Chapter111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnx1yRDyVSJ
43
He felt something warm and heavy on111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeW8yB70W8
his chest. At first, he was confused111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkaMKy2kuk
because he thought that he had been killed, but he felt very much alive. He111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbcsgvkPgC
slowly opened his eyes, but promptly closed them again as the bright light111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAE7FrDock
blinded him. He stirred, but heavy hands kept him still.
“Your111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgHKakHYBs
wounds haven’t fully healed.” The man said. “You need to lie still.” He111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTAswzKkMT
recognized the voice of Topal which meant he had to be back in the Capital.
“What111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVftzIHUDQ
happened?” Vander groaned. He tried to sit up, but again Topal pushed him back111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbJrmSmFrq
down.
“Don’t111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgvKhTgMOB
worry about that now.” He scolded. “Rest and be well. There are plenty of111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdc8UfdjI0g
people who wish to see you.” Slowly nodding his head, Vander drifted off back111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQN9pWHKiq
to sleep.
Over111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWhZIk0AZK
the next few days, he heard many people entering and leaving the room he was111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiVPpe4jNa
staying in, but he didn’t hear anything that was being said. The only thing he111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzGeJ6saJX
noticed was when Shea came in to sleep on his bed. He could feel how worried111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaaevBbLjD
she had been and how excited she was that he was back. He held her close, not111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAGTp9IJZn
willing to be parted with her again. Alex came to visit him on the fourth day111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8W1qsyAl1
to tell him what had happened.
“We111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3wcopblx4
came back as quickly as we could.” Alex sat in the chair; his hands clasped111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ911jvH2g7V
together. Since arriving he hadn’t looked his friend in the eye, not once.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EIlMj8a6v
“After I explained what happened, the Commander came as well. He was worried111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrzA0hUlsH
for you and when he saw you lying on the ground near death, he was beside111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90XfQCdDpf
himself. He wouldn’t stop until you could be seen by Topal.”
“What111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMivtvSdnk
about Eve and Jogun?” Vander asked. “Where they found?”
“No,”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqOUF7Teiq
Alex shook his head. “They were gone along with twenty other Serpents, but111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sj9G3mATE
because of you we have vital intel about where they have been hiding out. The111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALVImk1vJJ
army has been dispatched to hunt them down.”
“That’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0IJqkU6Bt
a relief.” Vander sighed.
“It’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfm4XdFGV9
in the hands of the council now. They will decide on our next steps.” Before111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDLSp91A6E
Vander could say anything, there was a knock on the door. Alex stood as Cuvera111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcDKxQ4ckC
walked in with Kiara right behind her.
“My111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKlOUWNlfl
prince.” Vander went to sit up, but Cuvera shook his head.
“Stay,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcN1rlQ9vj
as far as I’m concerned, you’re a hero and I should be bowing to you.” Cuvera111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTWtoEjnZn
looked at Alex. “Do you mind if we have the room?”
“Certainly.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J3jXuuSJ7
Alex bowed his head and shuffled out. Kiara slowly closed the door behind him.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Uhya9La7
They waited a couple of moments to make sure they were truly alone before he111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bNeL6dpOz
sat down in the chair.
“Thanks111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLXh2NbGmH
to you, my Queen has returned.” Cuvera smiled. “If there is anything in the111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznC8jnxpM5
country you would like, it is yours for the asking. My family owes you an111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmLrCN4YX9
enormous debt.”
Vander111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rgbsPUaOa
took a few minutes to ponder if before shaking his head. “Nothing comes to111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6MThbOkdg
mind. Can I think about it for a bit?” Cuvera nodded his head. He opened his111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMMOU0ALHA
mouth to speak again but closed it shortly after. Vander could tell that his111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqwKsBzDuj
friend was fighting biting back his anger, but he didn’t know why.
“Perhaps111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIvI8siZtr
I should be the one to tell him.” Kiara placed her hand on her fiancé’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN73qPDnNcK
shoulder. He interlocked his fingers with hers but gave an apologetic smile.
“No,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kFoZNgCE4
it’s better if it comes from me.” He took a deep breath. “Despite Peyton’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Kv4s4Hc1C
betrayal there are still many on the council who blame you for what happened.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXVd8MyjuD
They decided to keep you from the Blades since it was also one of your recruits111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrxF08I3pP
who betrayed us.”
“That’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWo55YyLLw
outrageous.” Alexander shouted. He came back in from the hallway angrier than111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNJ4SwAGWc
Vander had ever seen him. “He saved the Queen and ousted a traitor. What are111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56XKYWbyEN
they thinking?”
“Politicians rarely think, Alex.”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLwDvB0muQ
Cuvera said. “However, that decision ultimately rests in my hands, so I have111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIzMD8yKCu
decided to ignore their judgement. Vander, this next part is for you to111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiHAiaoyaT
decide.”
“Yes?”
“I’m111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fznd6P3Wg
currently short a Commander, would you do me the honors?” Cuvera smiled down at111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqe83cctC8
Vander, holding out his hand hoping his friend would accept. He didn’t even111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpxsD7C2TH
have to think twice. He took the hand and smiled.
