Chapter99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsnwEUEiMF
43
He felt something warm and heavy on99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEqb6XvYLb
his chest. At first, he was confused99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uDzxEylVA
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzOIltSXDx
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSjhdDoxcW
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nYh7CZyUW
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxHrt4t0kU
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtrESHfUlO
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlP7aDtuxL
down.
“Don’t99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetT0L2QpPU
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADp0Iotf33
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNSxHqyubJ
to sleep.
Over99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelHdeUoODD
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkOMUVA1eM
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oR1EcPqEJ
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4w6d3bvmRn
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0mDmKWxA9
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOpGTRfdD2
to tell him what had happened.
“We99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny7E8UktiL
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFoeDeOu3S
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvdWZ0uGa0
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0mssPsJDl
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U60jhC67r
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzyURgZ2YT
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R2ish9CK0
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTds48NFCm
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspDVrUSEhh
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3U0GCBJQf
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzrOfgjuMS
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPXdOxvxLN
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGrUVLxGj3
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPXUZmTgKh
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EUvQ4LmHV
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLybIpZxvBu
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4GWVV3YP6
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvHTZ4TSLm
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvs1eqcvvz
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNFPTZhiJ9
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZSFqZf6PK
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllz4Jri2Jo
enormous debt.”
Vander99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD57IPdtyG
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxy5JFsh8G
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYAtkcOZFP
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhCc0gg1az
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJA1vs0oMG
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PyvU7hEHH
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrepxOci6H
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenrpcevrHN
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslzfuxjqpW
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4GL7ewK3d
who betrayed us.”
“That’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1S8FE3mG4
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj1YzdOJ5b
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fA9aSW4H9
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJ0cdfBgP6
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZtq0dCqU9
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt21J2J415R
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7W2N19HET
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4Q2oeyQHv
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5PhYlUphH
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQta6TEeS
my King.”
…
A99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9ruOXAls2
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfIdgkcXQU
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBHMahxU6u
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MY9Liieio
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDS18jAN5j
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3Sh1ix2Lq
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsqSAzGlk9
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvuURwZmrz
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9XwZWrVbU
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzajAmSzVo
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffdV1TKah4
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlNCn4lDSK
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV26wXCQb16
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7DbEDaBUl
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOan0jQiKU0
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Qon0objWs
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB3fdW1HZV
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHLCtZ63tq
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBGy6aRElM
saw her smile.
“Are99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8im87myVg
we going there soon?”
“After99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMTxcPsmAY
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSpDj6Tw8x
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jfnnZPlD3
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJLVMrJpWc
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbQC7NjjjW
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtiTO1Dw3s
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrISSPgYjMJ
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOa6TESfQm
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqa8TrUwotM
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mzi61xHgK
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhWunofGnR
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLemuvMbfG
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNFtGRPHUr
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEpIpikfhM
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AAc0scC6f
that was for him to do.
Eliza99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRPYFwOkz7
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51Che4pgo5
promotion.
Vander99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1w8mjy4mY
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGyt1dZFro
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPtqYYXnos
hold it aloft.
“Do99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4bpf0nIv6
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLYz6Lb16W
Cuvera asked.
“I99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooQwCNZFRX
do.” He shouted back.
“Do99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuqxsJMlFP
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6aNkq8XP3
it?”
“Only99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3SVHwPtT5
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugcz86nQAD
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjShXYz4661
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RykHmfV6o
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39q4ZG1FLe
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsasdLUZuwE
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZCzFdpbFW
resilient, just like him.
As99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpHLs0vLyL
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwtB8ahe48
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q27AJjRbe
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO0B8TyZpW
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7r12bqlOG
capable of protecting them all.
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He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCWrCSGFMS
is, the Eluvian Blade.
