Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGJUxUxkXA
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjBghFaOzn
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgut4cL7DG
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5mY0fdDjw
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdgayyntfm
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSCt7yiEBG
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswr3ksk87N
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhniHp8yQBV
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQoAft8OBc
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NAPGdUyl1
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRthNRSq8K
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt0uIr6Pnz
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ050HXZIXxl
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtDNVGMieO
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDdkWZQuWY
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo1HVRL6O1
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOnP885Qjv
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPc4hoRGj2h
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfqzgURGl6
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWvL7yPSiz
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWDkyi2W60
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiQatt090F
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUAzQLdPOa
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5UZIPUHOn
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3A6tQwDBJ
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvURvvZwEO8
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi8Z26XFH0
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjyrUrp7Fb
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMeUIhMPTt
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76M3YZ1sJZ
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJZUr7BQUm
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiuCzPkx2p
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNqhKfU1E6
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwQBs9vLU9
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZXvFCMydv
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Rn47SH2h
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmsNiZp49l
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYCl5Rf0Xt
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaGeLsWgiL
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDqEQ0WoXX
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsfHxtcktM
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRctZyoHmkh
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeSk1qUGNy
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGefwVXxowf
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHZBEcBqOs
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJye9APkUV
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsARLTfJXH1
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFNrrw0QXG
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqQmJEZoF0
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAlyt9DdLZ
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsjp64jnrb
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI5S4vSihv
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylTWeP35k8
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcwYSxpmEn
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2vopMwMSv
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXQRxqC2KS
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvHf0Gx5CC
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnVanp3rc7
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eeKqRqlPI
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaYmQzcFQR
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdynKGD9C2Y
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9xE5izEx8
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEK8AzsrcK
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffJTlcuU10
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBURp5w5by
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb6fiMjTDA
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8oMHDFFjl
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5difIGulO
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb6BtOXiu6
happen again.
Charles had told95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvB4fCKpx2
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIBp2AHbLJ
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9Apw49RFV
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmFRz5Czez
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFPZGcSqe3
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIz4MOavP2
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiNoUYMvHo
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMLQo3BGJS
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsPypWvMaX
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6WRNmNFHf
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iwV1nZFL8
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr5I80fGin
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV50vBnECvG
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNjufStlxM
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0kHe1vIts
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwNjcQaAXd
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvzDUMHGWB
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF8rn77cqX
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgkAQFJ8hU
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Ob6tAlVT
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgyvQhIG0S
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIFkxyE1PJ
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF2Syp7Owa
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tuFsh77Pg
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1WoJyZWHI
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ745hvfYSp8
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntX8uCh3gf
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxjuHRaCKI
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYyuxLmgnm
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1Ko6mcQCe
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDuJMm9Q0x
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nAOWOKjvn
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9wU6l2WLs
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMHiG63CQb
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKvLRDZ8Gk
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO1J2IzbXR
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRkabghklQ
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPCvJkybCc
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCv6lrE067
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBozZROFRM8
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Va7AFnSNr
she needed our order.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAF1a0rrRw
95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtXlE7QpJW
“Yes95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbWIfhmR4M
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjYL0s3aJd
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnqCjlQbxD
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiYCVpHmGi
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujAaFZXux8
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnwZ9X15sd
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YOIoAYils
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn2uKto9Be
walked over towards them.
“Do you think95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbEu54n2u7
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKjV9jVlER
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNslGkj3RcZ
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a41lRS99N
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3L5ZSEP9q
to handle this?”
“You go in and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIvzdwLuU9
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiYSLJS1AZ
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3D8qrCOJt
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX3T7fF5bN
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuTKJ3KghG
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp1NU9CuNN
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64hFcXhrRt
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8OOxVEPzN
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bqkLcyB0t
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq1ArdNdf0
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jkNIdddaS
uncommon.
As they made95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pPdXvHB9L
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxQ8RiPBuU
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapGAe6rAGX
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayflnUpCYo
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxwlqxrMqU
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBooYke00K8
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4bbCee6n4
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfEwPkWodX
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4Xt3wjzkS
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUmTSN4mOV
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG4Sq2bvwv
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai8gO2EXvT
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GSmtfNu2H
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1Ht9Evwdd
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflO0N2giTV
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmBjmeW1oK
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nYG1WPIzH
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimvCf04sek
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNGKMnWgaM
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnewuygB1V
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0moLYGMWwJ
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLmeoO4yd0
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LMbDCr2Hw
came racing over.
“What in the name95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk5DXyVcfU
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10lkvMZtEB
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPZGqxQNLc
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVN20tmXPH
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqnkhAaiMd
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKNOALux0s
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKIQXIBMEV
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrhCvMs5jR
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKxuA8CHxg
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGY2fAADsY
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkLUPMgIgm
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylbHMa0y5w
was going on.
“Clear out of the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCNnGS8jZI
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh15RhXUIvl
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2XySYrzoD
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG5riyQAZ6
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjBcvJRbjt
he froze.
“What are you95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgauks6iPE
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxYN4Zk0rU
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMayhkYSOj
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPkKkY2ot7
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6sRrphlMm
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7pdIlFaV5
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOJhBHkJrD
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlnrbERerU
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBozdBlBvkq
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEIpJr391g
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VKkdyXvQ1
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDpOj28eDl
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowTp7ijnQP
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtQUr9bVGG
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYT9CMRks1
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK54ZSZfuYj
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGyhQGIGFr
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeefYuiler
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqunhRWWuQG
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACi8CxWGUs
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6cj882ct1
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KV285bVOH
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlJ2cnv6Ii
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0P4DOhAID
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsrlNTdsh5
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdpAGtAuj9
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY38Ov2ETw
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOXFlrDXcm
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs4J8Dhb7k
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO9TwmwNIh
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGb5lJVU8I
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlP0CsQ80c
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu6BvIYkax
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKwjnfrjWk
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvfWt1d4xQ
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ze8VZkqYZ
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HVau9gQNz
tightly. He made the first move. He drew95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjJsJzgEw3
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Krmm8LiEn
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnO6J0ZvjB
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4THTZ9pqN
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7p9Ee8mRx
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfBP5y7BPG
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbJgzh8Fxb
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvrdyvPGIt
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uJPaOFpPQ
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzIeKGiEWx
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3G6Us5oaI
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZEdO9Jf20
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCp8YFaHQbT
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcXiXog0Th
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9avKmyVqO
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsFfQQmBnc
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfmajMlVzX
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMxCPdCnQu
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk49rEWw7in
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSSOmGGhSK
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfpxEyOoWm
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtidK5gamN
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYkvcOgG95
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0hv59cB2T
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjRsrWmVUh
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimqpP6ywrA
injured.
“Come with me.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGrfBp0Asa
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kTgXhVc6s
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpeqMl1eoo
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXqoDC7xyw
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXMd8Iv6NL
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoGkfAM1yi
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlnBq5fiM8
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
