Chapter 14
“I see, so that’s what100Please respect copyright.PENANA781S9f7n2O
happened.” Vander was sitting in Cuvera’s room on a blue couch while his friend100Please respect copyright.PENANAD0ZulrVrFx
reclined on the other smoking on his pipe. Cuvera had excused himself from the100Please respect copyright.PENANAzwjrwJb32X
party early under the guise of being tired, but he made sure to slip Vander a100Please respect copyright.PENANAY6gIg5enBn
note on his way out telling him to meet him in his apartment ten minutes later100Please respect copyright.PENANAVsp5ZJcDcA
to not arouse suspicion. He half expected Kiara to be there when he arrived,100Please respect copyright.PENANAjEbM1qtnQJ
but he had been told that they wouldn’t share a room until they were married100Please respect copyright.PENANAx185ZpBR7N
per her customs.
“Are you angry?” Vander asked,100Please respect copyright.PENANAzdwB7KNDX6
rubbed his hands together. He didn’t look up at his friend the entire time he100Please respect copyright.PENANAdoxRebZ8Ew
explained what happened during the prince’s absence as he was too afraid as to100Please respect copyright.PENANAFz5RYELrGw
what he might say.
“Why would I be angry?” Cuvera100Please respect copyright.PENANAoD9rxtQ0sT
asked. Vander looked up to see confusion etched on his face. “You saved my100Please respect copyright.PENANAHAO865IREw
father’s life; I’m surprised he hadn’t given you a parade to celebrate. Did he100Please respect copyright.PENANAIid0KfRJKd
offer you anything at all?”
“No,” Vander shook his head. “He100Please respect copyright.PENANA51AKXuSEfh
wanted to keep everything quiet because it wouldn’t be wise to let the people100Please respect copyright.PENANA1g3fb0Os1C
know how close he was t death. He didn’t want to start a riot or anything.”
“Sounds like him.” Cuvera snorted100Please respect copyright.PENANAYwy3iTWTQ2
taking another hit on his pipe. Smoke billowed out as he continued to speak. “Have100Please respect copyright.PENANAjNNU5H1vmW
you had a chance to interrogate the prisoner yet? I bet he has some details100Please respect copyright.PENANAKh5HA2Z6KQ
that he should share with the class.”
“Not yet.” Vander hesitated. “I’ve100Please respect copyright.PENANABqPfR8dP8v
been busy.”
“Well, there is no time like the100Please respect copyright.PENANAKThvxwHYyI
present.” Cuvera got up from the couch then disappeared into his room. He100Please respect copyright.PENANAwV0c2taMqQ
reappeared moments later wearing a Blade uniform with a hood to obscure his100Please respect copyright.PENANAZcNarw2FY7
features. He strapped a fake sword to his belt. It would pass as a real one100Please respect copyright.PENANAInA0YboFp1
sheathed, but the blade itself was made from rubber. It would fail if anyone100Please respect copyright.PENANAvMyqia3HZg
asked him about it.
“You should rest.” Vander shook100Please respect copyright.PENANA9nweoHLxvA
his head. “You only just arrived home. Surely this could wait for another day.”
“And miss the chance to see who100Please respect copyright.PENANA5hG35H5oBp
tried to kill my father?” Cuvera scoffed. “Nonsense. Plus, based on how you’re100Please respect copyright.PENANAEBkTOUYeTg
past year has gone, I think you could use the chance to unleash your pent-up100Please respect copyright.PENANAFKvj6vhRfA
anger. Come on, this will be fun.”
Never one to say no to his oldest100Please respect copyright.PENANAo1YeT4QA5W
friend, Vander relented then followed his friend out the door and deeper into100Please respect copyright.PENANA8i4vMR9OIX
the castle.
The dungeons were in the bowels of100Please respect copyright.PENANA09vmlWTPNt
the ground underneath the castle walls. It was on the same plane as the Pitts,100Please respect copyright.PENANA0iHonD9bBO
but very few people knew that. As far as people knew, dungeons didn’t exist.100Please respect copyright.PENANAi8wQXa5Irr
They believed that all prisoners of the crown were sent to Jewelthorne’s mines100Please respect copyright.PENANA9jahyzA27u
to live out their days mining precious resources until the day they died, and100Please respect copyright.PENANArUCsD5Ym7H
that was true for most prisoners. However, those who tried to take out nobility100Please respect copyright.PENANAxDXL7Oolw8
or members of the crown, a fresh hell waited for them.
