Chapter 13
After the unnerving meeting with131Please respect copyright.PENANAokYJ3D2r98
Veyar, again, Vander tucked Mari into her bed and quietly left so he didn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANABEylmFueLP
disturb anyone in the apartment. Once he arrived at the bottom of the steps,131Please respect copyright.PENANANZmr0rywiH
her guards handed him back his sword while the Blades bowed to both him and131Please respect copyright.PENANACCvn10hJM4
Shea. Then he headed back to his old room.
He hated that he was now131Please respect copyright.PENANA1iC8YeaTnh
practically confined to the castle, but he knew it came from a place of care.131Please respect copyright.PENANAVaMYns7ncX
This was the second time in as many weeks he had been attacked, and even though131Please respect copyright.PENANAg3BhkBUKKx
he hadn’t been harmed this time, the fact that he had been so blatantly131Please respect copyright.PENANATpWnAMnwfx
targeted meant he was in danger no matter what. He was lucky to have Alex131Please respect copyright.PENANA5PxFi6Gigv
watching his back, but if the assassins were smart, they would wait until he131Please respect copyright.PENANAKwSfCN3E7E
was alone during the festivities to celebrate the prince’s marriage while131Please respect copyright.PENANACcsIC21Imw
everyone was distracted. It’s what he would do. But for now, he had to focus on131Please respect copyright.PENANA2YzoGALqnE
getting the recruits ready. Despite what his grandfather thought, they were131Please respect copyright.PENANAPPqjhpacwd
better off being used rather than left to the side. If things were going the131Please respect copyright.PENANA3364PqZIm5
way he expected they would, they would have to be ready sooner rather than131Please respect copyright.PENANACVexJHSanp
later.
The five recruits stood in front131Please respect copyright.PENANAxtRMxRj8Oa
of him, each admiring the new swords he had given to them from the Blade131Please respect copyright.PENANAgxRieo792Z
armory. They would be the exact swords they would be given upon graduating, but131Please respect copyright.PENANAd0E4XZqtzY
Vander had gone to Charles early in the morning, shortly before meeting them131Please respect copyright.PENANAdpcYYCa4vW
for the training session and begged him to allow them to train with their131Please respect copyright.PENANAlNYIwMZt83
actual swords just in case. They argued for a little while before the older man131Please respect copyright.PENANA7TyJJscTyg
finally relented under the condition that he come to see how they were doing.131Please respect copyright.PENANALZpwZ5W2DY
Vander agreed and now Charles was standing between him and Alex looking the131Please respect copyright.PENANAGMhO9rpVEx
recruits over with a critical eye.
“These swords will be your131Please respect copyright.PENANA8jnKFv8b7z
livelihood.” Vander instructed as he paced in front of the recruits as they131Please respect copyright.PENANAohJnqa60RF
stared down at their weapons with a mixture of awe and fear. “They are made131Please respect copyright.PENANAW2fNGgqpLk
with viriuum from the Northern Mountains. They will not bend; they will not131Please respect copyright.PENANAHdxXH9FYdP
break. They were created with your abilities in mind, they are an extension of131Please respect copyright.PENANA7JmApcSEOu
you and need to be treated with respect.”
“I thought we were supposed to get131Please respect copyright.PENANAjLAW7EgBte
these only when we became full Blades.” Rooster asked. “Or, at the very least,131Please respect copyright.PENANAwrjJzzXcZr
trainees, why do we have them now?”
“Circumstances may allow you to be131Please respect copyright.PENANAWou9ynpCh3
graduated early.” Charles stepped up. “You’ve heard about the attacks on the131Please respect copyright.PENANAXIF10gWIYV
castle and in the city. You might be needed early than originally planned, but131Please respect copyright.PENANAtMl5HPMMHw
first you must prove to me you deserve the chance.” Forest and Briar grinned131Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1hQDvgeOk
like a couple of idiots.
“What do we have to do?” They131Please respect copyright.PENANAhAoDv1ImNa
asked in unison. To everyone’s surprise, aside from Vander’s, Charles unbuckled131Please respect copyright.PENANAtRITHANn6A
his sword then tossed it to Alex.
