Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS7EkGyy8j
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmiChS1ZS8
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAv4hIbaTx
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsvcbmrBZr
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUX8rra6GE
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukXREkt7qB
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4enoT1B58D
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyOAIp19lR
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBKGM8lP0U
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7IQJYQz35
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BD3Q5R7vt
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1laqxY8ls
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P2lywPAjS
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbXEqYcCEK
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNOgfh59eR
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa8cXccWnO
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMOZXCux4P
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbs40GUzHl
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiX6y7te5q
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjtlm61ac9
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzXuW5lF9O
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph3ntlaIi2
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIO9zHeOIJ
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgLQkJhMw2
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8nSDo6g07
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDuZm5VPrg
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIrXtyv5a8
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjlLJR1RAa
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr73dCqAmo3
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXQQwkDnfs
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAzkmOYI6U
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUlf57Edli
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPT8SoLrkM
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyPCGqQUb3
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO8IH5kyfD
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGWapFWKmH
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SSINE9ELq
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o4rRVgjsL
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDrW3cb5Kh
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXpM3L9GCG
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHF8dv77oD
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNt5p60gvJm
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoK5bRrW9G
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBd7wkzTKJ
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9it29x5KPZ
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwhEnGwPcw
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnTpg2dAJz
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRX1eQgppu
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc3YgYcyAg
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3T1X9Ve4t
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1QsmnBAKG
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGD3pw5ZTL
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLBlooPqGj
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ie56Xyq8p
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0FgPErNwD
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOBWoOT9w7
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhMTJ4b4Xd
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ1BqAgcI9
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIhgPOjcpP
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSSCvMk22Z
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z6a9j1pn6
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y11VCE066
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCobMJ20BW
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2eQZeioXe
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXcCJl3W6m
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdakf0nVYc
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSzCMniMeH
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlyFYwQ9Tm
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1MvUNlKWz
happen again.
Charles had told99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sdE1ekPLM
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmk3HVXIWs
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUVHNVKUzF
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7Cp4fdof0
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7fFYmyql8
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDbJJuxuFa
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrVDWsY9OY
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G9zyfrAyG
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IEvL0Bc6r
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA699NyVvya
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP0uj9h1bn
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9u9SvLPF6
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W8pyjgviy
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2np6QYCWx
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz6Qoeya0j
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjvseE8aD7
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD0VDQqRZD
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGwJaqaL0W
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3R3aOmYlC
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo29Ntchaog
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FJuNt5gZz
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHoboc1Jlf
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvox5JaczP
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrtIKyQWcC
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfFwf3vaOv
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0srvcEZYKy
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XyCKIS2PX
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8devJgBNQc
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUwkQxyyJ9
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eHgMoa6Je
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9YWBkdnql
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMLI7zJIqW
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzB2v0jsaN
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnHXnd396N
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvtnt0DIFO
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGPNXmH4wa
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVEQRm2yP4
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJxtN1T2FX
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAg503t41X
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaASybbFjpC
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqczTG1xCcw
she needed our order.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT5HBJOmQB
99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4QOK9zDLf
“Yes99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXzVmLMtep
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R8HUxRbC3
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CiI2tTgDG
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBcMzoUPFM
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevD1HeTFaT
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnOZ11lQUY
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGMDpIF82T
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrh73YhKAp
walked over towards them.
“Do you think99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjUoGDwvxw
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiZG6chIkN
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibitr7It26
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU2ghOlNNZ
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpTrRDbjtr
to handle this?”
“You go in and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yGqpGaKBK
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURqD6IgsQ2
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7jPSAAAeD
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpdV8SqEW9
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUYTzw6axn
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcs4WKry3K
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJTiK3P1Ry
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRyNsZrFs2
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOi9wl8e5Oy
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMv8mJbCnt
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD3cXULJRL
uncommon.
As they made99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7mzENScml
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpK6K89b4CS
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G0x86SVJi
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JSjbqwCVz
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ11YvYsoJ
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHZrV0KaQV
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC78S5zrH9
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WqqW0I0Bs
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAS0QRNtCC
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu4c6lN8xN
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbURO0DYmRx
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1TQy7MTRO
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbsjJHrM3Z
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsPOu0qGrU
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU4MdlQvS8
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9oyurnVvA
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6QyQaVJlu
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6OPNANbEi
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Z7jmT3IYs
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjHUZVSHiw
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHwVbr8r98
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zj885Fa8W
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4OdEuZ9bi
came racing over.
“What in the name99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv1dVwEikd
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnZlExFouX
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDiAa7qN3U
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU99kb0oO2
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mzrlsUpiB
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fXtSkJ7ix
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUwyVQ0SFX
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvE32hgldR
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mZyYl2g20
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAm7pQd9S8
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquMCgP7gFQ
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio1DyX8SaO
was going on.
“Clear out of the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDbOJaFniI
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLgncRmlC8
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwKmG5gbjD
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ7q9cpN4S
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TNJNaCXXX
he froze.
“What are you99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4kNHVjKIw
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEl69GlQ4y
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VJxFrGTgi
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIkcy2MeCm
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8zMl8vnAP
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNlplLeY5h
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8OjRc0d0b
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1Yf4eDTq3
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmslN4iFsZ3
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqKnp290Kj
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg2n0ie4Cs
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NteUr6fTj
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsc3aYA65G
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsfMJVwlPm
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmQhDujpNv
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmZt2MlYxe
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY7lidqAwO
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHrhZA181Y
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWGeXgNVi
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7zl7Yphix
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe9w3uSAFr
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsVaEVRe3N
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP9rLfBhHk
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWVJT6tsHm
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDSkODEEaP
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN3S9p5GR6
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfo4J0Zayu
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREa1GcW10U
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvUaXj3rWe
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdayKSKVM3
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b71RYBefc
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk3GGk7yLX
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWJ7NXYODJ
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCQwFV296R
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MyWo6rvG2
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH60ldWXL29
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt4wleX3QV
tightly. He made the first move. He drew99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0jmJdLxPn
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksT6aqGJ1C
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV3n2qpr0X
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4r0PoxT0g
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZFJUye9ld
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWBzglM7Ju
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU4PDrCBjQ
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrCcxupv3c
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLdQ5rZPpU
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPnPMe42Y
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm9duH6NwH
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvxTffEfba
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbHd5GplCi
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT8iJNdtCY
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqpfTAhTiq
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbVzuTMLQ5
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nxs09AQ4F
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5694uUMWv
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXzoE3hx4P
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhj6VwT94l
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XQji2UavK
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiatECEptJX
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EqhEIZwau
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadSejfJwdG
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZIxkfzzDC
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnGpKMnCLg
injured.
“Come with me.”99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdKiQ36FSa
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXHF7p8I3H
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxK25sMOeL
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscGD5keuZ1
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8LhZazWAU
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC69ZJleqtU
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was99Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtAcCEWOrN
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
