Chapter 14
“I see, so that’s what151Please respect copyright.PENANAXXtuypY83F
happened.” Vander was sitting in Cuvera’s room on a blue couch while his friend151Please respect copyright.PENANAXzh0PKm8bi
reclined on the other smoking on his pipe. Cuvera had excused himself from the151Please respect copyright.PENANAMEvoyQrspU
party early under the guise of being tired, but he made sure to slip Vander a151Please respect copyright.PENANAVILPYQkVC1
note on his way out telling him to meet him in his apartment ten minutes later151Please respect copyright.PENANArWfHTWKI09
to not arouse suspicion. He half expected Kiara to be there when he arrived,151Please respect copyright.PENANArZPoCzWaXO
but he had been told that they wouldn’t share a room until they were married151Please respect copyright.PENANAjzFeoByu6e
per her customs.
“Are you angry?” Vander asked,151Please respect copyright.PENANAO8mqT9YppZ
rubbed his hands together. He didn’t look up at his friend the entire time he151Please respect copyright.PENANAX59m1eOF0F
explained what happened during the prince’s absence as he was too afraid as to151Please respect copyright.PENANANVqSSxpDZ0
what he might say.
“Why would I be angry?” Cuvera151Please respect copyright.PENANAdQfffbL87N
asked. Vander looked up to see confusion etched on his face. “You saved my151Please respect copyright.PENANA9n1ikeuJx0
father’s life; I’m surprised he hadn’t given you a parade to celebrate. Did he151Please respect copyright.PENANAs5obp3JrIZ
offer you anything at all?”
“No,” Vander shook his head. “He151Please respect copyright.PENANAXWEw4pEy57
wanted to keep everything quiet because it wouldn’t be wise to let the people151Please respect copyright.PENANAHbLOeI9yqg
know how close he was t death. He didn’t want to start a riot or anything.”
“Sounds like him.” Cuvera snorted151Please respect copyright.PENANANxHnv9W197
taking another hit on his pipe. Smoke billowed out as he continued to speak. “Have151Please respect copyright.PENANAHbVPhpxJfn
you had a chance to interrogate the prisoner yet? I bet he has some details151Please respect copyright.PENANASQwfDUU9qh
that he should share with the class.”
“Not yet.” Vander hesitated. “I’ve151Please respect copyright.PENANA6fPLDZBMXo
been busy.”
“Well, there is no time like the151Please respect copyright.PENANAXZjgRvjTzZ
present.” Cuvera got up from the couch then disappeared into his room. He151Please respect copyright.PENANASEb9gOhDtN
reappeared moments later wearing a Blade uniform with a hood to obscure his151Please respect copyright.PENANAs9fvusxSdL
features. He strapped a fake sword to his belt. It would pass as a real one151Please respect copyright.PENANAjCp9dQAXW7
sheathed, but the blade itself was made from rubber. It would fail if anyone151Please respect copyright.PENANAGDZmExOde8
asked him about it.
“You should rest.” Vander shook151Please respect copyright.PENANAuCI3e8Dpq9
his head. “You only just arrived home. Surely this could wait for another day.”
“And miss the chance to see who151Please respect copyright.PENANAA3qKs9lMMi
tried to kill my father?” Cuvera scoffed. “Nonsense. Plus, based on how you’re151Please respect copyright.PENANAGzswF1EXVF
past year has gone, I think you could use the chance to unleash your pent-up151Please respect copyright.PENANAtK7bPlngub
anger. Come on, this will be fun.”
Never one to say no to his oldest151Please respect copyright.PENANAdx6poJnkn4
friend, Vander relented then followed his friend out the door and deeper into151Please respect copyright.PENANAq6ji53g0G9
the castle.
The dungeons were in the bowels of151Please respect copyright.PENANADRyT9AcqUC
the ground underneath the castle walls. It was on the same plane as the Pitts,151Please respect copyright.PENANAjYmAO7NL6c
but very few people knew that. As far as people knew, dungeons didn’t exist.151Please respect copyright.PENANAzRzBYSZnOR
They believed that all prisoners of the crown were sent to Jewelthorne’s mines151Please respect copyright.PENANAoMiKxWVXP4
to live out their days mining precious resources until the day they died, and151Please respect copyright.PENANANBory5mDxp
that was true for most prisoners. However, those who tried to take out nobility151Please respect copyright.PENANAA4CYVfSR9l
or members of the crown, a fresh hell waited for them.
