Chapter 18
“Hey, are you alright?” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANA54rpwqtPcn
slowly opened his eyes to see Eliza standing over him. It had only been a few131Please respect copyright.PENANA80Zdd87bLj
hours since he had fallen asleep. The sky had lightened up only slightly, but131Please respect copyright.PENANATiTt8GYDqz
it was still several hours until dawn. He sat up from the bench with his back131Please respect copyright.PENANAzLa46DQVxI
protesting from the sudden movement.
Once his eyes131Please respect copyright.PENANAfFx8PQEKLr
adjusted he looked back up at Eliza, who didn’t look as though she got much131Please respect copyright.PENANAHclMOSKfgQ
sleep either. She was wearing a long coat that stopped just above her knees.131Please respect copyright.PENANAWrquLyVBYJ
Her hair was down, it stopped just above her hips, and she wore a pair of131Please respect copyright.PENANAdul9vEz65t
trousers.
“I just sometimes come out here to131Please respect copyright.PENANAspCtdxotV6
enjoy the surroundings.” He chuckled, but winced as his ribs protested the131Please respect copyright.PENANAdjWuGcHEVR
sudden movement. “It’s a lot quieter here than in the city, especially with all131Please respect copyright.PENANA6QuJzg8nSd
the Warden’s guards running the place. Why are you out here?”
“The same as you I expect.” She131Please respect copyright.PENANAGm1SBDlnDI
sat down next to him then stretched her legs out in front of her. He couldn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANAGWvRIf72r0
help admiring the firmness of them as well as their length. “I’ve been restless131Please respect copyright.PENANAPHxbieqmRR
since I started my journey here. There is something coming, I can feel it.”
“Is there?” he couldn’t help but131Please respect copyright.PENANAzct1VvWMkQ
chuckle. She shot him a dirty look. “Is that why you came here with Kiara?131Please respect copyright.PENANA5WDkUeoqUC
Because something was coming?”
“I came here because it was my131Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8I3g45rgP
duty to protect my older sister and keep her safe.” She explained. “But now131Please respect copyright.PENANAZouVR4WbgD
that she is here, I’m not sure what to do with myself now.”
“You just got accepted into the131Please respect copyright.PENANAf4BSHA85G0
Blades,” he said. “A captain at that. You can stay close to Kiara and keep her131Please respect copyright.PENANAtTLU5Ob6OB
safe. Is that what you wanted?” She131Please respect copyright.PENANAFzrPypzeYZ
nodded her head for a moment but shook it.
“This was a path that was chosen131Please respect copyright.PENANAF7n4e0P7UR
for me and one I was willing to be a part of. I had been training for it since131Please respect copyright.PENANAdqLubs0N0X
I was a little girl.” She laughed, but the joy didn’t reach her eyes. “What I131Please respect copyright.PENANAvJyXBh2Y8F
wanted was to marry a prince and be whisked off my feet or to travel the world131Please respect copyright.PENANADAFwCZEUCb
and meet new people. But this, fighting,” she looked down at her calloused131Please respect copyright.PENANARLErtiruvb
hands with sadness. “It’s not what I want to do with my life.”
“Is this what keeps you up at131Please respect copyright.PENANAlQIFmwGxxf
night?” he asked. “Your uncertain future?”
“Isn’t that what keeps you up?”131Please respect copyright.PENANA9H74dHF3PQ
she countered. “Why you stay here in the garden in the middle of the night131Please respect copyright.PENANAMULgs7J8Au
instead of being in your comfortable bed?”
“I grow restless at night.” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANAz3Yl3InVZg
said.
“Due to Unna?” He looked at her131Please respect copyright.PENANAA9HhP1Uejl
sharply. “You don’t really keep it a secret. Anyone with half a brain can tell131Please respect copyright.PENANALbeR1bS7wR
you’re different. The way you move, the way you fight, it’s as if you can sense131Please respect copyright.PENANA0AufeeLe69
things that other people can’t.”
