Chapter 18
“Hey, are you alright?” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFN4l6dSDT4
slowly opened his eyes to see Eliza standing over him. It had only been a few108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAzfRIvsHT
hours since he had fallen asleep. The sky had lightened up only slightly, but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN71zXebBj
it was still several hours until dawn. He sat up from the bench with his back108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIsxysJksh
protesting from the sudden movement.
Once his eyes108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMh0UP9ljo
adjusted he looked back up at Eliza, who didn’t look as though she got much108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9StXsrJx6
sleep either. She was wearing a long coat that stopped just above her knees.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh02EaGHGEs
Her hair was down, it stopped just above her hips, and she wore a pair of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxZvh16u8G
trousers.
“I just sometimes come out here to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkfyGFxcbk
enjoy the surroundings.” He chuckled, but winced as his ribs protested the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb68jJholB
sudden movement. “It’s a lot quieter here than in the city, especially with all108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzslFGfl037
the Warden’s guards running the place. Why are you out here?”
“The same as you I expect.” She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZApttjn1n
sat down next to him then stretched her legs out in front of her. He couldn’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtETfdDDucX
help admiring the firmness of them as well as their length. “I’ve been restless108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOVw6EaV2p
since I started my journey here. There is something coming, I can feel it.”
“Is there?” he couldn’t help but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunveL8NR0F
chuckle. She shot him a dirty look. “Is that why you came here with Kiara?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRThQica5ct
Because something was coming?”
“I came here because it was my108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuroug6dBZu
duty to protect my older sister and keep her safe.” She explained. “But now108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNyVEiNPPR
that she is here, I’m not sure what to do with myself now.”
“You just got accepted into the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjEtWYNWQc
Blades,” he said. “A captain at that. You can stay close to Kiara and keep her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cLf6E2uf8
safe. Is that what you wanted?” She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNGWmZfon0
nodded her head for a moment but shook it.
“This was a path that was chosen108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuLSKjG223
for me and one I was willing to be a part of. I had been training for it since108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AmOKsHJ7o
I was a little girl.” She laughed, but the joy didn’t reach her eyes. “What I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30pFoG5hfv
wanted was to marry a prince and be whisked off my feet or to travel the world108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06T3qyuJtU
and meet new people. But this, fighting,” she looked down at her calloused108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86QpnJBJpu
hands with sadness. “It’s not what I want to do with my life.”
“Is this what keeps you up at108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jLt6L50NS
night?” he asked. “Your uncertain future?”
“Isn’t that what keeps you up?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH7SwGNy9W
she countered. “Why you stay here in the garden in the middle of the night108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bB0Iu1ko1
instead of being in your comfortable bed?”
“I grow restless at night.” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzI0Q3Y2Cp
said.
“Due to Unna?” He looked at her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYG8HOPFCX
sharply. “You don’t really keep it a secret. Anyone with half a brain can tell108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaA6GyHipQ
you’re different. The way you move, the way you fight, it’s as if you can sense108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqBQeZlKin
things that other people can’t.”
“Kiara told you?” she grinned at108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6joiaBjuD
him.
“Kiara told me.” He sighed. He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHd0CPuR5b
leaned back on the bench, so he was staring up at the sky once again.
“I never wanted this.” He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe8uXBX6Ou
whispered. “I acted to save my friends and was given this power. If I could108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYGip1iXdq
give it back I would. I know what happens to those who abuse her power and even108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgbCqFWnn8
now I feel it scratching inside, wanting to be let loose. If it wasn’t for Shea108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5okwtvLw2
I would have lost myself a long time ago.”
“You’ll find you can accomplish108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzGrrCOnCm
great things when you have something you want to protect Vander.” She smiled.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaAhYnCxnT
“I hope you can find someone else you want to protect, to give you that108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuYlov2Gpg
strength when you need it.”
“No one has escaped this curse108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzviPuNf9j
Eliza, no one.” He got up from the bench. “My grandfather, Cuvera, the King,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgWgtsKAHD
and Alex seem to think I can, but I don’t know. It seems, unsurmountable.”
“I still have one wish that you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU0eBRF4aQ
need to grant.” Eliza placed her hand on Vander’s shoulder. “Come with me.” Confused108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrXJ75oV9Q
as to where she was taking him, he followed.
