Chapter 13
After the unnerving meeting with26Please respect copyright.PENANAQGOT3aI5IC
Veyar, again, Vander tucked Mari into her bed and quietly left so he didn’t26Please respect copyright.PENANA7IHgcUfLbG
disturb anyone in the apartment. Once he arrived at the bottom of the steps,26Please respect copyright.PENANAQlo10KIxzx
her guards handed him back his sword while the Blades bowed to both him and26Please respect copyright.PENANAHKzequG90M
Shea. Then he headed back to his old room.
He hated that he was now26Please respect copyright.PENANA4a7RbDI2Ol
practically confined to the castle, but he knew it came from a place of care.26Please respect copyright.PENANAyqdcGX3lzk
This was the second time in as many weeks he had been attacked, and even though26Please respect copyright.PENANA5by4hAmCJo
he hadn’t been harmed this time, the fact that he had been so blatantly26Please respect copyright.PENANApDPhW8OeDK
targeted meant he was in danger no matter what. He was lucky to have Alex26Please respect copyright.PENANA9K7KlXbp33
watching his back, but if the assassins were smart, they would wait until he26Please respect copyright.PENANAN7nzJcvsI4
was alone during the festivities to celebrate the prince’s marriage while26Please respect copyright.PENANAzdO5BLB3CS
everyone was distracted. It’s what he would do. But for now, he had to focus on26Please respect copyright.PENANAvgAnRIEdOz
getting the recruits ready. Despite what his grandfather thought, they were26Please respect copyright.PENANAaohDtXNCnG
better off being used rather than left to the side. If things were going the26Please respect copyright.PENANAEormC2jqyf
way he expected they would, they would have to be ready sooner rather than26Please respect copyright.PENANAVCylbuJeru
later.
The five recruits stood in front26Please respect copyright.PENANAXvAMtnOYQi
of him, each admiring the new swords he had given to them from the Blade26Please respect copyright.PENANAe22EPKMmMC
armory. They would be the exact swords they would be given upon graduating, but26Please respect copyright.PENANAtApp4X6LRt
Vander had gone to Charles early in the morning, shortly before meeting them26Please respect copyright.PENANArdww7YugCK
for the training session and begged him to allow them to train with their26Please respect copyright.PENANALXABNkzhnB
actual swords just in case. They argued for a little while before the older man26Please respect copyright.PENANAusaVscIAK7
finally relented under the condition that he come to see how they were doing.26Please respect copyright.PENANA6YmNKhVbFr
Vander agreed and now Charles was standing between him and Alex looking the26Please respect copyright.PENANAfbMz8X5ggc
recruits over with a critical eye.
“These swords will be your26Please respect copyright.PENANAu9NIvZdhdb
livelihood.” Vander instructed as he paced in front of the recruits as they26Please respect copyright.PENANAOoPpF0j2J4
stared down at their weapons with a mixture of awe and fear. “They are made26Please respect copyright.PENANAgcbkiVlZ0L
with viriuum from the Northern Mountains. They will not bend; they will not26Please respect copyright.PENANArSjSwUSK5f
break. They were created with your abilities in mind, they are an extension of26Please respect copyright.PENANAvdB56ni4tH
you and need to be treated with respect.”
“I thought we were supposed to get26Please respect copyright.PENANA8mNzVUzHAD
these only when we became full Blades.” Rooster asked. “Or, at the very least,26Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8ERhahTww
trainees, why do we have them now?”
“Circumstances may allow you to be26Please respect copyright.PENANA3nMw0WgGtp
graduated early.” Charles stepped up. “You’ve heard about the attacks on the26Please respect copyright.PENANAvM4Sf08Ss3
castle and in the city. You might be needed early than originally planned, but26Please respect copyright.PENANAzLfxGHI1KI
first you must prove to me you deserve the chance.” Forest and Briar grinned26Please respect copyright.PENANAiDZ2GVNDJp
like a couple of idiots.
“What do we have to do?” They26Please respect copyright.PENANASaabXs4LOt
asked in unison. To everyone’s surprise, aside from Vander’s, Charles unbuckled26Please respect copyright.PENANAjnJPzInEtv
his sword then tossed it to Alex.
