《The General's Prince》


 Prologue: A Princes Promise

    "Tell me the story of how you and Father united the borderlands!"


    The little boy''s eyes were bright. He clasped his hands together, leaning forward with excitement. His pudgy cheeks puffed as he begged, "Please, please, please!"


    Above him, the woman laughed. On her crown of braids sat a silver tiara. The metal glistened in the light of the flames. The fire made the room warm and cozy in the winter night.


    The queen leaned forward and bundled her young son into her arms. The boy squealed. She blew loud raspberries into his skin, smirking at the child''s shrieks.


    Turning his small face to her, she scolded lightly. "How many times do you want to hear the story, child?" The queen sighed. She must have recounted the same tale a thousand times by now. It was all the boy''s fault. Ever since he learned the words, "please", she found it hard to deny him anything.


    "Please," the boy pouted, eyes widening to dangerous levels.


    The queen blocked the adorable puppy eyes from view. "Stop it! Your eyeballs will fall out, Niko!"


    The warning only egged the boy on. He widened his eyes even more. "Pleaseeeee!" He dragged out the last letter for as long as his little lungs could and broke into giggling gasps.


    The doors to the study burst open. Slamming into the wall, they made a great sound. In the study, mother and son both looked up


    A teenage boy strolled in. His attire was made of the best leather and wool the kingdom had to offer, and he bore a heavy resemblance to the younger boy.


    The older yawned. He stretched, bones popping. The crown prince walked into the room with all the confidence befitting the heir to the throne of Eburnea.


    Seeing his little brother perched on their mother''s lap, he laughed. "I bet Nikolai was begging for the Borderlands story again, wasn''t he?"


    Jutting out their lower lip, the little boy pouted. "Mama, Kai is bullying me!"


    ¡°Your brother merely teases, Niko.¡± The queen patted the boy''s soft hair soothingly but her eyes were trained on her elder son. "How were your lessons, Malakai?"


    "Boring. The grand scholars had me recite lineage trees all day!" The crown prince rolled his eyes. "What use does a king have in learning the lineage of noble houses? I should be learning strategies! Swordfighting, war plans, things of that like."


    The queen''s hand froze. Her gentle expression faded into a stern one.


    The woman''s brows furrowed. "Unless you wish to rule over a kingdom of ash," her voice held a sharp edge to it. "Battle strategies are just as important as knowing the titles of every major family within our kingdom."


    "But how is knowing that the Vellwards share second cousins with the Langards any use?" retorted Malakai.


    "The Vellwards are the head of the court while General Langard leads our armies." The queen clasped her hands together. "If they were closer relatives, you would have one family controlling our army and laws." Malakai''s confidence faltered, but the queen pushed forward. "They may hate one another, but if a rebel were to unite their two factions, they could turn on us as easily as the sun sets in the west."


    Seeing the chided expression on her eldest son''s face, the queen softened. She explained, "People know when they are not being paid their respects., Malakai You will be no king if they do not support you."


    Nikolai watched the interaction with bated breath. It seemed Malakai was at the age where he and their mother seemed to butt heads. His older brother had a knack for getting himself entangled in heated philosophical debates. Still, it seemed that the queen''s words had won. This time.


    Seeing the chastised expression on the crown prince''s face, the queen gestured for the older boy to sit by her.


    Malakai huffed but obeyed.


    Squeaking eagerly, Niko nestled into the older boy''s side. The younger boy smiled happily.


    "Brat," the older boy muttered fondly. He ruffled the kid''s fluffy hair. Despite their rather wide age difference, the two brothers were close. The younger was like a shadow, always following close to his older brother''s tail.


    The queen smirked. A mischievous gleam lit her eyes. "Perhaps I will tell the story of the Borderlands..."


    The older boy groaned while the younger cheered.


    ¡°My father¡¯s ancestors have long held seat in the lands of Feldgrau, the border between our kingdom and that of-¡°


    ¡°The barbarians!¡± cut in Nikolai, eyes gleaming. ¡°Vicious warriors who knew only of bloodshed and revelry!¡± He got to his feet, swinging his fists against an imaginary opponent.


    The queen shook her head. ¡°They are men just like us, Niko.¡± She flicked her youngest son¡¯s forehead. ¡°My best friend was the chieftain¡¯s daughter.¡± Her eyes softened. ¡°We used to play by the borders and sneak back to our fathers when the sun set."


    The woman''s smile was bittersweet. "We were good to each other. She taught me to sing and I taught her to write and read. I still think of those days fondly. ¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s innocent expression glanced up at his mother. ¡°What happened to your friend, Mama?¡±


    "A Great War." The queen¡¯s eyes clouded as her shoulders dropped. ¡°By the end of it, she was the Chieftess of the Wenge tribe and I was queen and married to your father. Our people clashed and bled on the battlefield. It was no longer appropriate to... stay in touch.¡±


    Malakai¡¯s brow furrowed as a thought occurred to him. The older boy titled their head. ¡°How did the war end, mother? They speak of the great Duel of Feldgrau but what led to it?¡±


    ¡°Friendship,¡± smiled the queen. Her voice was soft but words were hard. ¡°Yelani and I set up a momentary peace. It was then that your father challenged the chieftain of Wenge, Fadye, to a single duel. The winner would decide the fate of the war."


    "Most thought it was a suicide mission. Fadye was said to have the strength of ten wolves and the foresight of a hawk.¡±


    ¡°But Father still beat him!¡± piped the younger boy eagerly.


    The queen sighed, ¡°Your father may have won the battle, but Fadye took his ability to ever lift a sword again.¡± The queen shook her head. ¡°It was only the sisterhood of Yelani and I that ensured a treaty for peace could be sought. Your father sought an end to the war so that he could ascend the throne of his father, and Fadye honored the agreement of the duel. As a sign of good faith, we pledged to one day wed our children to one another.¡± She ruffled the two boy¡¯s heads. ¡°But who knew both Yelani and I would birth little brats instead of princesses!¡±


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    The two twisted away, one with an annoyed expression and the other with delighted laughter. The queen smiled, and pressed forward her tickling attacks.


    Suddenly, the frown on her youngest son¡¯s face caught her gaze. Pausing, she turned her attention to smoothing out the fearful lines on his young face. ¡°What is it, love?¡±


    In a small voice, the little boy¡¯s asked, ¡°Does that mean there will be war again?... Because I wasn¡¯t born a girl?¡± His voice wobbled, clearly on the verge of tears.


    The queen¡¯s heart squeezed, while she simultaneously held back her laughter. This small child of hers was so precious. He may have a face like glass, but he had a heart unlike any she had known. With that, she pulled her son to her chest and smothered the adorableness in kisses. ¡°Of course not, love. We have since changed the treaty to have our eldest sons pledge brotherhood to one another.¡±


    The little boy sniffed, "Really?"


    ¡°Of course, it wasn¡¯t ended, brat!¡± Malakai crossed his arms. ¡°They have more to lose if our treaty was called off. Trade routes, stability on their western front¡­¡±


    ¡°I see someone has been paying attention in some of their classes,¡± teased the queen.


    Huffing, the prince dodged the incoming hair ruffle. ¡°Of course!¡± He crossed his arms once more. ¡°But if it were to come down to war, we would win, of course!¡±


    Sighing, the queen rubbed her forehead. This son of hers...


    ¡°Malakai, do not speak of war so lightly,¡± snapped the queen. ¡°You are too young to understand the destruction that simple words can cause. There are some things that even the king''s will cannot fix. As the crown prince, you must be mindful of what you say-¡±


    ¡°But the treaty fixed the peace!¡±Malakai''s stubborn frown hid the hurt in his eyes. "What else is there worry about?"


    The crown prince glanced down at his little brother but the younger was staring at the flames with the same blank expression he had on when he was with others. "I heard one of the maids say that the evil Wenge will send assassins after us and that is why we must always have a guard at our door."


    "That is not true, Niko. The guards are just there in case you need help." The queen''s brows pinched. ¡°It seems that even though the war is over, both of our peoples live with distrust against one another.¡±


    She placed one hand on each of her sons¡¯ shoulders. ¡°You two have a great responsibility. You must protect this peace at all costs.¡± She tightened her grip, a sudden desperation coloring her words. Her sharp nails dug into tender skin. ¡°Many will try to usurp the peace as a means to gain power. You must swear it to me, boys." There was a desperate gleam in her eyes. "Hurry now! Swear that you will protect one another and always choose the betterment of the realm!¡±


    ¡°Mama, you¡¯re hurting me!¡± cried Nikolai.


    Malakai grimaced, "Mother, stop. Please."


    The woman quickly let go, regret pooling in her eyes. She didn''t know what had come over her. The woman held a hand against her throbbing temple. "I am sorry, my loves. I... I don''t know what came over me." Except that she did. These days, a certain bad premonition hung over her like a dark cloud. Her sons needed to be prepared, in case she was no longer there to protect them.


    Before she could say anything more, the doors to the room burst open once more. A cold gust of wind blew in.


    A tall, spindly woman lounged by the door. The dark silks she wore only elongated the sharp edges of her face. A small tiara sat atop her intricate updo, a lavish contrast to the queen''s simple braids.


    The other woman was straight and gangly. Like a stick... except for her protruding belly. She had that infuriating sneer on her face.


    ¡°Consort Rewanna,¡± greeted the queen tiredly. If her husband had to find a second wife, why wasn''t is someone more tolerable?


    Rewanna''s eyes narrowed. ¡°I apologize. Was I interrupting something?¡± sounding the least bit apologetic. The consort clasped her hands together. ¡°Nevertheless, the king was merely requesting your presence. Arganus was hoping that we could take the evening to enjoy dinner together¡­ as a family.¡± Her lips curled up at the last words.


    Malakai burst to his feet. Pure rage filled the crown prince''s chest. He pointed an accusing finger at Rewanna. ¡°We are no family!¡±


    ¡°Malakai,¡± warned the queen. ¡°Mind your manners.¡±


    ¡°Oh it¡¯s all right," Rewanna waved away the older boy''s harsh words. "It seems the young prince hasn¡¯t quite grasped the situation yet."


    Stepping forward, she continued, "It is my duty as his stepmother to teach him.¡±


    Malakai''s eyes bled with pure hatred. He snarled silently. By his side, Nikolai glanced at the scene with a blank expression but there was a worried purse to his lips.


    Rewanna smiled, but it was cold and sharp. Her hand reached down to caress her rounded belly. ¡°Crown Prince, it is your younger brother that I am carrying. The son of the king! Your father has even named me as his consort." Her voice dripped like poisoned honey. "When my son is born, you must treat him well and teach him the ways of being prince as you have Nikolai. Eburean will look to my son as third in line for the crown-¡±


    ¡°You lie!¡± Malakai¡¯s brows darkened. He stalked forward. ¡°A few weeks ago, you were my mother¡¯s lady in waiting and now you expect us to believe-¡°


    ¡°Malakai, if you say another word, you will be grounded in your chambers for two weeks.¡± The queen stood and grasped her son by the shoulder. Her nails dug warningly into the skin. She whispered lowly. ¡°Enough of this.¡±


    Malakai shrugged off the hold but held his tongue.


    ¡°It seems there is still much for you to learn, Prince Malakai,¡± smirked Rewanna victoriously. ¡°Now, as I was saying, Arganus has requested-¡°


    ¡°You should refer to Father as His Majesty,¡± a young voice interrupted.


    Rewanna''s mouth snapped shut. Her eyes widened alarmingly. In all her years in the castle, this was the first time she had heard the youngest prince trade words with someone other than his family. To all others, he held a frosty disposition and had earned himself the whispered moniker as the "ice prince".


    All eyes turned to Nikolai. The boy sounded bored. ¡°Except for the queen and her children, all others are expected to address the king as His Majesty.¡± He paused and nodded to himself. ¡°Yes. To be a good mother, you must learn so that you can teach your baby well." Nikolai stared straight at Rewanna, causing her to falter back at the sharp look in those blue eyes. "I don''t want my younger sibling to be made fun of at Court. It would be embarrassing if they were heard saying the wrong address. People might think Consort Rewanna as a bad mother.¡±


    The room was dead silent. Intentional or not, the implications of the prince''s words were clear.


    So long as Rewanna was only a consort and not a queen. No matter how favored, Rewanna''s children would have to refer to their father as His Majesty. Although not illegitmate, they were not considered true heirs or royalty. They would be forced to watch as their siblings were considered higher and more legitimate. In truth, even if she bore a son of the king, their claim would be weaker than a royal cousin or legitimate uncle.


    Even though her family was of a lower ranking, Rewanna was still a lady of a noble house. These etiquettes had been drilled into her as they were every noble girl. It went against tradition for kings to take a second wife while the first lived. Most of Eburean were already whispering snide remarks as is.


    In a single sentence, the little boy had managed to strike the woman where it stung most.


    Nikolai stepped forward, the sharp look in his eyes was a mirror image of the queen. Rewanna shivered. No child of four name days should be able to speak so eloquently. It was unnerving.


    ¡°It seems there is much that you have to learn as well, Consort Rewanna,¡± commented the ice prince.


    Turning around, the boy smiled happily and clasped his mother¡¯s hand. ¡°Come Mother, Brother," he chirped brightly. "Father awaits us!¡±


    Dragging them along, Nikolai took the lead as the three walked down the hall. The queen and her children didn¡¯t bother with a greeting as they passed the other woman, still frozen by the door. A polite cough snapped the spindly woman out of her thoughts.


    Rewanna and her retinue of maids were forced to curtsy as the royal family walked by.


    Head bowed low, Rewanna gritted her teeth. She clenched her fists so tight, the nail broke skin.


    Nikolai walked with his back straight and hands clasped tightly to that of his family. It didn¡¯t matter if it was the barbarians, evil regent Rewanna or even the world itself. He glanced up at his mother and older brother who had begun bickering anew about some random tapestry and its value. He had seen the proud gleam return to his mother''s eyes and the happy smirk on Malakai''s face. The ice prince swore to himself.


    I swear it, Mama. I will protect my family and people.

 Chapter 1: The Ice Princes Return

    ¡°Have you heard? The second prince is coming for the Morning Day!¡±


    The small crowd in front of the vegetable stall gasped. They turned to one another, questions and excitement shining in their eyes.


    ¡°What? I heard he hasn¡¯t stepped in the capital since-¡± They glanced around, then whispered lowly. ¡°You know what¡­¡±


    ¡°Tragic what happened to the former queen,¡± sighed another.


    "They always did say power corrupts," sighed the vegetable vendor. "I guess she couldn''t accept her husband sleeping with another woman. And so publicly too!¡±


    "Well, I would kick my husband out of the house if he dared!" said a burly woman. She was just as tall as a man and looked like she could actually catapult a grown person if she so desired. The men shivered.


    Meanwhile, the vegetable stall owner nodded politely while discreetly shoving more produce into the woman''s basket.


    Despite the lull in conversation, low murmurs of agreement filled the air. To take multiple wives was a practice of the barbarians! However, that didn''t stop King Arganus from breaking tradition to do the same. It was said the king was so beguiled by his paramour that he made her a consort, (and after the death of his first wife) the queen! They shook their heads. If the king wished to do something, who was anyone to stop him?


    ¡°What a pity." The former queen had bore two sons. Her children were to be kings and princes! "Now, one is in exile, and the other lives as a lord in the borderlands!"


    "And I must say¡­¡± An auntie shook her head. With many available granddaughters, she bemoaned the waste of such handsome and talented young men. "To send a prince to govern the borderlands? What a shame!¡±


    "Well, you can''t blame Queen Rewanna for that." The vegetable stall vendor leaned forward. He whispered dramatically despite the fact that his words were common knowledge. "It''s said he went willingly! In fact, he even begged to go!"


    The crowd scratched their heads in bewilderment. No one in the capital would want to go to the borderlands, never mind ask to go! Had the young prince been dropped on the head as a babe? Who would beg to go to the land of nothingness?


    In Feldgrau, the people lived as if any day could be their last. It was a land haunted by death and fear. They suffered numerous attacks from the grassland tribes. Rumors had it that the surrounding villages and towns by Feldgrau were looted and pillaged every other month. The crowd shivered. What a dreadful existence.


    It was much nicer to turn their thoughts back to the ice prince. That was the moniker the young man''s beautiful but inexpressive face and distanced personality had earned him.


    ¡°I''m afraid he''s pretty, but not much in terms of intellect,¡± offered the vegetable vendor. "Still better than any of the other scoundrels trying to chase my daughters. Those idiots are stupid and ugly!"


    "Are you calling my son ugly?" squaked a woman but she was readily ignored.


    If there was one thing that was agreed upon, it was that the ice prince had a face gifted by the gods. Even though he had not been seen in the capital for years, rumors had drifted thatNot that is was surprising. The former queen was a beautiful woman, and the king himself did not lack his fair share of admirers.


    "But! I heard in ice prince''s youth, he was quite the genius!" interjected another. "The prince could out speak all the scholars and passed the court exam at fourteen! How could such a man be a fool?"


    Those who could remember knew the words to be true. The second prince''s hidden genius had been exciting rumors that accompanied talks of the royal brothers and their stepmother''s growing rivalry. The crowd shrugged. But it had been many years since then. Parents had died and children were born and grown. Who could say what was true and what was merely exaggerated facts?


    ¡°They say when he and the king had the dispute, the prince renounced his claim to the throne. His Highness left the next day!" It was news many found hard to believe until they saw the prince and his retinue with their own eyes. The entourage was small but swift as they rode away for the borderlands.


    "Even smart men can fall to grief and anger." The vendor shrugged. "Now, he¡¯s the proper Lord of Feldgrau. Who knows what he''s been doing there?¡±


    "Perhaps it was a strategic move," murmured a well-dressed salt merchant. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully and her ancient eyes gleamed. The older woman had traveled most of the lands in the kingdom. She noted, ¡°Feldgrau may be near the borderlands but its soil is rich and lands wide. If you count the small towns beside it, Feldgrau is nearly double the size of the capital. Besides, without the Great Wall of Feldgrau, there would be no difference between us and the barbarians!¡±


    The others turned thoughtful as well. A secretly smart prince was much more intriguing than an openly foolish one.


    ¡°Well, Feldgrau was his mother¡¯s homeland,¡± considered the burly woman. "Perhaps her death also made him reminisce. I hear the former queen still has kin in those lands."


    The crowd nodded along. A dutiful son was even more endearing than a secretly smart one! A grieving son and an ancestral homeland. The story was finally coming together.


    "Still, if he wanted the power, why would he renounce the throne? Leave all this glory to his younger brother?" The peasant crossed their arms. "I think the prince is a young fool, just like everyone says." They stuck out an accusing finger. "You people always add drama where there is none!"


    "So what if he''s a fool?" Some of the single women in the crowd giggled, shooting each other knowing looks. "The ice prince is a gorgeous one if the rumors are to be believed. The face of marble and fresh snow! It''s said you could drown in his blue eyes!" They swooned at the fantasy.


    "You''re all fools!" snapped one of the girl''s fiance. "He''s probably an ugly brute."


    A group of young ladies, proper and prim, suddenly barged into the conversation. Their hair was done in intricate updos as flowers and ribbons adorned it. The expensive silk they wore denoted that they were at least high-ranking servants or ladies in waiting for noble families.


    ¡°What foolish nonsense are you spewing! The ice prince is a better man than any of you!¡± The girls ignored the unlady-likeness of their actions, elbowing their way into the crowd. They were His Highness¡¯ greatest fans! They were duty-bound to defend their prince... even if they had never met him before! ¡°He only took the seat of Feldgrau to defend us from the barbarian tribes! It was an honorable act to guard his people when no one else would!¡±


    ¡°What a hero!¡± swooned the other girls once more.


    One of them, with wide eyes like an innocent baby deer, batted her eyelashes and tilted her head. ¡°Wait," her dainty brows furrowed. "But I thought the tribes were our allies? Why would he need to guard us against them?¡±


    ¡°We''re only allied with the Wenge¡¯s, foolish child! And even they''re more savage than decent neighbors.¡± A hand swatted out to slap the foolish words. ¡°A generation has barely passed since we¡¯ve been enemies! Don¡¯t go trusting barbarians so blindly, girl! They¡¯ll murder you in your sleep if they get the chance!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± The girls rolled their eyes. ¡°Now, how much for those carrots and leeks? My mistress is expecting her favorite meal for the celebrations!¡±


    "Ooh, is that a ribbon decoration? I''ll take two!" Grabby hands began to compare the different patterned cloths.


    Chatter and clamor on prices filled the air once more. But the mysterious return of the ice prince was a common topic all around the marketplace.


    Although none voiced it, they wondered what great drama would follow the prodigal son¡¯s homecoming.


    ¡ª


    The streets of the bustling square teemed with conversation. Bright banners were brought out to be hung. The maids and cooks rushed to the different stalls to buy supplies and foodstuff for the families they served. The smart ones took the leftover coin and bought extra ingredients for celebration with their own families.


    Children ran around. Bright ribbons were tied to their hair. The ribbons danced in the wind, flowing behind them as they played. They shook their little wrists, fawning over the jingle of copper coins tied on strings. It was said that a strip of cloth from a mother¡¯s dress and a coin from a father¡¯s pocket made for a happy and healthy child. The tradition was an old one and practiced by the entire kingdom.


    After the Great War had ended on Morning Day, the tradition was renewed with vigor. Even the noble children would wear copper coins around their wrists and tie bright ribbons in their hair.


    Couples would wear one another¡¯s ribbons and copper for celebrations. Marriage ceremonies would tie the ribbons and coins together as a symbol to be preserved. THey would only be burnt and destroyed if death took one before the other.


    In the distance, the grand castle of the Eburean kingdom loomed over its inhabitants protectively. The stones of the capital were ancient and sturdy. The giant flags of the royal family waved proudly in the air.


    The Morning Day was the first celebration of the year, a glimmer of hope and warmth after the cold winter. It was a time of renewal and life. Some even claimed it was a season of new beginnings. Many romantic couples took this as a sign to start preparing for marriage.


    Nobles and commoners alike flocked to the capital for the celebrations. Every Morning Day the royal family would throw an annual banquet. It was a prominent political event that nobles across the kingdom were obliged to attend.


    One such group rode towards the castle.


    A carriage, ornate and surrounded by four guards, dragged along the cobblestone path. The tall men wore the thicker garments belonging to the borderlands. Onlookers marveled at the workmanship of the ride. From its ornate wooden carvings to the silk curtains that hid the view of those sitting inside, the carriage belonged to one of great, if not, royal status.


    The carriage''s lord glanced out at the street. His eyes gazed over the people openly gawking at him and his entourage.


    He turned to stare back down at the royal invitation in his lap. Long fingers pulled the paper up to his face, hoping the words would disappear if he just squinted hard enough. Unfortunately, no such thing happened. The lord sighed, knocking his head back against the wooden walls. If he could, the young man would rip the letter up and burn the waste of good paper. However, with his beautiful but marble-like face, none could have expected that such thoughts were running through his head. The lord merely looked like he was meditating on some important, but distant thought.


    The young man peered out the window once more.


    Morning Day, he catalogued the familiar decorations. It had been years since he had seen the celebrations with his own eyes. Life at the capital felt like a distant memory. He wasn''t sure if it was nostalgia or annoyance that caused his head to ache.


    The constant singing of street performers and reenactments from the Great War were starting to hurt his sensitive ears.


    In Feldgrau, the day was one of quiet celebration. The streets would be empty as all spent the day with close family and friends. All servants were allowed to return and share the festivities with families. In fact, it was illegal to refuse them their day off. On Morning Day, even a lord like himself would find limited help and resources.


    Call him a pessimist, but as great as the sentiments were, Nikolai had never heard of any great feud, much less war, being ended on account of Morning Day. The peace lasted as long as the celebrations¡­ and then the arguments and dissatisfaction that had been momentarily forgotten would return once more.


    ¡°What weighs on your mind, my lord?¡± asked the attendant in the opposite seat. The man was of a tall build and had a pointy nose. A sword hung on his belt even though he possessed a more scholarly look to him. Although the man''s mannerisms were soft, there was a guarded look on his face as he scanned the crowd for any hints of the danger that had brought the pensive look to his liege¡¯s face.


    ¡°Easy Cristin.¡± Blue eyes met the other man¡¯s. ¡°You look too smart for the attendant of a stupid prince.¡±


    Cristin huffed a laugh as his lips quirked. If his liege was a stupid prince, he wondered what could be said of the fools that lived in that castle they were headed towards.


    There was a comfortable beat of silence. The lord nodded towards the distance.


    ¡°What news have you heard on this grand ball my dear Stepmother,¡± the young man''s lips quirked playfully. ¡°has graciously invited us to?¡±


    If Cristin had been a young lady at court, he would have swooned at the sight. But alas, he knew the trouble that befell any unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of the lord''s amused looks. In all their years together, Cristin had never seen the other truly interested in anyone.


    Shaking his head, Cristin said, ¡°It seems for all intent and purposes a regular celebration." His voice trailed off. "Well, except for¡­¡±


    The lord shot him an expectant look. Cristin sighed, hie liege never appreciated his dramatic timing.


    ¡°There is a delegation from the Wenge tribe in attendance,¡± finished the attendant. His brows furrowed. ¡°It''s said to be led by one of their generals¡­"


    "Interesting," murmured the lord. He had not expected that. "Which one? The Wolf?"


    The Wolf was one of the strongest generals of Wenge. The man was the cousin of Fadye, and his loyalty to his family and bloodthirstiness on the battlefield had earned him his moniker. Fadye, the most fearsome warrior of the grasslands, and his loyal right-hand, the Wolf. The two were a formidable duo and had brought the Wenge clan to the glory it now held. Fadye had named the Wolf next in line right after the chief''s children. When the treaty had been broken, the Wolf''s men had been often spotted raiding some of their bordering towns and villages. Although peace was technically restored, Fadye never bothered to reign back his subordinate. Many wondered if he even could.


    Although the lord had never had a direct encounter with the Wolf, he had heard the tales. A brutal commander who came in the night and left by dawn... the hour of the wolf.


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    "If only it were the Wolf." Cristin rubbed in between his brows.


    The lord''s lips quirked. Not the Wolf? Now, he was curious.


    "The one leading the Wenge delegation is..." The attendant''s lips pursed. "It''s the heir of Fadye."


    Blue eyes flashed as the lord straightened. "The Raven General?"


    A moment of shock filled their carriage. Cristin had only just received the intelligence.


    Compared to the Wolf, very little was known about the Raven General. But the stories were just as terrifying, if not worse.


    It was said that in Wenge''s darkest hour, when Fadye''s eldest sons had been murdered and the minor clans and tribes had joined together to take down Wenge, Fadye''s generals had sent a plea of aid to Eburean. But the plea had gone ignored. During a coup, the Wolf had been gravely injured and Fadye''s mightiest generals had all been felled or captured. It was believed to be the end of the great clan. Until one battle, when a mysterious General, wearing a feathered, golden mask, charged in. The general cut down their enemies by the hundreds and the tides of the battle quickly changed in Wenge''s favor. When morning came, Wenge remained while the corpses of their enemies strewed the field. It was said that on that day the general''s loyal ravens feasted, and a legend was born. As their victories piled, a saying grew among those in the grasslands: where the Raven General went, victory followed. Such stories despite their rarity had even reach Eburean. Feldgrau''s spies and correspondences had reported that after the battle Fadye had held a grand ceremony. During the ceremony, he named the Raven General as his successor above his remaining sons and the Wolf.


    Despite the uproar, the general''s favor with the soldiers and the Chief had solidified their claim. Few dared to complain for too long. And those that did... were never heard of again.


    Afterwards, the Raven General had been sent to secure Wenge''s borders. Those battles were small skirmishes and disputes, east and far from the concerns of Eburean. Many wondered if the Raven General was truly real, but the occasional story and successful battles were convincing enough evidence. But despite their fame, Wenge was very protective of their Raven General. Not even Nikolai''s men or the Capital''s spies had been able to garner the man''s true identity, although it was believed to be a bastard son or cousin of the chief''s family.


    Cristin shot his liege a look. Although his face was blank, the young man''s eyes took on a calculating glint. They both knew. For Fadye to send his heir to the Morning Day celebrations... the situation was more complex than they expected... It was just as the lord had assumed.


    ¡°The queen is planning something with the delegation, but even our spies were not able to gather more than that." Cristin sighed again. "We¡¯ve gathered that there is to be a union between the two. An agreement of some sort.¡± He huffed, displeased with being unable to offer his lord more information. ¡°But I am afraid the Wenge delegation was quite formidable."


    He paused before revealing. "One of our spies almost took an arrow to the heart for stepping too close to their camp. They truly are brutal barbarians.¡±


    ¡°They are men just like us,¡± murmured the lord. The words were familiar, like an old memory. Ice blue eyes narrowed. ¡°They bleed and fall just as easily.¡±


    There was as much power in overestimation as there was in underestimation.


    The lord paused, ¡°But, whether they are friend or foe.¡± The young man shrugged, ¡°We will have to wait and see.¡±


    The lord watched the troubled expression on his attendant''s face. Holding back an amused grin, the lord rolled his eyes. "Speak your mind, friend."


    "Gladly," snorted the other man. He sighed at the almost bored look on the lord''s cold face. It was as if the man was heading to an irrelevant family gathering rather than the death pit the capital truly was.


    "My lord this is a trap," Cristin surged forward, unable to hold his words back. ¡°You know this is surely a trap. You have declined all previous invitations. Why did you decide to return this year? Why now? Especially with our plan so close to-¡± The attendant cut himself off.


    The lord was silent. It was clear he didn''t plan to elaborate. The young man placed his chin on his hand and watched the passing scenery. His face was like a statue, perfect but unreadable and distant.


    Cristin stared at the cold silhouette of his liege. Although he had served the other man since they were both boys and would follow him to the ends of the world, there was much mystery to the second prince of Eburean.


    Lord Nikolai of Feldgrau. He was said to be a patriotic or handsome fool to the rest of the kingdom, but Cristin, the soldiers, and the citizens of Feldgrau and the borderlands knew better.


    After the death of the former queen and the exile of the eldest prince, Feldgrau had gaped at the sudden arrival of the King¡¯s second son. Was he not supposed to become the next crown prince? What was the prince doing in the land forgotten by the rest of the kingdom? While it was true the former queen, Iliana, had hailed from Feldgrau, it was never expected for another royal to step foot in the dangerous borderlands.


    The people of Feldgrau had lived harsh lives. They suffered through many attacks from the different tribes. Commoners were forced to pay heavy taxes to the crown but received little for their efforts. When the noble abused their powers, there was none to stop them. From men to resources, Feldgrau had lost the most in the Great War. Needless to say, they weren¡¯t people that found it easy to trust outsiders. Especially those of noble lineage.


    But the second prince had been different. Although still a boy, he took the title of Lord seriously. His reforms secured their wall and gave the peasants work. The peasants received good money for said work. Farmers were sold seeds from the royal stores at low prices and the young scholars of low ranking noble families were given money to secure themselves an education in the capital and return to serve as civil servants. Those who were corrupt had been easily replaced or reformed.


    With the economy stabilized, merchants had once again added Feldgrau to their travels and trade began to flow into their lands. Occasionally, there were even traders from the smaller grassland tribes, although they were always regarded with an extra eye and forced beyond the wall after sunset.


    The soldiers who had become homeless and broken after the war found employment at the wall and as guards for the Feldgrau castle. Nikolai awarded capable men and women regardless of status. His rule and aid reached beyond Feldgrau into all of the borderlands. The governors who had try to do well by their small lands were quick to flock to his side.


    Cristin himself had been a mere soldier¡¯s son, and, now, he served as the attendant and trusted right hand of the Lord of Feldgrau.


    Soon, no one regarded the young man as the son of the king but the proper Lord of Feldgrau, and the lord himself encouraged it. Within a few years, Lord Nikolai had secured the loyalty and stability of his land¡­ and it was more than fool¡¯s luck that allowed him to do so. There was an uncanny intelligence to the man. Although he wasn''t a good fighter, he had a way of dismantling his opponents before they ever had a chance to lift their swords.


    Really, it was only the capital¡¯s lack of care for the borderlands that allowed Nikolai to carry out his work in peace. Otherwise, the strategic reparations and power the ice prince had secured for himself should have raised more than a few eyes in concern. If Nikolai wanted to challenge for the crown... it would not be a stretch to say that the entirety of the borderlands would drop their own duties and follow him to battle. He was their Lord of Feldgrau.


    So, despite the questions burning on the tip of his tongue, Cristin held himself back. Like the others at Feldgrau, he placed the utmost trust in his lord.


    The attendant''s eyes flittered to where his lord was watching outside the window. Calls and taps came from outside.


    ¡°Over here, young master!¡±


    ¡°Come out of your carriage and introduce yourself to us, my lord!¡±


    A group of flowerly dressed females chased the carriage, calling out in colorful, and sometimes, quite provocative language.


    Cristin raised a teasing eyebrow.


    ¡°You know, my lord, the people were wondering if you would be bringing a Lady Feldgrau back with you.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°As much as I enjoy your company, I believe it is high time that you found yourself some company other than me and Darcy in your dark, dingy castle.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± shot the lord.


    As if to emphasize the attendant¡¯s words, there was a knock on the window. A dainty, pale hand slid a white flower past the curtain. The flower floated into the lord¡¯s lap. Giggles outside followed the action.


    Cristin shot a glance at his lord¡¯s face. He held back a snort at the mortified look on the young man¡¯s usually blank expression.


    Only a day back in the Capital and the ice prince was already popular!


    Cristin spluttered as the flower was chucked at his face.


    ¡°I can hear your smirking from here,¡± snapped the prince.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Halt there!¡± shouted a guard. He pulled out his spear and held it out at the approaching carriage.


    The carriage master yanked at reigns. The man winced as the horses protested loudly, stomping their hooves angrily at the abrupt motion. He patted their necks to calm the animals down.


    The guard did not falter. He stood steadfast. His spearhead glinted in the bright sunlight.


    The carriage master looked around. The carriages beside them had also been forced to stop. The row of guards formed a line preventing any from crossing the road.


    Lords and ladies peered out of their windows, arguing with the guards about the holdup, but to their credit, the line of guards held steadfast.


    A soft but sharp voice called out from inside the carriage. ¡°Why have we stopped, Dunstan?¡±


    The carriage master scratched his head, just as confused. He turned to murmur lowly to his liege, eyes trained on the spears. ¡°Unclear, my lord. It seems they are waiting for a procession of some sort.¡± He glanced around. ¡°They¡¯ve stopped all the carriages on this road and the next.¡±


    A pale hand pulled the curtain aside. A noble face peered out. The cold eyes of the Lord of Feldgrau met Dunstan¡¯s. The young man nodded at the carriage master before peering around.


    In the distance came the beating of a low drum. The sound was steady and each hit was as powerful as the last. It grew stronger with every passing second. The noise reverberated through the square. It seemed as if even nature had paused as the winds stilled and even the birds paused in their songs.


    The commoners and nobles walking on the street took pause. All eyes turned towards where the sound was originating from.


    Pebbles on the ground jumped as the tables and wares in the different stalls shook. The people stared at one another in alarm as the ground rumbled beneath their feet. A great group was coming¡­ but who? The stomping of hooves and braying of war horses approached in the distance.


    CAW!


    The lord lifted his eyes to stare at the dark raven soaring through the sky. It inky wings were a stain against the bright blue sky. The bird flapped its wings twice and then circled back. It let out another hearty call.


    And like that, a grand entourage entered the street¡¯s view.


    Calvary-men dressed in barbarian armor and holding round shields trotted in between the line of guards. Their horses were creatures bred for war, each standing at least seventeen hands tall. The proud beasts brayed loudly but heeded their riders as they trotted forward. All twenty of the riders were skilled and had fine control over their steeds.


    The cavalry was followed by a horde of foot soldiers. The lines of soldiers held long poles with a flag on top that mirrored the symbol on their shields. The dark, blood-red banners bore the sigil of the Wenge clan, the largest and the most formidable of the barbarian clans. The clan of Fadye, the bear-hawk who had the strength of a bear and the foresight of a hawk. The family must have had an affinity for birds. The young man''s lips quirked in amusement. Ironic that their heir was known as the Raven General.


    The people suddenly gasped and faltered back, tripping over one another. Some pushed forward to get a better look while others hurried to get out of the way.


    Although Eburean and the Wenge were technically allies, after the agreement of the treaty was broken, the alliance had been one wrought with tension and suspicion. It was said that any wrong move could lead the two groups to fall into yet another devastating war.


    The entire square fell silent. The air was frozen. None dared to move from their spots as if afraid that a single loud breath could lead to a surprise attack. There was only the sound of the marching Wenge horses and soldiers.


    In the middle of the line of soldiers were two carriages. The first was smaller but still held a grand air about it. The red curtain billowed in the wind, revealing glimpses of the old men and women sitting inside. But what caught everyone¡¯s attention was the huge carriage behind the first.


    Lanterns with golden etchings hung from its sides. The second carriage was three times the size of the first. The wood gleamed, polished to perfection in animal fat. Golden horns extended out of the tops of the carriage as the Wenge¡¯s Chief¡¯s Sigil was carved into all four sides of the wood. Even the horses dragging the carriage were magnificent. The great beasts easily dwarfed all normal horses. Their strong muscles rippled and their coats shimmered, reflecting the prestigious pedigree.


    On top of the carriage was a wooden carving of a raven¡­ not unlike the dark bird flying overhead.


    Watching the procession with his face resting against his fist, Nikolai¡¯s eyes glinted. The carriage could only be holding the most esteemed guest of the Wenge delegates¡­ the heir of Fadye.


    He tried to squint past the thick red curtains of the large carriage, but even he could only make out glimpses of the lone, straight-backed general. Still, the man in the carriage could be none other than the Raven General. There was a gleam of gold as the light reflected off of the metal.


    As if sensing the other¡¯s gaze, the general turned their head. Behind a golden mask, amber eyes cut through the crowd and distance to stare at the Lord Feldgrau sitting boredly in his own carriage.


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes narrowed. He stared straight back into those piercing eyes.


    For the briefest of moments, the Prince and the General stared straight at one another as cold blue and fiery amber met.


    ---


    Cristin frittered around Nikolai. His neck teemed with nervous sweat.


    ¡°Are you sure about this, my lord?¡± He really, really hoped the man would just give in, for once. He sighed, already knowing the uselessness of his pleas.


    "I''ve never seen you this nervous except in front of Dacey," teased the lord with a straight face.


    Cristin spluttered, face bright red, but the other man took no notice and continued, "I''ll be back soon."


    Their carriage was parked outside of the great castle of the Eburean castle. Its mighty structure was a testament to the Eburean founders'' resolution for a lasting and prosperous kingdom.


    Dunstant was tending to their horses as the servants unloaded what little items they had brought.


    Off in the distance, the Wenge delegation was also unpacking. Their servants, all dressed in white silky material making them stand out from the Ebureans, scurried back and forth between their supplies and the castle.


    Nikolai adjusted the hood of the simple threadbare cloak. The blue material was soft and thick, but unfitting of a prince.


    Cristin stared alarmingly at the dark stain on the back of it. He shook his head. ¡°My lord¡­¡± he started. At least just change the cloak he wanted to beg.


    The young man patted his attendant on the shoulder. ¡°If anyone asks, tell them that I am taking a royal nap and am not to be disturbed.¡±


    The attendant stared baffled at his liege. Since when do you take naps, he wanted to protest! He stepped forward, voice serious.


