Chapter 33
The sounds of battle echoed around99Please respect copyright.PENANABJshEXIfau
him, but Vander kept running. He didn’t know about Humi’s abilities in a fight,99Please respect copyright.PENANAxGBvkZS9KD
but it seemed as though he was holding on. He couldn’t help, but wonder if the99Please respect copyright.PENANAJmo3D6A7A6
priest knew something like this was going to happen tonight which was why he99Please respect copyright.PENANAdiPuRXZB8y
was prepared or did he bring the assassin to the man’s doorstep? More answers99Please respect copyright.PENANAe9IivFcSeB
and no questions. However, his only goal right now was to get back to the99Please respect copyright.PENANAK52SBjhIbi
safety of the warehouse, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t send Humi some help.
“Assassin at Humjir’s temple!”99Please respect copyright.PENANA2IbxyzBpcV
Vander shouted. He put a scared expression on his face, which wasn’t difficult99Please respect copyright.PENANAvpGyu2R2GN
because he was scared, as he ran past the guards. Shea must have been a blur99Please respect copyright.PENANAZRjLsiRsJg
because they didn’t notice him. “Help, Humi’s in danger help!”
“Go to the temple!” A guard99Please respect copyright.PENANARMsckr0byC
shouted. He turned to get Vander’s attention, but he had already slipped down a99Please respect copyright.PENANAFGvJLcGZEk
side street and was gone from sight. An alarm went out causing more and more99Please respect copyright.PENANAq7rslj0tVq
guards to leave their posts to head towards the source. The attention made it99Please respect copyright.PENANAH6dcucdTnP
inadvertently easy for him to slip through the district gates.
He didn’t stop running until he99Please respect copyright.PENANAIfVIgGFDD4
reached the Orange Fox. Despite badly needing to rest, he knew he had been gone99Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZvBJDy7zd
for too long and eventually Ross’ two protectors would be in his room soon if99Please respect copyright.PENANA4fBa7uwVKn
they hadn’t been already. He climbed up the drainage pipe as Shea jumped nimbly99Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ1frIXj2Y
on the fence then into the room. He quickly stripped off his nighttime outfit,99Please respect copyright.PENANA31GD6NLkUj
changing into loose pants and shirt. He carefully placed the black book in the99Please respect copyright.PENANAAck7S4IdBq
hiding spot along with the vial. Once he and Shea were alone, he would have to99Please respect copyright.PENANAjWS8Pdu8jR
see what that was about.
As soon as he settled into bed and99Please respect copyright.PENANAGWgWgUX9FC
closed his eyes, there was a knock on the door. Pretending to awaken, he let99Please respect copyright.PENANAAHFYzYBxXi
out a loud groan as he stumbled from the bed then shuffled towards the door.99Please respect copyright.PENANA8FDvUL3LSG
Right and Left were standing there with the bartender and a different girl from99Please respect copyright.PENANA0umv4eYhkg
last time. This one looked young, younger than she had any right to be.
“What’s this?” Vander growled, not99Please respect copyright.PENANAooTT9dbKOD
even bothering to hide his annoyance.
“A gift from Ross.” Left smirked.99Please respect copyright.PENANATIT48PDNGD
“He wants you to break this one in for the others.”
“I think not.” Vander noticed the99Please respect copyright.PENANAh4lu3BEoqK
disappointment on the young girl’s face. “How old are you?” he asked her.
“Fourteen.” she muttered. She99Please respect copyright.PENANAaC3LzdK0eH
looked down at her feet. At least the blonde woman had the presence of mind to99Please respect copyright.PENANAirnIm4dAyo
be disgusted too.
“Fourteen?” she snapped. “You told99Please respect copyright.PENANAB26UF44qH8
me she was sixteen.”
“Age is just-“ Right ate a face99Please respect copyright.PENANAXezRW5Eemc
full of the bartender’s hand.
“She is far too young for99Please respect copyright.PENANAst7dnMqT5m
something like this.” She snapped. “What the hell is the matter with you.”
“Boss’s orders.” Right stepped99Please respect copyright.PENANAFTOtXMFkG6
forward raising his hand to strike her, but Vander stepped in.
“That’s enough.” Vander said.99Please respect copyright.PENANAG5ovaP4r9K
“Take her downstairs, give her a different job until she is old enough. Do not99Please respect copyright.PENANAw1M1IG9Jlx
let anyone touch her or you will have to answer to me.”
“We don’t have to take orders from99Please respect copyright.PENANANS6Q6Jp62X
you.” Left stammered, but he seemed a little fearful as to what Vander could do99Please respect copyright.PENANA5qOXqioBE3
if he had the mind to.