“You will have to26Please respect copyright.PENANA8Fdzqv0ykV
fight against me.” Then he removed his jacket and tossed it to Vander. Despite26Please respect copyright.PENANAhTYbiAe9Cz
how old he was, he was still an absolute unit of a man. His arms were thick26Please respect copyright.PENANAO3E3qfQlw5
from his years of fighting and training recruits as well as having the26Please respect copyright.PENANA6c3EizJu0N
knowledge of fighting packed into his head. Despite all the times Vander had26Please respect copyright.PENANALZJHMbvhsf
challenged him since he was old enough to wear the uniform, he had never beaten26Please respect copyright.PENANA46yIvia846
him, not once.
“One at a time or26Please respect copyright.PENANAkLJOSxbrct
altogether?” Rooster asked.
“However, you26Please respect copyright.PENANA92Ko7RbPm2
want.” Charles grinned. “Weapons are allowed, so just try and make this26Please respect copyright.PENANAYvZDyovWZ8
entertaining for me.” The recruits emboldened by the challenge rose to their26Please respect copyright.PENANA1PAniFC4sB
feet.
Forever the good26Please respect copyright.PENANAyzpEszFzcE
sport, Rooster sheathed his sword, carefully placing his jacket on the ground26Please respect copyright.PENANAoqt2X4kyjJ
and putting the sword on top. He stretched for a second before charging at his26Please respect copyright.PENANATw6sljlrDS
Commander. He threw his weight around Charles’s middle to get him onto his26Please respect copyright.PENANAveWfUqZCfb
back, but Charles stood his ground. He brought his fists up then hammered them26Please respect copyright.PENANAqFK2Nhi1sw
down in Rooster’s back. When his grip weakened, Charles brought his knee up26Please respect copyright.PENANAjyCpzE9pFA
into Rooster’s stomach then flipped him around, so he hit the ground hard. He26Please respect copyright.PENANAy1mGWWVKfB
went to stamp down on Rooster’s stomach, but he rolled away.
Rooster had taken26Please respect copyright.PENANAjxcwcB6khS
damage, that much was certain. He staggered back to his feet then spit out a26Please respect copyright.PENANAPzclQgV5Fs
wad of blood. Grinning, he raised his fists in front of him, but Vander could26Please respect copyright.PENANAghnPYdU4gi
tell he didn’t have much left in him. His legs were shaking, and it was taking26Please respect copyright.PENANA6E8QkASyp7
all his energy just to stand. However, he should have stayed down. Charles26Please respect copyright.PENANAVWwdS2Gc3g
didn’t go easy on anyone; Vander knew that firsthand. Charles didn’t hesitate.26Please respect copyright.PENANAGq6a5nUgBl
He began throwing punch after punch at Rooster. At first, he did a good job26Please respect copyright.PENANAdwu2BQxVCr
blocking, but it was like defending against a hammer. His arms became heavy,26Please respect copyright.PENANAEsEOMO5DmZ
and he could no longer block many of the blows. He started taking strikes to26Please respect copyright.PENANAMlkgVBXIO1
his face and chest. Rooster’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, but he26Please respect copyright.PENANAzhFvA6zvh9
stayed standing. Charles threw another punch but once he noticed Rooster’s26Please respect copyright.PENANA3VieC5huPM
condition, he stopped. A second later he26Please respect copyright.PENANAfsPhTsyi6G
fell to the ground unconscious.
Charles didn’t26Please respect copyright.PENANAr3FEWO4tpB
look bothered by beating up a recruit, but based on the admiration in his eye,26Please respect copyright.PENANAr5ARd8T5Qj
Rooster passed. That just left the other four. As usual, Forest and Briar26Please respect copyright.PENANACjlJUMO70q
decided to go after him together. Their teamwork has been a lot better since26Please respect copyright.PENANAfe8EZmIA9i
their trail in the forest, but they would still be no match for Charles.