“You will have to131Please respect copyright.PENANArIGqAe1bm9
fight against me.” Then he removed his jacket and tossed it to Vander. Despite131Please respect copyright.PENANASjZOG4D40Q
how old he was, he was still an absolute unit of a man. His arms were thick131Please respect copyright.PENANAE6EXRDVSCa
from his years of fighting and training recruits as well as having the131Please respect copyright.PENANAOp2A5Gb2mn
knowledge of fighting packed into his head. Despite all the times Vander had131Please respect copyright.PENANA3I9xBwVRWl
challenged him since he was old enough to wear the uniform, he had never beaten131Please respect copyright.PENANAjewfO6OvKF
him, not once.
“One at a time or131Please respect copyright.PENANA6HmtmlqdtY
altogether?” Rooster asked.
“However, you131Please respect copyright.PENANA01AcqbqRk6
want.” Charles grinned. “Weapons are allowed, so just try and make this131Please respect copyright.PENANAzpbQbYrrxu
entertaining for me.” The recruits emboldened by the challenge rose to their131Please respect copyright.PENANASphrhUEKvl
feet.
Forever the good131Please respect copyright.PENANAAYkwaRpkEZ
sport, Rooster sheathed his sword, carefully placing his jacket on the ground131Please respect copyright.PENANAk9NSLoEJBK
and putting the sword on top. He stretched for a second before charging at his131Please respect copyright.PENANANS0LChxAIb
Commander. He threw his weight around Charles’s middle to get him onto his131Please respect copyright.PENANAwVaDDcj2rl
back, but Charles stood his ground. He brought his fists up then hammered them131Please respect copyright.PENANAyNpFHDl1T0
down in Rooster’s back. When his grip weakened, Charles brought his knee up131Please respect copyright.PENANAQF3mDMR0CI
into Rooster’s stomach then flipped him around, so he hit the ground hard. He131Please respect copyright.PENANA36wz2h4Ild
went to stamp down on Rooster’s stomach, but he rolled away.
Rooster had taken131Please respect copyright.PENANAdalsB3VfiG
damage, that much was certain. He staggered back to his feet then spit out a131Please respect copyright.PENANAYsfXX3Uxl1
wad of blood. Grinning, he raised his fists in front of him, but Vander could131Please respect copyright.PENANAZU7KfERbgD
tell he didn’t have much left in him. His legs were shaking, and it was taking131Please respect copyright.PENANAfqvCdOhdbc
all his energy just to stand. However, he should have stayed down. Charles131Please respect copyright.PENANA0pgztFikGs
didn’t go easy on anyone; Vander knew that firsthand. Charles didn’t hesitate.131Please respect copyright.PENANAJcR0dcoFe7
He began throwing punch after punch at Rooster. At first, he did a good job131Please respect copyright.PENANA5IAW6JQEpm
blocking, but it was like defending against a hammer. His arms became heavy,131Please respect copyright.PENANAmyKAdyywp2
and he could no longer block many of the blows. He started taking strikes to131Please respect copyright.PENANASL0hS06Aqz
his face and chest. Rooster’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, but he131Please respect copyright.PENANAO9dgzMPEAr
stayed standing. Charles threw another punch but once he noticed Rooster’s131Please respect copyright.PENANAT3R5xpmxR0
condition, he stopped. A second later he131Please respect copyright.PENANAeOIkGQHJPe
fell to the ground unconscious.
Charles didn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANAFyNis2HqZ9
look bothered by beating up a recruit, but based on the admiration in his eye,131Please respect copyright.PENANA7jAT6OZofX
Rooster passed. That just left the other four. As usual, Forest and Briar131Please respect copyright.PENANAxX8jjAnQTf
decided to go after him together. Their teamwork has been a lot better since131Please respect copyright.PENANAjFfWC9wWab
their trail in the forest, but they would still be no match for Charles.
