Chapter 13
After the unnerving meeting with101Please respect copyright.PENANAx6gJbRocuI
Veyar, again, Vander tucked Mari into her bed and quietly left so he didn’t101Please respect copyright.PENANAoBCHWlHYMI
disturb anyone in the apartment. Once he arrived at the bottom of the steps,101Please respect copyright.PENANAXyvckze7AW
her guards handed him back his sword while the Blades bowed to both him and101Please respect copyright.PENANABDMNTh6ph7
Shea. Then he headed back to his old room.
He hated that he was now101Please respect copyright.PENANAMvvjZ8ioQC
practically confined to the castle, but he knew it came from a place of care.101Please respect copyright.PENANAIzGGDBcSv0
This was the second time in as many weeks he had been attacked, and even though101Please respect copyright.PENANAt9P7F2uPTR
he hadn’t been harmed this time, the fact that he had been so blatantly101Please respect copyright.PENANA9tz9Dimp5T
targeted meant he was in danger no matter what. He was lucky to have Alex101Please respect copyright.PENANAp5BcBXp2R2
watching his back, but if the assassins were smart, they would wait until he101Please respect copyright.PENANAJoH3diYUHl
was alone during the festivities to celebrate the prince’s marriage while101Please respect copyright.PENANAd5QaXfJLCL
everyone was distracted. It’s what he would do. But for now, he had to focus on101Please respect copyright.PENANAfTt0qwGdg5
getting the recruits ready. Despite what his grandfather thought, they were101Please respect copyright.PENANAKSFSLX0cU7
better off being used rather than left to the side. If things were going the101Please respect copyright.PENANAzpENgz0Kmq
way he expected they would, they would have to be ready sooner rather than101Please respect copyright.PENANAOc3QJIJX45
later.
The five recruits stood in front101Please respect copyright.PENANA7WafyH1Jqd
of him, each admiring the new swords he had given to them from the Blade101Please respect copyright.PENANAzp64NyWTKt
armory. They would be the exact swords they would be given upon graduating, but101Please respect copyright.PENANAeLiOGEC0Q1
Vander had gone to Charles early in the morning, shortly before meeting them101Please respect copyright.PENANAejUNFgfGcY
for the training session and begged him to allow them to train with their101Please respect copyright.PENANASHEL1dinB4
actual swords just in case. They argued for a little while before the older man101Please respect copyright.PENANAyBLXbGZ11S
finally relented under the condition that he come to see how they were doing.101Please respect copyright.PENANAudrhqFo2rZ
Vander agreed and now Charles was standing between him and Alex looking the101Please respect copyright.PENANA7ljIBIPK4Y
recruits over with a critical eye.
“These swords will be your101Please respect copyright.PENANAJrnN2eTYiw
livelihood.” Vander instructed as he paced in front of the recruits as they101Please respect copyright.PENANAHaI83J0i5a
stared down at their weapons with a mixture of awe and fear. “They are made101Please respect copyright.PENANASuGKP7OIcF
with viriuum from the Northern Mountains. They will not bend; they will not101Please respect copyright.PENANAufciK5HvIs
break. They were created with your abilities in mind, they are an extension of101Please respect copyright.PENANAVPgPyXklRN
you and need to be treated with respect.”
“I thought we were supposed to get101Please respect copyright.PENANAXI41Xr9Xj2
these only when we became full Blades.” Rooster asked. “Or, at the very least,101Please respect copyright.PENANAeHxdBx6vrM
trainees, why do we have them now?”
“Circumstances may allow you to be101Please respect copyright.PENANAekDOG1dD8Y
graduated early.” Charles stepped up. “You’ve heard about the attacks on the101Please respect copyright.PENANApuXVOkdiah
castle and in the city. You might be needed early than originally planned, but101Please respect copyright.PENANAVqNybU8QxY
first you must prove to me you deserve the chance.” Forest and Briar grinned101Please respect copyright.PENANADJwVVYtOJ9
like a couple of idiots.
“What do we have to do?” They101Please respect copyright.PENANAYFdskcvzZ7
asked in unison. To everyone’s surprise, aside from Vander’s, Charles unbuckled101Please respect copyright.PENANAefq5mlk3LE
his sword then tossed it to Alex.
