Chapter 13
After the unnerving meeting with129Please respect copyright.PENANAuaGPohTae2
Veyar, again, Vander tucked Mari into her bed and quietly left so he didn’t129Please respect copyright.PENANAWSwVeoFn5n
disturb anyone in the apartment. Once he arrived at the bottom of the steps,129Please respect copyright.PENANA7KfAq8hNMR
her guards handed him back his sword while the Blades bowed to both him and129Please respect copyright.PENANAMljFtgFm5T
Shea. Then he headed back to his old room.
He hated that he was now129Please respect copyright.PENANAlzr8HXWNZo
practically confined to the castle, but he knew it came from a place of care.129Please respect copyright.PENANATc0kSEEhmF
This was the second time in as many weeks he had been attacked, and even though129Please respect copyright.PENANAcQTx9tMuuR
he hadn’t been harmed this time, the fact that he had been so blatantly129Please respect copyright.PENANANDuszStfec
targeted meant he was in danger no matter what. He was lucky to have Alex129Please respect copyright.PENANAQQS8glOfoQ
watching his back, but if the assassins were smart, they would wait until he129Please respect copyright.PENANADbaBa4m19d
was alone during the festivities to celebrate the prince’s marriage while129Please respect copyright.PENANAcg1IaQaF21
everyone was distracted. It’s what he would do. But for now, he had to focus on129Please respect copyright.PENANAlDjHcgbpBn
getting the recruits ready. Despite what his grandfather thought, they were129Please respect copyright.PENANA9S624Ewihe
better off being used rather than left to the side. If things were going the129Please respect copyright.PENANA4ssmaKxdal
way he expected they would, they would have to be ready sooner rather than129Please respect copyright.PENANAsrid49vPg2
later.
The five recruits stood in front129Please respect copyright.PENANAVWKln87QV9
of him, each admiring the new swords he had given to them from the Blade129Please respect copyright.PENANAdSwnvB8lpr
armory. They would be the exact swords they would be given upon graduating, but129Please respect copyright.PENANAOKrP7rIAsi
Vander had gone to Charles early in the morning, shortly before meeting them129Please respect copyright.PENANA8jt6Zgxyon
for the training session and begged him to allow them to train with their129Please respect copyright.PENANAretrB4T7PD
actual swords just in case. They argued for a little while before the older man129Please respect copyright.PENANAX0c0wehexI
finally relented under the condition that he come to see how they were doing.129Please respect copyright.PENANAEaTZAJ7TW4
Vander agreed and now Charles was standing between him and Alex looking the129Please respect copyright.PENANABzxQUO4MMA
recruits over with a critical eye.
“These swords will be your129Please respect copyright.PENANAvYwssNzghf
livelihood.” Vander instructed as he paced in front of the recruits as they129Please respect copyright.PENANAW6qZb5qt8s
stared down at their weapons with a mixture of awe and fear. “They are made129Please respect copyright.PENANA8JEyzp4tR2
with viriuum from the Northern Mountains. They will not bend; they will not129Please respect copyright.PENANAqg3se0ZvwE
break. They were created with your abilities in mind, they are an extension of129Please respect copyright.PENANArjcgSX02ci
you and need to be treated with respect.”
“I thought we were supposed to get129Please respect copyright.PENANAXOUEYVgrA5
these only when we became full Blades.” Rooster asked. “Or, at the very least,129Please respect copyright.PENANA6NdyQpYfsx
trainees, why do we have them now?”
“Circumstances may allow you to be129Please respect copyright.PENANAc04thDbvcD
graduated early.” Charles stepped up. “You’ve heard about the attacks on the129Please respect copyright.PENANARGtVyfGGE6
castle and in the city. You might be needed early than originally planned, but129Please respect copyright.PENANAbwmfWTY4t3
first you must prove to me you deserve the chance.” Forest and Briar grinned129Please respect copyright.PENANAQzadoCRV3O
like a couple of idiots.
“What do we have to do?” They129Please respect copyright.PENANAOcJh8aEPXj
asked in unison. To everyone’s surprise, aside from Vander’s, Charles unbuckled129Please respect copyright.PENANA7hawaujMvl
his sword then tossed it to Alex.
