Chapter 12
He slept soundly. No one wanted to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBIM9Gv6LW
wake him so the visit by Mari Drayson went off without him. He didn’t awaken104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QuzIfNdWY
until night had fallen and Shea busted into the King’s study to jump on him104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgtoms2Ag4
then proceeded to like his face until his face scrunched up and he pushed her104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OXHOb9lpa
aside.
“Shea, sto-” she interrupted him104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq8kKc9F4x
by licking his mouth. He shot up to start gagging pushing the she-wolf off his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXK0cV2eQJ
body. “I’ve told you to stop doing that.” He grumbled.
”And I told you to stop getting104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnoQz6AFAD
into fights when I’m not around, and here we are.” She growled into his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW85DiyuwQ
mind. “Imagine my annoyance when I got woken up by some Blades when they104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7P2swMasVE
came to remove your stuff from the room and escorted me to the castle saying104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyRoKaWMmG
you had been attacked. Imagine my anger when they wouldn’t let me check up on104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKwiBQkDBr
you until now.”
“Did you leave anyone alive?” she104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrRNBfMoc5
barked her laughter but nodded her head.
“It was difficult, but your104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBhkm8eNsl
grandfather swore to me you were sleeping and needed your rest.” She bumped104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfctU5cbaM
her head against his chest. He placed his head in her fur then inhaled her104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWnRvXyylp
scent. He felt the stress and anxiety he had been feeling just melt away.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” she104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRYsfcnTyi
licked the side of his face accepting the apology. There was a slight knock on104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX5humV3Wy
the door and Alexander poked his head in.
“I heard voices.” He said. “Are104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaewlC8frWP
you finally awake, Vander?”
“Yep.” He slid his foot off the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBX4oWokZM
couch. Looking up at Alex he saw that his friend had worry lines etched onto104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKOyPbi5ej
his head while his face was filled with worry. “How long have you been standing104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIVEb1QipC
there?”
“Once the others told me what had104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQYJvC4WgM
happened.” He explained. “I was about to kill you when you didn’t show to the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiS87R5QT5
training, but when that Jilena boy told me I dropped everything to come here.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxyHxniTRR
The King told me not to disturb you, so I sat at that door making sure you104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHY4fXImild
rested.”
“You got anything to eat?” Alex104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqeUj23ZRt
grinned. He disappeared for a second then came back with a tray of steaming hot104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH3wyWn3EJ
food.
“Once I saw Shea, I knew it was104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDczIQeWQWW
only a matter of time before you awoke so I had the kitchen prepare some stew104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh1ln1HgsO
and bread.” He said. “I had them make a bowl for her as well.”
“Thanks.” Shea was104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKaIjl37Kz
practically salivating on the carpet. Bernard wasn’t ready for what was about104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyoE3YNLBD
to happen. The two of them tore into the food like a couple of beasts. Sauce104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrumUbHDB7f
and chunks of bread flew everywhere. Alex wisely took a step back shaking his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z01DPJBiR
head in disgust.
“Animals.” He muttered under his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0tKFfU3gz
breath. They were done after a few minutes leaving the table a disaster. Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GANvWHGkZ
leaned back on the couch then stifled a belch. Shea stuck her head into his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp0zrZrgqz
bowl to lick out the remaining sauce. “Once you’re finished your grandfather104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0srWvUfCIL
wanted me to bring you to him.”
“Did he say what it was about?”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJejifj0t3
Vander asked. Alex shook his head. Rolling his eyes he got up from the couch,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBADEXksl2C
wobbled for a second, but remained steady. “Let’s go then.”
The castle was on high alert.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M3w1ryuad
There were more guards here than normal, most of them were regular soldiers,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBHg3QLTfp
stationed along the halls. Whenever the Wardens showed up everyone was on104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmxFOIPRH4
alert. The safety of the entire country rested on their heads, so the King104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs6yD4fYly
always took extra precautions to make sure they were safe.
