Chapter 27
If you’ve never88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdS8TwRUc9
been inside the mind of a raven, you were missing out. They are one of the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOppgRmnAS
smartest birds in the world capable of remembering faces and understanding a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT4F941DJ5
semblance of human speech. However, when Vander was inside, he understood88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNcsPHdpCg
everything around him, knew what the bird knew, and could get into places he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaYVQfekjY
otherwise couldn’t. The only issue was if the consciousness of the creature he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmk2QN1YDl
was inhabiting decided to fight back, he could be forcibly shoved back into his88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3TL3QCTeK
own body or, in a worst-case scenario, he could be lost forever. However it was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e921eI0CW
a risk he needed to take and so far, the raven wasn’t fighting him though he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3ZKybpC6C
was angry. Vander had to promise him some food before he would finally settle88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pBjDgw8hl
down.
Vander flapped88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSxZvEOI9P
his wings then jumped from the rooftop. He caught an air current to glid over88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3lBRPHuuI
the heads of the gathered soldiers trying to keep the crowds back away from the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i49g6hIf0
crime scene. Some of them had taken their spears butts to the citizens to get88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs7b0UGak3
them to stay away, but that made some of them angry. It took one of the Blades88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOSKm0WOaw
to come over to calm the crowd down before they calmed down enough, but they88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqG72yTzJB
were still near the edge peering through just to see what was going on.
He found a perch88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcHd6sEY46
on top of the house that would enable him to see his surroundings but also88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKKDETQyjo
listen to what was being said inside. He hopped forward, grabbing hold of the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyMGFPJ9XV
siding with his talons, and peered over the edge looking into the house via the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡileSnmtgMO
window above the door. If anyone looked above, they would have seen just his88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmBNWdzmS1
head and beady little eyes, but the occupants were too distracted by the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt1iQCWnpO
carnage he had left behind.
The blood had88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xvCRSh8UV
dried overnight, but the people inside walked over it as if it was. There was a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMQFTxnA9D
medic inside making sure the bodies were dead. It wasn’t Topal, but one of his88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaNnzevEmN
students that Vander didn’t recognize. He was carefully checking the bodies88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aMmfxJjoB
then would nod to one of the soldiers who would then grab a buddy and together88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0PUtEBTyN
the two of them would bring one of the bodies outside. Then they would bring a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX2WpPHBEX
tarp to place over the dead to hide them from the crowd. It happened six times88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEjEXqn5to
in total. Vander had to double take because he was sure that seven of them been88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBKI2MV71s
killed, but after double counting then peering back inside, there was indeed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpW4fLurjb
only six bodies. He would have to investigate that later.
He heard some of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmpxvJIxii
the guards talking inside. “What a waste of life.” One muttered to themselves.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvCQkw2E62
“What do you think happened here?”
“We don’t get88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hJT2ZgEMS
paid to ask questions.” That other snorted. But he looked around nervously88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbz1JaXfNz
before whispering to his friend. “I bet it was that traitorous Blade that did88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVZfXQitsO
this.” The other guard looked warily at his friend.
“How do you88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwukmfHpjI2
figure?”
“One of these88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98jQv65MgS
people had their throat completely ripped out.” The other explained. “That’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOIfqj8saT
not possible without a lot of strength. I’ve only ever seen animals do that and88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMCYU5Zji7
I don’t think a bear came into down, slaughtered six people, then left never to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjYRlZ0B2Z
be seen again.”
“I guess that88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcav8AzyXF
makes sense.” The second guard didn’t sound convinced, however. “But why would88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r9rfJuDH0
he come here to kill these people? It makes no sense.”
“Like killing the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS6k6ahedd
King made sense?” the first guard spat. “The sooner we find this guy, the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyl1vt0TvJ
sooner we can bury him. Bastard deserves to hang for what he did.” Unknown to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1eu5UjHIx
all involved, they failed to notice a squad of Blades coming up behind them.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BBMBkXZk4
Vander looked up to see Alexander coming with a few Blades Vander didn’t88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaoTEmH32O
recognize. They were likely from one of the squads that came with the Warden’s.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW0kbLppYd
He couldn’t help but wonder where the recruits went.
