Chapter 31
The roads leading out of the74Please respect copyright.PENANAtjfrSKoHvT
district were empty, which wasn’t much of a surprise. A common misconception74Please respect copyright.PENANAiTcZOTXMDD
about this place was that there were crimes happening all over, but that simply74Please respect copyright.PENANAXXRDFx7UhR
wasn’t true. Since Ross had taken over it had gone down considerably, but74Please respect copyright.PENANALHnFTtrJ2Z
stigmas kept people from coming here, which was beneficial in this case.
The guards protecting the gate had74Please respect copyright.PENANAHTlEZKuq4v
doubled since the other days and Vander didn’t think he could bluff his way out74Please respect copyright.PENANA0IjwaUA39g
of this one. Luckily, he was in disguise, so he instructed Shea to wait until74Please respect copyright.PENANACOcEbtrqqR
the guards were distracted before sneaking her way through. So, he shrank down74Please respect copyright.PENANAr1VfB4lDuh
a bit and looked down at the road before meekly walking up to the guards. He74Please respect copyright.PENANA31TPdlGfxx
made sure to make enough noise so that they would notice him. A giant hand was74Please respect copyright.PENANAY43W8zT3u7
stuck out to keep Vander from going further.
“Stop,” One of them said. “Where74Please respect copyright.PENANAuyT2vNCYnl
are you coming from?”
“Over there,” Vander pointed back74Please respect copyright.PENANATzz4VYeRkb
towards the Southern District. “I’m new to the city and had no idea where I was74Please respect copyright.PENANAGkENuBctXJ
going. I didn’t think a place in Eluvia would be so… scary.”
“Everyone knows to stay away from74Please respect copyright.PENANAEWjkk4F86F
that area.” Another guard snorted. “Idiot probably tried to get some cheap tail74Please respect copyright.PENANA0CpAvZJyQ4
and got scared.”
“Where are you headed?” The first74Please respect copyright.PENANA2rBw0koIwq
guard glared at his companion before turning back to look at Vander.
“Warm Heath,” Vander explained. “I74Please respect copyright.PENANA1Vxv8UEhz1
was told to meet my father there, but I got lost while I explored.”
“Warm Hearth?” The guard thought74Please respect copyright.PENANAoFaCEQJe8O
for a moment before brightening. “That’s Julianna’s place. Such a beautiful74Please respect copyright.PENANAYIJFKZ3Doh
woman that one.” He sighed.
“What I’d love to do to her.” The74Please respect copyright.PENANAsGuZ30fLwX
other guards laughed together. Vander had to hold back his anger, but it didn’t74Please respect copyright.PENANAXaoD4c85Et
seem as though the group would have even noticed.
“Just follow this road all the way74Please respect copyright.PENANAaUZrwLSMDr
down.” The helpful guard explained. “Once you see the gate leading into the74Please respect copyright.PENANAGHhfj7BiKd
Northern District it’s right here on the left.”
“Thank you.” Vander bowed his74Please respect copyright.PENANAdjuNV7vsFM
head. He went to walk past them, but another hand stopped him in his tracks.
“Make sure to show some support to74Please respect copyright.PENANAdCNnKUh4tm
your helpful guide.” A guard with a missing tooth grinned. Sighing, Vander74Please respect copyright.PENANAd3ugOYwzXE
reached into his pocket and removed a gold coin then placed it in the guard’s74Please respect copyright.PENANAmonjNNWaU6
hand. Pretending to be a country boy, he said:
“I hope that’s enough to show my74Please respect copyright.PENANA1mA2C6ZqL7
appreciation.” The guard’s eyes practically exploded from their eyes as they74Please respect copyright.PENANAG2rkYyUrIG
saw the mark. Normally they’d get loose change, maybe even a silver piece, but74Please respect copyright.PENANAQFQq0rj3vs
for someone to give them a gold mark, it was quite a boon. “If there is74Please respect copyright.PENANAcrPX2qh58S
anything else I would like to be on my way.”