The two of them left the garden108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXyc2oAkj0
heading back inside of the castle. He thought that she was going to take him to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0VhvVWtvP
her room, but instead she led him down towards the castle training room108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8RYqx1cXI
reserved for the Captains, though no one used it much anymore except the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1VJwvKLhZ
commander when he sparred with Malcolm or Cuvera. Vander came here sometimes108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxfpA4AfST
when he was being given lessons, but it had been a long time.
“Why have we come down here?” he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpSsAk3T1C
asked. She ignored him. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail then removed108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI9hiNpEiJ
her jacket tossing it on the floor in the corner. She began to stretch while108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiRHe9peE1
Vander just stared at her dumbfounded. Realizing he wasn’t going to get the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyaVJhpP2i
answer he needed from her, he shrugged off his jacket and began to stretch as108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8XV3UGGzD
well. Either she was going to fight him or fuck him, either way he wanted to be108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ki3ChGGxh
prepared.
“Do you know that Bricen is the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RwvuWLcxi
only country, outside of Eluvia, who had a Ma’akti?” she asked a couple of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dFjbsBTQP
minutes later. She was touching the tips of her toes when she looked up at him.
“I did.” Vander nodded. “I always108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4NR35tHH9
thought it was the King, but you were all very tight lipped about it.”
“Well, it’s not my father.” Eliza108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBeYtDTtka
laughed. “The blessings of Azta doesn’t go through the men of the line, it goes108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K2HQDDaQi
through the women, and it’s known to skip a couple of generations.”
“What does this have to do with108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSRoJOSq0c
me?” Vander asked. Eliza got to her feet and motioned for Vander to do the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbc0ZCHEq2
same. He got up warily, keeping his eye on her as she moved around the small108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleVMhq86gg
room.
Suddenly her hand combusted and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnFxLyAto
she swung a flaming fist towards his face. Vander ducked in surprise, the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7uQEr36va
flames singing part of his cheek. He was so startled he fell on the ground and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rHQalIDde
started quickly backing away. She smirked sinisterly at him as she walked108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBH1GPy28y
closer to him. She held her hand up towards the ceiling, but it didn’t look as108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQdE1QIKyA
though she was in any sort of pain.
“You’re the Ma’akti Azta’un?” he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFBrCDjXhd
stammered out. “How are you doing that? Isn’t that painful?”
“When I was younger and didn’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4AptWifRf
know how to control it, sure.” She shrugged. “But I have had time to accept my108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS8u5ygnu4
lot in life and made this apart of me. You must learn to do the same.”
“It’s not the same though.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCexkKmfOk
Vander’s voice hardened. “Do you know how many of my predecessors slaughtered108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3GyYJ12Ud
their friends? Their family?” He got up from his position on the floor. “Their108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtFmiyaEaO
blood was on their hands, and it took many more lives until they were put108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPCUeLFfaQ
down.”
“You cannot live in fear your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQFCImB7bm
entire life.” Eliza snapped. “You must embrace who you are, embrace the beast108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0qZCwrOe9
inside. That’s the only way you can move forward.”
“No.” he snarled. “That’s final.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqaUhJgNHS
He moved to leave, but Eliza placed her other hand on his shoulder. He brought108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwl4xYXQ1m
his elbow back to shrug her off, but accidentally caught her in the face. She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKSPtkGTuJ
stumbled backwards, but before he could apologize, she swept his legs out from108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwWMw6UaZa
under him making him land on his back. She was on him while he was trying to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBotcgnKjQ
stand up. She grabbed him by the collar then pushed him against the wall. He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq1xnVFZ0H
rebounded off and went for a punch which she easily ducked underneath. Then she108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWrJNxF6ff
drove her fist into his stomach.
She waited around while he dry108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93wkB0G62A
heaved on the floor. “Why are you doing this?” he gasped.
“Before Kiara was going to come108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4PGLGpV7t
here, I was actually going to take her place as princess.” Eliza walked around108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLGQ4B4rjr
him. “The night before, Azta came to me. She told me that someone was going to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DBgdxWsg5
need me here, one given the Curse of the Beasts. That he would need my help to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwOVhhyEIQ
realize his true power.”