“Kiara told you?” she grinned at131Please respect copyright.PENANARHTXnjN7Bv
him.
“Kiara told me.” He sighed. He131Please respect copyright.PENANAqCib4gWnlM
leaned back on the bench, so he was staring up at the sky once again.
“I never wanted this.” He131Please respect copyright.PENANATSAbGyP1md
whispered. “I acted to save my friends and was given this power. If I could131Please respect copyright.PENANA9P7WlsMzGd
give it back I would. I know what happens to those who abuse her power and even131Please respect copyright.PENANA7S9u5dsQlM
now I feel it scratching inside, wanting to be let loose. If it wasn’t for Shea131Please respect copyright.PENANAymhY4xNHMy
I would have lost myself a long time ago.”
“You’ll find you can accomplish131Please respect copyright.PENANA9Cor4GhBhY
great things when you have something you want to protect Vander.” She smiled.131Please respect copyright.PENANAgjMTjDsfsq
“I hope you can find someone else you want to protect, to give you that131Please respect copyright.PENANAghtmR1g2sK
strength when you need it.”
“No one has escaped this curse131Please respect copyright.PENANAyhSAo3FQR0
Eliza, no one.” He got up from the bench. “My grandfather, Cuvera, the King,131Please respect copyright.PENANAFMKEFgQU0y
and Alex seem to think I can, but I don’t know. It seems, unsurmountable.”
“I still have one wish that you131Please respect copyright.PENANA4EQuS8c2fG
need to grant.” Eliza placed her hand on Vander’s shoulder. “Come with me.” Confused131Please respect copyright.PENANAFRK9cMJhyb
as to where she was taking him, he followed.
The two of them left the garden131Please respect copyright.PENANAcxhZFLK69O
heading back inside of the castle. He thought that she was going to take him to131Please respect copyright.PENANALIvIXYvcyP
her room, but instead she led him down towards the castle training room131Please respect copyright.PENANAFm05WAqwHT
reserved for the Captains, though no one used it much anymore except the131Please respect copyright.PENANAcAHkx4LoDZ
commander when he sparred with Malcolm or Cuvera. Vander came here sometimes131Please respect copyright.PENANAIRqvqCbSqr
when he was being given lessons, but it had been a long time.
“Why have we come down here?” he131Please respect copyright.PENANAxnnmLXZ30j
asked. She ignored him. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail then removed131Please respect copyright.PENANArROUwMNC9r
her jacket tossing it on the floor in the corner. She began to stretch while131Please respect copyright.PENANAYFd8gpp8qg
Vander just stared at her dumbfounded. Realizing he wasn’t going to get the131Please respect copyright.PENANA2C4X1qP2HU
answer he needed from her, he shrugged off his jacket and began to stretch as131Please respect copyright.PENANAgCXYPLBR4A
well. Either she was going to fight him or fuck him, either way he wanted to be131Please respect copyright.PENANA9VFxxjz9ZQ
prepared.
“Do you know that Bricen is the131Please respect copyright.PENANAQw7Qq1UZ6Z
only country, outside of Eluvia, who had a Ma’akti?” she asked a couple of131Please respect copyright.PENANAvd0pgGgSXC
minutes later. She was touching the tips of her toes when she looked up at him.
“I did.” Vander nodded. “I always131Please respect copyright.PENANAZ06sUNngrt
thought it was the King, but you were all very tight lipped about it.”
“Well, it’s not my father.” Eliza131Please respect copyright.PENANAjP97Nlfjlq
laughed. “The blessings of Azta doesn’t go through the men of the line, it goes131Please respect copyright.PENANA99Vm92YQFs
through the women, and it’s known to skip a couple of generations.”
“What does this have to do with131Please respect copyright.PENANAl0gyG4HlGQ
me?” Vander asked. Eliza got to her feet and motioned for Vander to do the131Please respect copyright.PENANA4PdYgGHTHe
same. He got up warily, keeping his eye on her as she moved around the small131Please respect copyright.PENANA5W2kD5hw6x
room.