“You will have to129Please respect copyright.PENANABB5GbEfWJj
fight against me.” Then he removed his jacket and tossed it to Vander. Despite129Please respect copyright.PENANAhTQafJ2WBj
how old he was, he was still an absolute unit of a man. His arms were thick129Please respect copyright.PENANAtA7vp24Klq
from his years of fighting and training recruits as well as having the129Please respect copyright.PENANAmc0bOnLqoT
knowledge of fighting packed into his head. Despite all the times Vander had129Please respect copyright.PENANAXcIlPd13uA
challenged him since he was old enough to wear the uniform, he had never beaten129Please respect copyright.PENANApZubdvPIo4
him, not once.
“One at a time or129Please respect copyright.PENANAFpGtBMCp7L
altogether?” Rooster asked.
“However, you129Please respect copyright.PENANAh1qxpEuk4H
want.” Charles grinned. “Weapons are allowed, so just try and make this129Please respect copyright.PENANAsyx0g6494r
entertaining for me.” The recruits emboldened by the challenge rose to their129Please respect copyright.PENANAs6qjpqfBER
feet.
Forever the good129Please respect copyright.PENANAynobjj3ATZ
sport, Rooster sheathed his sword, carefully placing his jacket on the ground129Please respect copyright.PENANAVwGz3M7NGS
and putting the sword on top. He stretched for a second before charging at his129Please respect copyright.PENANAWnALeeXbBc
Commander. He threw his weight around Charles’s middle to get him onto his129Please respect copyright.PENANAC4GZjbC4i8
back, but Charles stood his ground. He brought his fists up then hammered them129Please respect copyright.PENANA0cQ9PsAURZ
down in Rooster’s back. When his grip weakened, Charles brought his knee up129Please respect copyright.PENANAh1BYblfTkD
into Rooster’s stomach then flipped him around, so he hit the ground hard. He129Please respect copyright.PENANAX37tPYJbxt
went to stamp down on Rooster’s stomach, but he rolled away.
Rooster had taken129Please respect copyright.PENANABdWmwb9sZt
damage, that much was certain. He staggered back to his feet then spit out a129Please respect copyright.PENANAPNVUsmPvJi
wad of blood. Grinning, he raised his fists in front of him, but Vander could129Please respect copyright.PENANAKl82qo6Ab7
tell he didn’t have much left in him. His legs were shaking, and it was taking129Please respect copyright.PENANAbVBQFsVpCD
all his energy just to stand. However, he should have stayed down. Charles129Please respect copyright.PENANAlWwlvDgUOI
didn’t go easy on anyone; Vander knew that firsthand. Charles didn’t hesitate.129Please respect copyright.PENANAv519HcE0br
He began throwing punch after punch at Rooster. At first, he did a good job129Please respect copyright.PENANAjURJUYwZvq
blocking, but it was like defending against a hammer. His arms became heavy,129Please respect copyright.PENANA678BiRUF0w
and he could no longer block many of the blows. He started taking strikes to129Please respect copyright.PENANAYgylEgmNTK
his face and chest. Rooster’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, but he129Please respect copyright.PENANARfrP4oAZwX
stayed standing. Charles threw another punch but once he noticed Rooster’s129Please respect copyright.PENANAmtiE761cCC
condition, he stopped. A second later he129Please respect copyright.PENANANnHTCUjgcz
fell to the ground unconscious.
Charles didn’t129Please respect copyright.PENANASeMx8aHOgs
look bothered by beating up a recruit, but based on the admiration in his eye,129Please respect copyright.PENANA2gLHVuh5ev
Rooster passed. That just left the other four. As usual, Forest and Briar129Please respect copyright.PENANAQv1Io2BIxE
decided to go after him together. Their teamwork has been a lot better since129Please respect copyright.PENANAXDyvqHTWLd
their trail in the forest, but they would still be no match for Charles.
