Chapter 27
If you’ve never117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdxTeowcWz
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoM8TZsbgT
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPXmBSlsW5
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7T8So8YZS
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXmL1pLKS7
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsQ0jZSHjG
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIYy92DDsY
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdMC5ykLAO
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryKafIgNzd
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh76XPuFSQM
down.
Vander flapped117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vgJXLHkOV
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBdHUGuVHz
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0vO6Av0HA
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XiQTL1SUO
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbbBphMj9I
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer5NwlET99
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJeyjTdw98
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nJMjiG1ES
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQunpwj6xwL
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5LmvTFIwV
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF62j2pcK3t
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVl5D84alON
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQWRbH9QyZ
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1U3E0hXjR
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93shqgBxiH
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4ijAIQDxW
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnneW9frxI
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUkKjbLnaU
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkoEDAmtOP
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaCA38j5JI
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDGdTy7Kml
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83y1wc70NG
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeMGT7317C
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7hPgPZCtV
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROyuU9E5jk
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerV5ZLt0ms
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81XE8OF6lE
figure?”
“One of these117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHGv2WR4MD
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO5PY6cAlj
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsih0JZD0YT
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndkAj3B3kh
be seen again.”
“I guess that117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycSBzHnXAI
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G6MJhg6BQ
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJVdaQbOem
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0eEa2Y17A
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9g29tmKmk
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fBsNDr8Dj
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3YC3veNMO
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyv2G2IG22v
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXjAxicO55
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jWliCpQnI
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlJvQnegcC
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk3N4vSNA6
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNv0N6jzxN
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mw036Urvj
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXJ5VHH19E
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklOFEq3xDz
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlhsdRPMnw
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuedC7coTS
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qdy6zqlNn
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFZXj8oEPd
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmhwHlzlqK
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWzHW7c6Dj
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGeNZqYbfo
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1IOiVP8cu
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRU2kFeR8y
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvDhNTAeM3
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQtT0AHMFd
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3LgbqcR0o
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfqT4CsU3V
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzfOyJS5w1
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAdNWf3aSc
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMShIO1LPI
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUknzkCU6YC
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz7PQSgBkT
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58TtftzFdM
his Blade.
“You have minutes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tzIqmG9xR
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZHvzzmtpj
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxu8GS6HwW
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJzToc5Jgq
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD95l8OjN5O
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4sGlyz5DB
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSboOI5z0zl
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QlFtTPVUa
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtKGwH00t6
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdihWmC3poq
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn2YRQOg81
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBcP72dL76
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcx9xyRC9FQ
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlpb5m5ZG8
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj3An7zRMW
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXKWv7Ppk7
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnXSW5ITQj
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzjAqvfof
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5LpcO4bnv
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcaROXSKxc
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fDBIWjZXs
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMC0e11c5w
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLLsVy5ZXC
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KnaUEcEFy
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcZ4nHL2AA
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzqV6R1eNt
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5BMlL3Hkt
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xnlNFrjJU
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlHeGjdeYP
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1NusL9pjV
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejDi4dHeE4
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJpfxoKxls
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIhB196fzj
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6qXdZCFqG
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8vQQyb2o1
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5F9WhizCF
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrygtxQuH2
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAC5KANQVA
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt7phWiVVv
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIehvA9hAL
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuugMmebFEE
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVpqIT1FDX
before disappearing.
He heard shouting117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJelwBT8caA
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4Un9xc7Bj
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz7jyvKyJL
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr7ef258Ey
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxLnNPxdeg
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5rtd0OIpo
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAm4eoceMN
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1KIay4hif
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLoatmgsMf
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2ypsjrwbc
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsIr4pLyJt
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBoMBnEFyI
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63N8ZYrzqj
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzABA8X8SEZ
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwgskrI7Ng
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb2L9Aqw3t
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd46bijnla0
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RGmHrWqOK
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySbKXRpJzW
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGPW15hJkk
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlDkD9oxn1
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN69i0wF4hi
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their117Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLG2OEHdAu
swords readied to skewer him.
