing me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI really don\u2019t think you\u2019re the one who has to worry about being seen,\u201d he teased.\u00a0 He did as instructed, though, leading her down the adjacent alley, away from those injured members of the Brotherhood.<\/p>\n

As the effects of the flash powder wore off, Thoro gnashed his teeth together, watching the man in green and brown assist the Silver Serpent to safety.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

He kept pushing her forward, and every time she tried to stop to catch her breath, he moved again.\u00a0 With Thoro\u2019s allies still pursuing, the man in green knew any respite, even a brief one, could end in calamity.\u00a0 Her home was nearby, but as morning crept ever closer, folks were bound to be leaving homes of their own.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter if the person who spotted them was a friend of Thoro\u2019s or not.\u00a0 If someone saw the masked woman entering her house, all thoughts of leading a clandestine life would be left in tatters.<\/p>\n

They zigzagged down quieter streets, spinning about when they heard the voice of a laborer or a panting dog led by a city guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe could just blind them all,\u201d the Emerald Adder said.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have any more of that flash powder?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cThat stuff is volatile.\u00a0 Too much and you could be in real danger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in real danger right now,\u201d he challenged.\u00a0 \u201cIf those men find us and there\u2019s more than last time, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ll have enough arrows to fend them off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t be fending anyone off,\u201d she chided.\u00a0 \u201cOur job is to stay in the shadows.\u00a0 Let\u2019s make a right here.\u201d<\/p>\n

He did as instructed, leading her down a corridor between two shops that hadn\u2019t opened yet.\u00a0 A dead end loomed before them, and the man grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was the point of this?\u00a0 There\u2019s nowhere to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis shop is built against the hill.\u00a0 They covered the side with stone but left enough room to sidle along.\u00a0 We can cut past the more popular part of this district.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sure enough, there was a gap just wide enough to slip through, though not without some manner of discomfort.\u00a0 He led on but could no longer serve as a crutch to her.\u00a0 Time had not eased the pain in that injured leg, and the Silver Serpent labored at passing through that narrow back alley.<\/p>\n

A guard wielding a halberd walked by, unaware two costumed vigilantes were beside the road, hidden in that narrow space behind the building.\u00a0 As he drew away, closer to the nearest streetlamp, the two ascended the road up the hill.<\/p>\n

No one else stood between them and the cottage the Silver Serpent called home, and with one final burst of energy, the pair made it through the front door unseen.<\/p>\n

The woman collapsed against the wall, pulling the tricorne hat from her head and throwing it through the empty house.\u00a0 A weary sigh shook her body, and she swept her hand through that dark auburn hair.\u00a0 As she regained her composure, she looked at her companion and shook her head. \u201cTake off that ridiculous costume.\u201d<\/p>\n

He grinned but obliged, pulling the green domino mask from his face.\u00a0 Though it was a meager disguise, it did hide some of his features.\u00a0 Without it there, his youth was apparent.\u00a0 Not quite a man yet, he was still impressive and in decent shape, thanks in part to his pedigree, but also through no small part due to her interest in him.\u00a0 She guided him in the right direction, and he had become as worthy an ally as a student\u2014though he still had much more to learn on both accounts.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have you know this is based on the Silver Serpent costume.\u00a0 Of course, things are a little different\u2014I don\u2019t have breasts.\u00a0 But the only real change is the color.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s another thing,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cThe Emerald Adder?\u00a0 Really?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean you don\u2019t like it?\u201d he asked with genuine surprise.\u00a0 He shook his head and unlaced his vest.\u00a0 \u201cI thought it had a great ring to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought you and I would talk about what we\u2019d call you, if we called you anything at all.\u00a0 The plan was for you to be covert.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want the Brotherhood to know I have an ally.\u00a0 It\u2019s just one more thing they can use against me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged as he pulled the vest over his head.\u00a0 \u201cThey wouldn\u2019t have been able to use anything against you if I wasn\u2019t there tonight, Marin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Silver Serpent furrowed her brow and glowered at her companion.\u00a0 \u201cAre we that familiar now, Kelvin?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her tone had him standing upright, and he swallowed away his embarrassment.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mistress Cortes.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t mean\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Marin leaned back, resting her head against the wall.\u00a0 A slight breeze passed by outside, and she felt the draft beneath the door by her side.\u00a0 With her adrenaline fading again, she noticed how cool it was in her home.\u00a0 Still, her skin felt as if it was on fire.\u00a0 She reached up and lifted the black, etched domino mask off her face.<\/p>\n

