Chapter 8
Bernard grumbled in the corner as129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMT3GZ1leFf
he cleaned the vomit from off his shoe. Another servant had been summoned to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfvzjryjcL
clean up the mess while Vander was given some water to drink. The rancid smell129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSrojozMii
from the King’s chest hadn’t left his nose and it was making him woozy.
“What happened in here?” Peyton129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6vRqNROoM
asked. Topal spent some time explaining everything that the two of them had129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6io8Koal8T
discovered while Vander hugged the bucket.
“So, there were two things put129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLPSNiXUE9
together that caused this mess.” Bernard sighed. “Is there anyway to cure him?”
“Doctor.” Vander closed his mouth129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i35A9p1Tg
to keep the bile from coming out. “I need you to start making the remedy for129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu2lDGlBcP
him, please.” He wheezed. “I don’t think I can take much more of the smell.” He129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4DiaZBGhX
pulled a trash bucket closer to him just in case he needed it.
“I’ve never dealt with his kind of129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBa7V8H6gV
poison before.” Topal shook his head. “I have no idea how to fix it. You129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu35XUw33JA
figured it out, do you have any notion?” Vander closed his eyes allowing the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsEqbWqRTt
smell to envelope him. Despite being the Deity of Beasts, Unna’s gifts came129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAnUumXybu
with another perk. It allowed him to work wonders with poisons and their cures,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuARj4p8ZvQ
a leftover from how close she is with her aunt, Lyshena.
“We need something to strengthen129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQSk8qt3fi
and clear his lungs.” Vander’s voice sounded far away. “Take some wild129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlSXecJpyI
cherries, horehound, and mullein, then boil a pot of boiling sea water. All the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9PeSOTzo9
King to inhale the vapors until he coughs out all the black goo covering his129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziDbrIIpad
lungs. To wake him up, you will need to soak him in a tub filled with more salt129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfTcM76Gma
water and lavender extract. He should recover.” Vander slumped forward then129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlDcfjRavk
jerked to the left filling the bucket with more vomit.
“Are you sure?” Bernard asked.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9IEaYtpEW
“That seems like a very simple remedy for something like this.”
“It’s not simple at all.” Topal129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR1xVk94ZZ
shook his head. “I never would have thought to sting these together to cure a129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYBVq2nYuH
poison. I would have looked for a cure all and likely would have flailed around129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2JzoZKCj5
while he died under my care.”
“Are you blessed by Lyshena?”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvWOmNWrO4
Bernard asked. He checked over his shoe before grunting in appreciation. He129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTQ6sjm5Ql
might have been a stick in the mud, but he knew how to clean up. “That’s the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37YBPsqp3
only way this would make sense.”
“You can’t tell anyone about129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMrU5DKx7v
this.” Vander said. He shared a knowing glance with Topal. “He doesn’t want129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PSLvUN0JM
special treatment because of who he is blessed by, I hope you will keep the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeyQOHItcK
secret.”
“If it helps me save Malcolm’s129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJcr6aSLRe
life, I will keep this secret to the grave.” Topal smiled. “And if Bernard129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHfxh7qNRA
doesn’t, I know how to get rid of a body.” Bernard choked on his saliva,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVstOtOCdy
coughing until his face turned bright red.
“That’s uncalled for.” He laughed.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjUScFBH1e
“I can keep a secret; you don’t have to worry about me.” There was quick knock129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvolCdpQda
before Charles opened the door to slip back inside.
“What did you find out?” Vander129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzzZBpIxsD
got up from the table to stand by his grandfather.
“No one has seen the taste tester129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwFZ2IQL1i
since the night the King fell ill.” Charles explained. “We should go down to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1ldtHZ4TS
the servants’ quarters and check up on him.”
“I forgot,” Bernard snapped his129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCh7SetCnX
fingers. “There was a third person with me to visit Malcolm, a new servant.”
“Why didn’t you mention this129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIpIQyZKQp
before?” Peyton turned to the man anger rising in his voice.
“I didn’t think he was important.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd11Bj6oIOe
Bernard shot back. “I just remembered I left the tea in his hands while I129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFiKl33x2T
opened the door. I didn’t think there was enough time for him to slip something129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoNXSEmHgs
into it, but, thinking back on it, he had it long enough to slip something into129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTlTJQkjAp
it. How much was needed to poison the King?”
“A small amount, any amount.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT33D0puurR
Vander said. “As long as it was ingested at the same time as the ocecrest, it129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYBQra9Rbo
would have done the trick.”
