Chapter 13
After the unnerving meeting with99Please respect copyright.PENANAzG6uWsM4bs
Veyar, again, Vander tucked Mari into her bed and quietly left so he didn’t99Please respect copyright.PENANAxZ4U4sCNLG
disturb anyone in the apartment. Once he arrived at the bottom of the steps,99Please respect copyright.PENANAucYwQNjXV6
her guards handed him back his sword while the Blades bowed to both him and99Please respect copyright.PENANAR81Rm9KH5y
Shea. Then he headed back to his old room.
He hated that he was now99Please respect copyright.PENANAmvByFZu8d2
practically confined to the castle, but he knew it came from a place of care.99Please respect copyright.PENANAYt2fCuwS7N
This was the second time in as many weeks he had been attacked, and even though99Please respect copyright.PENANArYTfvHe17Q
he hadn’t been harmed this time, the fact that he had been so blatantly99Please respect copyright.PENANAwYMCmjaU4e
targeted meant he was in danger no matter what. He was lucky to have Alex99Please respect copyright.PENANAmv9QoMmKLv
watching his back, but if the assassins were smart, they would wait until he99Please respect copyright.PENANAGqow17Fd89
was alone during the festivities to celebrate the prince’s marriage while99Please respect copyright.PENANA9SMdyu10T2
everyone was distracted. It’s what he would do. But for now, he had to focus on99Please respect copyright.PENANADot6h1KGqz
getting the recruits ready. Despite what his grandfather thought, they were99Please respect copyright.PENANAoeKIMJZDGE
better off being used rather than left to the side. If things were going the99Please respect copyright.PENANAWqhIH5Qj6x
way he expected they would, they would have to be ready sooner rather than99Please respect copyright.PENANACL9WH1hTuM
later.
The five recruits stood in front99Please respect copyright.PENANASnn36Voivo
of him, each admiring the new swords he had given to them from the Blade99Please respect copyright.PENANApJkXh3R94c
armory. They would be the exact swords they would be given upon graduating, but99Please respect copyright.PENANA2AJZ0AmPi3
Vander had gone to Charles early in the morning, shortly before meeting them99Please respect copyright.PENANAFYjIrzKZT9
for the training session and begged him to allow them to train with their99Please respect copyright.PENANAQXngJuTuPR
actual swords just in case. They argued for a little while before the older man99Please respect copyright.PENANAmmragMNA8c
finally relented under the condition that he come to see how they were doing.99Please respect copyright.PENANAjCuVafPosj
Vander agreed and now Charles was standing between him and Alex looking the99Please respect copyright.PENANAmfwqwNhQgw
recruits over with a critical eye.
“These swords will be your99Please respect copyright.PENANA5hz4Qnm3az
livelihood.” Vander instructed as he paced in front of the recruits as they99Please respect copyright.PENANAIHblE2rR1c
stared down at their weapons with a mixture of awe and fear. “They are made99Please respect copyright.PENANA22WIR33OnR
with viriuum from the Northern Mountains. They will not bend; they will not99Please respect copyright.PENANAoz683CShj9
break. They were created with your abilities in mind, they are an extension of99Please respect copyright.PENANAlv0pHqCFHg
you and need to be treated with respect.”
“I thought we were supposed to get99Please respect copyright.PENANAEzT4LyH5TP
these only when we became full Blades.” Rooster asked. “Or, at the very least,99Please respect copyright.PENANARlwbNJ60BR
trainees, why do we have them now?”
“Circumstances may allow you to be99Please respect copyright.PENANAMtaaBgBPIV
graduated early.” Charles stepped up. “You’ve heard about the attacks on the99Please respect copyright.PENANAvW4ECNdKHd
castle and in the city. You might be needed early than originally planned, but99Please respect copyright.PENANAp1pWL2xerd
first you must prove to me you deserve the chance.” Forest and Briar grinned99Please respect copyright.PENANAmADnBXVicv
like a couple of idiots.
“What do we have to do?” They99Please respect copyright.PENANAYv0wb6oiDg
asked in unison. To everyone’s surprise, aside from Vander’s, Charles unbuckled99Please respect copyright.PENANAJdC2c1pEyD
his sword then tossed it to Alex.
