Chapter 12
He slept soundly. No one wanted to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4G4Vi6c6b
wake him so the visit by Mari Drayson went off without him. He didn’t awaken80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vbH80dZoi
until night had fallen and Shea busted into the King’s study to jump on him80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw7fEn7ul6
then proceeded to like his face until his face scrunched up and he pushed her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmeg8TqJK1
aside.
“Shea, sto-” she interrupted him80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNvKB56L8t
by licking his mouth. He shot up to start gagging pushing the she-wolf off his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R0SLNSsWH
body. “I’ve told you to stop doing that.” He grumbled.
”And I told you to stop getting80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJtqwnydRF
into fights when I’m not around, and here we are.” She growled into his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTUDLB2snS
mind. “Imagine my annoyance when I got woken up by some Blades when they80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0Uir43OnU
came to remove your stuff from the room and escorted me to the castle saying80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F7YABwy0p
you had been attacked. Imagine my anger when they wouldn’t let me check up on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCToWUigvA
you until now.”
“Did you leave anyone alive?” she80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAPVzQA5aU
barked her laughter but nodded her head.
“It was difficult, but your80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkw8yZ0P2Ar
grandfather swore to me you were sleeping and needed your rest.” She bumped80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD15diP4sYf
her head against his chest. He placed his head in her fur then inhaled her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oTrWqxbne
scent. He felt the stress and anxiety he had been feeling just melt away.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” she80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij1gDqgVR1
licked the side of his face accepting the apology. There was a slight knock on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b1XhfnvZd
the door and Alexander poked his head in.
“I heard voices.” He said. “Are80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNalaFmlmI
you finally awake, Vander?”
“Yep.” He slid his foot off the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzhRdyzmzb
couch. Looking up at Alex he saw that his friend had worry lines etched onto80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC3BWpYIXs
his head while his face was filled with worry. “How long have you been standing80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVEtbMY1I8
there?”
“Once the others told me what had80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPGevfF0Cr
happened.” He explained. “I was about to kill you when you didn’t show to the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJv1TU4j7P
training, but when that Jilena boy told me I dropped everything to come here.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7UsnPXFIZ
The King told me not to disturb you, so I sat at that door making sure you80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8ElAwoOzn
rested.”
“You got anything to eat?” Alex80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFBoOjeQEG
grinned. He disappeared for a second then came back with a tray of steaming hot80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r0BsyttvK
food.
“Once I saw Shea, I knew it was80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNIgkVr5WA
only a matter of time before you awoke so I had the kitchen prepare some stew80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh5Qg9tehf
and bread.” He said. “I had them make a bowl for her as well.”
“Thanks.” Shea was80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle1N0tNDMa
practically salivating on the carpet. Bernard wasn’t ready for what was about80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E4QqqMs9w
to happen. The two of them tore into the food like a couple of beasts. Sauce80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE74JRA14D
and chunks of bread flew everywhere. Alex wisely took a step back shaking his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tj7rNPuou
head in disgust.
“Animals.” He muttered under his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigIpfF3Ju0
breath. They were done after a few minutes leaving the table a disaster. Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXQtys2YmI
leaned back on the couch then stifled a belch. Shea stuck her head into his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkMttv4agr
bowl to lick out the remaining sauce. “Once you’re finished your grandfather80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C90Sm5h3U
wanted me to bring you to him.”
“Did he say what it was about?”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RHDmEQlPq
Vander asked. Alex shook his head. Rolling his eyes he got up from the couch,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNjmVNnzmV
wobbled for a second, but remained steady. “Let’s go then.”
The castle was on high alert.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYvVW0jLUj
There were more guards here than normal, most of them were regular soldiers,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LcGt7M1v5
stationed along the halls. Whenever the Wardens showed up everyone was on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6kLZg6Fbj
alert. The safety of the entire country rested on their heads, so the King80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AaYsEpuwM
always took extra precautions to make sure they were safe.
