Chapter 18
“Hey, are you alright?” Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANADLUeEZ6kA9
slowly opened his eyes to see Eliza standing over him. It had only been a few102Please respect copyright.PENANA2mRQ40JlRq
hours since he had fallen asleep. The sky had lightened up only slightly, but102Please respect copyright.PENANAV00pnSyC2U
it was still several hours until dawn. He sat up from the bench with his back102Please respect copyright.PENANAbJzG98pjuY
protesting from the sudden movement.
Once his eyes102Please respect copyright.PENANA5xrcHfwzry
adjusted he looked back up at Eliza, who didn’t look as though she got much102Please respect copyright.PENANApZMMpss1yz
sleep either. She was wearing a long coat that stopped just above her knees.102Please respect copyright.PENANADtZns6bDHw
Her hair was down, it stopped just above her hips, and she wore a pair of102Please respect copyright.PENANAJmdfcsjO8u
trousers.
“I just sometimes come out here to102Please respect copyright.PENANAC1wftIFkVL
enjoy the surroundings.” He chuckled, but winced as his ribs protested the102Please respect copyright.PENANA4TK2u3qW5S
sudden movement. “It’s a lot quieter here than in the city, especially with all102Please respect copyright.PENANA6PBZN7K2f9
the Warden’s guards running the place. Why are you out here?”
“The same as you I expect.” She102Please respect copyright.PENANAxvGkEaOnD7
sat down next to him then stretched her legs out in front of her. He couldn’t102Please respect copyright.PENANAjoE0j1eyx0
help admiring the firmness of them as well as their length. “I’ve been restless102Please respect copyright.PENANAWQzdOHW0xX
since I started my journey here. There is something coming, I can feel it.”
“Is there?” he couldn’t help but102Please respect copyright.PENANAXLLVI4pI2q
chuckle. She shot him a dirty look. “Is that why you came here with Kiara?102Please respect copyright.PENANAmjDdvQF4GA
Because something was coming?”
“I came here because it was my102Please respect copyright.PENANAmCcNCbLjLX
duty to protect my older sister and keep her safe.” She explained. “But now102Please respect copyright.PENANAkPg5H5jkAK
that she is here, I’m not sure what to do with myself now.”
“You just got accepted into the102Please respect copyright.PENANAOfJ6mOBGsW
Blades,” he said. “A captain at that. You can stay close to Kiara and keep her102Please respect copyright.PENANAVTcBLuFkYb
safe. Is that what you wanted?” She102Please respect copyright.PENANAPDFf9GZRH8
nodded her head for a moment but shook it.
“This was a path that was chosen102Please respect copyright.PENANADxQ9vE7hFK
for me and one I was willing to be a part of. I had been training for it since102Please respect copyright.PENANAZcUVqoBHWi
I was a little girl.” She laughed, but the joy didn’t reach her eyes. “What I102Please respect copyright.PENANAgyXBnMyIxg
wanted was to marry a prince and be whisked off my feet or to travel the world102Please respect copyright.PENANA4mUlLk01h5
and meet new people. But this, fighting,” she looked down at her calloused102Please respect copyright.PENANAI3cLvUGFxv
hands with sadness. “It’s not what I want to do with my life.”
“Is this what keeps you up at102Please respect copyright.PENANAl1t8N4ScqT
night?” he asked. “Your uncertain future?”
“Isn’t that what keeps you up?”102Please respect copyright.PENANAYYMfSbX39Y
she countered. “Why you stay here in the garden in the middle of the night102Please respect copyright.PENANA4anO0ntutI
instead of being in your comfortable bed?”
“I grow restless at night.” Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANA4ioBlQpp9Q
said.
“Due to Unna?” He looked at her102Please respect copyright.PENANAjuEzrUtTnf
sharply. “You don’t really keep it a secret. Anyone with half a brain can tell102Please respect copyright.PENANAa95utALs3o
you’re different. The way you move, the way you fight, it’s as if you can sense102Please respect copyright.PENANA8yaUsJS1a0
things that other people can’t.”