They went after26Please respect copyright.PENANAonoD2QRVtd
him, one on each side. Both aimed a punch to his cheek, but he blocked them,26Please respect copyright.PENANANah5ECa56p
then grabbed their wrists and pulled them into each other. Their bodies26Please respect copyright.PENANAx7khAV7VSC
collided with a painful crack. They fell to the ground rubbing their heads26Please respect copyright.PENANAsGz4ygeRDK
together. They didn’t stay down for long, they again got up and began26Please respect copyright.PENANA1B1WKnN1CA
assaulting him, but Charles started to move. He made sure to keep himself away26Please respect copyright.PENANAxRN4YojWuL
from the two of them, always moving his body so they would get in each other’s26Please respect copyright.PENANAriHr2ye9Au
way. They got so used to his movements that when he stopped, they kept going.26Please respect copyright.PENANA1Lc9Cr04Je
Charles aimed a kick at Forest’s side which he wasn’t kick enough to move out26Please respect copyright.PENANAhtNj4dsIOl
of the way. He brought his arm up to block, but the kick was too forceful.26Please respect copyright.PENANApVFcwGlITi
Forest collided with Briar and Vander was sure his arm was broken. The two of26Please respect copyright.PENANAkummm5ccWm
them didn’t get back up.
Charles didn’t26Please respect copyright.PENANASwdYk55trP
have time to see If they were alright. Eve came at him with her sword26Please respect copyright.PENANASTXnIrNW5f
unsheathed. He slowly dodged sideways the sword trimmed off a couple of hairs26Please respect copyright.PENANAiCnNythYmI
from his head. Not skipping a beat, once she realized she had missed, he turned26Please respect copyright.PENANASXncOBNSmV
the blade and went for a horizontal slash aiming for his chest. He blocked the26Please respect copyright.PENANAAovOJMgoMn
strike with his armored boot then slammed it onto the ground. If it was any26Please respect copyright.PENANAQg8fTNym02
other metal, it would have snapped in half. She let go of the hilt to throw a26Please respect copyright.PENANAqtjCaDyMhY
punch which he easily blocked. He countered by punching her in the jaw,26Please respect copyright.PENANAXlA9ANTR7p
knocking her unconscious.
Vander frowned as26Please respect copyright.PENANAnY5S0y77sU
he looked at her body. She had lost so easily, but it had also been slobby.26Please respect copyright.PENANADw0JevMMJp
During training in the woods, she was a much better fighter than she showed26Please respect copyright.PENANA6TQOQhIBhc
just now. Was he just blinded or had she intentionally thrown the match with26Please respect copyright.PENANA1mPTRBXJdf
the commander?
Charles got up26Please respect copyright.PENANAjj0q4HOu0G
and looked over at Chicken who held his gaze. “And what do you have for me?” he26Please respect copyright.PENANA1hDZAsuih5
asked her.
“I’m not much of26Please respect copyright.PENANAZFKbDF3gKv
a fighter.” She rubbed the back of her head.
“Then what use26Please respect copyright.PENANAR5TREVABFI
are you to me?” he asked. If she was offended by the question she didn’t show26Please respect copyright.PENANAmsq7Ke40TE
it.
“I have a perfect26Please respect copyright.PENANAq7XeqIIUKq
recall and excellent head for tactics.” She explained. “What I could do in the26Please respect copyright.PENANA9hAAmPx7K4
battle is negligible as to what I can do when it comes to planning.” Charles26Please respect copyright.PENANAkzjAtvbCEb
folded his arms and looked down at her thoughtfully. Then he proceeded to ask26Please respect copyright.PENANAD5wTQgMH7D
her questions ranging from military history all the way to tactics and what she26Please respect copyright.PENANApJf2UkPjCB
would do in any given situation. If anything, that battle was more tense than26Please respect copyright.PENANAvXiGKhRy6m
the three he just had with the others. Vander couldn’t even keep track of what26Please respect copyright.PENANAMilihJ55Vk
was being said. It took a few more minutes before Charles seemed to have been26Please respect copyright.PENANADY8imA0Q2T
satisfied and came back to collect both his sword and jacket.
“They learned26Please respect copyright.PENANAWKNO9mRoRb
quickly these past six months.” Charles said. “Very well, I agree to them26Please respect copyright.PENANAAUJDXQUGCO
becoming trainees, however, make sure that one knows how to fight.” He hooked a26Please respect copyright.PENANAXqJEGNoPKA
thumb back towards Chicken who had gone over to check on her brother. “Every26Please respect copyright.PENANAXSnUgm0hzN
Blade must know, even if she spends her time as an advisor. No exceptions.”
“Yes sir.” Vander26Please respect copyright.PENANAluv6tMFt4a
bowed.