“Just one more thing.” The first74Please respect copyright.PENANAxGmCDDBIij
guard said. “What’s with the sword you’re holding? Usually merchants don’t74Please respect copyright.PENANAwIA34SC531
carry weapons, so why do you?” He looked at the guard confused, but then burst74Please respect copyright.PENANAfjrjQDEMC1
out laughing. He removed the sword from his baldric and handed it over.
“It’s got a reverse blade.” Vander74Please respect copyright.PENANASYxwJWUdy9
explained. “It’s mostly used to keep people from messing with me. It’s not74Please respect copyright.PENANACpI8YjR08i
something that I’ve had to use yet, but it makes me feel safe.” The guards74Please respect copyright.PENANAYVQDYEe9CN
unsheathed the sword and looked it over. The first one chuckled before handing74Please respect copyright.PENANAgjFJLmoxEh
it back.
“That’s quite the con you have74Please respect copyright.PENANAW8Sh781qY8
there.” He said as Vander resheathed it. “Hopefully no one notices it or you’ll74Please respect copyright.PENANAzxqndHABjr
wind up in trouble.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank74Please respect copyright.PENANAG1CIaqzDAC
you.” Vander excused himself. He could hear the guards muttering to themselves74Please respect copyright.PENANAEPtuRKEGYS
as he walked back. He could hear what they were saying, and it sounded like74Please respect copyright.PENANAw0uwWt4J6W
they were going to try and rob him if they saw him again. Perhaps he misjudged74Please respect copyright.PENANA66MX5GkJcv
by handing them a gold mark. He would have to keep his wits about him when he74Please respect copyright.PENANAWpMUaVaMOY
returned. He probably should go through the eastern district next time.
There were more patrols going74Please respect copyright.PENANAD5tOfN6dfp
through the western district this time. It was to be expected since seven74Please respect copyright.PENANAgsvGAkcntH
people had been killed, but he thought it was a bit overkill that mixed in with74Please respect copyright.PENANAkNLnDFknYV
the normal patrols were Blades which made his job a little more difficult. They74Please respect copyright.PENANA7Kip0j1fxx
would be able to recognize him even through this disguise, even more so if Shea74Please respect copyright.PENANAhklqBhyZVE
was with him. So, he told her to stick to the shadows and alleys. He would meet74Please respect copyright.PENANA4rJg88tRH6
her in the northern district as soon as he could. She agreed and was gone.
To not appear suspicious, Vander74Please respect copyright.PENANAVnhGepmhri
kept his head up and back straight. He walked without the fear of being hunted74Please respect copyright.PENANA26bNqhQkD2
which made him to be more invisible than if he tried sneaking. He had been74Please respect copyright.PENANAQAtlpjWZe8
taught that if you want to hide, you should do it in plain sight. Adapt a74Please respect copyright.PENANAvOJVLlSJUA
persona that wouldn’t stand out but look as though it belonged. He had learned74Please respect copyright.PENANA1aOgpgmr6r
that lesson from Malcolm who enjoyed walking down to interact with the people.74Please respect copyright.PENANAHO5HomX1bS
He always did that in disguise. It made him feel closer to the citizens he was74Please respect copyright.PENANAurnW4t8qbY
supposed to govern and protect.
I didn’t take him long to maneuver74Please respect copyright.PENANA2X3Q1Wg0Gi
through the scores of guardians in the district to arrive at the Inn where74Please respect copyright.PENANAHYGQzGCHH0
everything had started. Peering through the window, he instantly saw Julianna74Please respect copyright.PENANAegruGOcFJz
maneuvering her way through the scores of customers to place food and drinks on74Please respect copyright.PENANAmYn3pQJmCO
the table in front of them. Someone must have said something because she gave a74Please respect copyright.PENANAPzguaaS7FE
small laugh. As she turned around to head back, hers and Vander’s eyes met.