Alex stood at the door to the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG4BbH9QZW
Commander’s office while Vander headed inside. Charles was pouring over more80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYZztWGs58
paperwork at his desk by lamplight. He looked so old sitting there even though80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygEAguYvlR
he was in his middle years. Just went to show the toll being Commander took.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwucKX66DK
Shea jumped up onto the couch then placed her head on her paw. It took a couple80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXNRdiiks8
of seconds for him to put down his quill and to look up at him.
“I heard you were ambushed on the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyFEc3mBaO
street today.” The old man’s voice hitched. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, gramps.” Vander nodded.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTr6y3P9YI
“What about the man I captured?”
“In the dungeon waiting for his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctERm3xSe2
questioning.” He said. “I assume you want to do the honors?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL20xGzaqE2
grinned. “But we need to have a talk about something.” He sat down in the chair80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm03qCAyJt9
across from his grandfather. “We need to promote the recruits to trainees and80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9JAzYcPGn
allow them to help us around the castle. If today taught me anything we need80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3yQYTPLFv
more soldiers on the streets protecting the people than we need them in here.”
“It’s not time for them yet.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHAc6W1LpK
Charles shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
“We don’t have the manpower,”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctG0b1eXQL
Vander argued. “Even when all the Blades come back with the wardens, there80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlHr9S1OGt
still isn’t enough. Those five can really help us out.”
“Doesn’t matter if we need the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte1iGUm0A5
help.” The old man growled. “We have standards we must adhere to. There can be80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0tTyfeWS8
no exceptions.”
“Gramps since I’ve returned a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItE2BpSdv5
couple weeks ago, I’ve almost died twice.” Vander said. “If we had more80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYN1eioKjj
competent guards this might not have happened. If you’re that worried about it80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhC0LEtOuC
I will keep training them until their time is up and stick them by the entrances.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtDLkriibT
An important position, but it wouldn’t put them in harms way.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaE0ehGTmr
Charles sighed. “But your idea does have merit to it.”
“Thank you,” Vander sighed. “I met80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qtbdTMmEA
with Ross last night for information on who poisoned Malcolm and he gave me a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZz1tcvPOHV
name.”
“Yea?” Charles looked up80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvttAqt1Pti
interested. “What was it?”
“Green Serpents.” Charles’ face80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp8Nz8DIhk
fell. He scrunched his fist on the desk then slammed his fist down on top.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgi28fSFGG
“That bastard.”
“Is there something I should know80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hv0xQhO4K
about?” Vander frowned. “I’ve never heard of them before, but based on your80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84wft3FgY1
reaction and the King’s, it’s something big.”
“Malcolm has his reasons for not80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoWO3Yta4K
telling you, but since you were nearly killed, I suppose to have the right to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGYmRZz7Qb
know.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “The Green Serpents are a mercenary80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdUzPBjSCi
band that goes to the highest bidder. However, it wasn’t always that way. The80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldYT97l9C3
leader, Jogun Batiste, the King and I used to be close during the wars twenty80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiYCj5hGSS
years ago.”
“What changed?” Vander folded his80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKL4LiW8ix
arms over his chest. If they were now taking contracts on the King himself,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66sddgZdGG
something bad must have happened.
“We found out what he did to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS0wh6JJhh
prisoners, especially the children.” Charles’ back sagged. “He would have them80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElfdZLOEu0
fight each other to the death then, if they survived, they were tortured and80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87S2j0x3nS
corrupted into joining them. Some he sent to his loyal soldiers to be80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITS0AVNwOh
brutalized.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis0K88UXaU
Vander said dryly.
“We suspended all contracts with80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZRtryi2Ly
them and threw them out of the city.” Charles sighed. “I wanted more drastic80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ55u8F44U
measures to be taken, but I was overruled. The council thought it would be80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGkRBjauxq
better to part ways amicably instead of killing or imprisoning those involved.”
“And now they are back trying to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj0ysLiaEL
get revenge?” Vander shook his head. “Something is adding up. They are going80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdOoMwhYdR
through a lot of trouble for revenge. I think there might be more to this,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkToeIROjJv
especially since I had nothing to do with twenty years ago.”
