Chapter112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKEBDzC8p4
43
He felt something warm and heavy on112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMBZosG1Pt
his chest. At first, he was confused112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVzou9kYI4
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCUxbbT9ee
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnlnHatAEo
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgy6UMoFfU
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJsUrzOl9d
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoxLDv7DR5
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn4bQey0iR
down.
“Don’t112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVhctpQdhm
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjm5iVgIO7
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk7zGz2zpm
to sleep.
Over112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiXoPjemYS
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ51AgYpyq
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOThHl6VHN
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalyg4u6YiA
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIje615GeU
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X6eqF5vnZ
to tell him what had happened.
“We112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nKERZ4d2l
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0mKD3yf6F
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhsEftyqRu
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHGC4ZZWjC
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwqzFz53Bh
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFGEVG3Mht
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDU3sK3tQk
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBeB4xsd08
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhwH4Jw7Mr
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY3T5BcOiT
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLyIS2SRTt
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7eKhut569
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjpdo3hPq9
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO0FFqpZuH
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvNXy9EKnH
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HXjyT0pN3
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssGP2DX6eZ
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdysP0YKPU6
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNcPkiJ59c
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz35RkPQEyQ
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMwnFEyKLU
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSpg1cYbml
enormous debt.”
Vander112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEjb4x4QbV
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwUkhOyXkG
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7uqUwRGm3
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHROsoreab
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VJhRAuWvO
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYKFTxf0We
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa41Ejp2g0P
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpKrneQ7hS
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SLGTOz8Ib
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFIw0GnsQt
who betrayed us.”
“That’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56pUIMuSzw
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByG0cFfjSU
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjQHxA4UzD
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzpTZwKDmk
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfPR8VAXW9
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nueRVUkiL
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zkoKlIgBj
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWZqTgLi1E
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDn9XHjIdS
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKvY6S1ZX9
my King.”
…
A112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrwVpvBiMc
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5tNJRgDks
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m0VW1d0Oe
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRHIFXQJE9
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QNWqhHvNJ
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60vbRYePby
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9r44n65Hv
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMt9p7DyPQ
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlgAqxzxxL
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9S5GozyUh
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYRJPkgMjD
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11YFPpEeZI
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4AZ28XxZu
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBgMOfiqs0
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rucahlBAb
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuKAXSZvIr
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbRPoDCEvh
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb2s1KmNIV
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5xFQvFpA8
saw her smile.
“Are112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyujIquH5JP
we going there soon?”
“After112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdVrp6UifX
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz84x149K3
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS5HBloaPg
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LUdAi7VS2
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LuwSxfZbt
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4HGfFVcxk
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZADjGdPi2
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUp1T5dr6I
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq4HadumYO
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0NE6CxxBV
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1EGMcl2L4
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9fGOVbmSc
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieWhGCozOn
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8MJFTZzR8
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmFRA4BmHi
that was for him to do.
Eliza112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYofOoOuwZh
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q6qW87rzA
promotion.
Vander112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxftJlieKkq
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKvelOcPQH
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL0HvFWS4j
hold it aloft.
“Do112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMvQ24QQNx
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjoewbIIGN
Cuvera asked.
“I112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU6NuYUH3D
do.” He shouted back.
“Do112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75NoDIozUc
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcILBxtaR0
it?”
“Only112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9apH4aCJ2N
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwIRbvavXH
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwgWh7RsdB
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCVMUeOt8Q
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkiiRPiGWJ
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghltCM8ufd
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2f13FovGY
resilient, just like him.
As112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2Y2rywbYW
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O4dWf8bof
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVV1yoZKG3
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6dXZwRxb3
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nwBTwpRgJ
capable of protecting them all.
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He112Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe22kFntHg
is, the Eluvian Blade.