The dungeons were on the other100Please respect copyright.PENANAEJaoysVMFg
side of a secret panel that opened by pulling a torch handle located within the100Please respect copyright.PENANA1SzLcLWNuW
cellars. Vander grabbed the torch so they could see, but Cuvera walked down100Please respect copyright.PENANA9RmlVKC4vZ
without hesitation. The cellars were cold and damp with a winding staircase100Please respect copyright.PENANAfBoX2D9N7c
that led several stories down. It was a pain to clean, so many of the servants100Please respect copyright.PENANAyaZULImocU
didn’t bother leaving cobwebs and dust everywhere. Only those being punished100Please respect copyright.PENANAOp7VGS41kC
were every told to come down here, so many were on their best behavior.
When they stepped off onto the100Please respect copyright.PENANAQtK4RCpYeW
ground, they spotted two Blades guarding the door that would lead into the100Please respect copyright.PENANAVPLQzRelIV
actual prison. They were tough, tougher than most Blades, who took their job100Please respect copyright.PENANAFmp45RAf3f
seriously. No one would be allowed through without prior authorization, unless100Please respect copyright.PENANA1YE1E2g1ix
you were the King or Prince.
“Stop where you are.” One of the100Please respect copyright.PENANAIdWkOdQVev
voices boomed. They lowered their pikes, so the tips were pointed at Cuvera and100Please respect copyright.PENANAYIGrIsp3ZH
Vander. “No one is allowed through here, even if you are Blades.”
“Oh sorry.” Cuvera removed his100Please respect copyright.PENANAIH5fd0XPQj
hood revealing a glimmering smile. “I didn’t want to be seen by any other. Is100Please respect copyright.PENANA39h0doIPzk
it alright if we go in? I’d hate to use my status, but…” He let that threat100Please respect copyright.PENANA9TWdQL5WvH
hang in that air allowing the guards to figure the rest out.
“We are under direct orders from100Please respect copyright.PENANACVlAQNHs4L
Lord Cranton,” they hesitated. However, they knew the Prince out ranked him.
“I’ll deal with the100Please respect copyright.PENANACFIlIyoTEW
repercussions.” Vander nodded. “Let us through.”
“As you wish.” One of the guards100Please respect copyright.PENANAoQaGtmrpmn
removed a set of keys from his belt then unlocked the steel door that opened100Please respect copyright.PENANAANSQJT4LuI
into the prison. “If you want to open the door you’ll need this key.” He100Please respect copyright.PENANAIKHkdzj4xp
unclipped one of them then handed it to Vander. “Leave him in one piece. I100Please respect copyright.PENANAOegx1RPLYI
think the King wanted him interrogated tomorrow.”
“Might not be needed if we can get100Please respect copyright.PENANAmeUStAJlfR
the information out of him tonight.” Cuvera frowned. “Thank you.” He opened the100Please respect copyright.PENANAmI5lKDwQaE
door then stepped inside. Thanking the two Blades, Vander then followed his100Please respect copyright.PENANAz8rJojP7QM
friend.
Thankfully the royal dungeons100Please respect copyright.PENANAVmh4O8CJwM
weren’t used too often so there was only one person, and he was locked in the100Please respect copyright.PENANA9znLh52HEy
cell farthest from the door without any windows or ventilation. The space stank100Please respect copyright.PENANAuvL9FxruHq
of unwashed body odor and festering wound and that was something no amount of100Please respect copyright.PENANAxYX9WghhBK
cleaner could remove. At least there were no rats or cockroaches waiting to100Please respect copyright.PENANAlnErHQNinY
feast on you, but it made it painfully boring being here on your own. Vander100Please respect copyright.PENANAjTjWKt6bc1
was surprised the assassin hadn’t gone crazy in the days he hadn’t been here.100Please respect copyright.PENANAThw1O7qFoA
Most went insane after the first.
The assassin looked worse than100Please respect copyright.PENANAhq57kNAyVM
Vander remembered. He must have gotten roughed up when he was brought down100Please respect copyright.PENANAEO1cagD0je
here. His eyes were swollen and there were bloodied bandages wrapped around his100Please respect copyright.PENANADIeN0nNS5a
stomach. All he had was his tattered cloak to protect him from the chill. Moldy100Please respect copyright.PENANAb8t59E6ftk
bread and hard stew sat in bowls inside of the cell, untouched.