“You will have to99Please respect copyright.PENANA4xzp77rouS
fight against me.” Then he removed his jacket and tossed it to Vander. Despite99Please respect copyright.PENANAru7DL5eMQu
how old he was, he was still an absolute unit of a man. His arms were thick99Please respect copyright.PENANArblNOO9TbQ
from his years of fighting and training recruits as well as having the99Please respect copyright.PENANAME3fSR8exk
knowledge of fighting packed into his head. Despite all the times Vander had99Please respect copyright.PENANAoX35EkcbKS
challenged him since he was old enough to wear the uniform, he had never beaten99Please respect copyright.PENANAD88gj2XjfE
him, not once.
“One at a time or99Please respect copyright.PENANAi3XWtZWR8r
altogether?” Rooster asked.
“However, you99Please respect copyright.PENANAH0kVww8kvE
want.” Charles grinned. “Weapons are allowed, so just try and make this99Please respect copyright.PENANAjHYioJnO0k
entertaining for me.” The recruits emboldened by the challenge rose to their99Please respect copyright.PENANAuq0RlhVELP
feet.
Forever the good99Please respect copyright.PENANAhI7OjWEl5I
sport, Rooster sheathed his sword, carefully placing his jacket on the ground99Please respect copyright.PENANAVivypzs5Zu
and putting the sword on top. He stretched for a second before charging at his99Please respect copyright.PENANApfKn8Hm4py
Commander. He threw his weight around Charles’s middle to get him onto his99Please respect copyright.PENANAeVxgPwFH3x
back, but Charles stood his ground. He brought his fists up then hammered them99Please respect copyright.PENANA1ltC8ThKO6
down in Rooster’s back. When his grip weakened, Charles brought his knee up99Please respect copyright.PENANABZBlzyRnbk
into Rooster’s stomach then flipped him around, so he hit the ground hard. He99Please respect copyright.PENANAB1ojp3M2cS
went to stamp down on Rooster’s stomach, but he rolled away.
Rooster had taken99Please respect copyright.PENANAwZWVyf9dCg
damage, that much was certain. He staggered back to his feet then spit out a99Please respect copyright.PENANAtVcgH0lDLv
wad of blood. Grinning, he raised his fists in front of him, but Vander could99Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fs2wjs7YA
tell he didn’t have much left in him. His legs were shaking, and it was taking99Please respect copyright.PENANAHgL1hFaENC
all his energy just to stand. However, he should have stayed down. Charles99Please respect copyright.PENANAJmskypkZHy
didn’t go easy on anyone; Vander knew that firsthand. Charles didn’t hesitate.99Please respect copyright.PENANASFoHxfzPMi
He began throwing punch after punch at Rooster. At first, he did a good job99Please respect copyright.PENANA4QDvyMEFSP
blocking, but it was like defending against a hammer. His arms became heavy,99Please respect copyright.PENANAxw18xSgvoz
and he could no longer block many of the blows. He started taking strikes to99Please respect copyright.PENANA7Bzx4ptq22
his face and chest. Rooster’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, but he99Please respect copyright.PENANAWMNmGE05pX
stayed standing. Charles threw another punch but once he noticed Rooster’s99Please respect copyright.PENANAbGJPwVELII
condition, he stopped. A second later he99Please respect copyright.PENANAwduTvOUW2R
fell to the ground unconscious.
Charles didn’t99Please respect copyright.PENANA9s9c7UOd5C
look bothered by beating up a recruit, but based on the admiration in his eye,99Please respect copyright.PENANAsp80QNhiQO
Rooster passed. That just left the other four. As usual, Forest and Briar99Please respect copyright.PENANAvg2G8QLzLG
decided to go after him together. Their teamwork has been a lot better since99Please respect copyright.PENANA98NufvGLv1
their trail in the forest, but they would still be no match for Charles.
