Chapter 27
If you’ve never118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNGZOJZeJh
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ai6wczI25
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKWICRHnwt
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oD6VjnD6b
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytvjB6YsGV
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZu0RuJDia
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWJFTPgyxB
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RUDVxofA1
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAelKZ1gVI
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WqKEL1Ckw
down.
Vander flapped118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXLEA2NXRX
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4T6njCZxb
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEDI9iH7ci
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVInSM90tS
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJGPcmt7bs
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkF1RV8AfD
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLulpqGzR4
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeEiJViJrz
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszVdDSjVyL
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhq5jGFMJi
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV4YXNUBHO
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4TPIZuH9q
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUnUpiCz5G
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVnzXCkqI9
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJJIsQT0cy
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPA2M12G7LO
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHiBOWWW48
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC02g5F8eq
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwCEI7R7gr
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFydYAgLShI
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S5u0sXWyw
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3VhnzuzSx
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknYVSwpQhV
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5N6WioH8k
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpqpi35hwU
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2NzvpQiZ2
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffFrt0g9BL
figure?”
“One of these118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScnOQVsXaa
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJuuT4Qfsy
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwbgZ9pxls
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT9CdBxxEs
be seen again.”
“I guess that118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpWvmI6YhM
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA0cCTbjQe
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD77rdJzy0t
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpmhOBgEBk
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5yBfwkNAg
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ29ATzZSiz
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjztkH4SXx
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy1LQvrEZC
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl1cCuJDV7
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6jlL2WqrW
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYTRvscBHz
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMfGguqIaS
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecFGx85Gwl
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N0jH3pid1
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qgui1yODQ
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYN4ajzj6j
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtrAs1q8SR
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6vWyFitRV
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nWGDd6LOA
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFooqZWZdK
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZFS3ZprwW
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMlkWLgR93
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoYHk2rsNs
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vh6xXtO1j
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXDC3uecEa
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRysK8DWU8S
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvEoqhOhvx
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCZIvIlsjW
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOfXQEFNxS
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmZ9QkNQgr
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF8Mk8GW3w
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n1F1qYzs3
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8y33JxIOR0
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzICBj6ISV
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtVyGX0Oo2
his Blade.
“You have minutes118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZP2c2PCtP
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5vnuWCm9E
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPCcckmyWf
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbMNHPR7hP
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9D0bH6eyz
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeusEEBXhF
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv6HhCAv6u
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC2sJjWwPK
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDpBPiRS1l
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbYIhoxgtZ
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHhLXMAV6Z
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8gL74dHkU
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJYynKjCuU
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkgRKw90vS
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ0xnKnJIg
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBBix668iW
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MV8YWwMu2
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMcSsjF81L
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXtV12oFfu
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUHFeubE63
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg6kfZ6889
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBwelqctWV
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHOn5faXYp
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B7wQFpQ30
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPIiMKSJF9
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy7PMVBQRi
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYyZFXDtN4
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkzJr1NHQp
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD8YcgygOu
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC2fN8LwT8
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqWUlc0rUm
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKwff4yxc2
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsXAWZfYt3
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6E5u1R0S0
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWuMN4YeCj
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxem1MjA5FT
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN2bGfN8NK
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchE2NEbH85
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3sWLp15Jq
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡty4AdALn6j
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSyCI5Smdo
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVTJBel8RI
before disappearing.
He heard shouting118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSMQiTb8fT
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjAcimv2EZ
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttWRhfcKpH
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSTlAHtwkn
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncPBp7liDo
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RCvlXzBJa
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV8PgBhAHe
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmGsc7Vk1f
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJa2MvBSgHr
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMIFkh6udP
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGYoE1Re30
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11A7MEySma
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSEl5kRdx8
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZmvOIsnoD
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡul4YcdoTG1
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nRck2JU31
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAishrK03Lk
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6Cv1rDShJ
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSifh9lJ2n
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr31Qus7PyC
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkY62P2wtQ
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7yi2QSAjP
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their118Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuilZnrjrvh
swords readied to skewer him.