“And it would make sense to go80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJucCm39jTt
after me, someone who was involved, and protects Malcolm.” Charles turned80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W9GJlaIeB
around and walked back to the desk. “Why are you being targeted? Any ideas?”
“A couple.” Vander hesitated. “My80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFBLZcvsrl
first thought was that it was because I got involved with Nigel, but I don’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEeUbovh04
think that’s the reason.”
“Vander.” Charles said carefully.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMegcqUlqT
“What’s going on?” Vander took a deep sigh then told his grandfather about the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ6bDJ2fvT
dreams he had been having.
It started with Veyar the day80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiaQqEI3Bn
before he left for the city along with her warning to keep his identity hidden.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTsuaipm9S
He left out the part of her being trapped in the stormy vortex, he didn’t want80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBiTxFeFbP
to give the impression that the Deities were fighting each other, not that80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sV12Czcvx
anyone would believe him. Then he told him about the dream with Unna about80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrK2qLYyoB
fulfilling his role. Lastly he told him about his most recent dream about80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1ysvVk7v
Imitae being chained up to a wall and reiterating the same thing his wife had80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmVgsNa8wn
told him.
“So, you think they went after you80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1nGTk6QMY
because they know you are the Ma’akti Unnatun?” Charles asked. “How could they80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM61H9dbMpz
know? Not many people do, even less could figure it out.”
“Gramps I communicate with a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp68rrMNSo
Shadow Beast,” Vander laughed. “She might look like a wolf, but either way it’s80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcyuZKwt8q
not a common occurrence to walk around with her. It might be nothing, but all80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZwcln0pP1
of these dreams these murder attempts, something is going down.”
“I already moved your stuff here80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGheGYOCNsk
to your old room.” Charles said. “I will have guards on you at all times to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zrIfwjLZI
make sure you stay safe.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVBmXkVGOi
gramps.” Vander sighed. “Put the guards you were going to put on me and put80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTzIgvSLlp
them on the King or Warden Drayson. I don’t need protection.”
“Then I will put Alex on it, he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv64Uam0sQl
seems to be the only one who can wrangle you.” Charles sat back down. “What80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvfCcooPod
else did Ross tell you?” Vander looked at him confused. “I’ve known you since80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqnGBpDrPa
you were a boy, Vander. You think I couldn’t tell you were hiding something80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5yhnNPpIq
from me?” Vander sighed deeply.
“He told me that he could find the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hdS22NVOL
Serpents for us, the problem is I would have to fight for him.” Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBczFFfFrz
explained. “In the pits.” Charles lowered his head and sighed.
“Do you think he has a way to get80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8WFLXr5xk
that information?”
“Yes,” Vander nodded. “But that’s80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVXmmNjLTG
not a place I want to fight in. We can handle the information gathering80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlghsrShzZQ
ourselves. I’m certain of it.”
“With our resources stretched thin80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlmOu4LQp4
I doubt we will have the time, but now that we know who they are, we should80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMMIOk7dgU
have better luck finding them.” Charles said. He opened his mouth, but there80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC9Pq9Wr9Y
was a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Alex poked his head inside.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSpfzU2GCF
“Commander, Vander, Anna Drayson is here to talk to you.”
“Send her in.” Charles and Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wGAugwiZk
got up from their seats to greet the young woman and heir to the Eastern80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUMzHI8V5F
Warden.
