Chapter75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo6WqJBKBn
43
He felt something warm and heavy on75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvQvzl2FZ6
his chest. At first, he was confused75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt2rFtqL7a
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhEIRWCwFE
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHM4W42qDY
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoNGUrnYqz
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCLLB6zLL7
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniM9eKXA5v
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq9mTUfizw
down.
“Don’t75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2Hben73Hh
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzewQv9rEVS
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rhZ1jL02H
to sleep.
Over75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2p565EPsoA
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDDVIpOiEK
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX9NWSAXuE
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWbAJy96xf
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtazWGkd7Tc
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGQdh0ufyX
to tell him what had happened.
“We75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUU9hxVkCU
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxsOB8aEfP
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz0hDpKgb1
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYICKSQj8p
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6tLGGmoaF
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiQuRlv41A
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HCkH5wUBf
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M8bFj5nuY
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56gSRqH1Rh
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza3cND1DFj
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyu9LcIALt
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiPb4DSbR0
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9U5ZrZVJY
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaFMZrRHcW
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2GJJbcrPr
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5jHFuyF7m
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzx91DYaSG
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYceEwiCs7
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwlth87HRP
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN96Xx0k9K
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡna7BH58fmy
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikeACQpsee
enormous debt.”
Vander75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUWEnxDOc7
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHDyLCX7mD
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5U9cckpAQd
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeZZnsVMzk
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeGyf51pMO
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWkC2fokGW
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtjB3dVwyv
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq0DKwT8X9
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyzXAMV1Zp
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXDxXkFkDn
who betrayed us.”
“That’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ0S4Mfl0w
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8Bku4lw0W
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBufiyDcZo
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzvPKO5tEh
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4XzRTCWhQ
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgtnyBEi8n
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjln27ZtpGC
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGoRCBxNLT
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaO64HPd4H
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNdxV1ZfgC
my King.”
…
A75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7m4TP4bGX
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMQjQ497Kc
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJrh5jMz8k
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNzLaqh7V2
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8ilvckFVG
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYU0hRhlsj
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3D4zMn6ZE
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzok9VKGKUX
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTV0vx1wdp
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnLdvzjIKh
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfGPCkqbvn
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oWsJ5SzSA
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISrjUnmN6K
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMKTvjTS6s
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqiFI89PUF
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdiHvxQSBn
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrbUXNyTuZ
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyuNh48HL2
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpHZroEIYL
saw her smile.
“Are75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2leZAkTD6i
we going there soon?”
“After75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMwvGM3TB5
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt4iCyTVW6
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cGyo5prxa
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y9FYb2wEB
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yH4EkebFl
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeHwoiZSwC
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxY56GrhLE7
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCty4BUwcXF
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPWdvmGhe3
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhOcv02UVY
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLXs0wybrU
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxXdOakMs1
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCc19Zpgnq
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehVzAMLKAB
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUuMxerK4j
that was for him to do.
Eliza75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXbyOloTIS
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOTu1SsXi3
promotion.
Vander75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiQQMOP3X6
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtBiV2ZPYT
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnelg8FUdZ
hold it aloft.
“Do75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDurey42Fg
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw2GXZcSKo
Cuvera asked.
“I75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bKFotMibn
do.” He shouted back.
“Do75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhMXY3gaRc
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPde89HILa
it?”
“Only75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sPiUhvlMf
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZdXk49hs3
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaFQhWBzwy
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze6FZiTNbj
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvc9Vk5mAu
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEWQivBkNJ
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqO5ZabpWu
resilient, just like him.
As75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZK74OwcFO
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3tFMzW8aN
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wfwStgWxF
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiW63499Bl
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC75NQeK4z
capable of protecting them all.
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He75Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3He8J9tQb8
is, the Eluvian Blade.
