Chapter 6
Vander vaguely remembered the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsmAmmnAPR
feeling of being dragged up many stairs, carried down a hallway, and the warm57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxL1lOIvlQ
covers of his bed. His memory of Julianna standing over him in the candlelight57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcrmPaJMtE
as she pieced together the pieces of his skin using thread, a needle, and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrzTe1N934
plenty of booze to disinfect everything. Shea guarded the door to keep anyone57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrrypnOMH2
who she didn’t trust from entering, while letting out low whimpers as she57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQfvCuAp32
worried for her master. He dropped into an uneasy slumber, immune to the pain57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Up1dbXxbh
that traveled through his body. The only solace he found was in dreams.
∙
A drop of water fell on57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMZwwl9EKJ
Vander’s forehead. His eyes remained closed, but the weather was determined to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOX0h5wHT6
wake him. Several more fell on his face hitting his eyes, forehead, and mouth.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOwwr7EESx
His eyes scrunched together before he slowly opened them. He was confused57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlzJpHe0XY
because he expected to wake up in his bed with the roof of the inn above his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySPQMMvOYI
head. But instead, he saw the cloudy morning sky surrounded by tall maple and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4MCpKaMQk
pine trees. He was dressed in ill-fitting rags. The pants went as far down as57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP4Is6uKqS
his shins while his shirt was in tatters. He slowly rose to his feet, his stiff57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXEW2F5vk0
muscles protesting from the sudden movement. It hadn’t been long since his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwhZTPa0uZ
injuries, but time moved differently here, as it did in all the realms of the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PYpxd7uFs
Deities.
He could smell blood and sweat,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZjjhGIPch
the trademark sign of his patron goddess, Unna, Lord of the Beasts and Madness.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR15SDz6Oh
There were hundreds of beasts waiting in the woods, their red eyes focused57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqEaJ3dhJA
solely on him. Any wrong move would send them into a frenzy and would tear him57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NvvUdQ3Do
apart. It was the rule of the jungle here, you couldn’t show fear. The first57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaaIR8EBXQ
time he had come here all those years ago was almost his last, but he had57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpGuWZWqAp
adapted quickly killing a creature that had mistaken him for easy prey. The57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBn9VnND99
rest fell in line, but sometimes a creature gets a little too full of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtRyPy3594
themselves and must be put in their place. However, the fact that he had woken57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXs6qyyZnN
up here meant the ruler of the forest had grabbed him, no one them would go57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3BT9taOsE
against her orders.
He got to his feet then started57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCnzpst67z
to walk along the path laid out for him. He ignored the biting pain in his feet57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDxctdcsxw
from sticks, stones, and dead leaves scattered around. His blood scented the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qxdbhkMdI
ground marking him as the forests now. He knew that when he died he would wind57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedWqC6Vvib
up here, the same as all the other beasts. This was the forest laying claim to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ4VGIipxH
him for its mistress.
He walked for what seemed like57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnrNZUNnZ8
hours, but he didn’t get tired, hungry, or thirsty. He just put one step in57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdToysYjrwS
front of the other. It had started to rain, but he kept it going until the sun57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtVGPFmjHG
had set in this domain and the creatures around him grew quiet. The woods57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63Ovth2eXS
became thicker, and the normal brown trees turned blood red. The sky darkened57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCrrhTt1wu
then the moon appeared illuminating the woods in a blueish glow. He heard57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76DNaaquiZ
running water coming from his left. He turned to walk into the woods towards57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUdQnuw9JC
the waterfall where he knew Unna would be. He saw a large white wolf walking in57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u61H1vdZF
step with him. The creature was twice the size of Vander with white-blue fur57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWwO58LSCR
and deep red eyes.
Ritoru, if legends were to be57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAAid78Yh9
believed, was the first human to accept Unna’s blessing. He had lived as a57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgU42WHwF4
tyrant, slaying anyone who crossed his path and offered his victims life for57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSReq38EIV
the deity. In exchange for his loyalty, she made him into this creature forever57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR1gxwLIH2
to serve her and kill those unworthy. The truth was, she had prayed for his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAblqzjZG2c
weakness and need to be stronger. Promising power beyond his wildest dreams, he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkKAtwbyDN
accepted it without understanding the consequences. Now he was a prisoner of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVGNknaQ1W
his own making waiting for the day he gets released from his own personal hell.