Alex looked like88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNvklN0EHh
shit. His eyes were sunken in, and he had allowed his beard to grow long and88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLlx8YflN6
thick. His clothes were unkept, despite Blade regulation, but his eyes were88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr1jQqE2TN
still sharp. He had come in at the tail end of the guard’s conversation, so he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQBsm5rZLF
let himself be known by growling right behind them.
“If you two have88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtvRdjuWt0
time to gossip, you have time to stand investigate the house.” He spoke.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTOXkOYAOk
Normally his size and demeanor were enough to get most men to do what he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhiftrMZaM
wanted, but that didn’t seem to work here.
“You’re not in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC6eIdCsl5
charge of us, Blade.” The first guard hissed. The way he said it made Vander88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6qM4EcmwA
angry. It appears he wasn’t the only one as the Blades with Alex went for their88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgOdvOLnuO
swords. They stayed their hand once Alex motioned for them to stop. “We don’t88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcX7EQQhpe
take orders from those who let the King die.”
“You’ll take88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lmkLmHrn7
orders from me whether you like it or not.” Alex’s voice was calm, but he was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX2oU2XEum
seconds away from violently lashing out. Vander could tell based on how he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gjzDsteK3
clenched his hand. “Until the King decrees otherwise you will help us find88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4I0mCdre6
Vander and bring him in.”
“Our General says88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNQuMPBc9l
otherwise.” The second guard said. “We are only here as per our duty, but after88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGy812XWsu
the bodies are taken out, you’re on your own.”
“Coward.” One of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1b2QR5QRB
the Blade’s spat. At that insult, the two guards drew their weapons as did the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpCyFhtoY4
guards who were supposed to be keeping the crowd back.
“That wasn’t very88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v2mFZ9aRH
smart of you.” The first guard growled. “You’re surrounded and outnumbered.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fmAqXvagY
What’s another dead Blade in the grand scheme of things?”
“Enough of this.”88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOhY7BnlTz
Alex’s voice bellowed out. He turned towards the Blade who let his emotions get88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtn0CfKKJR
the better of him. “Apologize so we can get on with our days.”
“But…” Alex’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetkOjlSlx1
glare dried the excuse in the poor man’s throat. He lowered his head, but not88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ67SzBFlzz
his eyes, and muttered a quick apology. Knowing better than to start a scene,88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2VpFrNNV6
the guard accepted it, but kept his eyes firmly rooted on Alex as he sheathed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uToeKXuxW
his Blade.
“You have minutes88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCToocqAvX
to get what you need the clear out.” The guard said. “This is our88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKErJEzB5HI
investigation, not yours.”
“I understand, we88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWl69NBiS3
will be quick.” Nodding to the others, they dispersed. Some of them headed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyjtPLKlJI
inside to look around while two of them checked the dead bodies. Alex stayed88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA1AO6nxVc
outside surveying the crowd. Suddenly Vander was very happy that he had picked88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKh3khO9Z6
the raven to take over instead of going into the crowd himself. He knew that no88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr0MCHaDN1
matter the disguise, Alex would be able to tell who he was.
One of the Blades88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF6c9Hr4Ae
outside called over to Alex. He quicky rushed over. Vander could catch some88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiBMnLXTaf
words of that passed between the two of them. They commented about one of them88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1RkURZIpa
having their throat ripped out, which Alex admitted was likely Vander’s doing.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDzGueAiff
However, the intriguing part was when the two of them discovered snake tattoos88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwvCLJ8fYi
on all their arms. Alex nodded to himself before stepping away calling the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vt8luoiBI
guards back to take the bodies away. He then went inside to see what the others88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHgBGT1g23
may or may not have found.