    ¡°The queen will be nitpicking your every move. Now is not the time to raise her suspicion! We do not have many allies here.¡± Cristin started forward. ¡°Please, let me go in your stead.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Nikolai shook his head. ¡°The Wenge delegation was larger than we expected. Rewanna is planning something but we don''t know what." He stared intently at his trusted aide. "We can¡¯t afford to be caught off-guard, Feldgrau needs to be prepared.¡±


    Cristin crossed his arms, frowning darkly. ¡°Then let me go!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve never been in the capital, you¡¯ll only raise their suspicions.¡± Nikolai nodded towards the group of Wenge serving girls headed off into the city. ¡°I know the marketplace like the back of my hand. Plus, the serving girls will have a looser tongue compared to trained soldiers. It¡¯s almost safe.¡±


    ¡°Almost safe he says,¡± muttered the attendant faintly. Cristin didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. He hadn¡¯t meant for his lord to take his advice on pursuing women so literally!


    Seeing the turmoil on the other man¡¯s face, Nikolai merely smirked and patted the defeated Cristin¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Cheer up! Enjoy the food and music. From what I remember, the chefs are quite talented.¡±


    Cristin glared. Did Nikolai really think music and food would be occupying his mind while his liege wandered a dangerous city alone?


    The lord continued, ¡°And if you find yourself in some enjoyable company¡­¡± He tapped his lips with his fingers. ¡°Just don''t get too excited, I wouldn''t want to have to report your actions to Dacey...¡±


    "You-! "Cristin¡¯s face purpled. "We''re not like that!"


    But the young man was already gone. With his hood pulled up, the lord disappeared into the crowd, becoming one with the giant group of people. Cristin could barely make him out as the blue cloak followed after the serving girls.


    Sighing, Cristin held his face in his hands. ¡°Why do I get a bad feeling about this?¡±


    He bemoaned his fate. What was he supposed to do? ¡°Maybe I will get some food¡­¡±


    The attendant headed towards the castle.


    He didn''t get paid enough to do this. What use was it having control of the best intelligence gathering system in all the lands if his liege was just going to run head first into danger? Gosh, now, Cristin was just spiraling. What would Dacey say, he bemoaned. Probably slap him over the head. As he entered the castle, the man headed over towards the food tables, grabbing two plates. He already knew he going to need it.


    He headed towards the servants holding the trays of food. Stress eating it was!

 Chapter 2: Shes a Beautiful Brute

    The sky was painted a beautiful pink and purple as the sun set in the distance and fat clouds dotted the sky. As the days ended, the light and its warm rays were slowly sinking into the horizon.


    It seemed impossible, but as nighttime approached, the market square seemed only to grow in commotion and life.


    Street musicians started up with a bright tune as young scholars took to debating on the streets.


    The educated young men delighted in showing off their knowledge to the gathering crowds¡­ especially in front of the wide eyes of the young noblewomen.


    The group of Wenge serving girls stopped in front of one such show. The lead girl, whose face was covered in a veil, stood taller than the others. The young woman carried a certain authority in her movements which were graceful yet laced with power. She motioned for the others to also stop and listen. The girls joined the already-gathered crowd, trying to squeeze their way to a better viewing point.


    The first scholar puffed up his chest. He was Asinoro, the son of the great Vellward family. And if that wasn¡¯t good enough, his sister was engaged to the crown prince! The thought did little to tamp down his nerves, but he had to try as he recited the title and power of his family in his mind like a mantra.


    The young man¡¯s eyes glanced quickly at one of the young maidens in the crowd. The girl had long brown hair and a bright pink bow tied in her hair. The servant by her side tried to tug away but the lady insisted on staying. When their eyes met, the young woman waved an excited hand. Asinoro raised his hand, returning the gesture. Oh, how he wished to impress her.


    He turned his attention back to the other scholar, a chubby young man of the Langard family: Rufus.


    The two young men were classmates at the Royal Academy. No one would ever call Rufus or Asinoro friends, but from school to court events, they both had the unfortunate problem of seeing one another everywhere. To put it frankly, the two hated one another. In the crowd of commoners and peasant celebrations, the two could finally duel it out in the only way they knew how to... Debate.


    Rufus sneered, ¡°Tell me, Vellward, if a man is injured in a riding accident and can no longer contribute to society, has his value increased, decreased, or stayed the same?¡± Rufus gestured grandly to the crowd, winking at the group of Wenge serving girls. Most of them looked startled. Others scoffed. All of them looked away... except for one.


    After only a brief pause, Asinoro crossed his arms. ¡°Obviously, it has decreased!¡± The young son of Vellward steeled himself. Now that the answer was out, he would have to hope he could defend it.


    ¡°Oh,¡± taunted the other man. ¡°And what makes you say that?¡±


    Asinoro knew better than to rush into the question. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite obvious, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    The young scholar began to piece together his defense as he went. ¡°Assuming they can no longer contribute to society, how could their value increase? If a horse has broken legs, surely you would not say its value has increased. Sure, you could possibly make glue from its carcass, but you also could have done that if the horse was alive and well.¡±


    Asinoro pointed a triumphant finger in the air. ¡°In fact!¡± He smacked his lips together. ¡°One could even say that its value has decreased as the horse that could have worked and been made into glue, can now only be used to make glue.¡±


    The gathered crowd clapped their hands together. It made sense. The boy tried not to preen when he saw the object of his affection cheer. The girl was cheering the loudest in the crowd and smiled excitedly.


    Rufus shook their head. The son of the Langard snorted, ¡°But how can you know that it was not the will of the gods that the horse broke its legs? Perhaps the horse was destined since its birth to live a fate where it would one day break its legs.¡±


    The young man crossed his arms. ¡°In that sense, would the horse not have retained the same value that it always had? That of a one-day broken-legged horse?¡±


    Silence washed over the crowd as they digested the words. Eager eyes darted between the two young men. Vellward versus Langard. Who would win?


    The onlookers glanced at one another. Although the son of Vellward started strong, the Langard boy raised a fair point. Were the fate of living things set in stone?


    Asinoro sucked on the side of his cheek. The young scholar mulled over the question. Of course, the tricky bastard would use something like fate in his defense! His eyes drifted over the crowd, hoping to find inspiration for a rebuttal. The young man¡¯s eyes landed on a broken bucket. The wood was rotting and there was a hole on its side. The spilled water puddled around it and its discarded state on the ground was a sure sign of abandonment by its owner. The pieces were coming together.


    Smirking, Asinoro puffed up once more. The young scholar laughed breezily. ¡°Ah, but your question was not as to whether the fate of the broken was destined to be broken, but whether its value had increased or decreased.


    He sauntered over to Rufus. ¡°In that sense, no matter the fate of the horse, if its legs are broken, its value has decreased.¡±


    Walking over, he picked up the broken bucket and held the item in the air for all to see.


    ¡°Perhaps this bucket was always destined to be broken, but regardless of it, when it was whole, it aided a maid in carrying water. But now that it is broken, it can no longer carry out that task.¡±


    ¡°If its value was the same, would the bucket not have been kept?¡±


    The crowd nodded along. It was true. People did not keep useless things.


    The young man tossed the broken bucket at his adversary. Rufus flailed, struggling to catch the flying object.


    ¡°But, alas, it is useless and tossed aside¡­ just like your defense,¡± finished Asinoro. He smirked proudly.


    The Langard boy gaped.


    Face reddening, the other scholar turned tail and stormed off, barking at the people in his way as he shoved past them. The crowd booed behind him.


    Meanwhile, cheers erupted for the first scholar. Asinoro beamed as the rush of victory washed over him.


    The son of Vellward bowed, accepting the praise with a wide smile. Asinoro couldn¡¯t stop the giddy feeling from erupting in his chest.


    Other scholars clapped him on the back and congratulated the young man on the victory, hailing him as the scholar of Morning Day. Chants of "Scholar of the Morning Day" filled the square. The scholar lifted his eyes to approach his crush. The girl smiled at him bashfully. She played with her hair, twirling in her fingers.


    Asinoro took a step forward but a voice halted him in place.


    ¡°I disagree,¡± a booming voice called out. The words were clear but curled with a hint of a foreign accent.


    All eyes turned towards the maid with the veil on her face.


    Despite obscuring most of her features, the veil could not hide how her eyes were sharp and clear. Her back was straight and shoulders set back. Although she appeared quite relaxed, it seemed born of a confidence that made others wary of crossing her. Still, she wore the clothes of a servant. The white silk although beautiful, was not made of any exquisite material and there were mud stains and wrinkles in the aged cloth.


    The other maids looked nervously at one another, but none dared to stop her. The woman rolled her shoulders as if physically preparing for battle. Although she was of a normal height, she seemed to tower over others and the crowd parted easily for her. She took a step forward and picked up the bucket.


    The crowd murmured in excitement. Was this a rematch?


    Lifting the bucket, the maid tilted their head, eyes challenging the young man. ¡°Care to hear my thoughts?¡±


    The scholar scratched his neck and chuckled awkwardly. This had never happened before. He was not a cruel man and did not want to injure the maid''s pride. But he also couldn''t risk his own honor.


    The young man waved off the maid. Leaning in, Asinoro said softly,. ¡°Go home before you hurt yourself, little maid. Leave the philosophies to the educated men lest you injure your own pride.¡±


    Nodding in agreement, the people close enough to hear the exchange began to call for her to leave.


    ¡°Go home!¡±


    ¡°Stop trying to grab attention!¡±


    The woman looked around at the jeering crowd but she seemed unfazed. In fact, her eyebrows rose, and she almost looked¡­ amused.


    A voice cut through the clamor. ¡°Let her speak!¡± A hint of a blue cloak shimmered in the crowd, but it was hard to locate the speaker.


    The crowd silenced. There was an idea! If the scholar of the Morning Day couldn¡¯t even beat a maid, what type of mighty scholar was he? The group quickly changed their tune.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Let her speak!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear what the girl has to say!¡±


    The young scholar felt cold beads of sweat run down his neck. Sharp eyes flickered over to him as the maid seemed to smirk under the veil. He shivered. A heavy sense of foreboding ran through his veins. Why did he feel like a rabbit fallen into a hunter¡¯s trap?


    The maid took his silence for agreement. She set the bucket down gently. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the question did not ask of the value of the broken to society, but of its value in its entirety.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± someone questioned. ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with anything?¡±


    The maid swept her arms out dramatically. ¡°Let us take the broken-legged horse as an example.¡±


    She continued, ¡°It may be true that the horse can no longer be used in the fields or ridden, but what if the horse belonged to the king?¡±


    The crowd stared at the woman. Where was she going with this?


    ¡°What if the horse was the sole thing that the king loved and its loss would have him follow it to his grave? Would the mere presence of this horse, broken-legged or not, lose value then?¡± She turned to face the scholar. ¡°Am I wrong, scholar?¡±


    The scholar spluttered, ¡°No, but that is only in one instance!¡±


    ¡°Not so,¡± countered the maid. ¡°Every being is in relation to another in some way, shape, or form. Perhaps to society, the broken-legged horse would lose its value, but which of you has not cried over a dying dog, injured friend, or sick parents? Did their weakness lose your love?¡±


    Her voice was powerful and filled the space with passion and fire. She grasped her heart.


    ¡°We are connected to one another in more than just one way. Our brokenness does not change that.¡±


    ¡°In fact, it only heightens it.¡± The maid stepped forward. ¡°Between a broken horse and a well-bodied horse, which owner feels more clearly its value?¡± She turned towards the crowd. ¡°The strongest of steel are the ones that have been tempered most."


    Awe and silence rippled through the square.


    The maid held a faraway look in her eyes. "Sometimes, it is only the broken that know how to rise after tragedy.¡±


    The young woman''s words echoed through the square. She turned to point an accusing finger at the young scholar. ¡°It was the broken bucket that gave you inspiration and victory against an opponent.¡±


    The maid stepped forward and placed the bucket in the gaping Asinoro¡¯s hands. ¡°Sometimes a broken-legged horse who has to fight for its survival will know more than an educated scholar." She pat his shoulders, almost mentor-like in the action. "Do not fear loss or imperfection. A scholar that has never lost will never learn... for he has seen too little of the world.¡±


    ¡°The broken strengthens and prevails or it would be nothing.¡± The maid¡¯s eyes were downcast as she murmured, ¡°Because when the world breaks us, we must do all that we can to find value where there may be nothing.¡±


    The rowdy group silenced at her words. In the crowd, the servants and peasants who had been listening to the debate took pause. They thought of their own hardships and struggles. At that moment, they felt a strange kinship to the foolish but brave maid. Which of them had not lost and had to overcome and become stronger?


    A sudden applause grew in the crowd until the whole audience began to clap with respect and awe. The thundering noise echoed in the square.


    To his credit, Asinoro merely looked shocked. Who would have expected that a maid could be so eloquent and sharp. He shook his head and offered a hand out to the maid. "Well said, ma''am." He smiled sheepishly. "It seems there is much I have to learn."


    The amber eyes gleamed, under the veil, it seemed that she was shooting a smile at him. The maid took the offered hand. The grip was strong and Asinoro tried to hide his pained wince.


    Her eyes drifted over to the frowning noblewoman. She jerked her head to her. "Yes, but you have a much more important task before that."


    Gulping, in front of the eyes of so many, Asinoro stumbled towards the girl. He held out a hand and offered, "My lady, this scholar is still young and foolish, but it would be this fool''s greatest honor to spend Morning Day in your presence."


    The girl merely turned and undid the ribbon in her hair. Face burning, she tied it around a shocked and equally red Asinoro''s wrists.


    The square erupted with noise and cheers. The maid clapped and let out a loud, shrill whistle. Suddnely, the crowd gathered around, pressing coins into her hands. The maid look baffled but excited.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Do me next, matchmaker!"


    "I have a lady love I would like to woo, as well!"


    "Hold it!" The maid held up a hand. The crowd stilled. The young woman tilted her head. "Well, form a line so we can do this?"


    The excitement and clamor reignited as a line formed. The maid looked happily at the coin in her hands, studying the metal in the light.


    "Hey! What are you guys doing there!" A guard in the distance pointed his spear at the crowd. "Who''s causing all this ruckus?"


    "Get away! Hurry!"


    The crowd quickly ran in different directions, dispersing faster than they formed. One of them paused and whispered to the maid. "Best run before they catch you!"


    "Girl! Don''t you dare move!" The guard, with other guards gathering from his call, started towards the young woman. "You''re coming with us! Don''t move!"


    The maid''s eyes widened. Shooting a look at the other maids, she nodded and then sprinted off into the alley.


    The guards protested loudly, but to her credit, the maid was fast and quickly blended in with the huge crowds in the streets.


    A pair of cold blue eyes followed her retreating form.


    ¡ª


    The maid stumbled into the crowded bar. The sun had since set and many of the capital¡¯s occupants found themselves in the company of good ale. Despite running for a good half-hour, she was barely out of breath. If anything, she looked even more spirited. Her eyes landed on the bar table.


    The fiddler strummed a cheery tune as music filled the vibrant room.


    Elbowing past the drunkards and squeezing between the different crowds, the young woman soon found herself at the bar table. She squinted at the foreign letters engraved on the wooden board above.


    The maid cursed.


    Catching sight of the new customer, the barkeeper walked over. He cocked his head to the side and studied the newcomer.


    Although she wore the simple attire of a servant, there was something regal about the way the young woman held herself. The barkeeper wondered where she was from and her identity. Was this some rebellious lady from a great house?


    He smiled and started, ¡°What can I-¡°


    ¡°The strongest you got.¡± As opposed to the lean build, the voice was booming and strong. The accent denoted them as a foreigner but the barkeeper couldn¡¯t find himself to really take notice of that¡­ or look away from the bright eyes glancing up from the veil to meet his.


    The barkeeper blushed. ¡°Sure, sure thing, ma¡¯am¡± he stammered out. The man barely held himself back from saluting.


    The woman knocked on the table. ¡°Good man,¡± she chuckled, taking a wide seat on the bar stool.


    However, a childlike gleam came into her eyes when she saw the drink. Tapping the table excitedly, she couldn''t snatch the jug up fast enough. When she was handed her drink, the woman gulped it down in a single shot.


    The barkeeper couldn''t stop staring.


    Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, the maid let out a hearty burp. Shaking her head, she murmured, ¡°Tastes like dog¡¯s shit.¡± She turned to the barkeeper and commanded, ¡°Another.¡±


    The man gawked. He had never seen a woman¡­ sit so much like a man.


    ¡°Right¡­ right away,¡± he promised stutteringly, finding it hard to form coherent words.


    As the man left, the maid sighed, suddenly bored. There was so much left to see in the city but the guards had ruined that plan.


    Suddenly, a hand reached out to tap her shoulders.


    Tensing, her eyes lifted to meet the towering man''s. His muscles practically bulged out of his skin and there was little space between his eyes. He sneered, displaying some of his missing teeth.


    ¡°Scram lady.¡± His spittle flew everywhere as he spoke. ¡°You¡¯re in my seat.¡±


    There was a pause.


    The other patrons turned away from their own conversations to stare at the drama. The burly man''s name was Gumly. He had been a deviant in his youth and was now a Grade-A nuisance in his prime. He was simultaneously one of the most annoying but toughest guys in town. No one dared to mess with him.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ in your seat?¡± Maybe it was the accent, but the woman sounded more amused than intimidated by the giant behemoth of a man,


    ¡°Yes,¡± grunted Gumly. ¡°And you better move if you know what¡¯s good for you.¡± He cracked his knuckles menacingly.


    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± The maid raised an eyebrow. Underneath the veil, her lips lifted into an excited smirk.


    ¡°Make me.¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai stepped up to the door of the crowded bar. He had seen the maid enter earlier. The young man paused.


    She seemed like a good target to inquire for more information on the Raven General.


    He needed to know if Wenge was involved in the queen¡¯s plans and whether it would affect his plan and Feldgrau. To his knowledge, Rewanna and Fadye had never been on good terms. Wenge was practically an enemy in all but name. For Fadye to send his heir...What could possibly lead them to cooperate now? And why now? If it was for what he thought it was, the thought made Nikolai frown. The lord adjusted his blue cloak. Gathering information would be their best chance at trying to gain the upper hand.


    Nikolai had seen how the other maids deferred to the. young woman. It was likely she was the head of their group. Plus, the debate had intrigued him. She was very well-spoken for a servant. If he was lucky, she might even be a close confidant to the capital¡¯s esteemed guest.


    Loud cheers sounded from inside the bar.


    The lord''s eyes narrowed. What could possibly have all the patrons so riled up?


    ¡°You dirty foreign wrench!¡± came a loud bellow. It was followed by the sound of crashing wood.


    Nikolai pursed his lips. Grabbing a hold of the door, he burst into the bar.


    His eyes darted around. He took in the scene before him. The lord paused. His brain faltered as it struggled to process what he was seeing.


    The maid sat at one of the tables, straddling the bar stool despite the dress she was wearing. Her toned bicep was out for all to see as she propped her arm up against the wood.


    A large, muscular man sat across from her, head. He banged his head against the table as the maid rose an eyebrow and sipped her ale like it was water.


    Suddenly, the buff man raised his head and held out his arm against her. Slamming it on the table, he grunted¡­ as if to engage in an arm wrestle.


    The maid took a large swig from her jug of ale. She wiped her soiled face against her shoulder. The young woman shook her head at the muscular man.


    Patting his shoulders comfortingly, she said, ¡°It is unbefitting of you to be a sore loser, Gumly.¡± Her accented words were lilting, almost musical in nature. ¡°Do not feel too disheartened. Where I am from, they call me the Thumbsmasher.¡±


    For some reason, Nikolai and the other patrons had no doubt of that.


    ¡°How?¡± wailed Gumly, if the maid¡¯s words were to be believed. The huge man hung his head and sniffed pitifully. "How could you have beat me?"


    In a practiced motion, the maid gestured for the barkeeper to refill her jug, (the man practically tripped over himself as if he couldn¡¯t fill it up fast enough).


    Sighing, she said, ¡°Gumly, my father is the strongest man I know, and even he cannot best me in a game of smashing thumbs.¡±


    ¡°Lady, please tell me!" Gumly fell to his knees, basically kotowing to the maid. "How do I get stronger?¡± The man''s eyes shined with unshed tears. ¡°Please! Teach me your ways.¡±


    The lady chugged down her¡­ Nikolai¡¯s eyes glanced across her table to count the row of jugs¡­ Ninth jug of ale!


    Belching loudly, to the amusement of all the patrons, the maid crossed her arms. The young woman¡¯s cheeks were barely flushed! She shot Gumly a serious look. ¡°You really want to know?¡±


    Gumly nodded so fast it seemed his head almost snapped off. The rest of the bar leaned in eagerly as well.


    The maid leaned back into her seat, tipping the chair so that it only sat on two of its legs. She plopped her feet on the lacquered wood of the table, ignoring the barkeeper¡¯s pained squeak.


    ¡°Well, Gumly,¡± the young woman kept her eyes trained on the kneeling man. ¡°You must go out beyond your precious wall, and you must find, eleven,¡± she paused, holding out her fingers but then giving up when she realized she didn¡¯t have enough. ¡°Not eight, not ten, but eleven! Wolves! Eleven full grown wolves."


    Straddling her stool, she continued meancingly. "And you take those eleven wolves,¡± she made a grappling motion, stumbling to her feet. ¡°And you wrestle them into unconsciousness with your bare hands. And you must rip the head of their leader with your bare hands, bring it to their forest and scare all the other wolves away.¡± She stalked straight up to Gumly and tapped his forehead with her finger. ¡°You do that, Gum-Gum¡­ You do that, and you¡¯ll be the next Thumbsmasher.¡±


    The bar fell dead silent. Someone in the back dropped their jug. The metal clanged and rolled noisiliy in the silence.


    The maid looked around at the sudden change.


    Everyone watched with bated breath.


    Suddenly, she burst into laughter, clutching her sides. ¡°Ah-Haha! Haha! You should see the look on your faces!¡±


    Nikolai winced at the volume. He scowled, rubbing his ears.


    ¡°Gosh, do you really think I wrestled eleven wolves? You¡¯re all crazier than I am!¡±


    Following her lead, Gumly and the others began to laugh as well. That¡¯s right. Did they really believe a woman, no matter how good at arm wrestling, really wrestled eleven wolves?


    The maid shook her head. ¡°Just do your push-ups and keep practicing. And straighten up that attitude of yours.¡± She regarded him seriously. ¡°You¡¯re almost there, Gumly. One day, I know you¡¯ll surpass me.¡±


    The grown man looked seconds away from bawling his eyes out. "Really?" he said, voice nasally from the unshed tears.


    ¡°If you are serious about growing strong¡­¡± The woman turned to settle back in her chair. ¡°Stop by the castle one of these days and I can write up a training regiment for you. I got nothing better to do, anyways.¡± She emptied the jug of ale in her mouth and sighed when there wasn¡¯t even a drop left.


    Gumly looked at her with awe and rspect glistening in his eyes. He sniffed. ¡°Thank you, Thumbsmasher.¡± Hurrying to his feet, he bowed, "I will go and start practicing now!" and hurried away.


    Seeing that the show was over (and no one wanted to risk getting their thumbs smashed) the crowd dissipated, flowing back to their own groups and conversations.


    The maid stared back into the bottom of her cups. Her brows furrowed.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve garnered quite a reputation on your first day,¡± commented a voice.


    Eyes narrowing, the maid¡¯s hand fell to her side. She grasped at air.


    Nikolai cataloged the action for future reference. Was she used to carrying something? A weapon, perhaps? Still, he kept his form relaxed, almost lazy.


    The maid regarded him suspiciously. ¡°And why would a beautiful man such as yourself be keeping track of me?¡± Despite the veil, her amber eyes burned brightly. "I assure you I am of no interest to a handsome lord."


    Nikolai was slightly taken aback by the¡­ compliment? Was it a strategy to throw him off?


    A certain familiarity tugged at the lord¡¯s gut. Had he met the maid somewhere before? Those eyes¡­


    The young man held up his hands placatingly. ¡°I assure you. I¡¯m merely an admirer,¡±


    The maid froze. Then, she let out a spirited laugh. ¡°Oh. Well, in that case, I admire you as well.¡± She crossed her arms and leaned forward enthusiastically. "I could swim in your eyes, lord. You should thank your lady mother."


    Nikolai almost tripped on air. This woman¡­ Was she flirting with him? However, he was starting to get the feeling that blunt statements were just a preferred speaking style for her. He cleared his thoughts and tried to focus back on the task at hand.


    Watching his reactions silently, the maid paused for a moment more before turning back in her seat. ¡°How did you know I just arrived?¡± Her words were thrown out flippantly, but Nikolai could see the tense set of her shoulders. She kept a good grip on the jug, as if waiting to use it as a weapon.


    The young man shrugged. He settled for the truth. ¡°I watched the Wenge delegation arrive earlier.¡± He paused before adding, ¡°And your accent is familiar.¡±


    The maid covered her mouth as if the thought of her accent giving her away hadn¡¯t occurred to her. She tilted her head, gazing at him with curiousity.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Nikolai explained, ¡°Most wouldn¡¯t notice. I only knew because I am from Feldgrau. Some of the tribes come to trade at the Great Wall.¡±


    That seemed to pique the young woman¡¯s interest. She turned to face him, leaning into his space. Nikolai refrained from leaning back. He wouldn¡¯t be intimidated!


    ¡°You are from the land of the Great Wall?¡± Despite their closeness, her voice was booming.


    Nikolai winced internally. Was this woman always so loud? He managed to let out a short nod.


    Taking pity on him, the maid retreated back into her own space. Her fingers tapped the wooden table as she hummed consideringly. ¡°Feldgrau¡­ So that¡¯s what it¡¯s called. You know, we always just called it Demonland, hah.¡±


    It took everything in Nikolai to school his expression into one of indifference. He let out a dry laugh. ¡°You have quite the sense of humor, Miss¡­¡±


    The woman scratched her head, as if confused. Suddenly, her cheeks reddened. ¡°Ah, you want to know my name! Uhm¡± she paused, scratching her chin. Her voice was almost at a normal volume. ¡°Well, it¡¯s um. Oh! It¡¯s Iliana!¡±


    At the mention of his mother''s name, Nikolai froze. Did the maid know who he was? Was this a test? His eyes narrowed. ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Unperturbed by his change, the maid nodded eagerly. ¡°My name. It¡¯s Iliana. I am part of the general¡¯s¡­ uhm, entourage.¡±


    Swallowing, Nikolai let out a considering hum. Were there really such coincidences in the world? ¡°My mother was named Iliana.¡±


    The maid''s eyes widened in genuine surprise. ¡°Is it a common name in this kingdom? I was unaware of that.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s guard lowered slightly. ¡°You can say that¡­ It was the name of the late queen. Although, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s more a cautionary tale than someone most aspire to be.¡±


    The maid lowered her head. The young woman¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I am sorry to hear that. I had always been told that the queen was a great woman.¡± There was a note of genuine sorrow in her voice.


    Nikolai chuckled coldly. But on the inside, his heart squeezed sadly. ¡°That¡¯s not a common sentiment, I would love to know which group you¡¯ve been around to get such an idea.¡± He paused, noting the sleepy glaze in the other¡¯s eyes. He had to hurry. ¡°If it helps, those of Feldgrau also hold her in kinder regards.¡±


    The maid straightened. She turned to face Nikolai excitedly. ¡°That is right! You are from Demon¡­I mean, Feldgrau!¡± She paused, looking away. "Stop looking at me so intently." The young woman hid her flaming cheeks.


    Nikolai could make out the faint pink even with the veil. For someone who was usually so brash, the contrast was¡­ cute. He froze, mortified by his own observation.


    ¡°Say, do you know the Lord of Feldgrau?¡± asked the young woman. She was staring at him once more.


    Said Lord of Feldgrau was dragged out of his own thoughts.


    ¡°In a way, but not terribly familiarly,¡± he offered vaguely.


    "I suppose it would have been a stretch." The maid sighed, ¡°Then can you tell me about the land? How are the people?¡±


    Nikolai was slightly taken aback by the question. Very few outside of Feldgrau were actually interested. ¡°It is¡­ not an easy land,¡± he decided. ¡°The people have suffered and they have had to adapt because of it. But they are good people. A loving people.¡±


    He was unaware of the softness in his voice and the small smile on his face. But the maid stared intently at it, as if intrigued.


    Nikolai shook his head fondly. ¡°If someone says they hate you, they hate you. But if they see you as a friend, they would sooner take a stab to the heart than betray you.¡± He admitted, "It takes a while to get used to but it is not a bad thing, I don''t think."


    ¡°Winters are harsh, springs are hot. But the first snowfall and the first harvest...¡± his usually blank and indifferent voice filled with gentleness. ¡°It¡¯s the most beautiful sight in the entire world.¡± His voice took a hardened edge. "I would do anything to defend it."


    "I too would defend my people till the death," murmured the maid as if she understood the steady passion and protectiveness that thrummed in Nikolai''s veins.


    Who was she really, he wondered. The more they spoke, it seemed the less he knew.


    A soft silence enveloped the two.


    ¡°You seem very fond of it,¡± Iliana¡¯s voice was slightly softer than normal but loud enough to break Nikolai out of his reverie. "Feldgrau, that is."


    The lord coughed and cleared his throat. ¡°I suppose I am.¡± Taking a sip of the ale, he stared at her. ¡°So, Iliana, why the fascination with Feldgrau?¡±


    His instinct flared warningly. This was no coincidence. Especially not if the queen was involved.


    To his surprise, the young woman was not set off by his question, her face remained relaxed. Amber eyes regarded him curiously but didn¡¯t seem to find what they were searching for.


    ¡°I figured it would be obvious.¡± The young woman shrugged nonchalantly.


    Nikolai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    There was a pause as both waited for the other to elaborate. Finally, it was the maid that broke the silence.


    ¡°You really do not know?... I thought it was common knowledge." The young woman stared at him, baffled at his confusion. ¡°The General is marrying into your land.¡±


    Nikolai choked on his drink. WHAT?

 Chapter 3: Royal Rivals, AKA Siblings

    ¡°There, there, pretty boy.¡± Small but firm and calloused hands ran through Nikolai¡¯s hair. ¡°Can¡¯t handle a drink, can you?¡± The lord glared up at the young woman but she merely chuckled, finding the response amusing.


    Her brows quirked up mischievously.


    Nikolai grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his mouth. He felt a pair of curious eyes on him. Sighing, he glanced over at the maid.


    Meeting his gaze, she winked brazenly at him. Her amber eyes glowed with mirth.


    Nikolai faltered. What was wrong with her?


    The maid sighed happily. She twisted in her seat and patted at her pockets. ¡°Do not fear marriage, young lord. It is a natural order of the world.¡± She peered at him. ¡°Surely, there is someone that you wish to marry and make your lady, as well?¡±


    Nikolai cleared his throat. ¡°No. Not at the moment,¡± he admitted. The Lord of Feldgrau had always resigned himself to an arranged marriage. Even when he was a prince, such were the way for things. Love and sentiments never equated with matrimony in his mind. He froze. Why did he reveal that to her?


    ¡°A pity then,¡± the maid shook her head. ¡°Your future wife will be very fortunate.¡±


    Nikolai did not know what to make of the sentence. His usual sharp tongue was lost on him. ¡°Your husband as well,¡± he offered lamely. However, he found it hard to picture any man being able to successfully woo and pursue the young woman. If anything it would be the maid doing the choosing and proposing.


    ¡°Ah, well I am to be married to a fool,¡± said the maid. She rummages through her pockets for something. ¡°But he is said to be a noble fool, and for that I am grateful.¡± She shot him an amused look.


    Nikolai grabbed the jug into his grasp once more. He couldn¡¯t get her teasing look out of his head. He demonstrated a proper sip. ¡°So, your general is marrying into Feldgrau?¡± The lord paused, voice lowering into a murmur. ¡°You must be very close to them to know such a secret.¡± His cold eyes pierced into her as if trying to decipher a mystery.


    The young woman¡¯s eye widened, bulging to a worrying size. It was her turn to splutter. She sprung to her feet. The veil shook with all the frantic movement, slightly sliding off her face, revealing her slightly flushed cheeks.


    Nikolai tensed. Had he pressed too far? The young man¡¯s grip on his jug tightened.


    Crossing her arms across her chest, the maid shrunk in on herself. The young woman looked horrified. ¡°Was that not common knowledge?¡± She rubbed her face and groaned loudly. The maid began to curse in another language.


    Nikolai suddenly found two strong hands on his shoulders. He stared questioningly at the weird woman.


    ¡°Sir, we are acquaintances now, aren¡¯t we?¡± The bright amber eyes stared down at him, fierce and bright.


    Titling his head, the lord tried for a half-shrug. ¡°I suppose so¡­¡± He leaned forward subtly. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    The young woman burst into a grateful smile. She opened her mouth to speak.


    ¡°Hey! Who¡¯s the one with the twenty jugs of ale tab?¡±


    All eyes turned to the owner of the bar who had just stormed down the stairs.


    The barkeeper shivered but pointed at the maid. She gulped. Hands dropping to her pockets, her fingers grasped air.


    ¡°Uh, well good sir,¡± tried the maid. ¡°It seems I am low on coin right now, but if you add it to my tab, I will-¡°


    ¡°You think I run this establishment by letting everyone off with a tab?¡± The owner raised a chubby fist in the air. He pointed an accusing finger at the woman. ¡°What type of scoundrel are you? Trying to drink me out of my own house?¡±


    Although her shoulders were still set in a proud stance, the maid rubbed the back of her neck. She laughed sheepishly. ¡°It was not my intention to do so, sir-¡±


    ¡°Then pay now!¡± roared the owner. He raised his pudgy hands in the air.


    The barkeeper murmured apologies behind his angry boss, but it was no use.


    The furious man gestured towards the line of empty jugs beside the young woman. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Pay up!¡± He clenched his fists in frustration. ¡°Come on, I¡¯m not the villain here! I want to go to the moon festival with my kids and you two fools are the last ones to leave!¡±


    The two, quite in sync, turned to look around. It was true, they were the last ones in the bar.


    Nikolai held his face in his hands. ¡°Sir, if you-¡±


    ¡°Did you say it was the time of the moon festival?¡± Interrupted the young woman. For the first time since Nikolai met her, the maid¡¯s words were serious. They were low and commanded an answer.


    The barkeeper and owner shivered at the change in tone. It was like the maid had turned into a whole other person.


    The owner scratched the tip of his nose. ¡°Well, yeah¡­¡± he looked at the barkeeper to confirm. ¡°Even the moon festival at the palace is set to start in half an hour.¡±


    The young woman¡¯s face took on a pale shade.


    Nikolai took pause as well. That was right. The royal ball would be starting soon. No matter his current status, the Lord of Feldgrau would be expected to attend. He placed faith in his attendant. Cristin should be able to buy him some time.


    A low voice suddenly brushed past his ears. The maid leaned in close to him.


    ¡°Dear acquaintance, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to repay you one day?¡± The words were practically a whisper. Sorrowful eyes stared into Nikolai¡¯s confused ones. He raised a questioning eyebrow.


    Nikolai couldn¡¯t help the unsettling feeling settling in his gut. But before he could even ask what the maid meant, the young woman was already leaning back and turning to the barkeeper. The white silky cloths of her attire whirled around like a grand cape, swooshing in the air. The young woman strode forward, carrying a majestic and commanding air about her. She stalked forward with a confidence usually only found in the powerful.


    The owner gulped. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.


    ¡°This is what we shall do,¡± she said.


    The three men in the bar looked at her in confusion and curiosity. What was she going to do?


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes narrowed. Although they had just met, he caught the mischievous glint that flashed through her eyes.


    The young maid placed a hand on her hip. She pointed down at Nikolai. ¡°This man will take care of all my expenses.¡±


    With that, she waved a hand in the air and yelled, ¡°Farewell!¡± The maid happily turned and walked for the door.


    As she turned to walk away, a tight grip and burning blue eyes halted her. The maid tilted her head.


    ¡°What do you mean I¡¯ll take care of it?¡± gritted out the young man. Deep lines formed on his face as he clenched his teeth.


    To his surprise, she merely smirked down at him. ¡°You know what I mean.¡±


    With a flick of her wrist, she disarmed his hold and strode past him.


    Desperation surged through him. He needed the information on the general! What was the queen planning? Nikolai reached forward and yanked. But his fingers only caught on the strings of the veil.


    The maid¡¯s eyes widened, but even her reflexes weren¡¯t fast enough to stop the cloth from falling.


    For a moment, Nikolai stared at the furious but unveiled face staring angrily at him. It was like the dawn, expressive and unyielding. Her face was kissed by the sun and she had a stubborn and proud set to her jaw.


    The young lord froze¡­. But the maid did not.


    Suddenly, in a gust of force, the lord found himself pushed back. His back hit the table hard. The veil was snatched out of his grip. There was a loud slam of the door.


    Nikolai gasped for breath.


    The bar was silent once more.


    Through the window, Nikolai followed the furious whirlwind that was the young woman as she ran down the street.


    The lord righted himself, grunting at the pain. Those were going to bruise. But why had the maid been so secretive about her face? Suspicion nagged at him. Iliana was clearly not who she was claiming to be. But how did she know about the general¡¯s marriage when not even Nikolai¡¯s men had been able to gather a hint of it? Maybe she was no servant but a relative?


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Doubt curled in his mind. Unbidden, his hand fell to the dagger concealed at his side.


    The information he had gathered, although vague, was of some use. He had to hurry back to the castle, something big was going to take place. He could feel it. The general¡¯s marriage to Feldgrau was no small matter. Especially if it seemed to be common knowledge within the Wenge delegation.


    ¡°So,¡± a voice chirped cheerfully. ¡°For the tab, will that be in coins or silver?¡±


    Nikolai shot a sharp glare at the owner and barkeeper. The icy countenance bore no hint of the slight warmth that had previously been there. Steely eyes pinned down the two.


    The men flinched back.


    Internally, the lord sighed. He tried to remind himself of their innocence.


    Without a word, a large pouch was set down on the counter. It was quickly picked up by the owner. He opened the straps to study its contents.


    The owner gaped, suddenly feeling faint. The pouch was more than enough to buy his entire establishment, much less pay for some drinks! His eyes watered and he fell to his knees in gratitude. Who knew that today would be his lucky day?


    He called out to the young man exiting his bar. ¡°Thank you, kind sir! A good Morning Day to you!¡±


    The young man merely continued to exit as if he had heard nothing at all.


    A thought suddenly struck the owner. Who were those people? He turned to his barkeeper but the man reacted even faster.


    ¡°No idea, sir. No idea at all.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°Lord and Lady Langard!¡± called the royal announcer. His bellowing voice carried to every corner of the room.


    The ball was teeming with life as the most esteemed guests in the lands arrived for the celebrations of the moon festival. Even the servants were having a good time, sneaking in the leftover food and enjoying the music.


    There was only one soul who was having possibly the worst time of their life.


    Cristin cursed his liege under his breath. Where was the lord? He clasped his hands tightly behind his back, offering a nod to a random lord and a strained smile to another passing lady.


    He was a soldier¡¯s son. Despite the facade he played, Cristin wanted nothing more than to spit in the next lord that tried to pass false pleasantries with him. The man felt like bugs were itching under his skin, or maybe it was the stuffy attire he had been forced to wear. He was so uncomfortable. I¡¯m not supposed to be here, he thought as he stared up at the giant ice sculpture that had just been brought in.


    These people are idiots, he thought, as he watched a crowd of lords and ladies fawn over one another''s coats while trying to prove their were the best. The man shuddered to think that being stuck with this group would have been the fate of his liege.


    "Lord Cristin!" called a voice.


    Cristin plastered on a smile and shoved down his discomfort. He turned and bowed deeply to the approaching figure. Taking the dainty, gloved hand, Cristin pressed a chaste kiss to the their gloved knuckles.