“I also received26Please respect copyright.PENANAqfJog4Yl0G
news that the rest of the Warden’s will be arriving today. I want them properly26Please respect copyright.PENANACQzOAQsWcp
dressed and standing behind you once we greet them.”
“It will be26Please respect copyright.PENANA5mUirv8vPK
done.” Satisfied, Charles left heading back towards the castle.
∙
It took about26Please respect copyright.PENANAf7CRM8Qiwq
thirty minutes for the recruits to awaken after the beating they took at26Please respect copyright.PENANADxBewPaCET
Charles’ hands. Vander quickly checked them for damage, but Charles was precise26Please respect copyright.PENANALODU7perEb
in his fighting. Aside from a few bruised ribs and sore stomachs, they were all26Please respect copyright.PENANA61IckhoGtT
fine. Once he told them they had passed, they all celebrated by dancing around26Please respect copyright.PENANAg9YFSsVLO4
and slapping each other on their backs, their pain long forgotten. Vander was26Please respect copyright.PENANAbuaMz9iBsY
even more surprised that Chicken passed even with her penchant for books26Please respect copyright.PENANAY2CE86Ulbu
instead of fighting. He had told her what the Commander had told him, and she26Please respect copyright.PENANA4b39YJNpL5
agreed that she had to become better at fighting. She asked for more lessons26Please respect copyright.PENANAeEAn2TBJxY
and Alex agreed. He would be the one to train her. With that done he sent them26Please respect copyright.PENANAsebkIBS3bZ
to the dorms so they could get ready for the Warden’s arrival.
He quickly26Please respect copyright.PENANAwZm1xo7Bxb
showered then got changed in his dress uniform. His pants were ironed and26Please respect copyright.PENANAEEWBpYg825
waiting from when he arrived back. His jacket was neatly pressed with the26Please respect copyright.PENANAztWDVgbnV5
creases worked out of it. In a small display container were all the medals he26Please respect copyright.PENANABTLtTBpUQZ
had received since joining and they had to be properly pinned on the jacket. It26Please respect copyright.PENANAXaBJIGDDSH
was a lot of work for a couple of hours, but it had to be done or it would26Please respect copyright.PENANA9hUJ5gJcH4
reflect badly upon the King and his grandfather.
He put on his26Please respect copyright.PENANAO1zAPSsCv8
pants followed by a blue dress shirt then he sat down to polish his boots. Shea26Please respect copyright.PENANAhIDsGxK72v
sat on the bed watching all of this unfold when her head on top of her paws.26Please respect copyright.PENANAaJcw80iYHe
Once his boots were right he placed them on and tied them tightly. He turned26Please respect copyright.PENANApk3W1ol6BS
back to Shea.
“Get down here26Please respect copyright.PENANAjjhEPaclMv
so I can brush your fur.”
“I don’t want26Please respect copyright.PENANA1gf6IaRULk
to go.” She whined.
“You have to.”26Please respect copyright.PENANAdE4UpZd94Y
He chided. “You are a Blade, and we are all expected to go. You can sit26Please respect copyright.PENANAaHl66m8sUp
behind me if you wish, but you will be there. Now get down here.” She26Please respect copyright.PENANAaJX8EoGdVJ
glared over at him but did as he asked. She sat down in-between his legs as he26Please respect copyright.PENANAJLPXXtD3OG
picked up the brush and oil then began combing her. She stayed still for it,26Please respect copyright.PENANAG8VwPL46cz
but when he came to a knot she let her displeasure known with a low growl. He26Please respect copyright.PENANAQRnMi8T2V9
ignored her and kept going, even though he had to bribe her with more meat in26Please respect copyright.PENANAAxPkN4NTlH
exchange for not biting his hand. Fair trade.
The two of them26Please respect copyright.PENANAbFhHlc3g5i
made their way down the stairs and towards the castle door. There were Blades26Please respect copyright.PENANANrIeuphPVn
standing at attention on both sides of the red carpet where the Wardens would26Please respect copyright.PENANAaFoKDLo3Za
walk once they arrived. They would go to the throne room where they would meet26Please respect copyright.PENANAcEL1YQtIDl
with the others and the council to discuss the wedding and their roles in it,26Please respect copyright.PENANAcx0Gwrzwcl
and maybe some matters of state. It was rare that outsides would be allowed in,26Please respect copyright.PENANAVd0SG5Orq7
and Vander wasn’t an exception.