“You will have to101Please respect copyright.PENANAa4ihrFphmN
fight against me.” Then he removed his jacket and tossed it to Vander. Despite101Please respect copyright.PENANAI5lQmWsJ0t
how old he was, he was still an absolute unit of a man. His arms were thick101Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4rhirSrwj
from his years of fighting and training recruits as well as having the101Please respect copyright.PENANAtLOAyCllR5
knowledge of fighting packed into his head. Despite all the times Vander had101Please respect copyright.PENANAWfkMajeAlO
challenged him since he was old enough to wear the uniform, he had never beaten101Please respect copyright.PENANA4j8KIQAnmO
him, not once.
“One at a time or101Please respect copyright.PENANAwFO2O9NZOh
altogether?” Rooster asked.
“However, you101Please respect copyright.PENANAugFY1dc7BS
want.” Charles grinned. “Weapons are allowed, so just try and make this101Please respect copyright.PENANAY7Ph8JL2LH
entertaining for me.” The recruits emboldened by the challenge rose to their101Please respect copyright.PENANAurXcC3aMFX
feet.
Forever the good101Please respect copyright.PENANABDqgfpSVwY
sport, Rooster sheathed his sword, carefully placing his jacket on the ground101Please respect copyright.PENANATWUIgJ5zU3
and putting the sword on top. He stretched for a second before charging at his101Please respect copyright.PENANAdZaOpcmLV0
Commander. He threw his weight around Charles’s middle to get him onto his101Please respect copyright.PENANAZDq91lQzku
back, but Charles stood his ground. He brought his fists up then hammered them101Please respect copyright.PENANAzpzHfH85uD
down in Rooster’s back. When his grip weakened, Charles brought his knee up101Please respect copyright.PENANAOam2VOGeUK
into Rooster’s stomach then flipped him around, so he hit the ground hard. He101Please respect copyright.PENANAPRXiiedmou
went to stamp down on Rooster’s stomach, but he rolled away.
Rooster had taken101Please respect copyright.PENANAL0xCF1YQyq
damage, that much was certain. He staggered back to his feet then spit out a101Please respect copyright.PENANACg3VfvdXej
wad of blood. Grinning, he raised his fists in front of him, but Vander could101Please respect copyright.PENANAzdtEImkD5v
tell he didn’t have much left in him. His legs were shaking, and it was taking101Please respect copyright.PENANAmSUop0Ooci
all his energy just to stand. However, he should have stayed down. Charles101Please respect copyright.PENANABLNMZuWSyh
didn’t go easy on anyone; Vander knew that firsthand. Charles didn’t hesitate.101Please respect copyright.PENANAlkM67inJCd
He began throwing punch after punch at Rooster. At first, he did a good job101Please respect copyright.PENANAJXwxpx4MOz
blocking, but it was like defending against a hammer. His arms became heavy,101Please respect copyright.PENANA4jmlEcAmbL
and he could no longer block many of the blows. He started taking strikes to101Please respect copyright.PENANAqqaTR56jKN
his face and chest. Rooster’s eyes rolled to the back of his head, but he101Please respect copyright.PENANAP1OXItIiqv
stayed standing. Charles threw another punch but once he noticed Rooster’s101Please respect copyright.PENANAMmKcrwB6TC
condition, he stopped. A second later he101Please respect copyright.PENANAozhKcNm2yR
fell to the ground unconscious.
Charles didn’t101Please respect copyright.PENANAVLeFE4FQLZ
look bothered by beating up a recruit, but based on the admiration in his eye,101Please respect copyright.PENANAPOKzrfQG6h
Rooster passed. That just left the other four. As usual, Forest and Briar101Please respect copyright.PENANAxE9ycxaVbv
decided to go after him together. Their teamwork has been a lot better since101Please respect copyright.PENANAOuZwYamGV9
their trail in the forest, but they would still be no match for Charles.