They walked for a little while57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZT9E51iwi3
until the trees thinned out revealing a small pool that was being bathed in57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrXhf4q9dv
moonlight. There was a small rock formation above the moon with a light trickle57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJVHglkIAq
of water cascading down into the pool creating a ripple effect. The water was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlnzJZGvv7
crystal clear, and you could see little, tiny fishes swimming around in the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqnp6zgob4
depths. No matter how much he wanted to go into the crystal blue water, he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC6JcYswaX
couldn’t. This was Unna’s pool and going in without her permission was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvGxKpNy6S
tantamount to suicide. So, he sat down and waited.
Within the middle of the pool57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg0OKVflO6
large ripples began to emerge. Moments later a pale woman burst out whipping57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelJRG68lv0
her black hair over her shoulders tossing water behind her. Even though he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGWPoawj1f
couldn’t see her face, Unna’s nickname as a seductress wasn’t wrong. She had a57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywPmTnYLrb
thin body, that was surprisingly filled with muscle. She was graceful and curvy57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBxJl2X7yr
but eyed you up in the way a hunter looks at prey. Even now, sitting on the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFgdzSKh2D
ground, Vander was aroused and based on the coy smile she tossed at him over57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BOGWwFLNS
her shoulder, revealing long pointed canines, she noticed.
She took her time leaving the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuJQJR3Bv0
pool, swaying side by side as she walked towards him. Her thighs rubbed57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpnUIgoiDS
together as her breasts moved slightly with the movement. As she stepped out57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT7j1grWSO
from the pool, a sleeveless black dress with a low-cut neckline and a slit down57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy9TZDRDt2
the left leg. Some how she looked even better with clothes on.
“You’re a naughty boy.” She57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlDwALxc2W
smiled. “You are thinking all sorts of dangerous thoughts aren’t you?”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFFixB04f9
He stood up as she walked over towards him. She looked at a finger under his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh927EZGyL
chin and pulled him so close that their mouths were almost touching. “You57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu9EP5TbZx
want to don’t you Vander? It’s alright, I’ll give you everything you could have57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTh1QfjJ8B
ever wanted in a woman. So, how about it?” It would be easy for him to give57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQYt0EmlbT
her all of him and many times he was tempted, but he knew what happened to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyb2jdChiI
those who couldn’t resist. He wouldn’t end up like them.
“Why have you brought me here?”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogTE9yLieT
he asked. Sighing with frustration, Unna let him go. It was so sudden that he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnUJIAqWBu
fell back on the ground. She towered over him then placed a bare foot on his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNEhVI9ELZ
chest. He could see her dress, so he quickly looked away.
“You’re annoying you know that.” She57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqdnDmQQWI
snorted. “At first the chase was fun, but now I’m growing bored of it.”
“It’s not my fault you chosen me57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdgrR8EfXz
to be your champion.” Vander snorted. She bent down over him and stuck her57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ucf1E5uUT
fingers to his side. He let out a hiss of pain as she dug her fingers into the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsMPWHBg7N
side where Leon had cut him. Her hand was covered in blood as she brought it up57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXM7gwvN58
to her mouth then licked her fingers clean.
“I taste poison in your blood,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA6EIxF8Oo
Vander.” She grinned.
“Poison?” he asked. “What57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3xIEHm8GH
kind of poison?”
“Do you know why you come here57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VQxQtg7Q4
Vander?” she asked. She stepped off him then walked behind him. He rolled57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN300APbJwa
over and got to his feet as her throne appeared out of thin air. The throne was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn1RQFGhPW
made from pure white bone. They said it was the bones of all she killed in the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNpw3h1Y5S
war, but it was hard to tell. They had all fused together to create the throne57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3fL4erNjx
and it was difficult to pull out individual pieces.