    "You may rise, good sir," said the voice. There was a certain tone in it that bordered between amusement and annoyance.


    Cristin straightened. But the man wisely kept his eyes down. Anything out of place or decorum could be considered an insult to the figure before him.


    The ma had followed his lord to enough gatherings and noble travels throughout the years to gather a semblance of understanding for the nuances of royal rules and noble etiquette.


    Cristin smiled softly. ¡°Your Highness, what can this lowly one do for you?"


    "Oh, you can drop the formalities, sir,¡± laughed the voice. ¡°Please, I insist.¡±


    Cristin nodded shortly and finally lifted his eyes.


    Before him stood a woman, tall and spindly. She was adorned in a dark velvet as black as the night sky with red rubies embroidered into the cascading folds. The high collar framed her sharp face where beady eyes pierced into Cristin¡¯s form.


    The Queen Rewanna clasped her bony hands together. The silver tiara in her hair glistened in the magnificent lights of the ballroom. She smiled and tilted her head. "But if you could, please answer this one question for me."


    Clenching his fists behind his back, Cristin voice was one of utter servitude and loyalty. "And what is it that you wish to know, my queen?"


    The queen and the attendant had only met briefly when the Lord of Feldgrau and the woman happened to attend the same event. However, unlike those times, they were now fully in her territory.


    Queen Rewana, the lady of Eburean and mother of the kingdom, stared cooly at the soldier''s son turned noble.


    "Where is my son?" She took a giant step forward, the height of her heels allowed her to stand at the same height as Cristin. She stared down at him. ¡°Where is the Lord of Feldgrau?"


    To everyone else, the right-hand man of the second prince was well at ease. He laughed good-naturedly and gestured around. "My leige is merely preparing himself after the long travel. Although he is late, the lord will be here shortly, my lady."


    It was as if the man took no notice of the sudden quietness in the room as the different lords and ladies listened in, starving for the drama.


    ¡°It is the fault of this lowly one for not informing you earlier.¡± Cristin smiled widely, he leaned in as if to whisper, but his words echoed in the giant ballroom. ¡°But I knew a caring mother such as yourself wouldn''t deprive your son of the rest.¡± He leaned back. ¡°Truly, Your Highness, it is admirable how you treat my lord like a son of your own blood.¡±


    ¡°Of¡­ course,¡± Queen Rewanna froze imperceptibly.


    The momentary lapse of control was only caught by Cristin, but the man smirked internally. For a woman that loved to hold her status as mother of the kingdom, and the second prince by extension, over all of their heads, she was also unable to make a move that would appear too "unmotherly".


    Her smile fell and the caring facade fell away. "Take your lord to me the moment he arrives, boy."


    With that, she turned away, the dark dress whirling behind her.


    Cristin let out a breath of relief. They had bought some more time for now. His eyes shot to the door, praying that his lord would suddenly appear. But, alas.


    The man shot another glance at the delicious line of food at the table. His stomach protested, it was so full! But¡­ the stress won out. He took a step in the table¡¯s direction.


    "What''s this about my elder brother?¡±


    Cristin froze, muscles tensing as his body instinctively locked into its fight or flight mode. This was not good.


    ¡°How dare he be late to my ball?" A cocky voice echoed throughout the ballroom. Each word dripped with entitled arrogance and condescension.


    Everyone gaped and stared at the third prince of the Eburean Kingdom. Queen Rewanna held a hand to her face but hid a devious smile under it.


    Prince Argan, heir to the throne, stood imperiously from his place on top of the staircase. The grand staircase was reserved for royal entrances. The boy was barely on the cusp on manhood. In fact, this was the last year of his childhood. After the end of the year, the prince would be eligible to take over the throne from his father.


    Cristin froze. It suddenly made sense. That was why Nikolai had returned to the capital.


    ¡°For years, my brother has rudely declined our invitation, and yet, now that he has accepted, he has the gall to not show up?¡±


    The entire ballroom was silent, no one was bold enough to agree or disagree with the statement.


    ¡°Perhaps it is true that the vile borderlands have robbed him of the little intelligence he had left,¡± sneered the prince.


    Cristin¡¯s eyes flashed. The man clenched his fists, nails digging into the flesh. How dare the stupid prince- But he held himself back, aware of the royal guards stationed at every corner. The man could only lower his head to hide the hate burning in his eyes.


    Prince Argan pointed an accusatory finger at Cristin. "My brother''s servant. Answer my lady mother''s question for all to hear! Where is the Lord of Feldgrau?"


    Cristin breathed in shakily. He shot one last glance at the entrance, but it was empty. He sighed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he is not here yet, my prince.¡± He clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°As I was informing the queen, the Lord of Feldgrau had a long-¡°


    ¡°Did I tell you to make excuses for my pathetic brother?¡± snapped the prince.


    Argan stormed down the stairs. The haughty lift of his head and the perpetual sneer stuck on his face, really made one long to punch him. Any charm Argan possessed was overshadowed by the disdainful glint in his eye and the cruel and sharp words that often came from his mouth.


    Cristin got to his knees. ¡°Apologies, Your Highness¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your Royal Highness,¡± fumed the prince. He crossed his arms and smirked. There was a hint of familiarity to Nikolai in the shape of his nose and the curve of his forehead, but otherwise the two brothers were like night and day.


    Although Nikolai had a cold countenance, he was sharp and hid a caring heart for those he considered under his care. He was a man who inspired loyalty and faith in his decisions. One followed him because they could.


    Those that followed Argan, did it because they had no other choice.


    Bowing his head, Cristin remained silent.


    ¡°My father has always upheld the values of tradition and he would have punished my brother for his tardiness.¡± Argan sighed dramatically. ¡°I suppose since both my father and brother are not in attendance, it is only fair for I to deal the ruling.¡± His smirk grew into an eager smile, full of vindictive pettiness. ¡°And for  you to take the punishment.¡±


    The crowd of lords and ladies shifted uncomfortably as they glanced at one another.


    An idea suddenly sprung into the prince¡¯s mind. ¡°However,¡± he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°I will release you of this duty if you pledge yourself to me instead.¡± He smiled excitedly. ¡°If you¡¯re not my brother¡¯s man, you don¡¯t have to take the punishment."


    "That¡¯s fair, isn¡¯t it?¡± Argan turned to the room, "Isn''t it?" Those he met eyes with, nodded urgently and tried for smiles.


    In the back of the room, a new group of guests entered the ballroom. Their leader was dressed in a dark royal blue. The material was ceremonial and the long material of the beautifully embroidered fabric reached the floor. They wore a golden mask, carved with feathers. The metal had been melded into the shape of a raven¡¯s head. It sat perfectly on their face, leaving only a pursed mouth in view. The new group watched the interaction in silence. The royal announcer¡¯s eyes had been so glued to the dramatic scene that he did not notice their entrance. By the time he did, the masked figure waved for his silence, their own eyes were trained on the Crown Prince and the servant with rapt attention.


    Unbeknownst to the group, the Crown Prince smirked, reveling in the power he felt over the kneeling man. It was a heady feeling.


    But to the crowd¡¯s surprise, the man kneeling on the ground did not cower in fear or beg for mercy.


    Suddenly, there was the muffled sound of laughter.


    The queen frowned, expression darkening.


    Cristin let out a low chuckle. Did this brat truly think such words were enough to cow him?


    Lifting his eyes to meet the prince¡¯s, he relished in the flash of uncertainty in the other''s eyes. He shrugged, ¡°Do what you will, prince.¡±


    Behind the title was nothing more than a boy who feared not measuring up to his worthy brother.


    Cristin¡¯s dark eyes gleamed as he took delight in the fear and anger in the Crown Prince¡¯s eyes. The intelligence master¡¯s words echoed in the ballroom.


    ¡°My loyalty is to the Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    There was a beat of silence.


    ¡°How dare you!¡± An angry scream came from the Crown Prince. Fury colored his eyes.


    In a swift motion, he grabbed a guard¡¯s sword and stormed towards a defiant Cristin, blade first. "I''ll kill you, traitor!"

 Chapter 4: Since When was I Engaged?

    Crown Prince Argan lifted the sword above his head, having every intention of slicing the throat of the traitor kneeling on the ground.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, boy?¡± came a thundering voice from the top of the royal staircase.


    Eyes flashing in annoyance, the prince turned to snarl at the voice. But when his eyes landed on the interruptor, the boy froze.


    The sword clattered and fell to the floor.


    All eyes lifted to the top of the stairs and gaped.


    The entire room hurried to kneel and bow. ¡°Your Royal Highness!¡± they called.


    It was King Arganus.


    And by his side, steadying his arm, was the Lord of Feldgrau himself. The second prince was clad in an ensemble of white and silver, the sigil of his mother¡¯s house and that of Feldgrau were embroidered on the sleeves.


    The young ladies of the court blushed furiously when his sharp gaze swept across the room. One maiden in general, brightened visibly, their soft lips raising into an excited smile.


    The young man excluded an icy elegance. Paired with his handsome but cold face, the second prince held the composure of a true royal. Standing together, it was clear to see how Nikolai shared similar features with the older man by his side.


    ¡°Continue the festivities.¡± The King walked slowly down the stairs. ¡°Please, rise.¡±


    Many were just as shocked to see the king as they were the Lord of Feldgrau. In the past few years, King Arganus had been ailed with different sicknesses. There were times when he was too frail to even get out of bed. The man¡¯s injured right arm hung limply by his side. The bolder few claimed the sicknesses were a lasting curse from Fadye, the fearsom chief of Wenge.


    As the father and son arrived at the first step, Queen Rewanna hurried forward. She reached out, intending to replace Nikolai by her husband¡¯s side. To her surprise, the king held up a hand. He smiled fondly at his second son. ¡°Let this old man spend some time with his son, woman.¡±


    ¡°But, my king, the rules state¡­¡± tried the queen, smile faltering.


    ¡°Who is foolish enough to stop the king?¡± asked the second prince. His steely words halted her protests. "Queen Rewanna. Apologies for my delay, I was recounting my journey with father."


    The queen reluctantly turned her gaze to the young man. She stifled the anger and jealousy in her heart and greeted him. ¡°Nikolai.¡±


    ¡°Always fast with the responses, this one.¡± The king laughed, ¡°That''s right. Let¡¯s see the rules stop me, hah.¡±


    Queen Rewanna¡¯s jaws twitched. ¡°Do not hog the prince, my lord. He is my son too, after all.¡± Her lips curved into a smirk. Victorious glee churned inside of her. ¡°Although, I suppose he is no longer a prince. Perhaps, I should address you by your proper title? Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    Nikolai turned his blank gaze towards her. The queen shivered. It was as if he was looking past her.


    ¡°For old time¡¯s sake, queen mother. You may address me as a prince.¡± He did not bother with a smile and turned towards the king. ¡°You don¡¯t mind do you, father? Not if it¡¯s a request by mother to call me by that title?¡±


    Rewanna¡¯s jaw dropped. Then, she quickly clenched her fists. ¡°It is fine! I can call-¡°


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± agreed the King. It was as if the many years of absence had made the father blind to his son¡¯s faults. ¡°For as long as you are in the capital, you should be referred to you as the prince.¡± The king¡¯s eyes landed on the royal table. ¡°Come, Nikolai. Let us dine together as a family. You must greet your younger brothers.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Father,¡± said Nikolai softly.


    As the two passed by the frozen queen, whose face was stuck between false joy and irritated fury, Nikolai whispered, ¡°You¡¯re welcome¡­ Mother.¡±


    Then, like a breeze they flittered by her.


    The queen turned towards the duo. She raged as their backs were turned. Her mind took her back to the scene years ago, where Nikolai had held his precious mother and brother and forced her to watch as a lowly regent.


    She clenched her fists, sharp nails close to breaking from the pressure.


    You might have won this round, she thought viciously. The woman eyed the jovial king suspiciously. She had no idea how the king had managed to get out of bed today with the heavy dosage of his medicines, but it was no matter.


    Queen Rewanna shot a final baleful look towards the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s back.


    ¡ª


    Crown Prince Argan watched his father and older brother approach with much apprehension.


    He couldn¡¯t stop the shiver of fear that ran down his spine when the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s cold eyes met his.


    Stopping in front of the scene, the King sighed at his younger son. It was a pity that this was to be his successor. He shot a longing look at his second son¡¯s back but then rid himself of the thought. The Last he was in the capital, the Lord of Feldgrau had very adamantly given up his rights to the throne.


    The king could only hope that the second prince would one day change his mind¡­ especially before the king¡¯s ravaging sickness overcame his body¡¯s failing strength. He breathed in shakily, trying to suppress the painful coughs stuck in his lungs. The king still had an image to preserve.


    ¡°Father,¡± came the soft voice beside him.


    Arganus looked at his stoic son. The young man was a striking image of his late mother.


    ¡°Will you give me leave to deal with the situation as I see fit?¡± he asked. The second prince''s somber blue eyes rose up to meet the king¡¯s.


    The king sighed. Argan had really messed up this time. Especially in front of such a large crowd. This would be a good lesson to the boy.


    King Arganus waved dismissive a hand and headed for the table. ¡°Do what you must,¡± he ordered.


    Behind him, Nikolai bowed his head. ¡°Thank you, father.¡±


    The king approached the royal table where he was stopped by nobles asking after his health. It was only after the king had begun to engage in conversation with the head of the Langard family that Nikolai finally turned his eyes to the Crown Prince.


    The Lord of Feldgrau took a heavy step forward.


    Argan flinched back. ¡°What do you want?," he squeaked out.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stopped. His eyes drifted over to his still kneeling servant. ¡°Get up,¡± he commanded.


    The attendant hurried to do so.


    ¡°Stop,¡± screamed the crown prince. He glared at his elder brother. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±


    But the attendant continued to stand and walked leisurely to his lord¡¯s sides.


    Argan¡¯s eyes bulged and the veins on top of his head looked close to bursting. ¡°How dare you!¡± Even he was aware how embarrassing the lack of control was. What type of crown prince couldn''t control a servant? The shame made his face boil with rage. How would this look to the other nobles! Nikolai was trying to embarrass him!


    The Crown Prince strode forward with every intention of grabbing the servant and tossing them to the floor. The insolent fool was following the wrong master! He raised his fists.


    SLAP!


    Argan stared wide-eyed at Nikolai. The crown prince clutched his burning cheek.


    The Lord of Feldgrau shook his hand. He shot the younger an irritated stare as if to say, ''Now look what you¡¯ve made me do.''


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    Straightening, Argan stormed forward. He was slightly shorter than the older and had to look up at the young man.


    ¡°I am the crown prince,¡± he snarled. ¡°How dare you!¡±


    Fast as a serpent, Nikolai¡¯s hand struck and reached out to grasp Argan by the collar. He yanked his forward. ¡°This is a warning, little brother.¡± His voice was low but full of killing intent. ¡°If you ever touch my people again, I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re the king¡­ I¡¯ll skin you myself.¡±


    With that, he threw the crown prince back. Argan stumbled back, just barely saving himself from falling on his backside. The younger stared at the Lord of Feldgrau with a gaped mouth, too shocked to say anything.


    Clenching his fists, he spit, "You''re nothing, Nikolai. Not a prince or a lord. You''re a fool! A stupid fool!" He gestured around. "And everyone knows it!" The crown prince stormed off.


    The rest of the room averted their eyes. When they noticed that the king had seen the entire scene but said nothing, they pretended that they too had seen nothing. The pleasantries and idle conversation continued around the room.


    Cristin huffed a soft sound of amusement.


    Nikolai turned, only to be faced with the furious queen. Her face was ugly. The woman''s lips curled back in a snarl. ¡°You dare embarrass my son like that?¡±


    Her eyes bled with rage as she stalked forward, looking close to slapping Nikolai. But she had too had seen the king''s idleness. She stood so close that her panting breaths fell on Nikolai, but the lord just stared indifferently at her. Not the least bit intimidated.


    ¡°The king gave me permission,¡± he offered monotonously.


    ¡°I am the queen!¡± seethed Rewanna. ¡°Argan is to be king one day. Have you no fear?¡±


    Nikolai let out a short bark of laughter. The queen was taken aback.


    The young man looked at her incredulously. ¡°Last I checked, the king¡¯s word is ranked higher than both the queen and crown prince.¡±


    "Argan is the crown prince," sneered the queen.


    Nikolai shrugged, "As was my elder brother."


    ¡°I. Am. The. Queen!¡± she repeated, emphasizing each word.


    The Lord of Feldgrau sneered, ¡°As was my mother.¡± His eyes flashed as his mask of indifference fell back onto his face. ¡°And look at us now.¡±


    The queen let out an outraged laugh. ¡°Is that a threat, lord?¡±


    ¡°Mother, you misunderstand me.¡± Nikolai sighed internally. He hadn¡¯t wanted to use this so early in his stay, but it appeared that he had no choice. ¡°This is no threat¡­ merely a reminder of how fragile the power you hold is.¡±


    He shook his head. ¡°All it would take is one word to Father and your son would no longer be crown prince." The young man paused, letting his words sink in. "Don¡¯t forget that.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau nodded towards his attendant. With that, the two men walked away, leaving a pale-faced queen behind.


    But unbeknownst to the two, the woman suddenly smirked darkly. ¡°You think you¡¯re so smart, Lord of Feldgrau.¡± Picking up her dress, the queen stalked towards the royal table.


    Soon, it would be time for the announcements.


    ¡ª


    The lord and the attendant leisurely strode through the hall towards the balcony outside.


    Once there, Cristin let out an all-suffering sigh. He shook the lord¡¯s shoulder furioulsly. ¡°Where were you?¡± The man began his rant that he had been drafting all evening. ¡°Do you know how bad that would have been if the king hadn¡¯t shown up? The entire situation was¡­.¡±


    Nikolai nodded mutely, but the bored look on his face betrayed his true emotions. When Cristin got in his protective mode, it was easier to just let the man get out of his system.


    Meanwhile, teh attendant continued his bereavement, his hands were flailing everywhere, and now, he was re-enacting his scene with the queen.


    Nikolai sighed and rolled his eyes. Truthfully, though, he was glad he had arrived at the time he did. Reporting to his father¡¯s chambers first had been a risk that paid off. He repressed the worry in his heart. His father looked even worse than the reports had detailed. It was clear that his time in the world, whether through natural forces or other nefarious means, was coming close to an end. And seeing Argan¡¯s brash stupidity only confirmed his fears.


    It was clear from the nobles¡¯ deference to the prince and Rewanna¡¯s control over the court during the king¡¯s absence, that they planned to install Argan as the king at the year¡¯s end when the boy was fully eighteen years.


    It was a good thing he had another heir in mind. All he needed was to ensure that his plan came to fruition.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared at the outline of the capital and the bright lights coming from the different celebrations in the kingdom below. When he was a boy, he used to sneak to the balcony to watch the festivities. He could still remember the delicious smell of sugar butter on bread. HIs mouth watered.


    ¡°Cristin,¡± he interrupted the other man¡¯s mid-rant.


    Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, the attendant paused. He glanced around sharply. ¡°What is it, my lord?¡± His voice was low, in case there were enemies around.


    The lord gestured for the attendant to lean in closer. The man did so. The lord insisted closer. The attendant obeyed.


    ¡°Go fetch me some sweet-butter bread,¡± Nikolai pushed the man straight. ¡°Now.¡±


    The attendant stared at his lord in confusion. What in the world had gotten in the young man? He stared at the lord, trying to decipher the secret message, but the lord merely stared back insistently.


    A soft voice suddenly interrupted the two¡¯s staring contest. ¡°Niko? Is that you?¡±


    Both men turned around. They stared at the elegant noblewoman before them. Her skin was soft and smile small but beautiful. Her hair fell in an elegant cascade around her face. The woman¡¯s long lashes blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Asinara,¡± murmured the lord. His words were soft and colored with surprise.


    The woman¡¯s smile grew as she nodded lightly. Her radiant presence, like the winter rose, was soft but entrancing.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared at his childhood crush in surprise. He stood frozen.


    Suddenly, a brash voice appeared in his mind, echoing, _¡°Surely, there is someone that you wish to marry and make your lady, as well?¡±_ His chest warmed.


    Cristin stared at the lady and lord staring at each other, lost in their own world. He backed up slightly. Speaking to air, he announced, ¡°I think I will go get that bread.¡± The attendant nudged his lord and whispered, ¡°Go get her.¡±


    Ignoring the young man¡¯s short glare, the attendant smirked and walked back into the hall.


    It was only the two left on the balcony.


    ¡ª


    The Wenge delegation approached the king and queen.


    Around them, the nobles shied away and quieted.


    Seeing their approach, the queen tapped the king¡¯s shoulders. The man lifted his mirthful gaze, and suddenly the joy in his eyes faded into a guarded look. The king stared at the figure with the golden mask and blue attire.


    He stood and approached the Raven General. Eyeing them up and down, he said gruffly. ¡°So you¡¯re Fadye¡¯ heir?¡±


    The Raven General let out a short nod. They stood at a smaller height than the king, but there was pride and strength in their stance that the king could respect. He could see a seasoned warrior when he saw one. His brows furrowed as his eyes drifted towards the legendary sword hung by the general¡¯s side. The Raven General was a damn good warrior too.


    The king sighed resignedly. He grabbed his glass and lifted it in the air. ¡°To new beginnings.¡± He gestured toward the table opposite to the royal table. ¡°Rewanna, lead our guests to their seats. Let them enjoy some good food for once.¡± He laughed at his own joke.


    The Raven General merely nodded and followed the queen.


    The queen smiled brightly at the general and their entourage. As she led them to their seats, she motioned for the servants to come forward. ¡°Anything you desire, the servants will have brought to you. Please, enjoy.¡±


    All eyes followed the esteemed guests. So the rumors were true! There really were Wenge warriors in their city! And it was by invitation of the royal family as well!


    As the row of Wenge delegates took their seats, the Raven General waited until one of their own attendants pulled the seat out to sit.


    One of the delegates, in an accented voice, explained, ¡°The general will use their own servants tonight.¡± They offered nothing more than that.


    The servant by the general¡¯s side settled behind them stoically.


    The queen forced a smile at the weird custom. ¡°Very well,¡± she clasped her hands together and turned towards the general. ¡°General, surely, there is no need for the mask? It must be uncomfortable to wear such a thing for so long.¡±


    Only the general¡¯s lips were visible and they pursed in disapproval. With a flick of their fingers, one of the other delegates hurried to explain. ¡°The general is representing the Chief Faye and all of


    Wenge, to take the mask off would be a great sign of offense until the new treaty has been announced.¡±


    The king lifted his eyes, catching parts of the conversation. He waved a hand towards Rewanna. ¡°You¡¯ve said your piece, so quit bothering them, woman. Come join us at the table.¡±


    The queen reeled back, face colored with shame. ¡°Of course,¡± she stammered out. Queen Rewanna smiled, ¡°Enjoy your meals, sirs.¡±


    As she retreated to the royal table, her fists clenched behind her. It seemed the Wenge¡¯s would not be easily controlled. The queen smoothed out her face, it was no matter, they would serve their purpose.


    She strode forward to the table. As she sat, she tossed her hair behind her. Argan, the true crown prince, sat by her side. He stared after the different women, servants and noblewomen alike. At the end of the table sat her two youngest sons, Aynor and Leinor. They were the beloved, mischievous twins, a sign of blessing from the gods. At eight years they were quite the troublemakers, but they held the hearts of the people, charming them with their innocence and adorableness.


    At the opposite table, the Raven General sat back straight and rigid. The mighty warrior did not touch a single piece of food on their plate.


    The king looked around. His brows furrowed. ¡°Where is Nikolai?¡± He called forth one of the guards. ¡°Go call the prince in, the banquet shall start soon.¡±


    Rewanna winced at the title change but her giddy excitement won over the slight injury to her pride.


    Queen Rewanna smiled, gloved hands clenched together tightly. But this time it was in excitement. Soon she would be Queen Dowager and her son, the king of Eburean. Her eyes drifted over to the foreign delegation and their statue-like leader¡­ the heir of Fadye.


    Her future was plotted, now it all depended on the Raven General.

 Chapter 5: The Rose of Eburean

    Nikolai and the lady stared at each other silently.


    This was Lady Asinara. On her sixteenth birthday, she had been named the most beautiful woman in the kingdom. The Rose of Eburean.


    She hailed from the Vellward family, a line of noble scholars who had served as high-ranked officials in the court generation after generation.


    And if that wasn¡¯t enough, Asinara was a genuinely kind soul. The young woman had a passion for teaching the peasant children and knitted clothes that were often donated to the poor and destitute.


    In short, Asinara Vellward, whether for her beauty, family power, or elegant personality, was the most desired bachelorette in all the land.


    When Nikolai had been a boy, he and Asinara had been good friends. The older girl would often find him in his hiding spots, luring him out with sweets and the like. The cold boy had warmed up to the soft and kind girl. She was one of the few others besides his elder brother that he had taken a liking to. As a boy, he had promised himself that they would one day wed. It would have been a politically strong match with someone that he genuinely liked. But those dreams had fallen away like his other ones.


    ¡°You look good, Nikolai,¡± said the young woman. Her smile was like roses, fragrant and pleasing to the eyes.


    The Lord of Feldgrau sighed, ¡°Thank you.¡± His lips lifted. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all, my lady.¡± Not in the ways that mattered, at least.


    They had both matured and aged, but the fond smile she shot him, was the same as the one she gave him after his mother¡¯s funeral. She stood with him for the entire afternoon as they held hands in the rain.


    ¡°Why have you not returned for so long?¡± Asinara asked. She stood by his side. The two stared out at the outline of the capital. Stars twinkled above them.


    Nikolai scratched the back of his neck. Although it was nothing like his childhood crush, he felt a fondness rush through him. ¡°Always asking the difficult questions.¡± He let the words linger, offering nothing more.


    Beside him, Asinara shot him a curious look. The young man who stood beside her was no longer the little boy chasing his brother¡¯s coattails, nor was he the angry prince who lashed out at everyone. It was like seeing a stranger with a familiar face.


    She laughed softly. The sound was like tinkling bells.


    ¡°What¡¯s so amusing?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Asinara shook her head. ¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± she brushed her perfect hair behind her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m not sure whether it¡¯s for better or worse.¡±


    She reached down to take his hand, but the Lord of Feldgrau pulled away. Asinara masked her expression, but he knew her well enough to see the flash of hurt.


    Nikolai offered a nod, eager to change the subject. ¡°How is the engagement with Argan?¡±


    Freezing, Asinara lowered her eyes. Her gaze became hooded and she peered at him from under her lashes.


    ¡°It is fine,¡± she murmured. ¡°Argan is¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.


    There was a long pause. The wind blew through the balcony, ruffling her perfect hair.


    ¡°He will be king,¡± she finally decided. Asinara¡¯s eyes rose to meet his. ¡°And I am to be queen.¡±


    Although her smile was not bitter, there was a twinge of sadness in it.


    ¡°You could always break it off,¡± noted Nikolai off-handedly.


    But they both knew that Asinara would not betray her family like that. A political match with the future king was a better deal than any other potential marriage. Asinara had always been destined for greatness... in a marriage match.


    Asinara teased the thought. ¡°And who would I marry instead?¡± She grinned at the Lord of Feldgrau. ¡°You? Would you take me to your wild borderlands? Make me Lady Feldgrau?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± To her surprise, Nikolai shook his head resolutely. ¡°I am unworthy of you, my lady.¡±


    Hugging herself, Asinara laughed faintly. ¡°If not even you will take me, I cannot think of many others. Perhaps my fate is set in stone.¡± Her eyes gleamed. ¡°As a girl, I always dreamed of a loving


    marriage with a prince¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°It was a child¡¯s dream. I see that now.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened at the belittling words. ¡°Asinara,¡± he started, a gleam of his past innocent self shining through.


    The doors to the balcony burst open. A guard marched in. They bowed their head low in greeting.


    ¡°My prince,¡± they said. ¡°The king requests your presence. The banquet is about to begin.¡±


    The cold expression returned to Nikolai¡¯s face. He turned to the guard and asked seriously, but not unkindly. ¡°And I am needed for the commencement of the banquet?¡±


    He suddenly thought of the maid¡¯s words. Was this to do with the marriage into Feldgrau? Which lady of the small houses, would it be, he wondered.


    The guard smiled sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I was not told the details, sir.¡± He paused and whispered lowly, despite the fact it was only the three of them. ¡°However, I have heard the rumors of a great announcement. My little girl works as one of the maids¡­¡± He suddenly paused, unsure if it was wise to continue.


    Nikolai smirked at the weary look on the other man¡¯s face. ¡°I am a prince only in name. You are safe to speak here.¡±


    ¡°No harm will come to you or your child,¡± promised Asinara, stepping into the conversation.


    The assurance from the future queen seemed to do the trick.


    The guard sighed, ¡°It¡¯s the Wenge delegation. Their leader, Hawk General or something¡­¡± He shrugged, ¡°The queen is extremely careful, she asked for the meals to be throughout checked and made especially for their tastes. It¡¯s said that the seat of the barbarian general is the same as the royal family.¡±


    It was weird that the queen was showing so much attention to a foreign delegation, but it was not strange enough to be a pressing matter.


    But the guard continued, ¡°The weird thing though¡­¡± he leaned forward, ¡°They¡¯ve ordered the royal table to have an empty spot.¡± ¡°An empty spot?¡± asked Asinara. Even the fianc¨¦ of the crown prince was not allowed to sit at the royal table. Who could the spot be for? And why?


    Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes narrowed.


    The guard leaned in, ¡°That¡¯s the thing. The head maids have been ordered to move the general¡¯s chair. After the announcement, he is to sit-¡±


    ¡°At the royal table,¡± finished Nikolai faintly.


    Asinara¡¯s expression morphed into one of shock. ¡°Nikolai, what¡­ what does this mean?¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s expression darkened. Whatever Queen Rewanna was planning¡­


    The guard gestured for the entrance. ¡°This way, Your Highness.¡±


    Nikolai nodded and went to follow.


    A hand, soft and delicate, grasped his and held him back. The lord shot a curious look at the lady.


    Asinara kept her eyes averted. She stepped closer and whispered, ¡°Niko, you know that I am to marry the crown prince. I must.¡± The young woman paused, ¡°But, they never said which crown prince. Perhaps a worthy suitor will fight for my hand.¡±


    She brushed past him and nodded at the guard. The lady disappeared behind the door.


    Nikolai stared at her retreating. What did that mean?


    Beside him, the guard looked at the young man¡¯s slightly bewildered expression. He sighed pityingly. Royal or not, they were all the same, weren¡¯t they?


    The guard gestured towards the ballroom. ¡°This way, my prince,¡± offering the guidance that he could.


    The two strode through the door, leaving behind the festivities of the city below.


    ¡ª


    Argan¡¯s eyes kept drifting over to the figure with the golden mask. The figure sat like a rod, still and silent. Their plate was overfilled as his mother continued to request the Raven General¡¯s servant to fill the plate with more delicacies. At each request, the general would nod their head, but then stare straight ahead, without bothering to touch their plate.


    The crown prince sneered as he chewed on his chicken leg. The mighty general was a lot less impressive in person. Their stature was even a little shorter than Argan himself. He puffed up. But of course,


    that was because he was so impressive. To be fair to the poor barbarian, it was hard to match up.


    As if sensing his thoughts, the general suddenly shifted their head towards his direction. Argan stiffened as he imagined the burning stare underneath the golden metal.


    What kind of face did the mask hide, he wondered. It was probably ugly and disfigured. The bastard probably was too ashamed to even take his mask off in front of lovers.


    Speaking of¡­ Argan¡¯s eyes drifted to one of the passing noble ladies.


    ¡°Lady Asinara!¡± exclaimed one of the ladies. They beamed at the approaching young woman.


    The crown prince shifted his sight to his betrothed. Asinara was definitely a beauty, but there was something in her smile that made him feel like she thought him unworthy. The times they had been by themselves in a room could be counted on one hand. And they were not fond memories for Argan. He remembered pure boredom and unbearable silence and distance from the beauty. So, in short, the prince hated being alone with Asinara but loved the prestige and jealousy of other men that was generated when they were seen together in public. It also didn¡¯t hurt that Asinara was said to be Nikolai¡¯s great love.


    He couldn¡¯t wait to rub it in the cold jerk¡¯s face that he would be taking the woman the other man loved to wife. If nothing else, that sole fact made the engagement worthwhile.


    Lady Asinara bowed towards the royal table before retreating to the table of the Vellward family.


    The other heads of noble families sighed. If only the girl could have been the wife of _their _sons. But how could they ever beat a crown prince? They sighed mournfully. If only the girl wasn¡¯t the only daughter and had had a sister. Life was certainly cruel.


    ¡°Nikolai!¡± Called the king excitedly. He suddenly burst into racking coughs, but the proud gleam in his eyes remained. The king gestured to the seat on his right.


    Argan glared as the Lord of Feldgrau passed. He cursed the second prince over and over in his mind.


    Suddenly, he paused. A thought struck him. Had Asinara and Nikolai been together? What scandalous things could have taken place during their reunion? Perhaps, he could use it against¡­ The thought of choking and freezing blue eyes glaring into his soul halted his plans.


    Argan shook the thoughts away. Asinara was too proper to engage in anything preposterous anyway. Trying anything would be futile because no one would believe him. It definitely wasn¡¯t because he was scared of the Lord of Feldgrau!


    Not to mention, he was stronger than the other man. It was said his elder brother could barely lift a sword while Argan was an accomplished swordsman, always complimented by his teachers and masters for being a genius in the way of the blade.


    With a dark look on his face, Nikolai took a seat. He subtly glanced at the empty but vacant spot to his right.


    For the first time, the Lord of Feldgrau sought out the Raven General. To his surprise, the other was already staring at him.


    The etchings of the golden mask were exquisite, definitely the work of a master. Light glinted off of the bright metal. The color was a stark contrast to the royal blue that the general wore.


    Strange, Nikolai noted. Weren¡¯t the Wenge family colors red?


    The young man leaned in to whisper to the king. ¡°Father, what is this great announcement to be?¡±


    The king suddenly stiffened. Arganus looked at his second son with a hint of guilt and regret in his eyes. Nikolai¡¯s own eyes narrowed. ¡°Father, please¡± he begged. ¡°What is this announcement?¡±


    The foreboding feeling in his gut grew.


    Lowering, his glass, the king sighed. He started, ¡°Son, please understand that-¡±


    A sudden clanging of the bells echoed throughout the ballroom. The noise covered the king¡¯s words. Nikolai stared at the servants ringing the bells in alarm.


    Queen Rewanna stood. She motioned for the bells to stop. All eyes stared up at the queen who smiled benevolently down at her subjects.


    The ballroom was silent.


    ¡°My lord and ladies, today we celebrate the great victory of the Great War!¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau shot the Wenge delegates a glance. As he expected, the delegates murmured to each other, frowns on their faces. It was clear they were not happy with the wording of the announcement. It was only the general who stared silently at the queen¡¯s announcement.


    Rewanna continued, ¡°Our people now live in prosperity and in alliance with the Wenge clan. To celebrate that, this Morning Day, we have invited the delegates of Fadye to witness the strengthening of the treaty.¡±


    The uneasy feeling in the pit of Nikolai¡¯s guts grew. The pieces were starting to come together.


    Smirking, Queen Rewanna raised her glass. ¡°But what is a treaty with no present?¡± Her blood-red lips quirked as she licked them. ¡°Therefore, we gift a spouse to the heir of Fadye.¡±


    Gasps and loud exclamations filled the room. A spouse to the Raven General? The lords and ladies panicked and looked at one another. Surely, it would not be a child of theirs that was sacrificed, was it? Others whose children were already married mused on the political


    benefits of such a move. It was clear to all that Queen Rewanna was trying to pave the path of kingship for her son.


    Meanwhile, the aforementioned crown prince looked just as confused as the rest of the room.


    The Lord of Feldgrau clenched his fists, mind spinning. It would be someone of Feldgrau, but which lady? None of his people had traveled to the event. Perhaps a second cousin or distant relative? But that wasn¡¯t right. If the person was not high enough ranking, Wenge might take offense to the ¡°gift of peace.¡±


    Queen Rewanna threw her hands out, savoring the power of having the entire court¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Raven General, I present to you my own son.¡±


    The ballroom was dead silent as shock grasped every person. Argan was completely pale, face deprived of all color. Asinara and the Vellwards narrowed their eyes.


    Rewanna smirked cruelly. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    All eyes turned to Nikolai.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.¡ª


    Cristin nodded towards the guard and slipped into the ballroom. In his hands were the promised sweet-butter bread.


    The atmosphere in the market had been a lot more comfortable and enjoyable.


    It may have been petty of him, but the attendant had taken his sweet time in acquiring the sweets. He was going to give his liege as much time as possible to woo his lady love.


    He sighed happily, patting himself on the back for being so supportive of his lord.


    When they had been boys, Nikolai had mentioned Lady Asinara once or twice. In their plans, Asinara¡¯s political position and influence had made her a target of study. Logistics-wise, it would have been the most beneficial if Asinara wed Nikolai. The Lord of Feldgrau and the daughter of Vellward would have made for quite the power couple.


    There was only the slight issue of Asinara¡¯s engagement with Argan.


    The mere name of the crown prince brought a bad taste to Cristin¡¯s mouth. Having seen the elegant lady with his own eyes, he felt anger for his lord. It would have been slightly comforting to know that your lady love went to a better man, not the worst Eburean had to offer.


    The smell of the delicious treats wafted in the air. Its scent was heavenly, sweet, and fragrant. If Cristin had been any less loyal than he was, he would have taken the bag for himself.


    The attendant sighed. Cristin placed his faith in his liege. Surely, the man would have no trouble winning over the lady. From what little he saw, the lady was quite besotted with the lord to begin with.


    Humming cheerfully, Cristin clutched the bag of sweet bread and skipped into the room.


    He halted at the dead silence enveloping the entire hall. The man¡¯s eyes narrowed as his instincts were set on high alert. He glanced at the royal table.


    There came a loud banging as the Lord of Feldgrau sprung to his feet. The young man¡¯s sharp voice reverberated through the room. He glared openly at Queen Rewanna who was smirking happily, not unlike a cat that had gotten its cream.


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Gritted out the young man.


    To both of their surprise, it was the king who spoke. ¡°It has already been decided, Nikolai.¡± He sighed wearily. ¡°The treaty had been agreed upon.¡±


    ¡°Father,¡± protested the lord.


    ¡°Enough,¡± demanded the king. He stood to his full height, standing eye to eye with his second son. ¡°You are to wed the Raven General.¡±


    The bag of sweet bread fell from Cristin¡¯s grip.


    He turned jerkily to the gaping servant next to him.


    ¡°What did I just miss?¡±

 Chapter 6: The Raven Generals Secret

    To everyone¡¯s surprise, it was Argan who was the first to speak.


    The crown prince burst into laughter and wiped a tear from his eyes. If he was being honest, there had been a moment when he had feared for his fate.


    For all her flaws, Argan would take Asinara over a Wenge brute any day!


    ¡°Brother, congratulations!¡± Pushing back his seat, Argan happily approached Nikolai, practically skipping.


    The crown prince clapped the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s shoulders, disregarding the dark look on the other¡¯s face.


    Argan smirked, ¡°Your duty to the country is admirable, brother.¡± He snickered, unable to hold it in. ¡°Your husband will surely take good care of you. But not to worry, if he mistreats you!¡± The prince pounded his chest sarcastically. ¡°This brother will defend your honor.¡±


    Nikolai turned his steely glare to his idiot of a brother, but the effect was lost as the other was doubled over with laughter.