“Do you know who it was?” Charles129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKmTFnI6AT
asked. “The name of the servant?”
“The king likes to meet any new129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwy5T2Qegq0
worker to get their story as well as their struggle.” Bernard folded his arms129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3aJyHISEp
over his chest. “I believe his name was Nigel. He should be living in the same area129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQuv6WaKVb
as the tester who is named Ulysses. I will help Topal get the items needed to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTIwl2iSco
cure the King, you find the people that could be responsible for this.”
“Let’s go, Vander.” Charles went129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV4nETGxWB
to help Vander up, but he clutched the bucket and emptied the rest of his129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsk17l3dSc
stomach contents inside.
“Get him out of here.” Bernard129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjVQdf4Use
looked quite green himself, so Charles pulled Vander outside, making sure to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNMAjWUNGD
leave the bucket in the room.
Vander was grateful for the fresh129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJ2eLvy5LA
air that being in the hallway brought. He leaned up against the wall breathing129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMWbkQsjl5
its cool crisp air. Charles looked at him sadly. “I never knew how much this129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7kK51qTHY
curse affected you. Seeing you like this just-“
“Don’t worry about it, Gramps.” He129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo7g3Fe1jl
pushed off from the wall then clasped his grandfather’s shoulder. “It has more129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwH65xDNu3
perks than drawbacks. Let’s get going.”
As he walked, the feeling of129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCIknsPKAV
becoming himself gradually returned. Chanelling the abilities of Unna, no129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBqtfeAmfc
matter how small, always took it out of him, but this was the first time he129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA8wf0Syo7
felt quite so rough afterwards. He was going to have to do something that would129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuemiel0KL
return the blessing she had given him, but she didn’t accept anything other129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqhwoap6k4
than sex or a blood sacrifice. He didn’t want to bring Julianna back into this,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEBLBWRiUT
so the only other option was to visit the pits, something he avoided as much as129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzp6seLHSV
possible, but if he didn’t he could lose more than just his mind by ignoring129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiuWfs3z82
the deities’ needs. It had happened before when he was younger, and it couldn’t129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepdFgrw199
happen again.
Charles had told129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TeEeOwbA0
him what had been going on since the past month or so within the Kingdom. Many129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJRc1HZeYp
of the Blades had been dispatched to the Warden’s to bring them here, which was129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrz9FFvDO5
the main reason there were more soldiers guarding the keep recently. The soldiers129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuPmyq4f2e
were on high alert and were making everyone uncomfortable, but they were doing129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXU0FEjgt2
their job, not willing to risk the wrath of the King if anything went wrong.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMJWbz0D45
Merchants came from all over to offer their services to the crown ranging from129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhfz8JIwXj
food to decorations and, in some instances, jewelry for the eventual Queen. A129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03eTtUWJKV
lot of those were centered within the Grand Ballroom.
They arrived at129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMhUX46fHx
the Grand Ballroom where many of the servants were stationed for the next few129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLZ7HAsj5G
days as they prepared for the prince and his new bride’s arrival. It appears129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYs7J6Mp56
the kingdom was spared to expense for this extravagant part as everyone of129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3OAmu7FYx
importance from all over the Kingdom was visiting, The walls on the left half129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3Z7TvFTiZ
were being draped in brilliant red and gold banners with Atza’s symbol, the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v3H0xm69s
lioness with a golden crown on her head. The right half was being draped with129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3VDzh03ah
cool blue and white banners with Humjir’s symbol, and the Elan family crest, a129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiN6IjjzlU
white dove with an olive crown on its head. The symbolic nature of the marriage129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngtNP2nVeY
between two rival countries wasn’t lost on anyone and they were taking great129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseJqRTrwBW
care not to offend either deity.
“Where should we129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6kt021F1C
start?” Charles looked around the room with a troubled expression on his face. There129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80u1xkVtFJ
were too many people to question as they were looking for two people, albeit129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuRHeCZRtr
important, but around here, anyone could disappear if they wished it. Vander129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph1ZKFZ42h
spotted the servant who seemed to be in charge, an older gray-haired woman129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y2z4juq85
holding a clipboard, quill, and bottle of ink. There were two other servants129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0fDAnbnVa
standing next to her ready to carry out her orders.
“We start with129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRgwLGQZF8
her.” Vander nodded towards his grandfather.
