Chapter 12
He slept soundly. No one wanted to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkrUi70oNx
wake him so the visit by Mari Drayson went off without him. He didn’t awaken81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OQ0djRIJQ
until night had fallen and Shea busted into the King’s study to jump on him81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvxObbYKhJ
then proceeded to like his face until his face scrunched up and he pushed her81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yolQSoYwe
aside.
“Shea, sto-” she interrupted him81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOKOBlujcm
by licking his mouth. He shot up to start gagging pushing the she-wolf off his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkg1o6AD2b
body. “I’ve told you to stop doing that.” He grumbled.
”And I told you to stop getting81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQsli6vnO3
into fights when I’m not around, and here we are.” She growled into his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDv8lPWjmEy
mind. “Imagine my annoyance when I got woken up by some Blades when they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRIeauqT4s
came to remove your stuff from the room and escorted me to the castle saying81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVl9ZYuFNQ
you had been attacked. Imagine my anger when they wouldn’t let me check up on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduAHUqqser
you until now.”
“Did you leave anyone alive?” she81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34OQ9lcBIU
barked her laughter but nodded her head.
“It was difficult, but your81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujj57EIC8C
grandfather swore to me you were sleeping and needed your rest.” She bumped81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrET4jFBVyA
her head against his chest. He placed his head in her fur then inhaled her81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYG1uYNQy1y
scent. He felt the stress and anxiety he had been feeling just melt away.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” she81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttfCbLdKhj
licked the side of his face accepting the apology. There was a slight knock on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zUbR1jrG8
the door and Alexander poked his head in.
“I heard voices.” He said. “Are81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe168osfa8q
you finally awake, Vander?”
“Yep.” He slid his foot off the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjvAvM2qrF
couch. Looking up at Alex he saw that his friend had worry lines etched onto81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1IBk8RzMg
his head while his face was filled with worry. “How long have you been standing81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7lfCfnqYK
there?”
“Once the others told me what had81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVhzVkW9kh
happened.” He explained. “I was about to kill you when you didn’t show to the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmNH560B4I
training, but when that Jilena boy told me I dropped everything to come here.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBABJDWdDrc
The King told me not to disturb you, so I sat at that door making sure you81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYJXQUziaR
rested.”
“You got anything to eat?” Alex81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEgqIOyJ9O
grinned. He disappeared for a second then came back with a tray of steaming hot81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEizZNJO72y
food.
“Once I saw Shea, I knew it was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA4aRX2pfe
only a matter of time before you awoke so I had the kitchen prepare some stew81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GX7j2aVKO
and bread.” He said. “I had them make a bowl for her as well.”
“Thanks.” Shea was81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBjtIYjgeO
practically salivating on the carpet. Bernard wasn’t ready for what was about81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHwlKgHExQ
to happen. The two of them tore into the food like a couple of beasts. Sauce81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QNOTj7TCa
and chunks of bread flew everywhere. Alex wisely took a step back shaking his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r5G958teo
head in disgust.
“Animals.” He muttered under his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tNl9g3PAN
breath. They were done after a few minutes leaving the table a disaster. Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26eo3Xj1wy
leaned back on the couch then stifled a belch. Shea stuck her head into his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDF4YEAHSb
bowl to lick out the remaining sauce. “Once you’re finished your grandfather81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7OSVm9sQi
wanted me to bring you to him.”
“Did he say what it was about?”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUAqT1z3TG
Vander asked. Alex shook his head. Rolling his eyes he got up from the couch,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOWHHJSCpF
wobbled for a second, but remained steady. “Let’s go then.”
The castle was on high alert.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgJyauXNID
There were more guards here than normal, most of them were regular soldiers,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSMUAmG4ln
stationed along the halls. Whenever the Wardens showed up everyone was on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgev1caSA77
alert. The safety of the entire country rested on their heads, so the King81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PTDBNAKFp
always took extra precautions to make sure they were safe.