They went after101Please respect copyright.PENANAWvNDdBsYtQ
him, one on each side. Both aimed a punch to his cheek, but he blocked them,101Please respect copyright.PENANAouNVNBeXZB
then grabbed their wrists and pulled them into each other. Their bodies101Please respect copyright.PENANA9EYMUPwBXb
collided with a painful crack. They fell to the ground rubbing their heads101Please respect copyright.PENANAUwcGqymxHz
together. They didn’t stay down for long, they again got up and began101Please respect copyright.PENANA0XZfHa4zng
assaulting him, but Charles started to move. He made sure to keep himself away101Please respect copyright.PENANAR30YWcZcD2
from the two of them, always moving his body so they would get in each other’s101Please respect copyright.PENANAyH26ygS0vd
way. They got so used to his movements that when he stopped, they kept going.101Please respect copyright.PENANAZYnfgaDqb0
Charles aimed a kick at Forest’s side which he wasn’t kick enough to move out101Please respect copyright.PENANAZrvdxnBina
of the way. He brought his arm up to block, but the kick was too forceful.101Please respect copyright.PENANAdqkjCDXNUr
Forest collided with Briar and Vander was sure his arm was broken. The two of101Please respect copyright.PENANARWMVuKhqtV
them didn’t get back up.
Charles didn’t101Please respect copyright.PENANAJyaxnE2Khh
have time to see If they were alright. Eve came at him with her sword101Please respect copyright.PENANAFCtxWTfCHa
unsheathed. He slowly dodged sideways the sword trimmed off a couple of hairs101Please respect copyright.PENANAE9osLBlRtf
from his head. Not skipping a beat, once she realized she had missed, he turned101Please respect copyright.PENANAyXkADoO6Ur
the blade and went for a horizontal slash aiming for his chest. He blocked the101Please respect copyright.PENANADywNCEOHcH
strike with his armored boot then slammed it onto the ground. If it was any101Please respect copyright.PENANAxyBIvGjDCq
other metal, it would have snapped in half. She let go of the hilt to throw a101Please respect copyright.PENANAZeU0VVT56R
punch which he easily blocked. He countered by punching her in the jaw,101Please respect copyright.PENANAA1an3zrn4Z
knocking her unconscious.
Vander frowned as101Please respect copyright.PENANAZxZdg3TYt5
he looked at her body. She had lost so easily, but it had also been slobby.101Please respect copyright.PENANAU1v3t9KayB
During training in the woods, she was a much better fighter than she showed101Please respect copyright.PENANAdY5AldpK6C
just now. Was he just blinded or had she intentionally thrown the match with101Please respect copyright.PENANAJP8vsNuN1D
the commander?
Charles got up101Please respect copyright.PENANAYdSAtDbDvU
and looked over at Chicken who held his gaze. “And what do you have for me?” he101Please respect copyright.PENANAnO2ZfifURP
asked her.
“I’m not much of101Please respect copyright.PENANAiBlEm3wB4F
a fighter.” She rubbed the back of her head.
“Then what use101Please respect copyright.PENANAwVtkwA2ZGQ
are you to me?” he asked. If she was offended by the question she didn’t show101Please respect copyright.PENANAzjxXzXKZNB
it.
“I have a perfect101Please respect copyright.PENANAP9V6EXnKNC
recall and excellent head for tactics.” She explained. “What I could do in the101Please respect copyright.PENANA0beKmCZSDQ
battle is negligible as to what I can do when it comes to planning.” Charles101Please respect copyright.PENANAYNTEOrYP8M
folded his arms and looked down at her thoughtfully. Then he proceeded to ask101Please respect copyright.PENANApju1S9n3ge
her questions ranging from military history all the way to tactics and what she101Please respect copyright.PENANANHBqTjXYYg
would do in any given situation. If anything, that battle was more tense than101Please respect copyright.PENANAzVG0UmRfOE
the three he just had with the others. Vander couldn’t even keep track of what101Please respect copyright.PENANAk7nj1eNEuL
was being said. It took a few more minutes before Charles seemed to have been101Please respect copyright.PENANA3btTjXzPgX
satisfied and came back to collect both his sword and jacket.
“They learned101Please respect copyright.PENANArmNvgMAfGu
quickly these past six months.” Charles said. “Very well, I agree to them101Please respect copyright.PENANAPHDosApF0H
becoming trainees, however, make sure that one knows how to fight.” He hooked a101Please respect copyright.PENANAjVEra1X1u4
thumb back towards Chicken who had gone over to check on her brother. “Every101Please respect copyright.PENANAvagSd9KYPw
Blade must know, even if she spends her time as an advisor. No exceptions.”
“Yes sir.” Vander101Please respect copyright.PENANAmq7qEWr5Pu
bowed.
