Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddcimWP9tx
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZS53o11yI
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPDWKXGZwV
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpsmZPQHDm
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6lTBRjtBh
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnxRZpgGW6
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyLpSvkLTa
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj6IyaqC8r
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrLlWmUdIc
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgZ9DncoEn
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xWSY6kENb
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqnEimCzBq
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ613IRc9fpa
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVZlkOgGkS
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQEc201NZt
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DO5ILI8Au
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtELs7Dvvdl
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3shnPaiLc
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmOcGojx81
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH00DTB1cMU
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVWp38YIa5
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0OmJxCr2r
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXhMBHNWXF
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mwO0DH9Uh
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaJU2LoXzW
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2Dpge3Txy
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJdRkjCq2W
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr5tXZFBob
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJNSLZVVDc
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXPzVLAJXD
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQida38y8FX
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45ZTWwtbiH
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHilfbzJt9
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzWB6UXSZD
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmYTTiqwx3
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqrCSVdvzF
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD0agX0tcc
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRDBv1mcUX
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp1qzgn3Gn
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xi6AEx4IX
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdH2v0T4Cqq
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsdvnQ412q
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPtAK9CYKL
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw06ox1R8c
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NZyxwCGlc
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3UePB6oLx
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HFFEAVjiz
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIZcE45Wnl
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFLVmn2jNZ
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKsWf0ir0g
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHuRPb4oxG
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYsCZDMvk2
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbVMyZs8s4
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqSFOb4rOe
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgVeexkLFL
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3nUo0Fevf
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfsnAISSne
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbItf0IPL64
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvrRhAAgFF
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2voluKW1v
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMvws2HApl
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLvRC4Kaew
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uj9eHKWpj
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9We9Yt7vm
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI6p088c4x
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQXvLxznlF
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEDpF1UdAR
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh3XOOxdnf
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWZb6jAc8S
happen again.
Charles had told109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDqVofAkNw
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVOxcHG0s1
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2VFupX8fD
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkXlI7B6mU
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7uML6k1rl
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsd9Vtgz46
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnWf97EUEa
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjk22SdZXT
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFdnJ9HLTk
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKtdXtIKSL
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrmQ1rORKR
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71XExb8uAi
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sf4yQcGVc
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ598U99EEfb
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84zjeiOVUR
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskVOcJZ3Rh
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH6UlYSF4b
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1mbHU2ZqJ
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W8j7i8ZCa
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTdExIA5kn
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjwg6jO5fZ
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiM4vdxvdu
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQkbGgWA3e
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElI8nAIH2V
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu91vfrpTa
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMXuqQWJqx
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRSbaQNa8G
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwar3G0hh5j
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEtTGdhNng
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnMV9eTs8G
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtcjmK3I47
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2MS4SvR3T
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uELN4YzHG
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry7MAf8lPJ
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rApa0Hg0P
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqzOLVtUrx
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEfn0zdVU2
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42Q0UeQH6I
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWO95JxcEU
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhP1mMbUiI
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtqJcd9ibG
she needed our order.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL58AHCofzI
109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15Vvo78Wo6
“Yes109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgDAnjTsjC
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zXEZrHqYv
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGxJBBg9Ze
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98GX10njWQ
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwBmJPQ0Nh
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HDXnEjtqR
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2q6hp7D5Qk
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsaedBjgnE
walked over towards them.
“Do you think109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tB6a1Q4xc
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR8ntXzw1t
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hIGD9wOZ8
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAiAgw29Fl
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqStt2WRvV
to handle this?”
“You go in and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaX7g0Wq3X
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpcTMKUqEN
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM9SnWjnhZ
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvx7AiDOdQ
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjliI1vxMMX
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1BNN7KDUF
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sHDLLCKC8
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FoAkPTKjG
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg2CTEZ7Go
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sV5fFod2R
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTDBel4x5X
uncommon.
As they made109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfsEUQVnnb
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx5BvIyfIT
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv9ak9oxUD
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC4V5BkaPg
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGlekRHiyH
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RV9QDcq8i
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAKJNqxDXh
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiLvX6Ymrq
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0nby0QsFP
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wR1zl7kDK
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k65xL5hnK
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1TYiblYyJ
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N0yXU0Hyc
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2IIzTudic
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJ4Q45pQH0
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLa1X5B9cP
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ54DGJ40kS
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1IrXSnI3n
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyS0Ngd7t2
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwqVfchyqc
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMEtNUJUxc
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmfvJHuMWs
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCgosFQ8iS
came racing over.
“What in the name109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKiERAdHsq
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f5lmlWk0W
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgVH1S7zmb
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarj0YbguxZ
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvkMJCAyFa
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzk7bwmMx0
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVwkEMAJ3a
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfS7tXzW7C
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4ETQJOazM
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZK9jd3Oa0
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTiaElFL4B
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURMiOPVShs
was going on.
“Clear out of the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz88VsiZLX
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBECxI7ULT8
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2SG486Zqw
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiDtK8v1NI
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKQmmts13m
he froze.
“What are you109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIEzbcQ16Q
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof2LZ433Fs
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWvkcLwae4
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmAjcIazF9
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCMOsWTNqS
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkx4bg9Tcg
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaKodbagVS
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NbisYbs97
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4UkCaSkv3
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHl1Bb4qjq
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1jjUZaheO
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV2XtBA4Jz
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamYD4ZTSX5
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx6sENPLvr
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL11ViXwobi
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpOeSdzoIq
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumODqyOHjc
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3sRgmnXvy
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbtBWC3V2u
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCbCUjFyow
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqz6kaGkmr
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlA88G6DUQ
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0651rgo54N
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvUg9EkaeQ
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduyBrcVC1K
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7HLTqK4Im
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PDs3BWvIV
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVYwtNo8nq
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb1pRzsVmA
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvsW87OTkP
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfUp8FSVs5
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5vLiWPW0n
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw1HPWj8eN
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomo126QW8J
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohgZ3zo24K
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6UKjQyjkG
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1EjL9XL1h
tightly. He made the first move. He drew109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwUHdirQ5o
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQxC0F4Ewh
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1fRDo2PNs
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuJ6emp6HN
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnS6re6joZG
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WiL1trBnj
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXtptlJE3I
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6wv7Tylz6
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjeFqC7yZb
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZrCDWDeCL
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWENTghEK3X
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpbArWSOkM
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHUTAYDAdJ
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbS9T74vtm
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8jHWjFXf6
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZhZwGbfcT
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFu0O7jlgm
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkODlvUBWG
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsReVYIZwBO
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO0E3RiDLu
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ873d1KVo
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK7qBszSGN
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVa4Aakbu1
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklJBF2ix7D
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIt9u5fFH4
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVNOdX1qZ9
injured.
“Come with me.”109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAeR4yRrrh
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwXeMwpH4h
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQZN1lucDr
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj8E4vTrMc
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcx3z6VPW9
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoWTmHZQnK
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was109Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAoYNOHshJ
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
