Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E2DbDSs8U
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuIiSYcvkP
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOE9yuvXmH
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9E0G25Gdx
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrcFFaOYcP
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5n8Xh1S4N
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLp1yIofmr
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsDfHve2xk
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAFanzfcLP
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvD3e6gwbj
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrE9MEm0FjX
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ45gKFlE9p
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M2AYT63J2
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eswda0tHK
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIn5g20QiR
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsULsb9QnBE
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HqkGgNKUk
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII4vGw63QB
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfGpkJb3T4
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudQnvret8u
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYmHWAZJmz
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpBSZx9iUa
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEHPbZRKGl
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDJevrT5Ny
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k6Vaz52O1
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPSLFKk8JT
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpESOCbbR8
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yRsodY50D
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMIjMNFHHR
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5zEKyM4Tc
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGijz8kq9pJ
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoBIlmQSEV
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJp86FSliV
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6P6QhgdwH
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVp00mpGTM
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnYcw9IrAr
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MveNmNFeN
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRA1cV9MYd
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjl7xDavlP
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9Nvt4E1kf
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FOddbEIeJ
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1VupQNqyt
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCc0l1fn6V2
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsa4MVmZVw
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRsEglORMZ
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjyYHTMkTW
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQExNkyz9SG
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nDh27mzp3
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe0kUVJJkh
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5GpQnGw56
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdK8vf76e3
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO9RkBXlJP
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRVKowt2kA
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9VSWnDHsh
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcRuzg4kN8
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIvzhjeFbw
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ304S2yPa6p
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgn1FZkYOm
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3puPG7Seyq
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8ttWtEPcX
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij7VYudKC4
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XAnOpSIrB
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJcxtatDkC
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmuLZTtADv
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcZSognibF
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M28pbSSqd
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW89odYGsWa
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08vBGmeTNX
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2sonsd6fx
happen again.
Charles had told56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXCPPo8LJb
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCCYN21Tes
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrJ33mhuKB
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDP6Ydi4tj
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TeFgABAgs
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkYa7zW5G9
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AEgdSEQ1K
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZnbwzJPPU
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYfh8IAx9V
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacr8gjjhlt
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqvUEyFfj7
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9JeN1phSl
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5oLqokcVT
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU8FoqAQXM
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcSc0C2iJO
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGTb5p5hWd
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDLIWTfRDE
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVflDj5deWB
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10C0DWbNOI
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJnijXX2Sx
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2b7ZWqQ7G
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcCagfi9f1
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffkyyOIgP8
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zr2am1ETS
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4NbE7ER6I
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA4blhdqlm
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FMlUZTY1w
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j0xrMYg6q
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22W7bn1pYu
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3uShI7W7A
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp9SxQKUyf
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAQu4m4oB1
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRaRPYccJp
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrChApXtC0V
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWFVepKSVe
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOhGzgo7Se
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPJ0lhwvZ1
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W2pVew7NR
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENSqtm0BB2
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupMbZ51V35
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpR2JL3lvM
she needed our order.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJqgUURKp6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QJf3dN8Kk
“Yes56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqAt8yzNkp
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d4MNaSK7m
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sECJVjgAg
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR5xUopsYn
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdI6pwpaQJ
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSxASdVYKI
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NDIyxjZAK
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDWD7zD5tR
walked over towards them.
“Do you think56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4CvbSQYjn
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9odCFmzYDG
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW1pDl7iy7
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoi88aQIhN
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi06P9COIz
to handle this?”
“You go in and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHyU7tCGe0
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSyuUQg7TT
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKxDQIk5RW
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHNV0MamaM
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1fqP4sN7Z
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHp0MCiFX1
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5MzdITYvs
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC9C16XipW
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GISY3bD1y
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOBHMjX8hy
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAtqSGHgQJ
uncommon.
As they made56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf06IhvEKAT
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuOHAVxlKI
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4eBxVhcwE
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTir3yhIZc
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHSnabZMGR
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYyUkX4RV6
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcAe6e5UGU
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4U5a2JCpZ
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ksWwrT6HA
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pn03OQPpD
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NZi1o05fr
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzpnsRy0Nj
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dmrZl8uDi
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrUoYvu7L0
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWkdf9D12d
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxaIUCg8rP
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHjlmxALid
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxIphiToG9
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3DP7S4cne
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPKbEjpxzA
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuHdHQ6a0g
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJT8YPYohx
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vkfAkMmEY
came racing over.
“What in the name56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAYZd6zuLT
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrj0as7tcNa
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo48C17nMe
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S7qpZW7Fz
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqed2s7W4d
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAAVSxcGV2
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4YPRaSW62
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkt5onboG8
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuX5qbAS3m
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjnDxE68wR
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKwMjnaHge
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiU8qHtsPJ
was going on.
“Clear out of the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A0Uleaecm
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza0sQyODYD
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkHui1Bjad
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhUlGynlXc
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK89G3lMEDi
he froze.
“What are you56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC0b365Ig9
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0W68nE00p8
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsJWxB8m47
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7yhKxCYSe
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQfPyDPyHw
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOn1ni4Dn3
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwj8md6K5D
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwgilS4z83
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilfZzP7nac
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEwQduxOzf
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0xJYUiJh2
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwDWEWPR23
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt9Oi09aJN
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsYcwDB2v5
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWNW6fDmNq
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDgmWGRDwe
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3krACM5e3T
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTCabvYUGA
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht2Lbt1GCg
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp5VOZVzgY
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM0j4bGYjL
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaCIQoYzsz
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRLOf08elG
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdIAhU2pE1
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCk2ocPKsT
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXZG26EsDt
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9yLgrchYO
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFMjq7k3fQ
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR9ALWe6ls
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHvWquxLF
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FiiMl7qSg
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBR7IGJWaH
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLowZ3cXN7Q
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRS8RtMb0I
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUZ4tyeaQE
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3985d8MvV
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF14y1IDRl
tightly. He made the first move. He drew56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ718qdTjgUQ
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHYgX5adnZ
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulJ49kuYmY
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oTsNhTFLe
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9GAjDEjMt
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSFksS0Jga
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEloyF0D0t
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ197ovELFVA
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTk30Kq448
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzOG16bzLT
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k81PuFU6X
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEW2lxcOZO
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoLaSpNixc
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xx6Q9GwVl
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIpt5Nt6YV
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxENVJvsDn9
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWPBxNsQ1V
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIwgoEiMz9
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvSSKQwD6E
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPdaF8ncRi
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZzYU3xyng
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYihGHOzLnO
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gGDkGXb0T
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGR3snAMWy
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwcltYMWku
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0E0sqflTf
injured.
“Come with me.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHZ1rLJSDU
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7bGu0PxBu
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85h83UQPVz
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal916spYMr
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LeOZUJP77
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJaaHqAdOE
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJgS4hhcLy
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
