Chapter 12
He slept soundly. No one wanted to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzftWNoLv4
wake him so the visit by Mari Drayson went off without him. He didn’t awaken5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZoIKxzrGi
until night had fallen and Shea busted into the King’s study to jump on him5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFFigBxVqB
then proceeded to like his face until his face scrunched up and he pushed her5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxIcpf45H0
aside.
“Shea, sto-” she interrupted him5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hDgPR5Z42
by licking his mouth. He shot up to start gagging pushing the she-wolf off his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIVRbarZ3i
body. “I’ve told you to stop doing that.” He grumbled.
”And I told you to stop getting5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2IQgNCkZc
into fights when I’m not around, and here we are.” She growled into his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0xVOvlK9R
mind. “Imagine my annoyance when I got woken up by some Blades when they5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDPhHSs64c
came to remove your stuff from the room and escorted me to the castle saying5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZyuSL6L0L
you had been attacked. Imagine my anger when they wouldn’t let me check up on5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zAMq2J8Q3
you until now.”
“Did you leave anyone alive?” she5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2hdq59F7L
barked her laughter but nodded her head.
“It was difficult, but your5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv7qiZLNIx
grandfather swore to me you were sleeping and needed your rest.” She bumped5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrXnbnwL3l
her head against his chest. He placed his head in her fur then inhaled her5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygMZVTEnWV
scent. He felt the stress and anxiety he had been feeling just melt away.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” she5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UfWo08pVs
licked the side of his face accepting the apology. There was a slight knock on5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnFsStBJ4E
the door and Alexander poked his head in.
“I heard voices.” He said. “Are5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGZ2ZxN7S2
you finally awake, Vander?”
“Yep.” He slid his foot off the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7Fi2leedh
couch. Looking up at Alex he saw that his friend had worry lines etched onto5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kXWbVf8X3
his head while his face was filled with worry. “How long have you been standing5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7AjJ9XgMz
there?”
“Once the others told me what had5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSu6GadorJ
happened.” He explained. “I was about to kill you when you didn’t show to the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Zcox5zvmg
training, but when that Jilena boy told me I dropped everything to come here.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJDLdvlda8
The King told me not to disturb you, so I sat at that door making sure you5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2IntqblMg
rested.”
“You got anything to eat?” Alex5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo2B8GYuWq
grinned. He disappeared for a second then came back with a tray of steaming hot5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwUPIFE23f
food.
“Once I saw Shea, I knew it was5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6xvrBrusb
only a matter of time before you awoke so I had the kitchen prepare some stew5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9VslgrIf4
and bread.” He said. “I had them make a bowl for her as well.”
“Thanks.” Shea was5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYgHeUVDdm
practically salivating on the carpet. Bernard wasn’t ready for what was about5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtegchg9kT
to happen. The two of them tore into the food like a couple of beasts. Sauce5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotqdfM7F4n
and chunks of bread flew everywhere. Alex wisely took a step back shaking his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxHST8PjhY
head in disgust.
“Animals.” He muttered under his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LDguVK1I9
breath. They were done after a few minutes leaving the table a disaster. Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXvKe80CiL
leaned back on the couch then stifled a belch. Shea stuck her head into his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGkPctedBZ
bowl to lick out the remaining sauce. “Once you’re finished your grandfather5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9ja5rT42j
wanted me to bring you to him.”
“Did he say what it was about?”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74mWOimsJL
Vander asked. Alex shook his head. Rolling his eyes he got up from the couch,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsbJ8r7GU2
wobbled for a second, but remained steady. “Let’s go then.”
The castle was on high alert.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Czc6gRHXE
There were more guards here than normal, most of them were regular soldiers,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8rLEFKBEl
stationed along the halls. Whenever the Wardens showed up everyone was on5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS9MmbyKrF
alert. The safety of the entire country rested on their heads, so the King5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJoMGrBuH0
always took extra precautions to make sure they were safe.
