Chapter 27
If you’ve never90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5vySZf0AD
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVFYLK7YxY
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh043FovywQ
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5Rt7SeGAU
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdnlaxAojc
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7NCMiwBXl
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8GEvP614R
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j3K1Jywl3
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZkx7x7Mpr
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjzzBz5KkT
down.
Vander flapped90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9gvNmOdyB
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAEW8Y0YfF
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMj0FT6yjd
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JbHCJPnSQ
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDlOF9f105
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxGHqiLOrl
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAnTct9eNC
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYZxj7zvHk
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oJPUso6VI
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWML9tBMq
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuorjxWNMPy
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkXJ4U19f0
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mUBhR5NdR
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmz6JvBiWrL
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkroycUGkTU
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2tDroi7pL
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYVSt41CPt
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5kMh0EbGB
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiyoRn662V
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZbupvFZZI
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH6Snl7eyL
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzmAXVD1Dd
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZOf2ODCbN
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTKFhYpUk6
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxYZnALwkE
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWdJWBDBzT
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGXQMnSHJV
figure?”
“One of these90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e6e4IiK0o
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8qUtzqsZR
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ddPL2fLYU
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHpZlUVcGs
be seen again.”
“I guess that90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOCWB4xP8Y
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDBL8Nimid
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pR3hOynCF
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡem7wapBuAZ
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07xB6QCLkX
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3N6ZoldXm
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBc7sq8JB7
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCSymj1B4I
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XyCCaRJXw
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV61muB7dD
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSldYdRZfC
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks7XFC4g4D
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXarQ94rG8
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5aeeMdxf7
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PpMJaj7k4
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7o34yeo3i
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBzgubXfiE
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdvF8pUmaK
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTY3FKis2X
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U22e9T3u7
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0pdDqrWid
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSacEOSrFOI
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO12BlxVdB2
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fxCNXzRhq
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2hFRMQPdQ
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrO0bZkDlsP
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEIFe61TL3
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHy85BW4jc
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiCKAVy3cV
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVW44mq7pl
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkYaTWrZfV
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbGYgj4UZ8
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9oA7NCHB9
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gHNLl0IC7
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGGL92ukbS
his Blade.
“You have minutes90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoYNSPtbUS
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCRKRkQBq7
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7K0mznfHG
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPXA12fxEl
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdtH5EZ8f5
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEFioBmDIA
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSLe9Q6X0q
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4T3h5E9aO
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDABvoZk2ZR
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf9DsvSwwI
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM7YQqyYOp
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBmosPcwDw
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAlKw1SDt6
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXAQdLxJK5
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrCySxNfxx
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhelmKCQK8t
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarOKVXNLLb
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z73v6th40
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqNxl56qWT
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQp94IWCnTi
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQQyHodVHv
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90KscAgphc
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rXzRo853A
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjhXRx0E6V
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DnxEogKsr
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcirC1eQ0i9
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrK2hW5zgO
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXuzkK8tap
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBi3a0BehXp
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kVx7vLASO
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0muQhEeS2
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zcwsTq9Z7
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5vMxtTvIY
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIjcZhnHI6
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf0ZNx0LJu
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDeIp5LfiW
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuka2SAwFq
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SvfKQXpj5
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdbhSBAIKr
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeiX10YG5W
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqsqtZMOq1
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGOpxk4KPN
before disappearing.
He heard shouting90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAX8kMFLkP
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHC5kEi7vW
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZxfAWpiOi
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZq9aW8ly0
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmUBRvcSn2
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs8pWC0z2E
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4lSwcUsxe
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Z2F5AUFk
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjBDywnGP3
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjc6CVU7F1g
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMsImnaMO6
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7L4FyBTe2
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3M1G1F4DV
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2f7rAtpe3j
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3mXyyLQ1I
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLVwT2VOkl
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UZyKkCUbG
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2CWf9be3G
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdKk1wlkZl
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXNGCQmKH1
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4FtafeA2w
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fyF1f5k0n
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their90Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B8CxkwDgp
swords readied to skewer him.