Suddenly her hand combusted and131Please respect copyright.PENANA7XNvN9L7HQ
she swung a flaming fist towards his face. Vander ducked in surprise, the131Please respect copyright.PENANAuR7WTfNlne
flames singing part of his cheek. He was so startled he fell on the ground and131Please respect copyright.PENANA9KI60uDgy5
started quickly backing away. She smirked sinisterly at him as she walked131Please respect copyright.PENANAJdHH7X0veI
closer to him. She held her hand up towards the ceiling, but it didn’t look as131Please respect copyright.PENANAxawzZyweTb
though she was in any sort of pain.
“You’re the Ma’akti Azta’un?” he131Please respect copyright.PENANAEgBCPzu7Kt
stammered out. “How are you doing that? Isn’t that painful?”
“When I was younger and didn’t131Please respect copyright.PENANAWwNuoWPDKo
know how to control it, sure.” She shrugged. “But I have had time to accept my131Please respect copyright.PENANAvCVDyAm5hr
lot in life and made this apart of me. You must learn to do the same.”
“It’s not the same though.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAdzX7Fd5YK2
Vander’s voice hardened. “Do you know how many of my predecessors slaughtered131Please respect copyright.PENANAlwV5cZmcQ3
their friends? Their family?” He got up from his position on the floor. “Their131Please respect copyright.PENANAhh4MZsL0OA
blood was on their hands, and it took many more lives until they were put131Please respect copyright.PENANAUGYRhDIPUZ
down.”
“You cannot live in fear your131Please respect copyright.PENANAQDndawOfKp
entire life.” Eliza snapped. “You must embrace who you are, embrace the beast131Please respect copyright.PENANAV43trsRFJ9
inside. That’s the only way you can move forward.”
“No.” he snarled. “That’s final.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAjEuiFUScMu
He moved to leave, but Eliza placed her other hand on his shoulder. He brought131Please respect copyright.PENANAfV8swiJCeT
his elbow back to shrug her off, but accidentally caught her in the face. She131Please respect copyright.PENANAuBwURu09kR
stumbled backwards, but before he could apologize, she swept his legs out from131Please respect copyright.PENANAxU3rJHqYH0
under him making him land on his back. She was on him while he was trying to131Please respect copyright.PENANAsKYGnL5nmE
stand up. She grabbed him by the collar then pushed him against the wall. He131Please respect copyright.PENANAGecKwzYSBm
rebounded off and went for a punch which she easily ducked underneath. Then she131Please respect copyright.PENANAtsq2VreK1p
drove her fist into his stomach.
She waited around while he dry131Please respect copyright.PENANA0gesTTCsd4
heaved on the floor. “Why are you doing this?” he gasped.
“Before Kiara was going to come131Please respect copyright.PENANAcg95Kd6qq0
here, I was actually going to take her place as princess.” Eliza walked around131Please respect copyright.PENANAqDIGxvtdsn
him. “The night before, Azta came to me. She told me that someone was going to131Please respect copyright.PENANAhKtxUNTcYd
need me here, one given the Curse of the Beasts. That he would need my help to131Please respect copyright.PENANAyzG7f2Y8g2
realize his true power.”
“My true power is death and131Please respect copyright.PENANAt4lwubKXza
slaughter.” He wobbled to his feet, but his eyes were focused on her. “Nothing131Please respect copyright.PENANAcuYQJ3qJgQ
can change that.”
“Even if it’s the ones you loved131Please respect copyright.PENANAqWezgRUPTJ
being threatened?” He growled his response, so she held her hands up in front131Please respect copyright.PENANAbmX5Rr9JUh
of her. “Eventually you will have to make a choice, Vander. Accept who you are131Please respect copyright.PENANAQlTdrjpKFu
or those you love and everyone around them will die because you didn’t.”
