Chapter 12
He slept soundly. No one wanted to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRysCj1I3TS
wake him so the visit by Mari Drayson went off without him. He didn’t awaken108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRkg9wsrCR
until night had fallen and Shea busted into the King’s study to jump on him108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdzMFu2X0V
then proceeded to like his face until his face scrunched up and he pushed her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7RLDxFbfi
aside.
“Shea, sto-” she interrupted him108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzn0SFplWf
by licking his mouth. He shot up to start gagging pushing the she-wolf off his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafNvL1xMrL
body. “I’ve told you to stop doing that.” He grumbled.
”And I told you to stop getting108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPIBDgkgbJ
into fights when I’m not around, and here we are.” She growled into his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURWFW9oTML
mind. “Imagine my annoyance when I got woken up by some Blades when they108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cyWvPNo3y
came to remove your stuff from the room and escorted me to the castle saying108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWaGiADdYX
you had been attacked. Imagine my anger when they wouldn’t let me check up on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVUy5rtz10
you until now.”
“Did you leave anyone alive?” she108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J5Kopuq9e
barked her laughter but nodded her head.
“It was difficult, but your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHqGBAm5d3
grandfather swore to me you were sleeping and needed your rest.” She bumped108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzvjsTb7EU
her head against his chest. He placed his head in her fur then inhaled her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xBt9lNsnA
scent. He felt the stress and anxiety he had been feeling just melt away.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” she108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBJ4TbdVkJ
licked the side of his face accepting the apology. There was a slight knock on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8ZVvM1vt6
the door and Alexander poked his head in.
“I heard voices.” He said. “Are108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc62EamTUVB
you finally awake, Vander?”
“Yep.” He slid his foot off the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0EqCkgFC0
couch. Looking up at Alex he saw that his friend had worry lines etched onto108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSy3oyMh0W
his head while his face was filled with worry. “How long have you been standing108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycgyJMUGnT
there?”
“Once the others told me what had108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3sWbEKWTz
happened.” He explained. “I was about to kill you when you didn’t show to the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N0cIU9NcZ
training, but when that Jilena boy told me I dropped everything to come here.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCgCF3BtGR
The King told me not to disturb you, so I sat at that door making sure you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1kbzrI7PE
rested.”
“You got anything to eat?” Alex108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKCI9yVBcL
grinned. He disappeared for a second then came back with a tray of steaming hot108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvNl7lprpE
food.
“Once I saw Shea, I knew it was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdW6FgMeIe
only a matter of time before you awoke so I had the kitchen prepare some stew108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMLsuQKg5c
and bread.” He said. “I had them make a bowl for her as well.”
“Thanks.” Shea was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkfSwD6vZY
practically salivating on the carpet. Bernard wasn’t ready for what was about108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg95jdqTGc
to happen. The two of them tore into the food like a couple of beasts. Sauce108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhdCkFx3ku
and chunks of bread flew everywhere. Alex wisely took a step back shaking his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLyQ6jl87o
head in disgust.
“Animals.” He muttered under his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaSIZ6Gnvw
breath. They were done after a few minutes leaving the table a disaster. Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOvjggKUQt
leaned back on the couch then stifled a belch. Shea stuck her head into his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1R4OKGzxi
bowl to lick out the remaining sauce. “Once you’re finished your grandfather108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKsnvInGI6
wanted me to bring you to him.”
“Did he say what it was about?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu17zkTMJD
Vander asked. Alex shook his head. Rolling his eyes he got up from the couch,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwm4mLnBGI
wobbled for a second, but remained steady. “Let’s go then.”
The castle was on high alert.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWadST2TOaL
There were more guards here than normal, most of them were regular soldiers,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3iYmaFdaf
stationed along the halls. Whenever the Wardens showed up everyone was on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuSPNZe4vB
alert. The safety of the entire country rested on their heads, so the King108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc9ggOV7Y6
always took extra precautions to make sure they were safe.