They went after131Please respect copyright.PENANAPU3QSWpCcf
him, one on each side. Both aimed a punch to his cheek, but he blocked them,131Please respect copyright.PENANAhaEcUgC0fN
then grabbed their wrists and pulled them into each other. Their bodies131Please respect copyright.PENANAcZCG88x0NK
collided with a painful crack. They fell to the ground rubbing their heads131Please respect copyright.PENANAKzCDDj6JLK
together. They didn’t stay down for long, they again got up and began131Please respect copyright.PENANAKY6nGnYhZu
assaulting him, but Charles started to move. He made sure to keep himself away131Please respect copyright.PENANA09kGvep9k5
from the two of them, always moving his body so they would get in each other’s131Please respect copyright.PENANAqlmFFTijmu
way. They got so used to his movements that when he stopped, they kept going.131Please respect copyright.PENANAo3c52Ks45Z
Charles aimed a kick at Forest’s side which he wasn’t kick enough to move out131Please respect copyright.PENANA9YVPDxOWsl
of the way. He brought his arm up to block, but the kick was too forceful.131Please respect copyright.PENANAv5AUtQlFu7
Forest collided with Briar and Vander was sure his arm was broken. The two of131Please respect copyright.PENANAOLB2J8jDDt
them didn’t get back up.
Charles didn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANA2i2bpHEHVU
have time to see If they were alright. Eve came at him with her sword131Please respect copyright.PENANAgc1hEp6bKQ
unsheathed. He slowly dodged sideways the sword trimmed off a couple of hairs131Please respect copyright.PENANArpzq5KgC4f
from his head. Not skipping a beat, once she realized she had missed, he turned131Please respect copyright.PENANAlXgGKICMNU
the blade and went for a horizontal slash aiming for his chest. He blocked the131Please respect copyright.PENANAlomoFDeT4a
strike with his armored boot then slammed it onto the ground. If it was any131Please respect copyright.PENANAcJgXzv4pKF
other metal, it would have snapped in half. She let go of the hilt to throw a131Please respect copyright.PENANA2Zyo6rLRhS
punch which he easily blocked. He countered by punching her in the jaw,131Please respect copyright.PENANAkAPITmHy5v
knocking her unconscious.
Vander frowned as131Please respect copyright.PENANAxqOS5BrjNs
he looked at her body. She had lost so easily, but it had also been slobby.131Please respect copyright.PENANAxFLvTenyWN
During training in the woods, she was a much better fighter than she showed131Please respect copyright.PENANAVXt5qWhvpJ
just now. Was he just blinded or had she intentionally thrown the match with131Please respect copyright.PENANAzjE5HxmFAv
the commander?
Charles got up131Please respect copyright.PENANA5l25FIThFB
and looked over at Chicken who held his gaze. “And what do you have for me?” he131Please respect copyright.PENANAfYVUMIFqiL
asked her.
“I’m not much of131Please respect copyright.PENANABX3uSXQXgj
a fighter.” She rubbed the back of her head.
“Then what use131Please respect copyright.PENANA91l30ofP6e
are you to me?” he asked. If she was offended by the question she didn’t show131Please respect copyright.PENANAMGwqFxq0Zp
it.
“I have a perfect131Please respect copyright.PENANAx7PaAg426c
recall and excellent head for tactics.” She explained. “What I could do in the131Please respect copyright.PENANAEdUabGf6jt
battle is negligible as to what I can do when it comes to planning.” Charles131Please respect copyright.PENANATax3ez1wFN
folded his arms and looked down at her thoughtfully. Then he proceeded to ask131Please respect copyright.PENANAcB78kjWgwr
her questions ranging from military history all the way to tactics and what she131Please respect copyright.PENANAfrnwkOEHgC
would do in any given situation. If anything, that battle was more tense than131Please respect copyright.PENANAEVLegqDcrm
the three he just had with the others. Vander couldn’t even keep track of what131Please respect copyright.PENANAtpheDz7yVQ
was being said. It took a few more minutes before Charles seemed to have been131Please respect copyright.PENANAywRaNFlqO6
satisfied and came back to collect both his sword and jacket.
“They learned131Please respect copyright.PENANAvw7c9BADZb
quickly these past six months.” Charles said. “Very well, I agree to them131Please respect copyright.PENANAnp6Lo2FY51
becoming trainees, however, make sure that one knows how to fight.” He hooked a131Please respect copyright.PENANAEPaGGrxVZ7
thumb back towards Chicken who had gone over to check on her brother. “Every131Please respect copyright.PENANA7D6Wewnoz1
Blade must know, even if she spends her time as an advisor. No exceptions.”
“Yes sir.” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANA96dOt8u4m5
bowed.
“I also received131Please respect copyright.PENANA30fS4ZRqQ2
news that the rest of the Warden’s will be arriving today. I want them properly131Please respect copyright.PENANAX23TEEZgCa
dressed and standing behind you once we greet them.”