Alex stood at the door to the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS3F1C7jgI
Commander’s office while Vander headed inside. Charles was pouring over more5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SD1M04mMG
paperwork at his desk by lamplight. He looked so old sitting there even though5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXIR4YFqdH
he was in his middle years. Just went to show the toll being Commander took.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYg1VCHwCvi
Shea jumped up onto the couch then placed her head on her paw. It took a couple5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5sePel6VS
of seconds for him to put down his quill and to look up at him.
“I heard you were ambushed on the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinv6HgAjpD
street today.” The old man’s voice hitched. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, gramps.” Vander nodded.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJePwbimufa
“What about the man I captured?”
“In the dungeon waiting for his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wJfFVAwZl
questioning.” He said. “I assume you want to do the honors?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrvOzH9ZJt
grinned. “But we need to have a talk about something.” He sat down in the chair5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ6XFY8wDt
across from his grandfather. “We need to promote the recruits to trainees and5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMzPxMJsqv
allow them to help us around the castle. If today taught me anything we need5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HTlDuebPk
more soldiers on the streets protecting the people than we need them in here.”
“It’s not time for them yet.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJj99YviFu
Charles shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
“We don’t have the manpower,”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5FQeBFZIK
Vander argued. “Even when all the Blades come back with the wardens, there5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rdN8Q9Vmb
still isn’t enough. Those five can really help us out.”
“Doesn’t matter if we need the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgXEM3IcaH
help.” The old man growled. “We have standards we must adhere to. There can be5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDEpELSbJw
no exceptions.”
“Gramps since I’ve returned a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX8L4ET0jB
couple weeks ago, I’ve almost died twice.” Vander said. “If we had more5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfpJ5ZMpty
competent guards this might not have happened. If you’re that worried about it5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpulFWEyyhb
I will keep training them until their time is up and stick them by the entrances.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsavTtdNXp
An important position, but it wouldn’t put them in harms way.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHF25voIam
Charles sighed. “But your idea does have merit to it.”
“Thank you,” Vander sighed. “I met5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6feeGdrl1
with Ross last night for information on who poisoned Malcolm and he gave me a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstpCoqx8Kb
name.”
“Yea?” Charles looked up5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00HCkbuMFK
interested. “What was it?”
“Green Serpents.” Charles’ face5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxybFpEv4t
fell. He scrunched his fist on the desk then slammed his fist down on top.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94iwFZICG4
“That bastard.”
“Is there something I should know5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSf9NuPtLZ
about?” Vander frowned. “I’ve never heard of them before, but based on your5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZyXILbcMs
reaction and the King’s, it’s something big.”
“Malcolm has his reasons for not5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOgRgDhFku
telling you, but since you were nearly killed, I suppose to have the right to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSC0L3HfOa
know.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “The Green Serpents are a mercenary5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGnvJaq72o
band that goes to the highest bidder. However, it wasn’t always that way. The5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c0uUrxMMM
leader, Jogun Batiste, the King and I used to be close during the wars twenty5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk2uyjiuCH
years ago.”
“What changed?” Vander folded his5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCtuuTIzMi
arms over his chest. If they were now taking contracts on the King himself,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwZTQbwZmb
something bad must have happened.
“We found out what he did to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5yj1tF5uz
prisoners, especially the children.” Charles’ back sagged. “He would have them5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfVjE0Bbd6
fight each other to the death then, if they survived, they were tortured and5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAS23PYwbmB
corrupted into joining them. Some he sent to his loyal soldiers to be5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsGPN693ev
brutalized.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYYuMb3F64
Vander said dryly.
“We suspended all contracts with5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiicm0jRW9
them and threw them out of the city.” Charles sighed. “I wanted more drastic5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozNPz8pPDP
measures to be taken, but I was overruled. The council thought it would be5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLIyrByS44
better to part ways amicably instead of killing or imprisoning those involved.”
“And now they are back trying to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBZZIWjVK0
get revenge?” Vander shook his head. “Something is adding up. They are going5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2eIk3W3u6
through a lot of trouble for revenge. I think there might be more to this,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHahJHWfOpK
especially since I had nothing to do with twenty years ago.”