“Does this have to do with Veyar’s131Please respect copyright.PENANA5IIEUWX3u6
prophecy?” he asked. She looked at him confused then shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t speak to Veyar, only131Please respect copyright.PENANADfoYiZutxm
Azta, and only when she wants me to.” She explained. “If Veyar talked to you,131Please respect copyright.PENANAHDH5okJtBD
it’s for your ears only. What did she tell you?”
“About the freeing of the131Please respect copyright.PENANAWLd5sWqGON
Darkness.” He said. Eliza’s face grew pale.
“Let’s just hope that doesn’t come131Please respect copyright.PENANAt6estyYWmn
to pass.” She said. “They need a lot more than a few of our powers to make it131Please respect copyright.PENANAgoGYAiWOmV
happen. If something like that was going to happen, the deities would be up in131Please respect copyright.PENANArlH9JpxwnI
arms. Let’s just focus on this for now.”
“There is no this.” Vander dusted131Please respect copyright.PENANAmonUAK6Cnb
himself off. “I’m out of here.”
“This was my wish, Vander.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAgrL3RxqW4Y
Eliza’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks. “Or do you go against your word?”131Please respect copyright.PENANAqE7JZkbx2R
His shoulder’s slumped as he turned back to face her.
“I will make you regret this.” He131Please respect copyright.PENANArL4D93Q7kq
sighed. “I still have my wish as well.”
“Do your worst.” She squared up.131Please respect copyright.PENANAqXVRnHIyJL
“This time, please fight back.”
“I cannot control the strength I131Please respect copyright.PENANAbdjdMO4f8k
possess.” He warned. “If you get hurt, Kiara will have my head.”
“Don’t worry about hurting me.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAsVJthjW4jD
She grinned. “Worry about yourself.”
She ignited her fist and charged131Please respect copyright.PENANAw1ekZaZ49u
him. Vander closed his eyes and for the first time in a long time he removed131Please respect copyright.PENANAZbih0W8Ksu
the barriers he erected in place to protect himself and others. He opened his131Please respect copyright.PENANAhLWwmLcR2D
eyes and saw the fist mere centimeters from his face, but it was slowed. He131Please respect copyright.PENANACnC8xVtHRw
could see her fingernails, each of them crackling with the flames of the131Please respect copyright.PENANAfuk1XLr3bp
goddess. He could hear her muscles tense, smell the sweat building up on her131Please respect copyright.PENANAzGNh8MpfWD
body, and taste the ashes in the air. He slid out of the way and counterpunched131Please respect copyright.PENANAkON9d7cKwA
hitting her in the stomach. She was sent flying backwards into the wall.131Please respect copyright.PENANAhjlobWSyde
Instead of bouncing off it, she ended up a couple of inches embedded inside. As131Please respect copyright.PENANAUQOyqkyuix
quickly as he released them, Vander re-erected the barriers.
“Are you alright?” he asked. Eliza131Please respect copyright.PENANA5z5YkqRII3
pulled herself from the wall grinning. She brushed off the dust from her131Please respect copyright.PENANAZGaRGlWKaZ
clothing stepping onto the broken bricks.
“Damn you do pack a punch.” She131Please respect copyright.PENANArrgMcQOrxi
laughed. “If I hadn’t protected myself using the divinity I had stored, I would131Please respect copyright.PENANA09aMheHq05
have broken a few ribs.”
“That’s a neat trick.” He frowned.
“That’s just one of the few things131Please respect copyright.PENANA71i2PTEKVf
you can learn if you accept who you are.” She explained. “Until then, I’ll keep131Please respect copyright.PENANABJ6a6xoJic
beating your ass. Are you ready?”
“No, but you won’t leave me along131Please respect copyright.PENANAIydTOwQ8tj
until I am.” He got into his fighting stance. “Let’s just get this over with,131Please respect copyright.PENANAfsYaLvty4Z
we have a wedding tomorrow.”
