This time I made the first move. I stabbed out with my sword in a move that would catch his attention, and the idiot went for it. I brought up my fist and gave him a swift uppercut to the jaw, which he didn't expect. The impact threw him off balance, and he tumbled to the ground. His sword flew from his grasp, and rattled along the ground away from him. I placed the tip of my blade underneath his chin, and he glared up at me and spat. "Yield." I said calmly. "I will never yield to you!" Xanedyer shouted. I brought my hand back to stab at his neck, and I saw several of his companions, wielding bows and arrows, all put arrows on their bows and draw them back. From the darkness surrounding the clearing, Strycnine and Adra started pelting Xanedyer's men with arrows. I supposed the arrowheads were coated in the vampire killing metal, because when Xanedyer's men took the arrows, they dropped to the ground, probably dead. Strycnine emerged from the trees, holding his long bow in his left hand, and reaching into his sheaf of arrows to remove another. Adra emerged as well, and I gave both of them a nod of respect. "You're men are dead. Yield!" I said, putting an angry rasp to my voice. Xanedyer spat at my boot, and pulled a dagger from his belt before he lunged at me. The blade of the dagger was made of a pure sample of the vampire killing metal. I could see from the way the blade shimmered in the darkness, and I knew I couldn't bring up my blade in time to sever Xanedyer's hand or to protect myself. I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable. I heard a gasp of pain, and felt Xanedyer's presence fading fast. I opened my eyes and looked at Xanedyer. Strycnine must've fired off the arrow at Xanedyer when he tried to stab me. The arrow had hit Xanedyer in the back of the next, and the arrowhead was mow sticking out from his throat. Xanedyer slowly sagged to his knees and fell forward, his head landing just in front of my boots. I sighed a heavy sigh of relief, and looked at Strycnine. He lowered his bow and nodded at me. A sign of respect. I had not only gained the respect of Strycnine, but probably his friendship as well. Adra nodded at me as well, and I couldn't help but grin. Xanedyer was dead, and most of his fellow rebels had been slain. Those who remained tossed down their weapons and vowed never to again leave The Order. I nodded and wiped my blade clean on Xanedyer's shirt before putting it back into its sheath, which hung on my side. I grabbed my black hooded cloak and put it over my shoulders. "Thank you my friend." I said to Strycnine as I neared him and Adra. "Anytime." Strycnine said. I gripped his hand and gave it a firm handshake. And together, we embarked on the journey home.