    The rest of the room was a lot more restrained. However, they were also unclear whether to laugh or cry in such a situation. It was¡­ absurd. However, they feared the wrath of the Wenge delegation too much to make any noise. What if the Raven General took offense?


    Their eyes glanced at the king and queen. The royal couple sat calmly. In fact, the king looked close to falling asleep.


    The court glanced at one another. To make a son wed another man when he had no preferences for it¡­ the act was practically cruel. Some eyes drifted over to the Lady Asinara. Although the woman¡¯s face held no expression, those closer to her noticed the pale shade of her usually vibrant skin.


    From his seat, Argan was still doubled over in his own joy. It was the only noise in the entire ballroom.


    A chair screeched as a figure stood.


    ¡°Worry not, brother-in-law,¡± called a booming voice. The Raven General smiled under the golden mask.


    The room stared in shock at the fearsome figure. Although the volume of their voice carried throughout the room, the occupants of the room did a double-take. The voice did not belong to a man!


    The Raven General unclasped their golden mask. The inky silk that tied it together fell into a dark pile.


    The general set it down gently. The heavy metal clanged loudly against the wooden table. They lowered their hood, shaking their hair out, revealing the wild curly mane that had been attempted at being contained by the high ponytail and braids.


    The young woman cut a striking figure, like a true warrior goddess sprung from legend. There was a wild beauty in the fiery eyes and sun-kissed skin.


    The crowd was suddenly awed. They nodded in understanding. Of course! The Raven General was a woman.


    Argan spit out his drink. The servants dodged swiftly as the liquid flew through the air.


    The Raven General was supposed to be a brute, a monster of legends¡­ not a gorgeous foreign beauty with eyes like pools of sunlight! The crown prince''s hung open.


    The sentiment was echoed in the mind of more than one person in the room.


    But just as fast as the revelation came, the shock took over. The fearsome Raven General of Wenge was a woman? Since when! The entire ballroom erupted in outrage. Their shock won over the fear as the silence was shattered. Even the servants began to chatter loudly with one another. The news would be known throughout the entire city by morning.


    The burst of voices transformed the room into a symphony of shocked and bewildered conversation.


    Compared to the masked general who had sat still for hours, the unveiled Raven General was bright and expressive. The young woman¡¯s face filled with amusement as the reveal of her true nature shocked the entire court of Eburean. Unbeknownst to the crowd, the Raven General had been ordered by Fadye himself to remain hidden and silent until the treaty was revealed. The young woman recalled her father¡¯s stern reminders as he emphasized the importance of her silence.


    Powerful families such as the Vellwards and Langards reeled from the shock. So, this was the secret that Fadye had been desperate to keep under wraps. This fact could change everything. Who would have expected the barbarian chief to name a woman as his heir?


    It suddenly made sense why they had been so protective over the Raven General¡¯s identity.


    Even the queen¡¯s victorious smirk had faltered. She stared at the female general, baffled by the mere idea of it.


    Besides the queen, the king looked at the young woman knowingly. His gaze was serene and thoughtful. Arganus recognized those bright eyes. The chief¡¯s main wife had also carried with her the same stunning amber gaze.


    Turning towards her husband, Queen Rewanna suddenly realized why the man had agreed to her seemingly crazy proposal. Of course, the king wouldn¡¯t be so cruel or foolish to marry his son into a political prison. He had to have known somehow that the heir of Fadye was not who most thought they were. But how?


    The woman calmed herself down.


    A young woman, practically a girl, no matter her¡­ battle experience, was sure to need a guiding hand. The queen strengthened her resolve. If anything, this only made her plan stronger. She assured herself, repeating the mantra in her head.


    ¡°Are we really sure she¡¯s a woman?¡± someone asked.


    A pause of silence followed the question.


    The Raven General let out a booming laugh, startling the nobles in the room at its unruliness. ¡°Would you like to check?¡± she asked.


    There was a bewildered pause.


    ¡°No!¡± screamed the red-faced noble. ¡°It¡­ That would be unnecessary.¡±


    The Raven General shrugged impassively¡­ as if she hadn¡¯t just offered to undress in front of the entire court.


    The barbarians were truly unfathomable, they thought. Their guarded looks returned as they remembered who it was they were dealing with. This was the same Raven General that had executed the eight enemy chiefs with her own blade. It was said the Raven General had even personally delivered the heads to their tribes. The crazier stories claimed that the general even kept their blood, dining on it after the battle to grow their strength.


    Meanwhile, the delegates around the Raven General looked defeated, clearly used to the young woman¡¯s brash ways. Not to mention, they also respected the war hero too much to do anything about it.


    The king gestured for the Raven General to step forward.


    He held the treaty in his hands. ¡°What is your name, child?¡±


    The Raven General inclined their head respectfully. ¡°This one is Faye, named after my father, Chief Fadye.¡± Her voice was unlike any noblewoman as it echoed proudly across the considerably large ballroom.


    The nobles raised their eyebrows and shot knowing looks at one another. Faye was not only the successor to Fadye but also the equivalent of the crown princess of Wenge.


    ¡°Daughter of Fadye,¡± said the king. The older man got to his feet unsteadily but held out the treaty with a firm grip. ¡°Do you accept this proposal and treaty on behalf of the Wenge clan? By doing so, you combine our houses and take my blood as your house.¡±


    That was right, the court suddenly glanced over at the Lord of Feldgrau¡­ the soon-to-be husband of the unruly barbarian general and princess.


    Adopting a serious expression, the Raven General strode forward.


    As she bowed, her mess of curls fell across her face. Reaching out to accept the treaty, the young woman straightened and announced, ¡°Raven General Faye, Daughter of Fadye and Heir of Wenge,¡± her words rang through the ballroom. ¡°Accepts this treaty of peace.¡±


    A simultaneous sigh of relief loosened the shoulders of all in the room.


    The court filled with polite applause as the Raven General took a quill and signed their own name onto the piece of paper. She held the signed treaty up in the air for all to see.


    One of the Wenge delegates stood. ¡°When the wedding commences at the hour of the wolf, our treaty shall be complete.¡±


    The Raven General finally turned towards her newly betrothed.


    But the young man was already staring straight at her. His handsome face held a mix of anger and confusion, more expressive than most were used to seeing on the second prince.


    The lord¡¯s bright blue eyes were clouded. He uttered a single word.


    ¡°You.¡±


    The Raven General lifted their eyes to meet their soon-to-be husband.


    ¡°Me,¡± she confirmed, smirk playing on her lips.


    The court watched the weird interaction, unsure what to make of it. Did the Lord of Feldgrau know the Raven General?


    Nikolai¡¯s lip pursed. There was much he wanted to say, but the shock froze him in place. The pieces were starting to come together.


    The bright expression faded from the Raven General¡¯s face. The silence grew the longer the two stared. Her own mask of seriousness fell into place.


    Crossing his arms, the lord chuckled darkly to himself. He cursed his stupidity.


    Of course, the maid knew about the Raven General! It was no wonder the other servants followed her lead and did as she commanded. She was their princess! The maid was the Raven General. Iliana was actually Faye. And Faye was the daughter of Fadye and the next chief of the Wenge clan.


    For some reason, the only thought currently going through his mind as he stared at those familiar amber eyes was: ¡°I knew that wasn¡¯t her real name.¡±


    Like a wave, anger rolled through him. Wenge and the queen had colluded to trap him into a dead-end. Nikolai¡¯s fists clenched. He had been a fool to assume that there was a chance they could be allies.


    He turned away from his fianc¨¦ and stared blankly in the opposite direction, facing his back to her.


    The lords and ladies gaped at the action. It was clear this arranged marriage was not approved by the Lord of Feldgrau.


    The queen suddenly interrupted, ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± As much as she tried to hide it, suspicion colored her words.


    The Raven General straightened. The young woman turned to the queen. Nikolai tensed, eyes flashing.


    Before the lord could interject, Faye spoke, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± She paused for the briefest of moments, before announcing, ¡°We met in the city earlier.¡±


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    The lord cursed under his breath as piercing eyes dug into his form.


    Sneering, the queen said sharply. ¡°And here we were told the lord was resting from his travels when he was instead gallivanting with women in the city.¡±


    No one dared to mention that there were other things that a young man could be doing in a city, or that gallivanting with women sounded more like something the crown prince would do as opposed to his infamously stoic and cold-faced elder brother.


    Even the king seemed disturbed by the news. A dark cloud formed by his brows as he turned sharply toward the second prince.


    Fate was truly against him tonight. The Lord of Feldgrau opened his mouth, a defense on the tip of his tongue.


    But he was once again interrupted by his newly intended as the Raven General explained, ¡°You misunderstand, Your Majesty.¡± She laughed sheepishly, the sharp sound drowning out the other noise.


    Nikolai winced and scowled. The young woman really did not know the words quiet or demure... or, really, anything that would usually be associated with a proper young lady trained in the ways of the court and noble families. The Lord of Feldgrau was not a believer in the superiority of noble blood. But he did know people, especially those of court and power, and how an uncultured wife would help lose his place in their hearts.


    ¡°The lord and I met when we were both entering the city this morning. I saw him as our entourages crossed paths.¡± She tilted her head, as if genuinely confused. ¡°Where else would we have met?¡±


    The tone hardened. Suddenly, it was the ruthless Raven General that was speaking. ¡°Do you take me for the type that fools around?¡± Slight anger colored her accented voice. ¡°Or how else would I be in such a place that a lord could,¡± she paused on the word, ¡°gallivant?¡±


    The Wenge delegation behind Faye also shot the queen questioning looks. A tense atmosphere suddenly enveloped the celebration. The treaty had only just been signed. Some eyes fell to the legendary blade by the Raven General¡¯s hip.


    Faltering, the queen could only stammer out an apology. ¡°I mean no offense, general. This mother has been stressed in preparing the festivities and your ceremony,¡± she bowed her head, ¡°forgive me for jumping to conclusions.¡±


    The Raven General¡¯s demeanor brightened. The room gaped. Did the young woman have split personalities? To be able to switch moods so fast...


    Faye waved the queen¡¯s worries away. ¡°It is fine so long as the misunderstanding is cleared.¡±


    The queen smiled tightly. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was a good sign or not that the matter had been dismissed so easily. The woman gestured towards the servants who hurried to replace the general¡¯s seat. They carried the chair across the floor and set it carefully onto the vacant spot at the royal table. Right next to the glowering Lord of Feldgrau.


    Queen Rewanna welcomed the Raven General forward. ¡°Please General, you will be family before dawn. Come join us at the royal table.¡±


    To have a non-royal sit at the royal table had never been heard of before, even for the most esteemed of guests. It belayed the true intention and importance the royal family placed on the alliance. The marriage was a serious matter. The smarted members of court realized the move for what it was. If the royal family had control over Fadye¡¯s successor¡­ The implications were clear.


    The queen had rolled her dice. Now, it was only a question of whether her gamble would pay off.


    Unfazed by the change, the Raven General merely nodded her thanks. ¡°In that case Your Majesty, please refer to this one as Faye.¡±


    ¡°Of course¡­ Faye.¡± the queen smiled. She shot a victorious smirk to a blank-faced Nikolai. The young man¡¯s stony expression was worth more than anything and had glee filling her heart.


    All the eyes in the room followed the Raven General as she took her seat by the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s side. Despite sitting side by side, there was a great distance between the two. Literally. There was as much space in between the two seats as possible.


    It made them look more like enemies than soon-to-be newlyweds.


    As the conversation flowed, and a semblance of normality returned to the space, Faye finally took her first bite of food. She hummed appreciatively at the meal. The queen had prepared a mix of Wenge delicacies with the more traditional foods of Eburean.


    The lord beside her didn¡¯t even bother to look up.


    The young woman shrugged and worked away at the food. She was like a ravenous wolf, digging into the meal with no sense of decorum or elegance.


    Some of the young ladies who snuck a glance were appalled and quickly looked away. To make the handsome lord marry such a brute¡­ They cried in their hearts. It was so unfair!


    In contrast, Nikolai pushed the food around on his plate. He set the utensil down with a sense of finality.


    ¡°You knew who I was,¡± he murmured lowly.


    The Raven General paused. They tilted their head, but their gaze was still focused on their food. ¡°My father had portraits sent to me.¡±


    ¡°And when was that?¡± Nikolai¡¯s hands formed tight fists in his lap.


    Faye snorted, ¡°A year ago, my lord.¡±


    Amber eyes glanced at Nikolai knowingly. ¡°You should be thankful I did not place an arrow in the heart of your spy.¡±


    Clenching the edge of his seat, the Lord of Feldgrau looked away and stared blankly into the crowd.


    Wenge had known he would be inquiring¡­ and had worked to keep him in the dark about the engagement. The Lord of Feldgrau could only begin to imagine why. Quite frankly, not a single good reason came to mind.


    From the corners of his eyes, he could see Asinara try to make eye contact and a still-stunned Cristin attempt to make his way forward through the crowd, but the young man paid them no heed.


    All this time, he had thought there was a chance to gain an upper hand in the situation¡­ only to realize that those around him had already dealt their hands.


    A chair screeched as it was pushed back forcefully.


    Tossing his napkin on the table, the Lord of Feldgrau made his exit.


    He had already served his purpose at the banquet. They could call him when the wedding was supposed to start.


    Behind him, Rewanna¡¯s smirking face followed his movements, victory gleamed in her eyes.


    ¡ª


    The private guest room of the Lord of Feldgrau was silent.


    Cristin stared at his brooding liege. He opened his mouth to say something but then wisely chose to close it.


    The attendant sighed. The man scratched the back of his head. How could they have ever expected that this would happen? He sighed again. This was his fault. He had failed as an intelligence master to not have been able to gather such an important piece of information.


    Cristin sunk to his knees. He lowered his head guiltily. ¡°It is my fault-¡°


    "I told you not to send more men." Nikolai let out a loud breath and shook his head. He had feared alerting Rewanna to his movements, but now... ¡°It is I who am at fault. We have been so focused on our plans, I¡­ I was foolish in not watching Rewanna closer.¡± He rubbed the space between his brows. ¡°I only hope my lack of judgment has not led us all to doom.¡±


    Cristin shook his head.


    He approached the lord and placed a comforting hand on the tense shoulder. ¡°Even if it is so, Feldgrau and her people will gladly fight till the bitter end.¡±


    They both knew it to be true.


    But the words offered little comfort to Nikolai. That was not what he wanted¡­ However, now he feared that the only path was one that would boil down to war and bloodshed.


    The lord¡¯s piercing gaze met Cristin¡¯s. ¡°There is nothing that could annul it?¡±


    The attendant sighed and shook their head. ¡°Not unless we risk breaking the treaty.¡±


    The two men had spent an hour just pouring over copies of the treaty.


    The lord rubbed a tired hand across his exhausted face.


    The bag of sweet bread sat on the table, untouched.


    The young man straightened. ¡°This castle is too dangerous.¡± He frowned, ¡°I underestimated how much power Rewanna has amassed for herself.¡±


    Cristin frowned as well. ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s lips quirked slightly. ¡°The Prince¡¯s residence.¡±


    The attendant¡¯s brows furrowed.


    The Prince¡¯s residence was the ancestral capital estate of the Feldgrau family. It had been named the Prince¡¯s residence as the heads of the Feldgrau family had left it to the two sons of Feldgrau and their lady mother. The residence was as old as the capital itself. Sitting in the center of the city, the plot of land and the luxurious mansion that sat on it, although not quite as big as the Feldgrau castle, was larger than the estates of most nobles.


    Living there, Nikolai would have more power over his own estate, but more importantly, privacy. The queen would find it hard to watch his every move as she did in the castle. Even with her influence, it would take a while to plant loyal spies.


    Although they had not planned on using it, Nikolai had sent men to prepare the estate as a contingency. There was a already a group of loyal soldiers stationed as servants within the Prince''s residence. Now, it was just the matter of moving in.


    It would have been deemed inappropriate for Nikolai to move in before, but using his anger at the wedding as the excuse, none would dare stand in the way of the furious prince.


    Later, they could say it was a move of privacy for the newlywed couple.


    Cristin nodded. It was a good strategy. A small blessing in disguise.


    ¡°When do we leave?¡± he asked excitedly.


    The lord had not given up. Energy returned to the young man¡¯s eyes. The tables may have been turned on them but it didn¡¯t mean all was lost.


    ¡°Tonight,¡± replied the lord. ¡°Inform all of our people to begin as soon as possible. The situation in the capital is worse than we assumed.¡± He clenched his fists.


    Their stay was going to be a lot longer than expected.


    Nikolai turned to Cristin, frustrated anger boiled in the usually cold but confident eyes.


    ¡°This marriage has ruined everything.¡± With one move, Rewanna has crumbled all of their hard work. The lord stood and brushed himself off.


    There went their hope of establishing a politically beneficial marriage. The treaty did not allow Nikolai any power over the Wenge troops. The Raven General was still Fadye¡¯s heir. The treaty allowed her to leave for campaigns as she wished but she was sworn not to attack the crown. Without the promise of a marriage match and the lack of power and sway the Feldgrau family held over the capital, Nikolai¡¯s value to the noble families had significantly decreased. He held no legal power over his wife, but she contained his power to Feldgrau.


    He had to give it to Rewanna. It was a genius move to stay his hand and ensure peace from Wenge when she placed her son on the throne. It was almost a pity that all of this was lost on Argan.


    A resentment festered in Nikolai''s heart. Unbidden, his mind flashed with the image of a lonely prison cell hidden in icy mountains. Nikolai murmured an apology in his heart.


    It did not matter. Sham marriage or not, Nikolai would not let Rewanna win.


    ¡°After the wedding, I will not stay in this cursed castle for another second.¡± He turned to Cristin. ¡°Send a letter out to inform Feldgrau of what had happened. Tell the men to start moving our supplies now.¡± Nikolai paused, ¡°And send a letter to Dacey.¡±


    Cristin raised a brow. ¡°Saying what?¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°Tell Dacey to bring forty of our best men and the fastest horses we have and lead them down here. I want them here as soon as possible.¡±


    Rewanna may have set the board, but the next move would be theirs. Nikolai would make sure of it. But to do that, the lord needed to have people he could trust by his side.


    At the order, Cristin¡¯s eyes widened, but he was fast to bow his head in acknowledgment. He nodded.


    ¡°Right away, my lord.¡±


    And hurried to finish the tasks.


    Nikolai stood in the empty room. He let out a heavy sigh.


    ¡ª


    A group of horsemen rode towards the grand castle. Their arrival went unnoticed in the rowdiness of the different festivities taking place across the capital. The horses they rode were all magnificent creatures, but one, its coat a bright red and riderless, stood out from the others.


    It tossed its head spiritedly and the other horses gave it a wide berth as they all galloped forward.


    The group continued to ride down the path towards their destination. They had a wedding to attend, after all.


    The leader reigns his horse back. He stared up at the stone castle. The others behind him fell to a rolling stop as well. The red-coated horse brayed loudly. It took the two riders beside it to calm it down.


    From the castle, a stable boy quickly ran out to greet them.


    He bowed lowly, ¡°My lords, can I-¡± The boy glanced up and froze. His tiny face paled and the boy¡¯s frame quivered with fear.


    The leader was twice the size of a normal man. Although he was clothed in animal leather from head to toe, it did nothing to hide his rippling muscles. He could probably crush a person with his bare hands. There was a deep scar on his left cheek, and his eyes were dark and unforgiving. They were the eyes of a killer.


    He and the other warriors behind him were covered in wolf pelts. On their shields were the carved insignia of the Wenge tribe as well as a small engravings of a howling wolf.


    The leader stared unimpressed at the boy. ¡°Take us to your stables,¡± he grunted. The voice was gruff and the heavy accent made it hard to understand.


    ¡°Of, of course,¡± stammered out the boy. He looked close to tears but did his job and led the way.


    Following closely behind, the Wolf scoffed. His dark eyes searched for the royal flags billowing in the air and studied them intently.


    He had tried for years to break into the capital¡­ and to think that a wedding was the key to finally accessing it. If it was his personality to do so, the Wolf would have laughed at the irony of it. Instead, he dragged his horse along and followed the lad into the stables.


    As they reached the wooden structure, a voice suddenly called out.


    "Uncle!"


    The Wolf lifted his eyes. He let out a rueful grin. The large man bowed his head low in greeting. The warriors behind him hurried to kneel at the approaching figure.


    Amber eyes gleamed in the night.


    The Wolf''s usual sneer lessened. He almost had a fond look on his scarred face.


    "Raven General."

 Chapter 7: Fool or Spy

    ¡°Uncle¡± greeted Faye excitedly. Her high ponytail wished behind her.


    The warrior braids and the metal beads in them glistened in the moonlight. The Raven General¡¯s royal blue cloak spanned out behind her, the ceremonial garb an unusual look on those who knew her preference for simple tunics.


    The second she reached the older man, the two embraced heartily touching foreheads.


    Stepping back, Faye grinned up at the Wolf.


    The young woman clasped his arm tightly. She switched to her mother tongue. The familiarity of the Wenge language brought a semblance of comfort.


    ¡°Uncle,¡±The Raven General smirked at the Wolf, canines glinting.¡°Faye greets you. It is good to see you.¡±


    It was a familiarity they both leaned into.


    The usually stern general¡¯s brows softened. The older man¡¯s rough face lost some of its edge.


    The Wolf almost smiled. ¡°You as well.¡±


    Ever since she had been a young girl, the mighty warrior had taken her under his wings, treating her like a child of his own.


    The Raven General turned towards the other warriors, still kneeling patiently on the ground. ¡°At ease.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, General,¡± they responded in unison. The soldiers rose to their feet and continued to unpack their gear.


    Faye nodded in acknowledgment. Her chin jerked towards the castle. ¡°You have had a long journey. Head inside and wash and feed yourselves.¡± She paused and smirked wolfishly. "Eat well tonight. Do not worry about over-indulgence. It is not our supplies you are wasting.¡±


    Chuckles filled the air. More than a few of them had served in a campaign by her side a greeted her in excitement. The warriors grinned and thanked the Raven General. They settled their horses and headed in to do just that.


    ¡°Dismissing my men for me?¡± The Wolf raised an eyebrow. He commented blithely. ¡°If you were anyone else, I would have killed you for the insolence.¡± He shrugged, ¡°But alas, even I am weak to the will of the Raven General.¡±


    It was Faye¡¯s turn to raise a brow. ¡°Is that a joke, uncle?¡± She barked out a laugh, switching back to the common tongue. ¡°Is the Wolf making a joke? My, how the world has changed!¡±


    The older general rolled his eyes.


    ¡°And now he rolls his eyes!¡± gasped the Raven General, genuine surprise coating her words.


    The Wolf strode past the Raven General, shoving her out of the way. The young woman stumbled back playfully.


    The older general walked towards the stable. ¡°Follow me, girl.¡± His heavy steps made deep prints in the grass.


    Chuckling, Faye followed.


    Caution and curiosity made her return to her mother tongue. ¡°What is it?¡±


    The Wolf did not answer the question. He shot her a glance. ¡°How is the fool of a prince you are to wed?¡±


    "You speak of the Lord of Feldgrau?" The topic sobered the young woman. She shook her head. ¡°What have you heard of from Father?¡±


    Crossing his arms, the Wolf came to a sudden stop. He turned his brooding dark eyes towards Faye. ¡°I did not agree with this treaty. We should not be allying with those we do not trust.¡±


    Faye pursed her lips. She did not refute or agree with the statement. ¡°It is the treaty you disagree with.¡± The Raven General¡¯s amber eyes met the Wolf¡¯s dark ones. ¡°But not the marriage.¡±


    The Wolf nodded, not one to beat around the bush.


    He said bluntly. ¡°Your marriage was always to be political, it is advantageous that it does not give power to another cocky fool in the counsel.¡± The man turned a curious eye toward the young woman. ¡°You have dined with these men. What are your thoughts on these demons?¡±


    The young woman crossed her arms. ¡°Their future king is an idiot but none dare go against him,¡± her words took on a thoughtful hum. ¡°And my husband expects me to stab a knife into his back the moment it is turned.¡±


    ¡°And do you intend to do so?¡± asked the Wolf. His dark eyes gleamed.


    Faye let out a long breath, the air fogged around her in the coolness of the night. ¡°What is it you came to ask me, Uncle?¡± Her fiery eyes turned to gaze at him. ¡°You are not only here for my wedding.¡±


    The Wolf shook his head. ¡°Sharp as ever, little one.¡± The nickname was said fondly.


    After a moment, he shifted to face her.


    ¡°Do you plan to renounce your claim as heir?¡± asked the older general. The words of their ancient language curled the words but the meaning was clear.


    There was a pregnant pause between the two.


    Faye knew what the man wanted to hear.


    Still, she shook her head resolutely. ¡°I am my father¡¯s successor. No marriage will change that,¡± she turned to glare at the Wolf. ¡°I am loyal to my people.¡±


    ¡°That I have no doubt,¡± admitted the Wolf. ¡°But this marriage has only painted a larger target on your back. Your men will leave by the morning. By midday tomorrow, you will be fully surrounded by enemies.¡±


    The weight of his words slowly sank in.


    ¡°As your father¡¯s successor, you will have more out for your blood.¡± The Wolf scowled, ¡°You cannot trust these people.¡±


    The Raven General shifted. The blade at her hip glinted. ¡°I am capable of defending myself.¡±


    ¡°Against blades and warriors, yes,¡± protested the older general. He shook his head. ¡°But not against poisoned words of spoilt lords and ladies. They will speak you to death without ever lifting a weapon. That is the world you are entering, Faye.¡± His words were sharp.


    ¡°And what would you have me do,¡± snapped the Raven General. ¡°We need this alliance. Wenge cannot afford to keep fighting on all fronts. You know this as well as I, general.¡±


    The Wolf strode forward. ¡°Renounce your claim to Fadye¡¯s court. Offer yourself this layer of protection-¡°


    ¡°Stop,¡± came the steadfast command. The tone was sharp as a knife. This was not the little girl the Wolf watched grow up, but the battle-hardened warrior. The heir to Fadye¡­ a title forged through steel and blood.


    ¡°You forget yourself, general,¡± said the Raven General darkly. ¡°I am my father¡¯s successor. I fought the clans when even you could not. I slaughtered our enemies while you and my father''s men were in healing tents. I have earned my place, and no one will take that from me.¡±


    A tense silence grew between the two.


    The Wolf grimaced. He looked as if he wanted to protest but kept his mouth shut.


    Faye turned on her heels. ¡°If that is all you have come for¡­¡±


    ¡°Do you think so little of me,¡± came the gruff response.


    The Wolf looked away.


    He was not a man of emotion or softness. The general would sooner die than apologize. But he did have a heart. The Wolf turned away from the young woman.


    ¡°Follow me,¡± said the rough general.


    Without saying another word, he headed down the row of stalls. As he passed, the other horses in the stables looked up. The royal stables were filled with some of the best breeds but the Wolf did not stop to pay them any heed.


    Tilting her head curiously, the young woman followed.


    The two arrived in front of a stall separated from the other. Inside, the red horse peaked its head up. Rearing back, the animal flared its nose and pinned its ears back. Its dark eyes were piercing but spirited. The horse¡¯s muscles were well defined and from its inquisitive stare, the steed was clearly smarter than most.


    Faye gasped. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Of course it is.¡±The Wolf puffed up proudly. ¡°Its mother was my strongest mare and its father a wild stallion of the grasslands.¡± He gestured towards its glittering coat. ¡°A creature fit for the legends.¡±


    The Raven General shook their head, still in awe. They reached a gentle hand out to the animal. The red beast snapped its teeth warningly. But the young woman merely laughed.


    ¡°I like this one.¡± She smiled at the Wolf genuinely. ¡°This is a fine steed you have found for yourself, Uncle.¡±


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    But to her surprise, the Wolf shook his head. ¡°This is not my steed.¡± He paused and crossed his arms. The older man¡¯s smirked, dark eyes glinting mischievously. ¡°It is yours.¡±


    Faye¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Mine?¡± She gaped. ¡°Truly?¡±


    The Wolf nodded, but the young woman¡¯s eyes were glued to the magnificent creature.


    ¡°I heard you lost Iliana in your last battle,¡± he started.


    The white warhorse had been with the Raven General since she was a girl. The beautiful mare had also been a gift from the Wolf. Its bright presence had been synonymous with the general. Until the last battle.


    The Raven General nodded somberly. ¡°It is true. She was a loyal mare till the end. It was an arrow that took her from me.¡±


    It had been the reason why Faye had been forced to bear the long ride in a stuffy carriage. She would have much preferred the wind and air of the outdoors, but the pain had been too fresh and no horse seemed good enough.


    ¡°This horse was brought to me a day before we departed, it must be fate.¡± The Wolf patted the young woman¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I brought this steed all the way from the grasslands for you. Consider it a wedding present.¡± He sighed and switched to the heavy and accented common tongue. ¡°I know we may have moments where we are at odds, but do not doubt my loyalty, little one.¡±


    The older general stepped back and sank to one knee. The proud man lowered his head. ¡°Take this as a symbol of my faith in you.¡± He raised his head and smirked, ¡°Our Raven General will need a trusty steed when she rides into her next victory.¡±


    Faye matched his smirk. ¡°And I will ride this steed into the counsel tent when I go to claim my father¡¯s seat,¡± she promised cheekily.


    The Wolf snorted and rolled his eyes.


    But he took the offered hand and the two walked together towards the looming castle.


    ¡°So tell me of this husband-to-be,¡± demanded the Wolf.


    Faye gasped. She shook her head as if bewildered by the mere memory of the man.


    The older general paused. He had heard rumors of the cold-faced Lord of Feldgrau. He frowned. Was the man truly worthy of the Raven General?


    ¡°The man is a true beauty, Uncle.¡±


    The Wolf froze. Was Faye¡­ he glanced over and choked at the besotted look on the young woman¡¯s face. In all his years, he had never seen the younger look like that.


    ¡°And those eyes! They are like the fresh river waters that¡­¡± Faye gestured animatedly, acting like a lovesick maiden. ¡°However, I think he should smile more, although, Uncle, you should see when he¡¯s trying to be serious, his eyebrows bunch together like a mischievous mountain cat¡­¡± She clenched her fists determinedly. ¡°But I will make him smile one day.¡± The young woman cracked her knuckles, and the sound came out with a resounding CRACK! ¡°Even if I have to force it out of him.¡±


    The Wolf shuddered. He almost pitied the Lord of Feldgrau.


    Almost.


    ¡ª


    Elegant lanterns painted with the royal family¡¯s crest hung from the trees in the royal garden. The gentle wind made the lantern sway gracefully. Candles and torchlight glowed from the ceilings and walls of the palace.


    The air was filled with hushed excitement and curiosity. The Wenge delegates stood on one side and the court and guests on the other. A soft breeze carried the fragrance of flowers throughout the square, and it mingled with the distant tune of the minstrel¡¯s songs.


    The king and queen stood atop the wedding platform. Rewanna smiled graciously, her hands smoothed the rich velvet silks of her dress. If one didn¡¯t know better, they would have assumed that it was the queen who was to be married. Argan and the twins stood by their mother¡¯s side.


    King Argon¡¯s glanced over at the empty spots.


    Neither the bride nor the groom had arrived.


    Gasps suddenly filled the air as a new group entered.


    The king¡¯s head snapped up. His frown deepened as he stared at the leader of the new group.


    The giant man had a deep scar on his left cheek. He wore a wolf pelt across his shoulders. The Wenge delegates hurried to stand and bow to the man.


    The man strode forward. He stopped in front of the royal family. The man¡¯s numerous braids swung around. They were a mark of his numerous battles and victories.


    The court shifted back.


    This was the Wolf!


    The mighty general crossed his arms. He opened his mouth and spoke in a foreign language. His voice was guttural and sharp.


    King Argon¡¯s eyes narrowed but he gritted out, ¡°We welcome you, general.¡±


    The Wolf merely grunted. The man turned his back on the king and joined the side of the Wenge delegation.


    The queen burst from her seat, anger coloring her face, but the king shook his head. The marriage was the priority.


    The Wolf took his seat.


    Just in time as a low horn bellowed. The sound reverberated through the square.


    Two pairs of shoes stepped into the clearing. Heads turned to stare. Muted gasps filled the air.


    It was like a scene from a fairytale.


    The Lord of Feldgrau, true to his moniker as the ice prince was dressed in silver white robes. His hair had been combed back and the blue eyes were fierce and bright. He looked like a celestial being gracing the mortal realm. Although his face was stern, he walked with all the grace of a powerful lord. A bright red ribbon had been tied to his hair and fluttered in the wind behind him. On his wrist, the two golden coins on a string clanged together, making a jingling noise with every step he took.


    On his arm was the bride-to-be. More gasps filled the air as eyes drifted onto the form. The Raven General stood slightly shorter than the lord. Her unruly hair had been freed from its updo and tumbled down her shoulders, there was still a hint of its untameness but it shimmered under the light of the lanterns. Her face was covered with a red veil and the royal blue cloak had been replaced with the scarlet gown she had on. It was bright as fire.


    The long train of the dress dragged in the grass behind the couple. Although only her ruby-red lips were visible, the uplifted quirk of them gave her a youthful aura. The warrior braids remained on her head, the jeweled beads embedded into the intricate braids swung and the bell-like noises they made matched in sync with the gold coins of her fianc¨¦.


    From his place in the podium, the crown prince stared at the young woman, gaping openly. Hopefully a bug would fly into the boys mouth.


    The Raven General looked nothing less than a proper princess of Wenge.


    The couple walked down towards the front arm in arm. Above them, the starlight glistened in its subjects below. It was the perfect night.


    The bride leaned close to her husband, leaning in to his side. The lord stared blankly ahead. The ruby lips moved subtly, whispering words only audible to the two of them.


    The guests wondered what the two could possibly be talking about.


    ---


    ¡°You look like a man about to step into his grave, not one that is about to be married,¡± whispered Faye lowly.


    Although he stared ahead resolutely, out of the corners of his eyes, Nikolai could make out the playful smirk on the other¡¯s face. ¡°Since when did you learn to whisper?¡±


    The young woman let out a burst of laughter. The guests nearby them jumped at the loud noise, but to her credit Faye was unperturbed.


    The guests then turned their pleading eyes to the lord for some reason, but the lord was even less interested, eyes glued ahead. Did they really think he had any control over the Raven General?


    Nikolai sighed subtly.


    When Faye, it was an oddly fitting name for the general, had first walked out in the all red attire, he could have fooled himself that it was a regular wedding with a normal bride... that was until the young woman had barked out a raucous laugh and asked loudly if he realized there was a piece of cloth in his hair. Nikolai had had only stared incredulously at her. Did she not think the hundred of attendants, including his own, had just not noticed the ribbon and let it be?


    They walked in silence.


    Nikolai longed to scratch at his collar. Despite the cool breeze he felt hot and stuffy. Behind him were the expectant eyes of hundreds, while in front there was Rewanna¡¯s smirking stare and Argan¡¯s gaped mouth and awed stare at his bride. The crown prince looked ready to take Nikolai¡¯s place by Faye¡¯s side... not that that was a fate the lord would wish even on the worst of his enemies. Imagine having Rewanna as a true mother-in-law.


    On the outside, Nikolai¡¯s face remained the same, as cold and impassive as ever. The young man tensed. There were so many people and yet he felt like a lonesome sacrifice. It didn¡¯t matter, just like it never did but the thoughts did nothing to stop the sucking feeling in his heart. He stared at the faces of strangers and enemies. The future and all the reparations and consequences flashed through his mind, like a barreling and relentless wave. This was all wrong. His breath quickened. Nikolai blinked hard.


    Suddenly, the arm he was holding broke out of his hold. Nikolai glanced at the Raven General.


    But it was the young woman¡¯s turn to stare ahead.


    She took a hold of his hand. It was against tradition and decorum but when had that ever stopped the general? She stared down ahead but her strong hands gave his a tight squeeze.


    ¡°Forget it,¡± her lips barely moved and Nikolai strained to hear her. ¡°Don¡¯t think of all that.¡±


    The lord didn¡¯t know if she was talking to him or herself. Unconsciously, his breath slowed.


    ¡°For this one night, I am not me and you are not you.¡± Her accented words were barely more than a breath.


    ¡°Tonight, we at two lovers about to be wed.¡± Faye paused and added gently. ¡°And those we wish were here are by our sides.¡±


    The couple took their time in stepping onto the podium. Behind them, the entire Wenge delegation and soldiers bowed their heads and sink to one knee in unison, with the Wolf at the lead.


    But neither noticed. They did not notice when the priest began to speak, nor when he undid the ribbon in Nikolai¡¯s hair.


    The lord imagined those he wished by his side. He glanced behind Faye and saw his mother smiling proudly while his older brother made exaggerated actions but his soft eyes gave him away. His father stood proud and tall and the huge, sharp walls of the capital transformed into the familiar stones of the Feldgrau castle.


    He lifted the veil off his bride¡¯s face.


    Amber eyes stared up at him, crinkling in teasing, but he could recognize the weariness and guarded look. He looked at her, really looked at her. And noticed the tense set of her shoulders and the purse of her lips.


    The priests called out, ¡° The union between the Lord Nikolai of Feldgrau, Second Prince of Eburean, and the Raven General, tonight we join-¡±


    ¡°Faye,¡± snapped the lord.


    The priest froze. He stiffened even more when he noticed the lord¡¯s cold glare was directed at him.


    ¡°Her name is Faye, crown princess of Wenge,¡± said the lord lowly. ¡°You offend the general by omitting her full title.¡±


    Said general stared wide eyed at the lord.


    ¡°Of, of course!¡± Stammering, the priest hurried corrected himself. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau and the Raven General, Faye, Crown Princess of Wenge and Lady of Feldgrau!¡±


    No one bothered to mention that he forgot the lord¡¯s title this time. Applause and cheers sounded from the audience as the priest tied the singular ribbon between both of their interlocked hands.


    Faye¡¯s Raven soared through the air, landing on a ledge of the castle, cawing loudly.


    The Wenge delegates roared happily, as calls in a foreign language and whistles filled the air.


    The two leaned close, breaths mingling. Faye¡¯s bright amber eyes beamed up at him, brows raising mischievously.


    But before she could open her mouth, Nikolai snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t ruin the moment.¡±


    And to guarantee her silence, he surged forward and captured her lips in his. Faye¡¯s eyes widened even more, before they fluttered close and she pressed herself forward. There was a short pause of silence before the cheers and applause returned in full force. If the whistles were even clearer and louder than the first time... well, that was no one¡¯s business.


    With the ghosts of his mother¡¯s smile and brother¡¯s voice, and the feel of slightly chapped but soft lips against his¡­ under the starlight, for a moment, Nikolai thought, as the fireworks went off, exploding in the air...


    Everything was perfect.

 Chapter 8: The Wolfs Shovel

    The minstrels played lively music. Young couples danced in the clearing while wives gossiped in the corner.


    In an honored corner for only the most powerful men of the Eburean court, two old men sat next to each other. The mutual distaste was clear on their faces.


    ¡°Lord Landgard, I hear my son embarrassed Rufus greatly in the common market.¡± The head of the Vellward family raised his cup to his lips to hide the victorious smirk. ¡°This father apologizes for Asinoro¡¯s impudence.¡±


    Lord Langard¡¯s blazing stare burned into the other man¡¯s. ¡°You know, of all things this is what I hate the most about you.¡±


    "I''m honored, truly," drawled the other lord.


