Chapter 31
The roads leading out of the19Please respect copyright.PENANANuAvSQyRhO
district were empty, which wasn’t much of a surprise. A common misconception19Please respect copyright.PENANAP9AZXjU8Ns
about this place was that there were crimes happening all over, but that simply19Please respect copyright.PENANA0F6jmOMEKM
wasn’t true. Since Ross had taken over it had gone down considerably, but19Please respect copyright.PENANAtPntWkG5J9
stigmas kept people from coming here, which was beneficial in this case.
The guards protecting the gate had19Please respect copyright.PENANAUh44T8cZLt
doubled since the other days and Vander didn’t think he could bluff his way out19Please respect copyright.PENANAZzdcuW6Enz
of this one. Luckily, he was in disguise, so he instructed Shea to wait until19Please respect copyright.PENANAvDGD9kLtfQ
the guards were distracted before sneaking her way through. So, he shrank down19Please respect copyright.PENANAhlbiWEX67A
a bit and looked down at the road before meekly walking up to the guards. He19Please respect copyright.PENANAJsjsjLS3Ex
made sure to make enough noise so that they would notice him. A giant hand was19Please respect copyright.PENANAzerhvpB9j1
stuck out to keep Vander from going further.
“Stop,” One of them said. “Where19Please respect copyright.PENANApcFLdwHsN9
are you coming from?”
“Over there,” Vander pointed back19Please respect copyright.PENANABCcaL0GjH3
towards the Southern District. “I’m new to the city and had no idea where I was19Please respect copyright.PENANAYid1VGXf4D
going. I didn’t think a place in Eluvia would be so… scary.”
“Everyone knows to stay away from19Please respect copyright.PENANA6PujjrRjSp
that area.” Another guard snorted. “Idiot probably tried to get some cheap tail19Please respect copyright.PENANApicz1rKDO5
and got scared.”
“Where are you headed?” The first19Please respect copyright.PENANA26bChi20bj
guard glared at his companion before turning back to look at Vander.
“Warm Heath,” Vander explained. “I19Please respect copyright.PENANAeJLmiiWOYJ
was told to meet my father there, but I got lost while I explored.”
“Warm Hearth?” The guard thought19Please respect copyright.PENANA7fhAPuJVIM
for a moment before brightening. “That’s Julianna’s place. Such a beautiful19Please respect copyright.PENANAAZAQgQZ4ye
woman that one.” He sighed.
“What I’d love to do to her.” The19Please respect copyright.PENANArgcBGa4Bfo
other guards laughed together. Vander had to hold back his anger, but it didn’t19Please respect copyright.PENANAEljXlRJycp
seem as though the group would have even noticed.
“Just follow this road all the way19Please respect copyright.PENANA7T6awJrzft
down.” The helpful guard explained. “Once you see the gate leading into the19Please respect copyright.PENANAgpPbYsuYNS
Northern District it’s right here on the left.”
“Thank you.” Vander bowed his19Please respect copyright.PENANAumcENYooQ8
head. He went to walk past them, but another hand stopped him in his tracks.
“Make sure to show some support to19Please respect copyright.PENANAOyGUMuC1gp
your helpful guide.” A guard with a missing tooth grinned. Sighing, Vander19Please respect copyright.PENANAKMyxPpCodH
reached into his pocket and removed a gold coin then placed it in the guard’s19Please respect copyright.PENANAOTxFEekBbv
hand. Pretending to be a country boy, he said:
“I hope that’s enough to show my19Please respect copyright.PENANAdpgBDot4xI
appreciation.” The guard’s eyes practically exploded from their eyes as they19Please respect copyright.PENANA03lFtAncIf
saw the mark. Normally they’d get loose change, maybe even a silver piece, but19Please respect copyright.PENANAk3rUVhRtvT
for someone to give them a gold mark, it was quite a boon. “If there is19Please respect copyright.PENANAFPEfvmiK8H
anything else I would like to be on my way.”