Vander let out a99Please respect copyright.PENANAWKFcWwRakd
mental order to Shea who walked up behind him growling, teeth bared. The two99Please respect copyright.PENANAB87taXMJZ8
guards blanched as they looked at her before facing Vander and nodding their99Please respect copyright.PENANAoLQJYppidk
heads. He thought he saw a sigh of relief escape the young woman’s body.
“As for you,”99Please respect copyright.PENANAukPiP9fGBU
Vander turned towards the blonde. “I don’t need you tonight. I’m tired so I’m99Please respect copyright.PENANAqb3lSlWYWX
just going to sleep.”
“Alright,” she99Please respect copyright.PENANA7aOoP0rVvY
grinned giving him a sly wink. She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Thank99Please respect copyright.PENANAuXaUY1PdFo
you for that, I’ll treat you special next time.” She ended the promise by99Please respect copyright.PENANAANhHhp8KLw
giving him a quick peck on the cheek. She wrapped her arms around the young99Please respect copyright.PENANAqnZ9XifVrj
lady and walked back down the hall with Left and Right running right behind99Please respect copyright.PENANA6AUC85Sacm
them.
“You humans99Please respect copyright.PENANApPctG2JiRo
sure are disgusting.” Shea snorted as Vander closed the door behind them.
“You have no99Please respect copyright.PENANAaVZ4NqVm1Z
idea.” After he was sure everyone was gone, he walked back towards the desk,99Please respect copyright.PENANA53O1CQu7sI
taking the vial out, then going to sit on the bed. He stared at it for several99Please respect copyright.PENANAXg1kQgImuF
minutes trying to figure out how to see what was contained within. His first99Please respect copyright.PENANAlWA96j2lDx
instinct was to fill the tub with water then pour it in, but that didn’t seem99Please respect copyright.PENANAULPM7CvrAh
right. The only other thing he could do was drink it, but that seemed99Please respect copyright.PENANAne65SLkvQ1
dangerous. As if reading his mind, Shea said:
“I’ll watch99Please respect copyright.PENANAOJot9wqCpA
over you.”
“Alright.” Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANAcZrCUK37n0
popped the cork then raised the bottle to his lips. He drank the whole thing99Please respect copyright.PENANAvV14J143s5
down and instantly felt drowsy. He placed his head on the pillows then fell99Please respect copyright.PENANAhQ6x9zx9Oe
asleep.
…
When he awoke,99Please respect copyright.PENANAFvsfqyCbA5
he could taste ash in his mouth. For some reason he was lying on Eluvia’s99Please respect copyright.PENANA7JbeWh9o7I
streets, delirious and drowsy. All around him he could hear battle followed by99Please respect copyright.PENANAXAINK1ZUxd
the screams of those cut down. He got to his feet to look around. Eluvia’s99Please respect copyright.PENANAOigjHyMBR2
soldiers were fighting a large-scale battle in the middle of Eluvia, whose99Please respect copyright.PENANArV0veeoonA
walls were supposed to be unbreachable. They wore white cloth covering their99Please respect copyright.PENANAaFnmsN7VFX
entire face, except for their eyes, and they wore loose scale mail allowing99Please respect copyright.PENANAKCNnoqQ6Q2
them to outmaneuver Eluvia’s heavily armored soldiers. The weapons they used99Please respect copyright.PENANACJ5bSuwBln
were also foreign to him. They were curved blades, easily snaking their way99Please respect copyright.PENANAHFzkVqasBT
through the gaps in the armor.
Someone had99Please respect copyright.PENANAGVZij00dzu
set fire to the entire city. Buildings were engulfed in flames as people99Please respect copyright.PENANAUPdBLQpmtS
screamed out for help. Those trapped tried to escape then flee but were cut99Please respect copyright.PENANAp0IzFYw5oU
down in the process of doing so. Those who stood there screaming were silenced99Please respect copyright.PENANA3qpXygg1pz
forever. It was a one-sided slaughter and Vander would like nothing more than99Please respect copyright.PENANAlREl859cs3
to help, but his body wouldn’t obey his commands. Instead, he drew his sword,99Please respect copyright.PENANAWRgGbbAT4o
then rushed towards the castle.