They went after129Please respect copyright.PENANAI1vtC6IUvM
him, one on each side. Both aimed a punch to his cheek, but he blocked them,129Please respect copyright.PENANAUKBB763OgX
then grabbed their wrists and pulled them into each other. Their bodies129Please respect copyright.PENANAZD5jOR0o3R
collided with a painful crack. They fell to the ground rubbing their heads129Please respect copyright.PENANADvdGdHrcMa
together. They didn’t stay down for long, they again got up and began129Please respect copyright.PENANAyG5WlxIBfb
assaulting him, but Charles started to move. He made sure to keep himself away129Please respect copyright.PENANATFzXcKfsNy
from the two of them, always moving his body so they would get in each other’s129Please respect copyright.PENANA4jAfexcean
way. They got so used to his movements that when he stopped, they kept going.129Please respect copyright.PENANAWCxXLeioks
Charles aimed a kick at Forest’s side which he wasn’t kick enough to move out129Please respect copyright.PENANAOJK5KER2sk
of the way. He brought his arm up to block, but the kick was too forceful.129Please respect copyright.PENANApv7ZbYtKMj
Forest collided with Briar and Vander was sure his arm was broken. The two of129Please respect copyright.PENANAqC1Kbb8bF2
them didn’t get back up.
Charles didn’t129Please respect copyright.PENANAjJhuHDdC2X
have time to see If they were alright. Eve came at him with her sword129Please respect copyright.PENANAglcGYrcpVn
unsheathed. He slowly dodged sideways the sword trimmed off a couple of hairs129Please respect copyright.PENANAHyrKU9DWog
from his head. Not skipping a beat, once she realized she had missed, he turned129Please respect copyright.PENANAerrtzDMlRs
the blade and went for a horizontal slash aiming for his chest. He blocked the129Please respect copyright.PENANAWhdkXebbfT
strike with his armored boot then slammed it onto the ground. If it was any129Please respect copyright.PENANA5uMVlHMPlu
other metal, it would have snapped in half. She let go of the hilt to throw a129Please respect copyright.PENANAdVUPoN1Rg1
punch which he easily blocked. He countered by punching her in the jaw,129Please respect copyright.PENANAhyhnvgO8TL
knocking her unconscious.
Vander frowned as129Please respect copyright.PENANArO9l29aoxv
he looked at her body. She had lost so easily, but it had also been slobby.129Please respect copyright.PENANAk6L6LExDSz
During training in the woods, she was a much better fighter than she showed129Please respect copyright.PENANAhfbhR3MunY
just now. Was he just blinded or had she intentionally thrown the match with129Please respect copyright.PENANAR5zu8mYZT6
the commander?
Charles got up129Please respect copyright.PENANADhHjDjXFbj
and looked over at Chicken who held his gaze. “And what do you have for me?” he129Please respect copyright.PENANAXQHZxLNw8o
asked her.
“I’m not much of129Please respect copyright.PENANANUgOTYAHgb
a fighter.” She rubbed the back of her head.
“Then what use129Please respect copyright.PENANAot23pS2M3n
are you to me?” he asked. If she was offended by the question she didn’t show129Please respect copyright.PENANA9nKRKgAhca
it.
“I have a perfect129Please respect copyright.PENANAVD93Wfnbm8
recall and excellent head for tactics.” She explained. “What I could do in the129Please respect copyright.PENANA08qu24U4lo
battle is negligible as to what I can do when it comes to planning.” Charles129Please respect copyright.PENANAY7fJJQ5os9
folded his arms and looked down at her thoughtfully. Then he proceeded to ask129Please respect copyright.PENANArWJypVgYSv
her questions ranging from military history all the way to tactics and what she129Please respect copyright.PENANAbvV1BbC2EJ
would do in any given situation. If anything, that battle was more tense than129Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4gBRFnPYK
the three he just had with the others. Vander couldn’t even keep track of what129Please respect copyright.PENANAfoqXdbck0z
was being said. It took a few more minutes before Charles seemed to have been129Please respect copyright.PENANAZcrEANNnds
satisfied and came back to collect both his sword and jacket.
“They learned129Please respect copyright.PENANADVpz2VyU7v
quickly these past six months.” Charles said. “Very well, I agree to them129Please respect copyright.PENANAVNQ8XJzXrv
becoming trainees, however, make sure that one knows how to fight.” He hooked a129Please respect copyright.PENANAOfzZJ8kl9N
thumb back towards Chicken who had gone over to check on her brother. “Every129Please respect copyright.PENANAvgJ9jww5Jq
Blade must know, even if she spends her time as an advisor. No exceptions.”
“Yes sir.” Vander129Please respect copyright.PENANAAzjVFS4QWI
bowed.
“I also received129Please respect copyright.PENANAQDzXJPJsfO
news that the rest of the Warden’s will be arriving today. I want them properly129Please respect copyright.PENANADwzZNWM9d2
dressed and standing behind you once we greet them.”
