Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJjj44uE8Z
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfhU4suVPh
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMfAt0Ai6C
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLp7OQSjbv
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEkDu0YY01
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp1WBgEh3k
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNtO2eHASF
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RUWONzaf5
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUo1V7Ncfv
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHiv0nXRAq
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7IpkWVYYOl
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUADhy3cQI
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaTPnQV19o
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtBrJhIe7T
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9vq50SGiv
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGJ3Rgcpvz
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBX25dzFo5
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFdRCpjGdw
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfloBVOXme
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxnmkMIHAz
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWLsRk43rO
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXGDwmr41x
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa291C2dJLY
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFESedSqChl
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaAoSujMsU
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXAIrk2q3D
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQyPbNRiLK
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4P1qSA26t
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mBwB67Cq6
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUn0BAPFvif
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e4I3eJMcj
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZsdGj9fyY
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX7i7MYkrN
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X3W7zO3qS
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQWUMh3L1u
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZtir6tqoN
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXG0YfzhEQ
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrVpxKY7Ol
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRz3yPAeEdc
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLeYoDilsa
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HtgdME6MV
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBoeZ6slkn
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17QOYnWog7
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5JJ1ZH4yv
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk8LiuXN8b
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeOeSu8EM3
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO5PDr3Pre
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDTIPpTGFx
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC5j5hjz3v
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpsz48lGZn
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRkn5kO3rF
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJb1FbXoHX
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e4pTjLOuR
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jg3S4NhTg
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFs25mzFQk
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkj1lH3fD3
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxQKPZBcyu
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADRwVTdqpq
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBcyhItDeN
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Ng1F3IWA
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZhYJ4UmmG
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9YL3nRxSQ
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOQiCAm4UL
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaH1sJ2yUW
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDD2Rgg9vJ
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kp8QqwuAn
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPa8ljwbvp
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVhtHvuZ3s
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqxczdxpEQ
happen again.
Charles had told78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qeKFE5LvA
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEvCdwXyef
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvjqeLHGuu
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6dPQW7NIE
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6JSBnu9Lm
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15lwUQsUBP
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOkFaTXuP9
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwSjPLa2B6
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5bcaJw4cI
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwCZ7jJxot
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HpB6NOqCr
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYF4YVL9eO
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUI0n5yoHy
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzznscM1IA
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4uShqoReg
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HshMf0x9d
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaDMjMXKEC
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQM0IVORQN
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRXxSMqhQq
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmCqQNCR0W
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHvVx6SKSq
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhWrI5HCkX
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtRISNAC78
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53J2qVUVdA
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRBiN4OtG1
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMgPZw06me
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2rXiBg7xS
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxqV9UMu6t
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTnrG1vLhq
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96F952DHCE
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP7Y3WfP9l
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIhkBUsnQy
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfi2VbNYod
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxWM5YMzCG
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGSERK86B8
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFXMNbroqQ
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA44vaFopz
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3NhtWDEYv
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw0blW3qJo
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡah9ESCnuKu
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuihO5tbpE
she needed our order.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozmxXnes6N
78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJOMHbsUuT
“Yes78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRXhg4oo3W
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiGAqitbZq
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp5uevUdI9
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxdQlgiHH2
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOVxJPxzVq
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU1NS2xOot
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ480HtyC5yJ
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtemhEgJDK
walked over towards them.
“Do you think78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1MmHu6OVV
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uShH2ZizI
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DJobKpw8z
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxASavDAzLJ
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHFx10p0XE
to handle this?”
“You go in and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzGbcWNRuE
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiAI4RNz3J
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnOBGoggET
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2knUUP7Xc
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLevewPSITY
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa8dbDUgd3
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVSYuXrTDE
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb3DSB7gWx
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwF04IN6kB
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVZQMxdfI7
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLIV8Nd51G
uncommon.
As they made78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrSHDU8Dfw
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3HBY3vzS5
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPkb2putRV
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0xU4Wx2r3
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph1SyGBsRC
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvWmTkkXjD
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCU1meYk0N
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vBphlaSzc
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbid2gda8yT
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOgPLi5wxq
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPCJ1tGJlc
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NwZSzUJ0B
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Fi6EVJsP
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ4s3kkEaS
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF0QOyG9XF
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKJ3fueSBm
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSSIbgvHFY
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rd9FFmINH
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2axwSaI4d0
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVMHOEqGdi
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0reHGHS9s
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7bNwjVohn
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeArCuhveY9
came racing over.
“What in the name78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrS0HdLkFb
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gLhaSQhD2
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwjB6dqGCn
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qZNDMXMJB
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYKfDFxkcu
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wvC204buO
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsvuKOBWgu
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowMR7aB9Mc
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUU2eLw5vN
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mCcsUiBHg
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI65XBgQep
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOo4NW5f8T
was going on.
“Clear out of the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyLiYNyDBq
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhhURxxnHV
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccIsnRvEbD
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9bGbP6a3z
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOReYrGMwgB
he froze.
“What are you78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9sNW7NKrW
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rHKD7i6tN
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEQDtsAl2t
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSms2gQN7u
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDPTR3DFtl
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItaH2GLy9i
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6z2F1QA6t
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dLiwvz8l2
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpFGVdSDUv
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfCyXiMceD
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtgZ2fcCar
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPvToG1z4G
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH8xSiSGmB
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx2QCO151X
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8wcMowL4d
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiUhAhSwT9
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSX5shLY5x
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExEio6AUaG
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEoxiZAozQ
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJk3jybVmw
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZEuKeL13D
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55YmekXu34
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawUg7nkG6G
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVK6sJwKeo
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFboI0Hr5Jg
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYZYRXqX5n
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMMbEDR69m
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyyQtKeYIX
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRzmdJdhvW
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07jXQXKRjh
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ztux10Wxo
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhH7OJZQJZ
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByC1FrxYBH
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSqG0VwB5O
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YfqVw9xNs
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXsGXdfwz8
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRDwTFmpGQ
tightly. He made the first move. He drew78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGafqNXL3iv
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SpArhDoeN
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY5x8wmUsU
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxEXlQ6jeL
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcGwXYuxgi
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdydufEU0j
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EAdBsPqKb
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6t0613JgV
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DbAeqK3fp
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllnEX65CkO
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8A70Skkdk
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAt3W3u1oD
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13AliTd947
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0uLYNi2eJ
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZdN0mAR9R
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjbK4PL2j2
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnXQuMXWRY
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKf7oRnGBd
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4eKJLcCAX
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnSYuXFOKz
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyMuj5qzI7
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6yziB1U7E
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJDBcccZOv
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6REAjhR3i
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgatTc59B8u
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlQiBFM29Y
injured.
“Come with me.”78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUwWp30zzD
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE3NmHwE2w
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx6Bd3di4i
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSmUQ6Abvr
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VkRNfWF5A
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLkZCDvsXu
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was78Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RHU1pYAC3
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
