Chapter 22
Vander watched as blood seeped out107Please respect copyright.PENANAKfAKAI1sry
of the King’s chest. However, instead of checking to see if he was alright,107Please respect copyright.PENANA9iPzckla6n
Vander took a few steps backwards reaching for the sword that wasn’t there.107Please respect copyright.PENANAl2yoIEZUu6
Peyton took a step in, stepping over the King, to advance on Vander holding the107Please respect copyright.PENANAH9hQVDZ1yM
sword out in front of him.
“Give me the book.” Peyton107Please respect copyright.PENANA79C4zKbJQr
snapped. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“What have you done to Shea?”107Please respect copyright.PENANA3NweJ0ZwF1
Vander snapped.
“I put her down for a nap.” Peyton107Please respect copyright.PENANAqZlqt163bm
smiled. “She should really be carefully about who she accepts snacks from.”
“You bastard.” Vander went to107Please respect copyright.PENANA0BXjI2CXOI
lunge for him, but the sword shot out catching him just under the chin.
“Tut, tut, Vander, you don’t have107Please respect copyright.PENANAK5HLvN9hTP
a weapon.” The man grinned. Vander walked backwards, but Peyton followed him107Please respect copyright.PENANAFibzEAkP9O
until he was pushed up against the desk. “Hand me the book while I’m still107Please respect copyright.PENANA3FcJ3RcNt2
asking nicely.”
“No,” He wasn’t sure what the man107Please respect copyright.PENANA8zyp5q39rA
wanted with the book, but if he was willing to kill the King for it, it must be107Please respect copyright.PENANAnpUs9jwZ8U
something important.
“I wanted to keep you alive, but107Please respect copyright.PENANASr0mCeAvlV
if you choose to stand in my way I will kill you.” He swung with the sword, but107Please respect copyright.PENANA6k2Gp9lfwE
Vander ducked under the swing. He punched Peyton in the stomach, but his hand107Please respect copyright.PENANAge6dy6mz3I
hit something metallic causing him to cry out in pain. “Not even your strength107Please respect copyright.PENANAMXPbmYKOmO
will get through that armor, Vander.” He swung again, but this time Vander107Please respect copyright.PENANAGmBHW1oa9c
caught the hilt of the sword on his forearm then punched Peyton in the jaw. The107Please respect copyright.PENANAGAnIJIk8cf
man stumbled backwards dropping the sword.
“I don’t need my abilities to kill107Please respect copyright.PENANAcLeOhvBPzn
a coward like you.” Vander snarled. He went to punch Peyton again, but this107Please respect copyright.PENANAVEMkS0HD86
time the old man moved out of the way. He spun around, but Peyton got his hands107Please respect copyright.PENANArMrEKBZwD7
on a book and clapped Vander’s cheek with it. He fell backwards, his head107Please respect copyright.PENANAFG8o3Du0oi
spinning from the blow. Peyton tackled him forcing him to the ground.
“You forget I was a soldier too.”107Please respect copyright.PENANA0VhTt5Va3W
The older man laughed. “I’ve fought and killed more people than you’ve had107Please respect copyright.PENANAP7tYB6T0U5
birthdays, boy.” Vander grabbed Peyton’s arms then brought his legs up to107Please respect copyright.PENANAc0zrkX1Ffg
launch him overhead onto the desk. The lamp shattered and glasses went flying107Please respect copyright.PENANAX4rXo1AVdt
as he rolled onto the ground. Vander decided to use the quick reprieve to check107Please respect copyright.PENANARpqTrwO2kv
on the king.
“Malcolm,” he shouted. “Hold on.”107Please respect copyright.PENANAKsb4Zen8E3
Malcolm coughed up some more blood as he looked up at Vander with warmth in his107Please respect copyright.PENANAmA6SOPHKm9
eyes,
“I’m dying, Vander.” He wheezed.107Please respect copyright.PENANACKqOD7Dioj
His body spasmed as he talked and based on his beating heart, Vander knew he107Please respect copyright.PENANAxNAslMwsMl
didn’t have long to live. “Take the book and run, don’t let that man have it.”
“What’s so special about this107Please respect copyright.PENANAef97YCZVT0
book.” He asked resisting the urge to cry.