“It will be129Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y6L4vFZwL
done.” Satisfied, Charles left heading back towards the castle.
∙
It took about129Please respect copyright.PENANA3SQMjgMkFz
thirty minutes for the recruits to awaken after the beating they took at129Please respect copyright.PENANAT1iSVoh6gd
Charles’ hands. Vander quickly checked them for damage, but Charles was precise129Please respect copyright.PENANAJHIvwcCdhQ
in his fighting. Aside from a few bruised ribs and sore stomachs, they were all129Please respect copyright.PENANAbrd8iCBS99
fine. Once he told them they had passed, they all celebrated by dancing around129Please respect copyright.PENANArqyQKetdao
and slapping each other on their backs, their pain long forgotten. Vander was129Please respect copyright.PENANAzNYrZT4BLI
even more surprised that Chicken passed even with her penchant for books129Please respect copyright.PENANAW7BgKJ3jBm
instead of fighting. He had told her what the Commander had told him, and she129Please respect copyright.PENANALnpWG1F3oy
agreed that she had to become better at fighting. She asked for more lessons129Please respect copyright.PENANARKMKWbeO5H
and Alex agreed. He would be the one to train her. With that done he sent them129Please respect copyright.PENANAMZ6LpPeEH0
to the dorms so they could get ready for the Warden’s arrival.
He quickly129Please respect copyright.PENANAYMDenvAMVU
showered then got changed in his dress uniform. His pants were ironed and129Please respect copyright.PENANARZs2pFMWCe
waiting from when he arrived back. His jacket was neatly pressed with the129Please respect copyright.PENANA1x2dk5IEFZ
creases worked out of it. In a small display container were all the medals he129Please respect copyright.PENANAy3sNSGT0zj
had received since joining and they had to be properly pinned on the jacket. It129Please respect copyright.PENANA1Yz4V1fwXq
was a lot of work for a couple of hours, but it had to be done or it would129Please respect copyright.PENANApI4Gj6M2kO
reflect badly upon the King and his grandfather.
He put on his129Please respect copyright.PENANATme1D9Q6E0
pants followed by a blue dress shirt then he sat down to polish his boots. Shea129Please respect copyright.PENANA0ermdN4gcj
sat on the bed watching all of this unfold when her head on top of her paws.129Please respect copyright.PENANAcdVNAGAd9Z
Once his boots were right he placed them on and tied them tightly. He turned129Please respect copyright.PENANADk2TdnBYi2
back to Shea.
“Get down here129Please respect copyright.PENANA8C0dUdOr8G
so I can brush your fur.”
“I don’t want129Please respect copyright.PENANAQfRINyPTR7
to go.” She whined.
“You have to.”129Please respect copyright.PENANA1G75EUIrLR
He chided. “You are a Blade, and we are all expected to go. You can sit129Please respect copyright.PENANAnAWs2SJ8ql
behind me if you wish, but you will be there. Now get down here.” She129Please respect copyright.PENANAof2SSzeQmU
glared over at him but did as he asked. She sat down in-between his legs as he129Please respect copyright.PENANAaQOY6dNam8
picked up the brush and oil then began combing her. She stayed still for it,129Please respect copyright.PENANAGveEELWOno
but when he came to a knot she let her displeasure known with a low growl. He129Please respect copyright.PENANAcCis6KYcux
ignored her and kept going, even though he had to bribe her with more meat in129Please respect copyright.PENANA0MAQMFnNwp
exchange for not biting his hand. Fair trade.
The two of them129Please respect copyright.PENANAujKSkiUX7l
made their way down the stairs and towards the castle door. There were Blades129Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ98lzVZpw
standing at attention on both sides of the red carpet where the Wardens would129Please respect copyright.PENANAxcu5xx6swm
walk once they arrived. They would go to the throne room where they would meet129Please respect copyright.PENANAiRf2BwwYLk
with the others and the council to discuss the wedding and their roles in it,129Please respect copyright.PENANAjXq0AlOCjA
and maybe some matters of state. It was rare that outsides would be allowed in,129Please respect copyright.PENANAxHoqaDvJHo
and Vander wasn’t an exception.