“And it would make sense to go5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGhN5BIGge
after me, someone who was involved, and protects Malcolm.” Charles turned5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ps5NIifXn
around and walked back to the desk. “Why are you being targeted? Any ideas?”
“A couple.” Vander hesitated. “My5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgzOhDGvNr
first thought was that it was because I got involved with Nigel, but I don’t5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBbDq3pvfo
think that’s the reason.”
“Vander.” Charles said carefully.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl1lcoD5EU
“What’s going on?” Vander took a deep sigh then told his grandfather about the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGOUn0D7Q4
dreams he had been having.
It started with Veyar the day5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jXKgYElHy
before he left for the city along with her warning to keep his identity hidden.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo54K2eVN9
He left out the part of her being trapped in the stormy vortex, he didn’t want5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysl01wvz2e
to give the impression that the Deities were fighting each other, not that5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5rSSOTKdC
anyone would believe him. Then he told him about the dream with Unna about5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZAyxVi7TA
fulfilling his role. Lastly he told him about his most recent dream about5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrhZeplYMl
Imitae being chained up to a wall and reiterating the same thing his wife had5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E90WWZPjC
told him.
“So, you think they went after you5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0m0vaajzW
because they know you are the Ma’akti Unnatun?” Charles asked. “How could they5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5dGJo2LBB
know? Not many people do, even less could figure it out.”
“Gramps I communicate with a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAy2V4UqEo
Shadow Beast,” Vander laughed. “She might look like a wolf, but either way it’s5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OiD6ju9M7
not a common occurrence to walk around with her. It might be nothing, but all5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWy4eCrzDx
of these dreams these murder attempts, something is going down.”
“I already moved your stuff here5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmYIcxW5Bv
to your old room.” Charles said. “I will have guards on you at all times to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyGxkqvgf6
make sure you stay safe.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCLyMBEzfM
gramps.” Vander sighed. “Put the guards you were going to put on me and put5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkJabCSJGi
them on the King or Warden Drayson. I don’t need protection.”
“Then I will put Alex on it, he5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr776Q2A6xh
seems to be the only one who can wrangle you.” Charles sat back down. “What5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFidVuSxYG4
else did Ross tell you?” Vander looked at him confused. “I’ve known you since5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPaF9BzGl3
you were a boy, Vander. You think I couldn’t tell you were hiding something5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSljxQoVFg
from me?” Vander sighed deeply.
“He told me that he could find the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbKCUP8HEC
Serpents for us, the problem is I would have to fight for him.” Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTZ2UT5ztr
explained. “In the pits.” Charles lowered his head and sighed.
“Do you think he has a way to get5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1itnoYADy
that information?”
“Yes,” Vander nodded. “But that’s5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwDAdogpjk
not a place I want to fight in. We can handle the information gathering5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYubdUHDhOb
ourselves. I’m certain of it.”
“With our resources stretched thin5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi94UgNxXm
I doubt we will have the time, but now that we know who they are, we should5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk8tQ4ESxN
have better luck finding them.” Charles said. He opened his mouth, but there5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO9ZhCnk1u
was a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Alex poked his head inside.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVnZvza0t4
“Commander, Vander, Anna Drayson is here to talk to you.”
“Send her in.” Charles and Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyZYAVMU2E
got up from their seats to greet the young woman and heir to the Eastern5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T0DXtuHQx
Warden.
Anna Drayson was only a couple5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorHKcvq348
years younger than Vander, but an accomplished soldier. She wore the native5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsIUfouXeK
uniform in an ocean climate: a leather cuirass, a short skirt, leather shin5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCtYWL3mdw
guards, boots, and arm guards. Strapped to their waist they usually held a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L13lOxIeX
short sword, but for now it was empty. They wore helmets with a blue stripe on5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwOeV8uuiS
top to show their devotion to the sea. However, this was only their ceremonial5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI1tBphT0A
uniform, in actual battle they wore iron for better protection.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” Her5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlbt0ZKtat
voice was melodic. She removed her helmet and a cascade of silver blonde hair5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsfzil0lZ6
fell past her shoulders. Her brown eyes held onto Vander’s for a moment before5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHcdVlmyVS
flickering to his grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No Anna, we were just finishing5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXi2hzUswJQ
up.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“My grandmother requested Captain5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JUMEQk3A5
Vander’s presence and asked that I escort him to her.” Vander and Charles5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4nXDUAAyL
exchanged glances.