They went after99Please respect copyright.PENANAPfFcoJ314n
him, one on each side. Both aimed a punch to his cheek, but he blocked them,99Please respect copyright.PENANA7IZmAzhr2i
then grabbed their wrists and pulled them into each other. Their bodies99Please respect copyright.PENANAzBRJdEQO1P
collided with a painful crack. They fell to the ground rubbing their heads99Please respect copyright.PENANA2iVzVzZkeP
together. They didn’t stay down for long, they again got up and began99Please respect copyright.PENANAs0d1Vd6vVJ
assaulting him, but Charles started to move. He made sure to keep himself away99Please respect copyright.PENANAgBmkUtBhaS
from the two of them, always moving his body so they would get in each other’s99Please respect copyright.PENANA6BS6e3tJCk
way. They got so used to his movements that when he stopped, they kept going.99Please respect copyright.PENANAiTdrn4Uu12
Charles aimed a kick at Forest’s side which he wasn’t kick enough to move out99Please respect copyright.PENANAlXkhuigIPW
of the way. He brought his arm up to block, but the kick was too forceful.99Please respect copyright.PENANAd5pQICdAk1
Forest collided with Briar and Vander was sure his arm was broken. The two of99Please respect copyright.PENANAg5VSAyIDOC
them didn’t get back up.
Charles didn’t99Please respect copyright.PENANA1JhluQFvlU
have time to see If they were alright. Eve came at him with her sword99Please respect copyright.PENANAgl4JEqo7yK
unsheathed. He slowly dodged sideways the sword trimmed off a couple of hairs99Please respect copyright.PENANAwp8Hf4Wab8
from his head. Not skipping a beat, once she realized she had missed, he turned99Please respect copyright.PENANAWvUia0dKoE
the blade and went for a horizontal slash aiming for his chest. He blocked the99Please respect copyright.PENANAIKfUbdcq7D
strike with his armored boot then slammed it onto the ground. If it was any99Please respect copyright.PENANAPYDBdCj0ez
other metal, it would have snapped in half. She let go of the hilt to throw a99Please respect copyright.PENANA4q1KmovgpS
punch which he easily blocked. He countered by punching her in the jaw,99Please respect copyright.PENANApGaONyVHx5
knocking her unconscious.
Vander frowned as99Please respect copyright.PENANASrtVul3rU4
he looked at her body. She had lost so easily, but it had also been slobby.99Please respect copyright.PENANAvVBCnbH89a
During training in the woods, she was a much better fighter than she showed99Please respect copyright.PENANAQogslDFzvV
just now. Was he just blinded or had she intentionally thrown the match with99Please respect copyright.PENANApkr3YPpsQY
the commander?
Charles got up99Please respect copyright.PENANA7uHAbIAERw
and looked over at Chicken who held his gaze. “And what do you have for me?” he99Please respect copyright.PENANAXqWxpc3uTD
asked her.
“I’m not much of99Please respect copyright.PENANADL3EhfsnU5
a fighter.” She rubbed the back of her head.
“Then what use99Please respect copyright.PENANAopLDsvbnjB
are you to me?” he asked. If she was offended by the question she didn’t show99Please respect copyright.PENANAmaTSSy8ffp
it.
“I have a perfect99Please respect copyright.PENANAnJE8CfZMuU
recall and excellent head for tactics.” She explained. “What I could do in the99Please respect copyright.PENANAxdTKgWGMvY
battle is negligible as to what I can do when it comes to planning.” Charles99Please respect copyright.PENANAfqZ4wOPmt2
folded his arms and looked down at her thoughtfully. Then he proceeded to ask99Please respect copyright.PENANAReuNu8ru2b
her questions ranging from military history all the way to tactics and what she99Please respect copyright.PENANAujhRYS1ZPB
would do in any given situation. If anything, that battle was more tense than99Please respect copyright.PENANAXzCL8sMQux
the three he just had with the others. Vander couldn’t even keep track of what99Please respect copyright.PENANAfpT2LliZXh
was being said. It took a few more minutes before Charles seemed to have been99Please respect copyright.PENANAe7ITUnpNEG
satisfied and came back to collect both his sword and jacket.
“They learned99Please respect copyright.PENANA7vqAsvcWXf
quickly these past six months.” Charles said. “Very well, I agree to them99Please respect copyright.PENANAAzWaN2SJe2
becoming trainees, however, make sure that one knows how to fight.” He hooked a99Please respect copyright.PENANANUvyJJIWRb
thumb back towards Chicken who had gone over to check on her brother. “Every99Please respect copyright.PENANARvt7sItgec
Blade must know, even if she spends her time as an advisor. No exceptions.”
“Yes sir.” Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANAufiH576CjP
bowed.
“I also received99Please respect copyright.PENANA52Me0QYjGQ
news that the rest of the Warden’s will be arriving today. I want them properly99Please respect copyright.PENANAAKxGgRtOiX
dressed and standing behind you once we greet them.”
