Chapter 27
If you’ve never89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7AaKmWWQv
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5byhfMfSbz
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjNELzl84x
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpImsKwfi8Z
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ038uqXCmp1
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOP0SJtrzC
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF1cd5IBXm
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVbyxZhBp1
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu4RmB8CNl
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXqWUhoDfq
down.
Vander flapped89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tEeuvdbu7
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9wGLnoykF
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK9RPX9tNn
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShtwBwMRwe
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv7GGNDDEd
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVko52W3lvv
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuhLJY3hf7
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihvINw8t7s
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUfN5vUJ9M
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHIAHAUfm5
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcDgKcNOJx
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelklNLyhdh
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtvrHjf9Jb
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnFFgUmnt2
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCALKcRHXY
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m5VmI8oNJ
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrok8WCYIc
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNZXRElWMz
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf08HNtzLz5
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi58mY7zHAQ
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u88hKsR3y
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoPuCaactQ
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCaa3PkSz6
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY5UdmpQLC
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFxw2cgZvT
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbtLdgpc5n
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCI7STYR2cX
figure?”
“One of these89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4omi5SArc
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY7vBgxcYp
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtzdWNgxPQ
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fBdhDsUmw
be seen again.”
“I guess that89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDwkLsh8kp
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrP3ipw1cv
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMeHqax4n2
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu0gxb2WOi
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KoSkpK37R
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2a4rvfr1m
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpRNhN24HI
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdoJ47m3XJ
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22l4VXy7Yb
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIeT20zRkA
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1GcS4JMRu
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNMsRIQ9mo
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXajeQho2qT
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjY3W7EgLT
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtzEDQIP9V
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoipzFdCQp
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBCLIaUMRJ
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY9RAuWC5t
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpox07tUOj
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdWrGCrPGJ
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCebOh6K5px
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNdCwDjXcw
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA78XdEVyMi
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JaoOzczH2
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N2sE40WK1
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmaqK571YI
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98TjgUGOHb
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZyXCz8JVY
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNGzc5AmxI
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7ren4agxd
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuISbnaPXYO
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w6LDrFFQm
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBDSgUCwMi
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ369KIMI2zx
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGCqKFE2OX
his Blade.
“You have minutes89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYzmnErVvc
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYGJ8CPzJF
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVIWl6q0ap
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFOvDC1uri
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4xfxYjkvp
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdLpky3Av4
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX0SZcjfhV
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKqmRsLIl2
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutgePXh4WJ
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKSlCY3pOs
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeOI9El9dD
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ2UuVA2h8
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2FIYm3iuT
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYgx4xmIuB
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qRNFsNb55
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn8GQ0Q1db
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6A8cdk7jKs
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQZl65vaAI
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpspKaxkyr
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdHykw9GUH
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZLSjqVEAR
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ673r2hj79X
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhgydYTHeY
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPBaNJMaV9
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVnh4rN4vi
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRiumpbFou
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhJvETWYlW
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcyjBhL8k8
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQNbJ5UoTV
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItckF6PBEX
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGYmi9Cd2l
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycmKShOjkM
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjugyDljNB
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaItCrwhDl
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSHqC86Vu6
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82i4Haneoj
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84GwvP48gO
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeM32rodtm
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaWPwzLpmT
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1drZOChqN
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRS8Yqi2HW
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThIQ7aYVMV
before disappearing.
He heard shouting89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJ4DC5BNZF
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hz9sddxaG
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmETseIf6jP
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJULCBYHKH8
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PWZlDC7CK
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pf1aBE6sN
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN6sjQDO3M
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapuPlgl8Na
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCF24EFvP5
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYrcbJK83x
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCTHBNJG6h
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrpDlO8TDB
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkNvZTfFeN
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurIPl05tCU
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl21V0poLuJ
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFTfUANAPl
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7QTCBgjTM
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBxOX1cIn3
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6jxLPYyXK
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDVbdYmeQj
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5maiWDh2Ba
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqtfCqyf74
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYmdSxIYBq
swords readied to skewer him.