Shea and Vander26Please respect copyright.PENANAMxeOfnbN7T
took their positions next to Charles, standing to his left, because the King26Please respect copyright.PENANAD1Lnyu92i7
was to the right. All the ranking Blades stood next to him while the council26Please respect copyright.PENANARG1qv7H2nY
members stood on the King’s right side. Mari Drayson and her daughter stood26Please respect copyright.PENANAPQ3Aa9sopF
between the King and Viggo Visc, per the custom when any other Warden was in26Please respect copyright.PENANAytsR7DeLC5
the city. Peyton stood to Viggo’s right while Bernard stood in the door way. To26Please respect copyright.PENANAONHjtUuOsP
the front, in between each, stood a soldier who would protect the council with26Please respect copyright.PENANAp8BeuwiZhh
their lives if it came down to it, only the King was left unprotected, as it26Please respect copyright.PENANAEaUwdhABbt
was ceremonial, but also the job of a Blade to risk their lives for the King. Shea26Please respect copyright.PENANAofZy7ghosl
took her spot behind Vander but would be ready to act in case her friend’s life26Please respect copyright.PENANAfrDOam5qLu
was in danger. They didn’t have long to wait before the sounds of the drums26Please respect copyright.PENANAxcGKfdejP5
were heard from the Western Gates.
Even though the wardens26Please respect copyright.PENANARdVNR66L7f
came from the north, west, and south, the western gate was the closest point26Please respect copyright.PENANAIor0Jihpzo
between the three, so their entire entourage met there and walked through the26Please respect copyright.PENANAlhb88D5w7d
streets until they reached the King. As the citizens were given enough of a26Please respect copyright.PENANABCaSFwjoDT
warning, the streets were closed in celebration. Vander could hear the cheers26Please respect copyright.PENANAe95uRGrxXQ
all the way from where he stood, the noise made his sensitive ears hurt, but he26Please respect copyright.PENANAPnlJXlQAhc
had to stand strong, or others would get suspicious. It took nearly an hour for26Please respect copyright.PENANAjoyIb9yV49
the Warden’s to make their way to the inner ring, but their entrance was extravagant.
The first warden26Please respect copyright.PENANAGOBKWmh5ht
to appear was Jira Jewelthorne, the Western Warden. He had short black hair and26Please respect copyright.PENANArqT4gReICt
black eyes. He wore extravagant and expensive clothing: today he wore opulent26Please respect copyright.PENANADJF1VAsVx3
gold with red trim. His fingers were adorned with silver and gold rings with various26Please respect copyright.PENANA9ui5czF0P9
gemstones imbedded inside of them. He had no standing army. Instead, he hired26Please respect copyright.PENANAb0ioSt98os
mercenaries to protect his kingdom. There was a small squad of ten flaking his26Please respect copyright.PENANATS51IZPu4T
horse as he rode. The Blades assigned to protected him were behind them and it26Please respect copyright.PENANAg0ppHJVcyb
appeared as though they were holding chains for a man walking between them.
Right behind him26Please respect copyright.PENANAPXKlqYwwEK
came Leida Valariyan, the ruler of Stormcrag. Despite her young age, the26Please respect copyright.PENANAf5jk81CTG5
youngest of all the wardens, the weather made her cold and unyielding. She sat26Please respect copyright.PENANAO7mV362wzI
stony faced upon her horse, her salt gray hair tied back in a ponytail, her26Please respect copyright.PENANA21cmFapfcv
green eyes looking straight at the King. She was a warrior through and through.26Please respect copyright.PENANAzzDNl34eKF
The only person she brought with her was26Please respect copyright.PENANAIAz22xhSrl
her cloaked fighter, Drakon, No one knew what he looked like underneath that26Please respect copyright.PENANAdunmnR2FoK
ratty black cloak, even Vander’s eyes couldn’t pierce the shadows. Whoever he26Please respect copyright.PENANAx67RaPBjDs
was, he was enchanted. Five Blades with terrified expressions followed behind26Please respect copyright.PENANA55Ay0nYBDh
her. Charles would have to give them the next week off to recover.