“I assume you will tell me.” He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3qeoaVTBZ
said.
“You come here when you need57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OsWJYrHIi
something from me.” She explained. “It doesn’t have to be a conscious57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiSKHyXTZE
need; it can be a subconscious need. Whether it be to get healed, needing some57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5niSvcczk
answers to a question, or getting your rocks off. It’s always something and I’m57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTABZQGmQN
getting tired of it.”
“What is it I can do for you57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF8JqLb75V
then?”
“Give in to your demons.” She57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10YC69HQ7j
laughed. ”Give in just once and I will heal you.”
“If I give in, I’ll end up closer57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZzzkDN9vQ
to becoming one of your slaves.” He growled. “I will not go down that57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2bqYk4E7j
path, no matter what.”
“You don’t have a choice, Vander.”57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeVg97JxNL
She got up from her throne and grabbed him by the neck. She lifted him off57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux3ufAmqYo
the ground and brought him close to her. “Once you said yes to me, your57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcfSW7jpqY
future was already written. You are mine.” She dropped him gasping and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgHG6VpujV
wheezing to the ground. “However, you still have a role to play, one of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBflAf7xXz
which my grandmother has already told you about, so I cannot let you die here.”
She snapped57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAGkfTpsO0
her fingers and a searing pain erupted from his side. He thrashed and screamed57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCZrLe7Fir
as the flame coursed through him. His body began to twitch and squirm as his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufTebbRLaj
blood began to boil. As quickly as it started, it ended. He lay on the ground57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oOKnU9HQv
breathing heavily as steam rose from him.
“Remember Vander,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwzrfIfFcV
you are promised to me and no other. Go. Fulfill your role, now begone.” She57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62GOGnESAt
waved her hand. His body flew backwards, out of the woods, then slammed back57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFOyfaluQl
into his own body. “I will be waiting.” Her voice echoed in his head. He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Mjig68uL
opened his eyes.
∙
There was a large57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZMV2uogpq
weight pushing down into his chest. His vision was still foggy, likely from57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYsxXiXMwM
both passing out and the poison that had infected him. There was a warm white57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UlOO7UnQC
presence there. He slowly reached out his hand to rub Shea’s head. She bolted57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G2fg97upY
straight up and began licking his face in earnest. She jumped up and down57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR1kuXIbgg
happily barely missing Vander’s body with each step.
“I’m so happy57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN444ZSfidH
you are awake.” she barked. “I was so worried about you.”
“What’s all that57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMerAHC5vdg
racket?” Vander looked over to see Julianna staring groggily at the bed from57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGYt2NjZBe
his desk chair. A blanket had been dragged out from the closet and placed over57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw9QNcf57m
here. She stared at him for a moment, bewilderment on her face, before she57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunE9Q4fyz0
jumped up and ran towards him. He didn’t have time to admire her wearing the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFZXXT5QYe
sheer night gown before she launched herself at him.
“You’re awake,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlcpDq1LW2
I’m so happy.” He felt tears splash on his face as she sobbed into him. He57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXbD9CjsPM
placed his hand on the top of her head.
“It wasn’t that57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9I5n7202R
bad of a wound.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure why you’re so worried about me.”
“You idiot.” She57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXDusrlJR9
growled. “You have been out for about a day. For awhile you got very feverish,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNL9nW6Ab8
and your breathing became shallow. I would have brought a doctor in to take57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdoP4Guenn
care of you, but Shea stopped me.”
“I smelled57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyc5BKc5z5
poison in your blood.” Shea said. “If you’ll let me, I’ll rip that boy57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30pjk4FGTA
apart for trying to kill you.”
“Leon seemed to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkGwjci5W7
have poisoned his weapon sometime before running me through.” Vander explained.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYp7WJ34Evq
“If it was anyone else, they likely would have died.” Vander went to get up57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XFed0n7GC
from the bed, but Julianna pushed him back down.