Shea and Vander129Please respect copyright.PENANA3tnT0xuxhS
took their positions next to Charles, standing to his left, because the King129Please respect copyright.PENANA5lJwFB5ukZ
was to the right. All the ranking Blades stood next to him while the council129Please respect copyright.PENANAXuqFkQQJrK
members stood on the King’s right side. Mari Drayson and her daughter stood129Please respect copyright.PENANAG1zHyOkZtr
between the King and Viggo Visc, per the custom when any other Warden was in129Please respect copyright.PENANAqY9S2Ko2XB
the city. Peyton stood to Viggo’s right while Bernard stood in the door way. To129Please respect copyright.PENANAhgZph2RG48
the front, in between each, stood a soldier who would protect the council with129Please respect copyright.PENANAmvlCKNhm7t
their lives if it came down to it, only the King was left unprotected, as it129Please respect copyright.PENANAgxi5pQ70OK
was ceremonial, but also the job of a Blade to risk their lives for the King. Shea129Please respect copyright.PENANAltimgV7Btq
took her spot behind Vander but would be ready to act in case her friend’s life129Please respect copyright.PENANA9bomn61ZPz
was in danger. They didn’t have long to wait before the sounds of the drums129Please respect copyright.PENANAszMJW7NNS9
were heard from the Western Gates.
Even though the wardens129Please respect copyright.PENANAgFREJuxPXQ
came from the north, west, and south, the western gate was the closest point129Please respect copyright.PENANAZVX6KWafwV
between the three, so their entire entourage met there and walked through the129Please respect copyright.PENANAJmJCG62A3w
streets until they reached the King. As the citizens were given enough of a129Please respect copyright.PENANA1yGZMqVN7w
warning, the streets were closed in celebration. Vander could hear the cheers129Please respect copyright.PENANA5igYO893U7
all the way from where he stood, the noise made his sensitive ears hurt, but he129Please respect copyright.PENANAYiiZRK6vbb
had to stand strong, or others would get suspicious. It took nearly an hour for129Please respect copyright.PENANAtUDfZj8o3x
the Warden’s to make their way to the inner ring, but their entrance was extravagant.
The first warden129Please respect copyright.PENANAhBlldoUZuW
to appear was Jira Jewelthorne, the Western Warden. He had short black hair and129Please respect copyright.PENANAhHJw6PGdvz
black eyes. He wore extravagant and expensive clothing: today he wore opulent129Please respect copyright.PENANAAVfWozj4iS
gold with red trim. His fingers were adorned with silver and gold rings with various129Please respect copyright.PENANA4fXK7bw0a6
gemstones imbedded inside of them. He had no standing army. Instead, he hired129Please respect copyright.PENANAccwVBIF9Vv
mercenaries to protect his kingdom. There was a small squad of ten flaking his129Please respect copyright.PENANADzZeKTICwe
horse as he rode. The Blades assigned to protected him were behind them and it129Please respect copyright.PENANAZXLggVEpMb
appeared as though they were holding chains for a man walking between them.
Right behind him129Please respect copyright.PENANAdEx3mIdlmk
came Leida Valariyan, the ruler of Stormcrag. Despite her young age, the129Please respect copyright.PENANAG0Wu1OeI27
youngest of all the wardens, the weather made her cold and unyielding. She sat129Please respect copyright.PENANAcCT4rDUB7I
stony faced upon her horse, her salt gray hair tied back in a ponytail, her129Please respect copyright.PENANAUyaIjZfr7i
green eyes looking straight at the King. She was a warrior through and through.129Please respect copyright.PENANAAZZmJbrzPB
The only person she brought with her was129Please respect copyright.PENANAMM3PLgliBK
her cloaked fighter, Drakon, No one knew what he looked like underneath that129Please respect copyright.PENANAjac8Elqy4Y
ratty black cloak, even Vander’s eyes couldn’t pierce the shadows. Whoever he129Please respect copyright.PENANAouiqdO69n8
was, he was enchanted. Five Blades with terrified expressions followed behind129Please respect copyright.PENANAj9PzaFtdUV
her. Charles would have to give them the next week off to recover.