“With Beatrice?”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiNiWZpFq3
Charles frowned. “She is Bernard’s right hand and his sister. If anyone knew129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1rhvuKYVi
where those two are, it would be here. Let’s go talk to her.” The two of them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIRSwnLG0i
walked over as she started yelling orders:
“Make sure those129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI1pomuciK
banners are crease free,” she snapped. “I won’t have this place looking unkept129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP357njxqN
for when the prince and princess arrive.” She turned around to see two female129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQNtaRjPoP
servants leaning up against the wall whispering to each other. “You two, if you129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosPcKAT61d
are done for the day you can go home, and I’ll dock your pay!”
“Sorry ma’am.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GKyZ7cBX7
They curtsied then went back to folding their napkins.
“As for you two.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMAPJOG2oI
She didn’t even turn around to greet them. “What can I do for the Blades this129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ADexjLVJx
morning? As you can see I am quite busy so make this quick.”
“We are looking129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2akPPJOIUQ
for two servants and we are wondering if you have seen them around?” She looked129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBV3E0THsT
up at Vander from under her wire rimmed glasses.
“I’ve seen many129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiANnWleETw
servants, be more specific.” She demanded.
“Nigel and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInS8NmE6OG
Ulysses.” She clicked her tongue, but then quickly scribbled a note then handed129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRpegfUQp9
it over to the servant next to her. “Bring this to the baker quickly. I forgot129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDvwSORXrW
she needed our order.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvo8p2sP1XK
129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGVSEDyZ5z
“Yes129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8CDTzGQ3j
ma’am.” The servant bowed then scurried away.
“I haven’t seen129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Hm08hyfC
Ulysses for a couple of weeks, something about being sick.” She explained. “I129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGR5eR4R7K
sent for the doctor, but there was nothing he could do for him. As for Nigel,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzJHDs5eqB
he should be in the kitchen helping the cooks. Why?”
“Thank you.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDodzwBnCit
Vander and Charles ran towards the door that would lead downstairs and towards129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMqZZ134Xe
the kitchen leaving a confused Beatrice standing behind them.
“Blades.” she129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpZmuREK46
muttered. She looked around to see more of her servants standing around, so she129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFwpCvct1r
walked over towards them.
“Do you think129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2kKiYSQPi
Ulysses is dead?” Charles asked once he knew they were out of ear shot.
“He might not129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsxzhqkAIR
have had enough of the poison to render him comatose, but he could still get129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc2ITpSGUj
deathly ill from it.” Vander explained. “But let’s find Nigel first since he is129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMDnKmfIPJ
the one we suspect of the poison.”
“How do you want129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZdd5oEz34
to handle this?”
“You go in and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuSzsZntQK
talk to him.” Vander said. “He should be a little intimidated of you and if129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIARogrl3t
cornered, he will likely try to run. I will be there to keep him from escaping.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJelYYGutSo
There is no telling what he might do, so be on your guard.”
“I know how to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDnpfBXAmL
handle myself.” Charles scoffed. “You just worry about yourself.”
The two of them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnVGQ9sYmj
made their way down towards the kitchens which you had to pass through to get129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2Ze3gAWOk
to the servants’ quarters. There were other ways of getting there, but this was129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh7lXm6t4t
the most direct way from the King’s quarters. Despite the castle being large,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxomOoAPSX5
based on the sheer number of servants required, it wasn’t feasible to give them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KhzesLSLZ
their own room. Often there would be two or sometimes three servants per room129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG5ZDMnf7b
segregated based on gender, thought nighttime activities between them wasn’t129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcQ7lfwW9G
uncommon.
As they made129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujLQlSwxd9
their way into the kitchen, the head chef, known because of her oversized hat,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvZ8ffE2tM
was looking down at a piece of parchment with a quill in her hands. The others129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5naYKKgtNO
were bustling around her trying not to draw attention to themselves as they129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDDycJWwNS
worked. It looked as though they were preparing for lunch as several of them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTly8RovZHk
were chopping up raw pieces of meat on the counter while others were collecting129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4u19kleud
vegetables to go into a stew. The two of them walked straight through, not even129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDP44b2E7n
bothering to greet the chef as they made their way towards the servant’s area.
