Chapter 23
Rain pounded the streets of Eluvia32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhebDiZzmJ
causing its people to run for cover. Thunder rumbled across the sky as bolts of32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dXigytfY3
lightning shot out illuminating the space above the city. Eluvia was in32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2fzqw0DyO
mourning, and it seemed to many that the Deities wept with them, but a select32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl5BSIS3wC
few knew the truth. There was a war coming one where both human’s and gods32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11GA04JHYX
would have to choose sides.
It had been three months since the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7yjR4Ve0K
King’s murder and as the city wept a man hunt was underway to chase down the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDLPI6pEt8
person many believed responsible while the true culprit stayed safe inside the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ckvl6l2A8
castle, just biding his time until he could strike. Despite the circumstance,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOhIqLGn7P
Eluvia needed a new king. Although Cuvera was still in mourning, he bowed his32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDtWqFLL3h
head accepting the crown and the power that came with it. His new wife, Kiara32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2xDahyv3B
stood by him, helping him through his pain while others plotted behind his back32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU7kJ9v7xd
to gain power in the wake of this tragedy.
Peyton stood at attention in front32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbeqpG191E
of the throne where Cuvera sat. His hair had grown long, his eyes bloodshot,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEA9oRpeMy
while his clothing hung loosely from his body. Since the death of his father,32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWckeCVw99c
Cuvera hadn’t done much resting. He was too busy learning to run a country and32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbSS3ERnzh
dealing with intelligence as to where his friend had gone, searching for32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wZZTyuYFH
answers as to why he had killed his father and run away. No matter how hard he32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Frihw7UgK
tried, he just couldn’t understand. He longed to have a conversation with32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaOazre8tV
Vander, but he knew that wouldn’t happen outside of a jail cell.
“Any luck?” his voice croaked.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLl0RV0nHd
Peyton’s heart was broken seeing his best friend’s son this way, but despite32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U2t33Tubs
their plan, he couldn’t tell the young King why things had to happen that way.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2UAN90IHs
He wouldn’t understand, Peyton barely understood it himself.
“None.” Peyton shook his head.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9uWMTpcO3
“There have been a few sightings, but when we went to investigate, he was32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzb3DvPoGH
nowhere to be found.”
“Damn it.” Cuvera slammed his hand32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVrMjIN60Y
on the arm rest. “Damn it, damn it, damn it.”
“We will double our efforts.”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8056kzWDn
Peyton said. “If we ask the General’s for help…”
“No,” Cuvera interrupted him. “If32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA51BAe6pNX
Vander doesn’t want to be found, no one can find him. The Warden’s need to head32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQdHV3eLuH
back to their posts as do their Generals. This will be an internal matter, Lord32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VQt1QbC4Z
Cranton. We must handle it ourselves.” Kiara walked over, placing a hand on her32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3VnHKTXFV
husband’s shoulder.
“Is there anything else Peyton?”32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtL5bynazj
she asked softly, but the way she looked at him told him he had better end this32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mVMseqJVm
meeting or there would be hell to pay.
“Just one,” Peyton grimaced. “Have32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzwQ4Pe2V0
you given any thought as to who you would make Blade Commander? Since Charles’32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcspYhe9sh2
was forced out, we need someone to…”
“Alexander and the other Captains32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZPaL0JAQS
have it well taken care of.” Kiara interrupted. “We understand that this is an32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRfjvWcHxA
important decision, but based on what has already transpired, this is at the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRyIkICtnR
bottom of our list. Understood?”
“I do.” Peyton bowed his head. “If32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zCCq3TM5b
you will excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of.” He turned32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxnPsV5Bmf
around shuffling off. His boots made clicking sounds as he walked down the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mpj8xE8Bl
cobblestone path and out the door.
As he walked down the dimly lit32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwq5hE27H8
hall, he could vaguely feel another set of boots walking in time with him. He32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjkVPTCqII
turned around to see a small, hooded figure wearing loose clothing to hide32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetENFKtyDk
their true gender. They wore gloves, likely with metal embedded inside, and had32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhjhgHsQZC
two twin daggers strapped to their side.
“Fang,” Peyton greeted. That32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2l7LDps4d
wasn’t their true name, it was the code name given to the Serpents assassins.
“Councilor.” They spoke. “Why have32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8y5nNpJXh
you summoned me?”
“Because you failed in your32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HxXrvpN5t
attempt to kill the King and I had to clean up your mess.” Peyton said. “My32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwNQRp6PzC
master needs Vander, your new task is to bring him to us. Alive.”
“He is a dangerous man,” Fang32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9G7piZYzM
said, their voice not betraying any emotion. “He already beat us twice; we need32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKrN2mJWYm
more time.”
“My master won’t wait for much32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoGvxYZQvC
longer,” Peyton explained. “We only have a couple more weeks before things32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFqXNMXBAB
settle, and we separate. Try and have it done by then, I don’t care about your32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZACfAXgd5
methods. Just do it.”
“I understand.” With that, the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG2aXEmrk5
assassin stepped into the shadows then disappeared. Peyton let go of the breath32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjB5q4nX0v
he didn’t realize he had been holding. He placed his hand on the wall steeling32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1FDjyB2cr
himself for what was going on.
Was this what you wanted Malcolm?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutm83v9EBa
Was this what you had in mind when you want your son and his friend to bear the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNIpyuevAB
weight of our choices on their shoulders? Peyton rued the day he had allowed32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2NmutHj6H
his friend to talk him into such a crazy plan. He wasn’t sure what was going to32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJARuY3l4eR
happen to him by the end, but his day of reckoning would come. He just hoped32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHEGRJaAzB
his penance wouldn’t be difficult.
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He walked towards a window where32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WzinlyaFF
he could clearly see the storm brewing over his city. He was safe behind the32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmqRD0BzmW
glass, but he was still afraid. He hoped Vander was doing well despite32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cqtjAFnH1
everything that had happened. He hopes that one day he will be able to explain32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq4hfjBJzD
himself, but he should plan just in case he met his end beforehand. With a plan32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBUSz8mwtE
in mind, he shuffled off towards his office ignoring the sad expression of32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK6qBo8NFk
Malcolm in his portrait.