The final warden129Please respect copyright.PENANAUqesReqBLg
was Malakai Whitesun. He exuded power and strength. In wars past he was the129Please respect copyright.PENANAb6M3LfFDvx
King’s most trusted confidant, and it was due to his family that the rest of129Please respect copyright.PENANAt7fWu1AHtZ
Eluvia was safe from Bricen’s attacks. His entire body was tanned from living129Please respect copyright.PENANA5h5LHR2XMA
down there and due to the heat he kept his head shaved. He wore a white vest,129Please respect copyright.PENANAe0YvSs6SFB
with nothing else on underneath, and white poofy pants that allowed him to stay129Please respect copyright.PENANAkxWX1vmZK6
cool even in the hottest conditions. He had his own general which was borrowed129Please respect copyright.PENANAeV0ZsvcrqO
from the city: Eric Jilena, the patriarch and husband to Anna Jilena. Sitting129Please respect copyright.PENANAcJmv8Xk2VB
behind him was his son, Alphonse, who was poised to take his father’s position.
The six main129Please respect copyright.PENANAblswfKXdi2
figures got down from their horses to walk up the red carpet while the others129Please respect copyright.PENANAwWqsTrLN3W
stayed where they were. A few feet from the King, each of them got down on one129Please respect copyright.PENANA9TMiJduvT1
knee then bowed their heads.
“Rise my129Please respect copyright.PENANAcV0wnxd7io
friends.” Malcom laughed. He walked down to greet them, his blue trimmed, white129Please respect copyright.PENANAb3A3R7Vo4M
cape dragged on to the floor behind him. He stood each of their hands in turn,129Please respect copyright.PENANAYrl08qwJi2
his royal signet out for everyone to see. While he got to Leida, she presented129Please respect copyright.PENANAt7P0dNRn29
her cheek so he could kiss it. “I hope your travels were fair.”
“They were129Please respect copyright.PENANAp4eKValzSE
indeed.” Jira laughed, his voice fake, but the gleam in his eyes weren’t as he129Please respect copyright.PENANAVKt1IF7DnL
gazed at the noblewomen standing in the line. “My mercenaries are in dire need129Please respect copyright.PENANAw73LccYvW4
of food, drink and entertainment, as am I.”
“And they will129Please respect copyright.PENANA4faR6TeXLc
have them.” Malcolm chuckled. “And how are you General? Are you excited to be129Please respect copyright.PENANAHCIZl18dkh
back home?”
“I am my King.” Eric129Please respect copyright.PENANATjDouZ4H05
bowed. “I have missed my wife and other children greatly.”
“And you129Please respect copyright.PENANAt8YUpNvXSX
Alphonse?” he turned to the general’s youngest son.
“Yes, my lord.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAlwBILAKPY6
Alphonse bowed his head. “Though I’m afraid this weather will take some time to129Please respect copyright.PENANA8V4jOpDFgk
get used to again.”
“I have food for129Please respect copyright.PENANAMxkEW8m8hN
you all inside.” Malcolm turned to step back towards the castle. “If you would129Please respect copyright.PENANAbscm6RXPjL
please follow me.”
“Not yet my129Please respect copyright.PENANAxFWO9CdpOD
King.” Malakai placed his hand on the King’s shoulder. Vander involuntarily129Please respect copyright.PENANA8ePugjfFVR
went for his sword, but his grandfather’s glare kept his hand still. “We have a129Please respect copyright.PENANAJUt45mDDNm
surprise for you.” Malakai turned and shouted: “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!” All129Please respect copyright.PENANAEP918yV3re
at once, all those in attendance stepped aside and saluted. A carriage, unseen129Please respect copyright.PENANAlVpplCxaZU
by everyone opened and Cuvera, along with two veiled women walked out. The last129Please respect copyright.PENANA1ECAwGIfEf
person out was General Jasper Valentin, Bree’s father.
Upon seeing his129Please respect copyright.PENANA4RsLLDQxVm
father, Cuvera smiled. His sandy brown hair flowed in the wind as he locked the129Please respect copyright.PENANA3zaev8mRbj
same-colored eyes on his father’s. He was wearing a smart blue colored jacket129Please respect copyright.PENANAG3CWfuRfQO
with the royal family’s crest etched on the front. On his hand was another,129Please respect copyright.PENANAuzO9xMOnHi
identical signet ring, to his father’s. He ran up to embrace his father. After129Please respect copyright.PENANAEx3FWoKHW0
a moment the two of them broke apart, but Malcolm held onto his son’s arms.