The final warden26Please respect copyright.PENANAPXOYvwIUA3
was Malakai Whitesun. He exuded power and strength. In wars past he was the26Please respect copyright.PENANAnUR1Es3S53
King’s most trusted confidant, and it was due to his family that the rest of26Please respect copyright.PENANAQWWMwhHOFw
Eluvia was safe from Bricen’s attacks. His entire body was tanned from living26Please respect copyright.PENANAZVXSvQhrSi
down there and due to the heat he kept his head shaved. He wore a white vest,26Please respect copyright.PENANAISO3YAFPwb
with nothing else on underneath, and white poofy pants that allowed him to stay26Please respect copyright.PENANAw6SRUUUm9F
cool even in the hottest conditions. He had his own general which was borrowed26Please respect copyright.PENANARBdlul6NpA
from the city: Eric Jilena, the patriarch and husband to Anna Jilena. Sitting26Please respect copyright.PENANAMCesMwZfbp
behind him was his son, Alphonse, who was poised to take his father’s position.
The six main26Please respect copyright.PENANAfSSf7BbEo2
figures got down from their horses to walk up the red carpet while the others26Please respect copyright.PENANAcRVf42pDtE
stayed where they were. A few feet from the King, each of them got down on one26Please respect copyright.PENANA35HecKqGou
knee then bowed their heads.
“Rise my26Please respect copyright.PENANAsZ3gvCgojM
friends.” Malcom laughed. He walked down to greet them, his blue trimmed, white26Please respect copyright.PENANAKmTgPGTjPl
cape dragged on to the floor behind him. He stood each of their hands in turn,26Please respect copyright.PENANAXXTt08FHk5
his royal signet out for everyone to see. While he got to Leida, she presented26Please respect copyright.PENANAL1JgxLQ2Yd
her cheek so he could kiss it. “I hope your travels were fair.”
“They were26Please respect copyright.PENANA3vT0MHC0b0
indeed.” Jira laughed, his voice fake, but the gleam in his eyes weren’t as he26Please respect copyright.PENANAkzfq4RTM9k
gazed at the noblewomen standing in the line. “My mercenaries are in dire need26Please respect copyright.PENANAB2FRrSM5qq
of food, drink and entertainment, as am I.”
“And they will26Please respect copyright.PENANA4OyL86PUwJ
have them.” Malcolm chuckled. “And how are you General? Are you excited to be26Please respect copyright.PENANABQyanqIH4r
back home?”
“I am my King.” Eric26Please respect copyright.PENANAtbMJ9UWMtJ
bowed. “I have missed my wife and other children greatly.”
“And you26Please respect copyright.PENANArImKua8L80
Alphonse?” he turned to the general’s youngest son.
“Yes, my lord.”26Please respect copyright.PENANAbO50nCvtGb
Alphonse bowed his head. “Though I’m afraid this weather will take some time to26Please respect copyright.PENANAu61DYKCxkE
get used to again.”
“I have food for26Please respect copyright.PENANATATkZUZt4K
you all inside.” Malcolm turned to step back towards the castle. “If you would26Please respect copyright.PENANAU0zo2eny1t
please follow me.”
“Not yet my26Please respect copyright.PENANA3QEPtFLmyD
King.” Malakai placed his hand on the King’s shoulder. Vander involuntarily26Please respect copyright.PENANAzHeHAoeUl3
went for his sword, but his grandfather’s glare kept his hand still. “We have a26Please respect copyright.PENANACPA0Z82arm
surprise for you.” Malakai turned and shouted: “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!” All26Please respect copyright.PENANAVYis8Bo4Q7
at once, all those in attendance stepped aside and saluted. A carriage, unseen26Please respect copyright.PENANAuC9j7CU0LX
by everyone opened and Cuvera, along with two veiled women walked out. The last26Please respect copyright.PENANA5woTQ567as
person out was General Jasper Valentin, Bree’s father.
Upon seeing his26Please respect copyright.PENANAnjdBWPXIk2
father, Cuvera smiled. His sandy brown hair flowed in the wind as he locked the26Please respect copyright.PENANAJi2emtqotY
same-colored eyes on his father’s. He was wearing a smart blue colored jacket26Please respect copyright.PENANAsekyGnbmz7
with the royal family’s crest etched on the front. On his hand was another,26Please respect copyright.PENANA4cy4UpezGM
identical signet ring, to his father’s. He ran up to embrace his father. After26Please respect copyright.PENANAyToirq7uv0
a moment the two of them broke apart, but Malcolm held onto his son’s arms.