Alex stood at the door to the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15sZyQUFhf
Commander’s office while Vander headed inside. Charles was pouring over more104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqhoyCpP2a
paperwork at his desk by lamplight. He looked so old sitting there even though104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS7fKtqNqJ
he was in his middle years. Just went to show the toll being Commander took.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTfjCpyY1W
Shea jumped up onto the couch then placed her head on her paw. It took a couple104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDLbTKs7sp
of seconds for him to put down his quill and to look up at him.
“I heard you were ambushed on the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaEm9EWOW7
street today.” The old man’s voice hitched. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, gramps.” Vander nodded.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lkQwmSiPc
“What about the man I captured?”
“In the dungeon waiting for his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywBpBvMfA2
questioning.” He said. “I assume you want to do the honors?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK661lIqmr
grinned. “But we need to have a talk about something.” He sat down in the chair104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ1iQUiVQP
across from his grandfather. “We need to promote the recruits to trainees and104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqRQOVME1m
allow them to help us around the castle. If today taught me anything we need104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRvayJdxfa
more soldiers on the streets protecting the people than we need them in here.”
“It’s not time for them yet.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoUaOMjRpL
Charles shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
“We don’t have the manpower,”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp7WJ5IQlx
Vander argued. “Even when all the Blades come back with the wardens, there104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztP9qqIS8B
still isn’t enough. Those five can really help us out.”
“Doesn’t matter if we need the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVS8ZorECI
help.” The old man growled. “We have standards we must adhere to. There can be104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4t8xQgY4Q
no exceptions.”
“Gramps since I’ve returned a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6X0uwwSNp
couple weeks ago, I’ve almost died twice.” Vander said. “If we had more104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3tAUiHD36
competent guards this might not have happened. If you’re that worried about it104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcdSxRcPtW
I will keep training them until their time is up and stick them by the entrances.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eiCXpwoNv
An important position, but it wouldn’t put them in harms way.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw9PqEolK9
Charles sighed. “But your idea does have merit to it.”
“Thank you,” Vander sighed. “I met104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dkBPWeaHj
with Ross last night for information on who poisoned Malcolm and he gave me a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs22swXfByV
name.”
“Yea?” Charles looked up104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr8wQlZWTn
interested. “What was it?”
“Green Serpents.” Charles’ face104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta7cVL5sL5
fell. He scrunched his fist on the desk then slammed his fist down on top.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Z75N1nrFT
“That bastard.”
“Is there something I should know104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3RcJBuQja
about?” Vander frowned. “I’ve never heard of them before, but based on your104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86tVYSimuD
reaction and the King’s, it’s something big.”
“Malcolm has his reasons for not104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfdnr4HsvK
telling you, but since you were nearly killed, I suppose to have the right to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJrh3lUcNl
know.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “The Green Serpents are a mercenary104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1ifaVtP25
band that goes to the highest bidder. However, it wasn’t always that way. The104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVJjIDJaLZ
leader, Jogun Batiste, the King and I used to be close during the wars twenty104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1djjmHXenf
years ago.”
“What changed?” Vander folded his104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwY1zVXOIlb
arms over his chest. If they were now taking contracts on the King himself,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm6HMox91H
something bad must have happened.
“We found out what he did to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEwmrxDz8f
prisoners, especially the children.” Charles’ back sagged. “He would have them104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU89Rw0OZm
fight each other to the death then, if they survived, they were tortured and104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO30VGmxFY
corrupted into joining them. Some he sent to his loyal soldiers to be104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i6IoITlRr
brutalized.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4WnfXRJO8
Vander said dryly.
“We suspended all contracts with104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x0RCnxlR4
them and threw them out of the city.” Charles sighed. “I wanted more drastic104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1dfxWZGQM
measures to be taken, but I was overruled. The council thought it would be104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHg8qq3ahfW
better to part ways amicably instead of killing or imprisoning those involved.”
