Chapter 6
Vander vaguely remembered the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTEzqmq02D
feeling of being dragged up many stairs, carried down a hallway, and the warm63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdSN7a4b7r
covers of his bed. His memory of Julianna standing over him in the candlelight63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfz5ekrA31
as she pieced together the pieces of his skin using thread, a needle, and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJVbqcgdYT
plenty of booze to disinfect everything. Shea guarded the door to keep anyone63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB8xxu6sxV
who she didn’t trust from entering, while letting out low whimpers as she63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdAB2vvWD7
worried for her master. He dropped into an uneasy slumber, immune to the pain63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dSaprRRy0
that traveled through his body. The only solace he found was in dreams.
∙
A drop of water fell on63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhaJZwL4Fh
Vander’s forehead. His eyes remained closed, but the weather was determined to63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcoxn9fVab
wake him. Several more fell on his face hitting his eyes, forehead, and mouth.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKHRpD0tDk
His eyes scrunched together before he slowly opened them. He was confused63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66F1K1PD1A
because he expected to wake up in his bed with the roof of the inn above his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jdl0mW1SN
head. But instead, he saw the cloudy morning sky surrounded by tall maple and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh5AcswHbm
pine trees. He was dressed in ill-fitting rags. The pants went as far down as63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAh9RCleH4
his shins while his shirt was in tatters. He slowly rose to his feet, his stiff63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY27yNN3e3f
muscles protesting from the sudden movement. It hadn’t been long since his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCeiX6uzjL
injuries, but time moved differently here, as it did in all the realms of the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPlgA17QCr
Deities.
He could smell blood and sweat,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8W6OitI7J
the trademark sign of his patron goddess, Unna, Lord of the Beasts and Madness.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wxAFlRkRn
There were hundreds of beasts waiting in the woods, their red eyes focused63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxSOiaGPnu
solely on him. Any wrong move would send them into a frenzy and would tear him63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vD8Gb7LCz
apart. It was the rule of the jungle here, you couldn’t show fear. The first63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnp9ktg2JN
time he had come here all those years ago was almost his last, but he had63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrCgk5WBXd
adapted quickly killing a creature that had mistaken him for easy prey. The63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGUXuIIBtC
rest fell in line, but sometimes a creature gets a little too full of63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTbId3XbV3
themselves and must be put in their place. However, the fact that he had woken63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uYqvEQ1TB
up here meant the ruler of the forest had grabbed him, no one them would go63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhgY1TvdlS
against her orders.
He got to his feet then started63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDziiISASX
to walk along the path laid out for him. He ignored the biting pain in his feet63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzImSuxmxut
from sticks, stones, and dead leaves scattered around. His blood scented the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhyrosMwYi
ground marking him as the forests now. He knew that when he died he would wind63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstNjZiK6JU
up here, the same as all the other beasts. This was the forest laying claim to63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhMQiHgEcP
him for its mistress.
He walked for what seemed like63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ879TSZdExe
hours, but he didn’t get tired, hungry, or thirsty. He just put one step in63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2e9pTTI5Z
front of the other. It had started to rain, but he kept it going until the sun63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLCL8TrsOk
had set in this domain and the creatures around him grew quiet. The woods63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡze1EXmZMVw
became thicker, and the normal brown trees turned blood red. The sky darkened63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TocmAWA7d
then the moon appeared illuminating the woods in a blueish glow. He heard63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iNbf02AeX
running water coming from his left. He turned to walk into the woods towards63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL3Iv5ZaMW
the waterfall where he knew Unna would be. He saw a large white wolf walking in63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46hEgzVrBK
step with him. The creature was twice the size of Vander with white-blue fur63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXnmdbZeI9
and deep red eyes.
Ritoru, if legends were to be63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLarqpqJUbd
believed, was the first human to accept Unna’s blessing. He had lived as a63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYeRDdayQA
tyrant, slaying anyone who crossed his path and offered his victims life for63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqiZmKzNIT
the deity. In exchange for his loyalty, she made him into this creature forever63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCNVqwkKvc
to serve her and kill those unworthy. The truth was, she had prayed for his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyV8Sl0AaJ
weakness and need to be stronger. Promising power beyond his wildest dreams, he63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThNmsw3gan
accepted it without understanding the consequences. Now he was a prisoner of63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY58mt2UXf
his own making waiting for the day he gets released from his own personal hell.
