Chapter 23
Rain pounded the streets of Eluvia16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9NLa9zfRM
causing its people to run for cover. Thunder rumbled across the sky as bolts of16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpSJdL6Ndv
lightning shot out illuminating the space above the city. Eluvia was in16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVHjhhgoGe
mourning, and it seemed to many that the Deities wept with them, but a select16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyDcntpTAC
few knew the truth. There was a war coming one where both human’s and gods16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfcsrvVA3P
would have to choose sides.
It had been three months since the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqm3BHn6ib
King’s murder and as the city wept a man hunt was underway to chase down the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN5xM5OHh8
person many believed responsible while the true culprit stayed safe inside the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKlGzZwqp6
castle, just biding his time until he could strike. Despite the circumstance,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEvBzOXF5i
Eluvia needed a new king. Although Cuvera was still in mourning, he bowed his16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1IS30kbqX
head accepting the crown and the power that came with it. His new wife, Kiara16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAaSA5Eyyu
stood by him, helping him through his pain while others plotted behind his back16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxZHqtCmUS
to gain power in the wake of this tragedy.
Peyton stood at attention in front16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjUquSr5Nf
of the throne where Cuvera sat. His hair had grown long, his eyes bloodshot,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CXrgqupYs
while his clothing hung loosely from his body. Since the death of his father,16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZLEhs5bTL
Cuvera hadn’t done much resting. He was too busy learning to run a country and16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8b4g1GSOy
dealing with intelligence as to where his friend had gone, searching for16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkk8O7M4qj
answers as to why he had killed his father and run away. No matter how hard he16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsaQIT2m6n
tried, he just couldn’t understand. He longed to have a conversation with16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrrFblu01O
Vander, but he knew that wouldn’t happen outside of a jail cell.
“Any luck?” his voice croaked.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgDxrdFL4S
Peyton’s heart was broken seeing his best friend’s son this way, but despite16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KGruK7gCR
their plan, he couldn’t tell the young King why things had to happen that way.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IfDnbVJoQ
He wouldn’t understand, Peyton barely understood it himself.
“None.” Peyton shook his head.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMqJOlvtWd
“There have been a few sightings, but when we went to investigate, he was16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRkFnmbnKI
nowhere to be found.”
“Damn it.” Cuvera slammed his hand16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsmHR2j5co
on the arm rest. “Damn it, damn it, damn it.”
“We will double our efforts.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBNiq066b3
Peyton said. “If we ask the General’s for help…”
“No,” Cuvera interrupted him. “If16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdNWm1BOjJ
Vander doesn’t want to be found, no one can find him. The Warden’s need to head16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVj8Cdp6OF
back to their posts as do their Generals. This will be an internal matter, Lord16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoNS4kOLCX
Cranton. We must handle it ourselves.” Kiara walked over, placing a hand on her16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm1xNhgfAj
husband’s shoulder.
“Is there anything else Peyton?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKCSGrTeE0
she asked softly, but the way she looked at him told him he had better end this16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpptTv3kmqH
meeting or there would be hell to pay.
“Just one,” Peyton grimaced. “Have16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9sqz6qu5T
you given any thought as to who you would make Blade Commander? Since Charles’16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRk0hszTU2a
was forced out, we need someone to…”
“Alexander and the other Captains16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dRKBBdE19
have it well taken care of.” Kiara interrupted. “We understand that this is an16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjeImpJHY8
important decision, but based on what has already transpired, this is at the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRx8kBHrTa
bottom of our list. Understood?”
“I do.” Peyton bowed his head. “If16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyU11JEinK
you will excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of.” He turned16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF63VwvvbQK
around shuffling off. His boots made clicking sounds as he walked down the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlFhe19WsO
cobblestone path and out the door.
As he walked down the dimly lit16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSbFitOpig
hall, he could vaguely feel another set of boots walking in time with him. He16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7hTdXrqzV
turned around to see a small, hooded figure wearing loose clothing to hide16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5VxrEPmyJ
their true gender. They wore gloves, likely with metal embedded inside, and had16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5epPPueZN
two twin daggers strapped to their side.
“Fang,” Peyton greeted. That16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf098FFJ1GL
wasn’t their true name, it was the code name given to the Serpents assassins.
“Councilor.” They spoke. “Why have16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAvysbobhw
you summoned me?”
“Because you failed in your16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4BJkXA6ov
attempt to kill the King and I had to clean up your mess.” Peyton said. “My16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLjrm2wqeA
master needs Vander, your new task is to bring him to us. Alive.”
“He is a dangerous man,” Fang16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GzBTLOlgh
said, their voice not betraying any emotion. “He already beat us twice; we need16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkS4e0n8R9
more time.”
“My master won’t wait for much16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkywanlWE6
longer,” Peyton explained. “We only have a couple more weeks before things16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjOkf3StQd
settle, and we separate. Try and have it done by then, I don’t care about your16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTPYMcDxaN
methods. Just do it.”
“I understand.” With that, the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSkk9X8USg
assassin stepped into the shadows then disappeared. Peyton let go of the breath16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAhS2vzF9q
he didn’t realize he had been holding. He placed his hand on the wall steeling16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EmS21j0y0
himself for what was going on.
Was this what you wanted Malcolm?16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e5SqpTB0e
Was this what you had in mind when you want your son and his friend to bear the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnu7mndZEM
weight of our choices on their shoulders? Peyton rued the day he had allowed16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeNcZGULVx
his friend to talk him into such a crazy plan. He wasn’t sure what was going to16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oVoedjLMz
happen to him by the end, but his day of reckoning would come. He just hoped16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYp1ZxEZoF
his penance wouldn’t be difficult.
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He walked towards a window where16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTftbHZ2uo
he could clearly see the storm brewing over his city. He was safe behind the16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtYuz20HBe
glass, but he was still afraid. He hoped Vander was doing well despite16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWCvejoDmu
everything that had happened. He hopes that one day he will be able to explain16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6a4dZFZ95
himself, but he should plan just in case he met his end beforehand. With a plan16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOxREJBtYf
in mind, he shuffled off towards his office ignoring the sad expression of16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRnzFhf75a
Malcolm in his portrait.