“Kiara told you?” she grinned at102Please respect copyright.PENANASAatkfZESF
him.
“Kiara told me.” He sighed. He102Please respect copyright.PENANAjSRcspCrjw
leaned back on the bench, so he was staring up at the sky once again.
“I never wanted this.” He102Please respect copyright.PENANAMCICY0gxLd
whispered. “I acted to save my friends and was given this power. If I could102Please respect copyright.PENANA6P5K5JAUrW
give it back I would. I know what happens to those who abuse her power and even102Please respect copyright.PENANA7JWiJ6MEZV
now I feel it scratching inside, wanting to be let loose. If it wasn’t for Shea102Please respect copyright.PENANAZlHwt5ksAp
I would have lost myself a long time ago.”
“You’ll find you can accomplish102Please respect copyright.PENANAErSNwly47F
great things when you have something you want to protect Vander.” She smiled.102Please respect copyright.PENANAL4yuB1XcCo
“I hope you can find someone else you want to protect, to give you that102Please respect copyright.PENANA5Gp2Dh4K6y
strength when you need it.”
“No one has escaped this curse102Please respect copyright.PENANAFlk32Gk06N
Eliza, no one.” He got up from the bench. “My grandfather, Cuvera, the King,102Please respect copyright.PENANA5gMQVsnrRJ
and Alex seem to think I can, but I don’t know. It seems, unsurmountable.”
“I still have one wish that you102Please respect copyright.PENANAnJuRV0D1ks
need to grant.” Eliza placed her hand on Vander’s shoulder. “Come with me.” Confused102Please respect copyright.PENANAluvqzI3vA2
as to where she was taking him, he followed.
The two of them left the garden102Please respect copyright.PENANADo01378ZF5
heading back inside of the castle. He thought that she was going to take him to102Please respect copyright.PENANADXwHhxMQIf
her room, but instead she led him down towards the castle training room102Please respect copyright.PENANAn7iZkNXDCb
reserved for the Captains, though no one used it much anymore except the102Please respect copyright.PENANAwPfr97TVAF
commander when he sparred with Malcolm or Cuvera. Vander came here sometimes102Please respect copyright.PENANA7suwVcojEr
when he was being given lessons, but it had been a long time.
“Why have we come down here?” he102Please respect copyright.PENANAz8tXeuqvOO
asked. She ignored him. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail then removed102Please respect copyright.PENANAxAXI8oPY6V
her jacket tossing it on the floor in the corner. She began to stretch while102Please respect copyright.PENANAjLStjJibqY
Vander just stared at her dumbfounded. Realizing he wasn’t going to get the102Please respect copyright.PENANAA7aX2MZ1p5
answer he needed from her, he shrugged off his jacket and began to stretch as102Please respect copyright.PENANAboe6q7CAhm
well. Either she was going to fight him or fuck him, either way he wanted to be102Please respect copyright.PENANA2K4R2yCZpI
prepared.
“Do you know that Bricen is the102Please respect copyright.PENANAtJLyyKiuVo
only country, outside of Eluvia, who had a Ma’akti?” she asked a couple of102Please respect copyright.PENANA0TE2VL2Yhl
minutes later. She was touching the tips of her toes when she looked up at him.
“I did.” Vander nodded. “I always102Please respect copyright.PENANAH0tCWHInla
thought it was the King, but you were all very tight lipped about it.”
“Well, it’s not my father.” Eliza102Please respect copyright.PENANAjpP7ouiT8Q
laughed. “The blessings of Azta doesn’t go through the men of the line, it goes102Please respect copyright.PENANAVZq8BkzXbU
through the women, and it’s known to skip a couple of generations.”
“What does this have to do with102Please respect copyright.PENANAxhScv0SzLI
me?” Vander asked. Eliza got to her feet and motioned for Vander to do the102Please respect copyright.PENANAtBjhrNLsWF
same. He got up warily, keeping his eye on her as she moved around the small102Please respect copyright.PENANAhLsxESRh6z
room.