They walked for a little while63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZpoPxeG1X
until the trees thinned out revealing a small pool that was being bathed in63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhssHsfNht
moonlight. There was a small rock formation above the moon with a light trickle63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyl5Dn6Ez5
of water cascading down into the pool creating a ripple effect. The water was63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfSRCciCP2
crystal clear, and you could see little, tiny fishes swimming around in the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vb6sZuZE5
depths. No matter how much he wanted to go into the crystal blue water, he63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIKzfgaVbJ
couldn’t. This was Unna’s pool and going in without her permission was63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EKoUVfayE
tantamount to suicide. So, he sat down and waited.
Within the middle of the pool63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBIPdvHz0F
large ripples began to emerge. Moments later a pale woman burst out whipping63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIsTMd11WD
her black hair over her shoulders tossing water behind her. Even though he63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugksItEO0L
couldn’t see her face, Unna’s nickname as a seductress wasn’t wrong. She had a63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEadJCGK70
thin body, that was surprisingly filled with muscle. She was graceful and curvy63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ytLCE2qja
but eyed you up in the way a hunter looks at prey. Even now, sitting on the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp1Mm2j0lh
ground, Vander was aroused and based on the coy smile she tossed at him over63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSHltU7Acp
her shoulder, revealing long pointed canines, she noticed.
She took her time leaving the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DEE4x2xqX
pool, swaying side by side as she walked towards him. Her thighs rubbed63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg3D6IgX6J
together as her breasts moved slightly with the movement. As she stepped out63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzTrOxlHUE
from the pool, a sleeveless black dress with a low-cut neckline and a slit down63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalqGJCoCux
the left leg. Some how she looked even better with clothes on.
“You’re a naughty boy.” She63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGpWMuUPJ2
smiled. “You are thinking all sorts of dangerous thoughts aren’t you?”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRQBGTZORQ
He stood up as she walked over towards him. She looked at a finger under his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcykwU9pM2
chin and pulled him so close that their mouths were almost touching. “You63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyzpG5CKiF
want to don’t you Vander? It’s alright, I’ll give you everything you could have63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkoiicmHSQ
ever wanted in a woman. So, how about it?” It would be easy for him to give63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNsdAGYZpk
her all of him and many times he was tempted, but he knew what happened to63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s77FEv263
those who couldn’t resist. He wouldn’t end up like them.
“Why have you brought me here?”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GNnuRFpE9
he asked. Sighing with frustration, Unna let him go. It was so sudden that he63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvlLsYgm4V
fell back on the ground. She towered over him then placed a bare foot on his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlkTdfZszD
chest. He could see her dress, so he quickly looked away.
“You’re annoying you know that.” She63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoKxaEmGOe
snorted. “At first the chase was fun, but now I’m growing bored of it.”
“It’s not my fault you chosen me63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJsDbssPre
to be your champion.” Vander snorted. She bent down over him and stuck her63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyGl5avFqA
fingers to his side. He let out a hiss of pain as she dug her fingers into the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMSpOAXx6U
side where Leon had cut him. Her hand was covered in blood as she brought it up63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt37CgAwRIv
to her mouth then licked her fingers clean.
“I taste poison in your blood,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eym5ARn9F
Vander.” She grinned.
“Poison?” he asked. “What63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg3MT094fj
kind of poison?”
“Do you know why you come here63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4MCbs2Ayw
Vander?” she asked. She stepped off him then walked behind him. He rolled63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV1EGLLzIb
over and got to his feet as her throne appeared out of thin air. The throne was63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3yZD6eTGV
made from pure white bone. They said it was the bones of all she killed in the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZo8IKyFgEY
war, but it was hard to tell. They had all fused together to create the throne63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwWRO5D3kh
and it was difficult to pull out individual pieces.
