Alara peered down below at her new-found enemy. The fool was just leaving Shadow’s cabin outside of Judecca.

“I’m just going to get firewood darling! Be back soon,” Brandon Tarsus kissed his new wife on the cheek.

“Don’t be off too long,” Shadow giggled. She watched him walk a few paces, and then closed the door. With a smug smile, Brandon turned away from the cabin and walked down the forest path.

“How did I ever get so lucky…” Brandon chuckled to himself. This sparked fury within Alara. She growled under her breath. Quickly yet quietly, the Knight positioned herself among the tree branches and hopped from one branch to another.

Stupid fool. You won’t even know what hit you, Alara smirked to herself. That’s the last time you try to cross me and my family. You will be removed permanently. You took my sister from me...you…

She instinctively reached for her saber, but abruptly removed her hand from it. No. She couldn’t kill him with her saber. It would attract far too much attention. People would see the yellow light, and his wounds would indicate that a saber-user was the killer. It would cause chaos in the Brotherhood. She couldn’t risk that. Alara patted the side of her thigh. Good. She remembered the dagger. It was all planned out. The girl even remembered to wear camouflaging colors to hide from plain sight. Her victim stepped further down the path and closer to the large pile of firewood already cut for the harsher climate season. He was so close to his doom. Alara tugged the hood over her eyes, and jumped to a closer branch. She was almost directly behind him now, just slightly veering to his left. Brandon bent down, humming a playful tune, and picked up a few logs. Alara took a deep breath, and prepared to thrust herself towards the enemy. As soon as she began to push on the branch, a sound of barking came from the path behind them. With a scowl, Alara scaled up the tree in attempts to be hidden. Loki, the anooka belonging to Shadow, greeted the Professional with a lick to the elbow. Holding the logs in his strong, muscular arms, Brandon nuzzled the pet and laughed.

“Ah, my old friend. You will always have my back. You can’t even be away from me for a moment, can you?” Brandon smiled. Loki barked again, as if agreeing to his new master’s statement.

“Neither can I, my love,” Shadow stepped down the path to her husband. She gave him a perfectly cut smile, and kissed him on the cheek, “Do you need help?”

“Make my new wife carry our firewood? Never!” Brandon replied, blowing locks from his brow.

Shadow giggled, and stepped behind him, “Good thing I’m stubborn.” She reached for a few logs and then positioned herself beside her husband.

“Oh what will I do with you…” Brandon laughed.

“Just stay by my side. That’s all I ask,” Shadow smiled.

“I vowed that I will. And I’ll hold to it. Let’s get inside now, my darling. I would love to drink some wine and cuddle next to you by the fire.”

“Aye. Sounds good,” Shadow nudged her husband, and hugged his arm with her neck. The pair walked towards light of their cabin while Loki danced about them.

Alara growled with eyes that flickered angrily in the moonlight. Damn. Those two are so closely knit. I’ll have to find another way.

As the two went back into the cabin, Alara scaled down the tree and ran swiftly through the woods. She was going to kill him. After all he put her through, she knew it was her destiny. It would just have to be on another day.

Enjoy your wife while you can, Brandon Tarsus. She won’t have you much longer.