“And now they are back trying to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEAWm814so
get revenge?” Vander shook his head. “Something is adding up. They are going104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c2Jcb5yrY
through a lot of trouble for revenge. I think there might be more to this,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApq7AXN4mn
especially since I had nothing to do with twenty years ago.”
“And it would make sense to go104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtePydfMYBa
after me, someone who was involved, and protects Malcolm.” Charles turned104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGC5hWg4S6
around and walked back to the desk. “Why are you being targeted? Any ideas?”
“A couple.” Vander hesitated. “My104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh1A6JRoTA
first thought was that it was because I got involved with Nigel, but I don’t104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP60nXYC2c
think that’s the reason.”
“Vander.” Charles said carefully.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWKSoTwoM0
“What’s going on?” Vander took a deep sigh then told his grandfather about the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IG1VzcFLd
dreams he had been having.
It started with Veyar the day104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3Szswt3rg
before he left for the city along with her warning to keep his identity hidden.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOVuWrzhpv
He left out the part of her being trapped in the stormy vortex, he didn’t want104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFkjFUnO8x
to give the impression that the Deities were fighting each other, not that104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4c7jSGSiT
anyone would believe him. Then he told him about the dream with Unna about104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwxM2vDlia
fulfilling his role. Lastly he told him about his most recent dream about104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpq2eJco2s
Imitae being chained up to a wall and reiterating the same thing his wife had104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstTPAHNGMT
told him.
“So, you think they went after you104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ccxTFhUC6
because they know you are the Ma’akti Unnatun?” Charles asked. “How could they104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvsMoBVG5h
know? Not many people do, even less could figure it out.”
“Gramps I communicate with a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99XSp8UKAn
Shadow Beast,” Vander laughed. “She might look like a wolf, but either way it’s104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuzxDRSUWp
not a common occurrence to walk around with her. It might be nothing, but all104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpeifwXkVY
of these dreams these murder attempts, something is going down.”
“I already moved your stuff here104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGFsKVAkY9
to your old room.” Charles said. “I will have guards on you at all times to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k7Fw4qkrT
make sure you stay safe.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsFzXeaj8N
gramps.” Vander sighed. “Put the guards you were going to put on me and put104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeuBLtWTXu
them on the King or Warden Drayson. I don’t need protection.”
“Then I will put Alex on it, he104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50lIJnLEMW
seems to be the only one who can wrangle you.” Charles sat back down. “What104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO4UV02k2F
else did Ross tell you?” Vander looked at him confused. “I’ve known you since104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvz5vO5fgj
you were a boy, Vander. You think I couldn’t tell you were hiding something104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShSdODgJ87
from me?” Vander sighed deeply.
“He told me that he could find the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WKpgyfTJ8
Serpents for us, the problem is I would have to fight for him.” Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHcF35FF7A
explained. “In the pits.” Charles lowered his head and sighed.
“Do you think he has a way to get104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20lavl3MYW
that information?”
“Yes,” Vander nodded. “But that’s104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPA2Fdmaj9
not a place I want to fight in. We can handle the information gathering104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4KSgpj1Fw
ourselves. I’m certain of it.”
“With our resources stretched thin104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88IpnM91ke
I doubt we will have the time, but now that we know who they are, we should104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJSuPmkcbu
have better luck finding them.” Charles said. He opened his mouth, but there104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYOyl4lVDm
was a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Alex poked his head inside.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitLWZmo86d
“Commander, Vander, Anna Drayson is here to talk to you.”
“Send her in.” Charles and Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyel8wY0Fx
got up from their seats to greet the young woman and heir to the Eastern104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN3fmwsYJf
Warden.