“I wasn’t26Please respect copyright.PENANAEX1junKAgw
expecting you for another week.” He gasped. “Why have you arrived so soon.”
“We met up with26Please respect copyright.PENANA5UFmyf66LN
Lord Whiteson as he crossed the river, so we decided to go together. I left the26Please respect copyright.PENANA6nVne4WoA0
main soldiers on the road as Malakai would be able to protect us.” He stepped26Please respect copyright.PENANAWNeCbhR0kT
back to wave the two women forward. He wrapped his arms around the one wearing26Please respect copyright.PENANAMTLsEDC618
red and orange. “This lovely lady is my betrothed, Kiara.” She removed her26Please respect copyright.PENANAz1TwHE8pdp
veil, and everyone released their breath they didn’t know they were holding.
Her skin was a26Please respect copyright.PENANAt6yUC5s7Xt
deep brown color with vibrant golden eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back26Please respect copyright.PENANArtdYYhC75w
into a loose weave, but there were some strands framing her face. You could26Please respect copyright.PENANAld4Nmlroly
tell that her body was that of a warrior: lithe, muscular, lethal. Vander could26Please respect copyright.PENANAZMeRJzLJnc
easily see her twirling on the battlefield cutting people down left and right.26Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zy0YknwJo
He secretly hoped Cuvera knew what he was in for. Unknown to everyone other26Please respect copyright.PENANAg9DZ1L8iuo
than him, he could feel otherworldly power radiating from her that made him26Please respect copyright.PENANAjpeisrHqSI
nervous. It felt as though he was staring at the sun. Even Shea whimpered from26Please respect copyright.PENANAehb4wkITX9
behind him.
“It’s nice to26Please respect copyright.PENANA0fWV9raxcb
meet you all.” She curtsied. Everyone bowed their heads in respect to their26Please respect copyright.PENANA7Kpont1ZVF
future queen. Malcolm walked up then kissed both her cheeks before embracing26Please respect copyright.PENANAqWrlCIlu4P
her.
“It’s wonderful26Please respect copyright.PENANAJxHcdgabmh
to meet you.” he laughed. “I hope my son has been treating you well on your26Please respect copyright.PENANAH2DanrRVor
travels together?” Kiara wrapped her arms through Cuvera’s.
“He’s been26Please respect copyright.PENANAPXthcwiEfG
perfect.” She smiled. Her gazed flickered to Vander. Upon noticing him her eyes26Please respect copyright.PENANAvqY2EAldAc
widened then she whispered something into his ear. He nodded his head then26Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0uhMr8LMy
turned back to his father.
“There is one26Please respect copyright.PENANAjzBzWrdQi3
more person we’d like to introduce everyone too.” He motioned the mystery women26Please respect copyright.PENANA3LblZgtRku
forward. She was dressed similarly to Kiara except her uniform was yellow and26Please respect copyright.PENANABlFrAvY1FA
silver. She stepped forward then removed her veil. Without waiting for anyone26Please respect copyright.PENANAj97zSNEBNQ
to introduce her, she introduced herself:
“My name is26Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4368FxySe
Eliza, Kiara’s younger sister and bodyguard.” She curtsied. “I hope to be of26Please respect copyright.PENANA1tmnZ3m7mw
use to all of you here.” She looked over at Vander and the breath left his body26Please respect copyright.PENANAsHlgiXJqSs
for a moment. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was26Please respect copyright.PENANADpBrP47FrL
smaller than Kiara but had more defined muscles. Her brown hair was tied back26Please respect copyright.PENANAr53BIyQ9ZJ
into a tight ponytail, her silver eyes looked at him as if she could see26Please respect copyright.PENANAfW1OK0QAEf
everything.
“It would be our26Please respect copyright.PENANA4v7ANhMeJD
honor to have you.” Charles answered.
“Let us go26Please respect copyright.PENANAtedM1JmcvU
inside.” Cuvera offered. “I’m tired from my travels and I’m sure the wardens26Please respect copyright.PENANAHjuryLKvZ4
are as well.”
“Of course.”26Please respect copyright.PENANAvTENKYo42i
Malcolm grinned. “Bernard made sure everyone’s rooms were made up properly and26Please respect copyright.PENANAtYrH2t5njS
we have spared no expense to have your men as comfortable down in the city as26Please respect copyright.PENANAwz4l8m1keW
possible. I trust I don’t need to explain the rules?”
