Chapter30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOADa2PqKQ
43
He felt something warm and heavy on30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJe5rtgX4d
his chest. At first, he was confused30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhTUKMfdJQ
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHcAMqFOT
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUUGlCkynA
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaq7BBzmywa
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxswSqjqV6K
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmneDlRtiH
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8pIDlEW6M
down.
“Don’t30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIq3pSkTkN
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnj7NXhiMR
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJYL4kkFgi
to sleep.
Over30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJEG04KAc2
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAgjWZDaJ9
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDs2LyHHTn
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4hY1u4Mnb
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3xTYQOUVm
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOtPecd55c
to tell him what had happened.
“We30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc5RxQreD2
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMASDC8OGGO
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA1yYRhe9k
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVATKmBjk5
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG1s1E0lDW
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B2ootHwag
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhqlZWfyE7
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMxMWf0SQa
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDHXmmCgjZ
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEWfj75ioc
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZMH9kzCcf
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsThj04mrF4
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr48KvTOIdL
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJywWPFmrG
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccirC8Ob1f
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmmHqtrmdm
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ279QLeUMqH
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWVruKtd6W
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDKm8XKs0m
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntZDyb5KX7
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLoLa5wKTC
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0OfvVFral
enormous debt.”
Vander30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YHY6xlwZO
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNnILQYM7b
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaIwdFTfbs
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCFC6L04eK
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHVr4sUxid
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W7nIh9cbP
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XEXh9x1HY
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFituVZ5YVY
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6JOyDe1N4
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5k6hMBYEQ
who betrayed us.”
“That’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXnkepfnCF
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkojHmr30n
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKkGK3WDwu
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3ujYvJUFu
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHXYbCNX6V
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdBUAYYyor
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gADZWCwHE
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mqP3QgrCj
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21KrSsDjqM
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CkzqcvJg1
my King.”
…
A30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEVlMjF9Q9
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3urOM3Ehv
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqO3tP69FC
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO0yWM4ocF
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUbmu4VEHv
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUBh55vrI7
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CkRWw1vrl
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObPJAApzTG
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeSWqZXaFm
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGRDeOIySm
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKLjPkALfW
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4OqBkDXFm
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQbEkpiYNa
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTacfcz4OE
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDWaonCq7Y
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsBNzSLXEU
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0DjvxW2x2
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4llf8Pfts
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiAraewCFZ
saw her smile.
“Are30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUJyGTuz2u
we going there soon?”
“After30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmqajpVtjY
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtUBzPudA6
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBiROg5ogk
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyR6h2xbm1
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhQ9zifkk3
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3scNZhv6R2
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiflI8JOORP
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG98YS1qqz8
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUwi02Htk1
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWpframATW
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMfi4J94L9
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9npuK6calc
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOKcZaeaMx
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXS5ySwatMv
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaT1FvVpya
that was for him to do.
Eliza30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUQu4W9SyD
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqCFikZuro
promotion.
Vander30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFqdxIo4be
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdHP3ekUkA
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvZe329UVq
hold it aloft.
“Do30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy3YlfdCzh
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse4YbtW7I0
Cuvera asked.
“I30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrMzL4Qxsx
do.” He shouted back.
“Do30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTOoHYiVOI
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOSFPjk6lG
it?”
“Only30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTem2R4v9I
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqGSNcD6sI
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2cx64r3FT
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhJavuOKFb
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeS1VLm3vR
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5hGpkXI0
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PP8g6NQGO
resilient, just like him.
As30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlBy9aJ56a
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wsh7h1pkb
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq4fDLDB58
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HuLX7QH0t
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3qBMXllNf
capable of protecting them all.
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He30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLdes5HMP9
is, the Eluvian Blade.
