A chilling wind cut through the alley.

  Shadow arched his shoulders and growled.

  Weyland faltered, but didn’t back down. Kai glared at him and activated [Bloody Travesty]. Terrifying scarlet aura burst forth, drowning the alley. Weyland’s mouth opened. Nothing came out. His fingers slipped from the sword hilt. He collapsed to his knees. Shadow let out a small whine.

  Kai peered down at the pitiful hunter. “Perfect. Looks like you’re ready to listen.”

  Weyland’s head bowed. He didn’t dare look Kai in the eye.

  Kai squatted down and gripped Weyland’s shoulder. “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

  Weyland flinched at the touch.

  “Are you listening?”

  Weyland struggled to raise his head. His mouth hung open. He offered a trembling nod.

  “Good. You’ll go back, stop the execution. No more unauthorised hunts in my territory. Understand?”

  Kai’s grip tightened. Another trembling nod. “Good news is, you won’t have to hunt at all. How does that sound?”

  Weyland’s lips quivered as he spoke.

  “B—but we have mandates, monthly targets, numbers we have to—”

  His fingers dug into Weyland’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry about that. You’ll report to me. I’ll give you suitable targets. Enemies, troublemakers, gossips.”

  Convenient having someone take out the trash and eat the blame for it.

  Weyland nodded.

  Kai let go and stood. “Good. I’m glad we found common ground.”

  The bloody aura faded, and Shadow regained his bravado.

  Kai gestured toward the alley’s exit. “Go. Cancel this farce.”

  Weyland’s eyes flicked to Shadow, then back to Kai. “But what will I say? I can’t admit we got it wrong. They’ll ask…” Weyland hesitated. “Too many questions.”

  Kai shrugged. “Tell them the new steward commanded it. This village welcomes humans and Demons who behave themselves. Anyone breaking my peace gets punished accordingly. How’s that?”

  Weyland’s head bobbed. “Sounds great, sir.”

  “Go on then. I’ll follow. Don’t get any ideas.”

  Weyland’s body shook as he rose. His gaze stayed fixed on the floor as they walked. Kai kept his hands in his pockets to avoid looking like he was marching Weyland at gunpoint.

  Shadow didn’t get the message. Any hesitation from Weyland earned a growl.

  They soon returned to the town square. The mother in the grey dress hadn’t moved, on account of being secured to the pillory. The Demon hunter guarding her attempted to pacify the impatient mob. Another hunter restrained the young boy near the platform. The boy had stopped crying - maybe he’d run out of tears or realised they were useless.

  Kai returned to the stage with Weyland. He raised his arm. Silence spread through the square. “Execution’s cancelled. Go home.” He lowered his arm, gesturing for Weyland to continue. Cheers erupted through the crowd. The priest’s clean robes stood out among the stained peasant rags. He nodded at Kai like he was a hero.

  A few were disappointed. Shouts cut through Weyland’s words.

  “Our new steward has issued a command—”

  A bearded thug in black - cloak, gloves, sword - yelled out. “Since when do Demon hunters let Demons run free?” Other troublemakers in the crowd nodded along.

  Weyland glanced at Kai before continuing. “The Demon hunters stationed in this village will no longer execute Demons without justification.”

  Another yell from the bearded thug. “Justification? Those abominations hunt us every night. What more justification do we need?”

  Weyland opened his mouth to respond, but the elderly priest beat him to it. “The night-hunters are corrupted Demons. What’s her crime, my child?”

  “I’m not your child, priest. I say we kill the skinwalkers before they kill us!”

  The priest shook his head. Silent tension settled over the crowd. The cloaked man’s crew murmured support.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Kai gripped his sword. Using [Bloody Travesty] left his soul essence unstable. Gloves hid his whether the troublemaker was Marked. A risky fight in Kai’s current state. Weyland looked to him. Kai nodded.

  Metal scraped leather as Weyland’s blade emerged. “We’ll punish anyone breaking the steward’s peace!” His blade pointed toward the big-mouthed goon. “Brothers! Bring me that man!” The hunter guarding the pillory drew his sword and leapt from the stage. Two hunters in peasant rags revealed themselves, drew their steel and pushed through the crowd.

  The bearded man staggered back, his eyes locked onto the hunter striding toward him. “You can’t do this!” His crew abandoned him, melting into the crowd. “Traitors! Cowards!” He gritted his teeth and reached for his sword.

  The armoured hunter’s blade fell like a bolt from heaven. The bearded hoodlum’s right hand thudded on the stone floor. Even if he were Marked - losing his right hand limited his abilities. He howled. Blood sprayed, then lifted toward Kai.

  No, not here!

  A twinge of disappointment throbbed in Kai’s mind. The floating stopped. Blood hit stone. That was close. Sparing a Demon was one thing. His blood-absorbing suit was bound to raise questions he couldn’t answer.

  The disguised hunters reached the screaming hoodlum. Strong hands locked around him. One hunter inspected the severed hand, then signalled negative to Weyland. Not Marked - perfect. They forced him up onto the platform.

  The hoodlum’s screams became words. “M—Markus! Don’t let them—” A fist slammed into his gut. The bearded hoodlum wheezed.

  A ragged-clothed man stepped forward, dagger visible at his waist. “Wait! This isn’t—” A blade plunged into the side of his throat. His hands grabbed at his throat like he could seal the wound. His hands fell, red and useless. He crumpled to the floor.

  A woman in rags stood over his corpse, gripping a blade wet with blood. She stepped back and blended into the crowd. Whether she was one of the hunters or the bearded man’s crew didn’t matter. The message was clear - challenging the steward’s commands was unhealthy.