“My true power is death and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1SZyvm7K1
slaughter.” He wobbled to his feet, but his eyes were focused on her. “Nothing108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4XwiOBiQv
can change that.”
“Even if it’s the ones you loved108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRYPRxAiv9
being threatened?” He growled his response, so she held her hands up in front108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1JRkErjKq
of her. “Eventually you will have to make a choice, Vander. Accept who you are108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldI90nRD05
or those you love and everyone around them will die because you didn’t.”
“Does this have to do with Veyar’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yx4RK4jX1
prophecy?” he asked. She looked at him confused then shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t speak to Veyar, only108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfISdbmU4q
Azta, and only when she wants me to.” She explained. “If Veyar talked to you,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCeJ8BLIH2
it’s for your ears only. What did she tell you?”
“About the freeing of the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZMZIrpfWP
Darkness.” He said. Eliza’s face grew pale.
“Let’s just hope that doesn’t come108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0I4znfUuW
to pass.” She said. “They need a lot more than a few of our powers to make it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrigsOw1jku
happen. If something like that was going to happen, the deities would be up in108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBGUPkqROp
arms. Let’s just focus on this for now.”
“There is no this.” Vander dusted108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsupgrIXl4l
himself off. “I’m out of here.”
“This was my wish, Vander.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ZpceGiUA
Eliza’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks. “Or do you go against your word?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmRWLkCudU
His shoulder’s slumped as he turned back to face her.
“I will make you regret this.” He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7PTgwqiND
sighed. “I still have my wish as well.”
“Do your worst.” She squared up.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49ojLdkZku
“This time, please fight back.”
“I cannot control the strength I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5g1zBjGdv
possess.” He warned. “If you get hurt, Kiara will have my head.”
“Don’t worry about hurting me.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalAi1suETN
She grinned. “Worry about yourself.”
She ignited her fist and charged108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XjEOo6aNS
him. Vander closed his eyes and for the first time in a long time he removed108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLXwfMcF29
the barriers he erected in place to protect himself and others. He opened his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAXi7fSDY8
eyes and saw the fist mere centimeters from his face, but it was slowed. He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsitsqXOpZq
could see her fingernails, each of them crackling with the flames of the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHdA5sPMrI
goddess. He could hear her muscles tense, smell the sweat building up on her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7oMqjK631
body, and taste the ashes in the air. He slid out of the way and counterpunched108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxXwjiE0uj
hitting her in the stomach. She was sent flying backwards into the wall.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwW43SiRlV
Instead of bouncing off it, she ended up a couple of inches embedded inside. As108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKkGv2KLsc
quickly as he released them, Vander re-erected the barriers.
“Are you alright?” he asked. Eliza108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rSGN9jqB4
pulled herself from the wall grinning. She brushed off the dust from her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cMiuXEFWk
clothing stepping onto the broken bricks.
“Damn you do pack a punch.” She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GTj4YAePp
laughed. “If I hadn’t protected myself using the divinity I had stored, I would108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1cuYG7uBG
have broken a few ribs.”
“That’s a neat trick.” He frowned.
“That’s just one of the few things108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9ZQksRhqC
you can learn if you accept who you are.” She explained. “Until then, I’ll keep108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDhhGfrBJ8
beating your ass. Are you ready?”
“No, but you won’t leave me along108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PJJqP5bZr
until I am.” He got into his fighting stance. “Let’s just get this over with,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8LGuOYOMK
we have a wedding tomorrow.”
∙
Vander was sore when he woke up108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm5VOIe4Nd
the next morning. Eliza kept him down there for hours trying to goad him into108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY35No0FbFW
using the powers gifted to him by Unna, but he refused. If that punch was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHh34A2C7R
anything close to what he could do, he could wreak untold havoc if he succumbed.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CyeaRNIPA
He couldn’t, he wouldn’t let that happen. Eventually she had gotten tired and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqEgXqkdVI
dismissed them for the night, however he knew that she would keep bringing him108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4RXsYFVeu
down there until she was satisfied. Shea hadn’t even woken up when he arrived108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HDldy6bsQ
back, but let her annoyance known when he flopped down on top of her. She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2PI5raIhM
bounced on top of him several times before slamming her head into his side. She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscpHd3h4fy
emulated Eliza by kicking him in the side before eventually going back to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5Z3XjSpSW
sleep.