The woman was many years older than her prot\u00e9g\u00e9\u2014that much was clear.\u00a0 While he was still struggling to grow facial hair, she had a look of wisdom and experience about her.\u00a0 She was still young enough to challenge his energy, but it had all faded that night as she sat on the floor of her cottage.<\/p>\n

Her pupil moved into the adjacent room, and when he returned, he was in more refined clothes.\u00a0 He traded his brown trousers for black ones, his boots were more ornate than functional, and his tunic was etched with professional embroidery.<\/p>\n

Marin, meanwhile, was struggling with her belt.\u00a0 The lad rushed to her side and helped her stand, and she was too weary to fend him off.\u00a0 She leaned on him, tugging the accessory free of her outfit.\u00a0 The jacket was the next to come off, leaving only the flowing white shirt.<\/p>\n

Kelvin couldn\u2019t help but look over his mentor.\u00a0 She had gorgeous caramel-colored skin and curves in all the right places, and though she was twenty years his senior, he would have never guessed it.\u00a0 That wasn\u2019t why he scrutinized her so, however.\u00a0 Bruises were apparent everywhere the shirt did not cover.\u00a0 As he considered them, he also realized he had never seen Marin in such little clothing before and averted his gaze at once.<\/p>\n

She snickered, but he kept his vision drawn to the opposite side of the room.\u00a0 Through the window on the eastern side of the house, he noticed the sun was coming over the far side of the city, the sky just touched by flares of indigo.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting late. Early depending on how you look at it,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be gone from your home before the rest of your family wakes.\u00a0 I can only imagine the chaos that would ensue if they thought you were missing.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded.\u00a0 \u201cSoon.\u00a0 I\u2019m not leaving until I know you\u2019re all right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s not forget who cares for who.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhom,\u201d he corrected, a wide grin splayed across his face.<\/p>\n

Marin narrowed her eyes, but even she could not keep a smile from forming, despite her weariness and her battered body.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d she insisted.\u00a0 \u201cOnce I get some steam from a nice bath, everything will be just as I want it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lad was already in motion, heading to a back room of the house.\u00a0 When he emerged once more, he had a bucket full of coals and wore an eager grin as he set to work.\u00a0 In time, they were set beneath the basin, and he took care to heat the water she would use for her bath.<\/p>\n

There was nothing she could say to deter him, Marin was sure.\u00a0 She watched helplessly as he set to work, and she leaned against the wall of the room, breathing in the steam.\u00a0 She still favored that injured leg, though she made no mention of involving a healer or even gathering a brace.<\/p>\n

She was too proud to admit to any pain, Kelvin knew.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d the Silver Serpent said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis?\u201d he asked.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman was already shaking her head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, not this,\u201d she said, \u201calthough this is worthy of praise as well.\u00a0 No, I meant thank you for not taking my advice and being out there tonight.\u00a0 If you hadn\u2019t been there, I don\u2019t know what would have happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never seen you overwhelmed like that,\u201d he admitted.\u00a0 \u201cI didn\u2019t come out there to save you.\u00a0 I wanted to watch you work.\u00a0 It was my intention to be your shadow, but I saw a need.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any sense,\u201d she muttered.\u00a0 \u201cThere were far too many members of the Brotherhood there.\u00a0 And for what?\u00a0 To rob a trading caravan?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom what I saw, those wagons were running low on goods,\u201d Kelvin added.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think it was because the stuff had been pilfered.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think they had it to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marin arched an eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cYou think it was all part of the plan?\u00a0 You think I was the real<\/em> target?\u201d<\/p>\n

He shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cA thief is one of the oldest professions I know of, but business hasn\u2019t exactly been good while the Silver Serpent has been a part of this city.\u00a0 Maybe they thought if they could take care of you, there wouldn\u2019t be anyone left to stop them.\u00a0 The guards of this city would be overwhelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThose that aren\u2019t in the Brotherhood\u2019s pockets already,\u201d she surmised.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if there was a hefty bounty on your head,\u201d Kelvin said.\u00a0 \u201cCapturing the vigilante of Argos would be a bragging point the likes of which nobody can claim.\u00a0 I\u2019m just happy your identity remains safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShrouded in darkness as always,\u201d Marin said.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps I should lean back on the unassuming woman I am, instead of my dangerous alter ego.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomehow I don\u2019t see that lasting long,\u201d he chortled.<\/p>\n