“I also received101Please respect copyright.PENANAStqiYPEKma
news that the rest of the Warden’s will be arriving today. I want them properly101Please respect copyright.PENANArkNg8cYJWS
dressed and standing behind you once we greet them.”
“It will be101Please respect copyright.PENANAuByCFP3n0E
done.” Satisfied, Charles left heading back towards the castle.
∙
It took about101Please respect copyright.PENANAly3WrYlmAu
thirty minutes for the recruits to awaken after the beating they took at101Please respect copyright.PENANAn38Bzak2qi
Charles’ hands. Vander quickly checked them for damage, but Charles was precise101Please respect copyright.PENANAjlKeZ0no0T
in his fighting. Aside from a few bruised ribs and sore stomachs, they were all101Please respect copyright.PENANA7wLH327taX
fine. Once he told them they had passed, they all celebrated by dancing around101Please respect copyright.PENANAlXTtAaaBKU
and slapping each other on their backs, their pain long forgotten. Vander was101Please respect copyright.PENANAFN93wrKCEH
even more surprised that Chicken passed even with her penchant for books101Please respect copyright.PENANA2O4PqmACgj
instead of fighting. He had told her what the Commander had told him, and she101Please respect copyright.PENANAZZyCZfGolx
agreed that she had to become better at fighting. She asked for more lessons101Please respect copyright.PENANAzLrxG11YIR
and Alex agreed. He would be the one to train her. With that done he sent them101Please respect copyright.PENANA0JL5CLZuND
to the dorms so they could get ready for the Warden’s arrival.
He quickly101Please respect copyright.PENANAYHTjQqV3Xw
showered then got changed in his dress uniform. His pants were ironed and101Please respect copyright.PENANAwe6AK2oXG7
waiting from when he arrived back. His jacket was neatly pressed with the101Please respect copyright.PENANAwrrIakm8N0
creases worked out of it. In a small display container were all the medals he101Please respect copyright.PENANAI8CQUsqtYN
had received since joining and they had to be properly pinned on the jacket. It101Please respect copyright.PENANAU2hZqbsjCp
was a lot of work for a couple of hours, but it had to be done or it would101Please respect copyright.PENANAHyQN2XNhNu
reflect badly upon the King and his grandfather.
He put on his101Please respect copyright.PENANAM2r9sYkX35
pants followed by a blue dress shirt then he sat down to polish his boots. Shea101Please respect copyright.PENANAWtLZmIkSvY
sat on the bed watching all of this unfold when her head on top of her paws.101Please respect copyright.PENANA7C8Lk8qe5i
Once his boots were right he placed them on and tied them tightly. He turned101Please respect copyright.PENANAOQlZboOgCN
back to Shea.
“Get down here101Please respect copyright.PENANAgGK8Mrn2ot
so I can brush your fur.”
“I don’t want101Please respect copyright.PENANATPEoas68iB
to go.” She whined.
“You have to.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3ba2ybWZq
He chided. “You are a Blade, and we are all expected to go. You can sit101Please respect copyright.PENANA4wliGnp7bJ
behind me if you wish, but you will be there. Now get down here.” She101Please respect copyright.PENANAbqC0uk9LWf
glared over at him but did as he asked. She sat down in-between his legs as he101Please respect copyright.PENANAk5YCNyGJpE
picked up the brush and oil then began combing her. She stayed still for it,101Please respect copyright.PENANAifQV7HDonF
but when he came to a knot she let her displeasure known with a low growl. He101Please respect copyright.PENANArkwdPnNbOy
ignored her and kept going, even though he had to bribe her with more meat in101Please respect copyright.PENANA0xvhcZOZUm
exchange for not biting his hand. Fair trade.
The two of them101Please respect copyright.PENANAyLklCfWo6d
made their way down the stairs and towards the castle door. There were Blades101Please respect copyright.PENANAC74cSwyhKe
standing at attention on both sides of the red carpet where the Wardens would101Please respect copyright.PENANAa9hrb4l4Nm
walk once they arrived. They would go to the throne room where they would meet101Please respect copyright.PENANADQBDjjvipJ
with the others and the council to discuss the wedding and their roles in it,101Please respect copyright.PENANAxeAwZl9R11
and maybe some matters of state. It was rare that outsides would be allowed in,101Please respect copyright.PENANAKu4aIp7Y57
and Vander wasn’t an exception.