Alex stood at the door to the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdQG0gUa8D
Commander’s office while Vander headed inside. Charles was pouring over more81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6QcupA6FC
paperwork at his desk by lamplight. He looked so old sitting there even though81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19W27fReZ7
he was in his middle years. Just went to show the toll being Commander took.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUDGSWvgwR
Shea jumped up onto the couch then placed her head on her paw. It took a couple81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuKb26Q8uN
of seconds for him to put down his quill and to look up at him.
“I heard you were ambushed on the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuLVwN1kEs
street today.” The old man’s voice hitched. “Are you doing okay?”
“Fine, gramps.” Vander nodded.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqFtBU6vX6
“What about the man I captured?”
“In the dungeon waiting for his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PYknw7IhS
questioning.” He said. “I assume you want to do the honors?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3if3FG0am
grinned. “But we need to have a talk about something.” He sat down in the chair81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Fy79h5fqz
across from his grandfather. “We need to promote the recruits to trainees and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVS0gYsOmN
allow them to help us around the castle. If today taught me anything we need81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRPKFOpDIn
more soldiers on the streets protecting the people than we need them in here.”
“It’s not time for them yet.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoGSHRO8PG
Charles shook his head. “They aren’t ready.”
“We don’t have the manpower,”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOHcogt2Cz
Vander argued. “Even when all the Blades come back with the wardens, there81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6vNuYKwOa
still isn’t enough. Those five can really help us out.”
“Doesn’t matter if we need the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1BZm87wYZ
help.” The old man growled. “We have standards we must adhere to. There can be81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyVy6cf5XM
no exceptions.”
“Gramps since I’ve returned a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xPu3hXC5U
couple weeks ago, I’ve almost died twice.” Vander said. “If we had more81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYdL45E1hz
competent guards this might not have happened. If you’re that worried about it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5c5TiEkrj
I will keep training them until their time is up and stick them by the entrances.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6yYnb1IRh
An important position, but it wouldn’t put them in harms way.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1Mp9fSoxz
Charles sighed. “But your idea does have merit to it.”
“Thank you,” Vander sighed. “I met81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78qPAt7Gfe
with Ross last night for information on who poisoned Malcolm and he gave me a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBco0edKq7
name.”
“Yea?” Charles looked up81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0qa4LjjDa
interested. “What was it?”
“Green Serpents.” Charles’ face81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGShWglzWW
fell. He scrunched his fist on the desk then slammed his fist down on top.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLg787ML1W
“That bastard.”
“Is there something I should know81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioSTSCJeBI
about?” Vander frowned. “I’ve never heard of them before, but based on your81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDCjtJsebr
reaction and the King’s, it’s something big.”
“Malcolm has his reasons for not81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mCnuhmG2Q
telling you, but since you were nearly killed, I suppose to have the right to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5WJ1ywPyi
know.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “The Green Serpents are a mercenary81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3rliYPpSn
band that goes to the highest bidder. However, it wasn’t always that way. The81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy9WVC96gI
leader, Jogun Batiste, the King and I used to be close during the wars twenty81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkUSgbrIgv
years ago.”
“What changed?” Vander folded his81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GjRkLRxl4
arms over his chest. If they were now taking contracts on the King himself,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOOkcMU0hP
something bad must have happened.
“We found out what he did to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDMgJNgKTp
prisoners, especially the children.” Charles’ back sagged. “He would have them81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8txfh2lpmU
fight each other to the death then, if they survived, they were tortured and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJwYWWAHA2
corrupted into joining them. Some he sent to his loyal soldiers to be81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bytfOYgay
brutalized.”
“Sounds like a real charmer.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTpkX1saXc
Vander said dryly.
“We suspended all contracts with81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAWaavTQ0V
them and threw them out of the city.” Charles sighed. “I wanted more drastic81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8ogBgrvcZ
measures to be taken, but I was overruled. The council thought it would be81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyDRNxUqwB
better to part ways amicably instead of killing or imprisoning those involved.”
“And now they are back trying to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImRroSQ6aj
get revenge?” Vander shook his head. “Something is adding up. They are going81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qmPIHcqkm
through a lot of trouble for revenge. I think there might be more to this,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWPb9qQuxv
especially since I had nothing to do with twenty years ago.”
