Chapter106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFNdFyp5ee
43
He felt something warm and heavy on106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrIkLCh5UP
his chest. At first, he was confused106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO9tMjQt5d
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJqWDecBgu
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopYkGFJatO
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1qB9nCZdq
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGDpMAJRLb
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpujw24QqCK
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQrkwgESat
down.
“Don’t106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfuYFKB8sh
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwNPgJCgLD
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpZ3LVh4QM
to sleep.
Over106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Nah7iMHLm
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOtA1UKT3C
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkWfOhshtl
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgJOiFc0vV
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZgli4fSrO
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovjmj3v1kp
to tell him what had happened.
“We106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDm4odiiAt
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtOGzf0p8F
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvnLuNADOk
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSAOjFjWx9
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI3VTPVwLX
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHOUnOtSrS
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2JOORpuVp
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOe2KBIAG3
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qJwfOjLbU
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bgmoSHMU3
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpOF6d8KWU
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8dxZAnzIL
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdhhnu0uV6
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGpSMbo2WD
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y9D4f5wRc
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7kGcEzkOG
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOqKltDkZg
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3kexTHGV8
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDISIbWbtA
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsXFKAyF9k
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8mvYKRZ4o
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGKfsHfiZR
enormous debt.”
Vander106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VhFpUPWZa
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS6mKqb8yG
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRLJAaCTDo
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMdYNCBiKc
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uTPvqq92t
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FwYN0o6Vu
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV0SBTHrPC
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSBUPqUoot
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFlOCoL2p1
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZI74pUjJM
who betrayed us.”
“That’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGr64AwoCp
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP4eA5abYU
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuo7DBpHDe
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpAezrMnnF
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvXRnrCUSs
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFPrU3dQfg
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlnNX88fW8
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY8Pk7kqa8
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGw74Ke5Pn
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtmivq9bn5
my King.”
…
A106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1XeheskJo
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDIv0SUpXR
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2YZ8ywUq3
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckVxZs64aP
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCiplso6Hn
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodbpyS2L53
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM44PLoNLC
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61IQXrGIqT
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXHqCxjOCN
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0ybmHaEt0
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk65HQoeV8B
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgbmY68zYx
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ye8TzyLn
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2s0uXWZ8z
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4xw8KB8bX
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIU7BlVAJm
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkdF5do1CB
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOnWKaxrHb
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIQXsgT6B0
saw her smile.
“Are106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMcYhQG41X
we going there soon?”
“After106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchm6YBAGQj
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJst6D6HkL
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TOutxWAD2
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLRKRDrLho
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIv5V9ooWs
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDoSRXEfki
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIlv1pamf0
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1ynxTcAuN
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWHPjNBaY8
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3osLCtN3Bi
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFc13k0jD6
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy2vyhLxYr
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG798yAi8TJ
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSwz2Cp7vX
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Jb7T4eAu
that was for him to do.
Eliza106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx79DBavgN
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljwfrdJltd
promotion.
Vander106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZm49z8php
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr7DSWAOEA
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DaO11fgFX
hold it aloft.
“Do106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJsmsYjeOk
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5bTq7yPWX
Cuvera asked.
“I106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAqLW9lkjp
do.” He shouted back.
“Do106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7KccbulAD
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JJErb0QK2
it?”
“Only106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXRmoD3HA4
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfbLlA7PFt
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVj5MMtZXb
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUZebohUgd
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3BpVziLtk
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1ZyVGspfC
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy8tF0uI0B
resilient, just like him.
As106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i2Rxd5Mwa
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3tRZeOIPD
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWBA1XZNdF
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzIxnr7rZb
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl26XnmpWs
capable of protecting them all.
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He106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFf1u1Osby
is, the Eluvian Blade.