    The old general scowled, ¡°You cover your words in riddles, prattling things that sound nice but are actually an insult!¡± The head general of Eburean¡¯s forces huffed, ¡°What¡¯s the use of words? If it had been a proper battle, your boy wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against Rufus.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lord Vellward¡¯s eyebrows rose. ¡°But I heard your young son failed his last sword fighting class.¡±


    Lord Landgard surged to his feet, looking ready to throttle the other man. ¡°Only because the instructor was a fool! And the boy is young still!¡±


    But the other lord was not cowed, he nodded politely in understanding. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± He paused, taking a hearty gulp from his cup. ¡°Talent comes in all forms.¡± The man nodded towards where the Landgard boy was attempting to flirt with a Wenge servant, only to scramble away when the Wolf himself turned his dead stare on him. Lord Vellward snorted as Lord Landgard rubbed a tired hand across his face. ¡°At least he has enough sense not to take on impossible opponents.¡±


    But to the other lord¡¯s surprise, Lord Landgard did not raise to the bait. Instead, his eyes were following the newly wedded couple, walking hand in hand. ¡°Tell me, Asynur, what are your thoughts of this marriage.¡±


    So, they were using first names now. But Lord Vellward considered the question. ¡°It is a politically viable move. When the queen first came to me, I agreed that it was a match that would be to the betterment of the people.¡±


    ¡°But the poor boy,¡± murmured the fierce general.


    Lord Vellward coughed awkwardly. ¡°Someone had to be sacrificed.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to mention that the queen had been quite adamant about who said sacrificee would be. He shrugged helplessly. ¡°At least the boy got a pretty wife out of it. A bit loud, but Fadye¡¯s heir is not all that different from any other woman, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong,¡± warned Lord Landgard. ¡°None of you have encountered the Raven General in battle.¡±


    Lord Vellward scoffed, ¡°Neither have you.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± admitted the other man. ¡°But we have captured prisoners who have. The stories are all the same. The golden masked General comes and the enemy hurries to sign their surrender. I have seen battle-hardened warriors cower at the mere mention of the Raven General.¡±


    The old general turned to stare at the younger general. ¡°What type of person inspires that type of fear?¡±


    Lord Vellward turned to also stare at the woman in red, her voice was so loud they could make out some of her words from where they sat. Was this a habit stemmed from commanding legions of warriors?


    ¡°A pity for your daughter though,¡± commented Lord Landgard breezily. ¡°I heard she was quite enamored with our ice prince. They would have made quite the pair-¡±


    ¡°I do not know what you insinuate but Asinara is perfectly content with her match!¡± Lord Vellward¡¯s face snapped to face the other man. ¡°We are loyal.¡±


    Lord Landgard shrugged, ¡°As are we. But if Asinara had married Nikolai, by the gods, there¡¯s a chance we would have supported them.¡±


    ¡°Watch your words,¡± warned the other lord lowly. His eyes darted around. All knew that his daughter was engaged to Argan. The crown prince!


    But the other lord merely shrugged. As a military man he wasn¡¯t as invested in crafting politically accurate words as his counterpart, who was the political leader of the Court.


    Lord Landgard raised an insinuating eyebrow. ¡°However, should Asinara wish to wed Rufus, I would-¡±


    ¡°My daughter would never marry that idiot son of yours!¡± bellowed Lord Vellward, face purpling.


    ¡°Whose son are you calling an idiot?¡± squawked the other.


    The two glared, their short truce over.


    From the other end of their clearing, their wives looked up and sighed.


    Lady Vellward shot Lady Landgard a look. ¡°You get yours and I¡¯ll get mine?¡±


    The other woman let out an insufferable sigh but nodded. They headed over to drag their respective husbands away. And to think, these were the two most powerful men in the kingdom after the king. They sighed in unison.


    ---


    Faye fiddled with the bright red ribbon that had been tied on her hand. The red silk fluttered beautifully in the wind but was itchy.


    The young man next to her glared at the action. ¡°Stop messing with it.¡±


    But the young woman continued anyways.


    Nikolai sighed.


    Neither mentioned how they were still holding hands.


    ¡°Nikolai.¡±


    The two turned and found themselves before the king and queen.


    ¡°Father,¡± greeted the second prince.


    ¡°Your Highnesses,¡± nodded the young woman.


    Queen Rewanna smiled, but her eyes drifted down to their interlocked hands. Before she could comment, another voice interjected.


    ¡°General.¡±


    The young woman whipped her head to the direction of the noise. She beamed at the Wolf. ¡°Uncle!¡±


    Behind the Wolf were several soldiers and all the Wenge delegates.


    Faye pulled away and let go of Nikolai¡¯s hand. She quickly placed them behind her back. The young man glanced down at the motion. His hands missed the warmth in the biting cold of the winds. But he tucked them back at his own sides. Why did the wedding have to be at midnight?


    The Raven General and the Wolf conversed in another language, words flying between them in rapid fire. Those around them blinked, unsure whether it was appropriate to interject.


    Nikolai took a step back.


    Suddenly, the Wolf turned. His dark eyes landed on the Lord of Feldgrau. In a heavily accented common tongue, he grunted, ¡°Before I take my leave, I would like to speak with the lord.¡± The words were not a request but a demand.


    Feeling the eyes of the lords and ladies around him, Nikolai adopted a confused expression, ¡°You wish to speak to me?¡±


    The Wolf nodded sharply once. Turning, he headed for the edge of the clearing. The Lord of Feldgrau watched in amusement.


    The king stepped forward. ¡°You need not go, son. You are a prince, not someone to be commanded around-¡± The man broke into a fit of coughs.


    ¡°I must, Father,¡± replied Nikolai. ¡°This is the fate you and the queen have sought for me.¡± His face held an aloof expression but the lord¡¯s words were sharp as a blade. ¡°That was the plan, was it not? To ensure I would not usurp Argan¡¯s future ascension into kingship.¡±


    The queen¡¯s face paled as the nobles near them quieted. She opened her mouth to retort but it was the king that spoke. ¡°Nikolai, you do not know what you speak. The queen only wished to secure-¡±


    ¡°You are no fool, Father,¡± snapped Nikolai, fists clenching.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    The kings face reddened with fury. ¡°Watch your tongue, boy.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You may be my son but I am your king. The kingdom will always come first.¡±


    But the Lord of Feldgrau merely laughed. ¡°Is that what you said to my elder brother before sending him into exile?¡±


    Gasps filled the clearing. Former crown prince Malakai was a subject of taboo... It felt ominous for the second prince to mention such a thing at his wedding.


    The king surged forward, rage coloring his face. But his anger was overshadowed by the coughs racking his form.


    ¡°Arganus!¡± cries the queen. She shot a sharp glare to Nikolai. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done!¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± croaked the king. ¡°If you have no respect for me then get out!¡±


    Faye watched the entire scene with rapt attention, her eyes drifted to Nikolai but the lord stood tall.


    ¡°Very well, then,¡± the lord beckoned his attendant over. ¡°Tell the servants to move our belonging to the Prince¡¯s Residance. My bride and I will reside there for the remainder of our stay before our return to Feldgrau.¡± He glanced at the Raven General. ¡°I suggest you order your men to do the same.¡±


    At his words, the queen paled even further.


    The female General shrugged. It made no difference to them.


    Queen Rewanna surged forward. ¡°No!¡± she shrieked. Turning to the king, she begged. ¡°Husband, Nikolai did not mean wha5 he said. It would be unseemly for your son to stay outside when-¡±


    ¡°Let him do as he pleases.¡± The king waved her off tiredly. ¡°From this day on, the second prince shall reside in the Prince¡¯s Residence until his return to Feldgrau.¡±


    Nobles glanced at one another. Who knew the ice prince was a hot headed fool? He had only returned for a day but had been kicked out of his father¡¯s house and favor. They shook their heads pityingly. There really wasn¡¯t much behind that pretty face.


    Meanwhile, the queen clenched her teeth, trying to suppress her snarl. She glared at the young man. How could she keep an eye on him, now? Suspicion warred in her. As a boy Nikolai had always been clever. Was this really a decision fueled by anger?


    The queen stepped forward. ¡°Very well. But the residence is old and empty, at least let mother send a few servants to help.¡±


    ¡°Accept the offer while it lasts, son,¡± huffed the king.


    Smiling hopefully, the queen added, ¡°And perhaps a few guards-¡±


    ¡°Servants to help with the cooking and cleaning should be enough.¡± Nikolai tilted his head at her. ¡°Unless you believe there is someone I require protection from?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± gritted out the woman. ¡°But extra protection-¡±


    ¡°Apologies,¡± cut in the lord. ¡°But the Wolf requires my attention.¡±


    He turned and walked away, towards where the Wolf was waiting.


    Sneering, the queen snapped, ready to call the guards to drag the fool back.


    ¡°Let him go, Your Majesty,¡± imterjected the Raven General. The young woman, crossed her arms, watching the lord walk towards the wolf with an indescribable expression. ¡°My uncle is not a patient man.¡±


    Amber eyes flashed towards the fuming woman. ¡°But perhaps we can talk.¡±


    ---


    Hearing his approach, the Wolf turned to face him. With the moonlight and the wolf pelt, the man really lived up to his namesake.


    Nikolai raised an eyebrow at the older man. ¡°Is this a show of force?¡±


    The General shrugged, unfazed. ¡°No need for that.¡±


    As he domstrated before, he could speak common tongue. But why hide it from the king earlier, Nikolai asked the man.


    The Wolf shrugged, ¡°What need? That will not change the treaty.¡± His heavy accent made his words even gruffer than usual.


    ¡°Then why call me aside?¡±


    The Wolf lifted his eyes to stare at something in the distance. ¡°To warn you.¡±


    Nikolai paused. He had heard some fathers grew protective on wedding days. He had not expected that such a thing would be necessary for the Raven General.


    ¡°To warn me? ¡±The lord raised an incredulous eyebrow, ¡°About hurting the general?¡±


    The Wolf laughed cruelly. ¡°You think you can hurt her?¡±


    Nikolai shrugged carelessly. He was curious to see what the Wolf would say. It would not hurt to learn more about the enemy he was bringing home either. ¡°Faye has married into my house and will the lady of my lands. But she is still a foreigner... and not one that is very well-regarded.¡±


    ¡°Give the woman a stick and she¡¯ll take down ten grown men on her own.¡± Emboldened, the older general¡¯s sharp canines glinted. ¡°She has control over all of her father''s troops. One call from the Raven General and all of Wenge will answer it.¡±


    The general sneered, pride and anger all coiled up into his words. ¡°Even your Queen was unable to control us.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes glinted. So it was the queen who had brokered the deal.


    ¡°The Raven General will continue to lead our greatest warriors and win victories over our enemies. This marriage merely ensures that none are able to claim that power from her.¡± The Wolf¡¯s eyes drifted over to the young woman. ¡°She will never give up her claim and this marriage has only gained her a strong ally from the Queen.¡±


    His mouth pursed as he stared down at Nikolai. ¡°If anything, you are the one who has nothing to gain from this. Faye will not raise her troops for you to attack the crown, your people now see you as an even bigger idiot with a barbarian wife. No one will support your claim.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s stone face was expressionless.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost admirable how much you¡¯ve given up, only to gain nothing in return.¡± The general shook his head. ¡°So you ask me why I have come to talk with you.¡±


    Dark, emotionless eyes stared at him. ¡°To warn you, boy.¡±


    Glancing up, Nikolai asked, ¡°Of what?¡±


    The Wolf sighed, ¡°I have watched Faye since she was a child. A snake was put in her cradle and she lived, her elder brothers were killed and she lived, greedy men sold her to mercenaries and she returned with an army.¡±


    The older man shook his head. ¡°Wenge fought a war that almost brought them to extinction and she became a living legend and her father¡¯s heir over all of his sons and male relatives.¡± The braids in his hair jostled. ¡°That is unheard of in our history.¡±


    Nikolai stared at him curiously. ¡°And your point?¡±


    ¡°As long as Faye is of Wenge,¡± the Wolf leaned back, ¡°She will always be your enemy. Best not forget that lest you find a knife in your back.¡±


    The general turned and began to walk away. What had needed to be said was said. The older man gestured towards his lieutenants. It was time to report back to Fadye. The young lord stood silently behind him, mulling over the words. The Wolf was unsure what Faye saw in him. She was not a woman who suffered fools. Nor was she one to be fooled by beauty and its charms.


    Suddenly, the lord laughed. The Wolf paused.


    ¡°Is that what you tell yourself?¡± commented Nikolai nonchalantly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, great Wolf. I think your people will find that my back is not so easily stabbed.¡±


    He sighed loudly.


    ¡°But I cannot say the same for yours... the Raven General does not seem like she would take too well to others speaking for her... even if it is a beloved uncle.¡± He cocked his head. ¡°Which makes me wonder your true purpose in conversing with me.¡±


    The general froze for a moment. Sneering, he shot a dark glare at the lord over his shoulders and waked away to join his soldiers.


    Watching his retreat, Nikolai sighed. It seemed the rumors of his idiocy really had spread.


    If the old general was going to take so much of his time, he should have told the lord something he didn¡¯t already know.


    Watching the queen and Faye converse, Nikolai held back from rolling his eyes.


    What a waste of time. He settled his mind to other matters. After the celebrations, it would finally be his turn to launch a counter attack.


    ---


    A maid scurried over to the great chambers where the second prince was supposed to be residing in. She gestured for the others behind her to hurry. The younger maids nodded and were quick to follow. As they reached the doors, blushes filled their faces. What would the find in a prince¡¯s room?


    The lead maid didn¡¯t bother to knock as she pushed open the door. A sense of purpose filled the girl. The queen herself had given her a mission. The reward would likely pay greatly. She rubbed her hands together eagerly. No matter how handsome the face, the second prince was harboring treacherous intentions. Now, the maid just had to find evidence of it.


    All the nobles were at the celebrations. Not even bothering to knock, the maid brazenly pushed open the chamber doors.


    ¡°Who dares come into the prince¡¯s chambers,¡± demanded a sharp voice.


    The maid looked up. Her face paled. The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s attendant stood in the middle of an empty room. His arms were crossed.


    ¡°Apologies, sir, sir!¡± Stammered the maid.


    No one was supposed to be here!


    The attendant glared angrily at her. ¡°If this is a joke, I shall make sure that you are punished appropriately. Speak,¡± he barked out. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Smiling, the maid tried to put on a brave front. ¡°The queen ordered us to come and clean, sir.¡±


    The attendant¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°In the midst of his wedding celebrations?¡±


    This was it. The maid couldn¡¯t give up the queen¡¯s intentions, but she wasn¡¯t ready to risk her own hide! She had seen a glimpse of the ice prince! The young man was terrifying. What if he turned that souless stare towards her? The maid shivered in fright.


    ¡°Ah!¡± She exclaimed, ¡°This is the Lord of Feldgraus¡¯ chambers?¡± Looking around the room with wide eyes, she turned and snapped at the junior servants behind her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone of you tell me? You wanted me to look like a fool, didn¡¯t you?¡± She jabbed a finger into one of the servant¡¯s chests. ¡°Florian, you sneaking jerk, you want me to be demoted, don¡¯t you?¡±


    The man gaped, he whispered, ¡°But my name is James.¡±


    Unfortunately for him, the maid was already turning back to face Cristin and apologizing profusely. ¡°Apologies my lord, the queen instructed us to clean Prince Argan¡¯s room. Sorry for the disturbance. We will be right out of your hair.¡± She turned, shoving the other servants out of the room and down the hallway.


    ¡°Hurry, you fools!¡± She whispered loudly. It didn¡¯t even register in her mind to wonder why the room was completely empty or why the attendant was there in the first place. In life, you had to save yourself first. She would just make something up for the queen later.


    The small army disappeared faster than they came.


    Cristin blinked.


    Well, that was easier than expected.


    ---


    Nikolai stared dumbfounded at the Wolf''s wedding gift: a shovel. How poetic. He lifted the tool and studied the smooth wood.


    The Lord of Feldgrau shrugged. By all accounts, it was a very finely made shovel.

 Chapter 9: Welcome to the Princes Residence

    As the doors to the chamber closed behind them. Nikolai let out a weary sigh. He glanced at the stoic general at his side.


    ¡°Your men move fast.¡± Amber eyes stared at him, eyebrows raised. They turned back to the practically empty room.


    Nikolai shrugged.


    All that remained in the room was a bed. Quite impressive considering half a day¡¯s work had supposedly been finished in hours.


    If she believed there was foul play of some sort, the general did not show it.


    The Lord of Feldgrau sank into the bed. He stared blankly at the general. It was the first time they were alone and aware of one another¡¯s identity. His blue eyes pierced into his new wife¡¯s form.


    ¡°Speak your mind,¡± commanded the general. Nikolai¡¯s brow furrowed as the sound echoed in the space.


    Taking no notice, Faye¡¯s lips pursed. ¡°There is no one else here.¡±


    The clouds bunched together, blocking out the moonlight. The pale light dimmed until it was fully blocked, clothing the two in complete darkness.


    The general tilted her head, instinctively shifting her stance from the years of being on the war front. In a fight, darkness favored the prepared. The wooden floorboards creaked at the change.


    ¡°You could stab me to return to your lands and I am defenseless against it,¡± came the sharp murmur from the Lord of Feldgrau. His words resonated in the dark room.


    His words rang with truth. Regardless of whether she had come willingly, Faye¡¯s distance from the troop put the general in a precarious position. It could place her claim to her father¡¯s seat in jeopardy. Her position was only slightly better than Nikolai¡¯s.


    And they both knew it.


    It was too dark to make out anything, but Faye thought she could spot the gleaming blue orbs.


    THUNK! Nikolai resisted flinching at the noise as his eyes narrowed.


    Although there was no way for him to know it, the Raven General¡¯s famed longsword had been set on the dressing table. The metal rang as it shook in its sheath.


    ¡°Stab my husband and return to Wenge. That¡¯s not a half-bad idea.¡± The general crossed her arms. The heavy fabrics of her ceremonial garb shifted. ¡°Except that your guards would overrun me before I reach your wall. At best I would sit in a cell, worst the chopping block.¡±


    Nikolai almost chuckled. The beauty of mutually assured ruin. ¡°Something tells me you wouldn¡¯t let yourself be caught.¡± He hummed thoughtfully. ¡°But¡­¡±


    Faye tilted her head. ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°Your people would be at war again without their strongest general to lead them,¡± finished the young man. ¡°Something to consider before slitting my throat.¡± He shifted in his seat. There was the sound of rustling bed sheets.


    A heavy gust of wind blew open the windows. The panels slammed against the walls. Outside, the clouds parted and the sky cleared. The stars twinkled once more.


    Amber and blue eyes clashed as pale light filtered through the open window, illuminating the room.


    A creature soared past the window, landing on the window sill. It was a raven. The animal¡¯s beady eyes glared at Nikolai. Faye glanced at the bird from the corner of her eyes.


    A heavy cover was thrown back. The Raven General snapped her eyes back to the lord¡¯s form. The tense stare-off ended abruptly.


    ¡°What are you¡­¡± the general openly gaped at the lord who had snuggled under the cover like a spoilt child. Only the top of his hair with the bright red ribbon could be seen. The young man had demanded it back when Faye had ripped the itchy material off their joint hands after the ceremony. At the time, she hadn¡¯t bothered to ask the significance of the item, but now she wondered.


    ¡°You don¡¯t seem unnecessarily cruel or stupid, dear wife¡± The lord turned to his side. Closing his eyes, he offered offhandedly. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, but I¡¯m not going to lose sleep over this damned arrangement.¡±


    Faye could only watch in bewilderment as the lord pulled the heavy blanket over his head.


    This¡­ was not how she expected her marriage night to go.


    Slipping off her boots, the young woman made her way to the bed. Her steps were light. Silent like a cat¡¯s.


    ¡°You move like a ghost,¡± grunted the voice under the covers. ¡°Creepy.¡±


    Faye gritted her teeth. In a saccharine sweet voice, she asked, ¡°How else would I murder you in your sleep?¡±


    She received an uninterested grunt for her efforts. Faye¡¯s brows twitched. She mimed strangling Nikolai.


    ¡°I can feel you plotting,¡± muttered the lord¡¯s voice.


    Sighing, the young woman let her arms drop to her sides.


    The Raven General perched on the edge of the bed. A faint blush covered her cheeks. They were going to¡­ sleep together. The young woman¡¯s fists clenched. Despite being surrounded by men all her life, she was surprisingly out of her depth in this.


    ¡°Stop thinking so hard,¡± blue eyes glance lazily over at her. He shifted back onto his side, facing his back to her. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do anything¡­ Ever.¡±


    But rather than feel offended, a full-blown blush bloomed on her face. What a bratty husband. Her sharp eyes could make out the pink tinging the lord¡¯s ears. The Raven General smirked. Maybe she wasn¡¯t the only shy one.


    Even under the covers, Faye could make out the lord¡¯s curled-up form. Although he was taller than her, his protective ball was the opposite of intimidating. It was¡­ cute.


    Her scarred hands pulled up the edge of the intricately woven and lavish cover. Her fingers tingled at the delicacy of the materials. It was so soft!


    A thick pillow smacked Faye in the head. The object landed on the floor with a thud.


    The Raven General turned, throwing a glare at the covered form of her husband. Pure fury radiated off her as she picked up the offensive object. The pillow cringed under her grip. She had dodged a rainfall of arrows and assassin¡¯s hidden blades and spears¡­ and Nikolai had the gall the attack her with such a¡­ Faye¡¯s brain blanked before snarling. Such a weak and soft weapon?


    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± She snapped.


    Blue eyes peeked out from under the covers once more. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± They narrowed. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll put a knife in my back, but we are not sleeping in the same bed.¡± He huffed, ¡°You¡¯re more than welcome to find any other arrangement that suits you.¡±


    Clenching her fists, you could see the fury radiating off of teh young woman.


    ¡°You overestimate my patience, husband,¡± snarled Faye, baring her teeth. Hugging the pillow viciously to her chest, the general burst to her feet. The young woman held a threatening fist towards her surprisingly-still-alive husband.


    ¡°Good night!¡± Chirped said, husband.


    With a frustrated cry, Faye spun on her heels. The general stormed towards the door.


    ¡°Maybe I will kill you after all.¡± She picked up her blade, tossing it over her shoulders. The thought was starting to become increasingly enticing. A corpse couldn¡¯t possibly be so annoying. The young woman reached for the door.


    A cough halted the Raven General in place.


    Faye¡¯s raging eyes turned towards the Lord of Feldgrau.


    ¡°It would be unseemly for the wife of a prince to sleep outside."


    There was a pause. It would be weird for a new wife of the lord to sleep outside on their wedding night. But whose fault was that?


    The general huffed, acquiescing, ¡°Fine, then where will I sleep?"


    ¡°Well, General Faye,¡± the prince shrugged lazily. "I''m sure you soldier-kind aren''t unfamiliar with cold nights on the ground."


    Amber eyes flashed.


    "YOU-!"


    The Lord of Feldgrau smiled sweetly at the murderous expression on her face. "Good night, dear wife." And flipped over like a fat seal, snuggling into the warm blankets.


    Faye stared. The crickets chirped.


    ¡°I hate you,¡± she muttered darkly.


    ---


    In the dark chambers, a window was silently pushed open.


    A figure clothed in the color of shadow dropped to their knees in front of a figure. The move was soundless.


    ¡°You requested my presence?¡± asked the assassin. The poisoned blades on their back gleamed in the dim candlelight.


    The figure nodded sharply. The assassin was timely as always. Their fists clenched. ¡°I trust you received my missive.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t a question but the assassin nodded anyway.


    ¡°Make sure you stick the blade through the back,¡± sneered a dark voice. The snarled, ¡°I want it to hurt.¡±


    Their eyes glanced at the famed poisonous blades. The weapons would ensure their target would suffer before dying pitifully.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    There was a pause. ¡°But most importantly, don¡¯t leave a single trace. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need me to remind you of what will happen if you are found.¡±


    The assassin¡¯s face was stoic, not even flinching at the brutal implication of their employer¡¯s words. No sleep would be lost over their death if they failed.


    Their thoughts flashed to images of two little ones. Even if the assassin died, any link to his patron would result in the death of his entire family.


    The hitman nodded sharply. ¡°They¡¯ll be dead by the end of the week.¡±


    He never failed a job, and even though one of the most formidable warriors would be in the room, no one had yet escaped the fate of his poisoned blades. Suddenly, his brows furrowed. ¡°But how will I get past the guards of the castle?¡±


    The figure laughed. ¡°Not to worry, the lovebirds will soon move into the Prince¡¯s Residence.¡± The smirked. ¡°That will be your chance to strike.¡±


    There was a creak. When the figure looked back, the assassin was already gone. The window had even been shut on their way out.


    The pouch of gold on the table had also disappeared. Their target was as good as dead.


    The figure smiled, it was an expression of vengeance and teeth. The moonlight only twisted the image into an evil one.


    ---


    In the dead of night, the streets were empty as even the rowdiest of partygoers had found a stack of hay to collapse into.


    A lone band of carriages drifted towards the Prince¡¯s Residence. The pale moonlight shimmered, bathing the yawning servants as they shuffled forward. Why did the place have to be so far from the castle?


    It had been a last-minute order by the queen herself to join the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s retinue. A mother¡¯s love was the servants¡¯ unfortunate.


    The young ones eyed the carriages enviously. They dragged their feet and shot each other annoyed looks. It was one thing to serve a demoted prince but an entirely other thing to move from the luxury of a castle to an abandoned mansion in the city with the other commoners. Not to mention, their new masters were the ice prince and the barbarian general!


    The couple hadn¡¯t spoken a word to one another since stepping out of the castle. The Lord looked well-rested but annoyed while his wife¡¯s hair was a mess (as if she had slept on the floor) and her amber eyes promised pain for anyone who approached too close.


    Tense didn¡¯t even begin to describe it.


    The Raven General¡¯s bird soared dutifully overhead. Its ebony color blended in with the night sky. Only its occasional flap and caw gave it away.


    Inside the largest carriage sat the newly wedded couple.


    The two sat in dead silence.


    Poor Cristin sat in between them. The attendant glanced at his liege and then the new lady of Feldgrau. The young woman¡¯s warrior braids bounced with the movement of the carriage. But¡­ the immaculate braids did look a bit ruffled. There was also sharp sleep lines on her face. Were the servants to be believed? Had the warrior really slept the first hours of the night on the floor?


    As if sensing his thoughts about her, the Raven General¡¯s sharp glare turned on him.


    Cristin was not an easily cowed man by any means. He had fought on the wall, been in battles and nasty business that would make lesser men piss themselves¡­ but the man flinched at the look. What a vicious glare.


    Despite having attended the wedding¡­ the entire situation felt bizarre and unreal.


    Cristin cursed his own words. When he teased the lord to bring back a wife, who knew fate would take his words so seriously? And to think, his lord was stuck in such an unfortunate match! It was a pity.


    The silence was starting to grow unbearable. The attendant shifted in his seat.


    ¡°So,¡± started Cristin. ¡°Have you gotten to know one another?¡±


    Crickets chirped loudly in the resulting silence.


    In sync, the two shot him a deadpan look. Without other people to put a show on for, it was silently decided that they would no longer continue. Their momentary treaty had been forgotten as soon as Faye dropped her longsword onto the seat of the carriage, and Nikolai stared distastefully at the weapon brazenly sitting next to him.


    Nikolai side-eyed the general picking at her teeth. ¡°Your uncle warned me that you would stab me in the back.¡±


    Unperturbed, the general shrugged good-naturedly. ¡°He¡¯s right to be wary.¡± She tilted her head at him. ¡°The queen told me you have a lover.¡± The young woman stroked the blade. ¡°It is of no matter to me, but I will not be disrespected¡­¡±


    Her amber eyes narrowed. ¡°I heard that in Eburean, men can only take one wife.¡±


    ¡°Have you met my father? If that is why you took up this offer, you might be disappointed. We have bastards like any other lands.¡± Unperturbed, the Lord of Feldgrau snorted. He pushed the blade toward the general. ¡°Here¡¯s a thought. You keep your sword where I can see, and I promise I won¡¯t do it in front of you.¡±


    Faye looked blankly in the distance, it was as if she hadn¡¯t even heard the other¡¯s words. ¡°It is too bad your lover is engaged to your brother.¡± Her lips quirked evilly. The general¡¯s accented voice jeered, ¡°It must be hard to stomach.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s eyes widened to dangerous levels. He glanced at Nikolai worriedly. Talk about rubbing salt into deep wounds. How could the general be so brash? It was a sensitive subject for his liege.


    But the Lord merely shrugged, ¡°No harder to stomach than this marriage.¡±


    And it seemed that was the end of teh conversation.


    Both rolled their eyes and turned to face their respective windows.


    Cristin stared at them, gaped mouth. He dragged a hand across his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. An unfortunate match, indeed.


    ---


    The walls to the Prince¡¯s Residence loomed ahead. A giant wooden door that could fit a whole carriage through stood proudly in front. Behind the wall, the tall ceilings of the mansion seemed to reach into the sky. Warm lantern lights covered the intimidating structure in a soft glow. There was a mysterious and grand air to the building.


    Even the servants gaped at the residence. Although not as large as the castle, from teh ancient stones that built it up to the intricate woodwork of its pillars, there was a majesty that made it distinctive. The common houses and mansions of the other nobles around it and off into the distance looked like small ants in comparison to the behemoth of a residence.


    Two servants hurried to the large door. Pulling out a chain of large, metal keys, they were fast to unlock the doors. It took the strength of four grown men to push the ancient doors open fully.


    The large carriage rolled to a stop.


    A head stuck out, scouring the surroundings.


    Sure that it was relatively safe, Cristin stepped out. He gestured for his liege who hopped out.


    Out of habit, the lord held out a hand for his new wife to take and step down.


    But the general was too busy gaping at the residence. Ignoring the hand, she leaped out of the carriage with her blade. Her wild braids jangled as wide amber eyes took in the scene.


    Faye brushed past Nikolai to take a closer look. Her hands knocked at the wooden doors. The sound echoed familiarly.


    ¡°The wood was made of trees from teh grassland,¡± offered the voice behind her.


    The Raven General glanced back at Nikolai, but the lord had already turned to address the servants and guards.


    For a last minute decision, the young man certainly knew the place like the back of his hand, mused Faye. She shrugged. The detail was of no consequence to her.


    The young woman¡¯s eyes found the stables. Her amber eyes gleamed excitedly.


    Turning proudly, and puffing out her chest. She jabbed a hand at one of the servants. ¡°You! Bring me my horse.¡±


    Immediately, all the servants around her paled. The general¡¯s beast was no horse! It was a demon monster.


    Reluctantly, two servants, holding tightly to the creature on both sides and sporting black eyes and torn clothes, approached with the fierce warhorse. Even the long journey had not tired its unruly spirit. The animal continued to pull at the lead rope, teeth snapping ferociously. The men flinched.


    Practically skipping towards them, the Raven General smiled brightly. The fearsome warrior suddenly resembled a giddy child.


    The servants¡¯ heart softened at the sight. They couldn¡¯t help but warn. ¡°My lady, the animal is unstable, perhaps we can lead it-¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± the Raven General nodded towards them in thank. ¡°I appreciate your hard work gentlemen.¡± Her lips sneered. ¡°If it had been my choice I would have led him myself.¡± She shot a glare at the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s back.


    Smiling awkwardly, the servant reluctantly handed over the lead rope.


    They watched with bated breath as the horse reared. But the young woman merely side-stepped the attacking legs. Her movements were swift as she repositioned herself by the horse.


    Keeping a firm grip on the lead rope, her voice was soft as she chided, ¡°Come now, boy.¡±


    The animal nipped at the Raven General, but the young woman pushed its head away like it was an oversized dog rather than the fearsome creature it really was. ¡°Save your biting for the battlefield, my love.¡±


    Even the horse looked a bit dazed at the reaction. The animal and human stared at one another. The servants watched with bated breath. Carrying a heavy box, a servant girl wandered behind the creature. She was eager to drop off her load and find a warm bed.


    CRASH!


    A young girl paled. The box she had been holding crashed to the floor, shattering.


    The horse¡¯s eyes widened. The animal freaked out, leaping into the air in fright. It reared and bit.


    Faye¡¯s expression turned sharp as she tried to calm the animal. But the creature was unfamiliar to her. The calming cues were lost on it in its anger and fright.


    The servants around them backed up in fright as the animal let out loud and threatening brays. At the commotion, Nikolai turned and took in the scene.


    The horse tried to buck at kick at the girl who had dropped the box, but Faye was quick to pull the animal towards her. ¡°Move,¡± she snapped at the girl.


    Frozen in place, the servant girl merely gaped.


    Growling, the Raven General yanked at the horse¡¯s head with all of her weight. The move infuriated the already angry animal, as it turned its attention towards her.


    Faye grunted as she took a hoof to the gut. She stumbled back and hit the floor painfully.


    Brows furrowed, Nikolai started forward, arms outreached.


    But the young woman was quick to recover. Springing to her feet, she kept a tight hold of the lead rope. ¡°Stop,¡± she commanded seriously.


    The servants shuddered at the tone.


    The warhorse merely shook its head. Starting forward it nipped at the general¡¯s shoulder. The teeth tore through her clothes. The bite broke skin. Pearls of blood gathered and dripped down from the wound. But the Raven General stood firm, not even flinching. Holding the horse¡¯s head in place, she stared dead into its eyes.


    ¡°Stop,¡± she commanded. Softer this time, but just as firm.


    And like that, the animal¡¯s wild eyes blinked. The creature slowly calmed.


    Faye¡¯s head snapped towards the frightened servant girl. ¡°Are you hurt,¡± she barked out.


    Swallowing, the girl blinked back tears. She shook her head. Opening her mouth, she started, ¡°Thank you-¡°


    ¡°You do not walk behind a warhorse,¡± snapped Faye. Her amber eyes were sharp and angered. ¡°If I had been anyone else, you would be dead.¡±


    Her furious words echoed in the silence.


    Shaking her head, Faye commanded, ¡°Pack up your things and return to the palace. I will not have fools in my service.¡±


    The servant girl¡¯s eyes widened and watered. It was true she wanted to return to the castle, but not in such a humiliating way! She got to her knees, begging, ¡°No! Please, my lady. Give me another chance!¡±


    But the Raven General had already turned and walked away. Leading her fearsome beast towards the stable. Her dirtied blue garbs fluttered in the wind.


    Stunned, and with anger swirling in her heart, the servant girl turned towards teh lord. Unlike the foreign monster, the lord surely had more compassion! She groveled at the ice prince¡¯s feet. ¡°Please, my lord. Do not let the lady mistreat me like this. Please keep me in your service.¡± She bowed her head. ¡°The queen herself ordered me here. I am a gift from your mother!¡±


    The servant girl was quite beautiful. She had retained a youthful charm but had a mature aura about her. Most men would have wavered when confronted with her pitiful wide eyes and pouting lips.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared down at her. His blue eyes were unreadable.


    This was one of the queen¡¯s maids. Turning her away would be turning away the queen¡¯s generosity.


    The young man smiled softly. His tone was gentle. ¡°Rise.¡±


    Glee filling her heart, the maid nodded and rose to her feet. ¡°Thank you, my lord! Your wisdom is truly above your wife¡¯s! I promise to-¡±


    Nikolai turned to Cristin. ¡°Have one of your men escort her back to the palace. Immediately.¡±


    The cold expression returned. Ice blue eyes scoured over the other servants.


    They all stiffened. Among them, the queen¡¯s spies shifted nervously. This was not going to be as easy as they had first assumed.


    Nikolai¡¯s lips quirked. ¡°Welcome to the Prince¡¯s Residence.¡±

 Chapter 10: Dueling Trees & Defenseless Bushes

    A hand brushed through the horse¡¯s dark mane. The animal huffed but allowed the relaxing motion. The musty but familiar smell of hay and shavings was comforting.


    Faye ran a brush across the animal¡¯s coarse hair, absentmindedly running her fingers through its soft coat. Her left hand rubbed at its chest as she swept the brush against its strong back.


    It had taken hours to find something the giant creature didn¡¯t nip at her for. She groaned at the thought of training him out of the habit.


    The stables were silent. The moving and chattering of servants into and out of the residence had since faded.


    The first glaring rays of the sun began to creep into the dark sky. Dawn would break soon. There was a peace in the early mornings that Faye enjoyed. In Wenge, she would go to the grasslands and watch the sun rise, as golden rays spilled across the grass and sky. Even on campaigns, the ritual would calm her before battles and strategy meetings. The sun felt different here. It was more distant. Warm but muted in the chilled air.


    It was already her second day in Eburean. The young woman¡¯s grooming paused at the thought.


    The horse nickered. Its nose flared as it craned its neck and bumped its head at the Raven General.


    Faye rolled her eyes but continued. She would have to make sure that the warhorse didn¡¯t grow too spoiled. It would be unseemly on the battlefield.


    But for now, a bit of pampering wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    ¡°What should I name you?¡± she wondered out loud into the empty air.


    In the wooden rafters, the faithful raven picked at its feather. A feather fluttered down, landing on Faye¡¯s head. Silently, the young woman pocketed the feather and continued in her task silently.


    The bird¡¯s beady eyes glanced at the door. It let out a loud caw. The sound reverberated in the stables. Even the other horses picked their heads up at the noise. The warhorse snorted loudly.


    Without turning her head, Faye asked, ¡°What brings you here, lord?¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau crossed his arms. He leaned against the wooden pillars of the stable.


    ¡°That¡¯s a neat trick,¡± he commented, eyes following the raven as it strutted down the rafters.


    ¡°Mouse is quite observant,¡± responded Faye.


    The lord raised an eyebrow. ¡°You named your raven Mouse?¡±


    The Raven General shrugged. It wasn¡¯t as if she had placed much thought into it. ¡°Mouse is not my raven.¡±


    ¡°And yet it follows you everywhere you go,¡± noted the lord. There was no hostility in his voice, merely curiosity.


    Sighing, Faye shrugged, ¡°There are many mice in the aftermath of battle. Mouse likes to feast on their meat.¡± Her amber eyes raised to meet Nikolai¡¯s. ¡°Mouse follows me because it knows there is a great reward in doing so. It is no more or less than that.¡±


    The young woman turned back to her grooming. ¡°I presume your men and mine follow us for the same reason.¡±


    ¡°I suppose we share that commonality.¡± Without skipping a beat, the lord asked, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t explain why you would turn away an ally. The maid¡¯s mistress is the queen. I thought the two of you were on good terms.¡±


    "Yes, and if I saw the queen I would advise her to be careful of those she keeps by her side, as well." Faye paused. Her expression darkened. ¡°I would not bring a rusted tool into battle.¡± She raised her chin at him. ¡°Punish me if you must, but that servant could not be trusted. There was deceit in their eyes.¡±


    There was a moment of silence. Nikolai noticed that although her eyes burned and fists were clenched, the Raven General¡¯s blade remained unsheathed. The mighty longblades'' owner¡¯s hands were by their sides. It felt like a significant detail.


    ¡°We may be enemies,¡± admitted the lord. ¡°But I have no right nor desire to punish you.¡± He gestured towards the residence. ¡°This is to be your home. For most noble ladies, they control the matters of the husband¡¯s house like a general would their army.¡±


    The Raven General barked out a laugh. ¡°I have no desire to control your household.¡± Patting the insistent warhorse, she sighed, ¡°I merely wish to have a safe space and freedom before I am called away to duty.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau shrugged, ¡°Do as you must. I will not begrudge you of that.¡±


    Faye stared.


    The beginning of dawn began to filter in, bathing the two in a golden light. Their silhouettes splayed against the wooden barn walls.