“And it would make sense to go81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHYpkM3EIR
after me, someone who was involved, and protects Malcolm.” Charles turned81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QtFEMpJUp
around and walked back to the desk. “Why are you being targeted? Any ideas?”
“A couple.” Vander hesitated. “My81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxLJMyWs6P
first thought was that it was because I got involved with Nigel, but I don’t81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7xmWvr09G
think that’s the reason.”
“Vander.” Charles said carefully.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucFZRm43cT
“What’s going on?” Vander took a deep sigh then told his grandfather about the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5HBFSQVPO
dreams he had been having.
It started with Veyar the day81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo6k076X3D
before he left for the city along with her warning to keep his identity hidden.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip2R9l4Nqu
He left out the part of her being trapped in the stormy vortex, he didn’t want81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI09QsdK13j
to give the impression that the Deities were fighting each other, not that81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJQm5GrRkA
anyone would believe him. Then he told him about the dream with Unna about81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5JEVtqU1O
fulfilling his role. Lastly he told him about his most recent dream about81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbCkvzcx81
Imitae being chained up to a wall and reiterating the same thing his wife had81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hpa14oO0X
told him.
“So, you think they went after you81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPaT4bLgSH
because they know you are the Ma’akti Unnatun?” Charles asked. “How could they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYVG3FF6Hh
know? Not many people do, even less could figure it out.”
“Gramps I communicate with a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0iUvWe6aH
Shadow Beast,” Vander laughed. “She might look like a wolf, but either way it’s81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNcX6bYdX6
not a common occurrence to walk around with her. It might be nothing, but all81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XtDqqkTJX
of these dreams these murder attempts, something is going down.”
“I already moved your stuff here81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMfCoeRAXW
to your old room.” Charles said. “I will have guards on you at all times to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rW1afxtpg
make sure you stay safe.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nsNzQvYuP
gramps.” Vander sighed. “Put the guards you were going to put on me and put81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB93yJWSaNu
them on the King or Warden Drayson. I don’t need protection.”
“Then I will put Alex on it, he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjTMHJu7xC
seems to be the only one who can wrangle you.” Charles sat back down. “What81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLhDixbIAO
else did Ross tell you?” Vander looked at him confused. “I’ve known you since81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm76mU4XUYT
you were a boy, Vander. You think I couldn’t tell you were hiding something81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxZElPOVDw
from me?” Vander sighed deeply.
“He told me that he could find the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmz5nKhpBi
Serpents for us, the problem is I would have to fight for him.” Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsNWWRaHyG
explained. “In the pits.” Charles lowered his head and sighed.
“Do you think he has a way to get81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGote6nyuwM
that information?”
“Yes,” Vander nodded. “But that’s81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9ZBdZ0qMu
not a place I want to fight in. We can handle the information gathering81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvkrkmDuv3
ourselves. I’m certain of it.”
“With our resources stretched thin81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RM06KC6Z
I doubt we will have the time, but now that we know who they are, we should81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LM8SlTtPo
have better luck finding them.” Charles said. He opened his mouth, but there81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2hyDmxds3
was a knock at the door. “Come in!”
Alex poked his head inside.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJv3yAv4dL
“Commander, Vander, Anna Drayson is here to talk to you.”
“Send her in.” Charles and Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE2b1uSyqh
got up from their seats to greet the young woman and heir to the Eastern81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlKGbb2pmW
Warden.
Anna Drayson was only a couple81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhluImhwDo
years younger than Vander, but an accomplished soldier. She wore the native81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM6qIbuFdU
uniform in an ocean climate: a leather cuirass, a short skirt, leather shin81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx6lzyHn8q
guards, boots, and arm guards. Strapped to their waist they usually held a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5nfcxXbkP
short sword, but for now it was empty. They wore helmets with a blue stripe on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPOgiFE1Xs
top to show their devotion to the sea. However, this was only their ceremonial81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShYvhyo7In
uniform, in actual battle they wore iron for better protection.