∙
Vander was sore when he woke up131Please respect copyright.PENANAeoK0O6pLAR
the next morning. Eliza kept him down there for hours trying to goad him into131Please respect copyright.PENANATNYzSjmpPH
using the powers gifted to him by Unna, but he refused. If that punch was131Please respect copyright.PENANAtVdBMN5rkJ
anything close to what he could do, he could wreak untold havoc if he succumbed.131Please respect copyright.PENANATy4wVOFYQ8
He couldn’t, he wouldn’t let that happen. Eventually she had gotten tired and131Please respect copyright.PENANAwUINidk09b
dismissed them for the night, however he knew that she would keep bringing him131Please respect copyright.PENANAj4FJ1UaNfX
down there until she was satisfied. Shea hadn’t even woken up when he arrived131Please respect copyright.PENANABBfcvOsfM1
back, but let her annoyance known when he flopped down on top of her. She131Please respect copyright.PENANAHLMfpkOu09
bounced on top of him several times before slamming her head into his side. She131Please respect copyright.PENANAoMAaNLE7wP
emulated Eliza by kicking him in the side before eventually going back to131Please respect copyright.PENANAp00BPD30Ak
sleep.
He slunk out of bed towards the131Please respect copyright.PENANAknOGdvAHgy
bathroom. It was still early morning, but even from up here he could hear the131Please respect copyright.PENANAK5mn9ETJQ7
buzzing of servants running around getting everything ready for this afternoon.131Please respect copyright.PENANAjMq9lg4Dhm
This was going to be a long day and he had to make sure the guards were in131Please respect copyright.PENANAO0zERcdMrn
their places and alert just in case anything happened. With all the Wardens,131Please respect copyright.PENANA1JHaqpiSBg
nobles, the prince, princess and the King all in one place it was a prime131Please respect copyright.PENANAFsqMHDFLnz
target for anyone looking to cripple the country. He wouldn’t leave anything to131Please respect copyright.PENANAHE4Yf5d6p2
chance, not after the king’s poisoning. He had to make sure all his bases were131Please respect copyright.PENANAxMFBcncDER
covered because if anything happened it would be his ass on the line, no one131Please respect copyright.PENANAzIuGCleFKs
else’s.
He showered quickly, but when he131Please respect copyright.PENANApxFIcT8mHb
came out there was a package sitting on the bed with a written note on it. He131Please respect copyright.PENANAvia2HVqCFG
recognized Cuvera’s handwriting. The note told him that it was from Madame131Please respect copyright.PENANAHQfOo7SGdy
Topal, which meant it was his attire for the wedding. He had a choice to wear131Please respect copyright.PENANA43aJA84JOp
it now and face ridicule from his comrades, or rush getting changed later and131Please respect copyright.PENANARyXIkICsqF
risk being late. Sighing, he removed the clothing from the box and put it on.
Topal had gotten his measurements131Please respect copyright.PENANA1fKNUMFclW
precisely. Nothing bulged when he put on his clothing nor did anything hang131Please respect copyright.PENANAiB7yyXFiRD
loose off his frame. The pants were tailored to the perfect height and somehow131Please respect copyright.PENANAiZjG8SEvqZ
she had gotten the measurements for his feet as there was a new pair of boots131Please respect copyright.PENANAKs47Pfw8Ml
also in the box. Both were black and the shirt he put on was a deep blue the131Please respect copyright.PENANAOmzyLFw97d
color of the Elan family crest. The frock jacket he received was entirely blue131Please respect copyright.PENANAZbBpeDXSHt
aside from the spiral pattern around the buttons and over the chest: that was131Please respect copyright.PENANAMICZMaJTvs
the color of his hair. He had to admit, he looked good in the outfit, but it131Please respect copyright.PENANAMRSuhZQsKe
was a little too fancy for his taste. Thankfully Topal was considerate enough131Please respect copyright.PENANAM24XXmH4Ru
to add a sword belt to his outfit so he wouldn’t feel quite as exposed without131Please respect copyright.PENANAFNbfEe1w9c
his sword close by.
“What do you think?” he turned131Please respect copyright.PENANAGQpigE7G1Q
around to face Shea. She looked up at him with a tilt of her head.