Shea and Vander101Please respect copyright.PENANAgRidXL849b
took their positions next to Charles, standing to his left, because the King101Please respect copyright.PENANAuGIx8Kkaef
was to the right. All the ranking Blades stood next to him while the council101Please respect copyright.PENANA76vOcupqJe
members stood on the King’s right side. Mari Drayson and her daughter stood101Please respect copyright.PENANAUlFAd37zpc
between the King and Viggo Visc, per the custom when any other Warden was in101Please respect copyright.PENANAOG0KCNYRHJ
the city. Peyton stood to Viggo’s right while Bernard stood in the door way. To101Please respect copyright.PENANAA7ROOouyFS
the front, in between each, stood a soldier who would protect the council with101Please respect copyright.PENANAn3zus4Nqc4
their lives if it came down to it, only the King was left unprotected, as it101Please respect copyright.PENANAjtgmnspRMs
was ceremonial, but also the job of a Blade to risk their lives for the King. Shea101Please respect copyright.PENANAfsADEoNeHF
took her spot behind Vander but would be ready to act in case her friend’s life101Please respect copyright.PENANAQO3Yfu0GjC
was in danger. They didn’t have long to wait before the sounds of the drums101Please respect copyright.PENANAvVQxr1Edru
were heard from the Western Gates.
Even though the wardens101Please respect copyright.PENANA16h2Gmdx2L
came from the north, west, and south, the western gate was the closest point101Please respect copyright.PENANAB1q6d5EokZ
between the three, so their entire entourage met there and walked through the101Please respect copyright.PENANAWElLAYcZve
streets until they reached the King. As the citizens were given enough of a101Please respect copyright.PENANANtIqee7umT
warning, the streets were closed in celebration. Vander could hear the cheers101Please respect copyright.PENANAWPEC1IntXd
all the way from where he stood, the noise made his sensitive ears hurt, but he101Please respect copyright.PENANAm99LYPFh5l
had to stand strong, or others would get suspicious. It took nearly an hour for101Please respect copyright.PENANA02RAffNJSZ
the Warden’s to make their way to the inner ring, but their entrance was extravagant.
The first warden101Please respect copyright.PENANAchDzrP9buE
to appear was Jira Jewelthorne, the Western Warden. He had short black hair and101Please respect copyright.PENANARhQ1cCpUSG
black eyes. He wore extravagant and expensive clothing: today he wore opulent101Please respect copyright.PENANAFYn9ScEoHt
gold with red trim. His fingers were adorned with silver and gold rings with various101Please respect copyright.PENANA2uDbgrz4yX
gemstones imbedded inside of them. He had no standing army. Instead, he hired101Please respect copyright.PENANA28YgFgQz59
mercenaries to protect his kingdom. There was a small squad of ten flaking his101Please respect copyright.PENANA03vsIMGqp5
horse as he rode. The Blades assigned to protected him were behind them and it101Please respect copyright.PENANA8M6Tqof32V
appeared as though they were holding chains for a man walking between them.
Right behind him101Please respect copyright.PENANARogEM7RSEq
came Leida Valariyan, the ruler of Stormcrag. Despite her young age, the101Please respect copyright.PENANAaxRzIC4djH
youngest of all the wardens, the weather made her cold and unyielding. She sat101Please respect copyright.PENANAwS1DRCxY2k
stony faced upon her horse, her salt gray hair tied back in a ponytail, her101Please respect copyright.PENANAGHsGAJHqh1
green eyes looking straight at the King. She was a warrior through and through.101Please respect copyright.PENANAARhXg0tVl8
The only person she brought with her was101Please respect copyright.PENANAzo3dLutVPf
her cloaked fighter, Drakon, No one knew what he looked like underneath that101Please respect copyright.PENANAIfjNDSa0MB
ratty black cloak, even Vander’s eyes couldn’t pierce the shadows. Whoever he101Please respect copyright.PENANAfTWLEWwZie
was, he was enchanted. Five Blades with terrified expressions followed behind101Please respect copyright.PENANAIoyttFfmoH
her. Charles would have to give them the next week off to recover.