“It will be131Please respect copyright.PENANA63yzJsSHym
done.” Satisfied, Charles left heading back towards the castle.
∙
It took about131Please respect copyright.PENANAgsFBcH8tFS
thirty minutes for the recruits to awaken after the beating they took at131Please respect copyright.PENANAbHQ2B6dQXV
Charles’ hands. Vander quickly checked them for damage, but Charles was precise131Please respect copyright.PENANAuxhL2wLqYl
in his fighting. Aside from a few bruised ribs and sore stomachs, they were all131Please respect copyright.PENANAAdXcmS6N1W
fine. Once he told them they had passed, they all celebrated by dancing around131Please respect copyright.PENANAPLBuaQDHB7
and slapping each other on their backs, their pain long forgotten. Vander was131Please respect copyright.PENANA0nFVAXcJ5M
even more surprised that Chicken passed even with her penchant for books131Please respect copyright.PENANA2gxJBPOsxM
instead of fighting. He had told her what the Commander had told him, and she131Please respect copyright.PENANA9bTMvGpym6
agreed that she had to become better at fighting. She asked for more lessons131Please respect copyright.PENANAQUCzw6TACH
and Alex agreed. He would be the one to train her. With that done he sent them131Please respect copyright.PENANARfbnCLG1KE
to the dorms so they could get ready for the Warden’s arrival.
He quickly131Please respect copyright.PENANA6AF4EHT9Vf
showered then got changed in his dress uniform. His pants were ironed and131Please respect copyright.PENANATOWCTRcKHH
waiting from when he arrived back. His jacket was neatly pressed with the131Please respect copyright.PENANAprx5XfGz26
creases worked out of it. In a small display container were all the medals he131Please respect copyright.PENANAHYqIfbOQxw
had received since joining and they had to be properly pinned on the jacket. It131Please respect copyright.PENANAx3eCNQEoTp
was a lot of work for a couple of hours, but it had to be done or it would131Please respect copyright.PENANAIEtEEatEIM
reflect badly upon the King and his grandfather.
He put on his131Please respect copyright.PENANAiB55EgUhNW
pants followed by a blue dress shirt then he sat down to polish his boots. Shea131Please respect copyright.PENANABOvjiLVFmy
sat on the bed watching all of this unfold when her head on top of her paws.131Please respect copyright.PENANAx14N25rV6U
Once his boots were right he placed them on and tied them tightly. He turned131Please respect copyright.PENANAYymSMftm6C
back to Shea.
“Get down here131Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3YhDXS0aR
so I can brush your fur.”
“I don’t want131Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1uX8x3efi
to go.” She whined.
“You have to.”131Please respect copyright.PENANA7QNoyxj4mV
He chided. “You are a Blade, and we are all expected to go. You can sit131Please respect copyright.PENANAy6ruqAGw7e
behind me if you wish, but you will be there. Now get down here.” She131Please respect copyright.PENANAfvnLwWJNXn
glared over at him but did as he asked. She sat down in-between his legs as he131Please respect copyright.PENANAxRixwQraWc
picked up the brush and oil then began combing her. She stayed still for it,131Please respect copyright.PENANAS5raegRKWU
but when he came to a knot she let her displeasure known with a low growl. He131Please respect copyright.PENANApbXvIp72Yc
ignored her and kept going, even though he had to bribe her with more meat in131Please respect copyright.PENANAM85JgAz9Wj
exchange for not biting his hand. Fair trade.
The two of them131Please respect copyright.PENANAHx2AsvIDga
made their way down the stairs and towards the castle door. There were Blades131Please respect copyright.PENANA3ILayqnuQw
standing at attention on both sides of the red carpet where the Wardens would131Please respect copyright.PENANA1XuHw3Q5fL
walk once they arrived. They would go to the throne room where they would meet131Please respect copyright.PENANAFZgzAc1Bmo
with the others and the council to discuss the wedding and their roles in it,131Please respect copyright.PENANA9jNbM9avou
and maybe some matters of state. It was rare that outsides would be allowed in,131Please respect copyright.PENANAMJIxg3XcYk
and Vander wasn’t an exception.