She shrugged and smiled.\u00a0 \u201cThat will be fine, Kelvin.\u00a0 Any more than that and I\u2019ll drown when I pass out in there.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got to get back to the castle before anyone sees you\u2019re gone.\u00a0 If they go looking for you, they\u2019ll go to the people who you know.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want them seeing me like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

He swept the basin and the bucket off to the side.\u00a0 Steam rose from the water in the tub in the center of the room, and he breathed it in.\u00a0 As he passed by, Marin squeezed his shoulder and pushed him out toward the front of her home.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure you pull that door shut,\u201d she bade.<\/p>\n

As he made his way to the exit, he peered over his shoulder.\u00a0 His mentor slipped the shirt off her shoulders, and that was all he needed to see to look away in embarrassment.\u00a0 With his face growing warm and red, he quickened his step and snuck out of the house, creeping into the dim light of morning.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

His teeth were gnashed together, and his hand was squeezed around the remnants of the shaft in his shoulder.\u00a0 As he reached for the door, the arrow wobbled, and a flash of light accompanied the sting of the steel, chewing through his muscle.\u00a0 He took a steadying breath and tried the door again, taking his time so as not to jostle that wounded arm.<\/p>\n

\u201cThoro!\u201d he heard.\u00a0 That voice was as warm as it was hearty, and he knew who greeted him before he understood who was in the tavern that late.<\/p>\n

The Queen\u2019s Dare was as seedy an establishment as one could stumble upon in Argos.\u00a0 Only those who didn\u2019t value their life or didn\u2019t know any better happened to the place, unless they were friends of the owner.<\/p>\n

Thoro was happy to have friends in low places.\u00a0 There were only a few people in the tavern, and all were known to him.\u00a0 He knew it was Heggins who called out to him from behind the bar.\u00a0 The man was like family in some respects.<\/p>\n

And when he saw the arrow jutting out from the younger fellow\u2019s shoulder, that jovial tone shifted in an instant.\u00a0 \u201cThoro!\u201d<\/p>\n

Heggins started for the counter that swung up, but the lad raised his hand.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d the bartender asked.<\/p>\n

Thoro narrowed his eyes, recalling the events that led him down that path.\u00a0 \u201cThe Silver Serpent happened.\u201d\u00a0 He braced himself against the nearest table and took time to look at that quavering shaft embedded in his shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019s got a new friend who is competent enough with a bow.\u00a0 They got Dazon and Fred, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe killed \u2018em?\u201d Heggins asked.<\/p>\n

The injured brigand shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cNo, but I\u2019ll bet they think it\u2019s all the same.\u00a0 We were meant to bring her in, and we failed.\u00a0 The leaders don\u2019t take kindly to failure.\u00a0 Even if I didn\u2019t know any better, I\u2019d think we\u2019ll be seeing less of those two for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why are you here, son?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not the one the Brotherhood should be disappointed with,\u201d Thoro growled.\u00a0 \u201cWe expected more of our brothers out there, and lo and behold, none were present.\u00a0 I have half a mind about who is involved, and I\u2019ll let my voice be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust\u2026be careful is all, all right?\u201d Heggins bade.\u00a0 The bartender sent a nod to a patron near the back of the tavern, who rose from his seat and pushed a hefty cabinet out of the way, revealing a secret doorway to a darkened staircase.\u00a0 \u201cIf Brielle is down there, I\u2019d see if she could look at that arrow for you.\u00a0 If you need any alcohol, it\u2019s on the house tonight, no matter if it\u2019s for drinking or for that wound.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thoro passed along a thankful nod and proceeded down those stairs.\u00a0 The cabinet screeched back into place, and he was left in darkness, except for a sliver of light that came from a door down below.\u00a0 Before he had descended the steps, he heard the raucous laughter in the adjacent room.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, all the pain seemed so distant.\u00a0 Thoro pushed forward and slammed open the door, hard enough that the torches in nearby sconces fought not to be extinguished.\u00a0 Silence came to the room, a close facsimile of the one above.\u00a0 Several men jumped from their seats, small crossbows at the ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlad to see everyone here is so overjoyed,\u201d the recently arrived brigand spat.\u00a0 \u201cAs I understand it, Gaul,\u201d he said, pointing to a random fellow who stood, \u201cyou were supposed to be out there with us tonight.\u00a0 And you as well, Saren.\u201d\u00a0 The arrow shook in his arm, and he reached up and snapped it in half, that adrenaline helping him forego the pain.\u00a0 \u201cIn fact, just about everyone in this room was supposed to be there tonight, bringing down the Silver Serpent.\u00a0 That was what we agreed on, wasn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t it!\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n