The final warden101Please respect copyright.PENANAirb2jkZfkU
was Malakai Whitesun. He exuded power and strength. In wars past he was the101Please respect copyright.PENANAAXYizHfacl
King’s most trusted confidant, and it was due to his family that the rest of101Please respect copyright.PENANAIw5LzgLThb
Eluvia was safe from Bricen’s attacks. His entire body was tanned from living101Please respect copyright.PENANAbsomXD2ESV
down there and due to the heat he kept his head shaved. He wore a white vest,101Please respect copyright.PENANA0zNEGBXMhM
with nothing else on underneath, and white poofy pants that allowed him to stay101Please respect copyright.PENANA3OX2oopQ7F
cool even in the hottest conditions. He had his own general which was borrowed101Please respect copyright.PENANARw6fv76cmS
from the city: Eric Jilena, the patriarch and husband to Anna Jilena. Sitting101Please respect copyright.PENANAQrazvLVuQE
behind him was his son, Alphonse, who was poised to take his father’s position.
The six main101Please respect copyright.PENANAC11gUaMBA9
figures got down from their horses to walk up the red carpet while the others101Please respect copyright.PENANAHIi5ZHXm0K
stayed where they were. A few feet from the King, each of them got down on one101Please respect copyright.PENANAOGp7jDTvGj
knee then bowed their heads.
“Rise my101Please respect copyright.PENANAGzjR27SRUc
friends.” Malcom laughed. He walked down to greet them, his blue trimmed, white101Please respect copyright.PENANAAgpgjEI8Jl
cape dragged on to the floor behind him. He stood each of their hands in turn,101Please respect copyright.PENANAilwPIQfpBk
his royal signet out for everyone to see. While he got to Leida, she presented101Please respect copyright.PENANAMfVQi3bfeU
her cheek so he could kiss it. “I hope your travels were fair.”
“They were101Please respect copyright.PENANA8wtxrXeI3b
indeed.” Jira laughed, his voice fake, but the gleam in his eyes weren’t as he101Please respect copyright.PENANAhG16lkIRRY
gazed at the noblewomen standing in the line. “My mercenaries are in dire need101Please respect copyright.PENANAAQmgWgsHFF
of food, drink and entertainment, as am I.”
“And they will101Please respect copyright.PENANAGntBDNM8bE
have them.” Malcolm chuckled. “And how are you General? Are you excited to be101Please respect copyright.PENANAHaA3HjWGN2
back home?”
“I am my King.” Eric101Please respect copyright.PENANAOzoUhvV78X
bowed. “I have missed my wife and other children greatly.”
“And you101Please respect copyright.PENANACM1eXQkyNe
Alphonse?” he turned to the general’s youngest son.
“Yes, my lord.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAFUBMxUwijO
Alphonse bowed his head. “Though I’m afraid this weather will take some time to101Please respect copyright.PENANAkigtFSbxQp
get used to again.”
“I have food for101Please respect copyright.PENANAPt3hd99qdu
you all inside.” Malcolm turned to step back towards the castle. “If you would101Please respect copyright.PENANAGOnh3e9zSj
please follow me.”
“Not yet my101Please respect copyright.PENANAHBdxCA8JDb
King.” Malakai placed his hand on the King’s shoulder. Vander involuntarily101Please respect copyright.PENANAJlRcyeux6s
went for his sword, but his grandfather’s glare kept his hand still. “We have a101Please respect copyright.PENANAbMrmONmSEu
surprise for you.” Malakai turned and shouted: “MAKE WAY FOR THE PRINCE!” All101Please respect copyright.PENANAt5PoThcI3c
at once, all those in attendance stepped aside and saluted. A carriage, unseen101Please respect copyright.PENANAwWfHKRsfjG
by everyone opened and Cuvera, along with two veiled women walked out. The last101Please respect copyright.PENANAhJ89ryHJwx
person out was General Jasper Valentin, Bree’s father.
Upon seeing his101Please respect copyright.PENANA0x20NbUxHG
father, Cuvera smiled. His sandy brown hair flowed in the wind as he locked the101Please respect copyright.PENANAwpCPvalGxN
same-colored eyes on his father’s. He was wearing a smart blue colored jacket101Please respect copyright.PENANA1aSscuM2p1
with the royal family’s crest etched on the front. On his hand was another,101Please respect copyright.PENANAY8PtSMVh7V
identical signet ring, to his father’s. He ran up to embrace his father. After101Please respect copyright.PENANAiXrVbJekDm
a moment the two of them broke apart, but Malcolm held onto his son’s arms.