She mouthed his name, but he was74Please respect copyright.PENANAEhkA0aqMnX
already gone. He heard her footsteps coming then the door flew open. He heard74Please respect copyright.PENANAKAFPPT33MF
her shout his name, but he was already in the Northern District. He chided74Please respect copyright.PENANAGlW7LvJQw5
himself, he couldn’t believe that he had been so sloppy. Hopefully none of the74Please respect copyright.PENANAQNhHLW9geH
guards heard. He didn’t want any trouble coming to her, not on account of him.
“Wait!” He heard her shout at him.74Please respect copyright.PENANAp31IPGrxbc
He stopped and turned to watch as she chased him down the street. He threw74Please respect copyright.PENANARKeMds0aqV
herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. He was74Please respect copyright.PENANA1BkW3Xbr53
shocked. It took him a second before he returned her hug. It felt good holding74Please respect copyright.PENANA6TSOLuad66
her again, breathing a familiar scent forced some calm into his body. However,74Please respect copyright.PENANAOqP5u8nzGU
it felt as though she had lost quite a bit of weight since he had last seen74Please respect copyright.PENANAuzkSuPIGhF
her. He pushed her away slightly to stare at her. Her eyes were sunken in, it74Please respect copyright.PENANA1DQ0uUXSGT
didn’t appear as though she was sleeping. He also spotted a few strands of74Please respect copyright.PENANAin1nd2P6jQ
graying hair on the top of her head.
“Why are you staring?” It sounded74Please respect copyright.PENANA0o23R5XC74
like she was close to tears. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No, you look as beautiful as74Please respect copyright.PENANAykGUfYxVia
always,” Vander cupped her cheek. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.74Please respect copyright.PENANAZBV4gLt2QT
What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong?”74Please respect copyright.PENANAq4iaKbVuzp
She shoved him so hard he took a few steps backwards. “You asshole, you had me74Please respect copyright.PENANAxbn0ReQI50
worried.”
“I’m sorry,” he sighed.
“They knew about our74Please respect copyright.PENANAonKir1Zcm3
relationship.” Julianna said. “After the King’s assassination, they came here74Please respect copyright.PENANAzuT92Zh02y
looking for you. That was before it came out that you killed him.” She paused,74Please respect copyright.PENANAUERJRIRmzc
looking back at him. “You didn’t actually kill him, did you?”
“No,” the question hurt him, but74Please respect copyright.PENANAUpRPJ0MrX9
if he was in her position he would have asked it too. “It wasn’t me; it was74Please respect copyright.PENANAznuemLEMfo
Peyton Cranton.”
“No shit?” she sighed. “I knew74Please respect copyright.PENANAxH6tihlr21
there was something about him I didn’t like.” He didn’t know what to say so he74Please respect copyright.PENANAIFp5XrLRpF
just sat there awkwardly. “Are you doing alright?”
“I’m trying to clear my name.” he74Please respect copyright.PENANApZDittmoUv
explained. “I’m hunting down those responsible so I can find proof that Peyton74Please respect copyright.PENANAvhe7iJnEvO
conspired against the King, but I’m coming up with nothing.”
“So, those people you killed?” she74Please respect copyright.PENANAlaNyghkUZk
asked. “Were they enemies?”
“How did you know it was me?”
“Vander, I’ve cleaned you up after74Please respect copyright.PENANAMvSxLmHzla
plenty of fights where you’ve butchered people.” She spoke. “The first time we74Please respect copyright.PENANAZElPsRWGKS
met was because you saved me. I’d know it was you from a mile away.”
“Do you think anyone else knew?”74Please respect copyright.PENANAY0FMiLHvL7
She nodded her head.