“I haven’t talked to her since I5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkk4PTJ2Au
was a small child.” Vander frowned. “What could she want to talk to me about?”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AkvAG6FvC
Anna just shrugged her shoulders. Sighing he got up from the chair. “Seems I’ve5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8icqtOdPaT
been doing more talking than just about anything else recently.”
“We can change that if you want.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJaJU0zGG4
Anna grinned. “I’ve been wanting to fight you for years, wolfling.”
“I told you to stop calling me5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7q4pZQFgMq
that.” Vander snapped. He wrapped his elbow around her neck, forcing her to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpahD7nap5
bend, then rubbed his knuckles through her hair.
“Ow, ow, ow.” She rammed her elbow5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c56BJ2xlk
into her stomach causing him to bend over. They broke apart and squared up,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB6sE1MhGg
fists raised in front of them.
“Not in the office, Vander.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7YkaDeexM
Charles snarled. “Get going the two of you, before you break something.”
“Yes sir.” Anna bowed. Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilGGkjlYDa
whistled causing Shea to wake up rather abruptly. She growled her annoyance,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDtC0dFaBx
but upon seeing Anna she jumped down off the couch and ran over to her. “Hello,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFtxM3Om0t
Shea.” She cooed. “How are you?” She responded by jumping up and licking her5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyy8B24oTn
face.
“Come on you two.” Vander said.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinnkxr0DbJ
“You can get reacquainted on the way. Let’s go.”
Anna chatted with Shea while she5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRIleYNtT1
led the way towards Drayson’s accommodations. Since she lived in a villa on the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0ggZXitlA
ocean, the apartment she stayed in was on the eastern most side and higher up5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwJh5ExJCW
than the others. They enjoyed the cool over there and that tower was the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2CjmaDuLV
coolest area in the entire castle. Which, of course, meant climbing up hundreds5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1hYguDLdT
of stairs.
The stairs were guarded by two5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntaVzOV0gX
Blades and two of Drayson’s own guards. They nodded their heads in difference5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotJXDiec4U
to the heir, but blocked Vander from going farther. The two blades went to step5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPojB3c5ppK
up, but Vander waved them back. He unclipped his sword and held it out to the5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ASgUn4iIZ
guards. They took it then stepped back ushering them to the stairs. As Anna5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCVOipj8Q4
walked past, the Blades returned her sword to her. With Anna leading, they5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DMM1cIHOH
walked their way up the stairs.
He was out of breath by the time5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcs97nxIzGn
they reached the top, but for Anna this seemed to be a light workout. Shea also5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR1Ue0pCWS
seemed to be enjoying herself because she tossed a lop-sided grin back towards5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJz2JbszTc
Vander. He made a mental note to withhold steak from her for the next week.
The apartment they were in could5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZAjra3wDg
have doubled as a massive house in the first ring. There were four massive5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qDN4ZFxvY
suits, three bathrooms and plenty of walking-around space. The servants did a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicgP5xeXkt
good job decorating as the entire room was painted blue. The reflections from5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLEz57wixb
the paint gave the room a blueish hue, it felt as though he was underwater.5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcgYKlB0WR
Sitting in the middle of the floor, on top of some blue pillows, sat an older5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaWTWbG7sX
woman wearing a long blue robe. There was a long pipe in her long slender5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZfCNjR297
fingers. Her blue-green eyes looked up as they entered, a slight smile5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJtWgYZbHi
flickered on her face.
