Chapter 27
If you’ve never70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmdknuPWHH
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwPQsv3ti8
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00WTxKgIaF
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxI2Ftts1H
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudx5C9GQxy
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkAXijWntc
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI60MXknXrG
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz5H8XhJrj
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hPl77YcpB
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRYYfIDFoY
down.
Vander flapped70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV9gBVSVhD
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb09bsQQbU6
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkywrs89Kzc
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ211A58R3dQ
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj1HOqGNWR
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm59f7O2Uv
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqp80Bd2O4
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yk99gDUmZ
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFhAvh8wUF
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Wlh16izO
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwRCffvaiS
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SvSldyVPN
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJg9Y7eCys
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9GjdhcqZI
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83n1O3kuAV
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u7LDgpqmj
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw3rS5ZCB2
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYo2vuVCyR
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrNVClJApX
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbW9S9YLle
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlJ5HwwvEx
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVumAv9w3Ui
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EKrdhSHcQ
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6pxPWra8A
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Pv8KAZmjG
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn9QnVFQFp
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMi492kHuz
figure?”
“One of these70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h039IQlrw
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEaKGIuwM4
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUN9BRWrJ8
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58BWeYsqi7
be seen again.”
“I guess that70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BoIBzGSQK
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF2FBX0a9H
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB33ACkxhe
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWApypZaHa0
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yGeZS2CQn
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oUvuqZ0CE
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb96GtIRcYt
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMopkqbxXW
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0jsP2Rx0N
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQMMzKskGt
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxcMSnjN92
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsIztH08f1
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGeSg6lX8O
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwXmQoZlYc
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkszMxkadE
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78JCKX5d2o
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF2nJDmtfy
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltJQllaYjV
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtlhXCduik
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSj9DwWn5q
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJMvloCf4z
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVIasE0VGj
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyS14bXAqm
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAwkDoVDaJ
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHABrhruCEk
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7wzqQEoHO
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj0pfD37Qo
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhUYNJ7acN
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlhaLQ2GSv
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WrRajbqAn
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu9v6iRaMh
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTb6D6bjRg
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOF6utyPQTB
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOlqzSmepe
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf8XpTy1fd
his Blade.
“You have minutes70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWqmX8CHhD
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbbfI7nSDH
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwLnqTeuGo
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuYHVbq831
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6j9tnrw5f
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sJDhXdbyV
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpnaPmN39l
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR2tXw33P3
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5owXaQVYQB
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LUI0HbWMe
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDzIAoXDrF
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrCs7qHJly
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb8X6o8BQg
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUsDYEwKz2
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnQG2B5XUj
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgaXoGRBxl
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnu3as7vnj
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGvLV2jA2s
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXdWOHwJh1
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFBMgWOCte
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuK21OSkZC
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3YLXlxuQP
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFp63R3cE0
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB653lCj0H
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NF27CUu4I
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh182KxsjXJ
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBw8MdN0BIH
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrXow2Ik9l
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKW42CtDLT
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi6MheEKJp
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99FkG0hmE3
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDesPCKjHx
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWMBN0VRfK
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEROUw4ghNy
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDWCzxuGWq
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWLSiw6Ge4
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3zmlVc8Iy
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ74Hc3IAbi
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDJZSY0NyK
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSVqr5KG8q
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfhBGyDYWB
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou2oMgGqVd
before disappearing.
He heard shouting70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwLGGndCeO
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0n30SlOU3
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFllWIdIIj
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cDJI4OvHa
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRXT8YtX91
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhISup3z7s
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71tzBEn6h5
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLou2zJhUOt
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmcILleGHL
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyLWV2kEiX
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbcpjy6z5X
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2d0ZkjND8
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgjz79UZGa
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSio9oZxdo
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNE9FJdI5C
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKugJfHwBPM
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz7jlvrwsp
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWQyaPdIN0
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx7dOWqBNE
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4rk4tGJos
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19kEDZIYOP
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEzWG7BRlA
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their70Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcyIXDCB7i
swords readied to skewer him.