“Sorry for the intrusion.” Her81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNmKwMEoVG
voice was melodic. She removed her helmet and a cascade of silver blonde hair81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOY3rSEysg
fell past her shoulders. Her brown eyes held onto Vander’s for a moment before81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZWHD3xr04
flickering to his grandfather. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“No Anna, we were just finishing81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpq23WmTry
up.” Charles leaned back in his chair. “What can I do for you?”
“My grandmother requested Captain81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwMvjQt8Iz
Vander’s presence and asked that I escort him to her.” Vander and Charles81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5Ig0ZPq6r
exchanged glances.
“I haven’t talked to her since I81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9JwBfkvN0
was a small child.” Vander frowned. “What could she want to talk to me about?”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdEpTXW48k
Anna just shrugged her shoulders. Sighing he got up from the chair. “Seems I’ve81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqavxm57caF
been doing more talking than just about anything else recently.”
“We can change that if you want.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKsFdwVoIK
Anna grinned. “I’ve been wanting to fight you for years, wolfling.”
“I told you to stop calling me81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GZi9CFcyC
that.” Vander snapped. He wrapped his elbow around her neck, forcing her to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x5ydSoopR
bend, then rubbed his knuckles through her hair.
“Ow, ow, ow.” She rammed her elbow81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7p1mVchn4
into her stomach causing him to bend over. They broke apart and squared up,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdPpVX98bs
fists raised in front of them.
“Not in the office, Vander.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGwcpfXFPk
Charles snarled. “Get going the two of you, before you break something.”
“Yes sir.” Anna bowed. Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuolp60dmMh
whistled causing Shea to wake up rather abruptly. She growled her annoyance,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcV2KJMtvi
but upon seeing Anna she jumped down off the couch and ran over to her. “Hello,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBn9rBH36r
Shea.” She cooed. “How are you?” She responded by jumping up and licking her81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi2Cm3sfaJ
face.
“Come on you two.” Vander said.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZ4TJzelhd
“You can get reacquainted on the way. Let’s go.”
Anna chatted with Shea while she81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58yhkISxZx
led the way towards Drayson’s accommodations. Since she lived in a villa on the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssgKLcgxp
ocean, the apartment she stayed in was on the eastern most side and higher up81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m7445M4rp
than the others. They enjoyed the cool over there and that tower was the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLga4EEfVzJ
coolest area in the entire castle. Which, of course, meant climbing up hundreds81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlwVG9NZev
of stairs.
The stairs were guarded by two81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7kVr6B2Yu
Blades and two of Drayson’s own guards. They nodded their heads in difference81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMu1w5Km3Q
to the heir, but blocked Vander from going farther. The two blades went to step81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCqcglWLVB
up, but Vander waved them back. He unclipped his sword and held it out to the81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUknoz35mF
guards. They took it then stepped back ushering them to the stairs. As Anna81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAczI8FzQV4
walked past, the Blades returned her sword to her. With Anna leading, they81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCn0MAzYFl
walked their way up the stairs.
He was out of breath by the time81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTzU6eV2mA
they reached the top, but for Anna this seemed to be a light workout. Shea also81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLLpADcXIY
seemed to be enjoying herself because she tossed a lop-sided grin back towards81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthP5zbNBXJ
Vander. He made a mental note to withhold steak from her for the next week.
The apartment they were in could81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxadtqndfjl
have doubled as a massive house in the first ring. There were four massive81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGpmiehwQx
suits, three bathrooms and plenty of walking-around space. The servants did a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhi4yfHPPI
good job decorating as the entire room was painted blue. The reflections from81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoRYo9TJK5
the paint gave the room a blueish hue, it felt as though he was underwater.81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl1s5J55jz
Sitting in the middle of the floor, on top of some blue pillows, sat an older81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uWw6jIdmR
woman wearing a long blue robe. There was a long pipe in her long slender81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOBQhsZEC2
fingers. Her blue-green eyes looked up as they entered, a slight smile81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F9BRjCLI7
flickered on her face.