The dungeons were on the other151Please respect copyright.PENANAxl4VqO6EvF
side of a secret panel that opened by pulling a torch handle located within the151Please respect copyright.PENANAs62LjOHLkm
cellars. Vander grabbed the torch so they could see, but Cuvera walked down151Please respect copyright.PENANAI4b8f0bOZy
without hesitation. The cellars were cold and damp with a winding staircase151Please respect copyright.PENANAQhKOWlHHvW
that led several stories down. It was a pain to clean, so many of the servants151Please respect copyright.PENANArmjEwQV6JV
didn’t bother leaving cobwebs and dust everywhere. Only those being punished151Please respect copyright.PENANA4GmDOvf6fQ
were every told to come down here, so many were on their best behavior.
When they stepped off onto the151Please respect copyright.PENANASeyMejlgAy
ground, they spotted two Blades guarding the door that would lead into the151Please respect copyright.PENANAfBO23SkjOv
actual prison. They were tough, tougher than most Blades, who took their job151Please respect copyright.PENANAjAlToEvKyr
seriously. No one would be allowed through without prior authorization, unless151Please respect copyright.PENANAOFHN6JgSOF
you were the King or Prince.
“Stop where you are.” One of the151Please respect copyright.PENANAxwb6VEzkgs
voices boomed. They lowered their pikes, so the tips were pointed at Cuvera and151Please respect copyright.PENANAQc5UFsbwoW
Vander. “No one is allowed through here, even if you are Blades.”
“Oh sorry.” Cuvera removed his151Please respect copyright.PENANArbfm1ZjCto
hood revealing a glimmering smile. “I didn’t want to be seen by any other. Is151Please respect copyright.PENANAXcZBkXMlvf
it alright if we go in? I’d hate to use my status, but…” He let that threat151Please respect copyright.PENANAplC8a3Vz3F
hang in that air allowing the guards to figure the rest out.
“We are under direct orders from151Please respect copyright.PENANAYDYB9NoGfl
Lord Cranton,” they hesitated. However, they knew the Prince out ranked him.
“I’ll deal with the151Please respect copyright.PENANAGwrexqDJZg
repercussions.” Vander nodded. “Let us through.”
“As you wish.” One of the guards151Please respect copyright.PENANAw2Fj2vNw0a
removed a set of keys from his belt then unlocked the steel door that opened151Please respect copyright.PENANAUayuglnsz4
into the prison. “If you want to open the door you’ll need this key.” He151Please respect copyright.PENANA3oVPa635ME
unclipped one of them then handed it to Vander. “Leave him in one piece. I151Please respect copyright.PENANAeEaY9SdDLG
think the King wanted him interrogated tomorrow.”
“Might not be needed if we can get151Please respect copyright.PENANAKbohxbdOx6
the information out of him tonight.” Cuvera frowned. “Thank you.” He opened the151Please respect copyright.PENANAgZfeOf3NW0
door then stepped inside. Thanking the two Blades, Vander then followed his151Please respect copyright.PENANAcrlOBqzFWK
friend.
Thankfully the royal dungeons151Please respect copyright.PENANAuTVWxiaDNC
weren’t used too often so there was only one person, and he was locked in the151Please respect copyright.PENANA0FNB2Zn1Se
cell farthest from the door without any windows or ventilation. The space stank151Please respect copyright.PENANA7EBspQ4CHe
of unwashed body odor and festering wound and that was something no amount of151Please respect copyright.PENANAtlv5rbnsVV
cleaner could remove. At least there were no rats or cockroaches waiting to151Please respect copyright.PENANAysQU2sgrvq
feast on you, but it made it painfully boring being here on your own. Vander151Please respect copyright.PENANACDqIKEguh8
was surprised the assassin hadn’t gone crazy in the days he hadn’t been here.151Please respect copyright.PENANABDw9UUbK3l
Most went insane after the first.
The assassin looked worse than151Please respect copyright.PENANAl7Ut89dXEU
Vander remembered. He must have gotten roughed up when he was brought down151Please respect copyright.PENANAJzt3mD1TZA
here. His eyes were swollen and there were bloodied bandages wrapped around his151Please respect copyright.PENANAfPNpaVsgLO
stomach. All he had was his tattered cloak to protect him from the chill. Moldy151Please respect copyright.PENANAt40lexeWZB
bread and hard stew sat in bowls inside of the cell, untouched.