He ignored99Please respect copyright.PENANAdDGOtR2acP
everyone fighting down in the streets or getting slaughtered because they99Please respect copyright.PENANAlyZ4F39OOV
couldn’t do much other than cry or scream. He ran past the gates that had been99Please respect copyright.PENANAdBXsmK79k8
blown to hell allowing their enemies past the borders into the second ring.99Please respect copyright.PENANAtgFZzKhcd9
Some nobles did what they could to protect themselves, but many gathered up any99Please respect copyright.PENANAFwBkCOF9k3
riches they could find before being torn apart. One female noble had been taken99Please respect copyright.PENANA7AuURpYxY4
by a group of enemies and assaulted on her lawn. As he rushed past, they cut99Please respect copyright.PENANAfMSr0ZOSTh
her throat then moved on to the next house.
He came up99Please respect copyright.PENANArEYlrMF59X
across a group of enemies who looked shock to see him, but they drew their99Please respect copyright.PENANAfZXehD0cWt
weapons and charged. His body moved on his own. He drew his sword to block the99Please respect copyright.PENANAmD1xfSWLfJ
strike from one soldier then stepped aside running another one completely99Please respect copyright.PENANAwP1GUxcAIW
through. He removed his weapon to cut the throat of a third who had come up99Please respect copyright.PENANAnDTptG7oHu
behind him. His body was a blur slicing those who attacked him to ribbons. He99Please respect copyright.PENANAqgDmlGWTPv
didn’t even give them a second look before heading towards the third ring.
The castle99Please respect copyright.PENANAsGtcSZFYLH
gates had been broken. Bodies of soldiers and Blades littered the battlements99Please respect copyright.PENANALNKg4Qc1Cy
and streets. Vander felt a rush of pride as he saw that the dead invaders more99Please respect copyright.PENANAvI8oCEqjeW
than doubled the bodies of his former comrades, but that just meant they were99Please respect copyright.PENANATxzos9WPzx
met with overwhelming force. They had no chance.
Now he had to99Please respect copyright.PENANApravhMjubm
be careful entering the castle. He didn’t know where the enemies were or how99Please respect copyright.PENANAI8QTvZcfF2
many, but his body wanted him to rush in to find out of those he cared for were99Please respect copyright.PENANAuJ6GOFwCiB
still alive. Luckily, he knew all the secret passages as well as the smells of99Please respect copyright.PENANAJHT4zg3jqJ
those he needed to find. So, he slipped down a hallway, pressed a random brick99Please respect copyright.PENANA64BtZKM8XT
on the wall, which pushed back revealing a darkened staircase. Cuvera’s smell99Please respect copyright.PENANAtgZzfhOrRf
filled his nose, so he followed it up the stairwell.
He came out of99Please respect copyright.PENANA6sK90p4g1n
another hallway on the second floor. He didn’t recognize the space, but his99Please respect copyright.PENANAowUPjAsJL4
body knew where to go. The smell of blood was strong here which filled him with99Please respect copyright.PENANAxbutF8zRo6
panic. Many smells fused together, but he pieced one of them out: Eliza. He99Please respect copyright.PENANAyyiVWxSX9l
rushed down the hall and into a room he didn’t even know existed. Inside was a99Please respect copyright.PENANAyzXQ5Lc6bA
massive table which was covered with blood. Scattered around were members of99Please respect copyright.PENANAi2OFQXs9te
the council, bloodied and broken. A couple had their eyes completely burned out99Please respect copyright.PENANA4Qy0RD3v2V
of their heads. But the most important person was found lying on their back99Please respect copyright.PENANAHpJK18gAvv
with a hole through their chest. Vander’s heart sank as he saw Eliza lying99Please respect copyright.PENANAkW1GPbs2Ob
there, barely breathing. She looked up at him, confused as to why he was there.99Please respect copyright.PENANAewt1QDmiem
But she broke into a wide smile. Vander felt his body stumble as he dropped99Please respect copyright.PENANAJE2iLP3Jcp
down to pull her body close to him.
It was then99Please respect copyright.PENANAsj6cqAUMNL
that Vander saw matching silver bands on both of their hands. The way she99Please respect copyright.PENANAbJPlRvWZnf
looked up at him with that smile on her face alongside the knot in his chest99Please respect copyright.PENANA0XHDOx6OsY
when he realized that she was dying made him dizzy. The two of them had99Please respect copyright.PENANA3VWv8yZkr9
married, but when? Why? They were strangers. How far in the future was this?99Please respect copyright.PENANAknHNafCHG6
Vander’s body bent over to kiss her tenderly, but she whispered something in99Please respect copyright.PENANAG6OssV0pKx
his ear that caused him to stiffen. She promised that it was alright, that he99Please respect copyright.PENANAxQUS56zxHp
must go to protect the city. She cupped his cheek, told him that she loved him99Please respect copyright.PENANASQufe8Ou6J
and always would, before her eyes closed forever.
