Wiccer's caravan trudged through the mountain pass at a snail's pace. The ice and snow made traversing difficult for the wagon wheels. The wind whistled through the mountain valley with each gust, pelting Wiccer's men with a heavy dusting of white snow.

Wiccer jogged up to Arrelion and the two Silent One's positions in the formation.

"Should we try to find shelter for this weather to blow over?"

Arrelion looked up to the grey clouds. "No, this snow isn't bad enough. I've spent a great deal of my life in Stratus and I can feel when a blizzard approaches or not."

"You should head to the back and see if ARO suspects nearby danger," suggested Avalon. "I feel nothing in my gut, but I admit my Rabbit senses have rusted like an unused blade over the years."

Wiccer starred at the mountain cliffs before responding, "Same here. I haven't kept up with the training Elucard gave me in some time." He nodded and briskly trotted to Mave in the rearguard. "How goes the security detail Mave?"

Mave shook her head. "The cliff faces are far too treacherous for anyone to scale, so we can't see a bloody thing at the top."

Wiccer's face turned grave. He knew what Mave was going to say next.

"I think Cade was right, if I were to set an ambush, this would be the perfect place."

Wiccer nodded slowly. He was such a fool for his bull-headed stubbornness, but now was not the time for regrets, but the time to prepare for an attack.

"Have Legion and Malady rally the rest of the men around the caravan. Send Lear to protect Wildeye. Get to the center to better command. I'll wa—" A sharp pain in his shoulder interrupted him. He grasped his arm out of instinct and winced. A shuriken was lodged deep in his flesh. Wiccer only had moments to cry out "Ambush!!!" before a hail of dark stars whizzed into the wagon party.

Wiccer and Mave ducked under the halted wagon as a peppering of shurikens sunk deep into the wood. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

A massive magical barrier emitted from Arrelion's sword and Wildeye's hands. It enveloped the caravan, deflecting the projectiles. Wiccer crawled from his shelter and barked out a set of orders. "Essie, get a count of the wounded. I want to know if anyone was seriously injured in this assault! Mave keep you men ready for another attack. If Arrelion and Wildeye's shield breaks, I want us prepared for anything!"

Mave scrambled from underneath the wagon and gave Wiccer a sharp salute. "Roger that, Commander!"

Wiccer tugged at the shuriken and in his shoulder. A drizzle of blood squirted as he ripped it out. He cleaned it with a clump of snow and a torn strip of cloth from his cloak and tightly wrapped the wound with it. It had been a while since he personally dealt with the Black Rabbit clan. He did not miss the experience in the least bit.

A small shadow grew on the ground at the center of the barrier, Wiccer's eyes widened. Did the Rabbits deal in magic now?

Wiccer's sight wandered to his feet as his shadow dipped the tone of the blackened night skies. "Draw your blades!" His voice rang out.

A rush of dark figures flew from the shadow and scattered across the caravan. Rabbit steel clashed with the Anti-Rogue operatives. Within the chaos of the battle, Wiccer frantically searched for Elucard. Until he found him. His blade was freshly bloodied and a young ARO recruit lain dead at his feet.

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Wiccer pointed his sword at him. "I don't want to hurt you, Elucard."

The assassin's eyes burned with a cold stare into Wiccer. The former White Cloak gripped his hilt with both hands, ready for a confrontation.

Elucard lurched forward and then sprang to Wiccer at a devastating speed. With a single flash of his blade, Elucard slashed at Wiccer's side.

The commander fell to a knee, his blade kept him from collapsing. Elucard was so much faster than he. Faster than anyone he'd ever seen. How much did he progress in the six months since he left on Koda's journey?

He pawed at his bloody wound. His chainmail never stood a chance against Elucard raw power, speed, and strength. Elucard was more than he could handle, and now he would fall to his friend like a common thug.

Elucard slowly approached him, his blade dripped with Wiccer's blood.

"Finish it, Elucard."

The assassin took his ninjato in both hands and raised it above his head. In a matter of moments Wiccer would be but another notch in Elucard's belt.

"Elucard!" A stern voice called out behind them.

Legion cautiously moved to his student, his sword sheathed, and his arms open. "My son. This isn't you."

Elucard dropped his hands and stared blankly at his master.

"Elucard," Legion said in a calm manner. "Please, drop your weapon. You do not want this bloodshed."

"You've betrayed the Black Rabbits," sneered Elucard. "You've betrayed me!"

Legion passed Wiccer now, still moving slowly to Elucard. He placed a hand across his heart. "Yes. I have betrayed you. I know you will never truly forgive me for my sins."

Elucard narrowed his eyes and poised his blade inches from Legion's throat.

"But I will always love you, my son."

Elucard's hand trembled. His eyes returned to the color of amethyst.

"Legion," he whispered.

The ageing elf moved the sword away from him. "I'm here, Elucard."

Elucard eyes sunk like the moon, vanquishing all hope and light.

Legion's crimson pupil's shrank in fear.

However, Elucard did not strike down his Master, but the man that ran to Legion's..

Wiccer clenched his eyes in sorrow as Legion roared at the top of his lungs.

Elucard slid his sword out of Malady's chest. The elf collapsed to his knees. Blood gushed from his lips. His eyes glazed over.

Malady let out one final gasp before falling to the ground. Red liquid seeped into the snow before only silence.

Cade rushed from the corner of Wiccer's sight and tackled Elucard.

"What have you done!?" Cade spat.

Elucard struggled under Cade's weight. "My duty as a Black Rabbit.

Cade twisted Elucard's arm behind his back. "Please, come back to us, Elucard. Come home to me."

Elucard squirmed and screamed in anger. "Let me go, traitor!"

Cade torqued his arm further. "I am truly sorry, but this is for your own good."

Elucard clawed and raked at the snow. "Black Rabbits!"

The assassins halted their fighting and turned to their Silent Master.

"Vanish!"

In unison each Rabbit submerged into the shadows.

"Until next time, Inle," snarled Elucard.

Elucard plunged into the shadows, leaving Cade empty handed.

Wiccer stumbled to his feet and wobbled to Legion. "I—am so…"

Legion lowered his head and squeezed his fists. "This isn't your fault. Don't even say it."

Wiccer went to touch him. To comfort him. To console him, but he knew deep down, his loss was indeed, Wiccer's fault.

He instead limped away, to leave the two blade brothers alone.

Cade pulled his shoulder. "Are you okay?"

He couldn't look at the shadow elf. "You were right. They had an ambush waiting for us on this pass."

Cade held silent as Wiccer continued.

"If I listened to you, we wouldn't have lost so many; Legion wouldn't have lost…"

"Know this, Commander."

Wiccer meet Cade's gaze.

"Mistrust comes at a price."

He knew this now. He would have it ingrained into his mind; carved into his memories. He would never forget this day.

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