“Grandmother.” Anna got down on5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdEeW9zBby
one knee and bowed her head respectfully. Shea trotted over to the older lady5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM1SUoXl3M
then plopped her head down in her lap.
“Remove your boots Vander, then5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2Nv71F9b2
come sit.” Mari said, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. “Anna, you5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM73lLG1aA
may join us if you wish.”
“I think I should wash up from my5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcG9gsvOTi
trip.” Anna got up from the floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1loFn1Vbc
proper bath and I feel as though the entire city could smell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2phnc0StfB
before because I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but-” a wet shoe slapped5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WUQKSvwO8
him in the face. He gagged from the smell, but before he could throw it back he5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLQEk06j6n
heard a door slam shut.
“You shouldn’t treat her like5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMg9lsKALV
that.” Mari said sternly with a hint of amusement in her voice. “She still has5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNakEvbyPZ5
a thing for you even after all these years.”
“It wouldn’t work between us,”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOgJCdUfiO
Vander sighed. “She knows that, and I know that. She can’t leave your villa5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCyjaoSgBA
like I can’t leave the city. We are just from different worlds.”
“Is that what kept you and Bree5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWsjTCBnsI
Valarian from getting farther?” Vander tried to contain his anger with the way5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8OrJHCHNc
this conversation was going.
“I don’t want to talk about her.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyZSuCByJs
He growled. She blew a puff of smoke at him causing him to cough.
“You’ve been through a lot since5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2yE2nvVAK
I’ve last seen you.” she said. “You’ve aged. It’s in your eyes.”
“It’s been a rough couple week.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIyQ4eaMbQ
Vander leaned backwards to stare up at the ceiling. “Been attacked a couple of5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvQPJHzQdn
times, got some not so veiled threats, and have been poisoned. Things aren’t5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWiykKD9bh
looking well.”
“You need to take some time to5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyf8nEtnRc
relax Vander.” Mari blew out some more smoke. “Things are only going to get5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97k6JDlvzf
more difficult for you.” Drayson inhaled more smoke, but she held on to it5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiW3EPfWJr
longer than she should have. She looked up at Vander, but her eyes were deep5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyT7LWd7aNQ
black this time, all trace of Mari was gone.
“Veyar,” Vander sighed.
“Ma’akti Unnatun.”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m9hhrLzuv
Mari’s voice turned deeper, but still slightly feminine. “How good to see5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAdmTcuRex
you again.”
“What is this about?” Vander5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjlp3LxETQ
frowned. “I got your message the first time, as well as your husbands. I don’t5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNPqSrLPev
think there is anything else I need.”
“There is someone coming who is5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1C4hiCcbg
blessed with my daughter’s powers.” Veyar smiled. “She will be of great5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyM8QaT3zuu
help to you in this fight. Treat her well. You have a long road ahead of you,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uEuyWbsEZ
hold on to your allies, they will be your best asset.”
“How will I know who my ally is?”5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAXvBJ8zPV
he asked.
“You’ll know her when you see5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlYalJO2Eh
her.” Veyar said. “It will take some time for you to gain her trust, but5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfa5PvUsVF
once you have it you will have an ally for life.”
“I don’t like people being played5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0ELLLsivG
into helping me, Veyar.” Vander said. “Either she will do it of her own will or5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2PPTjgcop
not at all.”
“This has been written for a5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWeKmSOOmm
long time Vander.” She said. “This was ordained long before my children5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cMDvMBBiN
were born. This battle will shape the world for good, or worst. With that,5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77P3jdHO3w
Veyar’s eyes closed and a moment later Mari was awakened.
“How long?” Vander asked her.
5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9E867IT4s
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“Since I was a child.” Mari5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bsDmWl1ea
smiled, but she looked tired. “Once I go it will pass down to Anna. Will you5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHiMovrGpK
help me to bed? I’m suddenly very tired.” Vander got up from the ground and5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPfcF4qpiB
picked the older woman up in his arms. She pointed to her room and he carried5Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx0GbrdGRp
her to her bed.