“Just one more thing.” The first19Please respect copyright.PENANARTNyLO5f3b
guard said. “What’s with the sword you’re holding? Usually merchants don’t19Please respect copyright.PENANAOaS1Ti91WP
carry weapons, so why do you?” He looked at the guard confused, but then burst19Please respect copyright.PENANAkNg5G1LAxC
out laughing. He removed the sword from his baldric and handed it over.
“It’s got a reverse blade.” Vander19Please respect copyright.PENANAT9rNs5CQpK
explained. “It’s mostly used to keep people from messing with me. It’s not19Please respect copyright.PENANA0LLwNmVJFJ
something that I’ve had to use yet, but it makes me feel safe.” The guards19Please respect copyright.PENANAdp3ZnfUBuf
unsheathed the sword and looked it over. The first one chuckled before handing19Please respect copyright.PENANAQSXtUDvfyQ
it back.
“That’s quite the con you have19Please respect copyright.PENANAcArQDY3PiX
there.” He said as Vander resheathed it. “Hopefully no one notices it or you’ll19Please respect copyright.PENANAurU4BF4SiE
wind up in trouble.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, thank19Please respect copyright.PENANAdqlcAZWxsX
you.” Vander excused himself. He could hear the guards muttering to themselves19Please respect copyright.PENANAeafh2UD05q
as he walked back. He could hear what they were saying, and it sounded like19Please respect copyright.PENANA8mEvZKYg6P
they were going to try and rob him if they saw him again. Perhaps he misjudged19Please respect copyright.PENANAGe66EgVGlQ
by handing them a gold mark. He would have to keep his wits about him when he19Please respect copyright.PENANAyayHVI3ho5
returned. He probably should go through the eastern district next time.
There were more patrols going19Please respect copyright.PENANAdwA5ciAES5
through the western district this time. It was to be expected since seven19Please respect copyright.PENANAkqIFLfpd7F
people had been killed, but he thought it was a bit overkill that mixed in with19Please respect copyright.PENANASe1wxA5mCF
the normal patrols were Blades which made his job a little more difficult. They19Please respect copyright.PENANAiUwEnk76Xx
would be able to recognize him even through this disguise, even more so if Shea19Please respect copyright.PENANAF31tQrGqAC
was with him. So, he told her to stick to the shadows and alleys. He would meet19Please respect copyright.PENANAruvK5J9h1N
her in the northern district as soon as he could. She agreed and was gone.
To not appear suspicious, Vander19Please respect copyright.PENANAHudV3lvFys
kept his head up and back straight. He walked without the fear of being hunted19Please respect copyright.PENANA9d1TnUHAoZ
which made him to be more invisible than if he tried sneaking. He had been19Please respect copyright.PENANAg0aZ86JA4Z
taught that if you want to hide, you should do it in plain sight. Adapt a19Please respect copyright.PENANAEn6BFyyUmY
persona that wouldn’t stand out but look as though it belonged. He had learned19Please respect copyright.PENANA0iWiZknxO3
that lesson from Malcolm who enjoyed walking down to interact with the people.19Please respect copyright.PENANAS2AZYYOiDu
He always did that in disguise. It made him feel closer to the citizens he was19Please respect copyright.PENANAbzWacumfEk
supposed to govern and protect.
I didn’t take him long to maneuver19Please respect copyright.PENANAd4PCdZ7TpC
through the scores of guardians in the district to arrive at the Inn where19Please respect copyright.PENANAM35GmNcNoD
everything had started. Peering through the window, he instantly saw Julianna19Please respect copyright.PENANA7FROmYJ1jX
maneuvering her way through the scores of customers to place food and drinks on19Please respect copyright.PENANAs9EDlDTzir
the table in front of them. Someone must have said something because she gave a19Please respect copyright.PENANAcOQHJXBNhm
small laugh. As she turned around to head back, hers and Vander’s eyes met.