Vander sat99Please respect copyright.PENANAvdmXBm6qro
there for several minutes before steeling himself. He rose to his feet, took99Please respect copyright.PENANAlB4SNRYHkB
one long look at Eliza, before running from the room. He followed Cuvera’s99Please respect copyright.PENANA7hmvuMtGv0
scent towards his room. There the door had been blasted off its hinges leaving99Please respect copyright.PENANAw3uKIPR7r3
burn marks all over the frame. Vander drew his sword before stepping inside.
Standing in99Please respect copyright.PENANASfPnsw4B0F
the center of the room was a tall pillar of light. He could vaguely see a99Please respect copyright.PENANAczgAsrqZiy
figure of a man standing inside, but he couldn’t make out who it was. Kiara was99Please respect copyright.PENANA1JL6rc4G4Y
draped over the couch, her body badly charred. He could hear Cuvera in the99Please respect copyright.PENANAAZDzAEfcSu
other room gasping for air. His friend was his priority, so he rushed to the99Please respect copyright.PENANA7zL4T1SHrD
room ignoring the pillar of light.
He saw his99Please respect copyright.PENANAXs4r3yS11Q
friend lying in front of a crib with a sword held in his hand. The other half99Please respect copyright.PENANAqpzWxVGIRC
of his body was blown apart leaving him on death’s door. Cuvera was happy to99Please respect copyright.PENANALs1bgIOBZL
see Vander, but now wasn’t the time for happy reunions. He shouted, but Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANAaDU4Nkvsn2
couldn’t hear the words, but somehow, he knew what was being said
“Save my99Please respect copyright.PENANAM9ME6szrCO
daughter!” Vander rushed towards the crib to see an infant lying there99Please respect copyright.PENANAiqK6x5w2A9
sleeping. Vander quickly scooped her up and ran from the room. He could sense99Please respect copyright.PENANAhCmruB4N12
Cuvera die just before leaving the castle. It was up to him to raise and99Please respect copyright.PENANA31EpYllKM3
protect his friend’s legacy. He vowed to return to set things right, but he99Please respect copyright.PENANARnRzSm09fz
would have to wait and bide his time. They would be avenged, every single one99Please respect copyright.PENANAa2Ms8JmMz9
of them.
…
Vander woke up99Please respect copyright.PENANABXCh30IAHp
covered in sweat. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but his mouth was99Please respect copyright.PENANAydS07eSge0
dry, and his body was sore. Upon noticing his movements, Shea bolted up from99Please respect copyright.PENANABvoHuJc5o6
her spot by the door.
“You’re99Please respect copyright.PENANAELa80OKCvg
awake!” she exclaimed. “You’ve been asleep for two entire days.”
“Really?” he99Please respect copyright.PENANAtEeo8yF2og
groaned. “Is there any food? I’m starving.” Shea said that they had brought a99Please respect copyright.PENANAakaLmMlMmH
tray a couple of hours ago. It was still there in front of the door. Vander99Please respect copyright.PENANA0UC7QjXTm5
stood up, instantly grabbing the wall until the feeling could make their way99Please respect copyright.PENANAx42uTlpmhv
back into his legs. He stumbled towards the door then grabbed the tray. He99Please respect copyright.PENANAy9fiH3RhXH
didn’t bother with a fork or knife; he tore right into the steak, thankfully to99Please respect copyright.PENANAynyXw3vRdq
have something to eat. While he did so, he told Shea what he had seen in the99Please respect copyright.PENANA6bqjw9vHBu
vision.
“Any idea when99Please respect copyright.PENANAKoAZY6t2QZ
that will happen?” He didn’t, but he would begin making plans to make sure99Please respect copyright.PENANAhp6Ma9nKDg
something like that never came to pass. He would do everything in his power to99Please respect copyright.PENANAsL5SPVRqOU
protect the Kingdom, no matter what, but for now he would keep this a secret.99Please respect copyright.PENANAKMW0a2QRDT
He didn’t want people to panic so soon after Malcolm’s assassination. However,99Please respect copyright.PENANAOkGgVzY9nc
one question still lingered in his mind: what was that pillar of light in the99Please respect copyright.PENANAWpjoHYQE6J
center of the room? That would take some time to ascertain.
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As he sat there99Please respect copyright.PENANA77xT7gb1P1
thinking, he didn’t hear the footsteps coming up to the door. There was a loud99Please respect copyright.PENANAUoIluk9y1e
knock then, it began to open.