Chapter 31
The roads leading out of the102Please respect copyright.PENANAVX9QC8eBlN
district were empty, which wasn’t much of a surprise. A common misconception102Please respect copyright.PENANAo2EnVppnqc
about this place was that there were crimes happening all over, but that simply102Please respect copyright.PENANA6d0mtyeCwo
wasn’t true. Since Ross had taken over it had gone down considerably, but102Please respect copyright.PENANALsKiMrn180
stigmas kept people from coming here, which was beneficial in this case.
The guards protecting the gate had102Please respect copyright.PENANAqBkPCkyeG9
doubled since the other days and Vander didn’t think he could bluff his way out102Please respect copyright.PENANAPvqu9Dp1Jr
of this one. Luckily, he was in disguise, so he instructed Shea to wait until102Please respect copyright.PENANAp6862GQbcG
the guards were distracted before sneaking her way through. So, he shrank down102Please respect copyright.PENANA1TU8VLxJIV
a bit and looked down at the road before meekly walking up to the guards. He102Please respect copyright.PENANAvVAEWW74Xb
made sure to make enough noise so that they would notice him. A giant hand was102Please respect copyright.PENANAEu7MUebB4R
stuck out to keep Vander from going further.
“Stop,” One of them said. “Where102Please respect copyright.PENANADwjUHPOIpn
are you coming from?”
“Over there,” Vander pointed back102Please respect copyright.PENANAUaDq7AAsKn
towards the Southern District. “I’m new to the city and had no idea where I was102Please respect copyright.PENANAYyNaqlK1nL
going. I didn’t think a place in Eluvia would be so… scary.”
“Everyone knows to stay away from102Please respect copyright.PENANAYssQQC9vXM
that area.” Another guard snorted. “Idiot probably tried to get some cheap tail102Please respect copyright.PENANAhM3M8qwqIS
and got scared.”
“Where are you headed?” The first102Please respect copyright.PENANAQtD67Q6Umy
guard glared at his companion before turning back to look at Vander.
“Warm Heath,” Vander explained. “I102Please respect copyright.PENANAwbyAS16SUC
was told to meet my father there, but I got lost while I explored.”
“Warm Hearth?” The guard thought102Please respect copyright.PENANA7XFO79Odzp
for a moment before brightening. “That’s Julianna’s place. Such a beautiful102Please respect copyright.PENANAt2MDsZceCO
woman that one.” He sighed.
“What I’d love to do to her.” The102Please respect copyright.PENANA5r38QKekZG
other guards laughed together. Vander had to hold back his anger, but it didn’t102Please respect copyright.PENANAnddWBB7KXz
seem as though the group would have even noticed.
“Just follow this road all the way102Please respect copyright.PENANAjccWdlLD15
down.” The helpful guard explained. “Once you see the gate leading into the102Please respect copyright.PENANAFFaSDqQqal
Northern District it’s right here on the left.”
“Thank you.” Vander bowed his102Please respect copyright.PENANA4YlWO72ZTh
head. He went to walk past them, but another hand stopped him in his tracks.
“Make sure to show some support to102Please respect copyright.PENANA7tdv5FH9yR
your helpful guide.” A guard with a missing tooth grinned. Sighing, Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANAGYfSipaQem
reached into his pocket and removed a gold coin then placed it in the guard’s102Please respect copyright.PENANAjgW1yMpjCZ
hand. Pretending to be a country boy, he said:
“I hope that’s enough to show my102Please respect copyright.PENANASY7nrvgfv7
appreciation.” The guard’s eyes practically exploded from their eyes as they102Please respect copyright.PENANAayi4Cg2zkm
saw the mark. Normally they’d get loose change, maybe even a silver piece, but102Please respect copyright.PENANApq3IeXzGz1
for someone to give them a gold mark, it was quite a boon. “If there is102Please respect copyright.PENANAbjVLJDoKxM
anything else I would like to be on my way.”
“Just one more thing.” The first102Please respect copyright.PENANADbl0cVFi5v
guard said. “What’s with the sword you’re holding? Usually merchants don’t102Please respect copyright.PENANA5sPTm3nrCI
carry weapons, so why do you?” He looked at the guard confused, but then burst102Please respect copyright.PENANAwHIE6wPX8u
out laughing. He removed the sword from his baldric and handed it over.
“It’s got a reverse blade.” Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANAoO42luRiKk
explained. “It’s mostly used to keep people from messing with me. It’s not102Please respect copyright.PENANAYBdsvpecTW
something that I’ve had to use yet, but it makes me feel safe.” The guards102Please respect copyright.PENANA3MOg45eZtV
unsheathed the sword and looked it over. The first one chuckled before handing102Please respect copyright.PENANAltw6eq5c7T
it back.