    ¡°You are a weird one,¡± decided the Raven General. ¡°They call you a fool and yet It is hard to read your true intentions.¡±


    Surprisingly, the lord made no rebuking comment.


    He approached the horse and master. Glancing at the magnificent steed, he asked, ¡°What is to be their name?¡± The lord glanced at the food in the trough. ¡°Hay? Grass?¡±


    The raven above them cawed in offense.


    ¡°He is a war horse, not a bird scouring for scraps.¡± Faye rolled her eyes. She patted the horse¡¯s neck firmly. Her scarred hands seemed pale against the stygian coat. ¡°His name is to be Viktor. When I ride into battle, he shall lead me to victory.¡± Her words trailed off.


    Beside her, the lord was silent for a moment.


    ¡°That is the second time you have mentioned battle,¡± murmured the young man. His blue eyes searched into hers. ¡°Are you expecting one?¡±


    Their eyes locked. And for a moment, the world paused around them.


    The Raven General looked away swiftly.


    The wind blew in the fog, as a slight breeze picked up, chilling the air.


    An object was set on top of the stable walls. It was a small wooden box.


    Faye¡¯s brow furrowed. But when she turned to glance at the object¡¯s owner, the man was halfway out the door.


    Setting down her brush, she pried open the lid. A white paste sat inside. Holding it to her nose, the Raven General gave a hesitant sniff. Her eyes widened.


    She stared at the cream. It was a medicinal paste. Suddenly, the bite wound ached.


    ¡°You may do as you wish,¡± called the lord from the door. ¡°So long as it does not disturb me and my plans.¡±


    Faye huffed a laugh. ¡°So it is as if we are strangers.¡±


    ¡°Who happen to live together,¡± finished Nikolai. He paused and added, ¡°I wish you luck in your upcoming battle. Whoever it may be against.¡±


    The words although harsh, sounded sincere. He would not aid her, but nor would he discredit her.


    The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s footsteps faded as he headed back towards the residence. In the light of dawn, he cut a stunning figure. Like a dream, surreal and out of reach.


    What a confusing man.


    Faye stared down at the medicinal paste. Shrugging, she began to apply a hearty amount to the wound. The white paste stung. As it should.


    Although not versed in the subtlety of Eburean nobility and their stuffy traditions, the Raven General could recognize a peace offering when she saw one.


    No reason to look a gift horse in the mouth. She closed the box, pocketing the paste.


    Viktor neighed in agreement.


    ¡ª


    In the grand hall of the residence, the maids and servants were already scurrying back and forth. Rags and brooms worked away, chipping away at the dust and cobwebs from years of disuse and emptyness.


    Blubber fat soap was scrubbed at the banisters. The pillars squeaked as they were polished to perfection. Slopping buckets of water were carried and to and from the giant wells on the estate.


    There was a sense of urgency in the walk of even the youngest of servants and a sharp look in the eyes of the stewards and chefs as they took in their new places of work.


    Although ancient, the Prince¡¯s Residence had a strong foundation. The Feldgrau family (before essentially dying out) had ensured a proper safe haven for their descendants. It was situated with dozens of guest bedrooms and a stargazing room. The residence even had a war planning room and a dungeon below in the crypts where the lords and ladies of Feldgrau had buried their ashes.


    In short, it made sure that there would be a lack of want for their heirs, hopefully equipping them with the materials to succeed and stand out as a great house.


    Centuries later, the great house was all but gone. However, its residence remained, sturdy and proud.


    Nikolai entered through the front doors, Cristin by his side. Sharp blue eyes surveyed the foyer as the servants scrubbed and dusted.


    His mother had secretly brought him and his brother to the residence. It was their private getaway. Especially when her parents had still been alive and before a great sickness had taken most of the Feldgrau family members. Many had moved to the capital when their sister and cousin had become queen. Almost all of them died of a mysterious illness a decade ago. Then, the former queen passed. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Those who remained returned to Feldgrau, and refused to travel to the capital unless necessary.


    Those same aunties and uncles had warned Nikolai and urged him to make haste in his return. Iliana¡¯s son could die in the Capital as so many of them had.


    In the center of the commotion stood a stout woman of a short stature. Her curly gray hair had been pinned into a bun and her face was the pinnacle of stern disappointment.


    The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s lips quirked.


    He approached the woman, stopping by her side.


    The stout woman barely spared him a glance. ¡°You¡¯ve returned, my lord.¡±


    Nikolai nodded, ¡°How goes the preparations, Abby?¡± His lips pursed, ¡°Do the new help bring you any trouble?¡±


    Abby¡¯s expression, to her credit, remained unchanged. ¡°Aye. A huge group of complainers and spoilt brats from what I can tell.¡± She shook her head and admitted gruffly. ¡°But we could not finish the work without the extra help.¡±


    Sighing, the stern expression cracked as Abby sent Nikolai a guilty look. ¡°I apologize, my lord. But I¡¯m afraid it may be hard to have this prepared soon enough. I know you plan to invite guests on the morrow.¡±


    ¡°We must make do.¡± The Lord of Feldgrau squeezed the older woman¡¯s arms comfortingly. ¡°You have my thanks, Abby.¡±


    They were distant fourth cousins, but ever since his arrival in Feldgrau, still practically a boy, Abby had taken Nikolai under her wing. There were few others he would entrust his new residence to.


    The older woman rolled her eyes playfully. ¡°Always so formal, my lord.¡± She puffed up and rolled her sleeves up. A steely determination lit up in her eyes. ¡°You leave this to me. Soon, the fools won¡¯t be able to tell between this place and that damned castle of theirs.¡±


    Nikolai nodded. He knew the residence would be left in good hands. For the first time since he arrived in the capital, Nikolai felt like he could breathe.


    Before he could leave, Abby whispered lowly. ¡°And how is that barbarian wife of yours?¡± Her brows furrowed. ¡°Is it true that she carries a bloody sword everywhere she goes? And that raven of hers can eat grown men?¡±


    The lord paused.


    ¡°Apparently it enjoys rat meat,¡± he muttered faintly.


    ¡°What was that?¡± asked Abby.


    Nikolai shook his head. It was unimportant. For now. He offered plainly. ¡°You will meet her soon enough.¡±


    A hand grasped his arm. Abby leaned in to whisper something only for the two of them to hear.


    The young man froze at the words. He glanced at one of his most trusted people.


    Sighing, the lord admitted, ¡°I do not know. But let us air on the side of caution.¡± Nikolai shook his head. ¡°She is an ally of the queen.¡±


    ¡°Enough said then,¡± decided Abby.


    ¡°But you will treat her with the utmost respect and aid her as much as you can,¡± warned Nikolai. His blue eyes peered down at Abby. ¡°She is a general who has almost been killed and has killed. Her people are a proud one. Do not get on her bad side, lest it might be too late for even me to save you.¡± It was easier to admit the last part out loud to trustworthy ears who would understand.


    Abby studied the young man. She had watched him grow from an angry boy to the capable lord he was today. Now, her boy was married. They had a Lady Feldgrau, but all she could make out was the worry and frustration teeming from every pore of the lord¡¯s body.


    The other side had dealt a heavy hand.


    Sighing, Abby patted Nikolai¡¯s arm. ¡°Do not worry, I understand.¡±


    The stern expression snapped back onto her face. She shoved him towards the stairs. ¡°Now get away and have a servant draw you a bath! You reek, my lord. And! You¡¯re disrupting my workers.¡± Her head snapped to a servant leaning against the wall. ¡°You there! Did I say it was break time? Do you want me to go over there and show you how to mop!¡±


    ¡°No, ma¡¯am!¡± squeaked the servant, his mop moved frantically as if to prove his point. But it was too late for him as Abby stormed over.


    As they headed towards the stairs for the lord¡¯s private chambers, Cristin nudged Nikolai. ¡°I always forget how scary she can be.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± muttered the lord. ¡°Once she found me sneaking out, and made me shovel horse shit for a month.¡±


    Behind the two, Abby happily barked orders.


    Honestly, thought Nikolai, the older woman and the Raven General could probably go head-to-head in terms of their impressive volume.


    His thoughts suddenly flashed to the young woman calmly brushing her horse. As if they weren¡¯t the terrifying general and fearsome beast who had attacked many of his men. There was a moment when the light had peaked in through the barn doors¡­ those amber eyes burned like fire itself. The same eyes that had personally delivered the heads of her adversaries to their grieving families and yet named a legendary bird after its foodstuff. Beauty, life, and danger all rolled into the crashing presence that was the Raven General.


    Friend or foe, Abby had asked. Nikolai pursed his lips.


    Time will tell.


    ¡ª


    Lord Langard stared down at his son practicing in the courtyard.


    The boy was smacked in the head by his teacher for once again being caught staring at the female servants.


    The mighty general let out a defeated sigh. Of all his children, this youngest son of his caused him the greatest headache.


    They had hired an ex-assassin, with the patience to wait under a bed for a fortnight to catch her target¡­ but even the woman looked close to slitting the boy or her own throat.


    Lord Langard sighed. He could see potential in Rufus, but one had to squint very, very, very hard to catch a glimpse of that greatness.


    ¡°A letter has come for you, husband,¡± called a soft voice.


    From the other end of the room, Lady Langard approached, said letter held in hand. Her brows furrowed as she studied the outside of the simple envelope. It was unlike the usual letters that the General of Eburean¡¯s forces received, decked out in fancy calligraphy and the most exquisite of paper. The paper was that used by commoners and there was nothing special about the writing.


    ¡°I almost had it tossed,¡± murmured the lady. She lifted her eyes to meet her husband¡¯s. ¡°But the messenger was insistent.¡±


    Lord Langard hummed in acknowledgment.


    ¡°He mentioned that you would understand once you saw it.¡± Her heels clicked against their ornate tiles. The woman held the letter to her husband. ¡°I figured it was better safe than sorry.¡±


    Leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek, Lord Langard murmured fondly. ¡°What would I do without you?¡±


    ¡°The list is too long to name,¡± replied the lady playfully.


    Although her father had been the Master of Coin, Lady and Lord Langard¡¯s marriage had been a love match.


    It was because of this that the man felt a great pity in his heart for the unwilling Lord of Feldgrau and his bloodthirsty Wenge bride. The Raven General was no blushing maid. In fact, she was quite possibly the exact opposite. He had been just as shocked as the rest of the room to find out that the general was a woman. But it hurt his pride more to see just how young the other was. To be so formidable at an early age¡­ what trials had the general been forced to overcome?


    ¡°I can see your brain thinking too hard,¡± chided Lady Langard. ¡°What is on your mind?¡±


    Letting out a long sigh, Lord Langard admitted, ¡°This old man merely thinks of our unfortunate second prince.¡±


    Frowning, Lady Langard sighed as well. ¡°Perhaps some good will come out of it. Time has a mysterious effect on all of us. Misfortune can make us stronger.¡±


    ¡°True as that may be,¡± Lord Langard¡¯s eyes drifted over to the window and his son sparring with his teacher. ¡°I hope never to chain my son to such a fate.¡±


    Lady Langard smiled at that. ¡°I do not believe Rufus will allow you to do so either.¡± Her brows ticked with frustration. ¡°Although it seems his favored maiden changes as often as the moon cycle.¡±


    Her husband laughed loudly at that. The words were almost accurate. He glanced down at the letter.


    His laughter choked in his throat. The general¡¯s face paled considerably.


    Lady Landgard approached worriedly. ¡°What is wrong, husband?¡±


    Absently, Lord Landgard pressed a kiss to his wife¡¯s head and headed off in the direction of his study. She watched his finger stroke the symbol on the letter¡¯s corner. Was it a code for something?


    Lady Langard sighed. Perhaps it was better not to know. She glanced out the window, only to see her son flat on his back once more.


    And now her son was saying something to the teacher who looked ready to strangle him. She should probably intervene.


    ¡ª


    It was midday. The noon sun burned brightly down. Beads of sweat gathered behind the Raven General¡¯s back.


    She swept her hair back and lunged forward. Her longsword seemed to dance in her hands as it went up against an imaginary opponent.


    The metal glinted in warning before it slashed into an unfortunate bush, cleanly slicing it into two. The top portion slid off and hit the floor with a thud.


    Amber eyes glanced behind her, then abruptly dropped to the floor. Her feet swept her imaginary foes to the floor. In a precise motion, the general slid her dagger from her belt into her hands and slit the air behind her. If her opponents were real, they¡¯d be dead.


    The general rose slowly to her feet. Pulling an arm to her chest, she sighed happily at the cracking noise the action made.


    Rolling her shoulders, the Raven General held up her blade once more. Amber eyes caught sight of another delectable bush.


    It had been days since her marriage. True to the lord¡¯s words, the Raven General had been mostly left to her own devices. The lavish room she had been granted had meals sent to them but was otherwise unbothered. Besides attempting to train Viktor around the wooden corral and exploring the grounds, the Raven General found herself bored out of her mind.


    That was until Faye found the residence¡¯s esteemed gardens while meditating on the roof. The greenery quivered as they became her new target for tormenting. So far, no one had stopped her, and Faye had unleashed everything from her arrows, spears, swords, and even her bare hands against the foliage.


    The Raven General eyed the thick bush. Could one stroke of her blade cut through it cleanly, she wondered.


    Grip tightening, the young woman took a step forward. She inhaled deeply through her nose. Then took another step forward. Suddenly, the general broke out into a run. Lifting the blade, she exhaled and focused. Leaping into the air, her blade readied itself.


    In one motion, the sword glinted in the midday sun, as if receiving its blessing, then cut down in a brutal but fast motion. It was a move that could cut through flesh and bone.


    Landing on the other side of the bush, Faye brought the blade back to her side.


    Behind her, she could hear the snapping branches.


    The general smirked as the top half of the bush slid down in defeat. Soaring above her, Mouse the Raven cawed loudly. Victory, she thought smugly.


    ¡°What in heavens are you doing!¡± screamed a shrill voice.


    Eyes narrowing, Faye swept around, blade aimed up at the voice, ready to attack at any moment. Her eyes matched the steel, sharp and unyielding. It was quite a fearsome sight.


    Undeterred, a furious Abby stared at the young woman. ¡°What in the heavens are you doing,¡± the older woman gritted out. She crossed her pudgy arms, glancing over the ruined gardens. The woman was actually terrified. Who knew a person could move so fast? But the anger steadied her fear as she glared openly at the other woman.


    The garden had been in the lord¡¯s family for generations! What fool would decimate such a treasure with no care?


    ¡°Would you like to answer, my lady?¡± Abby slapped the last title on carelessly.


    Lowering the sword, the Raven General shrugged. The action was brash, but a faint blush lined the young woman¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Practicing.¡±


    Sheathing the blade in a swift motion, Faye tilted her head. Although her stance was relaxed, a firm hand remained on the pommel of the weapon.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Faye muttered darkly. ¡°I had been under the impression that I was to live like a ghost roaming these halls.¡±


    Abby huffed, ¡°Well, your time as a ghost is over.¡± The older woman smirked. The expression was weird on a face used to frowning and inflicting pain on her unfortunate underlings. Even the Raven General was a bit off-put by it.


    ¡°The queen has requested your presence in her meeting with the noble ladies.¡± Abby¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°In a week!¡±


    Crossing her arms, Faye was genuinely curious. ¡°And what does that have to do with me?¡± It would be nice to leave the residence, but there was no need for a maid to inform her of something so far off in the future.


    The maid shuddered. Abby¡¯s hardest task was yet ahead of her as she announced the terrifying news.


    ¡°I am to make a proper lady out of you.¡±

 CHAPTER 11: Forks & Knives

    Seated at the head of a long table, Faye thought that this was quite possibly the worst day of her life. And she had once fought enemies with a broken arm, in a pit of snakes.


    Across from her, Abby smiled evilly. Pure malice dripped from the creepy expression.


    The dreaded words echoed in the room.


    ¡°Which. Fork?¡±


    Visibly flinching, the general stared down at the three identical forks. They taunted her from their place next to her empty plate. Dread filled her. They all looked the same! Amber eyes glanced around, only to spot two more forks above her plate.


    This was the origin of nightmares, Faye decided.


    You are a general, the hero of Wenge, she chided herself. Puffing up her chest, the young woman mustered an expression of false bravado.


    ¡°This one!¡± She picked the one in the middle, jabbing the utensil at Abby.


    ¡°Wrong! Wong, wrong!¡± crowed the older woman. She clapped her hands together gleefully.


    The Raven General¡¯s forehead twitched. Few dared to talk to her like this.


    ¡°Again,¡± barked Abby.


    Pushing her seat back, the young woman stormed towards the door. It was the tenth time they were repeating the exercise, just this morning alone! Per Abby¡¯s orders, she strutted forward, almost tripping on air.


    Passing servants peeked in. They gawked at the sight.


    ¡°Now enter. No! Back straighter! Walk lighter, like a flower in a river! No! You look like a blind cow! Again, again, again!¡± drilled the maid. The general looked in between collapsing and spearing the head maid with her tiny fork.


    Abby sneered, ¡°By the gods, you walk like a man. Even the peasant children have more class than you!¡±


    Faye wasn¡¯t sure if that was an insult but it sounded like one.


    ¡°Why does anyone care how I walk?¡± grumbled the young woman. Her voice teemed with frustration. They had been at this for days! This wasn¡¯t what she had in mind for appeasing her boredom.


    Lessons upon lessons of etiquette and meaningless formalities. At first, the change of pace had been interesting. However, it didn¡¯t take long before they both found out that such things were not the general¡¯s strong suits.


    For one who prided themselves on the knack for picking up things eerily fast, the failures for such frivolous things were grating on the general¡¯s nerve (and pride).


    Faye sighed. Was this retribution for the endless drills she often made her soldiers go through? But surely that wasn¡¯t as horrible as perfecting the angle of forks after a meal! What was the point of silently signaling one was full or wearing suffocating shoes and balancing on their stick-like legs?


    When Abby had made the general practice pouring a chalice of wine perfectly into her ¡°husband¡¯s cup¡± for the entirety of one afternoon, Faye began to get the sense that the older woman was tormenting her for the mere sake of it.


    Groaning, Faye pulled out a random chair and sank into it. The general stuck an elbow on the table, leaning her face tiredly against it. ¡°Where is the lord anyway? Should he not be practicing as well?¡±


    WHACK!


    ¡°Hey!¡± The young woman glared at the wooden stick in Abby¡¯s hands. She growled lowly.


    ¡°The lord is out on important business,¡± snapped the older woman.


    ¡°So you had to attack me?¡± exclaimed Faye, bewildered.


    ¡°No elbows on the table,¡± chided the other. But Faye could make out the unnerving smile creeping on the side of the other¡¯s face.


    Rolling her eyes, the young woman rescinded her elbows¡­ only to cross them against her chest. She smirked at the frown enveloping Abby¡¯s face.


    ¡°A lady does not cross her arms.¡± The older woman held out the stick threateningly.


    ¡°You are enjoying this too much,¡± said Faye, ignoring the point. ¡°Can we rest for the day?¡±


    Abby glared at the young woman. ¡°So that you can chop down more of the lord¡¯s trees? Absolutely not!¡±


    Gritting her teeth, the Raven General decided she had enough of the games. Getting to her feet, Faye tore the heels off, chucking the horrid things into the distance. They soared in the air for a good moment, reaching an impressive distance.


    ¡°This is meaningless,¡± snarled Faye. The general stormed towards the door. ¡°I will not entertain you for another moment more.¡±


    She reached as far as the door handle before Abby chose to break her silence.


    ¡°Do you think this is a game?¡± asked the older woman, tone grave and serious.


    Faye raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you telling me it is not? Your nobles parade around in their castles, their ladies even more so. Why?¡± She gestured towards the fancy table with too many utensils. ¡°Your meal will reach your mouth regardless of what fork you use, maid.¡±


    ¡°It is how we show power,¡± replied Abby calmly. Her voice took on a lecturing note. ¡°From the table placement to who gets to sit closest to the lord," the older woman sighed, "All of these are how you assert yourself. How we show our power. That is why it is crucial for you to learn!¡±


    ¡°Where I am from,¡± snapped Faye, ¡°We speak with words and fight with weapons¡­ not cutlery. I think you will find it more efficient and the effects more permanent.¡±


    Unfazed by the clear disgust in the other¡¯s voice, Abby pulled out a chair. The older woman brushed her gray hair behind her ear and took a seat. She gestured to the other chair opposite her.


    Faye watched her warily. She did not move to sit.


    Abby sniffed, unused to being disobeyed.


    ¡°Women in Eburean are not given knives and swords. We must fight with our etiquette and,¡± she huffed a laugh, ¡°cutlery. We all do what we must to survive.¡± Her wise eyes landed on Faye¡¯s. ¡°This is as much a battlefield as any other, general. Do you not see? A wrong move will result in death. And not just yours, but all of ours.¡±


    The ominous ring of the words struck a cord within the battle-hardened warrior. Faye was quick to anger, but she rarely let the rage cloud her judgement. It wasn''t hard to see the precarious position the Lord of Feldgrau held in the capital. A not-prince who could usurp the throne but had no support. Yet.


    ¡°I do not know you very well, girl¡± said Abby gruffly.


    Faye bristled at the title.


    ¡°But your eyes are not that of a coward.¡± Smirking, the old maid gestured towards the table. ¡°Will you run away now because of¡­ some forks and knives?¡±


    The Raven General looked downright murderous. Her lips were downturned and a thick cloud formed between her brows.


    Like a furious predator, she stalked forward. The general''s footsteps were powerful, reverberating through the floorboards. Staring down at Abby, she leaned forward until they were eye to eye.


    ¡°I said enough games,¡± warned the general lowly. ¡°You will find I do not enjoy repeating myself.¡±


    Shooting out like a viper, her hand struck. It snatched something on the table. The older woman flinched at the sudden action. Her wariness belayed her true unease. The speed was inhumanly fast.


    ¡°Enough games.¡± Face blank, Faye placed the item in Abby¡¯s hand. ¡°For today.¡±


    Turning on her heels, the general walked out of the room, back straight and proud. It was not the walk of a noble lady¡­ but even Abby had to admit it was quite the sight. Majestic¡­ and untamed.


    The heavy wooden doors slammed shut. The old maid could hear the servants scurry out of the way. She glanced down at the object.


    Unbidden, a stunned laugh burst out of her.


    A dessert fork. The last cutlery of any noble evening.


    Poetic.


    Abby hated to admit it but¡­ the general was starting to grow on her.


    She clenched the fork and laughed again.


    ¡°Perhaps you were too early to judge her, my lord,¡± she whispered. It was an admission for her ears alone. The general would be a formidable foe¡­ but a powerful ally in equal measures. And... considering the young woman hadn''t erupted into the murdeorus rage like expected... perhaps it wasn''t too late to get her on their side. Abby''s eyes glinted as a plan came to mind.


    ¡ª


    Cristin paced the study, worrying his lips. ¡°Was it wise to send the letters directly to their estates, my lord?¡±


    From his desk, Nikolai gave a half-hearted shrug. ¡°It is not as if we had any other choice. The fewer hands they pass through, the better.¡±


    ¡°Still,¡± protested the attendant. ¡°For you to go yourself.¡± His voice trailed off as he shook his head defeatedly. Cristin was close to glaring at his lord. ¡°You could have been caught! And all of this would have been for nothing.¡±


    A guard could have decided to check his identity, or a visiting noble might have recognized him. Bad thoughts clouded Cristin¡¯s head. How could they ever explain why the Lord of Feldgrau was dressed as a messenger, delivering mysterious missives to some of the most powerful men in the kingdom? If she found out, Rewanna would laugh in glee before throwing them into the cell for treason.


    ¡°You have spies in every household, Cristin. Tt was as safe as it could possibly be.¡± Picking up a page of meaningless words, Nikolai pretended to scan through it seriously. ¡°Besides, there was no choice.¡±


    Squinting, Cristin pointed an accusing finger at the cause of his stress. ¡°That¡¯s starting to become a catchphrase for you, my liege.¡± The attendant dropped into the seat opposite the lord. Despite his greatest efforts, Cristin could not deny that the Lord of Feldgrau knew the city''s ins and outs. With their limited resources, it was true that Nikolai had been the best choice to play messenger.


    ¡°How is my dear wife faring?¡± asked Nikolai absently.


    The attendant shrugged, picking at his nails. ¡°Abby complains about her, then compliments her, all the servants fear for their lives around her, and¡­¡± He raised a brow at Nikolai. ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t too attached to your great grandfather¡¯s ancient arrow-wood bushes.¡±


    "¡°And why is that?¡± Setting down the page, the lord commented, "I did not realize they were at risk. Has something happened to them?"


    "They''re gone." Still sour from the previous argument, Cristin was blunt. ¡°Along with half of the garden.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared at his attendant for a good minute, as if attempting to process the information.


    Finally, he sighed. Waving a hand, Nikolai beckoned for Cristin forward. ¡°Well, since you have enough time to be counting arrow wood bushes, I have a mission for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank the gods.¡± The attendant smirked. He leapt to his feet. ¡°What can this humble servant do for you, my lord? Please don¡¯t make it too easy.¡±


    Leaning back from the eager expression, Nikolai warned, ¡°Don¡¯t get too excited. This is important.¡± Clasping his hands together, he rose from his chair and approached the window. The lord stared out at a specific part of the city in the distance.


    ¡°I want all the information you have on Lucky Charm.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s eyes bulged as he did a double-take. ¡°The brothel?¡± he exclaimed.


    Blue eyes glinted mischievously. ¡°Don¡¯t be a prude, I¡¯ve heard they serve excellent meals and music there nowadays as well.¡±


    But the words did little to comfort the attendant. Cristin stared at his liege like the other had grown a second head. Since when had Nikolai grown an interest in such places? And if he wanted to experiment, why now in enemy territory? Cristin almost cried at the absurdity of it all.


    Unfortunately for him, Nikolai was unaffected by the poor man¡¯s plight.


    ¡°I want you to look into securing a private room,¡± said the lord. ¡°Large enough to host the pleasure of ten lords who desire the utmost¡­ privacy.¡±


    Suddenly, Cristin¡¯s eyes dawned with understanding.


    The attendant nodded along and asked seriously. ¡°And are the people to know that this is a request of the famed ice prince himself?¡±


    ¡°The queen mother has long wished for me to be half as promiscuous as her son, and now,¡± Nikolai laughed, but it was a sound without any joy, ¡°Rewanna wishes to use my ill-fated marriage as a leash. I see no reason why I shouldn¡¯t entertain her desires.¡±


    Hesitantly, the attendant asked, ¡°And the general?¡±


    The question gave the lord pause.


    Cristin sighed. For such an intelligent man, his liege could be quite dense. Most married women would be furious at the thought of their spouses heading to a place like the Lucky Charm. Based on what little Cristin had seen of the Raven General and his experience with Wenge warriors, the general would be more than livid. Although the grasslands often practiced polyamorous marriages, the young woman was quite firm in her stance on fidelity. Cristin shuddered. Although he found it hard to imagine the young woman breaking into tears, the Raven General might just murder his lord based on the principle of the entire thing.


    ¡°Let her confront me if she wishes¡­¡± Nikolai was hesitant to admit that he had forgotten to consider what Faye may be led to believe. Or her reaction to such news. Either ways, he had to see the bigger picture. ¡°The plan takes greater importance.¡±


    In all likelihood, Faye would likely be busy chopping at the rest of the estate to notice. That was if she even cared to check in the first place.


    After their encounter in the stable, the Raven General had not even bothered to ask after his missing presence. Nikolai could only hope that their tiny bubble of peace would last, and not be to his detriment.


    "Very well then." Bowing their head, Cristin promised, ¡°Consider it done, my lord. All of Eburean shall know of it by the fortnight.¡±


    ¡ª


    The latch to the roof jiggled. With a grunt, a figure shoved it open and pulled themselves out. They squinted at the bright sunlight and sighed happily at the breeze.


    Fresh air at last.


    Faye squatted, aware that the wind could offset even the most balanced of assassins. She wasn¡¯t suicidal.


    Her amber eyes glanced over the cityscape. It was a different beauty compared to the grasslands she had known all her life. The general had never known that men were capable of building homes as tall as the wall she had encountered near the borders. There was color lining every alley of the street as the festivities for the new year continued.


    Listening behind dark corners, Faye had gathered that a great week-long celebration was to be held at the end of the month.


    Throat itching, the young woman pulled out a leather pouch. Uncapping it, her eyes formed eager crescents as the familiar burn of the drink trickled down her throat. She enjoyed the flowery but fiery aftertaste of it.


    If there was something that she appreciated more in Eburean, it was the drinks. Who knew so many flavors existed?


    Wiping her mouth with her sleeves, Faye sighed. The young woman stared back at the city. Her fingers clasped together, twisting and turning unconsciously. It was a habit from childhood.


    The lock of the hatch jiggled once more.


    Calmly, Faye¡¯s fingers brushed over the hilt of her dagger. She had not brought her sword up to the roof.


    The hatch burst open and slammed against the roof. Glancing over her shoulder, Faye stared.


    A tuff of hair popped up, followed by blue eyes. There was a childlike eagerness in them. However, it faded into guardedness as soon as it landed on her.


    It had been days since the Raven General had seen her husband. Surprisingly, the man looked gaunt, dark circles lining his under eyes.


    He looked torn between leaving without a word and offering a polite excuse.


    ¡°Come up if you wish, I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± Faye settled the decision for him. Holding out the leather skin, she gestured towards the vast expanse of the roof. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of space¡­ And it is your house after all.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, Nikolai pulled himself up. The wind ruffled his hair like an old friend and his chilly expression melted slightly.


    Surprisingly, the young man took a seat by Faye¡¯s side. ¡°Somehow I¡¯m not surprised you found this place.¡± He paused, ¡°I used to come up here with my brother when we were children.¡±


    Taking another sip, amber eyes floated over to land on Nikolai.


    Sensing the heavy gaze, the lord offered, ¡°I apologize for Abby. I hear she has been tough in your lessons.¡±


    But the Raven General chuckled, ¡°It is fine.¡± She shrugged, ¡°The woman is growing on me. Slightly.¡±


    ¡°That is¡­ reassuring,¡± decided the lord, unsure what to make of the sentiment.


    Smiling, the general nodded, ¡°Abby reminds me of an old caretaker. He used to get on my nerves as well. I could never decide if I wanted to strangle or thank them.¡± The young woman paused, ¡°Not that it mattered in the end.¡±


    A breeze blew between them.


    ¡°What happened?¡± asked Nikolai. He didn¡¯t expect an answer.


    A loose strand of hair fell, framing her face.


    ¡°I killed him.¡±


    The words reminded him of who he was sitting next to.


    Faye spoke of death in a way that was both emotionless and detached. As if the Raven General were stating a plain fact. Nikolai supposed that in a way, she was.


    With that, the general got to her feet. Taking another swig from the leather pouch, she headed for the latch door. Reaching down, she took ahold of it with familiarity from handling it these past few days. The young woman lifted the heavy metal easily.


    ¡°Why?¡± Nikolai faced away from her, staring resolutely at the cityscape.


    Faye studied his back.


    ¡°Where have you been these few days?¡± she asked instead. "Why does a foolish prince look so haggard and spend his days locked in his study, writing missives and letters?" Faye raised an eyebrow. "I would worry of a mistress, but I fear that you may be doing something greater."


    Silence. But it was answer enough.


    There were secrets and mistrust as wide as the sea between them. It was not something a conversation on the roof would magically solve.


    "Faye, why are you really here?" Nikolai''s blue eyes studied hers. "I hear your father has many daughters. Why send his most valued soldier? Why would you agree?"


    Faye looked away. She took another swig from the pouch. Wiping her lips with the back of her tunic, she sighed, "In truth, husband, I could tell you." She smiled sadly. "But then I''d have to end you. And wouldn''t that be a pity?" She shot him a smirk. "I wouldn''t want the blood of such a beautiful man on my hands. The goddesses would curse me."


    Nikolai finally looked away. It was clear they would not be getting answers from each other. He sighed, "Can I at least trust you?"


    "You shouldn''t," came the immediate reply. "But-"


    When he glanced over, Nikolai could see the guardedness in Faye''s eyes. "But what?"


    "Trust that I am as much a prisoner here as you are," she chirped cheerfully. Faye got to her feet. "Or maybe I''m slightly less, the whole treaty letting me leave for battle and all that."


    Nikolai shot her an unimpressed look. Faye took it heartily and patted his head like he was a child. Her husband froze at the motion, eyes wide. She smirked, "Not to worry, husband. You''re pretty enough that I will return to you." Her scarred hands ruffled his hair, marveling at the softness.


    The Lord of Feldgrau batted her away. "Can''t say the same," he grouched.


    "For now," offered Faye, somehow making it sound like a threat. Nikolai shivered.


    The latch door flipped open. Pocketing the pouch, the slim figure slipped through. Amber eyes gleamed.


    ¡°Until next time, husband,¡± called the general.


    And they disappeared under the door.


    Nikolai waited for the sound of climbing down the ladder to fade. When it did, he let out a bone-weary sigh. Unlike his stoic expression, the young man¡¯s heart was beating like a rabbit. The Lord of Feldgrau rubbed his face tiredly.


    Faye was scarier when she was being civil!


    ¡ª


    The Raven General yawned loudly.


    Although it was much later than the usual time she rose, the young woman had spent the night before pouring over the lineage scrolls of each noble family.


    Her thoughts flashed to the young scholars on the streets. No wonder they were so ruffled and desperate. She would be too if this type of torture was her every day!


    A ruthless finger flicked the back of her head.


    The Raven General could only weakly glare at Abby.


    But the older woman was already striding down the hall.


    When she noticed Faye hadn¡¯t followed, she turned and snapped, ¡°Well, come on! Do you expect me to carry you or something?¡±


    Getting the cue, Faye rose tiredly. She trudged forward until she reached Abby¡¯s side.


    Huffing at her disheveled hair and groggy eyes, the older woman huffed, ¡°It is a gift from the lord.¡±


    That got the young woman¡¯s attention.


    ¡°A¡­ gift,¡± she gaped. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    But Abby was already unlocking and pulling at a wooden door. Without ceremony, the older woman headed down the stone staircase behind the door. The older maid grabbed one of the flaming torches inside, lighting the dark stairwell.


    The two descended the stone staircase. Unfamiliar guards patrolled below. Abby ignored them and continued forward. Although they eyed the Raven General with suspicion, none dared to say anything much less stop them. The lord¡¯s trusted head maid was at the young woman¡¯s side. They were all men and women of Feldgrau. Abby was one of the lord''s most trusted people.


    Faye followed in awe. ¡°I didn''t known this place existed,¡± she admitted.


    The stonework was impressive, and the chilled air of an underground layer filled her with excitement. What secrets were hidden behind these ancient walls?


    Finally, they reached the end of the hall.


    Pulling out a ring of keys, Abby counted the keys quietly to herself. She flipped past keys as she counted silently. Finding the right one, the older woman sighed. Then, she stuck the rusted metal into the hole and turned.


    The wooden door swung open.


    Stepping inside, Faye gasped at the sight. Her amber eyes widened considerably.


    Before her was a grand armory and training room.


    ¡°Can I?¡± she asked Abby meekly.


    The older woman was shocked at the tone. It almost sounded¡­ ladylike. She nodded, trying to hide her distress.


    Sprinting off, the general began to fawn over the different armor and weaponry in the space. They tried the training mats and nodded in satisfaction at the training dummies stuffed with fresh hay.


    As if the thought was finally dawning on her, Faye turned to Abby. ¡°You said this was¡­ a gift?¡±


    The head maid nodded. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the short note the lord had handed her yesterday. Abby held it out to Faye.


    The general took it gingerly, her usual brashness mellowed by shock. Unfolding the page, her amber eyes scanned the note¡¯s contents.


    ¡±Dear Wife,


    Those bushes you murdered were one of the few lasting legacies of my ancestors. Next time you wish to vent your violent tendencies, I ask that you do it here instead. Whatever you wish for, the servants will bring.


    Spare the trees.


    -Your Suffering Husband"


    Faye rolled her eyes. She tossed the note aside. The paper fluttered and flew to the ground forgotten.


    Abby gaped at the action.


    Was there not a romantic bone in the young woman¡¯s body, she anguished. Abby frowned. She had thought such an action would lure the general''s favor. But the young woman seemed unresponsive to the thoughtful gift! Although it was true the lord intended to use it as a diversion, the nature of the gift was quite sweet.


    Amber eyes scanned the room once more. ¡°Abby! Help me bring over these dummies. I wish to test the strength of Eburean spears against my own.¡± There was an unbridled glee in the general¡¯s voice as she listed all the weaponry she wished to unleash against the dummies.


    Abby sighed. Nikolai was not one to give things away thoughtlessly. For him to have had the room cleaned and the secret underground shown to the Raven General... Sweet as it may be, the gesture was completely lost on this dense wife.


    ¡°This bow is quite well crafted,¡± Faye tested the string, tugging on it slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to practice my archery against the willow tree. This bow will be perfect!¡± She raised her new weapon of destruction happily in the air.


    Bow in hand, the young woman rushed out. Her skipping form breezed right by the grimacing head maid. ¡°Sorry, Abby. But classes are canceled for today. The willow trees await!¡±


    Abby sighed even deeper. So much for sparing the trees.

 CHAPTER 12: The Street of Joy

    Lord Langard looked around the busy streets. He pulled the hood of his cloak tighter around his head. This was not an area a married man should be in!


    Courtesans and their paramours fluttered by him. The streets seemed to be filled with bright-colored clothes. The clustering smell of heavily scented oils wafted through the air, cloying but enticing.


    This was the street of joy, home to the most famous courtesans and their patron houses¡ªthe pleasure district.


    The red and yellow lanterns, with their enticing lights, taunted the general. The underside of his collar felt sweaty with nerves. He rubbed the back of his neck.


    It was unfortunate but Lord Langard recognized a few of the nobles and other familiar faces from courts on these streets. And more than a few were married.


    If Lady Langard found out he was here¡­


    The general shuddered at the thought.


    He scanned the area. Where was the damned messenger?


    Shrieks of laughter floated by him. Painted faces brushed past him as they teased and cajoled their patrons. The courtesans of the street of joy were as talented as any scholar, efficient in the matters of music, literature, and¡­ other businesses that earned them their fame with the high-end patrons they found enjoyed frequenting their streets.


    There were many folktales among the commoners of famed courtesans whose patrons fell so deep in love that they took them for wives and tied their ribbons and coins together for eternity.


    But for all of its scandalous but official dealings, the street of joy was also deeply invested in a secondary market¡­ that of information and secrets.


    Nobles came to the street for a good time¡­ secretly. Only the courtesans heard their whispered words and undercover meetings. There were strict policies in every house that ensured the protection of such secrets. But everything had a price¡­


    ¡°Did you hear?¡± A soft voice chittered to their companions. ¡°I heard even the ice prince had solicited the services of our street! He¡¯s even requested a private room at the Lucky Charm!¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡± gasped another.


    The first courtesan nodded eagerly. ¡°My cousin, Flower-Dew, say him go in with her own eyes!¡±


    ¡°Who knew he was such a man!¡± A finger twisted silky hair. ¡°Although if he requested me¡­ I wouldn¡¯t say no!¡±


    The group burst into raucous laughter. At the end of the day, this was merely a job. But a pretty face certainly made it more bearable.


    They rolled their necks. It had been a busy night but the pouch of coins in their pockets sat heavily.