“I wasn’t129Please respect copyright.PENANALmVykUCRxG
expecting you for another week.” He gasped. “Why have you arrived so soon.”
“We met up with129Please respect copyright.PENANAb7Qpaxd8WI
Lord Whiteson as he crossed the river, so we decided to go together. I left the129Please respect copyright.PENANAOPeOjIt1kN
main soldiers on the road as Malakai would be able to protect us.” He stepped129Please respect copyright.PENANApJ2KPU9SxQ
back to wave the two women forward. He wrapped his arms around the one wearing129Please respect copyright.PENANAdDTcpGa2G7
red and orange. “This lovely lady is my betrothed, Kiara.” She removed her129Please respect copyright.PENANAFtCfSqS5kO
veil, and everyone released their breath they didn’t know they were holding.
Her skin was a129Please respect copyright.PENANAkIDaAdvfgR
deep brown color with vibrant golden eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back129Please respect copyright.PENANAmir2mmuyuV
into a loose weave, but there were some strands framing her face. You could129Please respect copyright.PENANARDeR7sQWHU
tell that her body was that of a warrior: lithe, muscular, lethal. Vander could129Please respect copyright.PENANA7E2DXkMwwB
easily see her twirling on the battlefield cutting people down left and right.129Please respect copyright.PENANAyRFo8i88hE
He secretly hoped Cuvera knew what he was in for. Unknown to everyone other129Please respect copyright.PENANALjUPJWOtkQ
than him, he could feel otherworldly power radiating from her that made him129Please respect copyright.PENANAanIlkGa1zu
nervous. It felt as though he was staring at the sun. Even Shea whimpered from129Please respect copyright.PENANAzGHZRHX2bQ
behind him.
“It’s nice to129Please respect copyright.PENANAmEKenAGJiD
meet you all.” She curtsied. Everyone bowed their heads in respect to their129Please respect copyright.PENANAK0UWytXu45
future queen. Malcolm walked up then kissed both her cheeks before embracing129Please respect copyright.PENANAHYM5fXnHQ1
her.
“It’s wonderful129Please respect copyright.PENANAO056rFan8U
to meet you.” he laughed. “I hope my son has been treating you well on your129Please respect copyright.PENANAeLhV76OqUW
travels together?” Kiara wrapped her arms through Cuvera’s.
“He’s been129Please respect copyright.PENANAEyrlfxiMAW
perfect.” She smiled. Her gazed flickered to Vander. Upon noticing him her eyes129Please respect copyright.PENANAUcrb4xQhy1
widened then she whispered something into his ear. He nodded his head then129Please respect copyright.PENANAGQ3SgfPjIK
turned back to his father.
“There is one129Please respect copyright.PENANATZ5FT2t10s
more person we’d like to introduce everyone too.” He motioned the mystery women129Please respect copyright.PENANAflLH4RQF71
forward. She was dressed similarly to Kiara except her uniform was yellow and129Please respect copyright.PENANAqMFQ9U3I6Z
silver. She stepped forward then removed her veil. Without waiting for anyone129Please respect copyright.PENANAouv2gZepwl
to introduce her, she introduced herself:
“My name is129Please respect copyright.PENANAJFJNvvo1ZK
Eliza, Kiara’s younger sister and bodyguard.” She curtsied. “I hope to be of129Please respect copyright.PENANAYZAsHZvndf
use to all of you here.” She looked over at Vander and the breath left his body129Please respect copyright.PENANAKrDZOpAzbt
for a moment. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was129Please respect copyright.PENANARpOQ2cHc7z
smaller than Kiara but had more defined muscles. Her brown hair was tied back129Please respect copyright.PENANAhQlVTwcZhw
into a tight ponytail, her silver eyes looked at him as if she could see129Please respect copyright.PENANAkAJep2nfrx
everything.
“It would be our129Please respect copyright.PENANATbcD6BYN2j
honor to have you.” Charles answered.
“Let us go129Please respect copyright.PENANAg9UyJWwBUo
inside.” Cuvera offered. “I’m tired from my travels and I’m sure the wardens129Please respect copyright.PENANADjWlzFe7MN
are as well.”
“Of course.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAffFEfPoGz3
Malcolm grinned. “Bernard made sure everyone’s rooms were made up properly and129Please respect copyright.PENANArErSbxWaU1
we have spared no expense to have your men as comfortable down in the city as129Please respect copyright.PENANAH9EaLLfg6q
possible. I trust I don’t need to explain the rules?”
