Chapter 27
If you’ve never19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfHhJW91Oz
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN9jSm3Vmf
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSyG1Yc8FE
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpsygv1K0a
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS35324Pze5
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lc2SRuGGJ
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL1WSt42w3
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp73hz5rWcy
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1WJybw0ju
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRAFImsjau
down.
Vander flapped19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFOptP6aU1
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BXDcyVlwz
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4LiDdCIKG
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz0YgMhM7p
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoatpVCf7L
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8V113HrST
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsgfCeTN33
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdRrgYjNFE
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BG9Iig6lD
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUgbFQ3WJ8
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1ee3McUVx
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PmujZNRFH
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImpROVs3wa
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs50U3kLLzZ
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSoO6JJZz3
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk299IcmQc
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRw8gJvxChp
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqsPN0zSjy
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7CUk5qnVY
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9iNfkP6UE
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dIEvk6JwD
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy2SNvKEYa
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyFdpQyyHC
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPefufU9bY
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Diy6ooo9
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9AmNsMiEv
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmskdCQmnIO
figure?”
“One of these19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5mwFNHwXs
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOf6owlunEE
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7ct8iKFvc
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp4BDvRdA6
be seen again.”
“I guess that19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDZqmRWNEH
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7McqMB2TD
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpzC6atEoF
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQjWnWBbOW
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT5Wj0DO5l
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA0Eiim3f3
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw3j6jZEkh
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLiQDSoIm7
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbeKMRPKPp
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQXrfXr2Xx
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrWHQDOIUz
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyK4OFMM5g
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbDQHqKxIq
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbeQGXJIrk
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9i5IjeZbD
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbgpmYtMAE
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb0qfjGiaT
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMzsppxQyM
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw2i6uLwgE
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWcAj2B3EI
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jijhbCcVP
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIgBdsw8uq
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRGxGSAKvh
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSagbmmxYqc
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoE444w3HC
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ422GmcbWTE
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2gsQUkAFU
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXR2Re1uu2
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mOQI4nYX5
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtUA0qY3aC
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHK9dbNWBzi
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ5IhuJF02
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ51DxCr91z
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPO3r3seyW
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8FS0Q0W1N
his Blade.
“You have minutes19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULvD9tzuhZ
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJca1h82W4T
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkB1b8EgLT
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMnMO3DgC1
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlHBHMWsGP
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjLji59lN7
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE091eiLmU
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboYzWdc31Q
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyONqggNioI
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2I0cYvLhGt
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Trc2PB3L
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdWlc2a3PB
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofgx8l6Xqc
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQkxcV0OwZ
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2m7Xn3hM7
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrIQvpAmKF
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4z1UycTWV
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndZoH0ZxhB
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXXe01GwIz
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6lsaCKOmv
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFQkSabfue
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufrhVfhdHG
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuIjTFmJYa
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCqMlRmhRL
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGSHrtH1Nq
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTN3kyojjXE
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Wc2AM6Hh
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLBKPbKqMf
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAirR6JDT9B
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ3NXAOVGw
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hi6TpEOXU
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHQh3gXBMK
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI25NZlqcEq
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BbHlS6yNq
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7ItrsTKvr
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURHARRC9hC
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyMJN71y3Z
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsiItu8XPN
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2R8Ov4eNs
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyPVy08nhm
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oCTLHl9Hn
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS6HvrA11s
before disappearing.
He heard shouting19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72ArK29cSt
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpOwJfh7NA
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLKK4XPBBS
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLBi7svNYd
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyVHnoH1fj
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UQlxuIibd
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGltwr077j7
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnAyouKsVm
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5cBpsim1x
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnkHfst6AH
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5tnpS9PV5
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBmhvi323y
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54ujzKamy9
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uZ32BdiPl
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttprZTbval
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0moe03qZl
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM9pcnFF1b
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc45TimRVsj
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9LAku5eJZ
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZruxTwxFV
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQankoahWB9
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsicemF6jX2
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BQbEgCWba
swords readied to skewer him.