Vander couldn’t88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SQBVhV5XG
really tell what was being said inside. They were talking low to one another88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTw4vDEPsp
while looking at a scroll that they discovered shoved inside the table. Vander88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUkID1pEQa
shifted slightly to get a better view. It looked like a map of the city, but it88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4G1dGykp49
wasn’t anything that he recognized. He would need to get his talons on that88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fDI5rUvOU
scroll, but there was nothing he could do about it now. He would have to try to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw8ZIBOGKQ
take it from his friend at some point in time. Vander heard a squawk coming88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iJeYo3Ir6
from behind him. He turned around to see a large, angry raven flapping behind88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsorqKl2jH
him. He was instantly filled with fear from the raven he was inhabiting. He88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYYeyouHMw
guessed the two of them had an issue before which caused the raven, he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERBMfZr8WS
inhabited to flee afraid.
As the other88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsDtthOTnb
raven attacked, Vander pushed himself out of the body and back into his own.88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7RQ71EkJ9
The sudden jolt to being back in a human being, on the ground, caused him to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChL25eqkQl
violently throw himself over so he could vomit onto the cobblestone instead of88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWRLoiobO6
onto his clothing. He looked up to see the two birds entwined in a death grip88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWfJx6HPu8
violently stabbing and clawing at each other. The smaller one he had been apart88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUsapeQ1u9
from was losing, but his pride didn’t allow him to quit. He had to do88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLd1PGedmO
something, so he grabbed a rock.
He popped out88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ459XFtGC8f
from behind his hiding spot then launched the rock at the bigger bird. With a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM00wUgzVe
cry, the big raven fell to the ground stunned, possibly dead. The sudden rock88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy4Qs6TzbI
being thrown combined with the dropped bird causing some members of the crowd88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e4qoeZX6D
to turn towards him. Some were confused, but a couple recognized him.
“It’s the King88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLnb42CPYI
killer!” one of them shouted, pointing at him. Some of the guards began88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb1T2Ihgew
shouting to pass, but the crowd pushed forward.
“Someone grab88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX7YbL9dK3
him!” Two citizens lunged forward, but Vander jumped backwards. He grabbed a88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhwKgkr8q2
box then threw it at someone who had broken through hitting them right in the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VAyeuxEkV
face. Vander backed up towards the wall then jumped up, grabbing the top with88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixO8okqiPj
his hand to haul himself over. Before he disappeared, he locked eyes with Alex88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNMbap95Nv
before disappearing.
He heard shouting88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypI2qnkqtV
coming from behind him, but he wasted no time running back towards the gate88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHW1XiS2b4
which would lead him into Lower Eluvia. He just had to make it there before he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF0BjWjHcK
was caught then everything would be okay. What he didn’t realize though was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR793X6g2G
that the road he was running down intersected with the road that mob was coming88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoGZmhhyP0
down. He heard them running towards him, which caused him to run as fast as he88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqEZBxEuTj
could. Tragically he ended up running into another group of guards who had88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzbZ8E7vaf
heard the commotion.
“Well look who we88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CUtjlNBpV
have here?” One of them grinned. A metal fist came flying towards Vander’s88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L17OOz66e
face. It hit his jaw sending waves of pain throughout his mouth, likely88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYpGlSm9HI
knocking a couple of teeth loose. He fell to the ground, but scrambled88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQyP4EdPDZ
backwards as the guards drew their swords.
“Did you know88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL9heJL41z
there is a bounty on your head?” one asked with an evil glint in his eyes. “The88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpBOdCubjv
Jilena family has offered quite the reward for your head.” Vander looked at the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm8S0U3iT2
group confused. He didn’t know why the Jilena family cared so much about the88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9L8clEP2K
king’s murder that they would go against Cuvera’s wishes. He didn’t have to88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjQBLZN9Wp
wonder long as the guards were apparently quite chatty.
“They are blaming88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXXosac0TG
you for the death of their youngest son.” Vander’s blood ran cold. Jeffery was88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxNDHQYV3O
dead? But he had let him go, there was no reason for him to be killed.
“I had no reason88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7dorOzw7q
to kill him.” Vander argued.
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“Rumor has it88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaQBkoZPQQ
that he tried to stop you, so you ran him through.” The guard shrugged. “Makes88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEUShsKXzx
no difference to me. With the money we will finally be able to retire in88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczZyFrwoRC
peace.” Vander scooted backwards as the guards lunged towards him with their88Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG02tSI71IF
swords readied to skewer him.