Anna Drayson was only a couple104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3E2AgD0qC
years younger than Vander, but an accomplished soldier. She wore the native104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn5kdpLrvY
uniform in an ocean climate: a leather cuirass, a short skirt, leather shin104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcDihm5wPi
guards, boots, and arm guards. Strapped to their waist they usually held a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iZLF9YzdP
short sword, but for now it was empty. They wore helmets with a blue stripe on104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz2hRPDt93
top to show their devotion to the sea. However, this was only their ceremonial104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0OS6TNHTL
uniform, in actual battle they wore iron for better protection.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” Her104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMfkRzG3cR
voice was melodic. She removed her helmet and a cascade of silver blonde hair104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BMEiv605T
fell past her shoulders. Her brown eyes held onto Vander’s for a moment before104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWmndBrnrb
flickering to his grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No Anna, we were just finishing104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVr9Y2pQzo
up.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“My grandmother requested Captain104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGWjspcVab
Vander’s presence and asked that I escort him to her.” Vander and Charles104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3KeBP2Jcn
exchanged glances.
“I haven’t talked to her since I104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgMIRCpejX
was a small child.” Vander frowned. “What could she want to talk to me about?”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB4ynIHlW2
Anna just shrugged her shoulders. Sighing he got up from the chair. “Seems I’ve104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeNklSCJFq
been doing more talking than just about anything else recently.”
“We can change that if you want.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONT9OmRw2I
Anna grinned. “I’ve been wanting to fight you for years, wolfling.”
“I told you to stop calling me104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nj1L28evb
that.” Vander snapped. He wrapped his elbow around her neck, forcing her to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQehWEmXk2q
bend, then rubbed his knuckles through her hair.
“Ow, ow, ow.” She rammed her elbow104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zkdT0zQBV
into her stomach causing him to bend over. They broke apart and squared up,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmcHGWpLyn
fists raised in front of them.
“Not in the office, Vander.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxOCjcsNn1
Charles snarled. “Get going the two of you, before you break something.”
“Yes sir.” Anna bowed. Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DK5gojpYX
whistled causing Shea to wake up rather abruptly. She growled her annoyance,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkf1EgnUyKP
but upon seeing Anna she jumped down off the couch and ran over to her. “Hello,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ycEJ7Mm6O
Shea.” She cooed. “How are you?” She responded by jumping up and licking her104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7sMjq3GEj
face.
“Come on you two.” Vander said.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGqw1VpuYn
“You can get reacquainted on the way. Let’s go.”
Anna chatted with Shea while she104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3BbEDZR1g
led the way towards Drayson’s accommodations. Since she lived in a villa on the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa0Cj8B203
ocean, the apartment she stayed in was on the eastern most side and higher up104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7MRl2eYOM
than the others. They enjoyed the cool over there and that tower was the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryGjgpSOTv
coolest area in the entire castle. Which, of course, meant climbing up hundreds104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWigLfUMY0
of stairs.
The stairs were guarded by two104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWkHCEV8kA
Blades and two of Drayson’s own guards. They nodded their heads in difference104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqRr3iI6b2
to the heir, but blocked Vander from going farther. The two blades went to step104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLdHZXESTh
up, but Vander waved them back. He unclipped his sword and held it out to the104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88my5yMtnA
guards. They took it then stepped back ushering them to the stairs. As Anna104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7BrCTTru6
walked past, the Blades returned her sword to her. With Anna leading, they104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFervs8Oq14
walked their way up the stairs.
He was out of breath by the time104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2BqXxs32D
they reached the top, but for Anna this seemed to be a light workout. Shea also104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KNNt8fyH7
seemed to be enjoying herself because she tossed a lop-sided grin back towards104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFQQAcDuDE
Vander. He made a mental note to withhold steak from her for the next week.
The apartment they were in could104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz62XxoKBa
have doubled as a massive house in the first ring. There were four massive104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMmoc404b6
suits, three bathrooms and plenty of walking-around space. The servants did a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ViReH8uZg
good job decorating as the entire room was painted blue. The reflections from104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOyu6HMDfP
the paint gave the room a blueish hue, it felt as though he was underwater.104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx5zemn4p8
Sitting in the middle of the floor, on top of some blue pillows, sat an older104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡercCTzPYCK
woman wearing a long blue robe. There was a long pipe in her long slender104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj2moctB6w
fingers. Her blue-green eyes looked up as they entered, a slight smile104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ppqxdVNLn
flickered on her face.