Alex stood at the door to the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNHPWmp8V9
Commander’s office while Vander headed inside. Charles was pouring over more108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD58pj01gZ8
paperwork at his desk by lamplight. He looked so old sitting there even though108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BxrLC94jG
he was in his middle years. Just went to show the toll being Commander took.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDMRsXuYV8
Shea jumped up onto the couch then placed her head on her paw. It took a couple108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7ywi0pEFB
of seconds for him to put down his quill and to look up at him.
“I heard you were ambushed on the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMQ4XUOEi0
street today.” The old man’s voice hitched. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, gramps.” Vander nodded.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ694omwmCSq
“What about the man I captured?”
“In the dungeon waiting for his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdAAm1dLJc
questioning.” He said. “I assume you want to do the honors?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIX93jrHQP
grinned. “But we need to have a talk about something.” He sat down in the chair108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9QwKxnY2W
across from his grandfather. “We need to promote the recruits to trainees and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJINL0rT8Vr
allow them to help us around the castle. If today taught me anything we need108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXypE1neBNL
more soldiers on the streets protecting the people than we need them in here.”
“It’s not time for them yet.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOFTWuNO64
Charles shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
“We don’t have the manpower,”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPDmKpQhmp
Vander argued. “Even when all the Blades come back with the wardens, there108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRegJ64DNZA
still isn’t enough. Those five can really help us out.”
“Doesn’t matter if we need the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUt3CCRvh2
help.” The old man growled. “We have standards we must adhere to. There can be108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHraPNfA3R
no exceptions.”
“Gramps since I’ve returned a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqQCm5M29B
couple weeks ago, I’ve almost died twice.” Vander said. “If we had more108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnzOfgS8Z2
competent guards this might not have happened. If you’re that worried about it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn38vYNzt0l
I will keep training them until their time is up and stick them by the entrances.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBkWz1g3HX
An important position, but it wouldn’t put them in harms way.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg0jBd1mDi
Charles sighed. “But your idea does have merit to it.”
“Thank you,” Vander sighed. “I met108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivZyLaxLRx
with Ross last night for information on who poisoned Malcolm and he gave me a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyKxIS384z
name.”
“Yea?” Charles looked up108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfjRw4O8Kt
interested. “What was it?”
“Green Serpents.” Charles’ face108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMhBlny6Ip
fell. He scrunched his fist on the desk then slammed his fist down on top.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBeZWfL18v
“That bastard.”
“Is there something I should know108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpttb7Hd6m
about?” Vander frowned. “I’ve never heard of them before, but based on your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKIjJ4itl2
reaction and the King’s, it’s something big.”
“Malcolm has his reasons for not108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WCnXn9xRz
telling you, but since you were nearly killed, I suppose to have the right to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOIUnDLnG5
know.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “The Green Serpents are a mercenary108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpYKEm1HvL
band that goes to the highest bidder. However, it wasn’t always that way. The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFknzZZEjH
leader, Jogun Batiste, the King and I used to be close during the wars twenty108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRXgfzFbsy
years ago.”
“What changed?” Vander folded his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNNbNG8EKv
arms over his chest. If they were now taking contracts on the King himself,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjfpUJSQh7
something bad must have happened.
“We found out what he did to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rLjSpMwbx
prisoners, especially the children.” Charles’ back sagged. “He would have them108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkGmjU4hcL
fight each other to the death then, if they survived, they were tortured and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdFMCvkkBD
corrupted into joining them. Some he sent to his loyal soldiers to be108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg0LOulOjX
brutalized.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqqKLpxhe4
Vander said dryly.
“We suspended all contracts with108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBJo5s0QEM
them and threw them out of the city.” Charles sighed. “I wanted more drastic108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7FAMVGhAD
measures to be taken, but I was overruled. The council thought it would be108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VAW1JfJFf
better to part ways amicably instead of killing or imprisoning those involved.”