“So, this is the man who jumped100Please respect copyright.PENANAIloB1787GU
you in the alley.” Cuvera frowned. “He looks likes any of the bums I’d trip100Please respect copyright.PENANA99De5hkO7P
over in the slums, not a scary assassin.”
“Give me a knife and we shall see100Please respect copyright.PENANALex531zjVT
how scary I am.” The man growled. He looked up from under his cloak and while100Please respect copyright.PENANASQHIF4RPQt
Vander could see the determination in his eyes, he knew the assassin could100Please respect copyright.PENANAU2qi7AzWzx
barely stand let alone hold a knife.
“Someone with balls I like that.”100Please respect copyright.PENANACVJKYiHqwI
Cuvera took the key from Vander’s hand then used it to unlock the cell. The100Please respect copyright.PENANA5jgPcFTPYr
door swung open, but before Vander could stop him, Cuvera walked inside, kicked100Please respect copyright.PENANAjUuOdDmghw
over some of the bowls, then punched the assassin in the face. Blood splattered100Please respect copyright.PENANApc1HHx6yO1
the ground, but he didn’t stop at one. He punched the man several times until100Please respect copyright.PENANAyxWX8IRZgA
he heard teeth hit the stone floor. The man groaned as Cuvera kicked him in the100Please respect copyright.PENANATF97A6cZdN
side. He would have continued if Vander hadn’t grabbed him around the waist and100Please respect copyright.PENANABWjEKvq4V4
throw him to the side.
“Stop.” Vander blocked the prince100Please respect copyright.PENANAI48b3x9Dnx
from going near the assassin causing his friend to squint his eyes in anger.
“He tried to kill you Vander and100Please respect copyright.PENANAoA5MjGL8Gy
you’re just going to stand there and not punish him?” he asked. “Where are your100Please respect copyright.PENANAKWVe5FRaxm
balls?”
“It’s not my place to torture him,100Please respect copyright.PENANApzLXKeWkHk
Cuvera.” Vander scoffed. He looked down at the man who curled back up into a100Please respect copyright.PENANAzi32mUvReZ
ball instead of standing up. He didn’t even wipe the blood from his mouth. “There100Please respect copyright.PENANAZif36poQra
is information he has that we need, but it’s up to my grandfather and your100Please respect copyright.PENANA5hBQjF0vUU
father to decide who gets to do it.”
“Why are we waiting around?”100Please respect copyright.PENANAW6KMkre2OI
Cuvera asked. “He knows where those bastards went who ordered my father100Please respect copyright.PENANAv0bRebHYf5
poisoned.” He violently kicked one of the bowls, so it shattered against the100Please respect copyright.PENANAwqAykWAAK8
wall. “This is so annoying.”
“Someone tried to poison the100Please respect copyright.PENANAVL3qx55lZP
King?” The assassin laughed. “I know nothing about that. My orders were to kill100Please respect copyright.PENANACXzhicmK2k
a Blade. My friends and I were given the time and place. We didn’t know it was100Please respect copyright.PENANAAmNgCPtQbo
going to be you.”
“Do you know who ordered the hit?”100Please respect copyright.PENANA4kwDbfGMEJ
Vander asked.
“It’s not my place to know.” The100Please respect copyright.PENANAeintvNr2fY
man shrugged. “I just follow orders. That’s all.” Vander strained to tell if he100Please respect copyright.PENANAnuNl7cAEAh
was lying, but based on the steady beat of his heart, he was telling the truth.
“Tell me more about the poisoning100Please respect copyright.PENANAw9U4fiO34F
of my father.” Cuvera squats down in front of the assassin. “And I want to know100Please respect copyright.PENANA4Si4buaWlq
everything.”
“I told you princeling,” he said100Please respect copyright.PENANADfdKKBjHLj
with a sneer. “I know nothing about that.”
“Which group do you belong too?”100Please respect copyright.PENANAEYmOTm4AxF
Vander asked. The assassin fell silent, but his eyes smoldered with rage.100Please respect copyright.PENANAqA7K3nGQvG
“There are ways I can use to find out.” The assassin stuck his chin out100Please respect copyright.PENANAizPXfc6hTM
indignantly.
