Chapter 18: Next Time

Blackridge smiled as he gazed upon the astonished faces of his colleagues. 'And now the performance turns to me.'

Zephyr lunged forward. "Is that-"

"Blood," Blackridge proclaimed with a triumphant grin. "You see, Master Kallida, the arrow which hit the man wounded him severely. The shard which pierced him was covered in blood, and the man lost a lot of it. Had we pursued him, we would have run the risk of him dying, and he is far more valuable to us alive. Additionally,...