“No sir,”129Please respect copyright.PENANAo0sSqyKBDn
Whitesun grinned. “We remember what happened last time.”
“Excellent.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAJEayyvuS3U
Malcolm clapped his hands. “Come my son, there is much I must talk with you129Please respect copyright.PENANA2i4Jg5yhv0
about. My dear Kiara, you should come to so we can get the chance to get to129Please respect copyright.PENANAr1ZUswdEsY
know each other.”
“Yes father.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAqXHFuQbS9A
Malcolm laughed at that but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and escorted129Please respect copyright.PENANALd3UtoGj3V
her in. Eliza followed close behind unwilling to leave her sister alone in129Please respect copyright.PENANAivKsgs0OpQ
foreign territory. When Cuvera walked past, he gripped Vander’s shoulder.
“Meet me129Please respect copyright.PENANADpty3GoWiv
tonight.” He whispered into his ear. Vander nodded his head.
Soon all the129Please respect copyright.PENANAJj4Yu5IgMS
nobles disappeared back into the castle while their guards were taken into the129Please respect copyright.PENANAzRItJ35xqI
city to their lodgings. While they were here it meant more overtime for the129Please respect copyright.PENANAVL8mPyUUA5
Blades and city guards because they had to make sure they behaved themselves129Please respect copyright.PENANAPvd7xjkViE
with the locals. The only ones left other than Charles and Vander were the two129Please respect copyright.PENANA5WOiHGkKZe
generals who seemed to be discussing something with Alphonse. A moment later129Please respect copyright.PENANAYYVealuY5w
they split up and both Eric and his son went into the castle, likely to see129Please respect copyright.PENANAeGiLki0c30
Anna. However, Jasper walked over to the two of them.
“Commander.” His129Please respect copyright.PENANAPqDSqUzSZR
voice was curt, angry.
“General.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAu0mof0nfWs
Charles tried to hide the disdain in his voice.
“I heard my129Please respect copyright.PENANAVjWk779g2C
daughter went to see you.” Jasper glared down at Vander. He shrugged in129Please respect copyright.PENANA7FnJWjEgru
response. Suddenly Jasper grabbed Vander by the neck causing Shea to jump to129Please respect copyright.PENANA1eQiMR0Qe8
her feet snarling. “You stay away from my daughter, or I will make sure you129Please respect copyright.PENANAqcHtU3i5Yo
never see the light of day again.”
“Are you129Please respect copyright.PENANAFMlv2fdBLe
threatening my grandson, General?” Charles asked. Suddenly Alexander and a few129Please respect copyright.PENANAR9UF0K5avy
other Blades surrounded him with their hands on their swords.
“Not a threat.”129Please respect copyright.PENANAJLNK8zUxHL
He said. “A warning.” He studied Vander for a second before pushing him away.129Please respect copyright.PENANA2Fr8SWGwmG
“If I find out you even breathe in her direction, you will regret it.”
“No more than the129Please respect copyright.PENANAkKQwJvLzVK
King regrets making you a General I’m sure.” Vander choked out. “I’m sure the129Please respect copyright.PENANA92U0tA2fgA
prince would find this very interesting.”
“I don’t know129Please respect copyright.PENANAvz5D6RV8FY
what he sees in you, you worthless trash.” With that he pushed past them129Please respect copyright.PENANAPq6Nf9LqCw
disappearing inside the castle.
“He’s really129Please respect copyright.PENANAjsjNCHMEMP
possessive of his daughter isn’t he?” Alex asked.
“He’s possessive129Please respect copyright.PENANAtHsUlQFFXR
of the power she could give him through breeding.” Vander sighed. He rubbed his129Please respect copyright.PENANAV9DMtU1zco
neck to try and rub the feeling back into it.
“Vander if he129Please respect copyright.PENANAQRMCD7Q9wZ
touches you again, kill him.” Charles growled. “I will deal with the fall back,129Please respect copyright.PENANAwea8sRhPXa
but he will not touch you again without dire consequences.”
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“Yes sir.” Vander129Please respect copyright.PENANAx55kuuReS5
bowed his head. “Now let’s go. I expect this party will be interesting.”