Suddenly, the array shifted and Anika was caught off guard as the 30 men became two spears of 15, moving to circle her. She smiled in pleasure at the challenge.
Andrew, for his part, was beaming from ear to ear watching Alexa sneak in behind Anika. For once, it was someone else that was the object of the she-wolf’s attention. Alexa used the distraction of the two arrowheads to disappear from Anika’s view and move in for a strike.
Just as Anika was about to send another dizzying array of strikes against the right-most knot of men, a shadow came across her shoulder and she spun only fast enough to turn her face into the downward fall of Alexa’s fist as she crashed down from the top of her leap.
CRACK! The sound of that fist landing started everyone around. Anika for her part reeled away in startled pain. It had been years since anyone had landed a blow like that on her in the training arena. Anika realized with a bit of chagrin that she actually had blood dripp
Raya then suggested a new series of drills where Andrew and Anika would observe, and use men from the 200 trainees to be attackers. The wolf pack was assigned to escort Alexa on a full circuit of the training ground and through the halls on the second floor. Andrew and Anika would station attackers along various points to try to attack. The surprise attacks were often enough for the wolf pack to lose two to five men, but once they regrouped, the attackers were quickly defeated. Finally, Andrew set a team of fifty attacks on an ambush. The wolf pack walked right into the trap. Alexa spotted the trap a second too late. As her wolves began to take damage and lost members to simulated kill hits, she spotted Andrew, Anika, and another group stationed at the safe zone. Raya came to her mind. ‘they are your backup, reach them, reach safety.” Alexa understood the drill then. Reach Andrew, and he and his men would defend. “Wolves, safe zone! Move!” she bellowed. The m
The next day, Anika and Andrew met Alexa, Roisin, and Keira for breakfast. “well, it has been good seeing you all. Sadly, Keira and I must continue on. I am visiting Port Manai for a bit to assess their troops there and work on them. From what I understand they have not had much in the way of training for a few years, so we may be there for a while. Perhaps we can swing back by on our way back to Tirana.” Said Anika. &nbs
Melissa Zolan stood at her personal workstation, working on the formula Andrew had provided. She had been able to run a simulation on the sample, and the results… the RESULTS! This was amazing if everything from this test were accurate. She knew this could revolutionize their company if she could convince the R&D department and Dr. Coriolis. She hurriedly gathered a new sample and headed for the meeting she knew she was already late for. The research team was meeting again to discuss ideas and share new discoveries. It had been years since anything meaningful had come up in the group. When she walked into the room, everyone turned a glare in her direction. “So good of you to join us.” Said Dr. Coriolis. “I… I actually have something to offer, something I have been working on.” Melissa said. Dr. Coriolis sneered “some pseudoscience witches brew no doubt. Leave the real science to us. Perhaps you can find yourself a man soon and do re
As Andrew hung up, he turned back to Roisin. “there is a Dr. Zolan who is the managing director of Durres Pharmaceuticals. She will soon be taking over the pharmaceutical portion of Dragon Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics. I need you to meet with her later today, perhaps take her out to the new site, and get her opinions on the lab set up and any equipment it will need to be equipped with to best serve both companies.”“I can do that!” Said Roisin, clearly excited to work with a female researcher and renowned scientist.“Very good. I need to meet with the lead scientist. I will see you this evening. Please inform Miss croft to meet me at Durres Pharmaceuticals. After you are finished, perhaps we can catch a late lunch” Said Andrew.Andrew rode to the Durres Pharmaceutical group and arrived shortly before Miss Croft.When Miss Croft exited her car, followed by two of her personal security team, she gave a deferential nod to
Jay Eisen opened the door to the Gold Dragon restaurant and held it for the five young men who followed him in. For years he had been chasing this group of rich kids from the provincial capital. While they have always seen Jay as below their station, but were willing to suffer him from time to time, especially when he was willing to foot the bill for a night out drinking. Jay understood this to an extent but he continued to invite them out each year in the hope that a real friendship would eventually develop. Even if he was a lower-class friend, he felt the relationship with powerful family heirs from the capital would be an invaluable resource. Even a sentence from them could set business deals in motion, or kill a competitor's business overnight.“Gentlemen, if you head in this way, I will get us a private box. This is our famous Gold Dragon, which has some of the best food in all of Durres ” Said Jay, putting on his best manners.Jay hurried up to the gr
“You! Neuropathy!” Jay cried out, as he took a step back. “William, be careful! This is that violent homeless man I told you about!”William grasped Rosin’s wrist and stood tall before Andrew and mistaking the statement for the restaurant name queried to Rosin: “Dragon staff? Ah, so you work here now. That makes more sense.” Turning to Andrew he asked “So you are the player who had his way with this little beauty. Well done. Having now seen her for myself, I cannot say I blame you as a man, but, you have to know you are outclassed now. Move along and leave us to our meal.”Andrew’s smooth baritone voice drifted to William then. “Are you so sure the lady wants to dine with a scrooge such as yourself?”“Scrooge? Who are you calling scrooge? You likely cannot even afford a glass of water.” Said William, looking around at all of his friends.“unhand the lady Rosin before
Back inside the Gold Dragon, Andrew sat across from Rosin.“I am sorry that happened to you. I am just glad I arrived in time.” The last, Andrew said with a slight barb that could be easily heard by Landon who stood just outside the box.“Don’t be too hard on him. Everyone has to pee. He has been with me for hours today.” Rosin said seriously.“you could have been seriously hurt, or even kidnapped and he would have never known.” Replied Andrew.Rosin considered this and simply nodded.“Dr. Zollan had some great suggestions and I think we will work well together. The plans are all ready for your approval.” She said, brushing off the unpleasantness from before.“ok, I trust both of your judgments. Are you sure you are ok?” Andrew asked.Rosin paused to consider, but simply sighed and said, “yes, Andrew. Thank you for your concern. My arm is sore but nothing more. Ho
Location: training ground - Durres When Andrew and Roisin arrived at the site, a shadow peeled away from a wall and approached Andrew. “Sir, a word.” Andrew nodded and stepped away as Roisin headed in with the wolves to begin warming up for the evening. “Sir, it seems the King has sent a special team to Durres, and we have been monitoring them. An Inquisitor and several Praetorian Guard Immunes are here, asking around about the death of the criminal elements of the city. Specifically, they want to know who scrapped Lord Butcher and his brother, the Black Tiger.” “But they were not killed in Durres that I am aware of, or at all for that matter. Have they been killed since they returned to Tiranë?” Ask Andrew. “Yes, my lord, it seems they were killed shortly after they returned, and the criminal elements even here have been stirring. Thus far they have not messed with any of your holdings, so it has not been an issue.”