“I wasn’t101Please respect copyright.PENANANJuB1DQxHY
expecting you for another week.” He gasped. “Why have you arrived so soon.”
“We met up with101Please respect copyright.PENANAygvTmsI1kl
Lord Whiteson as he crossed the river, so we decided to go together. I left the101Please respect copyright.PENANAMjUYkj36tH
main soldiers on the road as Malakai would be able to protect us.” He stepped101Please respect copyright.PENANAMF33LyMsrV
back to wave the two women forward. He wrapped his arms around the one wearing101Please respect copyright.PENANAdocKPwWEku
red and orange. “This lovely lady is my betrothed, Kiara.” She removed her101Please respect copyright.PENANA7pgGT9JBNZ
veil, and everyone released their breath they didn’t know they were holding.
Her skin was a101Please respect copyright.PENANAUysosNfC9Z
deep brown color with vibrant golden eyes. Her dark brown hair was pulled back101Please respect copyright.PENANA5pWXDSai49
into a loose weave, but there were some strands framing her face. You could101Please respect copyright.PENANA0KilZcNwxs
tell that her body was that of a warrior: lithe, muscular, lethal. Vander could101Please respect copyright.PENANADiTohsfHHy
easily see her twirling on the battlefield cutting people down left and right.101Please respect copyright.PENANAmoI90ijEmc
He secretly hoped Cuvera knew what he was in for. Unknown to everyone other101Please respect copyright.PENANANQoEPjk2QA
than him, he could feel otherworldly power radiating from her that made him101Please respect copyright.PENANAMVQhoTIoiS
nervous. It felt as though he was staring at the sun. Even Shea whimpered from101Please respect copyright.PENANAIaQYRPMAJD
behind him.
“It’s nice to101Please respect copyright.PENANAhtzLEDb0vv
meet you all.” She curtsied. Everyone bowed their heads in respect to their101Please respect copyright.PENANAIV4QJfuQwZ
future queen. Malcolm walked up then kissed both her cheeks before embracing101Please respect copyright.PENANAWDRgKqgcAt
her.
“It’s wonderful101Please respect copyright.PENANAc7rVcDCfTx
to meet you.” he laughed. “I hope my son has been treating you well on your101Please respect copyright.PENANADBso1wrHhe
travels together?” Kiara wrapped her arms through Cuvera’s.
“He’s been101Please respect copyright.PENANAFR9vnHR3l2
perfect.” She smiled. Her gazed flickered to Vander. Upon noticing him her eyes101Please respect copyright.PENANA6Npa0kTE1H
widened then she whispered something into his ear. He nodded his head then101Please respect copyright.PENANAXeQAdnn76A
turned back to his father.
“There is one101Please respect copyright.PENANAVOfbDGogzY
more person we’d like to introduce everyone too.” He motioned the mystery women101Please respect copyright.PENANAA2fJ6urwtS
forward. She was dressed similarly to Kiara except her uniform was yellow and101Please respect copyright.PENANAmKvDDGKbbS
silver. She stepped forward then removed her veil. Without waiting for anyone101Please respect copyright.PENANAtVw6DRW0yW
to introduce her, she introduced herself:
“My name is101Please respect copyright.PENANAhGthspRiOe
Eliza, Kiara’s younger sister and bodyguard.” She curtsied. “I hope to be of101Please respect copyright.PENANAFhvaTM521X
use to all of you here.” She looked over at Vander and the breath left his body101Please respect copyright.PENANAz6VC9pC9WO
for a moment. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. She was101Please respect copyright.PENANAdVmp1dzQFa
smaller than Kiara but had more defined muscles. Her brown hair was tied back101Please respect copyright.PENANAoE3VxRw8nM
into a tight ponytail, her silver eyes looked at him as if she could see101Please respect copyright.PENANADucY18E6WY
everything.
“It would be our101Please respect copyright.PENANAYhmTe2oluV
honor to have you.” Charles answered.
“Let us go101Please respect copyright.PENANAUwkBKr6QVl
inside.” Cuvera offered. “I’m tired from my travels and I’m sure the wardens101Please respect copyright.PENANASEZzXzL5su
are as well.”
“Of course.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5BEkanpGS
Malcolm grinned. “Bernard made sure everyone’s rooms were made up properly and101Please respect copyright.PENANATJXkKf5tfa
we have spared no expense to have your men as comfortable down in the city as101Please respect copyright.PENANA5WsyKWSckb
possible. I trust I don’t need to explain the rules?”