“Hold him.” Cuvera demanded. “This100Please respect copyright.PENANA9EfTMWD2pe
is an order as your prince, not a request from a friend.” Nodding his head,100Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4pLsYxVxi
Vander grabbed the assassin then held him against the wall, so his feet were100Please respect copyright.PENANAo3ma6KCzqh
dangling. Even though he struggled, he wasn’t strong enough to do anything100Please respect copyright.PENANAxuLUGKtPYA
after days of not eating. So, after a few seconds he hung there like a limp100Please respect copyright.PENANAfKcSRTOp5P
noodle. “Knife.” Vander removed a knife from his belt then placed it in his100Please respect copyright.PENANAW0UgUlyVu4
friend’s outstretched hand.
Cuvera placed the knife against100Please respect copyright.PENANAlslCmqxcPb
the man’s arm then cut open the sleeve. He wasn’t gentle doing it drawing a100Please respect copyright.PENANAgmMYfXHGRd
little bit of blood in the process. He pulled the rest down to reveal a heavily100Please respect copyright.PENANAdfEhNfKEBA
muscled, but bare arm. Frowning, he moved onto the next arm with the same100Please respect copyright.PENANAjXAADxFEix
result. He clicked his tongue annoyed as he walked around the assassin who100Please respect copyright.PENANA5B0abr5cgg
likely knew what he wanted but wasn’t in the mood to help.
“Make him kneel.” Vander pulled100Please respect copyright.PENANA3UfsnTXx0J
the man off the wall placing him on the ground. Then he kicked out both knees100Please respect copyright.PENANAZm31gWhZ14
making him cry out in pain, but he fell to the ground placing his hands out in100Please respect copyright.PENANAQUoi2JVO7e
front of him to catch himself. Vander gripped the back of his neck then100Please respect copyright.PENANAIeZnpc5vPX
squeezed causing a small cry of pain to squeak out of the assassin, but he100Please respect copyright.PENANAw2jV4GComK
didn’t move.
“You won’t get your answers by100Please respect copyright.PENANAbpCnDBt4fT
torturing me.” He rasped. “I’ve been through far more than you have.” Without100Please respect copyright.PENANAJKoTM2fWsd
warning, Cuvera slammed the knife into the man’s shirt then ripped downward.100Please respect copyright.PENANAQqTCt8gkCe
The man stifled his screams as the knife tip bit into his flesh.
Vander wasn’t100Please respect copyright.PENANA52Ej5dlt5W
sure what the prince was after, but it became clear once he parted the bleeding100Please respect copyright.PENANABs9NNF0PpZ
shirt from the back to reveal an emblem that sent chills down his spine. It was100Please respect copyright.PENANAnFZUmUhats
an entwined green snake tattoo with a sword shoved through the mouth and100Please respect copyright.PENANAbFENRHrYG8
through the back. Even though he hadn’t seen it before, he knew that this was100Please respect copyright.PENANANH2g9rz0jI
the emblem of the Green Serpents.
“Well, we have100Please respect copyright.PENANAm4zbGL1HDe
one answer.” Cuvera smiled. “We know you are a Serpent and that lines up nicely100Please respect copyright.PENANAFT8YyHR2OM
with the intelligence that we already have.”
“I already told100Please respect copyright.PENANAJeJKlsGnKH
you,” the assassin shivered. “We had nothing to do with the King’s illness. It100Please respect copyright.PENANAgTxLMjpbYx
wasn’t us.”
“Vander.” Cuvera100Please respect copyright.PENANAXqx85X04CP
stepped back but tilted his head towards the assassin. Sighing, Vander hauled100Please respect copyright.PENANANJsL5YGs9X
the guy up to his feet then punched him in the stomach. The man doubled over100Please respect copyright.PENANAMwUqYw9kyq
but Vander brought his knee up right into his jaw. The assassin stumbled100Please respect copyright.PENANA8LfQKDs4pC
backwards, but he quickly righted himself. He spat out a wad of blood at100Please respect copyright.PENANAVTsjd7R5pp
Vander, hitting him in the face. As he struggled to wipe the blood away, the100Please respect copyright.PENANALICF6KfW2V
assassin tackled Vander pushing him into the bars. He let out a cry of pain but100Please respect copyright.PENANAnY1SbtcLGQ
recovered quickly. He brought both fists down onto the assassin’s back slamming100Please respect copyright.PENANA11E4q9bOWm
him into the ground. The assassin tried to crawl away, but Vander grabbed his100Please respect copyright.PENANAvN2342Tbzk
leg pulling him back in.