“Yes,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSM5tiiuJF
my King.”
…
A111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchPkssVlQW
week later Vander stood in front of the mirror struggling to put on his111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBeYNJibq3
uniform. Today was the day he would be coronated as Blade Commander and he111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOn3OLUlWgc
wanted to do it right. It had taken a long time for Topal to give permission111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazpfGOdCgR
for Vander to walk around, but it would still take a few more months until he111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm3fRoUi5o
was back to normal. However, a couple of things did change. His hair had gone111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpB4cMSXGPU
back to its normal color as the coming together of his demon and him changed it111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb4kNvt5Jb
back. It showed that he fully accepted his abilities instead of finding them.
The111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT6Y2llgCP
other thing that changed came into the room and wrapped her arms around111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RZWCNW5fU
Vander’s shoulders placing a kiss on his cheek. “Have I thanked you today for111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a5lDFCnxp
saving my life?” Eliza whispered in his ear.
“No,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVwu0P5hrN
but you can do so by helping me get dressed.” Vander said. “I have to be there111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQihqPkoYIP
soon and I’m nowhere near ready.”
When111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lMYJtvQY2
he awoke from his coma, he wasted no time marrying Eliza. Despite knowing each111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3t9of7HBG
other for only a little while, he couldn’t deny there was a connection between111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tRJGh2GhG
them that hadn’t existed with anyone else he had been with before. He had111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxQdGDgPWx
nearly lost her once and he wasn’t willing to go through it again. Their111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ2YtRP48I
matching gold bands glinted as she fixed his baldric to his belt.
“Do111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8mvk9fVmZ
you still wish to go to the beach?” he asked her. Her golden eyes met his as he111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jK92mbPQH
saw her smile.
“Are111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAhSAlrQfn
we going there soon?”
“After111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tphtAP0Xa
the ceremony.” Vander nodded. “I have a few months of vacation I have to take111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfImaRKpzZU
to recover from my injuries. Alex, Chicken and Rooster will be busy reforming111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoi6Q7AWEo
the Blades in my absence, I just must get better.”
“I111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaXnb1RKo1
bought a new outfit I can’t wait to show you.” She teased him gently.
“One111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGZ8akzMEZ
thing at a time.” He smiled. “Let’s get through this.”
Hand111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToBLHlm2wM
in hand, the two of them left the room and entered the throne room, which was111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXZt5g0Ic4
filled with Blades and council members, many of which frowned at his entrance,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX11zhdZJRA
but there wasn’t much they could do about it. This was Cuvera’s choice, it111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkzkc9oiiv
didn’t matter what they wanted.
The111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn8IqjvVkG
Warden’s had all gone home to their territories to begin the hunt for the111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiCtGTJq24
missing Serpents. No one would rest until they were caught and brought to111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWdhSOJ1rY
justice. No one kidnapped the queen and got away with it. The Cranton family111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqQcHOYlqs
was also being investigated for their ties to the Black Order and Serpents, but111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn75LHwbbEZ
nothing had come up yet. Cuvera wouldn’t rest until the matter was settled, but111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48jIrGatYc
that was for him to do.
Eliza111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXXs09SoxW
walked over to stand by Alex and Shea who couldn’t hide their pride at Vander’s111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLJEQX6aIm
promotion.
Vander111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxFtTs6rR2
walked up to the center floor, just in front of Cuvera, then got down on one111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6BBCATy9v
knee and bowed his head. He heard the king remove a sword from his scabbard and111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDkgrJ97Io
hold it aloft.
“Do111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfARawWReIV
you, Vander, accept the title of Commander and everything that comes with it?”111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLh4wj0jAU
Cuvera asked.
“I111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOJqWQMS6r
do.” He shouted back.
“Do111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCT4du1EsC
you swear to give your life for me and the citizens of this realm if I ask of111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQmqLZFdey
it?”
“Only111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNwt0S3VzE
death will release me from my vow.” He responded.
“Then111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8S0aducXI
I name you Vander, my Blade Commander.” Cuvera said. “Please rise and accept111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESUznxP1YA
this sword.” Vander stood then walked up to the platform as the crowd cheered,111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Dg9xJeQ4R
chanting his name. He accepted the sword that had been created for him. The111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXY5D7Bu5p
scabbard had been painted to resemble a white wolf while the weapon was made111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxTeYgEJau
from white titanium found deep within the northern mountains. It was sturdy and111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv9Suzaccs
resilient, just like him.
As111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GDzGQyx1G
he looked over the gathered crowd, he knew the next few years would be111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfNwZYZoAE
challenging, but he would have to do his best to protect the people here from111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S52v14k9e
the vision Humi had shown him. He still hadn’t told anyone, and he likely never111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkonX6ErDmp
would. This was his burden to bear and bear it he must. For he was the only one111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbY6MaWRl1
capable of protecting them all.
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He111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEvNFXAHGt
is, the Eluvian Blade.
