Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lt9dWnRJG
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFBz6cTt2p
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZVRAgnYcZ
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwscM4mm808
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzeJuBhyMY
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyWDEMVtVm
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNxDKWPxr6
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoH24B3Eg6
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUszermRzWD
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbAQgVMcSi
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAEuMn4qT3
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TfO4Esikj
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERMWo3xTC5
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4ZzgiJWhB
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9h0N4LmSn
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xGeJRh2xO
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy88Ude6ye
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6f1UHMz9H
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHUpY8ZsEB
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxI2Ym2p4F
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMoaPiJCvO
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvL036T8pQ
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhlz2DFahx
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybvmyi00jb
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0fgGHmkwk
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfj8vPZibu
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLojUvqR15
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnf0mLPhpr
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IXuvLeFvx
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3ilecwJPu
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeW6JdetZF
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvOZqkad37
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LXHq1AvqB
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr0C1AKIYf
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vtyQOUlGs
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qo3QKLb9i
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGxu4hTNSF
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH56g9UiC1Z
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLQl7HMpbM
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh00Nv2cdNs
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpMdS7JFbI
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyQPhxOylt
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTArGSwNr3T
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIb7Ryut7o8
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0nIn1SPkd
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWDAISt5bF
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN47fCWTYk2
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhmGBXxcWq
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwkq4S51WX
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjOSRKMxgx
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Q4k7Guxw
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7dqMrxKSa
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvoka9zaXW
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvm1Z0aoTt
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbTdFbr942
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSJF3ZoVUI
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnZrYBRyjV
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiNWpXF5TJ
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywNPx3ujMB
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo08Zd19l2U
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU1n30m5NO
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGxjxUbCya
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIzMpgM7Ap
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmGHySlPE3
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5ihR7UeHv
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnAU8UC4Sg
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcOwOMuw5r
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAdQHfucLR
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uwfn0eeyE
happen again.
Charles had told79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJUR2fgIaE
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6lYKve7DS
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC8jETbcye
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMaX9tbNAk
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifrgtbzWbf
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryHNaSRVW7
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EbTOUzchT
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzG8Ex0rch
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zqJ6RyhmZ
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuL2VKzppF
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYmt6NtPE3
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq5jPAGya2
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbXZGGnoZI
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAWgEvN4dI
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlq09riPZce
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijT5nYdV9f
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQ3MVLf08
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF546bdstAI
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj86tvWoqq7
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WkWBmf3NH
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xOm31eY4i
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1foU7fpjXi
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0EZPHH4BT
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU2ulKimVC
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5maN2Jh6pO
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAgU1cEk2i
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTso4ZPqVH
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlzQavoDjz
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCztk8dMrxD
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHmNuLAWy3
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kX7GAq79Q
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4iQsdev6i
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHAFwdUzT8
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlIEO8mUgh
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSr8dzfddo
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYb4w95UmpX
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMtBA63p5v
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5GVZofUmU
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMYzVePCj4
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoH5nt4E1Gk
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp5B8emKeO
she needed our order.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOxXI6xHAt
79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvKopl6oZ3
“Yes79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMlSfQiZIh
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7V7pUpX5X
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctwGzs0vfx
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYKLIRY7C3
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55PHbud2yD
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpZJElOkle
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbO5g06QOJ
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJShU75T5v
walked over towards them.
“Do you think79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vkJdX1yQG
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLdjXJkxce
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw3fWlb7HJ
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXPobOieUc
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv1qxKr4Rp
to handle this?”
“You go in and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0uXu7rXpU
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WXfBGm3qY
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVBlyiwimP
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJGEupjpk4
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oaOffzpU1
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s1SoTX4R7
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyupNgeEFI
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeScWaeqzrN
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL0IW3yZY7
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf0WUIdYkl
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi38z58Cjr
uncommon.
As they made79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8BG4hakVt
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFPufqyi9V
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae7bmLlBS1
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIeYiZh433
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHt6w3ATs4
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc2rYD8vEG
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOvDWALObi
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73oKJPudcA
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnmNbWfvz7
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kZKTYOkxY
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUwRRomKEY
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFJuZToVC4
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqsGmQ0xtM
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIw6ElQXlk
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGDKSGjVrx
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ029IsdKUts
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjX5gVVL7K
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdh5XqheJo
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyebazRxgKy
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpiAkCnLt8
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65pM0GzsjU
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwHYGLBXZt
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQkr0hBmVv
came racing over.
“What in the name79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaZc1nIfjX
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5gNsGz02j
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4d9VVVJ0o
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2CAVLBpoz
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaY8RzqSWU
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe9EfYuqvK
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxfT33T18i
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUxwi56FT4
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusR2f4zIF3
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83uZyFkBBS
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UA57ahLIk
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VC0Iem0hr
was going on.
“Clear out of the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ388HIJz7mn
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU30n0Tkw9H
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rNjfTdUlF
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVgrSSmOU7
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JzViHRtdJ
he froze.
“What are you79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lg4NUX2yk
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Js6LsSMIm
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39u9mheZi5
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaHvK7wJQv
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDaOVEFqnU
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzEZ4KF4Zw
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfQXwODVv2
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3n0KoCFRp
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF4Q8RbCIr
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKv3k6qeWB
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHH4JGn76R
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJpadkrDn2
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwkBavdCcM
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNUlNzI1F1
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O1lxNXfkK
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0eG2kdHn8
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBCl36rPTr
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzDLIOLqxO
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbaH4xOkzB
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCZ0jUuPOm
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXBR5mNiAf
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoJW8Y2Phv
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxY8zskFs3
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtGrGMIK03
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ4OFVxB0F
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjZFTjuLHa
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwpdyAsCnv
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xI0oTWQc0
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPnQGjCHne
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWAbVanvrb
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOGhgI7fJs
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSBZFJSGrP
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSkDgOUOOG
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV1O8osHCq
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKxayMUj3z
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYoscAm8Bx
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhywmwOXhiW
tightly. He made the first move. He drew79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aNFgNO1xV
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkBKWdhQsl
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNwgImo3Lr
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0UsE4raZl
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsNhNUE7LN
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7C4eZDNRw
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDxYVeGWW7
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgwzajre63
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKmwqtioON
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq8e058rNj
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkBzNjPEQj
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8ae4QR9fd
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3uXrWH3JN
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn0uhQ0lAu
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7GkJMrEfo
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfbIdm0EMv
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4Tnfb3Xlf
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo5sWmoNNZ
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1BTsgJF8s
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEBHdBUYEw
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ308ZWfjVhR
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCwukR7xXS
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnpD7KRQ3M
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8d3Bjg6xw
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNQFZTxRwL
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx79GoQTVhd
injured.
“Come with me.”79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQmnW5p79t
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmebVS4xan
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMHHSwQ2OG
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlXM6zhKMC
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKfzwABYqu
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6vEoAo9qk
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was79Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsTC9ALfYU
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