“It will be99Please respect copyright.PENANAo1u1OwABqD
done.” Satisfied, Charles left heading back towards the castle.
∙
It took about99Please respect copyright.PENANAtaaYjQQpq7
thirty minutes for the recruits to awaken after the beating they took at99Please respect copyright.PENANA5e1b1hnvYe
Charles’ hands. Vander quickly checked them for damage, but Charles was precise99Please respect copyright.PENANAoZFkb6vVsw
in his fighting. Aside from a few bruised ribs and sore stomachs, they were all99Please respect copyright.PENANA3QGUlNHoks
fine. Once he told them they had passed, they all celebrated by dancing around99Please respect copyright.PENANAk5ulIkqLOn
and slapping each other on their backs, their pain long forgotten. Vander was99Please respect copyright.PENANAzmvPYXw5RB
even more surprised that Chicken passed even with her penchant for books99Please respect copyright.PENANAEqI3LxVrOd
instead of fighting. He had told her what the Commander had told him, and she99Please respect copyright.PENANA8MPMhLyCCr
agreed that she had to become better at fighting. She asked for more lessons99Please respect copyright.PENANAT60xfFhG0K
and Alex agreed. He would be the one to train her. With that done he sent them99Please respect copyright.PENANA9yZbD9XLjM
to the dorms so they could get ready for the Warden’s arrival.
He quickly99Please respect copyright.PENANAlcevDawpDg
showered then got changed in his dress uniform. His pants were ironed and99Please respect copyright.PENANAy06ZNK8lTA
waiting from when he arrived back. His jacket was neatly pressed with the99Please respect copyright.PENANACVsv690qHH
creases worked out of it. In a small display container were all the medals he99Please respect copyright.PENANA1mpcnW5qak
had received since joining and they had to be properly pinned on the jacket. It99Please respect copyright.PENANAl2hGLr8cUB
was a lot of work for a couple of hours, but it had to be done or it would99Please respect copyright.PENANAkdYedkaTrg
reflect badly upon the King and his grandfather.
He put on his99Please respect copyright.PENANAqXT0TT1SfE
pants followed by a blue dress shirt then he sat down to polish his boots. Shea99Please respect copyright.PENANA6llkcKOYJI
sat on the bed watching all of this unfold when her head on top of her paws.99Please respect copyright.PENANAUBM0xNw6Fv
Once his boots were right he placed them on and tied them tightly. He turned99Please respect copyright.PENANAgnnS6aSub8
back to Shea.
“Get down here99Please respect copyright.PENANA0qXVwtDCMB
so I can brush your fur.”
“I don’t want99Please respect copyright.PENANAFDW2Zit0Jt
to go.” She whined.
“You have to.”99Please respect copyright.PENANAbawDjAjWon
He chided. “You are a Blade, and we are all expected to go. You can sit99Please respect copyright.PENANA0IPDHqc7nz
behind me if you wish, but you will be there. Now get down here.” She99Please respect copyright.PENANA8M7nAd2cNY
glared over at him but did as he asked. She sat down in-between his legs as he99Please respect copyright.PENANA0xgJIylOdy
picked up the brush and oil then began combing her. She stayed still for it,99Please respect copyright.PENANAAV6ysMyYHB
but when he came to a knot she let her displeasure known with a low growl. He99Please respect copyright.PENANA1kySv8R3En
ignored her and kept going, even though he had to bribe her with more meat in99Please respect copyright.PENANABCWQaXLgpV
exchange for not biting his hand. Fair trade.
The two of them99Please respect copyright.PENANAkBrIAqLw6U
made their way down the stairs and towards the castle door. There were Blades99Please respect copyright.PENANAQHiXLrGNBO
standing at attention on both sides of the red carpet where the Wardens would99Please respect copyright.PENANAQqZ1DUCeEq
walk once they arrived. They would go to the throne room where they would meet99Please respect copyright.PENANALZnQO5oGgm
with the others and the council to discuss the wedding and their roles in it,99Please respect copyright.PENANAD1qqCaNiYD
and maybe some matters of state. It was rare that outsides would be allowed in,99Please respect copyright.PENANA6RRJ5K1xoZ
and Vander wasn’t an exception.
