Chapter 44. Wolves
In a dense forest, a noble’s carriage was on attack. Around it, ten guards lay lifeless, their bodies broken and battered. Their throats were cut, their chests hitted by crossbow bolts, blood pooling.
One guard survived, crawling slowly through the mud.
A figure approached him, cloaked in a wolf hood, his axe resting on his shoulder. He stopped in front of the crawling guard.
The guard raised his shaking hand, his voice trembling as he begged, "Please... don’t kill me... I have a family..."
Without hesitation, he raised the axe high and swung it down hard.
Two walked to the carriage door, tearing it open with brute force.
Inside, Marchioness Celindra Vaelmont and her two maids huddled in the corner, their faces pale and wet with tears.
"Please!" one maid sobbed, her voice shaking. "Spare us, we’ll do anything!"
Ignoring their cries, the man grabbed the marchioness by the arm, pulling her out of the carriage.
Celindra screamed, clawing at his hand, but he flung her onto the dirt road. Another attacker pinned her down roughly, his knee pressing into her back.
"Let me go!" Celindra cried desperately, her voice breaking. "I’m a marchioness! My husband—he’ll have you hunted down for this! He won’t let you live!"