Chapter108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEMCvOiIJk
43
He felt something warm and heavy on108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2M8IIxZXE
his chest. At first, he was confused108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyhZa0gbaY
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qGPVKkE0M
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcccWqNqJP
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8II71YHslL
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFZlYx3i0L
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9EdKmuyBa
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptyBx3kWcl
down.
“Don’t108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MkSCE1Fvg
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOEkt4APbV
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A6MqxY127
to sleep.
Over108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDnsODOcxZ
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJYjR0MDpf
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAoPEmsC9a
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNMLKx8LuJ
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc68feveb5s
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc06GFe8PU
to tell him what had happened.
“We108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeGG02iEUM
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTogdA9eRKV
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mT8X6vfSr
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKneo8HJBe9
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFvQNVVgBo
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjrnWPIKpo
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmWWqByfH8
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ664gYLoZj9
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00ibThgwBi
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexv4tpyoy4
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxLQunSk0b
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkUIyuChYs
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pSCH6xwZk
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYUbVpkeuo
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O6wbcuXap
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCp54O4wpR
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzQLoV43HP
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY0slLoVT9
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQHLWJwjtt
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHxmKqHkWB
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI0cgo29Ob
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQWLoRyYI9
enormous debt.”
Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IgxIn4lRW
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB6uMmsQVd
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8Krdu57D8
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXpNvnt7h0
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnkyIkVin8
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKTHL7vt3e
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRIMsv3hR4
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68steQyDc3
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oxTAxRNrR
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOUZUwv1uL
who betrayed us.”
“That’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsPjt8wg1X
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aURMtdkpZ
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa75Q1nOjit
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhHHdjdNQG
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuU2ZLaJj6
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOkV6tetvs
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjooKoTAwfE
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkANsOBD4G
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoduN0run5g
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SLHW1fTBl
my King.”
…
A108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9rbY1bGJx
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb9nir8iMu
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXuNnvNsgt
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1ExT0nxET
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIfJCBKpft
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDwJL9gSnB
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqU6grlWN0
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTqcj0AZNv
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09m6p6sG2w
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0ri1BlAf5
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2rS9e6jEK
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ILEmJIwYd
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc5yI8oxl1
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3sVsMOQSu
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPATHnWkDo
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5XcD8Wqtv
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOdxwTyF5Z
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe6QYrL8ff
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr3Ny3Dr7J
saw her smile.
“Are108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtu7OHm8Yh
we going there soon?”
“After108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTr8kdgaZgT
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpOan61FER
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ136uZNbOnk
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCatvevtrJF
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfalmKKBJfF
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zy2GbPnPX
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBTBacu9eo
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqJuRaxEWO
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI3qf9Ezf4
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJOQGYanWq
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMNgiJgKJB
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU6hsHH9O9
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWe6dtrGKt
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVyGNE2fUV
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnHH6DfCM5
that was for him to do.
Eliza108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oBPJEU8IG
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiXOp5RdSO
promotion.
Vander108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN2HDH5pSC
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYXadEl0Y9
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSNRRbag9z
hold it aloft.
“Do108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsjHA8LBUJ
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQAWIDJ5S9
Cuvera asked.
“I108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcdWiEbfOQ
do.” He shouted back.
“Do108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxH05uI50E
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbDPaYHZff
it?”
“Only108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75qGcEoO2n
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByevzie9NE
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPb39BWWfZ
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9kUxUsS84
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBWckoIlFd
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdzOQQa7PC
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O5sEJgFpW
resilient, just like him.
As108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr7zt0u3Wu
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGWvST7e8Q
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJDHv6cJFH
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneCMcP374W
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5ioekrZGf
capable of protecting them all.
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He108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e8n7m01pP
is, the Eluvian Blade.