“And now they are back trying to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DjnzvJR2d
get revenge?” Vander shook his head. “Something is adding up. They are going108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPaugPBzvn
through a lot of trouble for revenge. I think there might be more to this,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DrSHUtjks
especially since I had nothing to do with twenty years ago.”
“And it would make sense to go108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJR864BdgV
after me, someone who was involved, and protects Malcolm.” Charles turned108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdyzab2p28
around and walked back to the desk. “Why are you being targeted? Any ideas?”
“A couple.” Vander hesitated. “My108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsypE5WP2kO
first thought was that it was because I got involved with Nigel, but I don’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtYQfOr7Na
think that’s the reason.”
“Vander.” Charles said carefully.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbAxNEXUjJ
“What’s going on?” Vander took a deep sigh then told his grandfather about the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjPK2sBolX
dreams he had been having.
It started with Veyar the day108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeBEHMPQ93
before he left for the city along with her warning to keep his identity hidden.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt84J72Tol
He left out the part of her being trapped in the stormy vortex, he didn’t want108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eTFCXm3iM
to give the impression that the Deities were fighting each other, not that108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAbzBes0NA
anyone would believe him. Then he told him about the dream with Unna about108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh57zbuhoJ
fulfilling his role. Lastly he told him about his most recent dream about108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xiA8pzGvj
Imitae being chained up to a wall and reiterating the same thing his wife had108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyR9biDcD7
told him.
“So, you think they went after you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISgc4BYt7j
because they know you are the Ma’akti Unnatun?” Charles asked. “How could they108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlAnud1zHy
know? Not many people do, even less could figure it out.”
“Gramps I communicate with a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5tfjllpPZ
Shadow Beast,” Vander laughed. “She might look like a wolf, but either way it’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF30QHwWHWt
not a common occurrence to walk around with her. It might be nothing, but all108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIn38gRcDO
of these dreams these murder attempts, something is going down.”
“I already moved your stuff here108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYzvEceLaJ
to your old room.” Charles said. “I will have guards on you at all times to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQoTFF0F4x
make sure you stay safe.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeik84b1IL
gramps.” Vander sighed. “Put the guards you were going to put on me and put108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn7mM1rwXO
them on the King or Warden Drayson. I don’t need protection.”
“Then I will put Alex on it, he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57G36r2ckO
seems to be the only one who can wrangle you.” Charles sat back down. “What108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtglvRxDXRr
else did Ross tell you?” Vander looked at him confused. “I’ve known you since108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4daFsgAVJ
you were a boy, Vander. You think I couldn’t tell you were hiding something108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO2aCgMMzL
from me?” Vander sighed deeply.
“He told me that he could find the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbPCLQe6lF
Serpents for us, the problem is I would have to fight for him.” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGkoF5v3eQ
explained. “In the pits.” Charles lowered his head and sighed.
“Do you think he has a way to get108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4VbRziDek
that information?”
“Yes,” Vander nodded. “But that’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb8luVXyi6
not a place I want to fight in. We can handle the information gathering108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi96Exj8Unu
ourselves. I’m certain of it.”
“With our resources stretched thin108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEvEK8nMLE
I doubt we will have the time, but now that we know who they are, we should108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGMNQmgsdF
have better luck finding them.” Charles said. He opened his mouth, but there108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdiEHhgEza
was a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Alex poked his head inside.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VYa2tlJeP
“Commander, Vander, Anna Drayson is here to talk to you.”
“Send her in.” Charles and Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CikfNeYm5
got up from their seats to greet the young woman and heir to the Eastern108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEtonLfDoS
Warden.