“Grandmother.” Anna got down on81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuowve5WwbD
one knee and bowed her head respectfully. Shea trotted over to the older lady81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k9bW9qIhP
then plopped her head down in her lap.
“Remove your boots Vander, then81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIivvoP9PIP
come sit.” Mari said, her voice only slightly louder than a whisper. “Anna, you81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdPPRMXEgn
may join us if you wish.”
“I think I should wash up from my81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHt1kRbEBE
trip.” Anna got up from the floor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYRbTErEOg
proper bath and I feel as though the entire city could smell me.”
“I didn’t want to say anything81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8MGgawzlt
before because I didn’t want to draw attention to it, but-” a wet shoe slapped81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1D91gKJ5RG
him in the face. He gagged from the smell, but before he could throw it back he81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBS3N8mzFPY
heard a door slam shut.
“You shouldn’t treat her like81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu65GK1UObI
that.” Mari said sternly with a hint of amusement in her voice. “She still has81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH28iZdEJ2o
a thing for you even after all these years.”
“It wouldn’t work between us,”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Ott3atgS
Vander sighed. “She knows that, and I know that. She can’t leave your villa81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO9z3ZchT0
like I can’t leave the city. We are just from different worlds.”
“Is that what kept you and Bree81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE0gvh8NNJ
Valarian from getting farther?” Vander tried to contain his anger with the way81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkzz17DsIF
this conversation was going.
“I don’t want to talk about her.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXL5CP0q6Z
He growled. She blew a puff of smoke at him causing him to cough.
“You’ve been through a lot since81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY1qyel6lc
I’ve last seen you.” she said. “You’ve aged. It’s in your eyes.”
“It’s been a rough couple week.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFQS90c2dC
Vander leaned backwards to stare up at the ceiling. “Been attacked a couple of81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxPxoiCKSG
times, got some not so veiled threats, and have been poisoned. Things aren’t81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnd3joOva9
looking well.”
“You need to take some time to81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz2pZYWsWS
relax Vander.” Mari blew out some more smoke. “Things are only going to get81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG1RMOBBB3
more difficult for you.” Drayson inhaled more smoke, but she held on to it81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu7VgdkvOr
longer than she should have. She looked up at Vander, but her eyes were deep81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7br5mgXTHE
black this time, all trace of Mari was gone.
“Veyar,” Vander sighed.
“Ma’akti Unnatun.”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHBYbVxrGt
Mari’s voice turned deeper, but still slightly feminine. “How good to see81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzQolp2oH5
you again.”
“What is this about?” Vander81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ilU3dxDcC
frowned. “I got your message the first time, as well as your husbands. I don’t81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzNtzLhtPa
think there is anything else I need.”
“There is someone coming who is81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesWmvIOopy
blessed with my daughter’s powers.” Veyar smiled. “She will be of great81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGuWMzxiog
help to you in this fight. Treat her well. You have a long road ahead of you,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS4JU3XXS7
hold on to your allies, they will be your best asset.”
“How will I know who my ally is?”81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zeqaMtK4M
he asked.
“You’ll know her when you see81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkjuYsbuTX
her.” Veyar said. “It will take some time for you to gain her trust, but81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfo0NETQeg
once you have it you will have an ally for life.”
“I don’t like people being played81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKJZAJIkhq
into helping me, Veyar.” Vander said. “Either she will do it of her own will or81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3IyqR4XXy
not at all.”
“This has been written for a81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCHJFWYa2o
long time Vander.” She said. “This was ordained long before my children81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5be9pXcEp
were born. This battle will shape the world for good, or worst. With that,81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQAatcaKJN
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.” Mari81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVwrCp8VCD
smiled, but she looked tired. “Once I go it will pass down to Anna. Will you81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdOxxz3gje
help me to bed? I’m suddenly very tired.” Vander got up from the ground and81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzAKQShSog
picked the older woman up in his arms. She pointed to her room and he carried81Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiNtEtlntj
her to her bed.