Suddenly her hand combusted and102Please respect copyright.PENANAf7NYrfSPuv
she swung a flaming fist towards his face. Vander ducked in surprise, the102Please respect copyright.PENANArxQjrZRDpX
flames singing part of his cheek. He was so startled he fell on the ground and102Please respect copyright.PENANAgROFSlfSAz
started quickly backing away. She smirked sinisterly at him as she walked102Please respect copyright.PENANAgPYzbLK0nv
closer to him. She held her hand up towards the ceiling, but it didn’t look as102Please respect copyright.PENANAl77poeaQDB
though she was in any sort of pain.
“You’re the Ma’akti Azta’un?” he102Please respect copyright.PENANAC7hxTGORnk
stammered out. “How are you doing that? Isn’t that painful?”
“When I was younger and didn’t102Please respect copyright.PENANACTYKSBLy6d
know how to control it, sure.” She shrugged. “But I have had time to accept my102Please respect copyright.PENANATwRYASs8DZ
lot in life and made this apart of me. You must learn to do the same.”
“It’s not the same though.”102Please respect copyright.PENANAGv7jy8qwfH
Vander’s voice hardened. “Do you know how many of my predecessors slaughtered102Please respect copyright.PENANAtq3M6tonoT
their friends? Their family?” He got up from his position on the floor. “Their102Please respect copyright.PENANAuiI1giqU8T
blood was on their hands, and it took many more lives until they were put102Please respect copyright.PENANA5mUXoQJgiP
down.”
“You cannot live in fear your102Please respect copyright.PENANArYKueMq6fN
entire life.” Eliza snapped. “You must embrace who you are, embrace the beast102Please respect copyright.PENANA93I959yUSD
inside. That’s the only way you can move forward.”
“No.” he snarled. “That’s final.”102Please respect copyright.PENANAyzvNNTniuW
He moved to leave, but Eliza placed her other hand on his shoulder. He brought102Please respect copyright.PENANAj4gpr2IkQC
his elbow back to shrug her off, but accidentally caught her in the face. She102Please respect copyright.PENANAT7NRVPxeEG
stumbled backwards, but before he could apologize, she swept his legs out from102Please respect copyright.PENANAm6HorwTG6c
under him making him land on his back. She was on him while he was trying to102Please respect copyright.PENANArdQn3qfqMF
stand up. She grabbed him by the collar then pushed him against the wall. He102Please respect copyright.PENANAM5F3EojPBO
rebounded off and went for a punch which she easily ducked underneath. Then she102Please respect copyright.PENANACqd3js4fql
drove her fist into his stomach.
She waited around while he dry102Please respect copyright.PENANAJS2rH6IoWF
heaved on the floor. “Why are you doing this?” he gasped.
“Before Kiara was going to come102Please respect copyright.PENANAVq3E8TCeuY
here, I was actually going to take her place as princess.” Eliza walked around102Please respect copyright.PENANAoNopLknHAD
him. “The night before, Azta came to me. She told me that someone was going to102Please respect copyright.PENANA4RZNJT3ucU
need me here, one given the Curse of the Beasts. That he would need my help to102Please respect copyright.PENANAn7kkW9luwT
realize his true power.”
“My true power is death and102Please respect copyright.PENANAQKNULFd2ow
slaughter.” He wobbled to his feet, but his eyes were focused on her. “Nothing102Please respect copyright.PENANAfHkO2EKCe1
can change that.”
“Even if it’s the ones you loved102Please respect copyright.PENANA1rjiAw1uLb
being threatened?” He growled his response, so she held her hands up in front102Please respect copyright.PENANANEYt4KPbf5
of her. “Eventually you will have to make a choice, Vander. Accept who you are102Please respect copyright.PENANA4miUj0vqTj
or those you love and everyone around them will die because you didn’t.”