The two of them100Please respect copyright.PENANAFDbTZdwuU4
fought while Cuvera sat there with a small grin on his face. The fight ended100Please respect copyright.PENANArlPWUY8i7S
when Vander drove his elbow into the man’s already damaged jaw. That final blow100Please respect copyright.PENANAxkFs3y3csU
was enough to dislocate it then to keep him from crying out, a blow to the100Please respect copyright.PENANADxFEb16gqA
temple rendered him unconscious. Vander got up, staggered for a second, before100Please respect copyright.PENANARDJDqPQyY0
fixing himself.
“Why did you make100Please respect copyright.PENANA4xIOyvGAfI
me do that?” he asked the prince.
“I didn’t make100Please respect copyright.PENANAbnWytfAvyV
you do anything.” The prince shrugged. “It looked like you need to release some100Please respect copyright.PENANApgpDHLMLFn
rage, so I merely gave you the opportunity, plus we learned something in the100Please respect copyright.PENANALqZhvITNDg
process. Come on let’s go.”
Vander looked100Please respect copyright.PENANADycYpum9GW
down at the assassin before following his friend out of the cell and back100Please respect copyright.PENANAbPYTSZo9gV
towards the door. Cuvera didn’t say anything as they left, but Vander whispered100Please respect copyright.PENANAD8nZLcnZVA
to send a healer for the man inside. The guards nodded their head but didn’t100Please respect copyright.PENANAvQ6KJGrL7d
move. They would wait a few minutes before ‘discovering’ that the man had tried100Please respect copyright.PENANAjteCmctfNM
to harm himself. It wasn’t the first time they did something like this.100Please respect copyright.PENANA2udxz1lOzo
However, the King would find out then there would be hell to pay.
“Man, that was100Please respect copyright.PENANA1KEaTt3cLQ
awesome.” Cuvera cheered. “You were so badass when you were beating him. You100Please respect copyright.PENANAV4Fp0vnzaD
got to teach me how to fight.”
“If I remember100Please respect copyright.PENANA75NTV9wX2O
correctly that didn’t go so well the last time.” Vander mused. He held his hand100Please respect copyright.PENANAQDtTrVIiFP
out for the knife then promptly sheathed it as to not arouse suspicion. Last100Please respect copyright.PENANARGh5V8rKk0
time Vander had tried to teach the prince how to fight, they were ten years100Please respect copyright.PENANAUGeSyBA0VZ
old, and one punch was enough to send him crying to his mother. The King100Please respect copyright.PENANAFj0ERH35Ro
shortly put a stop to that.
“This time be100Please respect copyright.PENANAngZpTA7H06
different.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m in peak physical condition.” He threw a100Please respect copyright.PENANAT8qElPyQg7
couple of jabs into the air. Normally Vander would have laughed, but he had100Please respect copyright.PENANAPVDUNK33LE
just been ordered to beat a broken man and it didn’t sit right with him. Cuvera100Please respect copyright.PENANAYnCdPUDKbc
had his moments, but he wasn’t cruel. This was out of character for him,100Please respect copyright.PENANAcuffN7RliP
hearing about his father almost dying must have spooked him enough to act.
They made their100Please respect copyright.PENANAKZgeh0i72N
way through the castle heading back towards Cuvera’s apartment. They saw a100Please respect copyright.PENANA6qAMYUKvSg
couple of noblemen with their escorts, but they all bowed their heads once they100Please respect copyright.PENANAuMkRrS4JUv
realized it was the prince which allowed Vander to go unnoticed. He still100Please respect copyright.PENANAiCPz9AO3JN
hadn’t covered from his other injuries and now he could add fresh ones to the100Please respect copyright.PENANAplF2fsigYO
list. Despite being weakened, that assassin wasn’t a push over. He got in a few100Please respect copyright.PENANAHIdcFzSEbB
strikes causing some pain in the process. Despite the quicker healing he had,100Please respect copyright.PENANAci30HDLuxL
these injuries would still take a bit.