  The crowd fell silent as the hunters pushed the bearded hoodlum onto the platform. Kai assessed the square. Solemn faces stared back. Hands folded in prayer throughout the crowd. The priest smiled.

  Strange for the church to support saving Demons and brutal murder, but he wouldn’t complain. Maybe the old man saw through the Demon-hunting lies.

  The hunters held the bearded man beside the woman he wanted dead. Her wide eyes found Kai. He gestured to the handless man. “He demanded an execution. He’ll get one.”

  Kai addressed Weyland. “Free the woman, execute the man.” Weyland’s nod was swift. While Weyland freed the woman, hunters held the thrashing hoodlum. The freed mother rushed to embrace her son - both sobbing loud enough to fill the square. They stared at Kai with moist eyes.

  The hunters locked the bearded man into the device. “This isn’t right! I’m no Demon!” he protested.

  Kai dropped from the stage and mounted Butcher - leaving Weyland to handle the rest.

  Questioning looks followed him, but the villagers knew better than to stand in front of the Dark Horse.

  Alira studied him with interest. “I expected more blood, chaos and screaming.”

  Kai shrugged. “I decided to make fewer enemies and more friends.” He focused on the platform. Two corpses for control of the hunters and a rescued mother. A bargain. Who knows how many undercover hunters and villagers he’d have killed if he’d attacked.

  Rusk laughed. “It’s always good to have more friends.”

  “You done here?” Alira said.

  “Not yet,” Kai said. “We’ll leave when they finish the job.”

  Weyland raised his sword above the bearded man’s neck. “I sentence you to death for breaking the steward’s peace!”

  The bearded man’s face twisted. He changed his tune. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

  Weyland’s blade descended. The bearded head tumbled to the ground. Blood erupted over the stage and dripped onto the cobblestones.

  The muted crowd shuffled away. The execution was over.

  Weyland saw him clearly from where he stood. Kai nodded at him, then patted Butcher’s neck. The Dark Horse snorted.

  “I’m ready,” Kai said. “Let’s go.”

  “It’s a shame,” Rusk said. “I was looking forward to some blood and action.”

  Kai looked at him. “I’m sure Alira’s prepared plenty of that where we’re going.”

  Alira smiled and led the way to the gates.

  Kai looked at her as they left the village. “What do you think about that? The Demon hunting. The executions.”

  She shrugged. “Superstitions and foolishness. There are good humans and bad humans.” Her eyes met his. “It only makes sense there are good Demons and bad Demons.” She returned her gaze forward.

  Kai asked no more. He hadn’t expected her response, but that didn’t mean he could trust her.

  They left the village behind, reaching a narrow forest path. A perfect spot for a trap. He brought the Dark Horse to a stop, Rusk halting beside him. Alira glanced over her shoulder and pulled her reins.

  “Problem?” she asked.

  “I smell a trap,” Kai said. “An ambush. A fight.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I’d rather know what we’re walking into before we stumble headfirst into something sharp and nasty.”

  Alira turned her horse toward them. “Fine, I’ll tell you.”

  Kai tilted his head. He’d expected her to deflect. Instant agreement meant they were near trouble.

  Alira sighed. “You asked why we took the mounts. Why not sneak out of the castle and kill our enemies before they knew what hit them?”

  A silent throat cut was preferable to battle. Any smart person who’d survived this long knew that.

  Alira removed a stray blue hair from her face. “I had a good reason.” She smirked. “I wanted them to know I was coming. Our detour should’ve given the spies in our lands enough time to report our intentions.”

  “Our intentions?”

  “Every journey from the castle uses this route.” Her hand swept toward the trees behind her. “The trap you smelled? You were right.”

  Rusk spoke up. “So we want to walk into a trap? Why?”

  “Simple,” Alira said. “Justification.”

  Justification. An excuse. The soldiers leaving the castle…

  “You want a reason to kill the Ashvale negotiation emissaries,” Kai said.

  Alira shook her head slowly. “No, not those useless soldiers. An Ashvale heir is nearby. Gideon’s older brother.”

  It made sense now.

  If Ashvale soldiers attacked them, any retaliation would be reasonable. Even killing one of their heirs was fair game. A trap inside a trap.

  Kai stifled a smile. He respected her strategy. It was devious - as devious as something he’d plan. But he couldn’t let her know that.

  Alira turned her horse toward the narrow path flanked by trees. “The emissaries weren’t here to negotiate. They demanded our surrender.”

  She glanced at him, a devilish smile on her face.

  “I’m delivering our reply.” A sword of ice bloomed from her palm. “In blood.”

  She charged forward, fearless of the ambush lying ahead.

  Ashes. Is she trying to get us killed?

  He could turn back. Let her reckless charge fail.

  But if she died, it’d ruin his chances of claiming the Frozen Tear. Her father would blame him - fair or not.

  He spurred Butcher forward.

  If you haven't: please review and follow this story now.

  This is a critique I've seen in three reviews: there's not enough worldbuilding in the story.

  I DO plan to dive deeper into these things in the future - when it's relevant to Kai. For example, he doesn't care about history on his current revenge quest. But it'd be relevant if he's researching the origin of the Earth mines in a scheme to boost his kingdom's economy, etc.

  So here's the thing:

  Answer these questions in your comment:

  Your comments will shape the future epigraphs.

  Please help me shape the future of this story by answering the above questions in a comment and voting in the poll below.

  Should I add epigraphs to the start of chapters?