Chapter 82

  Present Day

  Sylvin drew his bloody blade from the human man, who fell back, clutching at the wound that spread blood rapidly through the cloth of his shirt. Behind him, Sylvin heard the grunt and groans as his men dispatched the rest of the camp. A woman screamed, over and over at the same pitch, and was suddenly silenced.

  His blade sparked as he defended the stroke of another swordsman, and they locked, meeting eyes over the cross of metal. Sylvin grinned and the human inhaled sharply, realising who he combatted. With his greater strength, Sylvin slid his blade along the human’s weapon, to the hilt, twisting so the man had no choice but to release his hold or lose an arm.

  He cried out and fell onto his back and elbows, scurrying like a crab as Sylvin walked over him. Sylvin slammed the hilt of his blade into the man’s temple, knocking him senseless, and flipped him into the mud, binding his hands behind him.