Operation Honey Trap vs The Emperor of the Apocalypse-Chapter 195: Did She Have to be so Hot?

Delphi started to shoot the long-range arrows which took the soldiers at the checkpoint by surprise, with none of them expecting arrows to fly at them from so far away.

She managed to hit three of the men before the rest ducked and ran for cover.

"Good work General Chastain," Alton watched her with admiration. "Let’s go men!"

Baer, Niko, Wolf and Alton took the lead now, galloping towards the checkpoint, grenades in hand.

Brenner, Delphi and Loveday were close on their heels, bows at the ready to shoot any soldiers who raised their heads above the checkpoint before their riders got close enough to throw the grenades.

An arrow zipped past Alton’s ear, so close he wasn’t sure if it had grazed him. No time to stop.

"Arrie, where’s the shooter?" shouted Delphi.

"Behind the booth, left side, your ten o’clock," called Arrie.

Delphi and Brenner shot off their arrows at the same moment, and the soldier was struck twice, falling forward with a cry.

Another arrow came from the enemy side, striking Baer in the upper arm.

He grunted with pain, transferring both of his grenades to his pockets, wrenching the arrow free and throwing it to the ground. He kept on riding forward though his right arm was now streaming with blood.

"Shooter, Arrie?" yelled Delphi.

"Movement in the woods to your left, eleven o’clock!"

Brenner, Delphi and Loveday started to fire into the patch of bush indiscriminately, trying to pin the shooter down.

The frontline of riders were close enough to the checkpoint now. The men pulled the pins, and the grenades arced through the air. Explosions boomed across the gate, blowing holes through it, and fire broke out in the booth.

Those soldiers who had escaped Delphi’s initial flurry of arrows were now killed in the explosive onslaught, or ran, burning, from their hiding places.

"Baer, stay here and lay the explosives while we clear the rest of the soldiers," called Alton. "How’s your arm?"

"Good enough to do what I have to," Baer shrugged. "It wasn’t too deep but it’s bleeding."

"Loveday, get some first aid onto Baer’s arm so he can do what he has to," shouted Alton.

Alton, Niko and Wolf rode towards the patch of bush where the arrow that struck Baer had come from. Brenner and Delphi were right behind them and still shooting blindly into the trees to make sure the shooter couldn’t get another arrow away.

Loveday jumped off her horse and pulled the first aid equipment from her pack. Baer was already working on the explosives.

"Just give me a minute to treat that wound, Baer," said Loveday.

"No time," he grunted.

"I only need two minutes, then I’ll be out of your way."

He shoved his bicep her way without looking at her, still fiddling with the detonating cord which would set off the explosives.

She quickly snipped a hole in his shirt around the wound, exposing it. She poured water from her water bottle over it so she could see the edges

"It’s not deep but it’s torn the muscle. It’ll need stitches when we stop."

"Just do what you can. You have one minute and thirty seconds now."

She pulled out the pure alcohol. "This will hurt, Baer," she warned him.

"Go!" he said without looking at her or pausing his work.

She poured alcohol over the arrow wound. The man barely flinched, and she thought, not for the first time, what a superb soldier he was.

Loveday genuinely admired his bravery and expertise. She wished the man could forgive her and move on, so that they could be friends. She really wasn’t sure what she had done to warrant his enmity. It was actually him who should be apologising to her, not holding a deep grudge against her when he’d slept with another woman.

She quickly put a soft bandage square over his wound and bandaged it tightly to try and stop the bleeding.

"All done," she said. "Try not to put too much pressure on it until the bleeding slows."

"Like that’s gonna happen," he scoffed.

He was straight back into his work. "Lay this cord out in that direction, would you? Be careful. Do it gently and don’t step on it."

She straight away set about helping the man, crouching facing him and gently unravelling the detonating cord as she moved backwards.

He looked up briefly at her focussed face. Did she have to be so fucking hot? That red hair just completely undid him, and those matching eyes, hazel almost auburn... not to mention her creamy skin and perfect body. She could almost make him believe in monogamy. But not quite...

And shit, now she was distracting him from his task of blowing up the bridge.

"Alright, alright," he said angrily, "that’s enough. Go help the others."

She nodded, not wanting to disturb his focus. She noticed he couldn’t even bring himself to say thank you for the first aid treatment.

How immature could a grown man be? Well, she wasn’t going to tiptoe around him until his bruised ego finally recovered.

"Thanks Loveday," she called as she walked away. "No problem, Baer, anytime. Just let me know when you’re ready and I’ll stitch that wound for you. I will, thanks Loveday, I really appreciate it."

She continued her one-sided conversation as she walked away, and Baer huffed and rolled his eyes.

What did she expect from him? Did she think she could have it both ways and he’d still be nice to her after she’d turned him down? She could think again. She was lucky he was even talking to her at all, and that was only because they had a serious job to get done.

Alton, Niko and Wolf dismounted and charged into the bush. They quickly uncovered two soldiers positioned in there. Swords were drawn on both sides and vicious hand-to-hand combat ensued.

Alton managed to quickly dispatch his opponent, having the height and reach advantage as well as very fast footwork from such a huge man.

Wolf was engaged in a rough and ready sword fight. It was not pretty or elegant, as both men fought desperately for their lives.

Arrie saw what was happening and she tried to run around behind the enemy fighter so she could stab him in the back. The two men were exchanging blows and positions so rapidly she was terrified to throw her dagger.

She dashed forward to try to stab the man, but he saw her, and swung his sword at her, almost cutting her in the stomach.

"Keep back, Arrie!" panted Wolf. "Get out of here!"