“You’re still57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sDjS9sscd
wounded, you should rest and let me get the soldiers to bring Leon in.” Vander57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHWGfUYzKC
grabbed her hand causing her to flinch. Sighing, he lifted his shirt to show57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpINkk3pmhr
her that the stitches had disappeared, and the wound had closed. Shocked, she57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTJn5Wxgxk
gingerly traced her fingers tips over the fresh scar, but he didn’t wince once57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkish53XQo
from discomfort or pain. “How?” she whispered.
“Part of my57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEmayttziq
curse.” He picked her up quickly causing her to let out a small squeak of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynOWtdcS9i
surprise. He flipped her around, so she was where he was just lying. They57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVT3xVokFd
stared at each other for a second before Vander broke eye contact and got up57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1VHhRAsIb
from the bed.
“Curse?” she57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWsAYfpPEx
asked. “What curse?”
“There’s no way57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1fiGMRkit
you haven’t heard the rumors.” Vander chuckled to himself as he walked into the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJtLpEXUM4
bathroom.
“Of course I57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCq2dGfVGZ
heard the rumors.” She said. He heard her feet hit the ground then followed him57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6TevAxYEB
into the bathroom. He let the water run for a while before removing his clothes57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnE2bAWhuI
and dropping them in a pile. “You have no shame huh?” He looked over his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp9w7wDy7M
shoulder to see her eyeing him up and down with a mischievous gleam in her57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAMcczfxYL
eyes.
“The rumors, for57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VcH458N69
the most part, are true, Julianna.” He said. “No good would come from getting57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLqCS2wKaK
too involved with me.”
“I’m not looking57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHvRex3HD6
for anything serious.” She shrugged off her night gown. “I have an inn to run,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOHOE9bSVD
but I think some thanks is an order and besides,” she looked below his waist.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDcuHEiBnc
“I think you might like to blow off some steam as well.”
“Can’t really57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrNur7Rb9E
argue with that logic.” He shrugged. He stepped aside then held out his hand to57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83vvl5TetL
help her into the tub.
She embraced him,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hie105CwN
placing her arms around his neck and pulling him closer to her face. He wrapped57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybmF9nnEkB
his arms around her waist and planted his lips onto hers. Their tongues flicked57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn4EEg637y
against one another as she opened her mouth inviting him deeper inside. Suddenly57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNwyLUsNTn
the lust he felt while being near Unna surfaced and he allowed himself to give57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8SYgDjzRX
into his base desires. At first Julianna was surprised, but after a moment she57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRDF0rxH6g
met him thrust for thrust. Their bodies mingled together as the haze overtook57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMhJy4tYKt
them, allowing their instincts to take over.
It was morning57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6HEnV85OX
before Vander woke. Julianna had already gone, the spot on the bed still warm57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlrJ9tqMEF
from where she had fallen asleep next to him. His body ached and he spotted57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6xnKsaHcQ
several new scratches that he would have to do his best to hide lest his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5xRGW3nln
grandfather see them. He quickly pulled on his shirt, pants, and boots. Before57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnIwldNIlK
he left he put on his jacket then grabbed his sword from the closet.
The bar had been57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wfoe2O79L
tidied up since last night’s shit show. The tables were back to where they had57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii8ruWLlis
been and there were no signs of the fight at all, not even the blood that fell57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWogdW3yU7U
from Leon’s arm or Vander’s side. Julianna was behind the bar cleaning dishes. When57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mXRb04cJx
she heard him enter the bottom floor, she looked up, gave him a small smile,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjR7MFECN8S
then went back to her work. He debated about getting something to eat, but he57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9tCpo9lQS
was already late to see his grandfather, so he decided to skip a warm meal and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSslrS9YDa
settle for something on the way.
The streets of57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZs1MCx8wMO
Eluvia were quiet this early in the morning. The sun hadn’t yet peaked over the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyApKNfdag8
horizon, so the streets were still dark, but gradually lightening. The furnace57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOYbmyzuko
was on at the bakery a couple of streets over, so he knocked on the window and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYeQ90BP8n
waved one of the workers over. A sweaty man unlocked the door then poked his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqEmaCGQPR
head out.