Anna Drayson was only a couple80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D9L9xx15U
years younger than Vander, but an accomplished soldier. She wore the native80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxLSyFigkN
uniform in an ocean climate: a leather cuirass, a short skirt, leather shin80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DRjEg7Al
guards, boots, and arm guards. Strapped to their waist they usually held a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEjGGZibu2
short sword, but for now it was empty. They wore helmets with a blue stripe on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpg7Xob1ei7
top to show their devotion to the sea. However, this was only their ceremonial80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiyNj6E6fb
uniform, in actual battle they wore iron for better protection.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” Her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6uKguaJm1
voice was melodic. She removed her helmet and a cascade of silver blonde hair80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7F29OsD14
fell past her shoulders. Her brown eyes held onto Vander’s for a moment before80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwLFntKMs6
flickering to his grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No Anna, we were just finishing80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUJujqbyen
up.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“My grandmother requested Captain80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MkZNCUnU9
Vander’s presence and asked that I escort him to her.” Vander and Charles80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG0Bx1Jv7N
exchanged glances.
“I haven’t talked to her since I80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLD1mGfcrU
was a small child.” Vander frowned. “What could she want to talk to me about?”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeAn8q0LFr
Anna just shrugged her shoulders. Sighing he got up from the chair. “Seems I’ve80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUryNwqawju
been doing more talking than just about anything else recently.”
“We can change that if you want.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXSShrRYjV
Anna grinned. “I’ve been wanting to fight you for years, wolfling.”
“I told you to stop calling me80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF83IUdb9od
that.” Vander snapped. He wrapped his elbow around her neck, forcing her to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyEBVv0mc9
bend, then rubbed his knuckles through her hair.
“Ow, ow, ow.” She rammed her elbow80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilBMFwXVFQ
into her stomach causing him to bend over. They broke apart and squared up,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQSMMtabze
fists raised in front of them.
“Not in the office, Vander.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarxmQybt3w
Charles snarled. “Get going the two of you, before you break something.”
“Yes sir.” Anna bowed. Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4IKdjgtax
whistled causing Shea to wake up rather abruptly. She growled her annoyance,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHQW2T5oj9
but upon seeing Anna she jumped down off the couch and ran over to her. “Hello,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaqMZt9rNH
Shea.” She cooed. “How are you?” She responded by jumping up and licking her80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB2hbDSTFJ
face.
“Come on you two.” Vander said.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcMfr6IJn4
“You can get reacquainted on the way. Let’s go.”
Anna chatted with Shea while she80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn7EUrvEuZ
led the way towards Drayson’s accommodations. Since she lived in a villa on the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWjeGlUMdZ
ocean, the apartment she stayed in was on the eastern most side and higher up80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu06cDoveQ0
than the others. They enjoyed the cool over there and that tower was the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCZOfyshlH
coolest area in the entire castle. Which, of course, meant climbing up hundreds80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRfIFLPyMx
of stairs.
The stairs were guarded by two80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qc7YI2ySW
Blades and two of Drayson’s own guards. They nodded their heads in difference80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12aWtxhEjp
to the heir, but blocked Vander from going farther. The two blades went to step80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSxsPTNA3l
up, but Vander waved them back. He unclipped his sword and held it out to the80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWzNPyobpJ
guards. They took it then stepped back ushering them to the stairs. As Anna80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75c6JEKjLZ
walked past, the Blades returned her sword to her. With Anna leading, they80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMliQSzYnw
walked their way up the stairs.
He was out of breath by the time80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgWnoDQTrp
they reached the top, but for Anna this seemed to be a light workout. Shea also80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdYMZwZ8mY
seemed to be enjoying herself because she tossed a lop-sided grin back towards80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPmlB8RJiQ
Vander. He made a mental note to withhold steak from her for the next week.
The apartment they were in could80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡforwcts1y7
have doubled as a massive house in the first ring. There were four massive80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cpKHgbivN
suits, three bathrooms and plenty of walking-around space. The servants did a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tRPBaYfhe
good job decorating as the entire room was painted blue. The reflections from80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigyigp5TS7
the paint gave the room a blueish hue, it felt as though he was underwater.80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmQZ3NX6iA
Sitting in the middle of the floor, on top of some blue pillows, sat an older80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKqkMDya2E
woman wearing a long blue robe. There was a long pipe in her long slender80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEBgjgJWGb
fingers. Her blue-green eyes looked up as they entered, a slight smile80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKPRAmVc3H
flickered on her face.