“No sir,”26Please respect copyright.PENANAGWuRyWAqM5
Whitesun grinned. “We remember what happened last time.”
“Excellent.”26Please respect copyright.PENANAdpcwVCyqJR
Malcolm clapped his hands. “Come my son, there is much I must talk with you26Please respect copyright.PENANAr69YAYE3td
about. My dear Kiara, you should come to so we can get the chance to get to26Please respect copyright.PENANAZJHYBwpFIf
know each other.”
“Yes father.”26Please respect copyright.PENANATUTGjVC2EB
Malcolm laughed at that but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and escorted26Please respect copyright.PENANAttospQGZtv
her in. Eliza followed close behind unwilling to leave her sister alone in26Please respect copyright.PENANAZQTG7T6keW
foreign territory. When Cuvera walked past, he gripped Vander’s shoulder.
“Meet me26Please respect copyright.PENANAr9Zkz17im7
tonight.” He whispered into his ear. Vander nodded his head.
Soon all the26Please respect copyright.PENANALebw1cknN3
nobles disappeared back into the castle while their guards were taken into the26Please respect copyright.PENANAboY8FNWhjg
city to their lodgings. While they were here it meant more overtime for the26Please respect copyright.PENANA9mIiwcTrfU
Blades and city guards because they had to make sure they behaved themselves26Please respect copyright.PENANAEPKlApsFLV
with the locals. The only ones left other than Charles and Vander were the two26Please respect copyright.PENANAHhnSNGhFJQ
generals who seemed to be discussing something with Alphonse. A moment later26Please respect copyright.PENANAFx332LkWVB
they split up and both Eric and his son went into the castle, likely to see26Please respect copyright.PENANAvkhyRR5kmc
Anna. However, Jasper walked over to the two of them.
“Commander.” His26Please respect copyright.PENANAQEFFsnRPvp
voice was curt, angry.
“General.”26Please respect copyright.PENANA9z3S2akUmp
Charles tried to hide the disdain in his voice.
“I heard my26Please respect copyright.PENANARZCoI80AHn
daughter went to see you.” Jasper glared down at Vander. He shrugged in26Please respect copyright.PENANAalJiDvOzeE
response. Suddenly Jasper grabbed Vander by the neck causing Shea to jump to26Please respect copyright.PENANAtQyaVdeRp6
her feet snarling. “You stay away from my daughter, or I will make sure you26Please respect copyright.PENANA65jROD6vuV
never see the light of day again.”
“Are you26Please respect copyright.PENANAAWNXU4uUoa
threatening my grandson, General?” Charles asked. Suddenly Alexander and a few26Please respect copyright.PENANANcWkEyJbou
other Blades surrounded him with their hands on their swords.
“Not a threat.”26Please respect copyright.PENANAhm7zopJkd6
He said. “A warning.” He studied Vander for a second before pushing him away.26Please respect copyright.PENANAcbgis5XZPc
“If I find out you even breathe in her direction, you will regret it.”
“No more than the26Please respect copyright.PENANAwb4J7Dvq1a
King regrets making you a General I’m sure.” Vander choked out. “I’m sure the26Please respect copyright.PENANAVWdZrZj8Mv
prince would find this very interesting.”
“I don’t know26Please respect copyright.PENANAniWmup3g0b
what he sees in you, you worthless trash.” With that he pushed past them26Please respect copyright.PENANA9cozwAhWXn
disappearing inside the castle.
“He’s really26Please respect copyright.PENANA6dRtfoKCdj
possessive of his daughter isn’t he?” Alex asked.
“He’s possessive26Please respect copyright.PENANA1amH7wmrDk
of the power she could give him through breeding.” Vander sighed. He rubbed his26Please respect copyright.PENANAPLOlBrwRgf
neck to try and rub the feeling back into it.
“Vander if he26Please respect copyright.PENANAKheYCrUrqP
touches you again, kill him.” Charles growled. “I will deal with the fall back,26Please respect copyright.PENANAHYjKAh8W8V
but he will not touch you again without dire consequences.”
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“Yes sir.” Vander26Please respect copyright.PENANAc35JmQ0OuG
bowed his head. “Now let’s go. I expect this party will be interesting.”