“I assume you will tell me.” He63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFMC5pkDN7
said.
“You come here when you need63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQq1tqenGw
something from me.” She explained. “It doesn’t have to be a conscious63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWLhzb0JDK
need; it can be a subconscious need. Whether it be to get healed, needing some63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NBpq2xQyD
answers to a question, or getting your rocks off. It’s always something and I’m63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS56lYhGms9
getting tired of it.”
“What is it I can do for you63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WCS6uKy1a
then?”
“Give in to your demons.” She63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeFcu2bKwc
laughed. ”Give in just once and I will heal you.”
“If I give in, I’ll end up closer63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Fgp9qOg5F
to becoming one of your slaves.” He growled. “I will not go down that63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvZBAztrwm
path, no matter what.”
“You don’t have a choice, Vander.”63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCesi5x3Byj
She got up from her throne and grabbed him by the neck. She lifted him off63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYR9IjH4GR
the ground and brought him close to her. “Once you said yes to me, your63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9h8DMMYz5
future was already written. You are mine.” She dropped him gasping and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnuayyp3IF
wheezing to the ground. “However, you still have a role to play, one of63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6lZZRLVDp
which my grandmother has already told you about, so I cannot let you die here.”
She snapped63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYefxVM3n62
her fingers and a searing pain erupted from his side. He thrashed and screamed63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch3Hb7IANm
as the flame coursed through him. His body began to twitch and squirm as his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrkxWYBwhR
blood began to boil. As quickly as it started, it ended. He lay on the ground63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdmXJ9vPQg
breathing heavily as steam rose from him.
“Remember Vander,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyfgTwzWvM
you are promised to me and no other. Go. Fulfill your role, now begone.” She63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PlKKXKJf4
waved her hand. His body flew backwards, out of the woods, then slammed back63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXjtU7YMbG
into his own body. “I will be waiting.” Her voice echoed in his head. He63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan2HLmZqbE
opened his eyes.
∙
There was a large63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzI7mT9LNDh
weight pushing down into his chest. His vision was still foggy, likely from63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK1oj2M8x6
both passing out and the poison that had infected him. There was a warm white63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP9wMBTunG
presence there. He slowly reached out his hand to rub Shea’s head. She bolted63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLLghNwqrg
straight up and began licking his face in earnest. She jumped up and down63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLNUaD7GyO
happily barely missing Vander’s body with each step.
“I’m so happy63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl7tLcaJRz
you are awake.” she barked. “I was so worried about you.”
“What’s all that63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nf3MdxY19
racket?” Vander looked over to see Julianna staring groggily at the bed from63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDGS3nczPh
his desk chair. A blanket had been dragged out from the closet and placed over63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oW81TklN5
here. She stared at him for a moment, bewilderment on her face, before she63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOuq3Ivtnw
jumped up and ran towards him. He didn’t have time to admire her wearing the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eizAJBFLZ
sheer night gown before she launched herself at him.
“You’re awake,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBno30FFEAR
I’m so happy.” He felt tears splash on his face as she sobbed into him. He63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPF469jKN2Y
placed his hand on the top of her head.
“It wasn’t that63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkx1cOpNlX
bad of a wound.” He chuckled. “I’m not sure why you’re so worried about me.”
“You idiot.” She63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKpSIKCEe7
growled. “You have been out for about a day. For awhile you got very feverish,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTktzmRWGY
and your breathing became shallow. I would have brought a doctor in to take63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OkAnkVIVw
care of you, but Shea stopped me.”
“I smelled63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokU50qqtPV
poison in your blood.” Shea said. “If you’ll let me, I’ll rip that boy63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgkEuVbotP
apart for trying to kill you.”
“Leon seemed to63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLjLw7qESL
have poisoned his weapon sometime before running me through.” Vander explained.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzAo9ByGWp
“If it was anyone else, they likely would have died.” Vander went to get up63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFRUwSeGx1
from the bed, but Julianna pushed him back down.