She mouthed his name, but he was19Please respect copyright.PENANA3Hg4BROifN
already gone. He heard her footsteps coming then the door flew open. He heard19Please respect copyright.PENANAUZwdoplMS2
her shout his name, but he was already in the Northern District. He chided19Please respect copyright.PENANAOu1JSgEfi1
himself, he couldn’t believe that he had been so sloppy. Hopefully none of the19Please respect copyright.PENANAKyKvooqRIY
guards heard. He didn’t want any trouble coming to her, not on account of him.
“Wait!” He heard her shout at him.19Please respect copyright.PENANAJB9Basvdoz
He stopped and turned to watch as she chased him down the street. He threw19Please respect copyright.PENANAz2wWbQYfOs
herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. He was19Please respect copyright.PENANA6EPwrBDHSs
shocked. It took him a second before he returned her hug. It felt good holding19Please respect copyright.PENANAZQg9O6VdRq
her again, breathing a familiar scent forced some calm into his body. However,19Please respect copyright.PENANAQ5OfHf3vFv
it felt as though she had lost quite a bit of weight since he had last seen19Please respect copyright.PENANAhrpl30K683
her. He pushed her away slightly to stare at her. Her eyes were sunken in, it19Please respect copyright.PENANAGyHdXcU67N
didn’t appear as though she was sleeping. He also spotted a few strands of19Please respect copyright.PENANArDWDkSNOuo
graying hair on the top of her head.
“Why are you staring?” It sounded19Please respect copyright.PENANALXs1bmR6sj
like she was close to tears. “Do I have something on my face?”
“No, you look as beautiful as19Please respect copyright.PENANACNIfN1HCsS
always,” Vander cupped her cheek. “You look like you haven’t slept in weeks.19Please respect copyright.PENANAvrawlOhlv5
What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean what’s wrong?”19Please respect copyright.PENANA3btQa4SWR7
She shoved him so hard he took a few steps backwards. “You asshole, you had me19Please respect copyright.PENANADLleFDYvfu
worried.”
“I’m sorry,” he sighed.
“They knew about our19Please respect copyright.PENANArmIbUz6VLa
relationship.” Julianna said. “After the King’s assassination, they came here19Please respect copyright.PENANApG3iF6gi9K
looking for you. That was before it came out that you killed him.” She paused,19Please respect copyright.PENANA32pceYZqF2
looking back at him. “You didn’t actually kill him, did you?”
“No,” the question hurt him, but19Please respect copyright.PENANAgFHTcX1fKD
if he was in her position he would have asked it too. “It wasn’t me; it was19Please respect copyright.PENANALEGARTIKRK
Peyton Cranton.”
“No shit?” she sighed. “I knew19Please respect copyright.PENANABO8fR4RRJu
there was something about him I didn’t like.” He didn’t know what to say so he19Please respect copyright.PENANAjrxyOComRI
just sat there awkwardly. “Are you doing alright?”
“I’m trying to clear my name.” he19Please respect copyright.PENANAVipR2rxfED
explained. “I’m hunting down those responsible so I can find proof that Peyton19Please respect copyright.PENANAwU8ZO9TDMV
conspired against the King, but I’m coming up with nothing.”
“So, those people you killed?” she19Please respect copyright.PENANAzr99ew4Bxa
asked. “Were they enemies?”
“How did you know it was me?”
“Vander, I’ve cleaned you up after19Please respect copyright.PENANAtg9bbE2FkB
plenty of fights where you’ve butchered people.” She spoke. “The first time we19Please respect copyright.PENANAS1GTTCRnwh
met was because you saved me. I’d know it was you from a mile away.”
“Do you think anyone else knew?”19Please respect copyright.PENANAGPsoC8UoEy
She nodded her head.