“Does this have to do with Veyar’s102Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZxiLiP9Q7
prophecy?” he asked. She looked at him confused then shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t speak to Veyar, only102Please respect copyright.PENANAX3HrMiM9ox
Azta, and only when she wants me to.” She explained. “If Veyar talked to you,102Please respect copyright.PENANAIrirywaTmh
it’s for your ears only. What did she tell you?”
“About the freeing of the102Please respect copyright.PENANAnXBp0CnJkB
Darkness.” He said. Eliza’s face grew pale.
“Let’s just hope that doesn’t come102Please respect copyright.PENANA8G7c28RfmV
to pass.” She said. “They need a lot more than a few of our powers to make it102Please respect copyright.PENANAqtIZK7yzuA
happen. If something like that was going to happen, the deities would be up in102Please respect copyright.PENANAVL5BeVGtfs
arms. Let’s just focus on this for now.”
“There is no this.” Vander dusted102Please respect copyright.PENANAiHWDJvs4y7
himself off. “I’m out of here.”
“This was my wish, Vander.”102Please respect copyright.PENANA0q9QrcrcKm
Eliza’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks. “Or do you go against your word?”102Please respect copyright.PENANADHiu7pcuVl
His shoulder’s slumped as he turned back to face her.
“I will make you regret this.” He102Please respect copyright.PENANAbp0IA0LvN8
sighed. “I still have my wish as well.”
“Do your worst.” She squared up.102Please respect copyright.PENANA08pQqRwJh1
“This time, please fight back.”
“I cannot control the strength I102Please respect copyright.PENANAC406GrRjHY
possess.” He warned. “If you get hurt, Kiara will have my head.”
“Don’t worry about hurting me.”102Please respect copyright.PENANAyU0aP5hOUF
She grinned. “Worry about yourself.”
She ignited her fist and charged102Please respect copyright.PENANADsIrAiwVGJ
him. Vander closed his eyes and for the first time in a long time he removed102Please respect copyright.PENANAsHtesjICjJ
the barriers he erected in place to protect himself and others. He opened his102Please respect copyright.PENANAVDQhCR3NCM
eyes and saw the fist mere centimeters from his face, but it was slowed. He102Please respect copyright.PENANAIQ1Ea5Ctp3
could see her fingernails, each of them crackling with the flames of the102Please respect copyright.PENANAbHFgwT6jbd
goddess. He could hear her muscles tense, smell the sweat building up on her102Please respect copyright.PENANAOIHNNQxz9Y
body, and taste the ashes in the air. He slid out of the way and counterpunched102Please respect copyright.PENANAYF6wqtnQtN
hitting her in the stomach. She was sent flying backwards into the wall.102Please respect copyright.PENANAsPSmty35Wv
Instead of bouncing off it, she ended up a couple of inches embedded inside. As102Please respect copyright.PENANABzoa68ePlW
quickly as he released them, Vander re-erected the barriers.
“Are you alright?” he asked. Eliza102Please respect copyright.PENANAV3yiPFfdEc
pulled herself from the wall grinning. She brushed off the dust from her102Please respect copyright.PENANAnd4mvGhyMX
clothing stepping onto the broken bricks.
“Damn you do pack a punch.” She102Please respect copyright.PENANAn1zpy9EzK7
laughed. “If I hadn’t protected myself using the divinity I had stored, I would102Please respect copyright.PENANAUdX5Jhsh8c
have broken a few ribs.”
“That’s a neat trick.” He frowned.
“That’s just one of the few things102Please respect copyright.PENANAjkbCJ0OpSa
you can learn if you accept who you are.” She explained. “Until then, I’ll keep102Please respect copyright.PENANA6hbD3tsSaC
beating your ass. Are you ready?”
“No, but you won’t leave me along102Please respect copyright.PENANAzPsm5KJdKB
until I am.” He got into his fighting stance. “Let’s just get this over with,102Please respect copyright.PENANAj8rTGKJ5hM
we have a wedding tomorrow.”
