Chapter 23
Rain pounded the streets of Eluvia24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2Ld4tPT21
causing its people to run for cover. Thunder rumbled across the sky as bolts of24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwcO8ijK4V
lightning shot out illuminating the space above the city. Eluvia was in24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTVkPoUd1c
mourning, and it seemed to many that the Deities wept with them, but a select24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2WAeFIP5U
few knew the truth. There was a war coming one where both human’s and gods24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDwYMnVapT
would have to choose sides.
It had been three months since the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfUkXlITV4
King’s murder and as the city wept a man hunt was underway to chase down the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4fL4z10b4
person many believed responsible while the true culprit stayed safe inside the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblwNlFv1FJ
castle, just biding his time until he could strike. Despite the circumstance,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKq0piEDL6
Eluvia needed a new king. Although Cuvera was still in mourning, he bowed his24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlaQuzbTk9
head accepting the crown and the power that came with it. His new wife, Kiara24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX89VD9gkVP
stood by him, helping him through his pain while others plotted behind his back24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJoPBmCRJa
to gain power in the wake of this tragedy.
Peyton stood at attention in front24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tM3Gfxn7a
of the throne where Cuvera sat. His hair had grown long, his eyes bloodshot,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNltiKbv2tw
while his clothing hung loosely from his body. Since the death of his father,24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TKJ8PK6Nb
Cuvera hadn’t done much resting. He was too busy learning to run a country and24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVyLkpiSz5
dealing with intelligence as to where his friend had gone, searching for24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjO9KJW0eS
answers as to why he had killed his father and run away. No matter how hard he24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF32FtY5Rsm
tried, he just couldn’t understand. He longed to have a conversation with24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkWgnSgcOa
Vander, but he knew that wouldn’t happen outside of a jail cell.
“Any luck?” his voice croaked.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBThVwHBd4c
Peyton’s heart was broken seeing his best friend’s son this way, but despite24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKJ4SWq2cH
their plan, he couldn’t tell the young King why things had to happen that way.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M6VJFY2cl
He wouldn’t understand, Peyton barely understood it himself.
“None.” Peyton shook his head.24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjEDY0Rht4
“There have been a few sightings, but when we went to investigate, he was24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyq3yZOAx1
nowhere to be found.”
“Damn it.” Cuvera slammed his hand24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x8vvc5XJN
on the arm rest. “Damn it, damn it, damn it.”
“We will double our efforts.”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ54RIJWoUW
Peyton said. “If we ask the General’s for help…”
“No,” Cuvera interrupted him. “If24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMnL96BZ7U
Vander doesn’t want to be found, no one can find him. The Warden’s need to head24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡay5FaIJ2p0
back to their posts as do their Generals. This will be an internal matter, Lord24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t7xjFTGZt
Cranton. We must handle it ourselves.” Kiara walked over, placing a hand on her24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0bgC2kwnJ
husband’s shoulder.
“Is there anything else Peyton?”24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljqN3YAPXe
she asked softly, but the way she looked at him told him he had better end this24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwF552qsJNM
meeting or there would be hell to pay.
“Just one,” Peyton grimaced. “Have24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfdO0SjTET
you given any thought as to who you would make Blade Commander? Since Charles’24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt48sViYzTc
was forced out, we need someone to…”
“Alexander and the other Captains24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkewVV7EtQU
have it well taken care of.” Kiara interrupted. “We understand that this is an24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6o7t2SEQw
important decision, but based on what has already transpired, this is at the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2OpvBDEZr
bottom of our list. Understood?”
“I do.” Peyton bowed his head. “If24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9yUHiICCp
you will excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of.” He turned24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqclnOCQGt
around shuffling off. His boots made clicking sounds as he walked down the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsj09Erkg1
cobblestone path and out the door.
As he walked down the dimly lit24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrASDl8xydQ
hall, he could vaguely feel another set of boots walking in time with him. He24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Ie53utiy
turned around to see a small, hooded figure wearing loose clothing to hide24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEsJPawDP1
their true gender. They wore gloves, likely with metal embedded inside, and had24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NfqUianVs
two twin daggers strapped to their side.
“Fang,” Peyton greeted. That24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVfhVk10s0
wasn’t their true name, it was the code name given to the Serpents assassins.
“Councilor.” They spoke. “Why have24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ptgqYTwRa
you summoned me?”
“Because you failed in your24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbASd9Tb8T
attempt to kill the King and I had to clean up your mess.” Peyton said. “My24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DWDFPzLfI
master needs Vander, your new task is to bring him to us. Alive.”
“He is a dangerous man,” Fang24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oWbszhhOt
said, their voice not betraying any emotion. “He already beat us twice; we need24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcPaq0RRLS
more time.”
“My master won’t wait for much24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfd3OHuRWFB
longer,” Peyton explained. “We only have a couple more weeks before things24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlJIDZe0CR
settle, and we separate. Try and have it done by then, I don’t care about your24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ287U8Wr036
methods. Just do it.”
“I understand.” With that, the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDiwvrfp6t
assassin stepped into the shadows then disappeared. Peyton let go of the breath24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkOz6jASvk
he didn’t realize he had been holding. He placed his hand on the wall steeling24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcw0JdhoZA
himself for what was going on.
Was this what you wanted Malcolm?24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1nna4aH8r
Was this what you had in mind when you want your son and his friend to bear the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1p9Y9CXxy
weight of our choices on their shoulders? Peyton rued the day he had allowed24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7c3U3Ro9M
his friend to talk him into such a crazy plan. He wasn’t sure what was going to24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTRwkBqyDY
happen to him by the end, but his day of reckoning would come. He just hoped24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNysNP09DF
his penance wouldn’t be difficult.
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He walked towards a window where24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaucm2L0Vw
he could clearly see the storm brewing over his city. He was safe behind the24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPegT3YCbB
glass, but he was still afraid. He hoped Vander was doing well despite24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIOmZcGPp4
everything that had happened. He hopes that one day he will be able to explain24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtYNQqTbrn
himself, but he should plan just in case he met his end beforehand. With a plan24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QjLFEHq6Z
in mind, he shuffled off towards his office ignoring the sad expression of24Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUbZ2JMSmX
Malcolm in his portrait.