“So, this is the man who jumped151Please respect copyright.PENANAS4O89vdMD7
you in the alley.” Cuvera frowned. “He looks likes any of the bums I’d trip151Please respect copyright.PENANAV11X1fdw0z
over in the slums, not a scary assassin.”
“Give me a knife and we shall see151Please respect copyright.PENANACgwE208h2G
how scary I am.” The man growled. He looked up from under his cloak and while151Please respect copyright.PENANA8VrE8zjJeu
Vander could see the determination in his eyes, he knew the assassin could151Please respect copyright.PENANAT5wv5qIHSb
barely stand let alone hold a knife.
“Someone with balls I like that.”151Please respect copyright.PENANAmF6oSnT9zO
Cuvera took the key from Vander’s hand then used it to unlock the cell. The151Please respect copyright.PENANANMeHlVT8IA
door swung open, but before Vander could stop him, Cuvera walked inside, kicked151Please respect copyright.PENANAImtfd1h4J1
over some of the bowls, then punched the assassin in the face. Blood splattered151Please respect copyright.PENANARbweJ1xv0n
the ground, but he didn’t stop at one. He punched the man several times until151Please respect copyright.PENANAZLoaZjuav4
he heard teeth hit the stone floor. The man groaned as Cuvera kicked him in the151Please respect copyright.PENANAg7UaQMpaz8
side. He would have continued if Vander hadn’t grabbed him around the waist and151Please respect copyright.PENANASAnQQZ5ZhH
throw him to the side.
“Stop.” Vander blocked the prince151Please respect copyright.PENANAQuTBM3JVSU
from going near the assassin causing his friend to squint his eyes in anger.
“He tried to kill you Vander and151Please respect copyright.PENANAf1hezFDMcH
you’re just going to stand there and not punish him?” he asked. “Where are your151Please respect copyright.PENANAtPUMZdC5BC
balls?”
“It’s not my place to torture him,151Please respect copyright.PENANAPNA9gAaKlk
Cuvera.” Vander scoffed. He looked down at the man who curled back up into a151Please respect copyright.PENANAu2uYU5K15X
ball instead of standing up. He didn’t even wipe the blood from his mouth. “There151Please respect copyright.PENANAdNd6rvgfkl
is information he has that we need, but it’s up to my grandfather and your151Please respect copyright.PENANASgZOVcbslY
father to decide who gets to do it.”
“Why are we waiting around?”151Please respect copyright.PENANAeFPliftpOI
Cuvera asked. “He knows where those bastards went who ordered my father151Please respect copyright.PENANA2E1DfHKmIT
poisoned.” He violently kicked one of the bowls, so it shattered against the151Please respect copyright.PENANAnLCRE0Wyv0
wall. “This is so annoying.”
“Someone tried to poison the151Please respect copyright.PENANARzceeXPudx
King?” The assassin laughed. “I know nothing about that. My orders were to kill151Please respect copyright.PENANAwix2nkgRPP
a Blade. My friends and I were given the time and place. We didn’t know it was151Please respect copyright.PENANA7ddZUy9BeO
going to be you.”
“Do you know who ordered the hit?”151Please respect copyright.PENANAgtfs4FQWD7
Vander asked.
“It’s not my place to know.” The151Please respect copyright.PENANAvlUzMznktc
man shrugged. “I just follow orders. That’s all.” Vander strained to tell if he151Please respect copyright.PENANA21lUXMIF1e
was lying, but based on the steady beat of his heart, he was telling the truth.
“Tell me more about the poisoning151Please respect copyright.PENANAky98tM9De9
of my father.” Cuvera squats down in front of the assassin. “And I want to know151Please respect copyright.PENANARozvjRcYeC
everything.”
“I told you princeling,” he said151Please respect copyright.PENANA7svmD2xVsY
with a sneer. “I know nothing about that.”
“Which group do you belong too?”151Please respect copyright.PENANAQQFoRmgmOK
Vander asked. The assassin fell silent, but his eyes smoldered with rage.151Please respect copyright.PENANAldBiHdPI3L
“There are ways I can use to find out.” The assassin stuck his chin out151Please respect copyright.PENANAfvK1HfvuhK
indignantly.