A few of those women who sidled up next to or sat atop the scoundrels trembled at the young fellow\u2019s tone.\u00a0 His words made them question their allegiances to the men for only a moment, though.\u00a0 Those men had found success in whatever they did that night\u2014whatever caused them to ignore their plan to capture the Silver Serpent.<\/p>\n

Thoro sighed and looked past those fools, seeing the establishment\u2019s second bartender.\u00a0 The woman, a few years older than him, shook her head.\u00a0 He had seen that look before.\u00a0 He was passionate about a great many things, but that passion often led him into trouble.\u00a0 Stifling a growl, he pushed past the other members of the Brotherhood and took a place at that bar.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember who you\u2019re among,\u201d the barkeep whispered.\u00a0 \u201cThese men respect you enough now, but you know how fickle they can be.\u00a0 If a pretty girl is sitting on their lap and you make them feel inadequate, they won\u2019t hesitate a moment to lay you out on the floor to get their ego back in check.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSubtlety has never been my strong suit, Brielle,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cI can\u2019t keep quiet on a night like tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what a night it\u2019s been.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m not saying my night\u2019s been anywhere near as bad as yours,\u201d she said, pointing at the remnants of the arrow, \u201cbut I should have been out of here four hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen why is everyone still here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSupposedly, they\u2019re waiting for just one more person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it wasn\u2019t any of the people I was with tonight.\u00a0 The Serpent and her new companion did a number on the lot of us.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Fred\u2019ll ever use his hand again, and Dazon will likely be able to tell us when it\u2019s going to rain days ahead of time now.\u00a0 This woman is making us older than our years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s time to find a more respectable line of work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSays the lass pouring drinks to every scoundrel in Argos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brielle rolled her eyes.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, you think you\u2019re paying me a compliment calling me that, but I\u2019m as bad as any of the lot in this place.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll remember that next time I face down the Serpent and her sidekick.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ve just been going about this whole thing wrong.\u201d\u00a0 He growled a little as he considered all the events that transpired that night.\u00a0 \u201cI was this close, Brielle. \u00a0We had her.\u00a0 If it wasn\u2019t for that man in green, we would have been rid of all her problems forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, it\u2019s one thing to be a thief and another to be a murderer,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cJust because you wouldn\u2019t be the one drawing the knife across her throat, that doesn\u2019t mean you wouldn\u2019t be complicit in her death.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCareful what you\u2019re saying,\u201d he warned.\u00a0 \u201cI can forgive such warm thoughts, but the rest of this lot would laugh at you at best.\u00a0 You\u2019ve got your head in the clouds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe I do.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to think there\u2019s a better life out there.\u00a0 Neither of us has found it yet, but I know we will\u2014maybe even together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, they heard the squeal of the cabinet again.\u00a0 Unlike when Thoro made his way down the steps, a light was apparent.\u00a0 When the newest arrival passed through the doorway below, Thoro\u2019s nose wrinkled at the sight of the man who had a meager flame hovering above his hand.\u00a0 He was more than familiar with that fellow.<\/p>\n

When everyone else understood who had arrived, they burst into cheer.\u00a0 That member of the Brotherhood bowed and swept out his arm, taking the congratulations in stride.\u00a0 Even Brielle, farthest from him, saw the burlap sack he held and arched an eyebrow at it from across the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree cheers for Jerrod!\u201d one of those other bandits cried.<\/p>\n

The rest of the tavern burst into cheers and applause again, until that latest arrival raised his free hand to placate the crowd.\u00a0 \u201cYou did well, lads, and we were victorious.\u00a0 Things couldn\u2019t have gone better tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thoro slammed his glass on the bar\u2014an odd gesture, since Brielle had yet to pour anything into it\u2014and rose from his seat.\u00a0 \u201cNot everyone could say the same, Bodan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerrod narrowed his eyes, and that meager flame in his hand extinguished.\u00a0 He pointed his finger at the other brigand and let a smile form on his face.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a necessity,\u201d he said.\u00a0 \u201cWe needed the distraction to allow us to get into one of the most secure places in Argos.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be angry with me; it was the leaders who made the call.\u00a0 I was just happy to carry out their orders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what was so important that you were content with sending our companions to what could have been their deaths?\u00a0 Don\u2019t you think they should have known what they would be doing?\u00a0 Some of them won\u2019t ever be able to wield a sword again.\u00a0 What was worth ruining their way of life?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jerrod lifted that burlap sack, and everyone in attendance saw the item inside glow.<\/p>\n

