Chapter 27
If you’ve never91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgleb3UbJV
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P4LI8Qd8t
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB8Pi7ITZI
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUqxa4vMPw
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlHO7Enw2O
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxunVgbOt7
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaVbeQPmEz
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLqCPVJi4m
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevlK6ZLr8H
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9iOfnkBiy
down.
Vander flapped91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwIv6sYH2d
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2V0zf4cPv
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbs6OqJEo4
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLwmnSo8je
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKilB4KHXV
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREAaGylfKG
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UmSV0BERe
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4EO97BKO0
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLk0RJJO8z
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2oQn24GOs
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWErdABdB8
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrguxj9BG66
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcECIfU3ns
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCEehFrlRz
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZdZjvOqkW
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauvaaaMNkl
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1BBxMXUPl
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgjKgEG4Ig
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBe2QIqcFC
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklRCqoCCUZ
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLIQvB8dVg
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUJHDEM0jw
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKp9XGYBVe
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lh8csnY83
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnTqlK2DHn
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobb4gi69mz
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgucqdRjihj
figure?”
“One of these91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSil4ec0e3
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL3usiXrMJ
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpiPMxwy9P
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4uZIaaQ8P
be seen again.”
“I guess that91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMUzJHh6Ta
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8giPOPQfh
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ny7hjEO3r
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMrkC1MScb
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ak8wMQZgH
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp2O2Qhv1P
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJiZ5py1Kw
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr94wHiCYqK
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PkN2AtmOO
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtftZebTWL
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLKMhd10Jb
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP01TB92lBc
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgPdO8njUw
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBkq9QeeGC
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8jZdJl1zI
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDaZgtNbIV
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1xipdVZDK
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRzygTQNY1
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CN0miJCUg
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw4kxOIsfc
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TRPAKw1lx
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58lWonPKC3
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoTWtsthPa
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6tYR3MCBe
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QEITilbSZ
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvCgtelJaw
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRznbnX2Rnj
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebn9T8UwpK
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6UwcNUmeh
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pbgxRyT04
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxIgVaryOe
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQsRHGCPxi
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsbdai3Gs1
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpv5Swv7cB
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaJ5foqiNG
his Blade.
“You have minutes91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmgvErruJW
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaoYSw1FE2
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrLdiY7yIg
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm05LqGWgDy
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVR4xmWIeC4
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr38I7mnDQK
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc3M32Na5w
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAV18cZ8by
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cARh3mNI8
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAimsrpg5l
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49frj0lVy7
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqog1KAJd2B
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4tieJtT18
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFdfd37c9x
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvzEUbuPjx
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEUNYFbrG7
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThEB45gKGX
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ0XGIbnfw
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUvKJXkWo1
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9R5z3NDVA9
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0kS0xAX0J
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT3uLsVCJ1
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLbWvykNLo
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt0CcpPkf7
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriT85r0RY2
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88r84HgWgF
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EzWrCeTg0
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFfInAb6Ne
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nW5aNnHqs
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn3k4KF45t
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqEDptOToo
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuV1Uvfj35
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv6KIX0ScA
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr66BVVylhM
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBjAsWyDiC
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmRypTmWPb
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzkE9sX305
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5sHOwJ0D2
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8avsTwRWCL
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6npsLRZ10z
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC784Kyazz
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSmNdA3JSW
before disappearing.
He heard shouting91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sy181GkTt
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9Uw8apER3
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9ELKM6suT
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1tp8GlhHw
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCll35VCUf
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTtxoHYa1P
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQvCfcjxO5
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cmojhevnH
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0GbMZXNfP
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivuCH2NyRo
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NCsJnhvaf
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlNOH29S4c
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarCoN42zj4
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWS7skQmaNS
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqEP0PrW3n
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9erPeg47MF
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbrBQGzyj5
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTiYbkbmlM
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWhmtWfUmp
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlQ5HPhZJM
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1zz0eDKU8
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQtZ9g015c
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their91Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5w3SUfU6T
swords readied to skewer him.