“No time.” Malcolm coughed. “There107Please respect copyright.PENANAzdGXaWIaSQ
is a knife in my desk, top drawer to the left, get it and take it with you. I107Please respect copyright.PENANAKKwRBasA6X
have no doubt that Peyton will frame you for my murder. Save yourself, do107Please respect copyright.PENANAOrDpzXi82D
whatever you can to make it out alive.” Malcolm grabbed Vander’s arms to haul107Please respect copyright.PENANApwC2kEmEOL
himself up to his feet. Vander went to steady him, but Malcolm pushed him107Please respect copyright.PENANAXAq1Ih1eWN
aside. “They might hate you, but I won’t, Vander. You gave me the chance to see107Please respect copyright.PENANAl7HeECDFpQ
my son marry and I know he will make a wonderful King.”
“You crafty bastard.” Peyton got107Please respect copyright.PENANAMPuGMJhrI8
to his feet. “Give me that book.” He jumped over the desk and ran towards107Please respect copyright.PENANAz7cnq0SJRC
Vander, but Malcolm grabbed his old friend’s shoulders doing his best to hold107Please respect copyright.PENANAYJN6VSCQlp
him back.
“Vander, Go!” Wasting no time,107Please respect copyright.PENANASkSlD6pLWV
Vander lunged towards the desk then opened the door. He saw the ornate knife107Please respect copyright.PENANAVVeGhAkQEV
then tucked it into his waistband. He raced to the door but turned around in107Please respect copyright.PENANACujsJbfLZp
time to see Peyton stick his hand into Malcolm’s chest and rip out his heart.107Please respect copyright.PENANAEioD88b2rI
The ring on Peyton’s hand glowed blue as Malcolm shuddered then fell to the107Please respect copyright.PENANAzYkz9CMqQu
floor. Vander heard Malcolm’s lungs release his last breath of air before107Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ6x3tHwkG
stilling.
“You bastard.” Vander spat. Peyton107Please respect copyright.PENANAFcNDKL5aPC
grinned then shouted:
“Help, the King has been killed,107Please respect copyright.PENANAdojXwVC2Wg
someone help me!” Wasting no time, Vander ran out the door and down the107Please respect copyright.PENANAq6tGCMnjpX
hallway. He saw Shea slumped over on the ground barely breathing. Without107Please respect copyright.PENANAgKuS5XPtcR
skipping a beat, he scooped her up and held the knife out in front of him. Peyton107Please respect copyright.PENANACfmyj0uxve
was close on his heels shouting the entire time.
Knowing he didn’t have time to107Please respect copyright.PENANALpH6HhMlzt
explain, he bowled over the Blades coming towards him then came towards the107Please respect copyright.PENANA2tu1auhQWn
stairs. Without skipping a beat, he jumped onto the banister then slid all the107Please respect copyright.PENANAt5FmGeBYkc
way down. He landed in the ballroom as Peyton ran to the rail.
“Stop him!” Peyton shouted. “He107Please respect copyright.PENANAcw4S5jW11l
just killed the King!” Pandemonium erupted as nobles tried to get away as107Please respect copyright.PENANAwXDIuxMcsF
soldiers from all over rushed towards Vander. It was proving quite a challenge107Please respect copyright.PENANAOY6hjdeSO6
to carry Shea while fending them off so he did the one thing he sword he would107Please respect copyright.PENANAh4JcYl666S
never do. He prayed to Unna. Moments later he felt power welling up in him. As107Please respect copyright.PENANAAbhUwopvIS
everyone came towards him, it seemed as though time was standing still. He107Please respect copyright.PENANAgzQSOaMGwm
rushed through, doing his best not to hurt any of them, as he ran towards the107Please respect copyright.PENANAvLuuT0Cw5y
door. A voice rang out over the crowd that caused him to momentarily stop in107Please respect copyright.PENANAZcVAbxw1UL
his tracks.
“Vander!” He turned around to see107Please respect copyright.PENANAz58zqpVyde
Cuvera staring at him with a look of disbelief on his face. He looked up at107Please respect copyright.PENANAvnDaXDjia9
Peyton who mimed slitting his throat and the warning was received loud and107Please respect copyright.PENANA3rcaXgNjzF
clear. If he said anything, anyone he loved would be next. Vander said nothing107Please respect copyright.PENANAw8GM8Py879
as he turned around and headed outside.