That vague response wasn\u2019t enough to placate Thoro.\u00a0 Rather, it incited him, and he let his healthy arm slide down toward the rapier on his hip.<\/p>\n

Brielle leaned over the bar and grasped him by his shoulder.\u00a0 When he turned, she flashed a sympathetic gaze.\u00a0 \u201cWe should probably get the rest of that arrow out of you.\u00a0 We wouldn\u2019t want it to stay in there and fester.\u00a0 I heard wood left inside the body rots, and it could end up spreading poison through you.\u201d<\/p>\n

He knew what she was doing.\u00a0 A deep sigh pushed through his lungs, and he offered up a nod as she drew past the bar, hopping up over the one corner.\u00a0 She led him toward one of those adjacent rooms\u2014the one she called her own, he knew.\u00a0 That one on the opposite side of the main sitting area belonged to the Brotherhood\u2019s leaders.\u00a0 Those long-serving members of the guild of scoundrels rarely left the room while others were present, and that was true more than ever in recent times, Thoro recalled.<\/p>\n

That reflection was cut short as Brielle opened the door to her room and pulled him inside.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to control your anger,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t let it control you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done nothing,\u201d he challenged.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve toed the line several times already tonight.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give anyone a reason to come down upon you.\u00a0 In your condition, it probably wouldn\u2019t go well.\u201d\u00a0 She led him to the lone bed in the room and sat him upon it.<\/p>\n

Thoro knew better than to think there was anything romantic about his presence there.\u00a0 Without pause, she looked at his wounded shoulder and tugged a small dagger free from her belt.\u00a0 The brigand wondered if she planned on using it against him for all the trouble he\u2019d caused her since he walked down those secluded steps.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have anything to worry about,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not me endangering the Brotherhood.\u00a0 The real problem is people out there like Jerrod Bodan\u2014the so-called Magician.\u00a0 He would gladly throw the rest of us to the wolves, just to find a small victory in his own life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The cool steel of that blade jabbed into his shoulder, but before he could pull away, Brielle tore it through his shirt.\u00a0 With a better look at the wound, she clicked her tongue.\u00a0 \u201cThat\u2019s a lot worse than it looks,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m surprised you\u2019re not foaming at the mouth from pain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longer pain lingers, the more used to it you become,\u201d Thoro assured.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a long walk back here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, as used to it as you are, you won\u2019t be happy when I\u2019m pouring whisky on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sounds like a fine waste of spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBetter than losing your arm,\u201d she challenged.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen let\u2019s get on with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rose from beside him and walked over to a curio she kept in the corner of her room.\u00a0 A few ornate bottles were closer to the front, but she reached past them, grabbing an old, weathered container hidden from view in the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJerrod will run the Brotherhood into the ground,\u201d Thoro reiterated.\u00a0 \u201cWe had everything going our way tonight.\u00a0 The Serpent was in our grasp, and if the people we call brothers had been true to their word, we wouldn\u2019t have had anyone left to challenge us in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep talking,\u201d Brielle ordered.\u00a0 \u201cDo whatever you need to do to distract yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the Silver Serpent, who would dare oppose us?\u00a0 It isn\u2019t like there\u2019s a competent officer anywhere in Argos.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman waited no longer, popping the lid off that whisky and pouring it on her friend\u2019s wound.<\/p>\n

Thoro screamed loud enough that everyone in the next room heard him, and Brielle wasn\u2019t sure the sound of that agony hadn\u2019t escaped into the rest of the city as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Preorder Silver Serpent<\/em> on Amazon<\/a> today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Silver Serpent Chapter One: Arcana Unleashed   Every hot breath that left her lips felt as if it could be her last.\u00a0 She limped on, rounding a corner in the dark of night, only the meager flames in those streetlamps offering her any sanctuary.\u00a0 And they were far and few between. She heard her pursuers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[145,146],"tags":[222,1507],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Silver-Serpent-Chronicles-Cover.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-1zR","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6067"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6067"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6067\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6070,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6067\/revisions\/6070"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6067"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6067"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6067"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}