“Hold him.” Cuvera demanded. “This151Please respect copyright.PENANAHRzsVUaz8D
is an order as your prince, not a request from a friend.” Nodding his head,151Please respect copyright.PENANAUurofQe8Jt
Vander grabbed the assassin then held him against the wall, so his feet were151Please respect copyright.PENANAjTvKyEIrlj
dangling. Even though he struggled, he wasn’t strong enough to do anything151Please respect copyright.PENANA1zUh3KlcaN
after days of not eating. So, after a few seconds he hung there like a limp151Please respect copyright.PENANAMUtLrSqFFt
noodle. “Knife.” Vander removed a knife from his belt then placed it in his151Please respect copyright.PENANALYx5MZW8m8
friend’s outstretched hand.
Cuvera placed the knife against151Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2K2nBpE39
the man’s arm then cut open the sleeve. He wasn’t gentle doing it drawing a151Please respect copyright.PENANAYhvLEobFjH
little bit of blood in the process. He pulled the rest down to reveal a heavily151Please respect copyright.PENANAse3BHkfJ8P
muscled, but bare arm. Frowning, he moved onto the next arm with the same151Please respect copyright.PENANAYjtV0exJpS
result. He clicked his tongue annoyed as he walked around the assassin who151Please respect copyright.PENANA8gVCHf0Bmq
likely knew what he wanted but wasn’t in the mood to help.
“Make him kneel.” Vander pulled151Please respect copyright.PENANAjQTD9psET3
the man off the wall placing him on the ground. Then he kicked out both knees151Please respect copyright.PENANAKim73P03wa
making him cry out in pain, but he fell to the ground placing his hands out in151Please respect copyright.PENANA7MvafjwsS0
front of him to catch himself. Vander gripped the back of his neck then151Please respect copyright.PENANAect3BvVUiu
squeezed causing a small cry of pain to squeak out of the assassin, but he151Please respect copyright.PENANAGBo1kpgq0I
didn’t move.
“You won’t get your answers by151Please respect copyright.PENANAXLR9OssQDh
torturing me.” He rasped. “I’ve been through far more than you have.” Without151Please respect copyright.PENANAk8MrRC3rU2
warning, Cuvera slammed the knife into the man’s shirt then ripped downward.151Please respect copyright.PENANAVcpWQ1YJAq
The man stifled his screams as the knife tip bit into his flesh.
Vander wasn’t151Please respect copyright.PENANACZDNkWnMeT
sure what the prince was after, but it became clear once he parted the bleeding151Please respect copyright.PENANAtntfeab0Ao
shirt from the back to reveal an emblem that sent chills down his spine. It was151Please respect copyright.PENANAFzdhWAqFRB
an entwined green snake tattoo with a sword shoved through the mouth and151Please respect copyright.PENANA20MLjuaDDy
through the back. Even though he hadn’t seen it before, he knew that this was151Please respect copyright.PENANA1PeTpTK3LL
the emblem of the Green Serpents.
“Well, we have151Please respect copyright.PENANAh1h8oL5RJz
one answer.” Cuvera smiled. “We know you are a Serpent and that lines up nicely151Please respect copyright.PENANALW20wcF7xH
with the intelligence that we already have.”
“I already told151Please respect copyright.PENANAEptu9A5Ox7
you,” the assassin shivered. “We had nothing to do with the King’s illness. It151Please respect copyright.PENANAJRv6qqrMDd
wasn’t us.”
“Vander.” Cuvera151Please respect copyright.PENANA50xcXb5Os6
stepped back but tilted his head towards the assassin. Sighing, Vander hauled151Please respect copyright.PENANAHO5iDzgBzE
the guy up to his feet then punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over151Please respect copyright.PENANA79hcqdFJYb
but Vander brought his knee up right into his jaw. The assassin stumbled151Please respect copyright.PENANAZTSV0yFQXq
backwards, but he quickly righted himself. He spat out a wad of blood at151Please respect copyright.PENANAGb5Jgl1BOh
Vander, hitting him in the face. As he struggled to wipe the blood away, the151Please respect copyright.PENANAqM311KWyUB
assassin tackled Vander pushing him into the bars. He let out a cry of pain but151Please respect copyright.PENANAvf7QR7QHXM
recovered quickly. He brought both fists down onto the assassin’s back slamming151Please respect copyright.PENANARWGdPQpcmh
him into the ground. The assassin tried to crawl away, but Vander grabbed his151Please respect copyright.PENANAlGbLZSbYT8
leg pulling him back in.