Anna Drayson was only a couple108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AOEXFZaR1
years younger than Vander, but an accomplished soldier. She wore the native108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMHkGjIsY7
uniform in an ocean climate: a leather cuirass, a short skirt, leather shin108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml93dGclqn
guards, boots, and arm guards. Strapped to their waist they usually held a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EUXg07UGf
short sword, but for now it was empty. They wore helmets with a blue stripe on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EJOEMFDWl
top to show their devotion to the sea. However, this was only their ceremonial108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKviSqATiP
uniform, in actual battle they wore iron for better protection.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” Her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBcHWVpdiv
voice was melodic. She removed her helmet and a cascade of silver blonde hair108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeejUK9eGr
fell past her shoulders. Her brown eyes held onto Vander’s for a moment before108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhZ8q4NEbp
flickering to his grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No Anna, we were just finishing108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL00jcq8lzS
up.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“My grandmother requested Captain108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyZGIOaVQt
Vander’s presence and asked that I escort him to her.” Vander and Charles108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S9nA9wuqU
exchanged glances.
“I haven’t talked to her since I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRyOTC5vnb
was a small child.” Vander frowned. “What could she want to talk to me about?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrpeDo8FUC
Anna just shrugged her shoulders. Sighing he got up from the chair. “Seems I’ve108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OvsdLGbA9
been doing more talking than just about anything else recently.”
“We can change that if you want.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZn53u41Xv
Anna grinned. “I’ve been wanting to fight you for years, wolfling.”
“I told you to stop calling me108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGApWjnzkZs
that.” Vander snapped. He wrapped his elbow around her neck, forcing her to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlscdqjIcO4
bend, then rubbed his knuckles through her hair.
“Ow, ow, ow.” She rammed her elbow108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhIRY5sEu0
into her stomach causing him to bend over. They broke apart and squared up,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR03ZWJCiDg
fists raised in front of them.
“Not in the office, Vander.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRgqjjnyMB
Charles snarled. “Get going the two of you, before you break something.”
“Yes sir.” Anna bowed. Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDarU5XyJP
whistled causing Shea to wake up rather abruptly. She growled her annoyance,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQzrTYWKRw
but upon seeing Anna she jumped down off the couch and ran over to her. “Hello,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E0aGwsmlp
Shea.” She cooed. “How are you?” She responded by jumping up and licking her108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UQSGXMYoF
face.
“Come on you two.” Vander said.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuwM1TGlR8
“You can get reacquainted on the way. Let’s go.”
Anna chatted with Shea while she108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvmHa10Ng0
led the way towards Drayson’s accommodations. Since she lived in a villa on the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhFh2MCOpc
ocean, the apartment she stayed in was on the eastern most side and higher up108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoSUyCdk8E
than the others. They enjoyed the cool over there and that tower was the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZXDpTF86Y
coolest area in the entire castle. Which, of course, meant climbing up hundreds108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DjWe114pX
of stairs.
The stairs were guarded by two108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpextKEsXGI
Blades and two of Drayson’s own guards. They nodded their heads in difference108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaK6KAYRSv
to the heir, but blocked Vander from going farther. The two blades went to step108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XVotkSKje
up, but Vander waved them back. He unclipped his sword and held it out to the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgiJ4OZ75r
guards. They took it then stepped back ushering them to the stairs. As Anna108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlPA2UR1o1
walked past, the Blades returned her sword to her. With Anna leading, they108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoS3iixfz8
walked their way up the stairs.
He was out of breath by the time108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aZsC7Liha
they reached the top, but for Anna this seemed to be a light workout. Shea also108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn90RpKlKt
seemed to be enjoying herself because she tossed a lop-sided grin back towards108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dwjHloET4
Vander. He made a mental note to withhold steak from her for the next week.
The apartment they were in could108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqxOsaECZJ
have doubled as a massive house in the first ring. There were four massive108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVsTzBlWWR
suits, three bathrooms and plenty of walking-around space. The servants did a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmavxGwRvF
good job decorating as the entire room was painted blue. The reflections from108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkE4c7SKkl
the paint gave the room a blueish hue, it felt as though he was underwater.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZsDjtQHo9
Sitting in the middle of the floor, on top of some blue pillows, sat an older108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpN4wLxqpN
woman wearing a long blue robe. There was a long pipe in her long slender108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcad8Y5vfgW
fingers. Her blue-green eyes looked up as they entered, a slight smile108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yKoxpyM6j
flickered on her face.