∙
Vander was sore when he woke up102Please respect copyright.PENANAvLJ5hyUmbq
the next morning. Eliza kept him down there for hours trying to goad him into102Please respect copyright.PENANApEdZE1Y77Y
using the powers gifted to him by Unna, but he refused. If that punch was102Please respect copyright.PENANAlVSpuhoXVR
anything close to what he could do, he could wreak untold havoc if he succumbed.102Please respect copyright.PENANACOEIleRcwJ
He couldn’t, he wouldn’t let that happen. Eventually she had gotten tired and102Please respect copyright.PENANAgCh5oWQcTb
dismissed them for the night, however he knew that she would keep bringing him102Please respect copyright.PENANAGMc22tNQem
down there until she was satisfied. Shea hadn’t even woken up when he arrived102Please respect copyright.PENANAKHJAskcDWl
back, but let her annoyance known when he flopped down on top of her. She102Please respect copyright.PENANAG2Dj6bxSFu
bounced on top of him several times before slamming her head into his side. She102Please respect copyright.PENANAeiBxFxzuHW
emulated Eliza by kicking him in the side before eventually going back to102Please respect copyright.PENANA4QOjadkXyx
sleep.
He slunk out of bed towards the102Please respect copyright.PENANAdpabT5IGxe
bathroom. It was still early morning, but even from up here he could hear the102Please respect copyright.PENANAZpfhcjzRTe
buzzing of servants running around getting everything ready for this afternoon.102Please respect copyright.PENANAYXGcEXwmHC
This was going to be a long day and he had to make sure the guards were in102Please respect copyright.PENANAZrdYICHozL
their places and alert just in case anything happened. With all the Wardens,102Please respect copyright.PENANAagY4s0yQ8s
nobles, the prince, princess and the King all in one place it was a prime102Please respect copyright.PENANAL53hxXHQtD
target for anyone looking to cripple the country. He wouldn’t leave anything to102Please respect copyright.PENANAk0V8j7OW6j
chance, not after the king’s poisoning. He had to make sure all his bases were102Please respect copyright.PENANASRniPPpVGc
covered because if anything happened it would be his ass on the line, no one102Please respect copyright.PENANArsCfzXm3Lo
else’s.
He showered quickly, but when he102Please respect copyright.PENANAW2cujQSA09
came out there was a package sitting on the bed with a written note on it. He102Please respect copyright.PENANAeuiXKsGnWp
recognized Cuvera’s handwriting. The note told him that it was from Madame102Please respect copyright.PENANAHBR0WAhwTp
Topal, which meant it was his attire for the wedding. He had a choice to wear102Please respect copyright.PENANAe3ISiNQCpd
it now and face ridicule from his comrades, or rush getting changed later and102Please respect copyright.PENANArBzOZHq1Fs
risk being late. Sighing, he removed the clothing from the box and put it on.
Topal had gotten his measurements102Please respect copyright.PENANAjQVlrGnDnq
precisely. Nothing bulged when he put on his clothing nor did anything hang102Please respect copyright.PENANAjHouM4pqGw
loose off his frame. The pants were tailored to the perfect height and somehow102Please respect copyright.PENANA1lP2Ou5GlU
she had gotten the measurements for his feet as there was a new pair of boots102Please respect copyright.PENANAzQtO6LwnJf
also in the box. Both were black and the shirt he put on was a deep blue the102Please respect copyright.PENANANpMlySXDok
color of the Elan family crest. The frock jacket he received was entirely blue102Please respect copyright.PENANAcFmA0ZG7lO
aside from the spiral pattern around the buttons and over the chest: that was102Please respect copyright.PENANAKllgdqTx6G
the color of his hair. He had to admit, he looked good in the outfit, but it102Please respect copyright.PENANAp6ytAR32ke
was a little too fancy for his taste. Thankfully Topal was considerate enough102Please respect copyright.PENANAt3adi7H1v5
to add a sword belt to his outfit so he wouldn’t feel quite as exposed without102Please respect copyright.PENANAr49rhnU2QX
his sword close by.
“What do you think?” he turned102Please respect copyright.PENANADEIovTkRIp
around to face Shea. She looked up at him with a tilt of her head.