“No sir,”101Please respect copyright.PENANAihPbAIqYMb
Whitesun grinned. “We remember what happened last time.”
“Excellent.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAMyJJlG242C
Malcolm clapped his hands. “Come my son, there is much I must talk with you101Please respect copyright.PENANANzvf1ieun3
about. My dear Kiara, you should come to so we can get the chance to get to101Please respect copyright.PENANAEGd3lYVToY
know each other.”
“Yes father.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAzOhWIZ69j5
Malcolm laughed at that but wrapped his arms around her shoulders and escorted101Please respect copyright.PENANA8rx4blRhGD
her in. Eliza followed close behind unwilling to leave her sister alone in101Please respect copyright.PENANAlJTdYpdTWj
foreign territory. When Cuvera walked past, he gripped Vander’s shoulder.
“Meet me101Please respect copyright.PENANA7hmsWnDuoM
tonight.” He whispered into his ear. Vander nodded his head.
Soon all the101Please respect copyright.PENANARAGBo7eo9z
nobles disappeared back into the castle while their guards were taken into the101Please respect copyright.PENANAj7Dd490WOx
city to their lodgings. While they were here it meant more overtime for the101Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0qudL4oMD
Blades and city guards because they had to make sure they behaved themselves101Please respect copyright.PENANAv4BOM1J7kh
with the locals. The only ones left other than Charles and Vander were the two101Please respect copyright.PENANAY6WTc589KK
generals who seemed to be discussing something with Alphonse. A moment later101Please respect copyright.PENANAXY1xrTj00y
they split up and both Eric and his son went into the castle, likely to see101Please respect copyright.PENANAwnQGQi77vl
Anna. However, Jasper walked over to the two of them.
“Commander.” His101Please respect copyright.PENANAkFfd4fnnHW
voice was curt, angry.
“General.”101Please respect copyright.PENANA0yIZCTcnXh
Charles tried to hide the disdain in his voice.
“I heard my101Please respect copyright.PENANAbDiXjX6MR5
daughter went to see you.” Jasper glared down at Vander. He shrugged in101Please respect copyright.PENANAwiqeDXCjFH
response. Suddenly Jasper grabbed Vander by the neck causing Shea to jump to101Please respect copyright.PENANA0aruQ9VWdE
her feet snarling. “You stay away from my daughter, or I will make sure you101Please respect copyright.PENANAzm9oD5orDK
never see the light of day again.”
“Are you101Please respect copyright.PENANAG9ok92j8wR
threatening my grandson, General?” Charles asked. Suddenly Alexander and a few101Please respect copyright.PENANAhZsYmC4LRH
other Blades surrounded him with their hands on their swords.
“Not a threat.”101Please respect copyright.PENANAdPX08FwvUM
He said. “A warning.” He studied Vander for a second before pushing him away.101Please respect copyright.PENANAB3MKRNvX7P
“If I find out you even breathe in her direction, you will regret it.”
“No more than the101Please respect copyright.PENANAMXJ5vu2DZ5
King regrets making you a General I’m sure.” Vander choked out. “I’m sure the101Please respect copyright.PENANAwZvd1AECRQ
prince would find this very interesting.”
“I don’t know101Please respect copyright.PENANASQbBqbTmDz
what he sees in you, you worthless trash.” With that he pushed past them101Please respect copyright.PENANABeuImYOsJW
disappearing inside the castle.
“He’s really101Please respect copyright.PENANA9vjy4ynKna
possessive of his daughter isn’t he?” Alex asked.
“He’s possessive101Please respect copyright.PENANAb7wq5CY84F
of the power she could give him through breeding.” Vander sighed. He rubbed his101Please respect copyright.PENANAMbgu4xrWpw
neck to try and rub the feeling back into it.
“Vander if he101Please respect copyright.PENANA8cRMhoEQuZ
touches you again, kill him.” Charles growled. “I will deal with the fall back,101Please respect copyright.PENANAhrVTW1lVWJ
but he will not touch you again without dire consequences.”
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“Yes sir.” Vander101Please respect copyright.PENANAeHib2t04g4
bowed his head. “Now let’s go. I expect this party will be interesting.”