As soon as the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxGcjDNGbx
saw the first door, Vander knew they had hit a roadblock. The doors weren’t129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2lw9zsm59
labeled or named. They had no way of knowing which room belonged to Nigel or129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9gX5Zs56y
Ulysses. Charles stood there frowning; how did they not know the quarters were129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMwab2OghU
like this? It was a major blunder, but perhaps not all was lost. Vander tried129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagygPHvdOM
each door to see if it was locked. Servants weren’t allowed to lock their doors129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyaKrFhECA
if they were needed, but he figured if one of them needed to hide something,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6qSeSZAHW
they wouldn’t leave the door open for all to see. It was a huge gamble, but by129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAe0lyBsKD
the time he got to the last door, it paid off. It was locked and he could smell129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYocBKhnLyG
something rip coming from inside.
“Watch the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnka2jqK8A
kitchen for me.” Vander whispered to his grandfather. Charles nodded his head129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenXzrhQOfG
then used his frame to block the view. Testing the door one more time just to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW4X4oerlM
make sure it was locked; Vander shoulder checked the door several times until129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUtYyCqQRa
he heard the latch break. Rubbing his aching shoulder, he kicked the remainder129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMw5so6yUjA
open until it was hanging sideways. That’s when the full weight of rotting129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIi3XcQCHu4
human hit him so hard he puked for the fourth time today. Charles heard him and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFu9DDCjf1
came racing over.
“What in the name129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDvHlh9QpV
of Humjir is this?” Lying on one of the beds was a servant, Vander’s guess was129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9gWdXUSCe
Ulysses, who didn’t fare as well ingesting the poison because no one was129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5f50ovVhPF
looking for him. His body had swelled up in death and his face was deep purple.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPkiU9ix8R
He was shirtless showing off a physique that wasn’t normal for the serving129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdcPcGDhZ8
class with scars crisscrossing his body. There still appeared to be evidence129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o4qdktJsM
that someone was still living in this room despite the stench due to the empty129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L1dbEtijW
plate with food that had molded, and clothing rumpled in the corner. How anyone129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwe06BRFxZ
could live like this was beyond him.
“Vander go get129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4rl1TUH4G
someone to seal off this room before you puke over anything else.” Charles129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XJd1NE2qo
ordered. Thankfully for being allowed to leave he did as he was asked. Some of129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiX8UUhz7x
the servants who were on break were crowding the hallway curious to see what129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kA77CWk0E
was going on.
“Clear out of the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyAFTuNvaP
way.” Vander shouted. “Someone grab Blades who are walking around and tell them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Oq7ARzNnH
to come here.” When no one moved, he was forced to use his authority. “Now!” He129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPme6d5sbEm
screamed. They scattered to do as they were ordered, but one stayed behind. He129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdUQkNhJdV
was a tall man, muscular, with brown hair and green eyes. Upon seeing Vander,129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJA1dW7HYM
he froze.
“What are you129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaOUBjDPGg
doing down there?” he asked.
“Are you Nigel?”
“What’s it to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDnfuygUyq
you?” he asked.
“As Captain of129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeYjgfyENA
the Blades I am detaining you as a suspect in the murder of Ulysse’s.” he said.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvljyumL5jg
“Stay right there.” As a surprise to no one, Nigel bolted back the way he came.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtecgf592L
Cursing to himself, Vander vaulted over the counter to give chase leaving a very129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCCltCcduy
irate chef picking up her paper covered in ink.
Nigel was fast.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnUnzx18Ps
He raced through the halls, ducking into doorways, and changing directions like129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4lXgDPgrI
some intimately familiar with the castle layout. It was one of the times Vander129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3LmguAP61
wished he had brought Shea with him despite the risk, but for now he was on his129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthJnPZzzYE
own. He knew that he was faster, but all of today’s activities were beginning129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXsbMcLEfF
to take its toll on him. He was feeling weak and sluggish, but he didn’t dare129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eFcACXG8W
let Nigel get away, not when he held such vital clues. But no one knew the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYV406hKkhQ
castle better than he did, so once he recognized where Nigel was going, the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC837OPQls
gardens, Vander took a left up a flight of stairs. It leads to a balcony with129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oOn25OkMj
open space which would give him the opportunity he needed. Once he saw that he129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxCNm3c5vQ
and Nigel were neck and neck, he willed his body forward, borrowing some energy129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWohAPYero
from Unna, then launched himself off the balcony and down towards Nigel.
The two of them129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP2FtVQ9uf
collided and Vander was sent flying into the garden itself landing on a bush.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKJETXPrE5
If it had been the ground he would have been in trouble, but the worst he’d129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQNCVvvKXI
have now was a couple of bruises on his back. He got to his feet then placed129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgxQafH5ny
his hand on the hilt of his sword. Nigel was groaning out in pain, slowly129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTDYoAzwNp
trying to get to his, but the hit he had just taken must have taken all the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf77kfdEw7Q
fight out of him.