Vander noticed it100Please respect copyright.PENANAmDIyZMJGfK
before Cuvera, but there were two people waiting for them inside of his room.100Please respect copyright.PENANARyCNEFqCOz
He relaxed once he recognized their scents as Eliza and Kiara. Shea must like100Please respect copyright.PENANAGrXkRUfZwr
them because he didn’t sense any distress from their bond. If anything, she100Please respect copyright.PENANASDARWw2SC5
felt joy and excitement. Vander decided to keep his mouth shut about the100Please respect copyright.PENANAAZOoEOk6GV
visitors, his little dose of payback.
“Let’s get100Please respect copyright.PENANANZ9ErqK2AI
something to drink.” Cuvera gripped the door handle. But when he pushed it open100Please respect copyright.PENANAYvSppbOkph
his face fell. “Shit.” He whispered.
Kiara was sitting100Please respect copyright.PENANAUA31NTj5LF
on the couch running her hands through Shea’s fur. Shea was standing on top of100Please respect copyright.PENANAJKOQwmDajl
her knees licking her face as she laughed. Eliza was standing behind her sister100Please respect copyright.PENANAnSacAg3pBz
with a bemused expression on her face. Upon hearing the door open, the two women100Please respect copyright.PENANAW6WHiOzw0L
turned to look at them. Eliza nodded her head respectfully, but anger flooded100Please respect copyright.PENANAMnyFIM4mRN
Eliza’s .
Both had changed100Please respect copyright.PENANAncVg2SJjEQ
their outfits to match the cooler climate of Eluvia. Eliza had been given a100Please respect copyright.PENANADysa4F0hyZ
long blue dress, but was wearing an orange shawl over her arms, an ode to her100Please respect copyright.PENANAv1ZIFjUC6H
home country. Eliza was given slacks, a blue shirt and a jacket that looked a100Please respect copyright.PENANAu3ijfcq0EE
lot like a Blades. Her hair had been pulled back into a tight ponytail. She100Please respect copyright.PENANAk8rMGLvWcH
gave Vander a small smile then she turned back to look at her sister.
“You were100Please respect copyright.PENANA7bOQYqHVEa
supposed to escort me around the castle.” She growled. She got up from the100Please respect copyright.PENANAIvftFD6Qpu
couch and stormed over towards them. “Where have you been?” Vander quickly100Please respect copyright.PENANAEMIH97yNHU
tried to slink back into the shadows, but she caught him. “You’re not going100Please respect copyright.PENANA9UKuMDxJoz
anywhere.” She snapped. Her face softened once she saw the blood on his face.100Please respect copyright.PENANAVmzdXBIzFt
“Are you injured?” she asked.
“It’s nothing.”100Please respect copyright.PENANA0srCL2V5iH
Vander tried to hide it, but Kiara grabbed him. Vander hissed in pain, so she100Please respect copyright.PENANAETBm1Y1Q4v
removed her hand.
“Eliza, can you100Please respect copyright.PENANAqPkLBuLBiT
tend to his wounds so I can have a chat with my fiancé?” she asked. “Please100Please respect copyright.PENANAHdYgbXfHJU
don’t fight me on this Vander, I’d hate for our friendship to start on a bad100Please respect copyright.PENANAQeg8uXuTkA
foot.” He looked towards Cuvera, but he averted his eyes.
“As you wish.”100Please respect copyright.PENANAVXnk16VVUD
Vander bowed his head.
“This way.” Eliza100Please respect copyright.PENANA0Qyll59Hhj
escorted him to the bathroom then she shut the door. Moments later he could100Please respect copyright.PENANAa1D2tydwWZ
hear Kiara yelling at him, but he couldn’t hear what was being said. “Undress.”100Please respect copyright.PENANATYXHXnL0PX
Eliza said.
“Excuse me?” he100Please respect copyright.PENANAraRzKdI5kn
asked.
“You’re not the100Please respect copyright.PENANAddieuZfy9s
first man I’ve seen naked.” She scoffed. “And I doubt you’ll be the last.100Please respect copyright.PENANAR19blmnswW
Undress so I can see what I’m working with.” He hesitated, but due to her100Please respect copyright.PENANAzQEEnW6Nvy
incessant staring he did as she asked. Moments later his clothes were in the100Please respect copyright.PENANArE4G5vFSFQ
corner of the floor as he stood there not even bothering to cover himself. If100Please respect copyright.PENANATRFF3VTLxQ
she wasn’t embarrassed, neither would he.