Shea and Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANALPofp0TQWn
took their positions next to Charles, standing to his left, because the King131Please respect copyright.PENANAl9s29QLjVE
was to the right. All the ranking Blades stood next to him while the council131Please respect copyright.PENANAZrcIvGJJPp
members stood on the King’s right side. Mari Drayson and her daughter stood131Please respect copyright.PENANA33NY2er1Ji
between the King and Viggo Visc, per the custom when any other Warden was in131Please respect copyright.PENANAgIdlLv2ykb
the city. Peyton stood to Viggo’s right while Bernard stood in the door way. To131Please respect copyright.PENANAgiQWrrVLk5
the front, in between each, stood a soldier who would protect the council with131Please respect copyright.PENANAXblZZRVyMV
their lives if it came down to it, only the King was left unprotected, as it131Please respect copyright.PENANAk06rAH7TVW
was ceremonial, but also the job of a Blade to risk their lives for the King. Shea131Please respect copyright.PENANAx70hCRXmm2
took her spot behind Vander but would be ready to act in case her friend’s life131Please respect copyright.PENANAIawoI0Ownm
was in danger. They didn’t have long to wait before the sounds of the drums131Please respect copyright.PENANA3lCu3szOHw
were heard from the Western Gates.
Even though the wardens131Please respect copyright.PENANA1SOi1wWSMy
came from the north, west, and south, the western gate was the closest point131Please respect copyright.PENANAYstBOlQAMz
between the three, so their entire entourage met there and walked through the131Please respect copyright.PENANAfolpQKCya4
streets until they reached the King. As the citizens were given enough of a131Please respect copyright.PENANAmVbzoYSvmk
warning, the streets were closed in celebration. Vander could hear the cheers131Please respect copyright.PENANA95xY9uM6Be
all the way from where he stood, the noise made his sensitive ears hurt, but he131Please respect copyright.PENANAlYbcSYKRHd
had to stand strong, or others would get suspicious. It took nearly an hour for131Please respect copyright.PENANAHQPiuJ4TeX
the Warden’s to make their way to the inner ring, but their entrance was extravagant.
The first warden131Please respect copyright.PENANA5xxgEdTiWX
to appear was Jira Jewelthorne, the Western Warden. He had short black hair and131Please respect copyright.PENANABYPXcjtNXM
black eyes. He wore extravagant and expensive clothing: today he wore opulent131Please respect copyright.PENANALp9X6SvDfZ
gold with red trim. His fingers were adorned with silver and gold rings with various131Please respect copyright.PENANAQH5psQ4Ku6
gemstones imbedded inside of them. He had no standing army. Instead, he hired131Please respect copyright.PENANAsSDppUQIRr
mercenaries to protect his kingdom. There was a small squad of ten flaking his131Please respect copyright.PENANAuSIMkXav9o
horse as he rode. The Blades assigned to protected him were behind them and it131Please respect copyright.PENANA7EMwar2658
appeared as though they were holding chains for a man walking between them.
Right behind him131Please respect copyright.PENANAhPgizTlT5d
came Leida Valariyan, the ruler of Stormcrag. Despite her young age, the131Please respect copyright.PENANAaDeoEkSyU8
youngest of all the wardens, the weather made her cold and unyielding. She sat131Please respect copyright.PENANAfkZ7WGUYaw
stony faced upon her horse, her salt gray hair tied back in a ponytail, her131Please respect copyright.PENANAaWEqRnfM7T
green eyes looking straight at the King. She was a warrior through and through.131Please respect copyright.PENANAtwPYb2e2k2
The only person she brought with her was131Please respect copyright.PENANAd8wNtbg35a
her cloaked fighter, Drakon, No one knew what he looked like underneath that131Please respect copyright.PENANAOfGr3vrFVl
ratty black cloak, even Vander’s eyes couldn’t pierce the shadows. Whoever he131Please respect copyright.PENANAe7ukP2soT4
was, he was enchanted. Five Blades with terrified expressions followed behind131Please respect copyright.PENANAfrOammObbA
her. Charles would have to give them the next week off to recover.