Shea and Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANA4ebARalmbM
took their positions next to Charles, standing to his left, because the King99Please respect copyright.PENANA9T3VlKxg7t
was to the right. All the ranking Blades stood next to him while the council99Please respect copyright.PENANAono7Jg1Amw
members stood on the King’s right side. Mari Drayson and her daughter stood99Please respect copyright.PENANAxpjmrPOUAL
between the King and Viggo Visc, per the custom when any other Warden was in99Please respect copyright.PENANAVxqZ1m1Gsv
the city. Peyton stood to Viggo’s right while Bernard stood in the door way. To99Please respect copyright.PENANAwuFN3jJ3cO
the front, in between each, stood a soldier who would protect the council with99Please respect copyright.PENANA9Y2CKBFnYV
their lives if it came down to it, only the King was left unprotected, as it99Please respect copyright.PENANAgB2mbiHho0
was ceremonial, but also the job of a Blade to risk their lives for the King. Shea99Please respect copyright.PENANAtezeMFAGSK
took her spot behind Vander but would be ready to act in case her friend’s life99Please respect copyright.PENANAFcSRq8m0fc
was in danger. They didn’t have long to wait before the sounds of the drums99Please respect copyright.PENANAiBM0PGLNKt
were heard from the Western Gates.
Even though the wardens99Please respect copyright.PENANAgeVPtsIDXk
came from the north, west, and south, the western gate was the closest point99Please respect copyright.PENANAmJCKGBWECN
between the three, so their entire entourage met there and walked through the99Please respect copyright.PENANAJqkOmzJy63
streets until they reached the King. As the citizens were given enough of a99Please respect copyright.PENANAYDevRb7GT1
warning, the streets were closed in celebration. Vander could hear the cheers99Please respect copyright.PENANAexzBR5l9wj
all the way from where he stood, the noise made his sensitive ears hurt, but he99Please respect copyright.PENANAcCOP3b9VQD
had to stand strong, or others would get suspicious. It took nearly an hour for99Please respect copyright.PENANAEwt8s0HGFw
the Warden’s to make their way to the inner ring, but their entrance was extravagant.
The first warden99Please respect copyright.PENANAMGZig2Z7c5
to appear was Jira Jewelthorne, the Western Warden. He had short black hair and99Please respect copyright.PENANAP5cPxhWs8u
black eyes. He wore extravagant and expensive clothing: today he wore opulent99Please respect copyright.PENANA8hyuu9xrDf
gold with red trim. His fingers were adorned with silver and gold rings with various99Please respect copyright.PENANADsAxDE9I9H
gemstones imbedded inside of them. He had no standing army. Instead, he hired99Please respect copyright.PENANA1EG4U0LIiO
mercenaries to protect his kingdom. There was a small squad of ten flaking his99Please respect copyright.PENANAFfradSE6s8
horse as he rode. The Blades assigned to protected him were behind them and it99Please respect copyright.PENANAatOT8zwECF
appeared as though they were holding chains for a man walking between them.
Right behind him99Please respect copyright.PENANAhj7rov8iti
came Leida Valariyan, the ruler of Stormcrag. Despite her young age, the99Please respect copyright.PENANADDJfH3bOhf
youngest of all the wardens, the weather made her cold and unyielding. She sat99Please respect copyright.PENANARUqqlCa7LL
stony faced upon her horse, her salt gray hair tied back in a ponytail, her99Please respect copyright.PENANAfTuBxiCBtq
green eyes looking straight at the King. She was a warrior through and through.99Please respect copyright.PENANA6nhrtIWqhM
The only person she brought with her was99Please respect copyright.PENANALWiocfydow
her cloaked fighter, Drakon, No one knew what he looked like underneath that99Please respect copyright.PENANA1AnfCv4KbG
ratty black cloak, even Vander’s eyes couldn’t pierce the shadows. Whoever he99Please respect copyright.PENANAHKBujgoJBu
was, he was enchanted. Five Blades with terrified expressions followed behind99Please respect copyright.PENANAwrokwcrmkX
her. Charles would have to give them the next week off to recover.