“That’s why there are so many74Please respect copyright.PENANAnZECN5MnpJ
patrols.” She explained. “They are hunting for you, hoping to catch you before74Please respect copyright.PENANAkm3bfFmXWN
you kill others.” She reached over to take his hand. “Do not stop until you74Please respect copyright.PENANA7aKgzenRRe
clear your name, okay? The city seems a lot darker without you in it.” She74Please respect copyright.PENANAulXfldqqfW
reached up to kiss his cheek. “I will keep you in my prayers. Now go, before74Please respect copyright.PENANAJInEPX0734
another patrol stops you.” Vander squeezed her hand back, but before he could74Please respect copyright.PENANAq5HcXW0Pp8
do anything else, she pulled away heading back to the inn, but she seemed to74Please respect copyright.PENANA16yPPXF6NH
have a little more pep in her step.
He leaned up against the gate,74Please respect copyright.PENANAmBoGXXny4c
which was oddly unguarded. He didn’t understand why, he thought that all the74Please respect copyright.PENANA1YzzcwU956
gates in the city were guarded, the Northern District wasn’t an exception.74Please respect copyright.PENANAkJTTxQ12i8
Maybe something had happened, and they were needed? Either way it was good luck74Please respect copyright.PENANAyHcgei6DoR
for him.
“What happened?” He heard74Please respect copyright.PENANAagHtVA5I5c
Shea ask. He looked over to see her slipping out from the shadows. They clung74Please respect copyright.PENANAgNFT77pOC0
to her fur turning her black, but as she stepped away, they flipped from her74Please respect copyright.PENANAA3iPEBgiqL
turning her fur back to normal.
“Julianna saw me,” He explained.74Please respect copyright.PENANAnOp4BQeKA0
“Hopefully nothing comes of it. Anyway, aren’t you going to tell me how long74Please respect copyright.PENANAKZGmOnxVMm
you’ve been able to do that?”
She snorted. “I’ve always been74Please respect copyright.PENANAirchYyBN0P
able to, you’ve just never noticed.”
“After this is done, you’ll have74Please respect copyright.PENANAZ52XkAW10U
to tell me everything else I never noticed.”
“That will take a long time.” She74Please respect copyright.PENANAsujgMXGuyP
grinned. He had to resist the urge to smack her, but they had other business to74Please respect copyright.PENANANwBgP86Wi6
attend to.
The Temple District was the most74Please respect copyright.PENANAfbhOx4lq4Q
spacious of all the districts. It was home only to the temples for each god74Please respect copyright.PENANA6SNoiGTNVi
along with parks and forests to allow people time to reflect in a74Please respect copyright.PENANAMitnkISi4y
nonjudgemental space. Weapons were strictly prohibited here, they had to be sheathed74Please respect copyright.PENANAtYayQzp3Ek
or hidden. If not, you would be forcibly removed by the guards and expelled74Please respect copyright.PENANAPuC8c0RJ2b
from the city.
The Temple of Humjir was the most74Please respect copyright.PENANAwmJF6LLlEL
spacious and largest of all the temples as it was the cities patron god. The74Please respect copyright.PENANArSC5gSTmOV
building was built in a massive circle with the central part open to the74Please respect copyright.PENANA8v3VuSuPz7
elements. It allowed the moon to shine down into a pool of water in the dead74Please respect copyright.PENANAoDadilQpCK
center. Rumor had it the high priest sometimes got visions from Humjir which74Please respect copyright.PENANAwhhuzYGbHz
allowed him to aide the King. Whether or not that was true remains to be seen.
Vander walked up the large, stone74Please respect copyright.PENANAbhUa63qlOw
staircase with Shea trotting alongside him. Once he reached the top, he saw74Please respect copyright.PENANAf7JVOzV6Jk
Humi standing there with his arms folded in front of his chest.
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“I’ve been expecting you,” Humi74Please respect copyright.PENANAw3y73aKXtG
smiled. “Welcome to the Temple of Humjir, young Blade. Follow me, we have lots74Please respect copyright.PENANAWcaM4aBeKU
to discuss.”