The final warden131Please respect copyright.PENANAAxfi5sN4LP
was Malakai Whitesun. He exuded power and strength. In wars past he was the131Please respect copyright.PENANAXo5GSZnP4V
King’s most trusted confidant, and it was due to his family that the rest of131Please respect copyright.PENANAbntP2cgYSn
Eluvia was safe from Bricen’s attacks. His entire body was tanned from living131Please respect copyright.PENANAe0Fp0pDY1U
down there and due to the heat he kept his head shaved. He wore a white vest,131Please respect copyright.PENANAgXs1JeRikA
with nothing else on underneath, and white poofy pants that allowed him to stay131Please respect copyright.PENANAsiGGOYZaby
cool even in the hottest conditions. He had his own general which was borrowed131Please respect copyright.PENANAETkJTpz7P4
from the city: Eric Jilena, the patriarch and husband to Anna Jilena. Sitting131Please respect copyright.PENANAF6iHlrizK5
behind him was his son, Alphonse, who was poised to take his father’s position.
The six main131Please respect copyright.PENANAsrBW5xhbAe
figures got down from their horses to walk up the red carpet while the others131Please respect copyright.PENANAxcjB09zCNr
stayed where they were. A few feet from the King, each of them got down on one131Please respect copyright.PENANAIcqrSccaMa
knee then bowed their heads.
“Rise my131Please respect copyright.PENANA8GTrEtkNpw
friends.” Malcom laughed. He walked down to greet them, his blue trimmed, white131Please respect copyright.PENANAofKyB4G9zF
cape dragged on to the floor behind him. He stood each of their hands in turn,131Please respect copyright.PENANAuZ2g4sCJAR
his royal signet out for everyone to see. While he got to Leida, she presented131Please respect copyright.PENANA23IJKj8rvK
her cheek so he could kiss it. “I hope your travels were fair.”
“They were131Please respect copyright.PENANAzFgTsxXCwz
indeed.” Jira laughed, his voice fake, but the gleam in his eyes weren’t as he131Please respect copyright.PENANA3KYD0smZxN
gazed at the noblewomen standing in the line. “My mercenaries are in dire need131Please respect copyright.PENANAQcDwSLQKzI
of food, drink and entertainment, as am I.”
“And they will131Please respect copyright.PENANAkorQcGrRtM
have them.” Malcolm chuckled. “And how are you General? Are you excited to be131Please respect copyright.PENANA2l4rZT0bAA
back home?”
“I am my King.” Eric131Please respect copyright.PENANAJuOxDeUE0r
bowed. “I have missed my wife and other children greatly.”
“And you131Please respect copyright.PENANApllMYoceXb
Alphonse?” he turned to the general’s youngest son.
“Yes, my lord.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAN9dYWchb9J
Alphonse bowed his head. “Though I’m afraid this weather will take some time to131Please respect copyright.PENANAcb3UAXyMLB
get used to again.”
“I have food for131Please respect copyright.PENANAVNX8noOawJ
you all inside.” Malcolm turned to step back towards the castle. “If you would131Please respect copyright.PENANAQm0RbJZr9Q
please follow me.”
“Not yet my131Please respect copyright.PENANAgbYjUnU7Wn
King.” Malakai placed his hand on the King’s shoulder. Vander involuntarily131Please respect copyright.PENANALFvWEfSy6k
went for his sword, but his grandfather’s glare kept his hand still. “We have a131Please respect copyright.PENANAk50pa8FVrZ
surprise for you.” Malakai turned and shouted: “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!” All131Please respect copyright.PENANAxVKeiJm5Ee
at once, all those in attendance stepped aside and saluted. A carriage, unseen131Please respect copyright.PENANAa8zKwS9bBu
by everyone opened and Cuvera, along with two veiled women walked out. The last131Please respect copyright.PENANAoyqwInSvHI
person out was General Jasper Valentin, Bree’s father.
Upon seeing his131Please respect copyright.PENANAV5cxcj1edh
father, Cuvera smiled. His sandy brown hair flowed in the wind as he locked the131Please respect copyright.PENANAmtE8bW3YVU
same-colored eyes on his father’s. He was wearing a smart blue colored jacket131Please respect copyright.PENANAS4vznkQVGT
with the royal family’s crest etched on the front. On his hand was another,131Please respect copyright.PENANAWygwiO9fy7
identical signet ring, to his father’s. He ran up to embrace his father. After131Please respect copyright.PENANAkILAGjwKyu
a moment the two of them broke apart, but Malcolm held onto his son’s arms.