He slunk out of bed towards the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc1Q5M85Bp
bathroom. It was still early morning, but even from up here he could hear the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYs6K0SAVz
buzzing of servants running around getting everything ready for this afternoon.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY3o5oaVcd
This was going to be a long day and he had to make sure the guards were in108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV2L2xsFcT
their places and alert just in case anything happened. With all the Wardens,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm3Jq1TlCf
nobles, the prince, princess and the King all in one place it was a prime108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSr44CZ0f9
target for anyone looking to cripple the country. He wouldn’t leave anything to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4FjdLg32W
chance, not after the king’s poisoning. He had to make sure all his bases were108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX0jthFEfV
covered because if anything happened it would be his ass on the line, no one108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMuN8V11MJ
else’s.
He showered quickly, but when he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2xsTEYD6w
came out there was a package sitting on the bed with a written note on it. He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZkBk9tYDU
recognized Cuvera’s handwriting. The note told him that it was from Madame108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUJcKdFkT
Topal, which meant it was his attire for the wedding. He had a choice to wear108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp03r58Nwb
it now and face ridicule from his comrades, or rush getting changed later and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3U6rcxFHg
risk being late. Sighing, he removed the clothing from the box and put it on.
Topal had gotten his measurements108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuDk02jV77
precisely. Nothing bulged when he put on his clothing nor did anything hang108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej9w0f0WyM
loose off his frame. The pants were tailored to the perfect height and somehow108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmZ5XHgTbe
she had gotten the measurements for his feet as there was a new pair of boots108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg9jf0isbt
also in the box. Both were black and the shirt he put on was a deep blue the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsfuDfqnMn
color of the Elan family crest. The frock jacket he received was entirely blue108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqYV2NSfCh
aside from the spiral pattern around the buttons and over the chest: that was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhyMOz17Tl
the color of his hair. He had to admit, he looked good in the outfit, but it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUskz0aRC7
was a little too fancy for his taste. Thankfully Topal was considerate enough108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5AuAF0DXP
to add a sword belt to his outfit so he wouldn’t feel quite as exposed without108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmJF1eRqe7
his sword close by.
“What do you think?” he turned108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdKMgKN6Zg
around to face Shea. She looked up at him with a tilt of her head.
“Very dignified.” She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqtTyfio5f
barked. “Eliza will be very happy.”
“Why does it matter if she is?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2JfZAvqdF
Vander asked her. “This is for me to look like Cuvera’s best man, not for108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNifCGqnki
Eliza.”
“Don’t act like you weren’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRbkMrRvvT
covered in her scent.” Shea rolled her eyes. “I could smell the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRFHMBN2zB
attraction between the two of you. Don’t lie to me Vander.”
“Okay, so what though?” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9jtf7Uxud
clipped on his sword. “She’s just helping me because of a vision she received,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgSoxbVe2m
no other reason. I know you want me to be happy, Shea, but these kinds of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwWId7zKKW
things take time. I’m not ready.”
“You’re just afraid of being108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw5zflExeh
hurt again.” She said accusingly. “Bree made her choice and Julianna is108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ01g2PA4rT
busy running her business.” Her voice softened. “It hurts me to see you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGKJfBermk
so unhappy.” He took a deep breath to control his anger.
“I know, I know.” He sat down on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEePYMHjuP
the bed. She placed her head in his lap while he stroked her ear. “When this108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH4No6Ebo3
mess with the Serpents is done, we will take a vacation away from here. Maybe108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMsxpWEzWs
go to the shore and play at the beach, just the two of us.” Her tail thumped on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlkgxui7qL
the bed in excitement.
“I’d like that.” She said.
“Now, let’s go prepare for the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCSAvCon7u
wedding.”
Vander and Shea slipped from the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDuritTcSA
room and headed towards the ballroom where his Blades would be waiting.