“Grandmother.” Anna got down on104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu2cJ0Go5e
one knee and bowed her head respectfully. Shea trotted over to the older lady104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf9apA5QuQ
then plopped her head down in her lap.
“Remove your boots Vander, then104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IhdUSBbm9
come sit.” Mari said, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. “Anna, you104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBJQzWZ4Zt
may join us if you wish.”
“I think I should wash up from my104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjloPORthse
trip.” Anna got up from the floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM04UoYSG59
proper bath and I feel as though the entire city could smell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7wP4RfbVQ
before because I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but-” a wet shoe slapped104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zAbJlfVEe
him in the face. He gagged from the smell, but before he could throw it back he104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL0xvomSQ0
heard a door slam shut.
“You shouldn’t treat her like104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGsJUzUQbX
that.” Mari said sternly with a hint of amusement in her voice. “She still has104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxrn2YMxy9
a thing for you even after all these years.”
“It wouldn’t work between us,”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdYelKpBog
Vander sighed. “She knows that, and I know that. She can’t leave your villa104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7niuQxVjl
like I can’t leave the city. We are just from different worlds.”
“Is that what kept you and Bree104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjfXtp2yFH
Valarian from getting farther?” Vander tried to contain his anger with the way104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuQMvT2qM7
this conversation was going.
“I don’t want to talk about her.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGevzDmXXs
He growled. She blew a puff of smoke at him causing him to cough.
“You’ve been through a lot since104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFHPw74JZG
I’ve last seen you.” she said. “You’ve aged. It’s in your eyes.”
“It’s been a rough couple week.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiBYdyVWjS
Vander leaned backwards to stare up at the ceiling. “Been attacked a couple of104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBaUaLXzTA
times, got some not so veiled threats, and have been poisoned. Things aren’t104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8dMJSeOXG
looking well.”
“You need to take some time to104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIKai8pL0c
relax Vander.” Mari blew out some more smoke. “Things are only going to get104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F4TB03UXa
more difficult for you.” Drayson inhaled more smoke, but she held on to it104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJrD1Recng
longer than she should have. She looked up at Vander, but her eyes were deep104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTTVPGFLKP
black this time, all trace of Mari was gone.
“Veyar,” Vander sighed.
“Ma’akti Unnatun.”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSNZD13fis
Mari’s voice turned deeper, but still slightly feminine. “How good to see104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU7an3I7ZM
you again.”
“What is this about?” Vander104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkKNdl0iU1
frowned. “I got your message the first time, as well as your husbands. I don’t104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CSE8y2VhT
think there is anything else I need.”
“There is someone coming who is104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi4m87NZbT
blessed with my daughter’s powers.” Veyar smiled. “She will be of great104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeZf4prRr2
help to you in this fight. Treat her well. You have a long road ahead of you,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd9DbnuYO8
hold on to your allies, they will be your best asset.”
“How will I know who my ally is?”104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PI2cVFp3N
he asked.
“You’ll know her when you see104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIfEfSQ4nk
her.” Veyar said. “It will take some time for you to gain her trust, but104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQypHDR4lw
once you have it you will have an ally for life.”
“I don’t like people being played104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBimJyI7WX
into helping me, Veyar.” Vander said. “Either she will do it of her own will or104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKurzVmw3m
not at all.”
“This has been written for a104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4yIWTdoN9
long time Vander.” She said. “This was ordained long before my children104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgweDOwuqS
were born. This battle will shape the world for good, or worst. With that,104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpIzvhQet4
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.” Mari104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXqSsabDAP
smiled, but she looked tired. “Once I go it will pass down to Anna. Will you104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGobH300OBx
help me to bed? I’m suddenly very tired.” Vander got up from the ground and104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKkAaO9f6B
picked the older woman up in his arms. She pointed to her room and he carried104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24YRKxaPm3
her to her bed.