“You’re still63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOErbJjWkkt
wounded, you should rest and let me get the soldiers to bring Leon in.” Vander63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat6xpmOt16
grabbed her hand causing her to flinch. Sighing, he lifted his shirt to show63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTGpuH9B1R
her that the stitches had disappeared, and the wound had closed. Shocked, she63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyc8bkhBeQ
gingerly traced her fingers tips over the fresh scar, but he didn’t wince once63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv4zyd72wN
from discomfort or pain. “How?” she whispered.
“Part of my63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2zqIz9Pp2
curse.” He picked her up quickly causing her to let out a small squeak of63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAHquXnahD
surprise. He flipped her around, so she was where he was just lying. They63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgMZxW7kRe
stared at each other for a second before Vander broke eye contact and got up63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGONOXMEZi
from the bed.
“Curse?” she63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGonduJle35
asked. “What curse?”
“There’s no way63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSG7hLIEww
you haven’t heard the rumors.” Vander chuckled to himself as he walked into the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArxpZOudoI
bathroom.
“Of course I63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWBOrwbQYP
heard the rumors.” She said. He heard her feet hit the ground then followed him63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Eg2kbUgJC
into the bathroom. He let the water run for a while before removing his clothes63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyTfvnCT5J
and dropping them in a pile. “You have no shame huh?” He looked over his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq5i4RfDxj
shoulder to see her eyeing him up and down with a mischievous gleam in her63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN68ZIvIFHQ
eyes.
“The rumors, for63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rr7weOGMz
the most part, are true, Julianna.” He said. “No good would come from getting63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSNQwSfbez
too involved with me.”
“I’m not looking63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13RVC9SHGS
for anything serious.” She shrugged off her night gown. “I have an inn to run,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSU9rF3HRF
but I think some thanks is an order and besides,” she looked below his waist.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD4kkDWy9X
“I think you might like to blow off some steam as well.”
“Can’t really63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qDEIXJNWE
argue with that logic.” He shrugged. He stepped aside then held out his hand to63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJvflPgqKz
help her into the tub.
She embraced him,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBnYAVTgZf
placing her arms around his neck and pulling him closer to her face. He wrapped63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHiNQ34lmu
his arms around her waist and planted his lips onto hers. Their tongues flicked63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu2vYzIpED
against one another as she opened her mouth inviting him deeper inside. Suddenly63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqBbxUMvSj
the lust he felt while being near Unna surfaced and he allowed himself to give63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKmIeFLAo6
into his base desires. At first Julianna was surprised, but after a moment she63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wMO5Hn3LX
met him thrust for thrust. Their bodies mingled together as the haze overtook63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMMaNNPApV
them, allowing their instincts to take over.
It was morning63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHtJp2zxgH
before Vander woke. Julianna had already gone, the spot on the bed still warm63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTBxd9KRJ4
from where she had fallen asleep next to him. His body ached and he spotted63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8vB1GYkRG
several new scratches that he would have to do his best to hide lest his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJh2YOzrOc
grandfather see them. He quickly pulled on his shirt, pants, and boots. Before63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhT0Q5OROS
he left he put on his jacket then grabbed his sword from the closet.
The bar had been63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnUNCbG1jh
tidied up since last night’s shit show. The tables were back to where they had63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu10gF8GIx
been and there were no signs of the fight at all, not even the blood that fell63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVLgbtTo2d
from Leon’s arm or Vander’s side. Julianna was behind the bar cleaning dishes. When63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9RDnK9xJy
she heard him enter the bottom floor, she looked up, gave him a small smile,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeba43dbwQr
then went back to her work. He debated about getting something to eat, but he63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlgvzxZyLG
was already late to see his grandfather, so he decided to skip a warm meal and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrCgYgnOon
settle for something on the way.
The streets of63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAzS40pFUG
Eluvia were quiet this early in the morning. The sun hadn’t yet peaked over the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyh18RFgEHJ
horizon, so the streets were still dark, but gradually lightening. The furnace63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdJeKAlvYy
was on at the bakery a couple of streets over, so he knocked on the window and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxU1wEUvvh
waved one of the workers over. A sweaty man unlocked the door then poked his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SPnpM6lbw
head out.