“Grandmother.” Anna got down on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvldhL2Hiv
one knee and bowed her head respectfully. Shea trotted over to the older lady108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0okiAjIqT
then plopped her head down in her lap.
“Remove your boots Vander, then108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHwRfh2jgQ
come sit.” Mari said, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. “Anna, you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywkJTJLGWT
may join us if you wish.”
“I think I should wash up from my108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLmzq2ZAuA
trip.” Anna got up from the floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIruSnVcR66
proper bath and I feel as though the entire city could smell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLiiJlNidG
before because I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but-” a wet shoe slapped108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHb3UTk7l3
him in the face. He gagged from the smell, but before he could throw it back he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqAZqiufqf
heard a door slam shut.
“You shouldn’t treat her like108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWIFsSAUkm
that.” Mari said sternly with a hint of amusement in her voice. “She still has108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhNRuXzr4V
a thing for you even after all these years.”
“It wouldn’t work between us,”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdKWFsfBly
Vander sighed. “She knows that, and I know that. She can’t leave your villa108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kpRMg55U4
like I can’t leave the city. We are just from different worlds.”
“Is that what kept you and Bree108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH4IOISw6B
Valarian from getting farther?” Vander tried to contain his anger with the way108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAwgisjzHa
this conversation was going.
“I don’t want to talk about her.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWRmQzf2xb
He growled. She blew a puff of smoke at him causing him to cough.
“You’ve been through a lot since108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedDl6XWTJ8
I’ve last seen you.” she said. “You’ve aged. It’s in your eyes.”
“It’s been a rough couple week.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuCydCRxmT
Vander leaned backwards to stare up at the ceiling. “Been attacked a couple of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVjG2yGAIy
times, got some not so veiled threats, and have been poisoned. Things aren’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DIhwlbHsv
looking well.”
“You need to take some time to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq7wclorPd
relax Vander.” Mari blew out some more smoke. “Things are only going to get108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDULH3lQj2
more difficult for you.” Drayson inhaled more smoke, but she held on to it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUx6pwyERRW
longer than she should have. She looked up at Vander, but her eyes were deep108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMjByyjkoO
black this time, all trace of Mari was gone.
“Veyar,” Vander sighed.
“Ma’akti Unnatun.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYZofC3e8H
Mari’s voice turned deeper, but still slightly feminine. “How good to see108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WlzMHdCQC
you again.”
“What is this about?” Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTCsWDgT8P
frowned. “I got your message the first time, as well as your husbands. I don’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hk6o5EAw6
think there is anything else I need.”
“There is someone coming who is108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroPZjAIz1B
blessed with my daughter’s powers.” Veyar smiled. “She will be of great108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLJqd3QCPO
help to you in this fight. Treat her well. You have a long road ahead of you,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGC6HeJTfI
hold on to your allies, they will be your best asset.”
“How will I know who my ally is?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mI2boBoSy
he asked.
“You’ll know her when you see108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvUwbX1bdj
her.” Veyar said. “It will take some time for you to gain her trust, but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm7aCjCUhz
once you have it you will have an ally for life.”
“I don’t like people being played108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ1fz04nT4
into helping me, Veyar.” Vander said. “Either she will do it of her own will or108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIqkrgfLcm
not at all.”
“This has been written for a108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6VBKOQmeD
long time Vander.” She said. “This was ordained long before my children108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tPUM9jI2c
were born. This battle will shape the world for good, or worst. With that,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxUC9BQW6j
Veyar’s eyes closed and a moment later Mari was awakened.
“How long?” Vander asked her.
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“Since I was a child.” Mari108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uEhlbOofS
smiled, but she looked tired. “Once I go it will pass down to Anna. Will you108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFFmXdwmhs
help me to bed? I’m suddenly very tired.” Vander got up from the ground and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5b1cLx3Y2
picked the older woman up in his arms. She pointed to her room and he carried108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uLFI5E0fm
her to her bed.