The two of them151Please respect copyright.PENANAVtBW8REp9U
fought while Cuvera sat there with a small grin on his face. The fight ended151Please respect copyright.PENANA8D2QOXa4VI
when Vander drove his elbow into the man’s already damaged jaw. That final blow151Please respect copyright.PENANAeDfjfL7ubM
was enough to dislocate it then to keep him from crying out, a blow to the151Please respect copyright.PENANAbBtDPch4Lr
temple rendered him unconscious. Vander got up, staggered for a second, before151Please respect copyright.PENANAiFAcPVC3uw
fixing himself.
“Why did you make151Please respect copyright.PENANARVmKRMvEdH
me do that?” he asked the prince.
“I didn’t make151Please respect copyright.PENANA15S51VoCiE
you do anything.” The prince shrugged. “It looked like you need to release some151Please respect copyright.PENANAZyNrZjliI4
rage, so I merely gave you the opportunity, plus we learned something in the151Please respect copyright.PENANA3eHebXzCXl
process. Come on let’s go.”
Vander looked151Please respect copyright.PENANAxTDgoQ9mom
down at the assassin before following his friend out of the cell and back151Please respect copyright.PENANADsZepjWfkZ
towards the door. Cuvera didn’t say anything as they left, but Vander whispered151Please respect copyright.PENANAecRDmyndIY
to send a healer for the man inside. The guards nodded their head but didn’t151Please respect copyright.PENANAOLgzsaeAhP
move. They would wait a few minutes before ‘discovering’ that the man had tried151Please respect copyright.PENANAU5R4tCyX45
to harm himself. It wasn’t the first time they did something like this.151Please respect copyright.PENANAU6KW2ktmNH
However, the King would find out then there would be hell to pay.
“Man, that was151Please respect copyright.PENANA2zGmy7niQP
awesome.” Cuvera cheered. “You were so badass when you were beating him. You151Please respect copyright.PENANA7mW2BMolCG
got to teach me how to fight.”
“If I remember151Please respect copyright.PENANA85zZMFs1bD
correctly that didn’t go so well the last time.” Vander mused. He held his hand151Please respect copyright.PENANAbzHXswhTHI
out for the knife then promptly sheathed it as to not arouse suspicion. Last151Please respect copyright.PENANAaqix18WA4D
time Vander had tried to teach the prince how to fight, they were ten years151Please respect copyright.PENANA2vOcm5a5U2
old, and one punch was enough to send him crying to his mother. The King151Please respect copyright.PENANAH2WXC9G5qm
shortly put a stop to that.
“This time be151Please respect copyright.PENANAWdvs2EDpjU
different.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m in peak physical condition.” He threw a151Please respect copyright.PENANAw4Uu1tnbYW
couple of jabs into the air. Normally Vander would have laughed, but he had151Please respect copyright.PENANARD5FQovWiY
just been ordered to beat a broken man and it didn’t sit right with him. Cuvera151Please respect copyright.PENANACwMMZqAsfl
had his moments, but he wasn’t cruel. This was out of character for him,151Please respect copyright.PENANAc8ITEVy2Co
hearing about his father almost dying must have spooked him enough to act.
They made their151Please respect copyright.PENANAXv7pARZXyY
way through the castle heading back towards Cuvera’s apartment. They saw a151Please respect copyright.PENANA6eM6FiXHSv
couple of noblemen with their escorts, but they all bowed their heads once they151Please respect copyright.PENANADlRXG1hde5
realized it was the prince which allowed Vander to go unnoticed. He still151Please respect copyright.PENANAs6DLrwyDSu
hadn’t covered from his other injuries and now he could add fresh ones to the151Please respect copyright.PENANAhn8V80rZ2R
list. Despite being weakened, that assassin wasn’t a push over. He got in a few151Please respect copyright.PENANAyv1D5FleWq
strikes causing some pain in the process. Despite the quicker healing he had,151Please respect copyright.PENANAzKOx21OYXx
these injuries would still take a bit.
