Chapter94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFWhXgggFi
43
He felt something warm and heavy on94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DFEy8h3ld
his chest. At first, he was confused94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC3AbUrjas
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXAxLMxEtm
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJD82GbAYN
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpJpZsH0ay
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfcaAJsSuV
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxjxF08nix
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPM8eGQRVql
down.
“Don’t94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWySIB3omBN
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbi6OHjanT
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9Lb77wV7S
to sleep.
Over94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEu0F0OOsE
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ucd0fTkug
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbs61EQC0Kk
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNEtHi8bYu
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kGdG1h0GP
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDwtBLV00B
to tell him what had happened.
“We94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkS6pPVXjk
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhp4PmRaE2
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXxfQpAzJ5
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczhFSHzfWN
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZLRnaSRaG
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQOagMPBj6
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLh4UYztfMN
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BSniRy7ae
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrVYDZTcZV
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o4OB8Cjv5
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOACRGS5Tn8
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8jd9KyUVt
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55NdpSw375
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESeSX1z3hV
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsblzx22Azc
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjXNna0eXs
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYU3bO9i3u
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6sSdaf9eL
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yXND22cXR
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRocfZFSx0s
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW6gaY7Zk0
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUibgFzth6
enormous debt.”
Vander94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA4aH3vJx2
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40PZv8ezbb
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcefhCZhVF6
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTEFxbIchE
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDN0gMosy1
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3KMFSXnwT
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQkTZO1iMJ
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7CWNdJ1oy
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnkhCOcW58
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5ATXW5hCf
who betrayed us.”
“That’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoq0IIZKF8
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeoCD9M3CP
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vrZw4Evle
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkan0xe77MK
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KPdJSXaOY
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRngdMeTWF
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj3dUqe1ev
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETC7YCU9Ag
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpNEbFPlpC
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjidYdOCNX
my King.”
…
A94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9TbKlPQ7h
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSDN6dcbp0
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXdwfht5Oq
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOI4iO83Wi
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLJ11R1FT4
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3k45v6hDz
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd5g0xxjE2
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwbIFjxDM3
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurSFkfsXuS
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkkb8hvSJZ
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtauUzA9OIl
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgOI6FMPB8
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKHZUfZl32
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF39I05q5q
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZxhEX70nL
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ807v7ufruQ
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8l9SO9RGm
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhJntcX3EA
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidp9hxQnpj
saw her smile.
“Are94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfEJPtS2MS
we going there soon?”
“After94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtcVMBGNvS
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaLNftMYa5
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjIU6611oF
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPSNgz5m1N
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhiBARQVbV
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiOBs0V0uV
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxqQ5NxHqQ
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgxyJTPoUK
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ99JgzKqO0
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPN9Ss8T2P
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAxxZ0fApW
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhub1URTtt6
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpY71IbnXA
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvseglAs6pQ
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROIybOk0qb
that was for him to do.
Eliza94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sbOrVyvGB
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRnLGsNJaU
promotion.
Vander94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErancYDUL9
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgQL6CP0PO
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2na0OfHuf
hold it aloft.
“Do94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl4Mnu87Yz
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJV0WJP9K6
Cuvera asked.
“I94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWlC15uLuL
do.” He shouted back.
“Do94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxsjm1gSKm
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEIkvgjxii
it?”
“Only94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqrR8yf06L
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeid9Qy1OzJ
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM4oXsscP0
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg0whGMhdn
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaNg9AhVYC
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9brxyqO1hl
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4FhonoC7P
resilient, just like him.
As94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAKk6h71iD
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XhVM6Fu2y
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde6hbnEUoV
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMafZefu877
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenzu4u9kst
capable of protecting them all.
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WAGMoWinB
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAQykB2TZh
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP7EwIsYCK
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZD4QAvxTD
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBsWBW93HN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAbIlbNopA
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLR6ecHLMj
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRjHKIOHHW
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOh3gTVVFD
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Oyfhf7t9X
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuCeKfsE3Z
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOONaXd1aN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh64zNxlqY
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvGqWnraNk
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrPiDOLstw
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4acJnOhZG2
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ5aqrsFSf
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFczf7J6YnR
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCm59s3vwn
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eBjy5Ec6l
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9949yGXn4
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE3VjdqRbZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RuzJ7wNej
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcbkQ6FOjT
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdeQT4lsvP
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx3OwoNv6b
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytXMyGvAuS
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn8g0TYw1e
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEe1fQflGy
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5If6kd2zi
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp7scnLRcJ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5HplPGoKL
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vz6IQ9QQS
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VcmJH2369
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡka8kj9nC5e
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl45mrnj0k
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVIZNEuGj2
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrGFiQtlsz
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEyiFnaRgu
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8wRERCK83
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkzDofcie5
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQeoI2qCnS
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7AzhnAKN9
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOUYiInvfe
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSdCveql75
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjnYFMMhhA
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3NNjFkJGO
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU0loLQqJo
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabtAMjAY7f
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMoTnGDkCN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t56CIDpG9
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSegjLPr9eC
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjmRonSZWx
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox5sQPDgRL
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnp4rTI4XB
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLocpmTVraV
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtFCRHmGWm
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn7mA4v8dG
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGoBzvczRX
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QKRq9lvRZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTLjfpVutf
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgs9MuaCzq
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbGUCR86tk
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFHOyUrPGe
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBTOgFITOA
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh887aZf5o
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBqd1iGQ45
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpyffa29SC
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVfbwYYL7m
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfgI397Khl
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyL2LySvJdh
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA4SUoW4NG
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrrN961JHG
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0S5ufPNUq
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjPcsQqf5B
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcluV0GwBon
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwDRgPBHNe
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFZ5nyybg1
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO3eIdASKX
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8SkFst2dJ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0kUcLmOVN
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5qqszK4jZ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDSeY9ySyI
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEjMhNxwM7
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDg3Xwi7sf
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkByjH4AWBf
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjXamhdFnJ
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIigigWdoe
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGWRlLmSZU
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmSFIRVtn8
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vX2d5NjVz
94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkXgGRJbAi
He94Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyYWqYha2x
is, the Eluvian Blade.