With the others108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjVycmA89Q
returning from their mission to escort the Warden’s to the city, all fifty of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFI50DwCnNO
them were in attendance. They were all dressed in their uniforms talking108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkiW6hCiHK
amongst one another, but as soon as he entered the room, they snapped smartly108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z5urnWb3l
to attention. He marched past them with Shea following behind. He stood on top108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCkxZ3BHGs
of the stage where the throne had been removed to make room for the pillars108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64xS3lXqkt
that were draped in red and blue fabric. The ten Captains stood behind Charles108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ094VSu4zKw
with their hands behind their back. Alex bowed his head at Vander, but Leon108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lq05cviyA
ignored him altogether. He looked around for Eliza, but she wasn’t there. She108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwvWexZUon
was likely helping Kiara with her wedding preparations.
“You’re late.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixHKtTRtgC
Charles growled.
“Sorry,” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP9GBXneO1
bowed his head. “I had a late night.”
“Get in line.” As108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtEoxp9YKy
soon as walked next to his grandfather, the old man whispered: “You look nice.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0539WlvtKY
Vander smiled to himself as he stood next to Alex. Shea sat down next to him.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q4hnJOPQE
Charles straightened his back before speaking to the others: “As you know, the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHHOQqiGaz
wedding of Cuvera and Kiara is later this afternoon. As such we have one duty,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAULEDHGt1g
protect the castle grounds from intruders, and keep the King, his family and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdfP5dLEBW
the Warden’s safe. The guards will protect the walls while we protect the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNsKU8QnFb
castle. I want everyone to be on their best behavior and aware of your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLSpLN4UnX
surroundings. I will pass it off to Vander for specifics.”
“Thank you.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrOExgEuRh
Vander stepped up. This was his chance to prove himself as a capable leader and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4njwslg9q
he wasn’t going to let it go to waste. He saw Rooster, Chicken, Forest, Briar,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUH78Sxllm
and Eve standing at the back. Their new uniforms and weapons were looking shiny108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLis5vBYJiH
and new, and they looked nervous. He would have to give them something108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljb7erlbnA
important, but also easy. He didn’t want to give them too much responsibility108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsd0GpbQzS
for their first official mission.
“Tonight is a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8g8hfYiOfD
very special night and it’s our job to make sure that everything goes108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9WRW53oL3
smoothly.” He said. “Listen to your Captains, keep your eyes peeled and your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IolIlIWVb
wits about you. If something seems wrong, listen to your instincts. I’d rather108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMc0xwwNKI
apologize because you were wrong than do nothing and have this place crash down108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2sYf3Oh9i
around us. Now, for your posts.”
He gave108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvC5U3nf1w
Alexander’s squad, the new trainees, the task of guarding the door. It would108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgoGBlAkm8
involve checking invitations, making sure none of the guards brought weapons,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BkwnN21ZN
and the people who were there had been invited. It would test them to stand108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wIWophBvU
their group against uppity nobles who believed they were above the law and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTjFdSRxsC
making sure they could do their job properly.
He made sure108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOqiy7A97h
Leon’s squad was paired with someone who would keep an eye on them. They would108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXTV4eVcsL
oversee patrolling the upstairs, checking rooms and windows for any potential108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bzdlzQ3ct
hazards. There would be four squads alternating to make sure no one got tired.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWSUG5uoMV
One squad would be walking around the ballroom during the party to escort drunk108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZQ0zspoJW
revelers to rooms that have been set aside for them. There would be some squads108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP4tuzvdOv
stationed in the kitchens and along the delivery tunnels. He made sure no108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcZw1g6s9V
routes were left unprotected. If there were any gaps he would be the last line108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxr3ZJ9hAa
of defense. Shea would keep her eyes on the king and prince the entire night.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZckOWZJN1
She would warn him if there was anything suspicious going on.
He gave one last108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3yQzypvo7
warning to the troops. “The people who attacked the king and nearly ended his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYKJNxMlYT
life, as well as my own, are crafty and skilled.” He said. “Keep your eyes on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN7wALLUpG
each other and watch each other’s back. No one goes anywhere alone. Am I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iaZIQXlYu
understood?”
“Yes sir!” The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd3GQpnOjH
Blades saluted.
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“Let’s get to it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAM7HrNxO1
then.” Vander saluted back.