The final warden99Please respect copyright.PENANAKVCdXk2hIZ
was Malakai Whitesun. He exuded power and strength. In wars past he was the99Please respect copyright.PENANA2qLXeBSIqm
King’s most trusted confidant, and it was due to his family that the rest of99Please respect copyright.PENANAs2aQK352AX
Eluvia was safe from Bricen’s attacks. His entire body was tanned from living99Please respect copyright.PENANAZkcSmC3ABI
down there and due to the heat he kept his head shaved. He wore a white vest,99Please respect copyright.PENANABDxHq8LDHd
with nothing else on underneath, and white poofy pants that allowed him to stay99Please respect copyright.PENANAFnhCSbN17x
cool even in the hottest conditions. He had his own general which was borrowed99Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZE269KoOW
from the city: Eric Jilena, the patriarch and husband to Anna Jilena. Sitting99Please respect copyright.PENANAiVr1XjBprg
behind him was his son, Alphonse, who was poised to take his father’s position.
The six main99Please respect copyright.PENANA1saJFDkPhX
figures got down from their horses to walk up the red carpet while the others99Please respect copyright.PENANAnEGJKFawb5
stayed where they were. A few feet from the King, each of them got down on one99Please respect copyright.PENANA5wlPQIdL3E
knee then bowed their heads.
“Rise my99Please respect copyright.PENANAWLHeRlo6l5
friends.” Malcom laughed. He walked down to greet them, his blue trimmed, white99Please respect copyright.PENANAxNgkVOUSWo
cape dragged on to the floor behind him. He stood each of their hands in turn,99Please respect copyright.PENANAFzbobIwzvd
his royal signet out for everyone to see. While he got to Leida, she presented99Please respect copyright.PENANAkHWDG0orda
her cheek so he could kiss it. “I hope your travels were fair.”
“They were99Please respect copyright.PENANApSABQE9XvH
indeed.” Jira laughed, his voice fake, but the gleam in his eyes weren’t as he99Please respect copyright.PENANAv25KMqnwxK
gazed at the noblewomen standing in the line. “My mercenaries are in dire need99Please respect copyright.PENANAa6ozESz5RX
of food, drink and entertainment, as am I.”
“And they will99Please respect copyright.PENANAWAG0y2hvoC
have them.” Malcolm chuckled. “And how are you General? Are you excited to be99Please respect copyright.PENANAICImt7xfa4
back home?”
“I am my King.” Eric99Please respect copyright.PENANAqf39wcsfTX
bowed. “I have missed my wife and other children greatly.”
“And you99Please respect copyright.PENANAcz14JcaSNS
Alphonse?” he turned to the general’s youngest son.
“Yes, my lord.”99Please respect copyright.PENANADA9uRsAXzj
Alphonse bowed his head. “Though I’m afraid this weather will take some time to99Please respect copyright.PENANAiJhNDO4eVL
get used to again.”
“I have food for99Please respect copyright.PENANAwwdja80bbt
you all inside.” Malcolm turned to step back towards the castle. “If you would99Please respect copyright.PENANAMdTGDRADp0
please follow me.”
“Not yet my99Please respect copyright.PENANAx6qN0nHDvt
King.” Malakai placed his hand on the King’s shoulder. Vander involuntarily99Please respect copyright.PENANAEoeDlmn1L3
went for his sword, but his grandfather’s glare kept his hand still. “We have a99Please respect copyright.PENANAUNhON2FqPV
surprise for you.” Malakai turned and shouted: “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!” All99Please respect copyright.PENANAuFPCwXMXz2
at once, all those in attendance stepped aside and saluted. A carriage, unseen99Please respect copyright.PENANAn6li5y0UNQ
by everyone opened and Cuvera, along with two veiled women walked out. The last99Please respect copyright.PENANA1El5NWmlGH
person out was General Jasper Valentin, Bree’s father.
Upon seeing his99Please respect copyright.PENANA6XAEZeunRD
father, Cuvera smiled. His sandy brown hair flowed in the wind as he locked the99Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4nmSvMsNv
same-colored eyes on his father’s. He was wearing a smart blue colored jacket99Please respect copyright.PENANAj6QL9ErBEI
with the royal family’s crest etched on the front. On his hand was another,99Please respect copyright.PENANAYuZSO1tZg5
identical signet ring, to his father’s. He ran up to embrace his father. After99Please respect copyright.PENANAspTO0ZgiEV
a moment the two of them broke apart, but Malcolm held onto his son’s arms.