Vander noticed it151Please respect copyright.PENANAxHHx37Z0sb
before Cuvera, but there were two people waiting for them inside of his room.151Please respect copyright.PENANArbtKqwR2w3
He relaxed once he recognized their scents as Eliza and Kiara. Shea must like151Please respect copyright.PENANAN5XoCDZQEi
them because he didn’t sense any distress from their bond. If anything, she151Please respect copyright.PENANAoMeZ6Bm0CY
felt joy and excitement. Vander decided to keep his mouth shut about the151Please respect copyright.PENANAqqAx4UkBVq
visitors, his little dose of payback.
“Let’s get151Please respect copyright.PENANARUZZjJWr1t
something to drink.” Cuvera gripped the door handle. But when he pushed it open151Please respect copyright.PENANAl7cUqIFz7x
his face fell. “Shit.” He whispered.
Kiara was sitting151Please respect copyright.PENANAwKCgYqLRTo
on the couch running her hands through Shea’s fur. Shea was standing on top of151Please respect copyright.PENANACi03OAXrsG
her knees licking her face as she laughed. Eliza was standing behind her sister151Please respect copyright.PENANA2i3GtEd2aS
with a bemused expression on her face. Upon hearing the door open, the two women151Please respect copyright.PENANAjMvW8g5BmH
turned to look at them. Eliza nodded her head respectfully, but anger flooded151Please respect copyright.PENANA4GPufkfzaN
Eliza’s .
Both had changed151Please respect copyright.PENANA4mdEJ17N8W
their outfits to match the cooler climate of Eluvia. Eliza had been given a151Please respect copyright.PENANAuPTYOsGeIf
long blue dress, but was wearing an orange shawl over her arms, an ode to her151Please respect copyright.PENANAXNaTKSi3eS
home country. Eliza was given slacks, a blue shirt and a jacket that looked a151Please respect copyright.PENANAmdlgzsLIUB
lot like a Blades. Her hair had been pulled back into a tight ponytail. She151Please respect copyright.PENANAbK6tYw0vzv
gave Vander a small smile then she turned back to look at her sister.
“You were151Please respect copyright.PENANAjgxZGx0DGc
supposed to escort me around the castle.” She growled. She got up from the151Please respect copyright.PENANAKkqMthML1M
couch and stormed over towards them. “Where have you been?” Vander quickly151Please respect copyright.PENANAkFl2VSDy6R
tried to slink back into the shadows, but she caught him. “You’re not going151Please respect copyright.PENANA27jMmDKqeq
anywhere.” She snapped. Her face softened once she saw the blood on his face.151Please respect copyright.PENANAxFJcFWli0P
“Are you injured?” she asked.
“It’s nothing.”151Please respect copyright.PENANA5IEWPl4W93
Vander tried to hide it, but Kiara grabbed him. Vander hissed in pain, so she151Please respect copyright.PENANAao1QJtQCjJ
removed her hand.
“Eliza, can you151Please respect copyright.PENANAcE8s0utHdN
tend to his wounds so I can have a chat with my fiancé?” she asked. “Please151Please respect copyright.PENANAfQgDTrFnmi
don’t fight me on this Vander, I’d hate for our friendship to start on a bad151Please respect copyright.PENANArP1FBtO8B1
foot.” He looked towards Cuvera, but he averted his eyes.
“As you wish.”151Please respect copyright.PENANAJUHFLG6Nzw
Vander bowed his head.
“This way.” Eliza151Please respect copyright.PENANAcF4wNRNX71
escorted him to the bathroom then she shut the door. Moments later he could151Please respect copyright.PENANAFUzYvAkXH7
hear Kiara yelling at him, but he couldn’t hear what was being said. “Undress.”151Please respect copyright.PENANAQoMafd30ES
Eliza said.
“Excuse me?” he151Please respect copyright.PENANAhl1Mc71yIM
asked.
“You’re not the151Please respect copyright.PENANACSmdg67UtA
first man I’ve seen naked.” She scoffed. “And I doubt you’ll be the last.151Please respect copyright.PENANAaQ6PTseJ43
Undress so I can see what I’m working with.” He hesitated, but due to her151Please respect copyright.PENANANFhEOurJ6t
incessant staring he did as she asked. Moments later his clothes were in the151Please respect copyright.PENANAVtufrKze5S
corner of the floor as he stood there not even bothering to cover himself. If151Please respect copyright.PENANA4rY8PaU9ih
she wasn’t embarrassed, neither would he.