She looked at him100Please respect copyright.PENANAwzclVU7OSr
over tracing the scars on his body lightly with her fingertips. The gentle100Please respect copyright.PENANAHZSepb4pUg
touch caused him to shiver which placed a delicate smile on her face. Looking100Please respect copyright.PENANArt6xkOwcSG
down at himself, he noticed more bruises than he thought spreading across his100Please respect copyright.PENANAlrk8QTNOCg
body. However, nothing compared to the giant bruise along his back. When she100Please respect copyright.PENANAc8ebWkONi4
touched it, he was filled with such immense pain he almost turned around to100Please respect copyright.PENANAy0Unq6phin
punch her in the face.
“You’ve been100Please respect copyright.PENANATNqgcwvv6c
involved in multiple fights recently.” She muttered. “But this one seems100Please respect copyright.PENANAkUARsqpSjt
recent. I heard the person who tired to kill you is locked in the dungeons. Is100Please respect copyright.PENANA6dJP0I8txi
that where you were?”
“Yes.” Vander100Please respect copyright.PENANAE56GjEAKfV
said. He wasn’t sure how she knew about the assassination attempt on him or100Please respect copyright.PENANAUJCFN0dfSM
where he was located. He suspected Bricen’s spies told her, but there was no100Please respect copyright.PENANAOmTzHUU2Ng
way of knowing for sure.
“You shouldn’t100Please respect copyright.PENANA6588g0WYOn
beat those who can’t fight back.” She said. “It’s not a good look, especially100Please respect copyright.PENANAZLplXuq9lm
for a Blade.”
“Even if the100Please respect copyright.PENANAokEJK1Bvai
prince ordered you too?” she didn’t say anything else after that. She applied100Please respect copyright.PENANAn0V6Jsw9Fw
some salve onto his wounds and the numbing cold allowed him to finally relax.100Please respect copyright.PENANA5xi2m2XuGC
Once she was done she told him to put his clothes on while she went out to talk100Please respect copyright.PENANASVgWgRlO2S
to Kiara. When he got outside he saw that Cuvera was nowhere to be found.
“I told him to100Please respect copyright.PENANACrPj5e8PWt
tell his father what happened as well as what you discovered.” Kiara said. “He100Please respect copyright.PENANAL8ajbFkABa
didn’t want to leave me, but I said you were here to protect me if I needed it.100Please respect copyright.PENANA6iXyYEr4R4
Now, I’m asking you to escort me around the castle. Are you up for it?”
“Yes.” Vander100Please respect copyright.PENANAuJh6lEnuFL
bowed his head. She turned to look up at Eliza who nodded her head in100Please respect copyright.PENANAneS5AUkAZH
agreement.
“Good thing your100Please respect copyright.PENANAfhUq2okGVB
fight with the assassin didn’t go worse or I’d have gone without an escort.”100Please respect copyright.PENANAW0N2frWsug
She grinned.
“Someone would100Please respect copyright.PENANA0C3CswPoKE
have taken you around when I couldn’t.” Vander explained. “We tend not to let100Please respect copyright.PENANAyGP3Lteq60
those of the royal family go without one, even within the castle.”
“You Eluvians are100Please respect copyright.PENANAS46yVJBwwI
so protective.” She sighed. “You should really let your noblemen learn to fight100Please respect copyright.PENANAYhmUvML3j1
for themselves.”
“Do you know how100Please respect copyright.PENANAnPCqKLrAM7
to fight?”
“It’s rude to ask100Please respect copyright.PENANA7TFv6uZMy1
a lady,” she grinned. “But perhaps if you’re nice I’ll give you a100Please respect copyright.PENANAhLJ7kBDtJT
demonstration.” Eliza coughed into her hand. “Alright, escort. Let’s go.” She100Please respect copyright.PENANAN4EaWVWqup
got up off the couch and headed towards the door. Vander hesitated for a moment100Please respect copyright.PENANASfDfXceyLu
then followed. Shea stayed where she was in front of the couch.
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“Let’s go.” He100Please respect copyright.PENANA2EZhozLvZM
said to her. She quickly got up and raced out the door nearly knocking Kiara100Please respect copyright.PENANAY9QxDFS1PD
over in the process.