“Grandmother.” Anna got down on80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVPncm1f8p
one knee and bowed her head respectfully. Shea trotted over to the older lady80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXgqdnGPwS
then plopped her head down in her lap.
“Remove your boots Vander, then80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKaoODQw03
come sit.” Mari said, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. “Anna, you80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH42PH3AbOD
may join us if you wish.”
“I think I should wash up from my80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTLg7gq4Lt
trip.” Anna got up from the floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyllaxvMRqU
proper bath and I feel as though the entire city could smell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMuYePnc7H
before because I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but-” a wet shoe slapped80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojlf0Z58GN
him in the face. He gagged from the smell, but before he could throw it back he80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPO82iJ3oC
heard a door slam shut.
“You shouldn’t treat her like80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgrxUzsOhr
that.” Mari said sternly with a hint of amusement in her voice. “She still has80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqymN3ShWov
a thing for you even after all these years.”
“It wouldn’t work between us,”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzBOoEvPPR
Vander sighed. “She knows that, and I know that. She can’t leave your villa80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7mbnSH7pa
like I can’t leave the city. We are just from different worlds.”
“Is that what kept you and Bree80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGIWlsdMj8
Valarian from getting farther?” Vander tried to contain his anger with the way80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k3bEevlYE
this conversation was going.
“I don’t want to talk about her.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZBRY2eAN9
He growled. She blew a puff of smoke at him causing him to cough.
“You’ve been through a lot since80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWtxCMyVbO
I’ve last seen you.” she said. “You’ve aged. It’s in your eyes.”
“It’s been a rough couple week.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTTyqjhWBl
Vander leaned backwards to stare up at the ceiling. “Been attacked a couple of80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wEzaiyt2A
times, got some not so veiled threats, and have been poisoned. Things aren’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PVMl7npzl
looking well.”
“You need to take some time to80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWaszRsXDU
relax Vander.” Mari blew out some more smoke. “Things are only going to get80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qYdw6Z990
more difficult for you.” Drayson inhaled more smoke, but she held on to it80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCz0hkLU8fk
longer than she should have. She looked up at Vander, but her eyes were deep80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7ydgqfTH7
black this time, all trace of Mari was gone.
“Veyar,” Vander sighed.
“Ma’akti Unnatun.”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGxSILYgad
Mari’s voice turned deeper, but still slightly feminine. “How good to see80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxAGGbvX1X
you again.”
“What is this about?” Vander80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKbrM6MMdc
frowned. “I got your message the first time, as well as your husbands. I don’t80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFSw5N3zpE
think there is anything else I need.”
“There is someone coming who is80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOkaxxdUYz
blessed with my daughter’s powers.” Veyar smiled. “She will be of great80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvnVANh0JC
help to you in this fight. Treat her well. You have a long road ahead of you,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zISrUR8i0
hold on to your allies, they will be your best asset.”
“How will I know who my ally is?”80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR5dVsjKXO
he asked.
“You’ll know her when you see80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6SyG9IYKZ
her.” Veyar said. “It will take some time for you to gain her trust, but80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a6TmWU7DN
once you have it you will have an ally for life.”
“I don’t like people being played80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUiqaWWTEi
into helping me, Veyar.” Vander said. “Either she will do it of her own will or80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTYCENTvK6
not at all.”
“This has been written for a80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMlg9rJqzj
long time Vander.” She said. “This was ordained long before my children80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiaiuIJ6RB
were born. This battle will shape the world for good, or worst. With that,80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuz228pwbU
Veyar’s eyes closed and a moment later Mari was awakened.
“How long?” Vander asked her.
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“Since I was a child.” Mari80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7OICixEBc
smiled, but she looked tired. “Once I go it will pass down to Anna. Will you80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTW3uZzn0a
help me to bed? I’m suddenly very tired.” Vander got up from the ground and80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEYlmvFNKh
picked the older woman up in his arms. She pointed to her room and he carried80Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCjbCcU9JH
her to her bed.