“That’s quite the con you have102Please respect copyright.PENANAqPTKZqnz4Y
there.” He said as Vander resheathed it. “Hopefully no one notices it or you’ll102Please respect copyright.PENANAgACGu0bLxU
wind up in trouble.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank102Please respect copyright.PENANA7a1ZXVj69p
you.” Vander excused himself. He could hear the guards muttering to themselves102Please respect copyright.PENANAAo3G9TAy5b
as he walked back. He could hear what they were saying, and it sounded like102Please respect copyright.PENANAK8acU8fExM
they were going to try and rob him if they saw him again. Perhaps he misjudged102Please respect copyright.PENANAeKZ4oAmElN
by handing them a gold mark. He would have to keep his wits about him when he102Please respect copyright.PENANASSOZg08cke
returned. He probably should go through the eastern district next time.
There were more patrols going102Please respect copyright.PENANAIodYBXOVGV
through the western district this time. It was to be expected since seven102Please respect copyright.PENANArdF2ns0vtw
people had been killed, but he thought it was a bit overkill that mixed in with102Please respect copyright.PENANA05gwJbtUH0
the normal patrols were Blades which made his job a little more difficult. They102Please respect copyright.PENANARZ7yIyRZw7
would be able to recognize him even through this disguise, even more so if Shea102Please respect copyright.PENANAjdZRO35R4m
was with him. So, he told her to stick to the shadows and alleys. He would meet102Please respect copyright.PENANANqqD8Zx0l1
her in the northern district as soon as he could. She agreed and was gone.
To not appear suspicious, Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANAxjcIjMBlng
kept his head up and back straight. He walked without the fear of being hunted102Please respect copyright.PENANAHZbmojJwCs
which made him to be more invisible than if he tried sneaking. He had been102Please respect copyright.PENANAfSRht0dKMg
taught that if you want to hide, you should do it in plain sight. Adapt a102Please respect copyright.PENANATKgKZFICtx
persona that wouldn’t stand out but look as though it belonged. He had learned102Please respect copyright.PENANAtR0UZLH0rr
that lesson from Malcolm who enjoyed walking down to interact with the people.102Please respect copyright.PENANAkOVuMvpyxH
He always did that in disguise. It made him feel closer to the citizens he was102Please respect copyright.PENANANwengoTrFf
supposed to govern and protect.
I didn’t take him long to maneuver102Please respect copyright.PENANARfXQc7rYFj
through the scores of guardians in the district to arrive at the Inn where102Please respect copyright.PENANA2lDpJOQsjb
everything had started. Peering through the window, he instantly saw Julianna102Please respect copyright.PENANAA7P5wabOs8
maneuvering her way through the scores of customers to place food and drinks on102Please respect copyright.PENANAMyGYhapKtj
the table in front of them. Someone must have said something because she gave a102Please respect copyright.PENANA9wI9VxqgSG
small laugh. As she turned around to head back, hers and Vander’s eyes met.
She mouthed his name, but he was102Please respect copyright.PENANA1jBtEOqVfv
already gone. He heard her footsteps coming then the door flew open. He heard102Please respect copyright.PENANAqTiYcgOpyS
her shout his name, but he was already in the Northern District. He chided102Please respect copyright.PENANAHoJvm8TZRp
himself, he couldn’t believe that he had been so sloppy. Hopefully none of the102Please respect copyright.PENANA0jTH1ulyjj
guards heard. He didn’t want any trouble coming to her, not on account of him.
“Wait!” He heard her shout at him.102Please respect copyright.PENANAmZiqKtUZKD
He stopped and turned to watch as she chased him down the street. He threw102Please respect copyright.PENANAkGU8cIfJd7
herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. He was102Please respect copyright.PENANAYjthYCI89m
shocked. It took him a second before he returned her hug. It felt good holding102Please respect copyright.PENANA6SCTRfI7UJ
her again, breathing a familiar scent forced some calm into his body. However,102Please respect copyright.PENANAzRe6T8MiEe
it felt as though she had lost quite a bit of weight since he had last seen102Please respect copyright.PENANAVcS039yB5n
her. He pushed her away slightly to stare at her. Her eyes were sunken in, it102Please respect copyright.PENANAhPJNXKCIdP
didn’t appear as though she was sleeping. He also spotted a few strands of102Please respect copyright.PENANAtUEbcKNZwH
graying hair on the top of her head.
“Why are you staring?” It sounded102Please respect copyright.PENANAVeMNZQRBEv
like she was close to tears. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No, you look as beautiful as102Please respect copyright.PENANAtOIimziXA7
always,” Vander cupped her cheek. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.102Please respect copyright.PENANAG1wvPpYVe8
What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong?”102Please respect copyright.PENANACoLVH6Fsjn
She shoved him so hard he took a few steps backwards. “You asshole, you had me102Please respect copyright.PENANAj2fhQ80RZP
worried.”
“I’m sorry,” he sighed.
“They knew about our102Please respect copyright.PENANAOj2OHBI8ux
relationship.” Julianna said. “After the King’s assassination, they came here102Please respect copyright.PENANAgFE3V4Ziw3
looking for you. That was before it came out that you killed him.” She paused,102Please respect copyright.PENANA4RWvOaHWUx
looking back at him. “You didn’t actually kill him, did you?”
“No,” the question hurt him, but102Please respect copyright.PENANAEyewmPv65Z
if he was in her position he would have asked it too. “It wasn’t me; it was102Please respect copyright.PENANAs6rPtQT3ou
Peyton Cranton.”