    ¡°All my years, and if there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve learned it¡¯s that,¡± The taller courtesan sniffed, ¡°No man can resist¡­. Especially the newly married ones.¡± They lowered their voice dramatically. ¡°Doesn¡¯t help if you¡¯re married to a brute! They could put a rabid wolf in his bed and he likely wouldn¡¯t notice the difference!¡±


    ¡°My aunt sells vegetables to the residence,¡± the girl flapped her hands excitedly. ¡°They don¡¯t even sleep in the same quarters! Apparently, the Lord hasn¡¯t even talked with the Raven demoness since their marriage night!¡±


    The first courtesan huffed, ¡°Would you? I heard his general kicked a girl out on her first day and destroyed half the estate in her rage! Either she¡¯s crazy or a barbarian!¡­ Probably both!¡±


    The others hid a laugh behind their sleeves. ¡°By the way, I heard the Lucky Charm just recruited a new courtesan. A musician! They say he has the face of a peach and the voice of a songbird!¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll end up serving the ice prince!¡±


    The courtesans drifted away , their silky sleeves fluttering in the air behind them.


    Lord Langard shifted awkwardly. Although he pitied the young man, he hadn¡¯t expected the prince to resort to such things.


    ¡°Lord Langard.¡±


    Hand dropping to his sword, the season general twirled on his feet. He turned to face a¡­ masked ,am in a dark blue cloak.


    The man tilted their head. ¡°My liege has requested that I escort you to the meeting place.¡±


    Lord Langard studied the young man before him. The mask and cloak hid his identity well, but despite his lean build, the other stood at the same height as the general. Not many did¡­


    The general swept out an arm. ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    Hopefully, it would be far from this place.


    With a nod, the servant headed off. They dodged the different bodies swiftly, but would glance back dutifully to ensure that Lord Langard was still in sight.


    A hand suddenly latched onto the servant. They squeezed the arm suggestively, as a ruby red smile stared up at the mask. ¡°Sir, come try your luck at our establishment?¡±


    The general and servant glanced up at said establishment. It was a gambling house, where the sound of joy, despair and music floated out from it.


    The servant shook their head, they tried to shake off the woman, but the courtesan was insistent. ¡°Come, sir! You look like you have the hands for a lucky toss! Try your luck.¡±


    Suddenly, the servant stopped. He leaned down to whisper something in the maiden¡¯s ears.


    Even Lord Langard¡¯s sharp hearing couldn¡¯t make out the words over the noise of the street, but he watched the courtesan¡¯s face pale and then her lips sneer in disgust.


    The woman pushed the servant away. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, get away from here!¡±


    The servant did that. As he followed the other man, the general wondered what exactly had the young man said?


    Before too long, the two of them reached a tall building. The building looked like a cake, as its floors layered on top of each other, each painted in a different color, resembling a rainbow after a fresh patch of rain. Silk flags flew from the corners of its roof and bannisters, giving it an otherworldly feel as the flags beckoned those passing by. Many of which did¡­ excitedly.


    Lord Langard gulped as he read the sign hanging over the wide doors.


    The Lucky Charm.


    He turned to the servant. ¡°Ah, young man. We aren¡¯t going in there, are we?¡±


    Unfortunately, the masked man nodded. Before Lord Langard could protest, he was already stepping into the establishment. The young man nodded familiarly at one of the front desk attendants.


    With a bright smile, the attendant greeted, ¡°Welcome back, sir. Your master awaits. Please,¡± stepping away from the table, the attendant gestured for the stairs. ¡°Follow me,¡± she said.


    There was an ethereal grace in the way the attendant walked. They had the grace of royalty. Looking around, Lord Langard realized that this was the norm for all of the establishment.


    From the serving boys to the courtesans themselves, there was a grace and pride in the way they held themselves. Technically, in the street of joy, those who belonged to Lucky Charm were royalty. Only the best of the best would be considered for interviews. It was even harder to be accepted. Madam Athena, the owner of Lucky Charm, was strict and expected the best of all those under her. This was the Lucky Charm standard.


    In the center of the room, Madam Athena stared over her domain, arms daintily clasped in front of her. The serene expression could not hide the ambitious and calculative glint in her eyes as she glanced over the room and its occupants. Suddenly, the woman¡¯s lilac eyes lifted to glance at the masked man and the general.


    Feeling her gaze, the two men turned to stare at her briefly as well.


    In return, the woman smiled faintly and inclined her head in respect.


    The attendant in front of them paused. ¡°The Madam sends her regards and wants the gentlemen to accept her gracious gift of two blossom wines, on the house.¡± As they reached the top of the stairs, she gestured towards the doors of a private room. Two buff guards stood watch outside.


    Seeing the men approach, they pulled open the door. Within the door was another door, which the attendant carefully opened. Lowering her head, the attendant¡¯s lips curved. ¡°This is as far as I can lead you. Please enjoy your time in Lucky Charm.¡±


    The masked servant reached into his pockets and pulled out a small pouch. The leather bag jingled with coins. He placed the pouch into the attendant¡¯s hands.


    The woman¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she accepted the coins.


    Striding past her, the masked servant addressed Lord Langard. ¡°This way, sir. My master eagerly awaits your presence.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The general took a step forward. He paused, murmuring, ¡°And am I allowed to know the identity of this master you speak of?¡±


    Unsurprisingly, the masked servant was silent. He merely lowered his head respectfully.


    Sighing, the general strode forward.


    Inside was a private banquet room with ten or more people seated at a long table. At the head of the table was a man in a bright white cloak, and a silver mask, not unlike that of his servant.


    All heads turned to the newcomers.


    Lord Langard noted the familiar faces. There were minor lords, governors, court advisors, and even a few women he recognized as the ladies of estates in the east and west of the capital. Although Lord Langard was the highest ranked of them all, these were all people of great power and status¡­ all gathered by the silver-masked master seated at the head of it all.


    Behind them, the general noted as the thick wooden doors closed. No way out.


    The master smiled. His deep voice resonated through the room. ¡°Now that Lord Langard is here, we may begin our meeting.¡±


    Taking his seat at the remaining empty spot, Lord Langard noted his position at the right of the silver-masked man.


    The master glanced around the room. ¡°My lords and ladies, we come to discuss our great plan.¡±


    Seats were shifted, and the faces around the tables ranged from curious to determined.


    Lord Langard¡¯s brows furrowed.


    Turning to him, the master tilted his head. ¡°General Langard, you have something you wish to say.¡±


    The general tapped his finger against the table. Well, he was never one to hold back. ¡°Quite frankly, sir. I received a mysterious missive from an old friend, who you are not.¡± He glanced around the strategically picked people. Politics, land-owners, merchants, and with himself, the military. ¡°What exactly is it that we have been gathered to do?¡±


    The master was silent for a moment. He gestured towards his servant.


    Stepping forward to take his place standing behind the master, the servant spoke. His voice was low. ¡°What I am about to say, cannot be unsaid. Your life and family may be in peril. If we fail, you could be stripped of your power and lands at best, your life, in any other circumstance.¡±


    Some glanced nervously at one another, but none made a move to leave.


    ¡°If there is a hint of doubt within your heart, you must leave this room at once. No dishonor or shame will be brought to you,¡± continued the servant.


    A resounding silence answered him.


    Lord Langard was the first to speak. ¡°Well, I for one feel too invested to leave. Now, that we¡¯ve ensured we¡¯re all in,¡± the general¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I ask again, great master. What are we here for?¡±


    The servant took a step back, clasping his hands behind him dutifully. His tall form towered over the table, and his back was straight and proud.


    Tearing their eyes from the servant, the room''s occupants glanced back at the master.


    The masked man crossed his arms. He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. The air was tense with anticipation.


    Hooded eyes raised to meet the room''s. ¡°For a revolution.¡±


    ¡ª


    A young man, practically a boy, knocked at the wide double doors. They were four times his height and eight times his size. He was like an ant, standing in front of the Prince''s Residence.


    The people passing the streets stared at him. He had been at this for hours. Small money was exchanged as they bet on how long the boy would continue.


    Undisturbed by his failure, the boy tried again, banging at the doors. And again. And¡­ again.


    Eventually, the small crowd of betting spectators grew bored. As the sun began to set, the streets emptied as people returned to the comfort of their homes. But the boy was relentless and continued.


    As the sun set, the great doors finally creaked open. A servant peaked his head out balefully. ¡°The guards say you have been here all day! What do you want?¡±


    The boy straightened. His hands raised and he began to make fast-paced symbols and signs. It seemed he was unable to speak and communicated through hand signals.


    Even more confused, the servant scratched their head. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t,¡± they sighed, staring at the empty streets. The boy had been knocking all day. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come in?¡± Maybe they could find someone who could understand.


    Recognizing the invitation, the boy pressed a hand to his chest in thanks.


    Rolling their eyes, the servant led the way into the Prince¡¯s Residence. The boy stared in awe at the tall stone walls and the number of guards patrolling around.


    Eyeing his gaped mouth, the servant¡¯s heart softened. He still remembered his first encounter with lavish royalty. ¡°First time in a mansion?¡±


    The boy nodded mutely. His glossy-eyed stare spoke for themselves. Suddenly, the boy saw a broom. Rushing over, he picked the object up and gestured at it to the servant. Staring at the confused look on the other''s expression, the boy mimed sweeping the floors.


    Understanding dawned on the servant¡¯s face. ¡°You want a job here?¡± They paused, thinking it over. Coming from the Feldgrau Castle, interview processes were fairly strict and regimented.


    But this wasn¡¯t the castle or Feldgrau. And the poor boy looked like he could use a few coins for a good meal. Shrugging, the servant offered, ¡°I can¡¯t promise you anything, but I¡¯ll show you to Abby, she¡¯ll know what to do.¡±


    Nodding gratefully, the boy followed, broomstick in hand.


    Glancing back, the servant wondered if he should tell the boy to leave the broom. But seeing the eager expression, the other''s resolve faltered. It wasn¡¯t that big of a deal anyway. There were plenty of other brooms scattered throughout the estate.


    The two continued down to the great hall


    ¡ª


    Scarred hands wiped at the sharp blade. Under the cloth¡¯s attention, the metal glistened and the murky reflection cleared until one could make out their image in the blade.


    The utmost care was taken as polishing oil was applied to the longsword.


    Abby watched as the Raven General lovingly wiped away the excess oil and continued in the process. Most women reserved the look Faye was shooting at a metal stick for their lovers. The older woman sighed, rubbing her face tiredly.


    Still focused intently on her polishing, Faye said, ¡°I was thinking that perhaps I could show the lord a token of my appreciation.¡±


    Abby¡¯s brows rose at the statement.


    Not noticing, or pretending not to, the young woman continued, ¡°The armory has been quite enjoyable. It feels,¡± she paused, searching for the right word. ¡°Dishonorable not to repay such a gift.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Abby burst from her seat in excitement. Her toes curled. The older woman felt as if she was hovering in the air! This was a miracle! ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    What better way to repair the couple''s distance than a thoughtful gift?


    The head maid would have clapped her hands together¡­ but there were too many underlings around. Such an act would undermine her strict appearance. Firmly clasping her hands together, Abby leaned forward. She tried to hide the excitement in her face. ¡°What is it you had in mind?¡±


    The Raven General blew on the sword. Holding it in her hands, she studied the clean blade.


    Satisfied, the young woman sheathed it. She set it on the table. Tapping her fingers against her knees, Faye shrugged, ¡°Perhaps I can acquire a good blade for him?¡±


    The air deflated out of the old maid. Abby rubbed in between her brows. ¡°The lord already fears for his life around you. If you gift him a blade, he will think it a warning not a gift.¡±


    Faye chewed on her lip. This was harder than she thought it would be. ¡°Mayhaps I could replace his bushes?¡±


    Abby crossed her arms and shot the young woman a deadpan look. ¡°And where will you find century old arrow wood bush that no longer grows in the wild?¡±


    It was Faye¡¯s turn to frown. Her forehead twitched. ¡°Very well. Since you don¡¯t like any of my ideas,¡± she shot an irritated look at the old maid. ¡°What ideas do you have?¡±


    Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Abby started, ¡°Well, most noble ladies would sew or knit something for their lord husbands. Perhaps a scarf, or a warm blanket, or even,¡± her voice trailed off at the sight before her.


    Abby sighed at the petrified look on the Raven General¡¯s face. ¡°You don¡¯t know how to sew, do you?¡±


    The young woman rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°In all honesty, one of my father¡¯s wives attempted to teach me.¡± She winced at Abby¡¯s expectant look. Faye admitted, ¡°I ruined most of the spool and had so many holes in my fingers that I bloodied the atrocious mess I made.¡± She smiled ruefully. ¡°It was almost as insufferable as my time with you.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me!¡± Abby squawked in indignation.


    But Faye was still lost in her own thoughts. ¡°I mean, I could try again. A scarf that could also double as a weapon-¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± interjected Abby. She could already picture the mess and headache she would suffer if they attempted such a thing. ¡°Some wives recite poetry, or sing, or dance,¡± listed the maid. "Are there any dances you know? Surely, they have that in the grasslands?"


    ¡°Do sword forms count?¡± asked Faye.


    ¡°No.¡± Abby continued her list. ¡°Others would paint, or host a party, or cook a delicacy-¡°


    The Raven General leapt from her seat. Slamming the table in her haste, the general exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s it! I can cook!¡± Seeing Abby¡¯s doubtful expression, she protested, ¡°It¡¯s true! Do you think we bring private chefs out on the battlefield?¡±


    The Raven General smirked haughtily. She crossed her arms. ¡°My men have said that my cooking could rival that of the gods!¡±


    She didn¡¯t bother mentioning that they were too smart to claim otherwise.


    Still doubtful, Abby scratched the side of her face. ¡°Well, only if you¡¯re-¡°


    ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± called a voice.


    The two women looked up to see a servant enter with a lanky form trailing behind them¡­ holding a broomstick.


    Abby raised an unimpressed eyebrow. ¡°What is it, Frederick?¡±


    Frederick smiled. The servant rubbed their palms together. ¡°Ma¡¯am. Lady Feldgrau," he greeted. "Have I told you both how stunning you ladies appear today?¡±


    Unfortunately for him, the general merely looked confused while Abby snapped, ¡°Flattery will get you nowhere. What is it that you want, child?¡±


    Sighing, Frederick turned to introduce the broomstick boy. ¡°This is my¡­ distant cousin from back home. He had traveled a long way to work.¡± He smiled nervously, nudging the boy to do the same. ¡°I had hoped that the gracious Abby would not turn him away?¡±


    Abby rolled her eyes. She let one girl bring in her sister, and now everyone''s cousins were moving into the residence. Rubbing her head, she eyed the earnest look in the newcomer''s eyes. At least he was prepared. She studied his tight hold on the broomstick.


    ¡°That is not your cousin,¡± interjected a voice.


    Abby and Frederick jumped. They had almost forgotten that there was another in the room. Meanwhile, the Raven General only had eyes for the boy who froze imperceptibly. His knuckles whitened as his grip tightened in fear.


    Why would the lady choose today of all days to speak? Paling, Frederick stammered, ¡°What¡­ what do you mean, of course he¡¯s my cousin, my-¡±


    ¡°Can you speak, boy?¡± asked the Raven General emotionlessly. Her amber eyes lacked its usual warmth as the warrior raised her weapon. She pointed her sheathed sword at the broomstick in the kid''s hands.


    The boy''s eyes widened. He stepped back, shaking in terror. It was all the answer the young woman needed.


    ¡°That boy is from the grasslands, possibly even Wenge.¡± Faye¡¯s sharp eyes darkened.


    The boy took another nervous step back, clutching the broomstick close to his chest.


    ¡°He is a refugee and traitor,¡± stated the Raven General. "Exiled by my father himself."

 CHAPTER 13: Belges Last Song

    Warm sunlight drifted in through the windows. It was a rare sight for the late winter season. But the room felt devoid of warmth as the Raven General looked ready to cut down the boy in front of her.


    ¡°And how do you know this?¡± asked Abby, her greying brows rose in suspicion. How could the Raven General recognize a random stranger when the others could spot no discernible features? The boy had a plain face that was easily forgotten and overlooked. The only other possible solution was a shared history.


    The head maid''s sixth sense tingled. The hairs on the back of her neck rose in warning.


    The Raven General laughed coldly. It was clear she found no humor in the situation.


    ¡°Because I recognize him," the general didn''t bother lowering her sword. "The boy was part of a dissenting faction in Wenge. A little branch that grew arrogant and tried to rebel against Fadye.¡± Staring piercingly at the boy, the general was blunt. ¡°I was the one my father sent to deal with them.¡±


    The boy flinched as if he had been physically struck. His face paled even further. The disheveled hair covered the boy¡¯s face did little to mask their owner¡¯s frightened expression.


    Abby and Frederick gasped. The older woman¡¯s curly gray hair only heightened the pale pallor of her face. ¡°What¡­ what does that mean?¡± The hairs on the back of her neck rose.


    In her friendliness with the general, the old maid had forgotten one of her lord¡¯s earliest warnings. In her cutlery and etiquette training, she had truly forgotten who it was that stood next to her. A warrior-hardened, general who had spilled blood and conquered the battlefield.


    Falling to his knees, the boy began to sign frantically. Muttered words spilled out of his mouth. ¡°Gen, Rae-, Raven, even, General!¡± He shrieked, covering his face. Dirt-encrusted nails smeared brown smudges on his cheeks. Tears welled up in his eyes.


    Frederick''s heart was beating like a caged bird. The servant wanted to slap himself as he drowned in his own fear. How could he have known that the boy was the general''s enemy? Would it be punishment or reward that awaited him? Frederick shivered. Glancing at the general¡¯s sharp stare, he berated himself again and again.


    Passing guards stopped to check in, unsure of whether or not it was appropriate to intervene in the situation. They tried to catch Abby''s eyes, but the older woman''s stare was glued on the Raven General.


    Amongst them all, only Faye remained unfazed. The hard look on her face was terrifying.


    ¡°What did you do, Faye?¡± asked Abby slowly, half-scared to know the answer. What did the ruthless barbarian chief do to traitors?


    ¡°What I had to,¡± amber eyes slid to meet the older woman¡¯s. ¡°The tribe was forced to drink a corrosive poison. An acid that could take away a person¡¯s voice.¡± Her eyes hardened. ¡°A punishment and promise that the traitors would spread no more lies and untruths against my father and the counsel. Every man, woman, and child was forced to ingest it¡­ or face the blade.¡±


    Seeing the fearsome look on the general¡¯s face, they all wondered exactly how many had fallen to the blade that the young woman had cheerfully been polishing. To threaten even children¡­


    Abby looked close to throwing up. ¡°But that¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a barbaric punishment!¡± The older woman although never married, thought of her little nieces and nephews. ¡°Why punish everyone? How could Fadye be so cruel?¡± To curse an entire tribe to such a fate. No wonder the boy could form no words!


    Abby swallowed hard. To think his speechlessness was not a natural impediment but¡­


    ¡°This was not Fadye¡¯s decree.¡± Faye shifted her gaze but not her stance. Finally, she lowered her the longsword. Its sheathed form returned to her side. The boy was an enemy, but not a threat. ¡°It was my idea.¡±


    The admission echoed hauntingly in the room.


    The servants and the older maid stared at the young woman in shock. The punishment... was Faye''s idea? They recoiled away when the young woman lifted her eyes to meet their gaze.


    There was thinly veiled disgust and distrust in Abby¡¯s raging eyes. ¡°How could you force it on children!¡± Her eyes drifted to the kneeling boy. ¡°They were innocent.¡±


    ¡°On the grasslands, the chief¡¯s word is law. I could not,¡± Faye shook her head, clenching her fists. ¡°I would not go against them.¡±


    "You could," spit the older woman. "But you chose not to."


    "Dissent is like a weed. It will continue to grow unless you root out the cause." The Raven General had a faraway look in her eyes. ¡°That is how the Great War between the clans started. Wenge almost lost everything.¡± Brows pinching, the Raven General admitted, ¡°We could not risk it happening again. On the grasslands, even children must carry the burden of their parent''s flaws.¡±


    Faye gasped when someone pushed roughly past her. Amber eyes stared curiously at the passing form.


    Trying to keep her voice detached, Abby could not help it. Her heart ached as she looked at the boy. ¡°You said he was a refugee. Why?¡± The older woman''s booked no room for argument, only answers. ¡°Was taking their voices not enough?¡±


    Faye sighed, the first hints of regret coloring her face. ¡°It was decided that their silence was only a temporary solution. The counsel sent men to burn their village. Those that escaped were deemed traitors, to be killed on sight.¡±


    ¡°You will not kill this boy,¡± snapped Abby. Her gray hair whipped around as she glared at the general. ¡°No one is to touch a single hair on his head. Or you¡¯ll answer to the lord himself,¡± the head maid''s words trembled with fury, ¡°By the gods, I swear it, Faye. If I see you even look at this child wrong...¡± She looked away, unable to finish her own words. "Swear it."


    But the Raven General gave no indication of agreeing.


    The servants and guards shifted uncomfortably. What other deeds and secrets was the general hiding? Perhaps they would never know.


    Rising to her feet, Abby maintained a stoic expression. ¡°I know of a hard life.¡± Her weary eyes glanced at Faye. ¡°Perhaps you had no choice, but the cycle of fate will always rebalance things to be the way they should.¡±


    Shoulders setting, the woman steeled herself. ¡°Fate and the gods have brought you and your victim together once more.¡± Turning to a gaping Frederick, she ordered, ¡°The boy will have a job here. And it¡¯ll be your job to make sure he gets familiar with the land and his chores.¡±


    Turning to Faye, the older woman jabbed at the young woman¡¯s chest. ¡°And you best get used to it. I don¡¯t care what history the two of you may have, you¡¯re in Eburean now. Not your grasslands.¡± Lowering her voice, she said pitying. ¡°Perhaps this will be your chance to recompense for your sins.¡±


    Abby had all intention of leaving the room right then and there but Faye¡¯s low voice held her back.


    ¡°You have no right to judge me,¡± murmured the general.


    ¡°Oh,¡± laughed the older woman bitingly. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find I have plenty of reason to do so. Starting with the fact that my lord is married to such a-¡± Abby shook her head, unable to find the right term. The older woman was still reeling from the revelation of the past few minutes. ¡°Married to you,¡± she decided.


    Truly, that was insult enough.


    Judging by Faye¡¯s shut-off expression, the young woman understood.


    Storming off, the guards and Frederick followed the head maid¡¯s lead in quickly retreating. In their haste, they forgot the broomstick boy, who was still trembling on the ground where he had fallen to his knees.


    As they treaded down the hall, Abby beckoned a guard close to her side. ¡°Station more sentries by the lord¡¯s room at night.¡±


    Shocked, the guard exclaimed, ¡°But the lord already has four men stationed there!¡±


    Abby nodded sharply. ¡°Very well. Add two more.¡±


    She never should have doubted the lord. The head maid sighed as she thought of their lessons and the upcoming meeting with the queen.


    The full space was silent once more. Only Faye and the boy remained in the room. Both stood so still that it looked like two statues had found their way inside the residence.


    Silently, the general grabbed her sword and attached the weapon to her belt. If she wanted to finish the job¡­


    Faye''s eyes narrowed. Her sharp ears detected no other noise. The Raven General scoffed. They wanted to protect the boy and left him in her presence? Alone? Did they think the lord¡¯s might was enough to stay her hand if she truly desired to do something?


    Even Nikolai knew better than that.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    The boy peeked up, bright eyes shining under the curtain of hair. The tears had all but disappeared, leaving only the drying track marks running down his face. His lips curved.


    Unbidden, Faye¡¯s face broke out into a tiny smile. ¡°Your acting has improved, Bian,¡± she complimented.


    The boy¡¯s entire body loosened in relief. Then, in a single motion, he scurried to his knees. The fear and desperation melted from him as Bian kneeled before Faye. Smiling cheekily, the boy signed rapidly, fingers flashing with their speed.


    ¡°What do you mean, I taught you? You''re so old and you still blame me for everything.¡± Rolling her eyes, the Raven General knelt to the boy¡¯s height. The two stared eye to eye. The general flicked the boy in the head. ¡°How is your grandmother, Bian?¡±


    The boy¡¯s smile froze. Looking down, he shook his head sadly. The older woman had passed the winter before.


    Instant regret filled the general¡¯s face. Her voice was pained. ¡°I am sorry to hear that. She¡­ was a good woman.¡± And Faye meant it. The matriarch of a fractured tribe. Matriach Bianca was among the few the Raven General truly admired.


    Bian nodded glumly. A thought struck him. Desperation clutched him as he struggled to form words. ¡°Get, gener-Gi!¡± He shook his head in frustration. ¡°You sa-v, save us!¡± Bian pointed in disgust to where Abby and the others had left. ¡°Why no¡­ tell?¡±


    He frowned angrily. No one should have the right to disrespect the general. If it weren''t for the mission, Bian would have pulled out his own dagger and punished the imbeciles. "Stu- stupid, wall-huggers." He puffed up like an angry kitten.


    "We should be grateful they let you in so easily." Although it was a serious security issue, the matter had worked in their favor. Faye patted the other¡¯s head, ruffling the scruffy hair. ¡°When someone wants to view you in a certain light,¡± she smiled bitterly. ¡°It is very hard to change their mind.¡±


    The Raven General had learned it the hard way. It still stung to think of Abby¡¯s betrayed expression. But it was no matter. The young woman brushed herself and those thoughts away.


    Plus, such a story would take inquisitive eyes off of the boy. Abby had a good heart. Her sympathy would ensure that Bian lived comfortably while he was here. It was for the best.


    The boy huffed. He signed a word angrily. Idiots.


    Faye laughed out loud. ¡°Ah, boy,¡± The Raven General wiped an amused tear from her eyes. ¡°I have missed you, little bird.¡±


    Little bird was more than a fond nickname, it was also an infamous moniker in the underground markets that spanned across all the lands. The little bird was a spy like no other.


    Bian was the last male heir of the Belge chiefs. Despite his age, under his grandmother''s guidance, the boy had already gained quite the reputation as an information gatherer. True to his name, he was like a little bird, everywhere and nowhere at once. While on campaigns in the grassland, Bian had been a helpful accomplice in gathering information on the enemy. Although Faye would never admit it, it felt nice to have an ally by her side once more.


    Straightening, the Raven General adopted a serious expression. ¡°Are you sure you wish to do this, Bian?¡±


    Although the boy had followed her on the less dangerous battlefields and missions, they had all been on the other side of the border, within the familiarity of the grasslands. Often, they communicated through missives. For Bian to really be by her side in person... Faye sighed.


    The boy did not spare a second thought before returning to his kneeled position. Reaching into his clothes, he flashed a dagger towards the Raven General. She recognized the small blade. It was the same knife, she had gifted him all those years ago. A little boy and the young general. A promise of strength as they ran from the burning village. To protect yourself, the young general had said, shooting arrows at her own clansmen to save them. It had been years, but the image was seared into Bian''s memory. The Raven General had been like a warrior goddess of legends, heaven-sent to save them from doom. Bian lowered his head. His fingers tightened around the blade. Now, it was his turn to save the general.


    Lifting his head, the boy signed, face serious and stiff.


    There was a pause between them. The general sighed shakily. If that was the boy¡¯s choice¡­ so be it.


    Nodding, the Raven General lifted the boy to his feet. ¡°Very well, Bian. If that is what you wish.¡± She looked around, mind diving straight into business. Soon the guards and servants would return. ¡°It may be a while until we can reconvene. Keep your head low and wits about you. Something big is coming. I can feel it.¡±


    The boy nodded sharply. Ever since he was young, Bian had possessed the uncanny ability to disappear into the background, allowing him information and entrances into places inaccessible to others. The little bird had been assigned a mission. He would see it through till the end.


    With a final bow, the boy headed off in the direction of the kitchens. There was confidence in his steps as he glided through the halls. Few would have guessed this was his first time in the residence.


    Luckily, the floor plans he studied were accurate enough. But he would have to update them and report back to the general as soon as he got a better grasp of this enemy territory.


    Watching him retreat silently, footsteps even quieter than hers, the Raven General¡¯s amber eyes softened. Bian¡¯s signed message echoed within her, filling her with a familiar warmth.


    If ever the Raven calls, Belge will answer.


    ¡ª


    It was said that Belge was the home of those who sang songs of bluebirds and spoke the language of the wind and rain. Their ancestors were blessed by the same gods as the Wenge founders and while their main branch excelled at war, Belge was a people of music. There was a haunting beauty to their voices, which they prided above all else. Songs filled their every day. Even when they went to battle, their soldiers would hum an eery tune, bringing tears to the eyes of their enemies.


    When the Belge chieftains had been caught colluding with the enemy in hopes of overtaking their older brother, the Wenge tribe, the damage had already been done. In a surprise attack, Wenge was caught unaware of the betrayal. Burying family and friends, the traitorous soldiers had been executed and a grief-stricken Wenge called for the death of Belge. Their shared history was forgotten in a night of betrayal.


    Only one stood out in protest. The newly anointed Raven General, heir to Fadye and savior of the great clan.


    But even the good general could not stop the sorrow and hate in the hearts of those thirsting for vengeance.


    In the dark of night, the general snuck away and entered the traitor¡¯s camp, warning them of what would befall their people. Most of their men had been executed and those that remained were sick and weak. It was a camp of the innocent and fragile. Great sorrow overtook the Belge tribe as they awaited death. Songs of sorrow filled their camp. Even the heavens were moved as a great rain overtook the grasslands for seven days and seven nights.


    On the seventh night, the general returned, offering a solution. A loophole that would silence their songs but save their lives. The Belge matriarch quickly agreed.


    The next day, the general stood in their father¡¯s counsel. the Raven General spoke at great length of the principles of justice and poetry. Stirred by her words, the council agreed that the silence of traitors would speak louder than their deaths.


    That night, every man, woman and child of Belge sang their last song but continued to draw breath.


    They had believed it to be the end of the tragedy. Silently, they praised the good general.


    With her work finished, the general left for a skirmish in the east.


    But in the mighty warrior¡¯s absence, an angry man whispered into the ears of Fadye¡¯s wives who in turn poisoned the mind of their husband, the mighty chief of Wenge.


    Unbeknownst to the Raven General, a group of bandits were hired. Their orders included a single command. And the men set out on their mission: to set fire to Belge tribe until all that was left was a mountain of ash.


    The people cried for the raven general but the warrior, although god-like was only mortal.


    Upon hearing the news, the Raven General soared into the camp with her men but it was too late, the tribe of voice-less singers had already caught flame. The fire and smoke twirled in the sky and reached the heavens.


    But before the general retreated, a child of Belge left his hiding spot and led the warriors to a secret: a cave of silently weeping women and children. Blessing the child, the Raven General and her men fought off their pursuers and helped the survivors run. There were no witnesses left alive, but the danger remained. If word got out that the good general betrayed Fadye¡¯s orders¡­ But the warrior was not deterred.


    The general and her men rode for three days, hiding the last remnants of the clan with merchants and foreigners where they could silently live on. To the rest of the grasslands, the Belge tribe was burnt to ash and no more. That was the fate of those who defied Wenge.


    But unbeknownst to them, Belge was fractured but alive.


    The Belge people did not give up easily. They rebuilt their networks and established themselves in their new homes. Littered across the lands, they soon found a craft that would aid them well, the art of listening and silence. Their weakness soon became their greatest strengths.


    Soon, there were little information networks as powerful as the secret broken tribe of Belge. From secrets to assassinations, the Belge perfected silence into an art form and thrived where there once was only burnt soil.


    But through this all, Belge never forgot about the warrior who had saved them, and instilled in every survivor the vow that if ever the Raven called¡­ Belge would answer.¡ª


    Frederick glanced at the other boy. He had been cleaned and dressed in proper attire. ¡°Say, what is your name?¡±


    Looking up, the boy mouthed words silently. His hands flashed a few signs. But before Frederick could protest that he did not understand, the boy opened his mouth. He croaked out softly. ¡°Bi, bian. Bi-an.¡±


    The boy was trying to say his name! Frederick¡¯s eyes widened in glee. ¡°Bian?¡± he asked. "Your name is Bian?"


    Seeing the sharp nod the other shot him, Frederick¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Bian!¡± He nudged the boy. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you officially¡­ cousin.¡±


    The two chuckled at the joke. Internally, Bian noted that the other servant, although a bit weird, was not the worst company.


    Straightening, Frederick led the way towards the lord''s private chambers. ¡°From today, you¡¯ll serve in the same area as I do.¡± He smirked and gestured proudly. ¡°Right under the Lord of Feldgrau! Our second prince!¡±


    To his surprise, Bian showed no sign of shock or joy, merely pure determination. Frederick laughed inside. He could already tell the boy would be a good addition to the lord¡¯s household. Abby should be giving him a bonus for bringing in such a hard worker, Frederick thought.


    Thinking of Abby, Frederick paused. He thought back to the tense discussion they had. The head maid pondered for a long time concerning where to place the boy. As far from the (scary) Lady Feldgrau was a must. But at the same time, the general tended to turn the other way whenever she caught sight of Bian. Thankfully. It would be a pity if the opposite was the case. Frederick was starting to grow fond of the boy.


    Unknown to the servant, Abby had noticed this as well. Secretly, she hoped that having Bian near the lord¡¯s side would make the general think twice if she ever decided to make good use of the weapons she seemed to constantly be practicing with. Hopefully.


    Frederick turned away from Bian. Unsurprisingly, the lord¡¯s chambers were massive. There was always much to be done and an extra hand would certainly be helpful.


    ¡°Follow me, I¡¯ll show you the ropes. First, we always¡­¡± Frederick gestured to the different routines and parts of their expected duties. His voice droned on¡­ a little too passionate about pulling back drapes and mopping the bathroom tiles.


    Behind Frederick, the silent boy''s lips quirked. Who knew the general¡¯s story would work so well? Bian crossed his arms behind his back.


    Belge may answer the call, but Bian would be the one to deliver it.

 CHAPTER 14: The Masked Servants Master

    None dared to break the resulting silence.


    Eyes darted around and breaths were shakily released, but not a single man or woman in the room dared to speak. Each was lost in their thoughts as the weight of their words sank in like sand sinking to the ocean floor. They had been discussing the technicalities of the plan for hours.


    Outsiders likely assumed the patrons in the giant luxurious room were having the times of their lives. Late-night revelers who would satisfy themselves until dawn before crawling back to their respectful titles and positions. But the serious expression upon all their faces said otherwise. The benefits of meeting at the Lucky Charm were clear.


    Rubbing his jaw, Lord Langard was the first to break the silence. ¡°So, let me get this straight,¡± started the old general. ¡°You wish to overthrow Crown Prince Argan, and to replace him with¡­ Crown Prince Malakai? The prince who is currently locked in an ice prison and guarded by nature and men?¡± The lord shook his head, still trying to take everything in. ¡°That is¡­ ambitious.¡±


    Ambitious was putting it lightly.


    The general turned to glance at the others around the table. Solemn expressions met his gaze head-on.


    ¡°What we are speaking of is treason of the highest degree.¡± He clasped his hands together. ¡°I have to ask," the man scratched his head. "What''s in it for all of you? Why go along with this? You would all be considered traitors to the crown!¡±


    The lady seated next to Lord Langard raised an eyebrow. Her wrinkled eyes gleamed. ¡°If you¡¯re having second thoughts, my lord, now is the time to speak out, for you too are sitting in this,¡± she sniffed haughtily, ¡°room of traitors.¡±


    Before Lord Langard could answer, a governor slammed a hand on the table. ¡°Treason or not, I will not live under the reign of a fool.¡± He glared at the general, even though the man was not the target of his ire. ¡°Did you know that the queen and prince have levied higher taxes for all governors who are not of noble origin? And that the merit exams have such high entrance fees, no common scholar can enter it?¡±


    The governor shook his head, exhaling harshly through his nose. ¡°While you nobles gallivant in the capital, our lands struggle to stockpile for the winter and lack the seeds for a bountiful planting in the new year.¡± His eyes rose to stare at the silent master seated at the head of the table. ¡°A mysterious envoy arrived while my people were starving. And their supplies continued to reach us till our lands flourished once more. When the envoy¡¯s symbol reappeared in a letter requesting an audience, I did not hesitate in coming.¡±


    ¡°It was the same for I,¡± repeated another governor.


    And so it went down the table, as each recounted their story and arrival.


    A woman, who Lord Langard recognized as one of the famous spice merchants, set down her cup of tea. ¡°The former queen was a dear friend. When her sons were humiliated, my company was recovering from many losses and were too far to send aid,¡± the proud woman grimaced, ¡°I wish to rectify our mistake. I will see a proper son take the throne, not the child of a pretender and murderer.¡±


    Murmurs of agreement filled the room.


    ¡°There is no proof that the queen is a murderer,¡± cut in Lord Langard. There was a sudden silence. His words were truth. There was technically no proof.


    ¡°The good queen in her jealousy jumped from the castle window with no witness but her former lady-in-waiting, turned consort, who reported the tale to all who would listen?¡± scoffed the lady incredulously. ¡°Regardless of whether it was Rewanna or not, the truth remains, her son is not the proper heir.¡±


    "Irregardless, he is a heir." The general was still hesitant. ¡°Our actions could start a revolution. We would weaken our kingdom with a civil war, allowing our enemies to take advantage.¡±


    The others looked around, unsure how to answer. It was one thing to want to follow a good man, but another to go to war for such a thing. Many were willing, but did change truly have to come at the cost of death and chaos?


    Surprisingly, it was the masked servant by the Master¡¯s side who spoke, ¡°I disagree."


    All eyes now turned to him, as the man crossed his arms, dominating the space. "This may be our only option if we wish not to descend into civil war.¡±


    Lord Langard regarded the tall man quietly. ¡°And why is that?¡±


    It was the governor¡¯s turn to laugh. ¡°Have you seen the state of the kingdom outside the capital? Even with the envoy¡¯s help, there are further provinces that are still struggling after the war.¡±


    The spice merchant crossed her arms, adding in her own observations. ¡°The borders grow more and more dangerous by the day. Except for Feldgrau and its wall, all other borders are weakly defended. The grassland clans come and raid every moon without care and the crown allows it to happen under their nose.¡± She snorted derisively. ¡°Sometimes our own allies raid us. Surely, you¡¯ve heard of the Wolf¡¯s escapades in the south?¡±


    Lord Langard¡¯s brows furrowed. Although he had heard rumors, it was clear the situation of the kingdom was a lot less stable than they had been led to believe. He glanced over at the other ministers of the court. ¡°Why have these issues not been brought to our attention?¡±


    The lady by the general¡¯s side shook her head. ¡°The new court values the nobles and the wealthy. They profit off of the unrest, lining their own pockets with taxes and siphoning funds to their own estates."


    "My cousin works under the minister of coin. There are families that are not required to submit their records. Why do you think that is?¡± She grimaced, but her voice remained steady. ¡°The queen and crown prince turn an eye to it because they need the noble¡¯s support¡­ And a troubled border ensures the Lord of Feldgrau will be too busy to return and take the throne.¡±


    ¡°The king would-¡± started the general. But even he sighed as the rest of the room looked away.


    The second prince¡¯s marriage was an anomaly. On most days, the man could barely leave bed or form coherent thoughts. It was fortuitous that the Wenge delegates had only seen him at his strongest, lest the consequence might have been dire. The queen had been playing a dangerous game. In punishing her stepson, she could have started a second war.


