Chapter 27
If you’ve never97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jmKoNtSj4
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhTnDquF0u
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblBPxaZIyK
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGTiSTU5Xq
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTYXgSNcqv
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg61N0sWmHh
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrUCc7reFr
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2XVObF49s
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSm7LUzPOD
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6m5DTKfdIN
down.
Vander flapped97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkxaWnzNNO
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iIlSgjKXg
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTlVSQClXF
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYPZ0gchuR
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2mt3Jh4OT
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nVYjTwopS
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxwhEvS0iB
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo6v9WMgDL
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJR6ScqVsL
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsH8l4CEcM
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDm57YZwWY
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O4ro20THs
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnKFj8GMZl
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxKDzmxH0c
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq8aWPCF7T
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9zz0dUvMW
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe9WALbet5
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX2Wo5El1z
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLJCuBkEfS
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISTLwdpgSs
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCzu0MMtdM
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoQu8dwKjv
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wNkKxyEgE
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUPPgiiR07
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtTqehxhxE
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf1OAJIMbc
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJoCdxM4eZ
figure?”
“One of these97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NxWKmUqiA
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUQd71hDq6
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZW3MkUoS9
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4N2SkKppk
be seen again.”
“I guess that97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RMEenq9XP
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvoCZ7B1jC
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBTWB3vDxr
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3P4PjQCb2
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9MSIhziIf
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYPh5ZQKzd
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgA7ijdYRmW
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0YZmrRU8p
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpHMi07bIX
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDshR7lsXb
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQqEysfRt3
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq3AhYtsVb
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxZNLMiNCk
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucZWTfNhtA
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DbNRJpjwr
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yqj1nkkV0
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaw7N11I3a
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIUd43b2PF
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrEQgFp2b6
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIKVj5AWiz
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o5vuEqYXq
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGy2q8s7aA
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IwAfmrKpE
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvfJyquKba
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOfXPMiXvi
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVikMpRWU0V
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWCHnN4ApR
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2TKnJBFu3
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rgf3sWqP2
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRuX2wkXhE
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLNYszYdM0
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzJdca3D3y
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TH6cxrQQ9
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ271BPDnRpw
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAoT8YkKxJ
his Blade.
“You have minutes97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQuuDo2nub
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1co7pmmz
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBbbXnq7fl
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjJuNSQGjB
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb814U4c1j2
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xKWjUrpRV
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBJljgwy8Y
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMEy4Irwhv
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpmXIQiJCU
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQgkkEJHA2
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONLAisfqtI
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKgDqcarBD
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61Y27mhqRd
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqvtg7ZM8L
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oSNrkquVT
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofFYYOG49a
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BEHfsIcuX
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU2MuHOI5X
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OLFqxPuGC
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuepnyQbwzI
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWecxS4Gxu2
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgGdEVqDa1
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHu89fmlVY
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96yNkeX366
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJb5PU6xXs
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZjfBtwB7s
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCSppWWQau
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFEwEXXvUd
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn1uRGBY4K
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdrKl3eM7u
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGTSPTSaJy
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ARzeJYibo
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmDkH3On19
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk48aM0kU1O
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMP11ctlOB
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBP6piyX4X
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwkVX3M3Fp
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwVbixhNFL
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaP1PgnL4v
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouYFVnGGmw
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2gsYKaJWp
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt1VxjQ5n6
before disappearing.
He heard shouting97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe7L0JJN8x
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoLY7kFuOZ
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPPpyvnkEg
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWa9hq1fO8
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWNbbvkWVm
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoSNQYHYsq
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzrv4fSJGx
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qXBp0ae7g
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlZ57OYYcr
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWEycMolXE
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF6y9VGaYl
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDx3zHGSsD
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLT1XJzHu6F
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2C8ZApKU4
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTQ5mr6mBz
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Pwld3VWm
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyphTrSdKK
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO1JipbIiB
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uhUpEBZpa
to kill him.” Vander argued.
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX3r15ktqf
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmUOwjsEfK
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklSWpF68LJ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgI4nBsugUf
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPYkJj6giP
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNRJ4c9a5i
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx8O4nt0Yr
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdW6bWmBFU
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2gmKXXED8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PVshn3jpK
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj93JG3Iwv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTBAmqvEdw
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW4FnxRt63
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjangctKhV
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpaH2QNWTk
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMKCvhgC0U
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE4f2mh7eX
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5jU48PGhJ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVTTwuBFrv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao9FPTFHav
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXdOusgGpJ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJn4mnBAXx
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2WLeP0fC8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqvbi1Vz4L
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZHSIQYiDO
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JDZc7u9NN
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS4YWrQZl8
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTKU3n8OEa
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9s0LKbAxS
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbOzzr3lFi
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhCVWdgaFZ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXnyuADeQJ
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hzYobgmFl
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI1K8DJBjR
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9E1UyiEcv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXqMekV4a3
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQWIB2C1uv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOUxqXXEbn
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnO5Z3fLZn
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp90FACUyN
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrvtYuMAcf
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb0TBxcRRS
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD8RQGhvaf
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhy8VO5Pyj
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODdyIInpbv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2arFhQbbGs
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqhllRg5c4
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMrlkadOSc
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2TUljFBBM
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMaOyKVfq9
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y4fPlWjNr
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwi74nP2lr
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXmhOvu7nd
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0z4cf2hIH
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIElsg1FYrT
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasPtm5lcgE
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRnaDl8fXL
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdKLJ8ySSb
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsSQSHBWzH
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDFCCJ8pZv
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVbEdqAvMn
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG0eQRQqCj
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1yY9uQNAX
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKz8OBAkt0U
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnKFsDTuYA
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xmkFEuZhD
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdDN1dReAq
97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLw6cbfz19
“Rumor has it97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXA11MPOE1
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaRegvarie
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskAGgFBQ7C
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their97Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0u2708uMc
swords readied to skewer him.