“I wasn’t99Please respect copyright.PENANAof321Ov60t
expecting you for another week.” He gasped. “Why have you arrived so soon.”
“We met up with99Please respect copyright.PENANAklAWursNNV
Lord Whiteson as he crossed the river, so we decided to go together. I left the99Please respect copyright.PENANAACIVLFz3Sn
main soldiers on the road as Malakai would be able to protect us.” He stepped99Please respect copyright.PENANA4oICMOqv89
back to wave the two women forward. He wrapped his arms around the one wearing99Please respect copyright.PENANARHQI7RGMjw
red and orange. “This lovely lady is my betrothed, Kiara.” She removed her99Please respect copyright.PENANA5CWwf0gsK8
veil, and everyone released their breath they didn’t know they were holding.
Her skin was a99Please respect copyright.PENANAEyjoNezN4c
deep brown color with vibrant golden eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back99Please respect copyright.PENANAaGwD7m6cJP
into a loose weave, but there were some strands framing her face. You could99Please respect copyright.PENANABQtxyahNIV
tell that her body was that of a warrior: lithe, muscular, lethal. Vander could99Please respect copyright.PENANAh42JFjM0t1
easily see her twirling on the battlefield cutting people down left and right.99Please respect copyright.PENANA9Sj7XGdspb
He secretly hoped Cuvera knew what he was in for. Unknown to everyone other99Please respect copyright.PENANAPRUyZz89qm
than him, he could feel otherworldly power radiating from her that made him99Please respect copyright.PENANAPiT2LEgBPK
nervous. It felt as though he was staring at the sun. Even Shea whimpered from99Please respect copyright.PENANAXyfzgdI8c5
behind him.
“It’s nice to99Please respect copyright.PENANAd7jl4fA81Z
meet you all.” She curtsied. Everyone bowed their heads in respect to their99Please respect copyright.PENANAc1hS0S1hBR
future queen. Malcolm walked up then kissed both her cheeks before embracing99Please respect copyright.PENANA4X7tAdwMrl
her.
“It’s wonderful99Please respect copyright.PENANASdRI5uPe5D
to meet you.” he laughed. “I hope my son has been treating you well on your99Please respect copyright.PENANAB3PNdG8Htz
travels together?” Kiara wrapped her arms through Cuvera’s.
“He’s been99Please respect copyright.PENANAFsI4fgCAg2
perfect.” She smiled. Her gazed flickered to Vander. Upon noticing him her eyes99Please respect copyright.PENANAQvhyi0NjSa
widened then she whispered something into his ear. He nodded his head then99Please respect copyright.PENANANQbnxxz6C7
turned back to his father.
“There is one99Please respect copyright.PENANAEPwh0vgenO
more person we’d like to introduce everyone too.” He motioned the mystery women99Please respect copyright.PENANAIxpjWuEw4g
forward. She was dressed similarly to Kiara except her uniform was yellow and99Please respect copyright.PENANAHTMGros76M
silver. She stepped forward then removed her veil. Without waiting for anyone99Please respect copyright.PENANAe0LLRuPL8u
to introduce her, she introduced herself:
“My name is99Please respect copyright.PENANA6pnoIQpF1Z
Eliza, Kiara’s younger sister and bodyguard.” She curtsied. “I hope to be of99Please respect copyright.PENANA2CHDU0E7Wf
use to all of you here.” She looked over at Vander and the breath left his body99Please respect copyright.PENANA9iQq8yOaJi
for a moment. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was99Please respect copyright.PENANAzJrEQoagGD
smaller than Kiara but had more defined muscles. Her brown hair was tied back99Please respect copyright.PENANAYd1EAa8ytW
into a tight ponytail, her silver eyes looked at him as if she could see99Please respect copyright.PENANACYJGS1Ndfp
everything.
“It would be our99Please respect copyright.PENANA3O3TgwuV9A
honor to have you.” Charles answered.
“Let us go99Please respect copyright.PENANAlBvXnmmRZd
inside.” Cuvera offered. “I’m tired from my travels and I’m sure the wardens99Please respect copyright.PENANAzhegk25IAe
are as well.”
“Of course.”99Please respect copyright.PENANA0e2rv30A1c
Malcolm grinned. “Bernard made sure everyone’s rooms were made up properly and99Please respect copyright.PENANAZTk37V9Xtj
we have spared no expense to have your men as comfortable down in the city as99Please respect copyright.PENANAftFsVcc6QU
possible. I trust I don’t need to explain the rules?”
