Chapter15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtLOZb9t4W
43
He felt something warm and heavy on15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ0hueqer9
his chest. At first, he was confused15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcVmVPzuU2
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEdMuAsvG0
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7zi5BECJd
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV10y4Kpoqc
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIn9lzrcgd
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2xtCBy5c6
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH56nlY25zs
down.
“Don’t15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR44mE5iwz
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ubSZ1oHBO
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsHpy7rPmz
to sleep.
Over15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNgvE3nKqe
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF9hma0EBn
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsddwSn6DEC
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvgMu7y12e
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVQEUJCWD1
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuvWg3ZQ3g
to tell him what had happened.
“We15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD4duCT1r6
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaguUECHrIs
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAr2fZSWbr
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sezt42NZC
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhWM6pMWzH
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl3pI1D96q
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7IFkYvz1n
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUtJgeUFT1
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHUPToke3I
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTG6mAmsEx
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsokpBnuhGV
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlxgTPvFC8
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9UZBRqqZq
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsACOsjtmhx
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqEqTEkqbD
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7LOO3q2mg
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2yFxZep9i
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlFnorJ3Rr
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkOYJtmrEy
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDONrgypPE
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqdYSRMpA7
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ILseX9Cu
enormous debt.”
Vander15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzixWNMW2G
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjA2KWTXVV
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRSSyG2sre
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3vIk9hp26
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvF9Phl51N
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SzAsm2Fao
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i3yCUadsh
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEQDxqR3mV
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCT9jcY3jx
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgGXOCt5OJ
who betrayed us.”
“That’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIPOljjnE9
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKpjhakonZ
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciP3vKo4d1
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC4zNrv1Oc
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNmoaQSKF1
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkSxh6lRod
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvghhj5Pqmz
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFB7Pbtvkj
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9iVcj0XQV
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XhiHeozTA
my King.”
…
A15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKSvnV0JAJ
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV0iEGdspt
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuzHJyJOKX
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpG6STyhHv
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmRs2xPztF
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGQZwatlws
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzXnPsy20H
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F8xbuFfCw
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XTj4kfVxG
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtwkJThgA4
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAnOOv2nN9
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E9ECkm533
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFbUu9v93E
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSG9nofteN
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpxOELpxgC
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCcHUQ4Pbr
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZbjoDvXb1
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrJK1xxywQ
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3PgNFGjkC
saw her smile.
“Are15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfYbNRGU5n
we going there soon?”
“After15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyftjKfNdA6
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8O5T3dt05
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2sK9Rc600
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmPlWTBRQi
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcF5a50v4Y
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5N0tQoNZ6
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oV8MlRq8S
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIeWMxniwi
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YgyN7IGWZ
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKKfc4Dhq2
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKM9ev0Y4q
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jB4gqJdXx
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzkrPD1LcC
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DmMmzRPFQ
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX92b3pIOvs
that was for him to do.
Eliza15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrIoUszi19
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUZKqVQSdX
promotion.
Vander15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMfgv025OK
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbnt5XDa1D
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglIh2icotn
hold it aloft.
“Do15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDeltrngAh
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOOcMoHzjB
Cuvera asked.
“I15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru7vytlOd4
do.” He shouted back.
“Do15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAsHlUUQag
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6OlzVv65U
it?”
“Only15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOljHuPVXW
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMJdAeANoo
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnh2ot0Zeud
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkWSn5yqKy
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUOoRjpQm9
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2M3l2oEZe
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP4MDxvHns
resilient, just like him.
As15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllTLebedqV
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pwonXhMa4
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48KCh2G8eW
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCHyvJyQUG
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kLzAVS3QU
capable of protecting them all.
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He15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSef1Rp6NvM
is, the Eluvian Blade.