“I wasn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANA0jWpToYq6H
expecting you for another week.” He gasped. “Why have you arrived so soon.”
“We met up with131Please respect copyright.PENANAuS5nhbwzVE
Lord Whiteson as he crossed the river, so we decided to go together. I left the131Please respect copyright.PENANAc9Pbr9BYtO
main soldiers on the road as Malakai would be able to protect us.” He stepped131Please respect copyright.PENANARwNSSPAxen
back to wave the two women forward. He wrapped his arms around the one wearing131Please respect copyright.PENANAb2uVIgwP6W
red and orange. “This lovely lady is my betrothed, Kiara.” She removed her131Please respect copyright.PENANAai5krUrMa4
veil, and everyone released their breath they didn’t know they were holding.
Her skin was a131Please respect copyright.PENANAJl80Exo91o
deep brown color with vibrant golden eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back131Please respect copyright.PENANARm4aO6qLK1
into a loose weave, but there were some strands framing her face. You could131Please respect copyright.PENANAQMh5NZ0FOB
tell that her body was that of a warrior: lithe, muscular, lethal. Vander could131Please respect copyright.PENANAtsvuVvI0MR
easily see her twirling on the battlefield cutting people down left and right.131Please respect copyright.PENANAMiQNISGG4d
He secretly hoped Cuvera knew what he was in for. Unknown to everyone other131Please respect copyright.PENANAoephdunCkp
than him, he could feel otherworldly power radiating from her that made him131Please respect copyright.PENANANHFjci7WTc
nervous. It felt as though he was staring at the sun. Even Shea whimpered from131Please respect copyright.PENANAU41DCFjCYS
behind him.
“It’s nice to131Please respect copyright.PENANAWjGQ2rYi1U
meet you all.” She curtsied. Everyone bowed their heads in respect to their131Please respect copyright.PENANAgahUKKFQkn
future queen. Malcolm walked up then kissed both her cheeks before embracing131Please respect copyright.PENANAC0OcyYonaQ
her.
“It’s wonderful131Please respect copyright.PENANA7lxC3Kon7A
to meet you.” he laughed. “I hope my son has been treating you well on your131Please respect copyright.PENANAmuV2sS7utw
travels together?” Kiara wrapped her arms through Cuvera’s.
“He’s been131Please respect copyright.PENANAcE6sVMHBBg
perfect.” She smiled. Her gazed flickered to Vander. Upon noticing him her eyes131Please respect copyright.PENANAIEz2RGGojI
widened then she whispered something into his ear. He nodded his head then131Please respect copyright.PENANAZdpnLicnKY
turned back to his father.
“There is one131Please respect copyright.PENANA40pb8P8knt
more person we’d like to introduce everyone too.” He motioned the mystery women131Please respect copyright.PENANACPgBYYZdq9
forward. She was dressed similarly to Kiara except her uniform was yellow and131Please respect copyright.PENANAy6mwHkckpB
silver. She stepped forward then removed her veil. Without waiting for anyone131Please respect copyright.PENANAL7VVemEAan
to introduce her, she introduced herself:
“My name is131Please respect copyright.PENANATrAtOgHXzn
Eliza, Kiara’s younger sister and bodyguard.” She curtsied. “I hope to be of131Please respect copyright.PENANAbLNCsTfwfQ
use to all of you here.” She looked over at Vander and the breath left his body131Please respect copyright.PENANAmm4bxJ56Sg
for a moment. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was131Please respect copyright.PENANAKCbjNVT14C
smaller than Kiara but had more defined muscles. Her brown hair was tied back131Please respect copyright.PENANADaDr8iplOe
into a tight ponytail, her silver eyes looked at him as if she could see131Please respect copyright.PENANAJDn4NsFkXH
everything.
“It would be our131Please respect copyright.PENANAZsDC2SzP19
honor to have you.” Charles answered.
“Let us go131Please respect copyright.PENANAe2Vm41qSDg
inside.” Cuvera offered. “I’m tired from my travels and I’m sure the wardens131Please respect copyright.PENANAo0clwitjOP
are as well.”
“Of course.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAvkZGaHscnH
Malcolm grinned. “Bernard made sure everyone’s rooms were made up properly and131Please respect copyright.PENANALcMU3G6zWI
we have spared no expense to have your men as comfortable down in the city as131Please respect copyright.PENANA2gj7Bpyi4T
possible. I trust I don’t need to explain the rules?”