“Sorry, we aren’t63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhHtsjyQgj
open yet.” He wiped his forehead.
“I just need a63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMLP5OXmgp
small roll,” Vander reached into his pocket to remove a silver coin. “Would you63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3keZNiCkZ
mind?” The man looked from the coin to Vander then back to the coin.
“Sure, we can63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbk8hsSOxD
spare a roll for you.” He ducked back inside, making sure to lock the door just63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNxXb6vHWK
in case Vander tried anything funny. He came a moment later with a hot roll63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeSMnu8nWo
wrapped up in paper. “Here you go.” He held out the roll and the two of them63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAZLIOtNnr
made the trade. It was hot to the touch, it must have just come from the oven,63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUkPuHmwkT
but Vander didn’t mind. He happily handed over the coin and went on his way.
The guards let63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBYO78Yuzr
him pass without issues, though some of them gave him a pitying look which was63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKCIUu2YTG
a little confusing, but he paid no mind. Bernard was waiting for him at the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmMXQwpyFZ
bottom of the steps leading into the castle with his head bowed.
“Good to see you63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxkYfOsS3U
Vander.” Bernard said.
“It hasn’t been63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq6LdeYlG9
long since I was here.” Vander said. “Why are you being so polite?” Bernard63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf2Dvp4TS7
straightened up making sure to fix his tie which had become crooked.
“When you didn’t63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYnsI8umfQ
show up yesterday we feared the worst.” Bernard explained. “Leon explained that63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSZN6EPXsj
you had attacked him and were wounded when he defended himself. Your63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ydh0BEjOJ
grandfather was besides himself and Leon’s father wanted to hunt you down and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLkEPJiPyA
make you pay, but Peyton managed to calm him down.”
“Of course, that63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3idMLdSfN
little bastard would lie about something like that.” Vander clenched his hands.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrovDVoVNys
“Where is my grandfather? Can I see him?”
“He’s up in his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj6Qrh1Npc
office.” Bernard said. “I’m here to bring you to him, but I should warn you.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiQBUg1hfM
Leon and his father are up there right now as well. Apparently they heard word63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6U7HlnGnL
you were coming and decided to wait. I am to take your sword please.” He held63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKHx1cIHqY
out his hand.
“Am I in trouble?” Vander unbuckled his sword and63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwjOwFXpdH
handed it over to the King’s servant.
“Possibly, it63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwG9M9uYt1
really just depends how convincing you are.” Bernard slung the sword over his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDZ5eiDRDR
shoulder then escorted Vander inside.
Along the hall63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcYonrMoZT
leading towards his grandfather’s room, there were Blades lined up against one63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnI8ZM28Ni
wall and soldiers against the other. The air was tense as the soldiers did63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixdiuCW5GR
their best to goad the Blades into attacking them, but it never worked. They63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzd7UGumUp
fell silent as the two of them walked past, but several soldiers reached for63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvYWLZUguS
their weapons as some form of veiled threat against him. The door to his63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTOFwURhQA
grandfather’s office was flanked by another Captain, Leyta, an older Blade63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXgVcadbiX
several classes ahead of Vander. Jefferey Jilena was standing next to her on63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZRniWJStn
the other side of the door.
“Captain.” Leyta63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG8zZXoufs
nodded. “He’s waiting for you inside.” She opened the door then stepped back.63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6ZminlnD4
Vander’s heart hammered in his chest as he stepped through.
“You’re a dead63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat5EhYc5Y9
man Vander.” Leon said smugly. He was sitting in the chair across from Charles63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6cJM39yzS
with the arm Shea had bitten in a sling. But Vander ignored him to stare at the63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukh4tXprzU
man who was standing by the window with his arms crossed behind his back.
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“Before we start63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO7BCbwcwe
your removal from the Blades, perhaps you can enlighten us as to why you had63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBibOw20BD
your bitch of a dog injure my son.” Viggo Visc, the third most powerful man in63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOuRBahnYR
the country, turned around to face Vander. “Depending on your answer, her life63Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCN58EnfD1
will be forfeit.”