“That’s why there are so many19Please respect copyright.PENANAVq9frbEYHS
patrols.” She explained. “They are hunting for you, hoping to catch you before19Please respect copyright.PENANAcje38SBtfA
you kill others.” She reached over to take his hand. “Do not stop until you19Please respect copyright.PENANA2Pddk1G0AA
clear your name, okay? The city seems a lot darker without you in it.” She19Please respect copyright.PENANAN1Ax2kNs3L
reached up to kiss his cheek. “I will keep you in my prayers. Now go, before19Please respect copyright.PENANAvzPm3LiRui
another patrol stops you.” Vander squeezed her hand back, but before he could19Please respect copyright.PENANAE0POapDGyD
do anything else, she pulled away heading back to the inn, but she seemed to19Please respect copyright.PENANA9S1YlGLHao
have a little more pep in her step.
He leaned up against the gate,19Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZoqOnEa6M
which was oddly unguarded. He didn’t understand why, he thought that all the19Please respect copyright.PENANAcaZkEtABJE
gates in the city were guarded, the Northern District wasn’t an exception.19Please respect copyright.PENANAzk4kwIGByH
Maybe something had happened, and they were needed? Either way it was good luck19Please respect copyright.PENANAwuhT80SLRl
for him.
“What happened?” He heard19Please respect copyright.PENANAoQTSLDqppI
Shea ask. He looked over to see her slipping out from the shadows. They clung19Please respect copyright.PENANAmOthJj4cnM
to her fur turning her black, but as she stepped away, they flipped from her19Please respect copyright.PENANANKYwqbhhcs
turning her fur back to normal.
“Julianna saw me,” He explained.19Please respect copyright.PENANAaK57ALYZPY
“Hopefully nothing comes of it. Anyway, aren’t you going to tell me how long19Please respect copyright.PENANAAqC2pHSYWs
you’ve been able to do that?”
She snorted. “I’ve always been19Please respect copyright.PENANALFqEGB0jIw
able to, you’ve just never noticed.”
“After this is done, you’ll have19Please respect copyright.PENANAJb5QZmZ9Mh
to tell me everything else I never noticed.”
“That will take a long time.” She19Please respect copyright.PENANAmkOMnDaCR2
grinned. He had to resist the urge to smack her, but they had other business to19Please respect copyright.PENANAe3se1fdNe7
attend to.
The Temple District was the most19Please respect copyright.PENANAFs0C0pEbK1
spacious of all the districts. It was home only to the temples for each god19Please respect copyright.PENANA5HLEdpMKF0
along with parks and forests to allow people time to reflect in a19Please respect copyright.PENANAHSo3W7dAMX
nonjudgemental space. Weapons were strictly prohibited here, they had to be sheathed19Please respect copyright.PENANAC57l7gEXtY
or hidden. If not, you would be forcibly removed by the guards and expelled19Please respect copyright.PENANALBJgFQ5URL
from the city.
The Temple of Humjir was the most19Please respect copyright.PENANAfq1WNDCVZb
spacious and largest of all the temples as it was the cities patron god. The19Please respect copyright.PENANAsGDhDR6c0Q
building was built in a massive circle with the central part open to the19Please respect copyright.PENANArRii2IWNmL
elements. It allowed the moon to shine down into a pool of water in the dead19Please respect copyright.PENANA4Z97X6DsRe
center. Rumor had it the high priest sometimes got visions from Humjir which19Please respect copyright.PENANAKwSN175pun
allowed him to aide the King. Whether or not that was true remains to be seen.
Vander walked up the large, stone19Please respect copyright.PENANA9uOfe8n7Eg
staircase with Shea trotting alongside him. Once he reached the top, he saw19Please respect copyright.PENANAk23i2hqIk0
Humi standing there with his arms folded in front of his chest.
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“I’ve been expecting you,” Humi19Please respect copyright.PENANAjlXOHGVJRe
smiled. “Welcome to the Temple of Humjir, young Blade. Follow me, we have lots19Please respect copyright.PENANA1Begk1uY5g
to discuss.”