“Very dignified.” She102Please respect copyright.PENANAZmXZGIvJyj
barked. “Eliza will be very happy.”
“Why does it matter if she is?”102Please respect copyright.PENANApMgOTEHiGI
Vander asked her. “This is for me to look like Cuvera’s best man, not for102Please respect copyright.PENANADHm7DYttJa
Eliza.”
“Don’t act like you weren’t102Please respect copyright.PENANAqAuoj0tw55
covered in her scent.” Shea rolled her eyes. “I could smell the102Please respect copyright.PENANAVyA5lVzYQg
attraction between the two of you. Don’t lie to me Vander.”
“Okay, so what though?” Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANA58YQDQ72rN
clipped on his sword. “She’s just helping me because of a vision she received,102Please respect copyright.PENANASQUV4uGTuI
no other reason. I know you want me to be happy, Shea, but these kinds of102Please respect copyright.PENANAVhGWuwLkXj
things take time. I’m not ready.”
“You’re just afraid of being102Please respect copyright.PENANAX3zP7vKOcq
hurt again.” She said accusingly. “Bree made her choice and Julianna is102Please respect copyright.PENANAfEsbh24CVN
busy running her business.” Her voice softened. “It hurts me to see you102Please respect copyright.PENANAWvDP65uNd0
so unhappy.” He took a deep breath to control his anger.
“I know, I know.” He sat down on102Please respect copyright.PENANAAYbDp3qotD
the bed. She placed her head in his lap while he stroked her ear. “When this102Please respect copyright.PENANA3J9eORstHY
mess with the Serpents is done, we will take a vacation away from here. Maybe102Please respect copyright.PENANA3YAPZpio4Z
go to the shore and play at the beach, just the two of us.” Her tail thumped on102Please respect copyright.PENANAFkV3UhnAFR
the bed in excitement.
“I’d like that.” She said.
“Now, let’s go prepare for the102Please respect copyright.PENANAIKszBKhlsm
wedding.”
Vander and Shea slipped from the102Please respect copyright.PENANAp8DEdPOKNY
room and headed towards the ballroom where his Blades would be waiting.
With the others102Please respect copyright.PENANArJEfLuythy
returning from their mission to escort the Warden’s to the city, all fifty of102Please respect copyright.PENANALmMDnAYfoX
them were in attendance. They were all dressed in their uniforms talking102Please respect copyright.PENANAr9TdNfBcwL
amongst one another, but as soon as he entered the room, they snapped smartly102Please respect copyright.PENANA0Izoml7pwv
to attention. He marched past them with Shea following behind. He stood on top102Please respect copyright.PENANAENuNs5wfhP
of the stage where the throne had been removed to make room for the pillars102Please respect copyright.PENANAtXNcfuQKae
that were draped in red and blue fabric. The ten Captains stood behind Charles102Please respect copyright.PENANA4QtiyLeEAD
with their hands behind their back. Alex bowed his head at Vander, but Leon102Please respect copyright.PENANAqBp3Um9DfZ
ignored him altogether. He looked around for Eliza, but she wasn’t there. She102Please respect copyright.PENANAVfBL8D8Syw
was likely helping Kiara with her wedding preparations.
“You’re late.”102Please respect copyright.PENANAcAHBkZcJrq
Charles growled.
“Sorry,” Vander102Please respect copyright.PENANAaKiKYlHyCL
bowed his head. “I had a late night.”
“Get in line.” As102Please respect copyright.PENANAGXSB7TAIvD
soon as walked next to his grandfather, the old man whispered: “You look nice.”102Please respect copyright.PENANAK7wJDu9CdX
Vander smiled to himself as he stood next to Alex. Shea sat down next to him.102Please respect copyright.PENANAbB2Wwakk1l
Charles straightened his back before speaking to the others: “As you know, the102Please respect copyright.PENANAy0bHjG11oB
wedding of Cuvera and Kiara is later this afternoon. As such we have one duty,102Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Ya85gwj5
protect the castle grounds from intruders, and keep the King, his family and102Please respect copyright.PENANArtop3J1nNF
the Warden’s safe. The guards will protect the walls while we protect the102Please respect copyright.PENANA3E3VcFibjK
castle. I want everyone to be on their best behavior and aware of your102Please respect copyright.PENANAJDjwGwrc3S
surroundings. I will pass it off to Vander for specifics.”