“Very dignified.” She131Please respect copyright.PENANAfF16wW5YA9
barked. “Eliza will be very happy.”
“Why does it matter if she is?”131Please respect copyright.PENANADkl2OwsycI
Vander asked her. “This is for me to look like Cuvera’s best man, not for131Please respect copyright.PENANAJihY6KMoVM
Eliza.”
“Don’t act like you weren’t131Please respect copyright.PENANAkgQvr6pid4
covered in her scent.” Shea rolled her eyes. “I could smell the131Please respect copyright.PENANAngE3viTIPC
attraction between the two of you. Don’t lie to me Vander.”
“Okay, so what though?” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANAqcjCzsMFnV
clipped on his sword. “She’s just helping me because of a vision she received,131Please respect copyright.PENANAtEtf4BxjAr
no other reason. I know you want me to be happy, Shea, but these kinds of131Please respect copyright.PENANAhr1nK74T3T
things take time. I’m not ready.”
“You’re just afraid of being131Please respect copyright.PENANAJo2iBzX2Ys
hurt again.” She said accusingly. “Bree made her choice and Julianna is131Please respect copyright.PENANAA2XYMguR9c
busy running her business.” Her voice softened. “It hurts me to see you131Please respect copyright.PENANA0BPAqNLcXp
so unhappy.” He took a deep breath to control his anger.
“I know, I know.” He sat down on131Please respect copyright.PENANAkQm2tBMTDK
the bed. She placed her head in his lap while he stroked her ear. “When this131Please respect copyright.PENANAnsyDZfZfNY
mess with the Serpents is done, we will take a vacation away from here. Maybe131Please respect copyright.PENANA2Wl9q21wTD
go to the shore and play at the beach, just the two of us.” Her tail thumped on131Please respect copyright.PENANA3s6reKQ5ip
the bed in excitement.
“I’d like that.” She said.
“Now, let’s go prepare for the131Please respect copyright.PENANAQmtiA0ibvr
wedding.”
Vander and Shea slipped from the131Please respect copyright.PENANAjisZtp24n5
room and headed towards the ballroom where his Blades would be waiting.
With the others131Please respect copyright.PENANAMxhzYl3YZK
returning from their mission to escort the Warden’s to the city, all fifty of131Please respect copyright.PENANAMuVEWFeVf4
them were in attendance. They were all dressed in their uniforms talking131Please respect copyright.PENANA37ZCDueqEk
amongst one another, but as soon as he entered the room, they snapped smartly131Please respect copyright.PENANAPRuvRAcOHk
to attention. He marched past them with Shea following behind. He stood on top131Please respect copyright.PENANApRBnKuHjQD
of the stage where the throne had been removed to make room for the pillars131Please respect copyright.PENANAcBKdLhQbN3
that were draped in red and blue fabric. The ten Captains stood behind Charles131Please respect copyright.PENANAj8k7PluC17
with their hands behind their back. Alex bowed his head at Vander, but Leon131Please respect copyright.PENANAWaU63Irh4u
ignored him altogether. He looked around for Eliza, but she wasn’t there. She131Please respect copyright.PENANAlAPZrKigkI
was likely helping Kiara with her wedding preparations.
“You’re late.”131Please respect copyright.PENANArUCBdab5i1
Charles growled.
“Sorry,” Vander131Please respect copyright.PENANAJT1ut36PsT
bowed his head. “I had a late night.”
“Get in line.” As131Please respect copyright.PENANAt7wsmj4zuJ
soon as walked next to his grandfather, the old man whispered: “You look nice.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAC3zhSf4U02
Vander smiled to himself as he stood next to Alex. Shea sat down next to him.131Please respect copyright.PENANApaj1J3iNlW
Charles straightened his back before speaking to the others: “As you know, the131Please respect copyright.PENANAzOfNbpO1zO
wedding of Cuvera and Kiara is later this afternoon. As such we have one duty,131Please respect copyright.PENANAHM9QUzz5WV
protect the castle grounds from intruders, and keep the King, his family and131Please respect copyright.PENANAz0NvKcWobX
the Warden’s safe. The guards will protect the walls while we protect the131Please respect copyright.PENANAUw76aES29c
castle. I want everyone to be on their best behavior and aware of your131Please respect copyright.PENANAcTFLfzrX6J
surroundings. I will pass it off to Vander for specifics.”