“Sorry, we aren’t57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lt2Qs4Oeb
open yet.” He wiped his forehead.
“I just need a57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1xWhFBi9t
small roll,” Vander reached into his pocket to remove a silver coin. “Would you57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjLzt5sG2N
mind?” The man looked from the coin to Vander then back to the coin.
“Sure, we can57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3XcHc6U71
spare a roll for you.” He ducked back inside, making sure to lock the door just57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfkE3ZeBMC
in case Vander tried anything funny. He came a moment later with a hot roll57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9FEtWUdev
wrapped up in paper. “Here you go.” He held out the roll and the two of them57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDPnIQpwoY
made the trade. It was hot to the touch, it must have just come from the oven,57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorogfKllTD
but Vander didn’t mind. He happily handed over the coin and went on his way.
The guards let57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTYlJOFb15
him pass without issues, though some of them gave him a pitying look which was57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu5E0zz8OM
a little confusing, but he paid no mind. Bernard was waiting for him at the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYMmaCNh4R
bottom of the steps leading into the castle with his head bowed.
“Good to see you57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB115DcUvF6
Vander.” Bernard said.
“It hasn’t been57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkDpokbVaA
long since I was here.” Vander said. “Why are you being so polite?” Bernard57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYQMLnMQHw
straightened up making sure to fix his tie which had become crooked.
“When you didn’t57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxAkPrzrjz
show up yesterday we feared the worst.” Bernard explained. “Leon explained that57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i4gjlGPcN
you had attacked him and were wounded when he defended himself. Your57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzHinz6ijh
grandfather was besides himself and Leon’s father wanted to hunt you down and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHft2kwLuq
make you pay, but Peyton managed to calm him down.”
“Of course, that57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2z3zofwjI
little bastard would lie about something like that.” Vander clenched his hands.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjcTOvvtDu
“Where is my grandfather? Can I see him?”
“He’s up in his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGUByQ8svC
office.” Bernard said. “I’m here to bring you to him, but I should warn you.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpNzNeMA7X
Leon and his father are up there right now as well. Apparently they heard word57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO09LGJawcT
you were coming and decided to wait. I am to take your sword please.” He held57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bOFCt9EUv
out his hand.
“Am I in trouble?” Vander unbuckled his sword and57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj6u7ybAUO
handed it over to the King’s servant.
“Possibly, it57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZe4Go6r8P
really just depends how convincing you are.” Bernard slung the sword over his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidQgtRtWpC
shoulder then escorted Vander inside.
Along the hall57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJetzaiCxY
leading towards his grandfather’s room, there were Blades lined up against one57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLZX27McrJ
wall and soldiers against the other. The air was tense as the soldiers did57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6PouAr2a4
their best to goad the Blades into attacking them, but it never worked. They57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYFcsvcTd5
fell silent as the two of them walked past, but several soldiers reached for57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6zln6nDuM
their weapons as some form of veiled threat against him. The door to his57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVywjwOFMrK
grandfather’s office was flanked by another Captain, Leyta, an older Blade57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiF5lZiTX7
several classes ahead of Vander. Jefferey Jilena was standing next to her on57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfIvwPw57l
the other side of the door.
“Captain.” Leyta57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxtUCabHvT
nodded. “He’s waiting for you inside.” She opened the door then stepped back.57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRWbQKElut
Vander’s heart hammered in his chest as he stepped through.
“You’re a dead57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8RVE6ABYt
man Vander.” Leon said smugly. He was sitting in the chair across from Charles57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lWnc5jMcC
with the arm Shea had bitten in a sling. But Vander ignored him to stare at the57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7ffCpHhmQ
man who was standing by the window with his arms crossed behind his back.
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“Before we start57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaOmwHfIBx
your removal from the Blades, perhaps you can enlighten us as to why you had57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUfhUcCeJX
your bitch of a dog injure my son.” Viggo Visc, the third most powerful man in57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcwkgaLnzc
the country, turned around to face Vander. “Depending on your answer, her life57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAy9I2zUwL
will be forfeit.”