“Alright, I’ll129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmVWDBrJYo
come with you.” he gasped. Vander hauled him to his feet.
“Why did you have129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT3qOEIwUv
to make this more difficult for yourself?” Vander asked.
“Because they129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI4rshcAJL
will kill me if I talk.” Nigel groaned. Vander shoved him up against the wall.
“Who will?”
“You don’t know129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7UHZ3Nk03
them.” Nigel grabbed his arm. “They will kill everyone I love, and they are in129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVITdd6yHbq
places of power you could only dream of.” His eyes widened as he stared at129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OOylb9SmN
someone standing behind them. “No.” Vander turned around, but something whizzed129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLD8QdbNbE
right past his face. He felt something wet hit the side of his face. He turned129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHPpcAcUVq
around to see Nigel gurgling blood with two knives embedded in his throat. His129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjS808IHKv3
eyes grew wide as he mouthed the words: Run. He slumped to the ground dead.
“That wasn’t129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9R8w7DkF1
smart.” Vander turned to face the assassin. They were wearing all black and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCx7hSyqVJ
their faces were covered. They held two more knives in their hands along with a129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNncpItB6xR
sword strapped to their backs. “Now you’re going to have to answer the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJwdjJ624C
questions meant for him.” They tilted their heads but gripped the knives129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdCTbG2zOM
tightly. He made the first move. He drew129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn39JNmY2A4
his sword as he charged them. The assassin just brought their knives up to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejSExVs28V
deflect the shot. Their leg shot out hitting Vander in the knuckles causing him129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaysQNHWjF
to yell out in pain then drop his sword.
He didn’t let129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e050T2ht1
that stop him. He grabbed their wrist to keep one of the knives away from his129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLwa2a5a2
body. Using his strength, he squeezed the wrist until they were forced to let129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1TXGP8sMS
the knife go, then he brought his shoulder into their chest and threw them over129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrIuopp1pX
his back and onto the ground. However, their feet landed squarely protecting129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T1nZjF9XS
them from hitting the cobblestone. In his surprise, Vander didn’t react quick129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3JPEn7fc7
enough when they flipped over him then wrapped their legs around his neck then129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiytlKkepF7
began raining elbows on top of his head. He brought his arms up to deflect129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyQl4bYteX
before deciding to charge into the wall. The assassin didn’t let up even as he129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYF9BkMHkq
jumped off the wall and landed on the ground. He heard the crack of their back129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M0xa1hrwK
as they landed, and their legs eased up their assault. Vander coughed and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWve6jMchUy
wheezed as he massaged his throat to breathe.
“Enough of this.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCfcjBdalq
The assassin groaned, but steadily made their way to their feet. They had a129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDhfxeM4ql
soft voice, almost feminine, which confused him. He remembered the voice, but129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoHBpy7TA0
he couldn’t tell from where. They drew the sword from their back and held it in129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jVkCR9ZMg
Vander’s face. “I was supposed to leave you, but you’ve pissed me off enough.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmXx1uR6lJ
Die.” They lunged at him, but they left an opening for Vander to roll to the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wgJCRHcaM
side to grab his sword. He brought it up just in time to deflect the strike the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92r6rvoPTC
assassin aimed at him. He punched their ribs causing them to stumble sideways.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi3qsHUwEk
He then swept out their legs causing them to again fall on their back.
Two blurs sped129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP6hePOJMr
out from their hand, and he was barely quick enough to dodge. He could smell129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6y5XreSScc
the poison emanating from them and he knew those weren’t something he wanted to129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpJPDK1VrR
get hit by. They got to their feet, but he could tell that they had been129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zDGAqfAUE
injured.
“Come with me.”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNbYpmpNMa
He said. “I can protect you.”
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“I don’t need129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAyatApnqE
your protection, Blade.” They hissed. “Eluvia has taken everything from me and129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN15XbEC8q2
soon, we will take everything from you.” The removed a small capsule from their129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvehY8OitAU
pocket and smashed it on the ground. Black smoke erupted from inside causing129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIIbfaFUrJ
Vander to violently cough and fall to his knees. He tried to run out of the129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ448pXqGZhJ
smoke, but his legs were leaden. The last thing he saw before passing out was129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCimdTsfN7L
the assassin jumped into the garden and disappearing from the sight.
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