Chapter 27
If you’ve never92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnIPmtAkLm
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoj2GoFo7W
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinhyFpeTEs
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmds0JzDWe
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG7S1B86yH
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiQnFCJira
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkheL5fnpt
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZjp1xvT9K
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWceboJWHFh
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT517OVxZYZ
down.
Vander flapped92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOLrgL3BXB
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0m9qRjIm7
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlCCJQuyek
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mlOJVWptp
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iiCTGnl2R
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2kU3KLdIZ
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClTxQEhpMs
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY99u5looEz
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcp2fNcaeC
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYNKShpTq3
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUQw4QmRWZ
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdROB4jbfaS
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOTCiAf7VZ
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOoSOpTWIh
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIol3yv0hSV
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTirLwGhhL
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEECGfOkT9n
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5tGTr5NLN
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6tqSsJAja
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhrPWVokOR
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTVeRpor13
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOWt0pVnP6
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBmoX8Id7X
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GKphZSRNX
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQBtzBRjHf
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I2eRRyLzH
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKgBX9BzAN
figure?”
“One of these92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXnSlULbV6
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2pBlhbbT1
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbOh9yzQdL
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ihmdZigNu
be seen again.”
“I guess that92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRsefB8v0b
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdanXZThld
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiXQqdP5Ti
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ95qM4NfPV
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhRLq7LDw1
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HgdDXd9G7
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9X0J3txvyU
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgWG0KGlw6
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5ZSc4aiO1
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIH6DI1TSq
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TzTos6hyk
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqNByiaYsA
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPFHstJDil
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktbmZQ2u4l
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLMvaJsTyq
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn3VlE12NL
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8lZ4MUvaJ
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEH1c3sUcd3
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolmsJahHwS
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDcgX2BSs2
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrUKHIAv8M
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZz98IvTbN
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRGbBDDSMa
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDU6AyEQpA
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloZdcTZDzX
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcsOIwMarz
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWI8kAzkjZ
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV39o7gRMTz
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGQhzfxvLQ
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYWmiYaU8A
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2eAc9lVe7
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvPVNGD9c3
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVb8YQYVMf
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWpUlYL0TD
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTIbokgn0v
his Blade.
“You have minutes92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZHzTiZtR6
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGwLnZCImj
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBov1N1bQap
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo8MTdwyyl
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj2A2eoAnD
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKA6XY0pqM
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe0g3NYnps
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1aljD9dWI
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Af7qggwbo
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nTywJXbqX
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZv4FnUxx1
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro5undRJR3
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYEQ2po0hS
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwseZfAjhuX
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13mjdd2r6H
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl7zFWqHH6
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDm9J2kOgv
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM9ykSdQer
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfwlo9M4Qh
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUkjGDUibZ
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUMf9YC5hI
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KqyjB3Y7Z
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf981req1UD
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5SOPgqu0n
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV41AdVi6D
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJMv2BHoqA
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoSZ9v9WfV
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujNcZD7920
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi5KFwggOU
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QbeuecYsf
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HoMVwR4R8
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h0hqOg7FD
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaep3AuWgL
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEke9unmCh
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2oKkSTCPJ
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV19x4m7Ce
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfe0kfjFgw
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQC9u8TQyk
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1tk5kQFUB
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfJtVn1nGX
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObYoyX59Ei
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B5UHZunAv
before disappearing.
He heard shouting92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ilqfbQEb6
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡple330oE6m
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsHcFk2CPb
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1pgH2P4yt
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd7UiStJFA
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WsnbQn5Nf
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw8z3SL9yB
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFsg7LUR0T
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlpeybtV1I
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIWRko5sBb
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XxlpHX12n
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EwldZP86L
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfQQ900VfT
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jcF1TK7A5
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4CYen0MXr
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5MLsk1voQ
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdjhJoMeWH
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuymwIEAPL
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOY5wtx6VN
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJV7nkQcvz
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0UTzefTmx
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyAbJJbxHm
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yiuDmzbjZ
swords readied to skewer him.