“No shit?” she sighed. “I knew102Please respect copyright.PENANAHrjIu98C03
there was something about him I didn’t like.” He didn’t know what to say so he102Please respect copyright.PENANASpPas9PNx2
just sat there awkwardly. “Are you doing alright?”
“I’m trying to clear my name.” he102Please respect copyright.PENANAEf77l4ApnS
explained. “I’m hunting down those responsible so I can find proof that Peyton102Please respect copyright.PENANAtWfG4eQUlY
conspired against the King, but I’m coming up with nothing.”
“So, those people you killed?” she102Please respect copyright.PENANAMoowdBXb80
asked. “Were they enemies?”
“How did you know it was me?”
“Vander, I’ve cleaned you up after102Please respect copyright.PENANAanIZSrBwsF
plenty of fights where you’ve butchered people.” She spoke. “The first time we102Please respect copyright.PENANAVC3iyEzwzp
met was because you saved me. I’d know it was you from a mile away.”
“Do you think anyone else knew?”102Please respect copyright.PENANAbHhEMcRmMN
She nodded her head.
“That’s why there are so many102Please respect copyright.PENANA5xbh5gC5ZG
patrols.” She explained. “They are hunting for you, hoping to catch you before102Please respect copyright.PENANAU4rW6nmjso
you kill others.” She reached over to take his hand. “Do not stop until you102Please respect copyright.PENANA3UeWpdSitD
clear your name, okay? The city seems a lot darker without you in it.” She102Please respect copyright.PENANA4u2kV5UAL5
reached up to kiss his cheek. “I will keep you in my prayers. Now go, before102Please respect copyright.PENANAov2LNMrC8U
another patrol stops you.” Vander squeezed her hand back, but before he could102Please respect copyright.PENANAtwMWr85b9k
do anything else, she pulled away heading back to the inn, but she seemed to102Please respect copyright.PENANAgfxHELBEgV
have a little more pep in her step.
He leaned up against the gate,102Please respect copyright.PENANALWe4C4vNKb
which was oddly unguarded. He didn’t understand why, he thought that all the102Please respect copyright.PENANALyyzA0j67n
gates in the city were guarded, the Northern District wasn’t an exception.102Please respect copyright.PENANA30Vjd7kwJF
Maybe something had happened, and they were needed? Either way it was good luck102Please respect copyright.PENANAl2URZpY8C2
for him.
“What happened?” He heard102Please respect copyright.PENANAWd1dlcYPYv
Shea ask. He looked over to see her slipping out from the shadows. They clung102Please respect copyright.PENANAhZDvYZIsuV
to her fur turning her black, but as she stepped away, they flipped from her102Please respect copyright.PENANAxqZAN3wuqC
turning her fur back to normal.
“Julianna saw me,” He explained.102Please respect copyright.PENANASfcIy8gNNm
“Hopefully nothing comes of it. Anyway, aren’t you going to tell me how long102Please respect copyright.PENANAwEQ0WwJurX
you’ve been able to do that?”
She snorted. “I’ve always been102Please respect copyright.PENANALqwwDYChgL
able to, you’ve just never noticed.”
“After this is done, you’ll have102Please respect copyright.PENANAaKGL3nHvpl
to tell me everything else I never noticed.”
“That will take a long time.” She102Please respect copyright.PENANAwM4CYiMytH
grinned. He had to resist the urge to smack her, but they had other business to102Please respect copyright.PENANABULWuo6Vqk
attend to.
The Temple District was the most102Please respect copyright.PENANAQcW8OBDKUt
spacious of all the districts. It was home only to the temples for each god102Please respect copyright.PENANAuYTAZIsXsZ
along with parks and forests to allow people time to reflect in a102Please respect copyright.PENANAQzItVkjxPg
nonjudgemental space. Weapons were strictly prohibited here, they had to be sheathed102Please respect copyright.PENANAvbkKjuUKM9
or hidden. If not, you would be forcibly removed by the guards and expelled102Please respect copyright.PENANAKoAbQzjcSw
from the city.
The Temple of Humjir was the most102Please respect copyright.PENANAdKAPbFfQBY
spacious and largest of all the temples as it was the cities patron god. The102Please respect copyright.PENANAQBVlGgefCh
building was built in a massive circle with the central part open to the102Please respect copyright.PENANAhP4PcNB2Mn
elements. It allowed the moon to shine down into a pool of water in the dead102Please respect copyright.PENANASPlgRHTqKc
center. Rumor had it the high priest sometimes got visions from Humjir which102Please respect copyright.PENANAOKnqdV2od1
allowed him to aide the King. Whether or not that was true remains to be seen.
Vander walked up the large, stone102Please respect copyright.PENANAOLjCWwUYTh
staircase with Shea trotting alongside him. Once he reached the top, he saw102Please respect copyright.PENANAKrXYc75380
Humi standing there with his arms folded in front of his chest.
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“I’ve been expecting you,” Humi102Please respect copyright.PENANAUbmPj7H80G
smiled. “Welcome to the Temple of Humjir, young Blade. Follow me, we have lots102Please respect copyright.PENANAPAQdft6Mqz
to discuss.”