Chapter 27
If you’ve never95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOizDKBGONB
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthLhpuiqut
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoJmE1rkob
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TTIu9GJEv
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHhqvKMADd
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qVitrg0pP
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHDyILBW8n
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt904AVKCte
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyBxHZEqQC
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZ2SMMJ5sH
down.
Vander flapped95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1CT62h7lg
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6ibJ2syjv
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cP5Rq4LqN
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8u2YGQ3AO
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4rqhD0q0P
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wiCtsqoUR
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbMAFdETwA
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiHIwPyZd9
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3e7qgOA1y
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE0RfCNVPb
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m0u7AGnG6
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRC8BfjGWg
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpWGwDEaKj
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmYJcqEQMt
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASg6WDzkvp
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5uaBefQQG
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9UpGgsVzk
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPn9sFg8inY
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJnDSpTOng
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xlt8WCzGa
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU5UusthcU
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBecDAhUIE
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgajZvb3Y2
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiVI5VCABp
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12GLTTA2nD
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QUVkXC4oD
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoxoOcJtV6
figure?”
“One of these95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYJ23lE6AT
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58oms94jsq
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5smHUwJtx
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLRvS18nbI
be seen again.”
“I guess that95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj4z7jpAB7
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYYBvxOPrV
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS57N25QLy4
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wH7L9lhgg
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnlml9xbWK
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsTKYCCucf
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs2RyixAln
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHCqEuczHh
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T69M84jph
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNggNQ3k2x
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12tKNCRlSA
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ1nW5GaLj
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PCzFe7BjZ
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SdVnxPwAK
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqnOe8gx3Z
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAjeTpX2Mk
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLk43XRKO3
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5DgHqzTrh
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8BAjEaHXp
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAgNP09WwB
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKppbY8qSql
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7PYatphvZ
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHi5FEQlCo
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbbFn0kIS3
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Tm73mV8UZ
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqk8PmiKAK
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wwOIqABbV
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwSIABpU5f
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyt9bjMZbO
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7ISSsxso7
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAlGbl3Om7
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KFfMUe6GX
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW9rFKlNN5
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjXXqq2YlS
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwuWz9p9Uj
his Blade.
“You have minutes95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci2YSNwzxj
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYqpTb0z0f
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgorxXxo1dS
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1twiAqBS1K
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qTbzfC1av
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4uIDM1edS
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH41seZgf6L
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgWgesngR4
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t6gwRdhnM
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ligUXqkM
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iUdBMrIbp
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrziVG5FawN
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRV8dmznd7
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDx77fF1Nd
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM03qlVtvuv
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz68YqAQ8z
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0WRJ67Cb9
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8hYtKWbJc
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4E5YV0hnv6
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlMk1xJUI7
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrvIPWITLO
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvS3aX9vPT
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo0piMk2m7
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9w7ta2kkf
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0QlfnijV7
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLnCh6MNsT
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBN4gSpH6y
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRAX9kEuI4
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxas9wefhCU
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NvmCj24Uj
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XLTg2CaZE
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hsEZ7wYlv
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABUfJAVGrG
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9yP6QSSxn
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Idgn25VIw
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vPG2pnQPf
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJyW31CWMV
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9puggDUZG
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuDzIu07og
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ksmV9t33C
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pPtXlIEcB
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVPUEerMc7
before disappearing.
He heard shouting95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUN0sQrIL2
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCAIpwdf9H
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhbdrojuYB
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzhvi7q0gx
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesLhwDSmZh
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUks1Gc2PBg
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhzq5C0KMV
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gab4RBV1L
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86GgKzLDNN
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2QdZmunOc
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsevMEuprod
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zegZypNYP
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AF3sFiDZA
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Ge5KjMXB
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCo9qzgA1f
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhvZot6YLh
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhcYsfdAaK
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUtZOn79Ck
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKrZC7X8wK
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQt7G7aFAl
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGbouaeUPV
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSk1AtnegC
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGu6GqG4Oy
swords readied to skewer him.