“No sir,”99Please respect copyright.PENANAgTcmtkAsSH
Whitesun grinned. “We remember what happened last time.”
“Excellent.”99Please respect copyright.PENANAB7bXqcsEvZ
Malcolm clapped his hands. “Come my son, there is much I must talk with you99Please respect copyright.PENANAm6cPHEycU9
about. My dear Kiara, you should come to so we can get the chance to get to99Please respect copyright.PENANAc9DS5MqOsH
know each other.”
“Yes father.”99Please respect copyright.PENANAd6euM6jH1E
Malcolm laughed at that but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and escorted99Please respect copyright.PENANAVxK5Sn76Im
her in. Eliza followed close behind unwilling to leave her sister alone in99Please respect copyright.PENANAhB1GvbtSaA
foreign territory. When Cuvera walked past, he gripped Vander’s shoulder.
“Meet me99Please respect copyright.PENANAGm0GEseOIt
tonight.” He whispered into his ear. Vander nodded his head.
Soon all the99Please respect copyright.PENANAxG81APVJ8u
nobles disappeared back into the castle while their guards were taken into the99Please respect copyright.PENANAIhSW50DiOT
city to their lodgings. While they were here it meant more overtime for the99Please respect copyright.PENANADaTSpNiYt9
Blades and city guards because they had to make sure they behaved themselves99Please respect copyright.PENANALpA9IixlNR
with the locals. The only ones left other than Charles and Vander were the two99Please respect copyright.PENANAK0wVhssYqR
generals who seemed to be discussing something with Alphonse. A moment later99Please respect copyright.PENANA1aC7O3KCfc
they split up and both Eric and his son went into the castle, likely to see99Please respect copyright.PENANA91JkCFEAoc
Anna. However, Jasper walked over to the two of them.
“Commander.” His99Please respect copyright.PENANACYKk02Ol4u
voice was curt, angry.
“General.”99Please respect copyright.PENANATWFNqNZ2oI
Charles tried to hide the disdain in his voice.
“I heard my99Please respect copyright.PENANAGUWeTviFb8
daughter went to see you.” Jasper glared down at Vander. He shrugged in99Please respect copyright.PENANAy2zhT2UyDI
response. Suddenly Jasper grabbed Vander by the neck causing Shea to jump to99Please respect copyright.PENANAuP9tf8XOFG
her feet snarling. “You stay away from my daughter, or I will make sure you99Please respect copyright.PENANASksUtOXZBx
never see the light of day again.”
“Are you99Please respect copyright.PENANACJe5JUoCjz
threatening my grandson, General?” Charles asked. Suddenly Alexander and a few99Please respect copyright.PENANAu61lmaisYs
other Blades surrounded him with their hands on their swords.
“Not a threat.”99Please respect copyright.PENANApezTORZX1f
He said. “A warning.” He studied Vander for a second before pushing him away.99Please respect copyright.PENANAhZmXlnBuA3
“If I find out you even breathe in her direction, you will regret it.”
“No more than the99Please respect copyright.PENANAQx9R1PmFfN
King regrets making you a General I’m sure.” Vander choked out. “I’m sure the99Please respect copyright.PENANAV3gqcsMCT0
prince would find this very interesting.”
“I don’t know99Please respect copyright.PENANAXGFu7uEmff
what he sees in you, you worthless trash.” With that he pushed past them99Please respect copyright.PENANAdBkRDf2YwV
disappearing inside the castle.
“He’s really99Please respect copyright.PENANAw6Le5psRC8
possessive of his daughter isn’t he?” Alex asked.
“He’s possessive99Please respect copyright.PENANAD8yxXlwVmQ
of the power she could give him through breeding.” Vander sighed. He rubbed his99Please respect copyright.PENANANrkTnbmbb2
neck to try and rub the feeling back into it.
“Vander if he99Please respect copyright.PENANAHRh04ETJU0
touches you again, kill him.” Charles growled. “I will deal with the fall back,99Please respect copyright.PENANAd6AxTTXEe9
but he will not touch you again without dire consequences.”
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“Yes sir.” Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANAsQLwUYBB2k
bowed his head. “Now let’s go. I expect this party will be interesting.”