Chapter95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjU1dwq2Ym
43
He felt something warm and heavy on95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiddR93zWRL
his chest. At first, he was confused95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIp0aZwnwVU
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PqBX0sL9r
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhkSA1xRbz
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvIEwytxf1
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAinObp5roY
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvr9IbSXc0
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNURqjGVB9G
down.
“Don’t95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKoWOr8FMt
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEjDxSJg2L
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBboUBhzl2z
to sleep.
Over95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0shp8yVtq
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxFIAd4vwb
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8Rtxyt46y
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9lq4h5tSd
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hbeeaRRU1
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQalz78LCe
to tell him what had happened.
“We95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZ8tuTxQMq
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimRvQWTgny
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SgLL6vC5D
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fyZKEmcoA
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OwGaMhlWO
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdR8g2kRHBJ
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj8hInkHqX
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ntEG5Zvcp
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIJ8ZnLjay
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjhKX8rERx
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLZQiIaUXi
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyvfF8cXeN
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmmNQsBW9N
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2fvPodh2Z
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSPMOZhP1P
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijoq2ohN8s
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5234Vbjw6U
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlSTSze0GK
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjeuMJHAEu
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1pgFXiDRI
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRnoBibAEV
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO6CgAlXBv
enormous debt.”
Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd7OrqcvCv
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxmZHv8Lz5
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld8WyZRVQA
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyflPV1OZ0
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2PQFpCwlz
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9KUwxQymp
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzVb3IMBj0
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzqyFrEwYZ
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcB98CfrJU
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSN3Rgz5ot
who betrayed us.”
“That’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawjnWkPldE
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjxLgemJ7n
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi53FSeQFI
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAa96hrL9W
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaMN0wnJyi
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuyxy8CBI6
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60J23V5fpY
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdELSBqSHPr
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyelwGFnXDa
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJir3qS5Xg
my King.”
…
A95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjQGokl0kH
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAJ12bYfuZ
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOxGbrz9Lt
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW5246gwBT
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBUCxzkKwm
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyrsnH31Z8
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LTEXJoOW4
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8wiX1uyRu
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t9ZZaQBM3
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5avYKQpun
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wqLFwPXTp
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DYfDyRLR9
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqslzMeerER
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kjQtj8F4F
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5qhcBHSBM
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xeHZepV9a
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OownmTasO
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQc69YST9f
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7UeYBXGZA
saw her smile.
“Are95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlnL1TGP0A
we going there soon?”
“After95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYdx6jWprf
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnX24bvOhX
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflNbHye4ZH
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuz31DTgvG
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdXjt9TQz0
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddvBtoYbrq
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeJzJAmZez
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIUqvZPG6O
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgL1JxhysB
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wyJ8ZONDK
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVrcYTksr3
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK0gEDDF4K
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2hmmp2ZM4
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21XcGoAoei
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wJ9YNiATi
that was for him to do.
Eliza95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBN1dGsZvG
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDjEbuJmoV
promotion.
Vander95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBBTwNcnzv
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNYCuymYqk
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsIngDb6pq
hold it aloft.
“Do95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj53T9TR1A
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXztHPVR7l
Cuvera asked.
“I95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvW6WRvVHm
do.” He shouted back.
“Do95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIbxDcJb4f
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rXtEk3258
it?”
“Only95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzJ3PKRWZT
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IYpurCSV2
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvueemUpgd
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta8S4wkE2z
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdblBpHp3h
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrArXejYXT
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZzsJzF1bw
resilient, just like him.
As95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlUeNVEWVF
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNy8Csg9kV
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTVtM7fZqG
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FwvDtIHO0
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one95Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeu9t3I97v
capable of protecting them all.
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is, the Eluvian Blade.