“Thank you.”102Please respect copyright.PENANANwGptLRZY1
Vander stepped up. This was his chance to prove himself as a capable leader and102Please respect copyright.PENANALgfvu0Y207
he wasn’t going to let it go to waste. He saw Rooster, Chicken, Forest, Briar,102Please respect copyright.PENANA4KrHoDrNdi
and Eve standing at the back. Their new uniforms and weapons were looking shiny102Please respect copyright.PENANAllRml986U6
and new, and they looked nervous. He would have to give them something102Please respect copyright.PENANAzQecdItMkV
important, but also easy. He didn’t want to give them too much responsibility102Please respect copyright.PENANAnsRiJxXXeG
for their first official mission.
“Tonight is a102Please respect copyright.PENANAZiKV6QOKLk
very special night and it’s our job to make sure that everything goes102Please respect copyright.PENANA9b6tlaaBeb
smoothly.” He said. “Listen to your Captains, keep your eyes peeled and your102Please respect copyright.PENANAKqx9Tr0OKz
wits about you. If something seems wrong, listen to your instincts. I’d rather102Please respect copyright.PENANA6jjdcTIBPE
apologize because you were wrong than do nothing and have this place crash down102Please respect copyright.PENANA0M6twzTVsI
around us. Now, for your posts.”
He gave102Please respect copyright.PENANAWrm8IX1MiS
Alexander’s squad, the new trainees, the task of guarding the door. It would102Please respect copyright.PENANAsPF5BU8kkd
involve checking invitations, making sure none of the guards brought weapons,102Please respect copyright.PENANAP400kQPGf9
and the people who were there had been invited. It would test them to stand102Please respect copyright.PENANA2CgrL3b73l
their group against uppity nobles who believed they were above the law and102Please respect copyright.PENANAk61xPRqSEx
making sure they could do their job properly.
He made sure102Please respect copyright.PENANALF9TMyMSEn
Leon’s squad was paired with someone who would keep an eye on them. They would102Please respect copyright.PENANACvP42EmspA
oversee patrolling the upstairs, checking rooms and windows for any potential102Please respect copyright.PENANAW1IBozVNgF
hazards. There would be four squads alternating to make sure no one got tired.102Please respect copyright.PENANANuCPO4J774
One squad would be walking around the ballroom during the party to escort drunk102Please respect copyright.PENANARvzuXNQXuF
revelers to rooms that have been set aside for them. There would be some squads102Please respect copyright.PENANAIPxBKvlFTM
stationed in the kitchens and along the delivery tunnels. He made sure no102Please respect copyright.PENANAMjyZ21JEO8
routes were left unprotected. If there were any gaps he would be the last line102Please respect copyright.PENANAZ62zqazlDf
of defense. Shea would keep her eyes on the king and prince the entire night.102Please respect copyright.PENANAjIX25PWZrl
She would warn him if there was anything suspicious going on.
He gave one last102Please respect copyright.PENANAJTkwFfW80i
warning to the troops. “The people who attacked the king and nearly ended his102Please respect copyright.PENANAZJZZ7gDxVS
life, as well as my own, are crafty and skilled.” He said. “Keep your eyes on102Please respect copyright.PENANAzBW1g7SADF
each other and watch each other’s back. No one goes anywhere alone. Am I102Please respect copyright.PENANAEtKmVNFDup
understood?”
“Yes sir!” The102Please respect copyright.PENANAuZd9PW4mqF
Blades saluted.
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“Let’s get to it102Please respect copyright.PENANA8xySYCyyeb
then.” Vander saluted back.