Chapter77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNshpPR2v6B
43
He felt something warm and heavy on77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyFZXssrJt
his chest. At first, he was confused77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWoT42nSGt
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOxNLvrZXe
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHizATzD1Yk
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZmY5Cmrzq
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrcW35S54l
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5orScArQ1e
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv9NNwbYps
down.
“Don’t77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxYAGfuK9p
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjcwZv4XDr
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXp150k2uY
to sleep.
Over77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC9vYRBaA7
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWsmuNVU5H
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGB63qBAdU
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22fOFM3T3x
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ggewW6Eh
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHByHELKfs
to tell him what had happened.
“We77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ952AMuxqpc
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0Avrck4gf
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VyBsnMTa5
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0O50u1tVZ
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYvFhd192c
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qzlD05EkU
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW08owmXpCI
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6b5iKXnaB
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMPw7rMVuk
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhQNPUj7aq
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEDWatU5KI
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHRAhX1USk
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKNBbJQVmG
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvWYwOVGj6
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL347i4f6s
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUNjJxLAMw
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68vYvBy84h
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xeNxhTHgJ
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWYwwDImZp
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVxyhczgle
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6MidimKqx
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMEiD1SJia
enormous debt.”
Vander77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZVSYoeCTj
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡei63TNP5hu
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSqdMzWiXf
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8lyX6z8eu
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HsK5gkvYO
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTepW555hF
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBAgyULIp3
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXfMef12Ku
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56tjWg9B6J
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIz7q0zNO7
who betrayed us.”
“That’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8KBUZHYVX
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXznZOXKCL
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5owU17msa2
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPyG5Wc1ft
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghWrki4hjz
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfWST9oEcl
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73ToYA2Fc2
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtSoklTrhs
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqJ0nnZpnC
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8fOCCcrDX
my King.”
…
A77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmCIYMTuQQ
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoATtNAeNeo
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmusDS6hWCE
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV2Nbpae4O
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp11IEtlsu6
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrFTkSMyJa
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQLq5HFWzy
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdOFWLs3Gf
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXoZ11jl3T
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszrUK9yOhg
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVGAezWmdB
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24WTgJ9r6y
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1FC4boKXv
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhUDKeeni7
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp19OG58jhk
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza5d0ezR23
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpowsI2uGR
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE6tC4mO8h
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTihvtWo5JH
saw her smile.
“Are77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1I1DISCQO
we going there soon?”
“After77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JOp9FqL0D
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJRuJZsrTT
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqwIw3tE7J
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChYDzb2gfY
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGoS0NsBWX
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHpKaER3Oz
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlMLGNr9Vb
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBYD433Yq1
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9Vv0f9FtK
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfF4BXD7Vk
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMJocPiJOW
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7czVureRN
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uLG6nk54y
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY0saoVDKL
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiYCmokAcG
that was for him to do.
Eliza77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnXQgkS8f1
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoOU8HekuG
promotion.
Vander77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyeIoW13NC
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBRETG38T5
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyzuMQoUoV
hold it aloft.
“Do77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw1KLLVjzJ
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2IK0k7eKe
Cuvera asked.
“I77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7IIZwxzxh
do.” He shouted back.
“Do77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eKvAQaysN
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls5TVz2z4p
it?”
“Only77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFwkj4KZtm
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh7CWOWAzg
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbjsoxpAiv
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwFJ2qFdqS
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdTkH1IdYh
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUoLoOlcMy
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkCHXMHURN
resilient, just like him.
As77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R5YAOtoUH
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3dTZm3sGs
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuKTnSFdCi
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRIdeWkGxj
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEp5lAkrFg
capable of protecting them all.
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He77Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK94HYHApi
is, the Eluvian Blade.