She looked at him151Please respect copyright.PENANA4J2CKExBFQ
over tracing the scars on his body lightly with her fingertips. The gentle151Please respect copyright.PENANA85VmI16A1G
touch caused him to shiver which placed a delicate smile on her face. Looking151Please respect copyright.PENANAUT3gqAzEz8
down at himself, he noticed more bruises than he thought spreading across his151Please respect copyright.PENANAB4iBu202xZ
body. However, nothing compared to the giant bruise along his back. When she151Please respect copyright.PENANAVh0gYT89fC
touched it, he was filled with such immense pain he almost turned around to151Please respect copyright.PENANAUCX8WTd1Fh
punch her in the face.
“You’ve been151Please respect copyright.PENANAwzKWJAl1Lm
involved in multiple fights recently.” She muttered. “But this one seems151Please respect copyright.PENANABZaxId3BKK
recent. I heard the person who tired to kill you is locked in the dungeons. Is151Please respect copyright.PENANAFfXHoqjAvV
that where you were?”
“Yes.” Vander151Please respect copyright.PENANAOUKrh8khQ2
said. He wasn’t sure how she knew about the assassination attempt on him or151Please respect copyright.PENANAjWSyKD6vMt
where he was located. He suspected Bricen’s spies told her, but there was no151Please respect copyright.PENANAbdfqdWf6Wk
way of knowing for sure.
“You shouldn’t151Please respect copyright.PENANApRmoJw9AOp
beat those who can’t fight back.” She said. “It’s not a good look, especially151Please respect copyright.PENANAfyeHP4cmmb
for a Blade.”
“Even if the151Please respect copyright.PENANAhVObMDiCYx
prince ordered you too?” she didn’t say anything else after that. She applied151Please respect copyright.PENANAHghSOEL8fH
some salve onto his wounds and the numbing cold allowed him to finally relax.151Please respect copyright.PENANAT3ojDxQXsB
Once she was done she told him to put his clothes on while she went out to talk151Please respect copyright.PENANAN6BBwE9gHZ
to Kiara. When he got outside he saw that Cuvera was nowhere to be found.
“I told him to151Please respect copyright.PENANAgawmJng0QU
tell his father what happened as well as what you discovered.” Kiara said. “He151Please respect copyright.PENANAPmF21FySZc
didn’t want to leave me, but I said you were here to protect me if I needed it.151Please respect copyright.PENANAaoBOpoCXBM
Now, I’m asking you to escort me around the castle. Are you up for it?”
“Yes.” Vander151Please respect copyright.PENANAQnPFJZQpBG
bowed his head. She turned to look up at Eliza who nodded her head in151Please respect copyright.PENANAd9Xroh1R9Q
agreement.
“Good thing your151Please respect copyright.PENANANjejCF1UtN
fight with the assassin didn’t go worse or I’d have gone without an escort.”151Please respect copyright.PENANAzkzrKRfGb7
She grinned.
“Someone would151Please respect copyright.PENANAj54cUUe30E
have taken you around when I couldn’t.” Vander explained. “We tend not to let151Please respect copyright.PENANAuk8NQdP7lK
those of the royal family go without one, even within the castle.”
“You Eluvians are151Please respect copyright.PENANAnr6bhGrx2p
so protective.” She sighed. “You should really let your noblemen learn to fight151Please respect copyright.PENANAbgrixVTQpe
for themselves.”
“Do you know how151Please respect copyright.PENANAA0mNayqTft
to fight?”
“It’s rude to ask151Please respect copyright.PENANAYook4VRC7a
a lady,” she grinned. “But perhaps if you’re nice I’ll give you a151Please respect copyright.PENANAprisSenqr0
demonstration.” Eliza coughed into her hand. “Alright, escort. Let’s go.” She151Please respect copyright.PENANAoMb9HO7Y2x
got up off the couch and headed towards the door. Vander hesitated for a moment151Please respect copyright.PENANAmxIQtmuyHW
then followed. Shea stayed where she was in front of the couch.
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“Let’s go.” He151Please respect copyright.PENANAqwnlXGl0pR
said to her. She quickly got up and raced out the door nearly knocking Kiara151Please respect copyright.PENANACBLobtQCnP
over in the process.