“No sir,”131Please respect copyright.PENANA2rEPHTlqtK
Whitesun grinned. “We remember what happened last time.”
“Excellent.”131Please respect copyright.PENANArrrem56LL4
Malcolm clapped his hands. “Come my son, there is much I must talk with you131Please respect copyright.PENANAeDDQB7RX3e
about. My dear Kiara, you should come to so we can get the chance to get to131Please respect copyright.PENANAA8UsaT22lr
know each other.”
“Yes father.”131Please respect copyright.PENANARuAAJzybi1
Malcolm laughed at that but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and escorted131Please respect copyright.PENANAWlnvuUVaNq
her in. Eliza followed close behind unwilling to leave her sister alone in131Please respect copyright.PENANA1xz8IzoF3a
foreign territory. When Cuvera walked past, he gripped Vander’s shoulder.
“Meet me131Please respect copyright.PENANAWrd6Ao7A7f
tonight.” He whispered into his ear. Vander nodded his head.
Soon all the131Please respect copyright.PENANAmQuujZlH1L
nobles disappeared back into the castle while their guards were taken into the131Please respect copyright.PENANARBFaOv53kK
city to their lodgings. While they were here it meant more overtime for the131Please respect copyright.PENANAKjTlfD1aSh
Blades and city guards because they had to make sure they behaved themselves131Please respect copyright.PENANAuO7l1ZAGJz
with the locals. The only ones left other than Charles and Vander were the two131Please respect copyright.PENANAqDFnIr1aeN
generals who seemed to be discussing something with Alphonse. A moment later131Please respect copyright.PENANAvDUYxS1AS7
they split up and both Eric and his son went into the castle, likely to see131Please respect copyright.PENANAfp5bdyKNM7
Anna. However, Jasper walked over to the two of them.
“Commander.” His131Please respect copyright.PENANANk4hOq51DC
voice was curt, angry.
“General.”131Please respect copyright.PENANANUBZkDxkI0
Charles tried to hide the disdain in his voice.
“I heard my131Please respect copyright.PENANA7ORyPoERNt
daughter went to see you.” Jasper glared down at Vander. He shrugged in131Please respect copyright.PENANAff1TyIlz7S
response. Suddenly Jasper grabbed Vander by the neck causing Shea to jump to131Please respect copyright.PENANAUgyZTcdQi2
her feet snarling. “You stay away from my daughter, or I will make sure you131Please respect copyright.PENANAuREv5FKgVl
never see the light of day again.”
“Are you131Please respect copyright.PENANAAU4j6yYZnP
threatening my grandson, General?” Charles asked. Suddenly Alexander and a few131Please respect copyright.PENANAIeO3x0gEqD
other Blades surrounded him with their hands on their swords.
“Not a threat.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAhjrdTmE6sn
He said. “A warning.” He studied Vander for a second before pushing him away.131Please respect copyright.PENANAkyMsQmlqgj
“If I find out you even breathe in her direction, you will regret it.”
“No more than the131Please respect copyright.PENANAEs0hmV2X45
King regrets making you a General I’m sure.” Vander choked out. “I’m sure the131Please respect copyright.PENANAHE50ZYe6rV
prince would find this very interesting.”
“I don’t know131Please respect copyright.PENANADhDWokaS6G
what he sees in you, you worthless trash.” With that he pushed past them131Please respect copyright.PENANAUjd9yAFAwn
disappearing inside the castle.
“He’s really131Please respect copyright.PENANAgnxRmT8eB5
possessive of his daughter isn’t he?” Alex asked.
“He’s possessive131Please respect copyright.PENANAtWPvNmYTNw
of the power she could give him through breeding.” Vander sighed. He rubbed his131Please respect copyright.PENANAqYdmYBpMBJ
neck to try and rub the feeling back into it.
“Vander if he131Please respect copyright.PENANAqvtK0AiqPC
touches you again, kill him.” Charles growled. “I will deal with the fall back,131Please respect copyright.PENANAV7uw7XuC44
but he will not touch you again without dire consequences.”
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“Yes sir.” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANAFOdmOPp880
bowed his head. “Now let’s go. I expect this party will be interesting.”