Chapter 27
If you’ve never71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8V3Gs8fQ5
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfCPrYZ1Pp
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsgzsorvJS
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuKiRyN6BF
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafuFmQk9N0
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9OMlAQpgb
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUadc8Ilfcn
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzzh4N96iq
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc58CBVNL4A
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpG80ECfSr
down.
Vander flapped71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9NXpFLsYR
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsJcE9UQJv
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLKiFXv8Sn
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojTDxiidwG
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCFKdtTUDE
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hoKhogOB9
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFBLaNs9xR
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxTMfcFsL4
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvv1SaAUhU
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPteRtfINfd
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv1BbNle4Z
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuWy229HXr
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdWQivl4Be
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkK9PkaMI3
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQHhkE16EF
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70ioceTIkv
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA27mZLRlvg
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2PxHk345Y
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMnZHbco5o
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8R6mMRjjUi
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsnjMFuKEL
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKbYFDemDl
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kSiwBMzao
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTNs3jjbyv
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE06q8frQSa
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIG2AUUHPu
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhivcCZIlhy
figure?”
“One of these71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1WYpsusC4
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mbaKaVWXu
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdELDZQZAHF
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z3P3jC3sE
be seen again.”
“I guess that71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXdbaIWCZf
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB0NHZWy82
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztggB1jSkf
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gi7x3rSfm
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj4ZUwdD5w
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVe9dbjvu1
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCGTMOWR9k
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN9Cu5tVRu
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeQKNQ2Egg
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigXccGwXOo
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8FD9Z9UZx
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUiMf1cS5v
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSLU6UoXj1
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV7EYYAoKi
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPZESsW1Fy
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4llbMKj5p
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKafRBPjT15
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhbeOuRykm
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nr1rghpSf
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb5ZmTAQsv
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD1Easbc02
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYzF62sQZE
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gecQ4AKfA
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4sfXHdHUo
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeB5UAz2bd
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCMQ5q3LbA
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUluB1neCzy
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNykAxuWD4
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wUT55JMFW
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSA5ViVK4E
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lEZxJlUKM
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxWKRV2J4g
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNpP0oD5XD
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vSRJpSySi
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3doNXZ87jN
his Blade.
“You have minutes71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2qdgqhFeH
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSswaa547f
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXRILGjvJ2
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuYWaz1mW8
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuPuBcSTUF
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7OABUTIak
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmPeNbaXhd
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FuATjBoyv
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Bi9F3f4o
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAo3quLUy3X
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0ozlKvtny
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfigd8HGlH0
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFXDf5bvB3
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG74NpK2Q7w
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnYmmmemC6
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOZIuioUEF
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKbdFhxH9p
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RBR1bUv8d
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW1Zogdz31
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dulgVUJpw
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ8fEcsS2K
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQDqnSXhCd
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtDeOf12yF
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLuKogLSGI
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8QK5xFhvM
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhKZJ6eRLY
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLaQ83bM6H
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4PliEpbvN
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSQhdr0cnQ
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKve9GbPU6
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUYDghmSz5
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lh8Yy2046
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92IEFT6NtI
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZHdyeZVrH
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvdYzm4G7o
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKUFcWjNPu
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYljtW8PzA1
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTrRNPXCcs
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu4EJIbDlO
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaBUOvJM0k
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5Qjxo86Ob
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvBWeIwyFQ
before disappearing.
He heard shouting71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OlRefsyUy
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYSWegIiD6
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUOWecH4uS
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzvEkRm4bj
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzhsasyDRx
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY0bAtmovY
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxF6bbxTIa
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiONNz7LFv
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehSU36p4kC
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBKIXxSD5W
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPjzJAFOzc
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKZ10G1LAl
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9zFpl40Up
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaTZwW2o6O
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKEQO3g4Y6
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg956kIlna
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQXKWfVrXh
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpVAcnN4hn
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IzWowr9Mn
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC74q1HIjAE
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86183qZyox
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlyhjLJd2g
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their71Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpTHP2W4Pj
swords readied to skewer him.