A light drizzle had started to107Please respect copyright.PENANA1V24Pp7vPa
fall during the nighttime making his flight a little more dangerous, but with107Please respect copyright.PENANAFirK9YYsp7
his abilities heightened he soon outpaced the soldiers chasing him. However, he107Please respect copyright.PENANAhBXGqiEDi2
wouldn’t be safe until he made it to the city and disappeared entirely. No107Please respect copyright.PENANAtoojye4Zww
matter where he went in the city there would be trouble, so there was only one107Please respect copyright.PENANAOU96flEjib
place he could go.
As he reached the third gate, a107Please respect copyright.PENANAGEG0OiFik8
captain was standing there. Jeffery Jilena had taken the post so those under107Please respect copyright.PENANAyFJxsfVfvH
his command could enjoy the wedding. He must not have heard what went on107Please respect copyright.PENANA2mO9Q2um3m
because he was standing there confused.
“Vander?” He asked. “Where are you107Please respect copyright.PENANAbIVRqauomx
going and why is Shea over your shoulder.”
“You need to let me pass.” Vander107Please respect copyright.PENANAJNnusUtqsq
gasped. “Someone has killed Malcolm, and they are going to blame me for it. I107Please respect copyright.PENANA5jZxYq562y
need to escape so I can clear my name and find all those responsible.”
“The King is dead?” Peyton gasped.107Please respect copyright.PENANArH4DU18Mh7
“How do you know?”
“I was there.” Vander said107Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ68hnTdEz
guiltily. “I couldn’t save him.”
“Who killed him then?” Jeffery107Please respect copyright.PENANAjNecZTyBqc
challenged. “Tell me.”
“I can’t.” Vander shook his head.107Please respect copyright.PENANAlln4Mmq0vG
“If I don’t, he will kill me, and all of this would be for nothing.”
“Then you must go, but I must make107Please respect copyright.PENANABXtk25aunM
this look good.” Jeffery drew his sword.
“You believe me?” Vander was107Please respect copyright.PENANAs7Zf6RxFM5
shocked.
“You saved the King before.”107Please respect copyright.PENANApIDbdsyNrF
Jeffery said. “You wouldn’t just kill him now; you would have just let him die107Please respect copyright.PENANAHODXc3PwOP
before. Plus, everyone tells me how nice and honorable you are. I don’t think107Please respect copyright.PENANAEhVsU1voiD
those who truly know you would think you capable of something like this.” The107Please respect copyright.PENANAHKPy30Z9rn
sounds of soldiers grew closer. They were running out of time.
“I am sorry I have to do this.”107Please respect copyright.PENANAWN1du8Tucx
Vander said. Jeffery held his sword by his side.
“Just hurry up.” He smiled. “Bring107Please respect copyright.PENANAKlSGqc3hTb
justice to our King.” Vander nodded then rushed forward, knocking him107Please respect copyright.PENANAUWNUoBkonp
unconscious with a single punch to the jaw. When he fell to the ground, Vander107Please respect copyright.PENANAlxHTTZ9ZyP
was already climbing up to the battlements. He looked back as the soldiers came107Please respect copyright.PENANAurJJePYYFi
to check on the captain. Once he was sure he was fine, he jumped down then107Please respect copyright.PENANA7hW2ehlxAr
slipped into the night.
The streets were quiet as he snuck107Please respect copyright.PENANAyPjQMDaR2c
through the alleys. Come morning everyone in the city will be looking for him,107Please respect copyright.PENANAWKXTOhPDH0
but for now, he was safe. He ran all the way to the lower district right to the107Please respect copyright.PENANALAPUku2WRW
Orange Fox. He knocked frantically on the door until Left showed up.
“What ya want?” he asked gruffly.
“Let me in.” Vander said, looking107Please respect copyright.PENANAGUrsgJVGgL
around nervously.
“Why?” Left’s eyes narrowed.
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“Auxilium postulo.” 107Please respect copyright.PENANAxa8C650573
Vander said. Left’s eyes widened then he opened the door. Vander took107Please respect copyright.PENANAWwmxHVunGl
one more look out to the street then stepped inside. The door closed firmly107Please respect copyright.PENANAo5hJ49eH57
shut behind him.