Sorry for the long wait on this one. I've been having computer problems. I'm going to finish this story this week, I promise. This chapter is called "Aftermath". Enjoy.
Aftermath[]
Gideon made it back to base with the wounded and unconscious Brandon. One of the gate guards helped Gideon bring Brandon to the Blood Brothers’ makeshift infirmary. As Brandon was getting treated, Gideon ordered two soldiers to go retrieve Brandon’s horse from outside the cave where he was attacked. Gideon stayed by Brandon’s side for the next hour.
Eventually, Logan and Deacon arrived, still in their ghillie suits, aboard the machine gun carriage they had stolen from the Silent Fang. They were escorted by a guard to the tent where Brandon was, and Logan was devastated when he saw his brother’s current condition.
“No, Brandon, no!” Logan exclaimed. “What the hell happened?!”
“It was Sever”, Gideon said. “I believe that he has turned on us.”
“Damnit!” Logan yelled. He then sighed, and took several deep breaths before taking off his headgear, revealing that his left ear was very close to falling off. “Can someone sew my ear back on?”
“I got you, Logan”, Gideon said.
A few hours later, after Ragnar and Vlad had woken up, and Gideon had sewn Logan’s ear back on, Gideon informed Ragnar and Vlad what had happened to Brandon, and that he believed that Sever was working with the Silent Fang. They were soon joined by Logan and Deacon, who had changed back into their uniforms. Logan was furious about Sever’s betrayal, not only because he liked Sever, but also because he could have lost the only family member he had left. He wanted revenge.
“We have to go after him!” Logan said. “I want Sever!”
“Logan, calm down”, Rangar said. “The Bretonnian commander is meeting us here in a few minutes. He sent a message saying he has acquired enemy intelligence from the Silent Fang’s last base in Northern Bretonnia.”
“They succeeded in driving them out of the North?” Gideon asked.
“They did”, Ragnar said.
“I can’t believe that Sever betrayed us”, Deacon said.
“He didn't betray us”, said Brandon as he entered the room, clearly much better now. Logan was clearly happy that his brother was okay. “He was never with us.”
“What do you mean?” Vlad asked.
“Before I passed out, Sever told me that he’s the leader of the Silent Fang”, Brandon said. “He also said…”
“What is it, brother?” Logan asked.
“Sever is Nagitrad Blackhall”, Brandon said. Ragnar was clearly shocked.
“That can’t be”, Ragnar said.
“He also said that he is the descendant of Harold Jenkins”, Brandon said. Everyone in the room was shocked.
“Why did Sever help us kill his own people?” Gideon asked.
“When we interrogated the Silent Fang officer at the last base, he mentioned that they were the target of a ritual known as the ‘Purification’”, Logan said. “Sever was just using us to do his own dirty work.”
The group was interrupted by a knock on the door. Brandon opened the door, and the Bretonnian military commander, General Ethan Gates, stepped in.
“Welcome, Gates”, Ragnar said. “I got your message.”
“The last of the Silent Fang will be fleeing from Bretonnia in three days”, Gates said. “They will be catching a boat to Thrace, where they’re main force is located.” He placed a map on the table, which marked the route that the Silent Fang will be taking. “They will be taking a train to the Western coast.”
“We do not have authorization to operate in Thrace”, Ragnar said. “We need to catch them before they get there.”
“I have an idea”, said Logan, who had been studying the map. “This map shows that the train they’ll be on crosses over several bridges along its route. If we can destroy one of them as they’re crossing over it, they’ll fall into the water below and drown.”
“I see what you’re thinking, Logan”, Ragnar said. “But we can’t destroy part of the railroad.”
“Are you not willing to do whatever it takes to end this war?” Logan asked.
“Do you not remember that our existence is supposed to be a secret?” Ragnar asked. “We’re not doing it. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”
As everyone went their separate ways, Gideon handed Logan a small piece of paper. Logan read it:
You and Brandon meet me at midnight in the woods. Bring all of your equipment. Don’t be seen.
Logan showed Brandon the note. They both knew what Gideon was thinking. At midnight, as Logan and Brandon were making their preparations, Deacon came into their tent, and asked them to come with him. He brought them to an old tunnel system that was under the armory, and led directly into the woods, where Gideon wanted to meet them. Deacon wished the brothers luck.
The brothers exited the tunnel, and met up with Gideon in the woods. He was leaning against the machine gun cart that Logan and Deacon had stolen.
“I’m putting my faith in you two”, Gideon said. “Take this cart. Destroy the Silent Fang. I know you can do it.”
“Thank you, Gideon”, Logan said. “Ragnar is not going to be happy about this.”
“He’s wrong”, Gideon said. “I know that this is the best chance we have to end this war.”
“We won’t let you down, Gideon”, Brandon said.
“Are you sure you can do this, Brandon?” Gideon asked. “I’ll go if you’re too hurt.”
“I’ll be fine”, Brandon said. “We should be off.”
“Good luck, you two”, Gideon said. Logan and Brandon got into the cart, with Logan driving, and took off.
End[]
Thanks for reading this chapter. Tell me what you think in the comments. Have a good day. The next chapter will be out tomorrow.