“Thank you.”131Please respect copyright.PENANAM4s8O6OPvT
Vander stepped up. This was his chance to prove himself as a capable leader and131Please respect copyright.PENANAPdaryq3dMm
he wasn’t going to let it go to waste. He saw Rooster, Chicken, Forest, Briar,131Please respect copyright.PENANAkhmkTMgnXF
and Eve standing at the back. Their new uniforms and weapons were looking shiny131Please respect copyright.PENANAinmy7KCI0O
and new, and they looked nervous. He would have to give them something131Please respect copyright.PENANA6od7RXEOHe
important, but also easy. He didn’t want to give them too much responsibility131Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ay4NVH5ou
for their first official mission.
“Tonight is a131Please respect copyright.PENANAkMFIIXHVHG
very special night and it’s our job to make sure that everything goes131Please respect copyright.PENANARsNCI1fh1O
smoothly.” He said. “Listen to your Captains, keep your eyes peeled and your131Please respect copyright.PENANAxwyn8WvN7v
wits about you. If something seems wrong, listen to your instincts. I’d rather131Please respect copyright.PENANABMSvP3U08h
apologize because you were wrong than do nothing and have this place crash down131Please respect copyright.PENANA5qVcYEf7UW
around us. Now, for your posts.”
He gave131Please respect copyright.PENANApK3mny6328
Alexander’s squad, the new trainees, the task of guarding the door. It would131Please respect copyright.PENANAy7E0fqgx2c
involve checking invitations, making sure none of the guards brought weapons,131Please respect copyright.PENANA9sDluyZJ7R
and the people who were there had been invited. It would test them to stand131Please respect copyright.PENANAQTlbk6X9Xx
their group against uppity nobles who believed they were above the law and131Please respect copyright.PENANAjK2JNyilfs
making sure they could do their job properly.
He made sure131Please respect copyright.PENANAdNlzZrkWCw
Leon’s squad was paired with someone who would keep an eye on them. They would131Please respect copyright.PENANApXr9STUdGE
oversee patrolling the upstairs, checking rooms and windows for any potential131Please respect copyright.PENANAnryM4Uj0An
hazards. There would be four squads alternating to make sure no one got tired.131Please respect copyright.PENANAF3znRgPDaV
One squad would be walking around the ballroom during the party to escort drunk131Please respect copyright.PENANAmCuXYVzOJA
revelers to rooms that have been set aside for them. There would be some squads131Please respect copyright.PENANAb4nDgJTbkO
stationed in the kitchens and along the delivery tunnels. He made sure no131Please respect copyright.PENANAHwQ7Ejv4EO
routes were left unprotected. If there were any gaps he would be the last line131Please respect copyright.PENANAoZK4u6erf4
of defense. Shea would keep her eyes on the king and prince the entire night.131Please respect copyright.PENANAMOHPf0UogN
She would warn him if there was anything suspicious going on.
He gave one last131Please respect copyright.PENANAsNuxFH32R1
warning to the troops. “The people who attacked the king and nearly ended his131Please respect copyright.PENANAM3vgPOq49v
life, as well as my own, are crafty and skilled.” He said. “Keep your eyes on131Please respect copyright.PENANA8eWhWjgYQs
each other and watch each other’s back. No one goes anywhere alone. Am I131Please respect copyright.PENANARnB8PdtxXE
understood?”
“Yes sir!” The131Please respect copyright.PENANADss1jyeQv8
Blades saluted.
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“Let’s get to it131Please respect copyright.PENANA4GPMt2cDfr
then.” Vander saluted back.