Chapter57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhQ4yvw610
43
He felt something warm and heavy on57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Mho3CZgb5
his chest. At first, he was confused57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWQxMIi0hh
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TgmwGV5jG
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZReVpOXID
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSpxZs3WEb
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiEVJ2mGvg
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHzXBoUEKI
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMd9mpqkcoO
down.
“Don’t57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd0TQmcthB
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqlZK784TR
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQk2B6zfypE
to sleep.
Over57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPw6QRls9F
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jc29XiUOx
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfDZdzVBO9
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRaRelKMTA
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCQvRU4pLf
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyopv6XuF9
to tell him what had happened.
“We57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThVtDI1Qc5
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cF4fJZX3a
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNiVtcmvUF
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CHO1TV3HE
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs6gmTgW55
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY9VkdgOZy
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL7vnD7llc
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86DeL30ghc
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm966bD0CXy
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ42Witwa8i
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2r05RTDTw
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyXosQjidx
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYCagFaidz
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIXWggsudV
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhTTCY1BqV
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXseqLJXXov
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnjSdnzBvj
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYZ4LCDfjK
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJYTkLnbjl
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6FaPzy4tF
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJV4lMul4B
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9y0MObYr5
enormous debt.”
Vander57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF5yOCnJWa
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xk8ues8k4
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KBHPIfMO8
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinzQr1Qf6R
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh2Ox7JQ0P
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7oefn243D
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHYwn2rvrv
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSdUbLaCCM
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUB8WU3F8y8
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeURRm8SbyN
who betrayed us.”
“That’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUYembGCKJ
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iL7Gtdh6K
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9hD90Js6g
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcRSqt93xb
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRzglqmkIA
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlaqxwuIYD
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdq5HLnyUy
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7oAi891Ou
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRPa4lalH5
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O1JO7nJ2O
my King.”
…
A57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzBYdllJez
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUXLhU3rhF
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTWbLTY6b4
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIoUhMgH4c
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s2MtWRQYj
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaEzdslz8p
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcZxMfBtDJ
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZKmhVuSuM
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4gC2j4yAb
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQvy8gRDPl
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xnh4ocS6e
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3mxuZbqB0
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7YuHBve0J
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePKLTLBwYn
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtx8PfoNRbo
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM35v2ezdA7
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMIUA81dF0
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrdc8vlLGW
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwp4S32IsS
saw her smile.
“Are57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvbkqbyhTN
we going there soon?”
“After57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9Dad3SwI2
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQUjXZccSD
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS07ikXkgRV
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJEJqxFnx1
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42AmMaY9HJ
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAQdYeMXlC
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkQgs2lJDr
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeLiyQWLPb
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiYNmeGSaq
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8TrYM74P3
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCAkDvdruT
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1488rpxAwp
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4Cfe1OA9B
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV2h0ajwQM
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX4jmGS18B
that was for him to do.
Eliza57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30bJEe5E7C
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1O27qumQY
promotion.
Vander57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7pOZZJ9fC
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lGecyxIu7
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte25mkEOcr
hold it aloft.
“Do57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIBH8kxFGO
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmB2SYVtKk
Cuvera asked.
“I57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdeDQOhTID
do.” He shouted back.
“Do57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD024MAScxo
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC56qLQh1s4
it?”
“Only57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbIN4OA3Ay
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWfXLAaNUX
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlfc24Un4z
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerF2MvIM1u
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1bKnKDqn0
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7khfDrAof9
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfsQjOsH3E
resilient, just like him.
As57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNUUFtKEUd
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZkfWi4EVo
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0qtAZsCav
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8QqSa0G8L
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TQrBKpGXB
capable of protecting them all.
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp4h36824J
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvwdpOBDrU
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyQMLDsxSb
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8Z7RC00Sz
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFPrqTN6eT
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHswwvCcAzT
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesd5uQIdEU
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSvdQW9yRA
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7hTzl4tkc
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA8bHbMFwv
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw0C8lWykz
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEAsMj7GAR
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngBDsD3CY5
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoNKZOjT8y
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5u8IyCFeq
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2O1j785BA9
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3q1bLOpGxM
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvTlsKjWZo
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZaKVqjCdg
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA1Jx8eCai
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1qJcCjGcr
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HFQg8MLiA
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunfQF1Fjor
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbE59frB4G
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXIhXugZOj
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCHcj0NfoG
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgqo4HYgj1
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRrl9hDP21
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp5jZr6N7E
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFld8qykI2I
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLk7GC6AvS
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zqEQAPa9O
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hz3S9zbln
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk0qgM0C5P
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAwCFhsWZD
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSHwSZmu7s
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHxdxZ4Wp2
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82HDbuyddx
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTK3eOT8Fl
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5Iu5oVvCD
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSeukzRHJv
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV5EmrsXTr
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlzaICmBGW
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2glOhUlMr
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjtMshMmYG
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKVGkTciCJ
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuk5cq532f
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbyagJ1e6f
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbl3oErJxo
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOMLRgeDGY
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpE5TXLl6Q
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV8yYpFD14
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LFyWYzb1R
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41TmZlyGrb
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRjjJVg6L6
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OrHYRVyvO
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8i8ZOTWVG
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y97V2sG06
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJ5hCXTgHJ
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZHTomRPXB
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOE4I05yBGW
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnZouY1vid
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJBDwrjFOv
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSFhEkUsby
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIAoy72vCL
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdji7ikL7T
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZdZz70tuy
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWNXmVS7Yg
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcTEYIWmDY
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkN9XsdRnO
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxMZRvwbaI
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5YM0umy3V
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJsLDvqOkI
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ymbT6SBhA
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu2mWkbbZc
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4FVLghQX1
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVYtxNC8dr
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3lpTVewxy
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKBCu1kNur
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cCcSiXOLv
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUELEdnyUe7
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGBjgw2VFl
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdmgKV3fmp
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XzlZHgkPK
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1YwGLahwE
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5tHaDFMaE
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhxpTZWhBR
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokgkY60fLg
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrjMAW4jpp
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYUjHy0QfW
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgC4SpZgdZ
57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrnkpUviG3
He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KbawJmvD8
is, the Eluvian Blade.