    ¡°A reckoning will come,¡± announced the masked servant. ¡°Civil war is already brewing on our insides. Forcing the queen and Argan to renounce their titles for Malakai is the most peaceful retort. Let us give people the change and reform they desire, in the most bloodless way possible.¡±


    "They will not agree willingly," warned Lord Langard, but his words were said half-heartedly. The general chewed on his own thoughts. If there was a worthy successor¡­ blue eyes flashed in his mind. ¡°Malakai once squired under me, he is a good man.¡± Lord Langard¡¯s weary eyes rose to meet the rest of the room. ¡°However, he has been away from civilizations for a decade. That type of time can change a man.¡±


    ¡°Not the crown prince,¡± assured the masked servant. ¡°Malakai is like a mountain. He may be weathered, but his spirit is unyielding and strong.¡±


    Seeing the doubt on the general¡¯s brows, the servant pressed further. ¡°Or would you prefer Argan as your king?¡± He turned to glance at his seated master.


    The head of the table finally spoke. His tone was full of derision. ¡°A king who would risk offending even the Vellwards for a night of pleasure on these very streets.¡±


    Behind the mask, the servant turned to address the room. He picked up where his master had left off. ¡°Mark my words, if not Malakai, the throne will be overtaken by rebels and descend into true war. Wenge may aid Rewanna for a few moon cycles but they will turn on us to reap their own rewards.¡±


    ¡°It is a wonder they haven''t yet,¡± muttered the general. He crossed his arms. "But if we give them the chance, we may not even have a moon cycle before they seek their revenge."


    Bewildered expressions turned to face the unexpected words. Despite their foreign ways, Wenge was known to be quite honorable in their oaths. For Lord Langard to admit such a thing¡­ And what revenge? For the loss of the great war?


    The general sighed at the confused expressions. ¡°You ask why I am here.¡±


    "Well," the older man shifted in his seat. ¡°I too am here to repay a debt.¡± From his pockets, he pulled out the simple letter and tapped the symbol on top. ¡°The owner of this emblem once did me a great favor as well."


    "They saved the face and legacy of my house when we were too cowardly to do it ourselves." He grimaced in shame, but continued, "In the grassland wars, when Wenge asked for aid, per the crown¡¯s order, we refused them.¡±


    The deep lines on his face grew more pronounced. ¡°The crown believed that Wenge was Illiana¡¯s allies¡­ not Eburean¡¯s. The army was told to aid Wenge¡¯s enemies¡­ and so I did.¡± The admission was heavy and hard to put into the open air. It was a secret he had burrowed inside for years. But it only felt fair after listening to an evening of treasonous admissions.


    "But, how, what," stammered one of the governors. "If that is so, why are we not allied with another tribe?"


    ¡°Once the tribes had defeated Wenge in a great battle, they turned on us. Half of my men were murdered in their sleep while the other half,¡± the general paused, his fists clenched. ¡°They were stabbed in the back on the battlefield.¡±


    ¡±A large shipment of weapons and supplies had just been sent out but was lost on the way. It was clear they were eyeing our kingdom next."


    Lord Langard chuckled humorlessly. "By the time we received the news, it was too late. We were certain they would kill us with our own blades, and to think, we fed and armed our enemies. We were fools.¡± His brows furrowed. ¡°But this envoy, using my family¡¯s name had redirected the supply package to an unnamed Wenge warrior, staying true to the allyship we shared. Hidden within the grains were maps and battle plans we had observed before the betrayal.¡±


    The entire room was entranced. One of the governors shivered, captivated by the secret story none knew. ¡°Then, what happened?¡±


    ¡°That was the resurgence of Wenge and the rise of the one who would be known as the Raven General,¡± replied the lord faintly. ¡°They say she cut through enemies like they were grass fields. Our remaining men were returned to the border, still bound in chains, but alive, with a message,¡± Lord Langard¡¯s eyes held a faraway look. ¡°Wenge will not forget.¡±


    The message and the returned soldiers had been an added insult to the injury. There was no greater sign of Lord Langard¡¯s failure. A secret he had to stomach as the capital congratulated him and lauded him in glory.


    To the rest of the kingdom, Eburean had been a great aid to their allies, securing their partnership with one of the strongest clans. To those who knew, it was a shock when Wenge mentioned nothing. Except for the raids, it was as if the treaty had never been broken. And now, the Raven General herself was within their walls, married to their ice prince.


    Wenge will not forget. The others hissed. Such a warning from the formidable Raven General was more than ominous. It was practically a threat! And to think the queen had personally invited someone they betrayed inside their home? Lord Langard''s hesitance to the marriage had been more than a wariness of love-less matches. This must be a setup for an ambush from the other side!


    ¡°I know I came across as inquisitive, but I too have no desire to serve someone who values pride over lives,¡± the general¡¯s head raised. ¡°I am with you, if you will have me.¡±


    Huffing laughs and smirks lessened some of the apprehension that had grasped the room. The tension dissipated slightly as they jokingly cheered and welcomed the general into their ¡°traitorous ranks¡±. Glasses were raised and toasted.


    When the jokes quieted down, Lord Langard¡¯s eyes flashed to the head of the table. ¡°However, I do have a question for our host.¡± Curious eyes rose at the request.


    The master did not react, but gestured for the general to continue.


    ¡°You are not who you pretend to be,¡± said the general simply. "So why the act?''


    The room gasped.


    ¡°What do you mean, general?¡± asked the governor, lowering his glass in shock.


    ¡°Very well, let me ask our host a question. If he is who he claims to be, the answer should be easy,¡± decided Lord Langard. His piercing eyes dug into the masked man''s form. ¡°What name did you sign your letters to Wenge as, old friend?¡±


    The master shifted but was silent.


    The others in the room began to eye each other. This was a question they had not thought to consider. Was the host¡­ not who they claimed to be? But what of the symbol on the letters? They shifted nervously.


    ¡°Your son,¡± said a voice.


    It was the servant by the master¡¯s side that spoke. Laughing slightly, the servant clarified, ¡°I signed it as your youngest son. Rufus Langard.¡±


    All eyes shifted to the servant, as if finally seeing the other man for the first time.


    Seeing that the ruse was up, the seated master stood. The man was an attendant playing lord. They pulled out the chair dutifully for their counterpart, and the fake servant but true master sat. The noble air about him had been telling.


    ¡°Apologies for the confusion, my lords and ladies.¡± The not-servant chuckled and shot Lord Langard an amused look. ¡°Although, I suppose you already guessed since our meeting outside.¡±


    The general shrugged, ¡°You have the walk of a noble-born. It can be imitated, but most do not think to try.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Why the secrecy?¡± asked one of the ladies. Her lips pursed. ¡°Was our appearance not enough of a sign of trust?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± answered the masked man. ¡°I needed to make certain. If I make a wrong move, I¡¯m afraid the consequences of this gamble will cost not only my head, but all those under me.¡± He glanced over the room. "There is a final test."


    The man glanced at his attendant. The other brought forward a tray of cups. An amber liquid sat within every cup, but there were two prevalent shades. Half the cups were a golden amber, while the others were a paler variant. The attendant set down the cups. Some received the amber and others received the pale. There was no obvious patterns to it.


    The masked man''s voice was solemn. "There are those among you that I do not trust." He sighed and crossed his arms. "Some of the drinks are poisoned. You may choose to try and figure out which ones are, or prove your trust in the cause and drink. The choice is yours."


    A great uproar followed the words. The governor''s eyes bulged as he shot from his seat. "What is the meaning of this?"


    But the masked man was not fazed. "I will not prevent you from leaving if that is what you choose."


    "Leave?" laughed the spice merchant. "Oh, dear lord. You are a cunning one."


    The governor''s brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"


    The lady tilted her head. Her smile was sharp as she lifted the cup and swirled the contents inside. "Any that leave proves they are a traitor. One that has seen all of our faces. If not me, then one of the others will surely send an assassin or worse to protect their identity." With that, the woman gulped down the golden amber in one go. "If you betray us, we will make sure you are brought down with us."


    Lord Langard studied the pale gradient in his cup. In his campaigns, he had come across poisons that were of this shade. His knuckles tapped the table. "The envoy I know is no fool." The general drank from the cup as well. "I''m already here. Might as well see this to the end." His cup was set down forcefully. The resounding thud echoed through the room.


    Both options had been ingested. The rest of the room sobered. One by one every member in the room drank from their cup.


    There was a tense silence as they sat and waited for one of them to collapse and die. Nervous eyes darted at one another, but none dared to speak a word. Each cough or heavy sigh made the room tense. The attendant silently collected the empty cups. Finished with the task, they returned to stand behind the masked man again.


    The masked man clapped his hands together loudly. His voice was solemn. ¡°Congratulations. You have all passed.¡±


    A deep sigh of relief ran through the room. They were ready to set down their lives for the cause... but not so early!


    ¡°Hurrah,¡± said the general with false cheer. ¡°Since we passed, surely there is no need for secrecy. Take off the damned mask.¡±


    The fake master behind the chair, started forward. The attendant''s grip fell to the concealed sword by his side. But the true master was quick to halt him, holding up a warning hand. The room stared with bated breath.


    In the same motion, the master reached back and undid the straps of his mask. The silk strings fell to the side. Grasping the metal, the man lowered the concealment, revealing his true identity.


    The entire room gasped. Even the general had a shocked look in his eyes.


    But the master merely smirked. Blue eyes glinted. ¡°It is nice to meet your acquaintance officially.¡±


    Lord Langard let out a barking laugh. Amazement and amusement clashed on the general¡¯s face. Rising to his feet, he clapped the other man on the shoulders. Nikolai tried to hold back his pained wince.


    ¡°You sure are something else.¡± The general shook his head in bewilderment. ¡°If I¡¯d known it was you, I wouldn¡¯t have had to go through all this trouble.¡±


    Sighing, the old general admitted, "If it''s you, half of me is already at ease.¡± He shook his head as understanding dawned on him. Who else would put the former crown prince and not themselves on the throne? ¡°It all makes sense now."


    Pausing to wipe his mirthful eye, the general sobered. ¡°Well, what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s get to planning your revolution, Lord.¡±


    That seemed the reel the rest of the room in.


    Getting over their shock, the other lords and ladies began to move and murmur excitedly. They looked towards the head of the table excitedly.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the first step, Lord of Feldgrau?¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s smirk only grew. ¡°Why, I thought you¡¯d never ask.¡±


    ¡ª


    Faye breathed out steadily, letting the motion center her. She could feel the beads of sweat trickling down her neck.


    Frantic footsteps approached from outside. Heels clicked against the stone floors.


    Amber eyes snapped open. The Raven General stared at the upside-down room. In a fluid motion, the general sighed and loosened her core. Her two feet landed on the ground silently. The young woman blinked. It took a moment to orient herself, just in time as the expected knocks reached the doors to her chambers.


    Striding forward, Faye opened the doors. Seeing who it was, the general was half-stunned. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t speaking to me.¡±


    Huffing, Abby stared back, unintimidated.


    ¡°There is no time for that,¡± the older woman snapped. Pulling herself into the room, she strode frantically to the young woman¡¯s wooden wardrobe. Her usual pristine bun was in disarray.


    Grasping the handles, Abby pulled the doors to the wardrobe open¡­ only to gape. There were only military clothes in here! This was not the wardrobe of a lady. The older woman rubbed her forehead. She would have gotten the servants to send for tailors and dressmakers if she had known. It would only have taken a day to take measurements and send over some standard dresses. The maid shot the horrible wardrobe a final disgusted stare. So improper. The maid pinched her nose and huffed loudly.


    Extremely confused, Faye¡¯s brows furrowed. What had the other in such a craze? ¡°Abby? Abby, what is going on?¡±


    But the head maid ignored her in favor of clapping her hands loudly.


    Like magic, maids and serving girls rushed into the room, surrounding the Raven General, who looked out of sort and place. She eyed the determined glint in the girls¡¯ eyes. The hairs on the back of her neck raised in warning.


    Abby pointed to one of the girls. ¡°You there, go fetch a dress from the tailor for the night. Slightly tall and a bit¡­ sturdy for the shoulders.¡± Her sharp eyes turned to the others. ¡°The rest of you¡­ get to it.¡±


    ¡°Abby, what is-¡± But Faye¡¯s voice was lost to the commotion as the serving girls attacked. They began to ferociously measure the young woman¡¯s waits and chest. ¡°Hey! What do you think you¡¯re doing! Stop- Abby!¡±


    But the older woman was lost in her own world. She was an unstoppable whirlwind, ordering different girls this way and that. The once silent room filled with raucous order and noisy movement.


    Finally fed up with it, Faye shoved the girls away. She screamed, ¡°Stop this!¡± The volume was so impressive it even reached the stable boys outside, who froze and looked around in confusion.


    Similarly, the maids froze in shock. Even Abby took pause. The head maid sighed but finally turned to address the general.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± gritted out the young woman, amber eyes flashing dangerously. ¡°Why are there people measuring my¡­ me?¡±


    Behind her back, Abby gestured for the girls to head out and complete the tasks she assigned. They were on a time crunch!


    Clasping her hands together, the head maid put on a fake smile. Her voice was saccharine sweet and respectful. ¡°Well, my Lady Feldgrau. Your husband is having guests over. And as such,¡± her smile turned devious, filling with pure evil. ¡°We must make a lady out of you.¡±


    That was the cue. Faye screamed as the girls pounced and dragged her away. The young woman went howling and biting, but to their credit, the serving girls feared for their paychecks much more.


    Crossing her arms, Abby beckoned a maid to her side. ¡°Go with the others. I want you to recite every page of the etiquette book to the lady as they prepare her. It is our job to ensure the lord¡¯s guest see a perfect, proper lady.¡± Her voice deepened with determination. ¡°At least for tonight. We will beat it into her brain if we must.¡±


    The maid stood straight and saluted, ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡±


    ¡ª


    The Prince¡¯s Residence had been working for hours. It was the first time since they moved in that the Lord of Feldgrau was finally inviting other nobles and guests to his mansion. From the kitchen to Frederick and Bian scrubbing the latrines, the residence was filled with a certain bustle of excitement. All were fueled by their to put their best foot forward and impress the other nobles¡­ as well as the threat of Abby¡¯s rage.


    The cobwebs had long been dealt with and every surface was polished to perfection. Passing through, Faye admired some of the clean-up work. If Abby had been given an army, she would have made quite the commander. The general within her commended the other''s formidable efficiency.


    Standing at the center of the entrance, in an itchy gown that was too wide for her, the Raven General resisted the urge to scratch at her sleeves. The young woman looked like a pink turkey with puffy sleeves the size of her head. Faye shuddered. She had seen the warning glint in Abby¡¯s eyes. The young woman sucked on her cheek. Her ears still hurt from all the recitation.


    Tonight was not a night to get on the older woman¡¯s nerves. The head maid''s eyes promised pain for any that crossed her¡­ Faye would know.


    The Raven General shifted her weight from foot to foot. The borrowed dress was heavy and her ankles were beginning to ache in the heels. Despite all of this, there was still no sign of any guests. Although, she hated to admit it, the entire situation made Faye uncomfortable. It was like an unbearable itch. Here she was, the greatest general in the history of the grasslands¡­Being forced to stand like a random statue for strangers to gawk at whenever they desired to come. Punctuality was apparently not their strong suit. She grunted angrily.


    Passing by with a broomstick in hand, Bian shot the general a pitying look.


    A strand of hair fell into the general¡¯s face. Bored, the young woman clasped her hands behind her back and attempted to blow the strand out of the way. To her frustration, the pesky hair kept falling back. Competitive spirit engaged, the general blew harder and harder. Spit flew in the air as one of the mightiest warriors in all the land tried to blow a¡­ hair strand. Faye''s face grew red from the effort. The passing servants stared with wide eyes as they walked by. It was quite the sight.


    Fixated on her self-imposed mission, the general missed the click of the large wooden doors as the servants bowed and beckoned the lords and ladies in¡­ only to enter on such a scene of the general shaking their head and spitting into the air with how hard she was puffing her cheeks and blowing air.


    The Lord of Feldgrau faltered. It had been a while since he had seen the other in more than a passing glance. Not to mention, the last they met it was to the sight of the general as she decimated his ancestor''s beloved gardens.


    What was she doing, he wondered. There was a burning determination in those amber eyes. Best not to disturb her, the lord decided. It was probably an ancient sword practice ritual or something.


    Next to him, Cristin didn¡¯t have as open of a mind. The attendant ran a hand down his face, seemingly more embarrassed than the lord was. In contrast, his liege merely looked unfazed.


    Feeling a familiar glance, Faye paused. The hair fell back in place. The Raven General gazed at the small crowd before her. So these were the late nobles.


    A scary thought struck her. The young woman gulped. Abby was going to kill her.


    Unsure what to say, the Lord of Feldgrau nodded sharply towards his wife and led the way to the meeting room.


    Cristin shot Faye a weird look before beckoning the nobles to follow. ¡°This way, my lords and ladies.¡±


    They were quick to follow, without sparing a second glance to the weird woman. Most didn¡¯t even recognize who she was.


    In fact, only one did.


    Lord Langard regarded the Raven General with sharp eyes. The older general stopped in front of the young woman. ¡°So, you are Fadye¡¯s heir.¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°I was always led to believe that you would be¡­ bigger. Either ways, it seems we finally meet face to face, Raven General.¡± He paused, ¡°Or should I refer to you as Lady Feldgrau?¡±


    ¡°Raven General is fine.¡± Tilting her head, Faye shot him a sharp look. The young woman rolled her shoulders back as she took a wider stance. ¡°And who might you be?¡±


    Amber eyes burned challengingly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid your fame does not precede you as mine seems to.¡±


    Choking on the other''s words, the other general spluttered, ¡°Excuse me?¡± Crossing his arms, he declared proudly. ¡°I am Lord Langard, the General of Eburean!¡±


    ¡°Show some respect! We met at¡­¡± His weathered features glared down at the other. ¡°I was leading armies before you were even born, child.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I remember now.¡± Scoffing, the Raven General crossed her arms. She sneered, ¡°That must be why I had to return half your men to you in chains.¡±


    Expression darkening, Lord Langard gritted his teeth.


    ¡°If it helps,¡± Faye noted, ¡°I killed Elkaie in your stead. The man that betrayed your troops.¡± The haughtiness in her tone lessened slightly. ¡°It was dishonorable for him to kill them in their sleep," she admitted. Backstabbing was not the way of the grasslands. "I had my men lay their bodies to rest.¡±


    Shocked, the dark expression on Lord Langard¡¯s face receded. He nodded his head slolwy, processing the information. ¡°It... would seem that I owe you twice over.¡± Laughing bitterly, the old general extended a hand. ¡°I apologize for my comment. Forgive this old man. You are a good warrior,¡± he shook his head. ¡°And a damn good general. You have my thanks, Raven General.¡±


    Surprisingly, the other general¡¯s words soothed a constant fear in his heart. Lord Langard had always feared for the fate of those betrayed. Thoughts and night terrors that the bodies of his fallen soldiers had been desecrated tormented him. The guilt had weighed on him as he berated himself for years on the final honor he couldn''t even grant them. Although it was based off the words of a former enemy, Lord Langard sensed no hint of deceit.


    Amber eye¡¯s narrowed, but their ire softened. She nodded at the thanks, but made no other mention of it. ¡°What is the general of the kingdom doing at the Prince''s Residence?¡±


    Lord Langard glanced towards where the others were headed. ¡°I am a dear¡­ friend of the lord.¡± His eyes glinted as he whispered, ¡°I do hope you will not sell me out to the queen.¡±


    ¡°Luckily for you,¡± huffed Faye. ¡°I have no intention of willingly stepping into that stuffy castle.¡±


    Lord Langard laughed at the comment. Perhaps it was a soldier¡¯s sense, but he too felt uncomfortable when summoned to the castle. His senses were always on high alert with people who used niceties and words as their swords and arrows.


    Straightening, the older general nodded at the longsword hung trustily by the Raven General¡¯s side. It was a bit out of place with the frumpy dress.


    ¡°This old man may be up in his years, but should the opportunity arise, I would like to invite you for a spar.¡± Lord Langard smirked, ¡°Only if the girl is up to the challenge.¡±


    Faye answered with an unimpressed brow. ¡°Only if your back won¡¯t give out in the middle of it, old man.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± muttered the older general. He had heard that joke before. His expression turned serious as he swore, ¡°As long as it does not put the lives of my people in danger, name a request and House Langard will fulfill it.¡±


    The man turned to head down the hallway. A hand shot out and a firm grip held him back. Lord Langard¡¯s brows furrowed and he willed his instinct not to react. Insistent, the grip turned the man to face the Raven General once more. Suddenly, Langard wasn¡¯t so keen for a spar. What a bruising grip!


    To his surprise, the amber eyes were bright with excitement, and non-threatening. ¡°You may fulfill my request now," demanded the young woman.


    ¡°Now?¡± Lord Langard¡¯s brows raised in shock. Hopefully, this was not a mistake. Guard raised, the general sighed, ¡°Well, what is it?¡±


    ¡°I met a young man dueling the scholar of morning day who claimed to hail from your house. He said he was the youngest son. Is this true?¡±


    Sighing, Lord Langard rubbed his neck. Even the general had heard of that? The man wanted to strangle his young son. ¡°Unfortunately so. Why?¡±


    He was used to the comments that came along when the matters of his youngest son were involved. Most liked to rub it in the successful general¡¯s face. To think even a foreign general had heard of the boy¡­ Lord Langard sighed internally.


    But the lukewarm answer only made the Raven General even more excited. ¡°Your son is a man I greatly admire.¡± The young woman was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet. There was even a¡­ dreamy gleam in her eyes.


    Lord Langard swallowed, and restrained himself from stepping back in fear.


    If she had been anyone else, the older general would have worried for her husband and their marriage. But the Raven General was no ordinary person.


    ¡°Really?¡± said Lord Langard, caught off guard. Catching note of his own tone, he quickly recovered. ¡°I mean, but, of course! He¡¯s my son!¡±


    Suddenly, the older general backtracked. ¡°But¡­what does this have to do with your request?¡±


    Faye clenched her fists, determination surging through her. She would finally get her answers!


    The Raven General smiled brightly. ¡°I wish for an audience with Rufus Langard.¡±

 CHAPTER 15: The Generals Playdate

    The guards stationed at the general¡¯s mansion were highly-trained soldiers. Most had served under Lord Langard during the Great War. They had felt fortunate to receive a job protecting his home afterwards.


    When they heard approaching footsteps coming from inside, they were quick to pull open the doors.


    A woman in men¡¯s clothing stepped out. The warrior braids jostled with every silent footstep she took.


    Faye sighed deeply.


    The maid outside glanced up at the Lady Feldgrau. Eyes widening, the girl hurried to the young woman¡¯s side. She had been instructed to wait outside by the other and had done so dutifully.


    The maid flushed as she glanced at the dark look on Faye¡¯s face. She couldn¡¯t believe that the lady had actually requested an audience with the young Lord Langard! And if that wasn¡¯t scandalous enough, the woman had burst straight into the other¡¯s quarters and had been in there for the better part of the morning!


    The maid looked around worriedly. Hopefully, no one else has seen! Capital gossip spread like wildfire. A married lady, not to mention recently married, seen at a young unmarried lord¡¯s house! The stories would write themselves!


    Just thinking of it, the young girl¡¯s imagination got away from her. Her cheeks flushed.


    Faye watched the internal war of the young maid¡¯s face weirdly. Why had Abby forced the girl to go with her? The journey would have been a lot shorter if the little one had not been tagging along. But to her credit, the girl had been insistent and dutiful.


    Meanwhile, the girl¡¯s mind was getting away from her.


    Servants had overhead the general¡¯s conversation with the older Lord Langard, where the lady had apparently professed her great admiration and love for the younger Lord Langard.


    Truthfully, the young girl didn¡¯t know what the general saw in such a man¡­ especially when she was already married to a handsome prince. There was no world where the young girl would give up the Lord of Feldgrau for the idiot youngest son of some general. But her young mind supposed that if it was true love, perhaps the emotions were blinding the Lady Feldgrau.


    Determination filled her. Turning to the Lady, the young girl promised, ¡°I will keep your secret, my lady. I promise!¡±


    Faye scratched her head. What secret?


    But the young girl continued, ¡°Hurry we must leave before anyone sees! If Lord Feldgrau finds out, it will be bad news.¡±


    Before, the Raven General could ask for the girl¡¯s thought process and whether she had hit her head somewhere, the young girl grasped her hands and tugged her towards the safety of the market.


    Smiling brightly, the girl explained, ¡°It¡¯ll be easier to blend in there!¡± As if to prove her point, the maid pointed at the busy square. ¡°I know a shortcut back to the residence!¡±


    Letting herself be dragged, Faye quirked a brow. ¡°What¡¯s your name, girl?¡±


    ¡°This one is Aimee, my lady!¡± chirped the girl.


    Before Faye could say another word, she found herself wrapped up in a crowd of jostling bodies and noise of commerce. Above her were rainbow-colored silks that covered the market from the sun¡¯s warm rays. Children with toy swords and dolls weaved through the adults. It was clear that just getting through the crowd would take a while.


    The Raven General shrugged. Well, it wasn¡¯t as if she had much planned for the day otherwise.


    ¡ª


    Nikolai rubbed his dark eyes. He glared blearily at his attendant. ¡°Remind me why you have dragged me from my work to,¡± he looked around, unsure where they were. ¡°The market?¡±


    His eyes caught sight of the familiar rainbow-colored silks above. Looking around, he noted the different stalls and chattering of sales and gossip. This was the commoner¡¯s market.


    Cristin rolled his eyes. ¡°Where do you think the butter bread came from?¡±


    Eyes drifting down, Nikolai noted that there was indeed a bag of butter bread in his hands. It was a bit unnerving that he hadn¡¯t noticed, but he chalked it up as the momentary lapse of judgment that would be solved when he finally got a chance to sleep. Yes. That made sense.


    Sighing, his attendant steered him towards the crowd. ¡°With all due respect, you needed a break, my lord.¡± He glanced as the lord was barely able to walk straight, creating an s-pattern in his effort to stay awake. When the lord almost walked into a stall, Cristin sighed and pulled him back by the collar. ¡°Where do you think the Raven General went?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± muttered the lord. ¡°Faye and I don¡¯t really talk¡­ Unless it¡¯s about swords¡­ or trees. Cutting my trees down, with her swords, specifically.¡±


    Cristin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Since when were you and the general on a first-name basis?¡±


    But the lord wasn¡¯t that far gone that he was going to answer that.


    Dragging the lord out had seemed like a good idea, but now Cristin wondered if he should find a mattress stall and just pay the vendor to let the young man sleep there. He sighed, dragging the other along.


    ¡°Is that,¡± Nikolai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Is that Lady Asinara?¡±


    It was indeed Lady Asinara. And said lady was rushing towards them, practically running towards the two men.


    Eyes widening, Cristin forced Nikolai to stand straight. ¡°Should we run or hide, sir?¡± He asked nervously. Nikolai merely blinked tiredly.


    But it was too late.


    ¡°Nikolai,¡± called Lady Asinara. Storming over with her ladies in waiting, the lady¡¯s face was flushed. She waved a frantic hand in the air. ¡°I must speak with you. Don¡¯t you dare run away!¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau shot his attendant an unimpressed stare. ¡°Thank you, Cristin.¡±


    The other man sweat-dropped. How was he supposed to know something like this would happen?


    ¡ª


    There was a section of the market that resembled a fair. There were games and prizes at different stalls. Children played as their parents shopped through the square.


    Dragging the lady, Aimee tried to keep her focus. Don¡¯t look at the games, she chided herself. But unfortunately, the young girl was unable to resist sneaking a few glances. There were so many toys and treats! The bright colored attractions made it hard to look away.


    The longing glances caught the attention of the Raven General.


    Faye stared curiously. Her eyes followed where the young girl was staring. Aimee¡¯s eyes were stuck on a pretty cloth doll hanging in one of the stalls. Funnily enough, the doll¡¯s buttoned eyes matched the girl¡¯s wide-eyed stare.


    ¡°Do you wish for that doll?¡± Faye asked the girl.


    Shaking her head resolutely, Aimee stared straight ahead. ¡°Of course not. I am not a child. Why would I want a doll.¡± Sadly, her voice murmured, ¡°What use would I have of it, anyways?¡±


    Faye hummed thoughtfully. ¡°When I was young, my uncle gifted me a rag-wolf.¡±


    The girl¡¯s nose scrunched. ¡°A rag-wolf?¡±


    The general laughed loudly. ¡°In truth, it was a cloth with a sheep¡¯s hair fashioned to look like a wolf.¡± Her amber eyes twinkled down at the girl. ¡°There was no use of the rag-wolf, but I enjoyed its company.¡± The woman nodded towards the doll that Aimee had been staring at. ¡°Perhaps you could use a companion as well.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The girl sighed, ¡°But these games are impossible. I would be out of coin before I won her!¡± She pointed at the targets. ¡°You must shoot an arrow into the bullseye from the thousand-step mark. It is impossible and rigged!¡±


    Crossing her arms, the Raven General considered the targets and the flimsy toy bows that were handed out to the children. ¡°I could do it,¡± she said.


    Aimee looked up, trying to hide the hope in her eyes. ¡°But if you won it, then it would be yours, not mine.¡±


    Faye tapped her chin. The thrill of a new challenge made her smirk.¡°Not if you pay for it.¡±


    The general had noticed the small pouch of coins that Abby had stuffed into the girl¡¯s hands.


    Setting her hands at her hips, the general added, ¡°I could merely be playing for you, like a¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.


    ¡°Like a friend?¡± asked the young girl. Excitement colored her voice. Aimee¡¯s mind was clearly made up even if she refused to admit it.


    ¡°Well, what do you say?¡± Faye shot the girl a glance and placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Is that a deal?¡±


    Squealing, a large smile burst across the girl¡¯s face. Pumping a fist in the air, Aimee shouted, ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai stared at Lady Asinara. Despite her insistence to talk, now that they walked side by side, the lady was tight-lipped.


    Cristin and the ladies-in-waiting trailed behind, giving the two a semblance of privacy.


    The Lord of Feldgrau sighed. He rubbed his itchy eyes, willing them not to close. ¡°If this is about last time-¡±


    ¡°It is not!¡± Licking her lips, Asinara clasped her hands together. ¡°I promise I have not forgotten your words. And¡­ although disappointed, I will honor them.¡±


    Suddenly stopping, it seemed the lady had come to a decision. Asinara turned to him. ¡°There is something I must tell you,¡± the lady¡¯s eyes brimmed with uncertainty. ¡°But I am unsure how you will feel about it.¡±


    Softening, Nikolai rested a hand on the young woman¡¯s shoulders. ¡°We are still friends, Asinara. You know you can speak your mind with me.¡±


    Shivering, the lady tried for a smile. She missed the warmth when Nikolai rescinded his hand. Crossing his arms, the lord asked, ¡°So, what is this important message?¡±


    Asinara steeled herself. ¡°It is¡­ about your wife.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°About Faye?¡±


    Raising an eyebrow, Asinara asked, ¡°Since when were you on a first-name basis with her?¡±


    Behind them, Cristin piped in. ¡°That¡¯s what I said!¡±


    Nikolai waved their words away. ¡°What is it about the general?¡± His brows furrowed. ¡°Has she done something?¡±


    Asinara pursed her lips. ¡°It was said she spent the entire morning with Rufus Langard.¡±


    Nikolai choked. ¡°What?¡± HIs voice sounded weird.


    Emboldened by the fact Nikolai seemed to be in the dark about it, Asinara pressed forward. ¡°My lady-in-waiting is friends with Lady Langard¡¯s, and she said it was true! The Raven General burst into the residence with a single maid who she made wait outside.¡± Awkwardly, she added, ¡°It¡¯s said she was professing her admirations for the young lord so loudly, even the common folk passing by heard it.¡±


    Sighing, Nikolai admitted, ¡°She has a habit of doing that.¡± Getting over the intial shock, Nikolai¡¯s blank tone returned.


    Rufus and Faye. What an interesting pair, he thought. Hopefully, the general took it easy on the young fool.


    Bothered by how unbothered the young man was, Asinara snapped, ¡°A habit of being with other men? It¡¯s said she spent the whole morning unsupervised with the lord!¡± Crossing her arms, she huffed, ¡°Are you truly not bothered that your wife spent the entire morning with another man?¡±


    To her surprise, Nikolai burst into mirthful laughter. In his sleep-deprived mind, the lord found it hard to stop¡­ so he didn¡¯t. The young man laughed and laughed. Asinara took a weary step back.


    Those around them stared weirdly at the group.


    Cristin was fast to react. Placing a hand over the lord¡¯s mouth, he apologized, ¡°He¡¯s a bit sleep-deprived. Apologies. Please. Go back to work.¡± Nails digging into the other¡¯s shoulders, he warned, ¡°My lord!¡±


    Sobering, Nikolai sighed, ¡°A morning with Rufus Langard is a morning well-spent. Better with him than destroying my gardens. Perhaps we can ask the young lord to come up with a more common arrangement?¡± He turned to Cristin. ¡°Say, I think that¡¯s quite a good idea. Make sure to send a message to the general¡¯s residence tonight and arrange a carriage to escort Faye if she wishes to go.¡±


    The entire street gaped.


    Was this man really married? How could he be so flippant? It truly was a marriage of convenience, they shuddered.


    Suddenly, a loud commotion of cheers and voices erupted from the other end of the street. It was the carnival section of the market!


    Eager to dissipate the awkward energy, Cristin dragged his lord forward. Turning to the still-gaping Lady Asinara, the attendant smiled, ¡°We should go check that out! I¡¯m sure it must be very¡­ exciting!¡±


    Their small group headed to join the crowd. Pushing forward, they gaped at the sight.


    Blinking blearily, Nikolai suddenly thought of a similar scene where a maid had battled against two young scholars. He laughed to himself. But the other didn¡¯t notice, too stunned by what was enfolding before them.


    Faye was in a hand-stands and blindfolded, all while on top of stacked empty apple boxed. The general held a toy bow with her feet and gripped the string with her toes. It was an impressive display of balance and mastery.


    Next to her, Aimee held her doll and cheered the loudest. ¡°Go! Go! Go!¡±


    The target was a thousand-steps away. Could the young woman really make it, the crowd wondered. Sure, she had done the challenge with her less dominant hand, blindfolded, backwards, with three bows, all that could be thought of had been accomplished.


    Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes suddenly sharpened as the grogginess of sleep left him for a moment. His fists clenched.


    Seeing his reaction, Asinara comforted, ¡°It¡¯s all right. The target¡¯s too far. You can take her home then.¡± It was improper for a lady to be doing such things. Lady Asinara feared for the couple¡¯s reputation if the crowd learned who exactly it was that was balanced on top of those crates.


    But Nikolai shook his head. In a way he knew her better than any here. Blue eyes drifted to the cocky upturn of Faye¡¯s lip. The lord could imagine the blazing amber eyes, closed in focus.


    The general drew the bow string back. The crowd gasped, clutching each other in suspense and delight. Would she make it?


    Seeing the wobbling of the crates as the general shifted her weight, worry gripped Asinara. ¡°Is.. is this safe? Maybe we should get her down.¡±


    Cristin scratched his head. ¡°And risk her shooting us? Let us wait for the arrow to miss and then just go home.¡±


    ¡°She will not miss.¡±


    Their group turned to Nikolai. The lord¡¯s words were assured and relaxed. He shrugged as if it was another common fact of the world. ¡°She will not miss,¡± he repeated.


    As if to prove his words, the bowstring was released and the feeble arrow soared through the air like a weapon made from the gods. THUNK!


    Lowering the bow, Faye rebalanced herself back onto her feet. The young woman ripped off the blindfold, tossing the silk into the crowd, who clamored for the object.


    Nikolai shook his head, almost fond.


    Asinara and the others gaped. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it hit dead center!¡±


    Suddenly, amber eyes cut across the distance between them. It met the familiar blue orbs.


    Aimee jumped up and down, grabbing Faye¡¯s arm. ¡°That was magnificent, my lady! Pure awe-some!¡± But the young woman¡¯s eyes were glued.


    Even from this distance, she made out the other as he raised his hands and clapped with the rest of the crowd. Her heart fluttered. There¡­was almost a smile on his face.


    All too soon, the moment ended.


    The lord turned away.


    The Raven General watched as Cristin protested, pointing at her form but his liege ignored him. The beautiful woman by Nikolai¡¯s side shot her a curious glance before following closely by the lord¡¯s side.


    The two looked like a proper couple, the general noted. Something twisted uncomfortably within her. The Raven General sighed. That was right. She hadn¡¯t eaten yet.


    Turning to the crowd, she placed her arms at her hips. The glaring sun covered her in a magnificent golden glow. ¡°So which one of you is going to buy me lunch?¡±


    The crowd cheered in response.


    ¡ª


    That night, Lady Langard stared at a letter for a long time. Her brows were bunched together. Delicate fingers gripped harshly at the page.


    The candlelight only served to deepen the dark shadows on her face.


    Approaching her, Lord Langard pressed a kiss to his wife¡¯s head. ¡°What troubles you, my love?¡±


    The woman rubbed her brows. She passed the letter to her husband to read. It was easier than explaining.


    The letter held an official emblem and the paper was the finest quality, crisp and thick.


    Glancing through it, the general choked. He coughed, eyes bulging out at the absurdity of the message. His wife patted his back comfortingly. That had been her exact reaction.


    Lady Langard prayed to the heavens for an answer or sign. What had they done wrong?


    "I''ve thought of it all evening and still I cannot fathom..." Shooting her husband a helpless look, she asked, ¡°Why is the Lord of Feldgrau requesting play dates for his wife with our son?¡±

 CHAPTER 16: An Alleged Love Master

    The newly installed archery targets were already littered with arrows.


    The fine wooden shafts stuck out crudely. The force in which they had been released made some crooked, while others sported broken arrowheads. It was a masterpiece of precise destruction.


    The Raven General exhaled, the air curled beneath her nose. She let her final arrow loose. It soared dutifully through the air. The resounding thud was music to the general¡¯s ears. Lowering the weapon, she glanced at Aimee, awaiting the girl¡¯s excited applause.


    None came.


    The serving girl was lost in her world of fairy princes and dragons. She was engaged in deep conversation with her new doll.


    Faye sighed. It seemed her small counterpart could no longer be relied upon.


    The young woman scratched her chin, squinting against the harsh midday sun. This morning she had received word that the lord had installed a new archery range. It came as a surprise for those who him as the ice prince had never shown interest in archery before. Many wondered what could have ignited the sudden passion.


    The range had been built in a day. An impressive feat that required the best carpenters. Every single target cost quite a fortune and the carpenters all left with heavy pockets. But the lord had merely paid the men and not given the range a second glance. Then, Faye woke to a message and a new bow.


    The Raven General stared at the borrowed bow in her hands. First, the armory, now this. Scrunching her face, Faye let out an annoyed grunt. The Raven General did not like to be in another person¡¯s debt.


    The maids whispered about wanting to best the crown prince in a tournament while the stable boy made bets on which instructor the Lord would hire to teach him, but it seemed only Faye knew the truth. The archery range had been built for her. She knew it, deep in her bones.


    Nikolai had seen her skills at the market. The man had even applauded her. The general¡¯s face flushed as she thought of the half-smile on the usual cold, blank face. It was like a spring flower blooming out of winter¡¯s ice. Small but precious.


    The Raven General set down the bow and leaned against the tree. The shade was cool but seemed to do nothing for her burning face.


    Faye knew her husband was handsome. The ice prince had an otherworldly charm to him, that made others keep their distance but also deeply admire him.


    It was a fact of life and Faye would happily admit it to any that cared to listen. She paused. But that smile¡­ the otherworldly had suddenly become so human. And real. Faye imagined reaching out and pinching the pale cheeks to recreate the expression. The young woman shook herself of the thought. Forcing the smile would take the fun out of it. Her eyes brightened.


    Faye clenched her fists, determination pumping through her. She would make the lord smile. Fully, this time.


    The general crossed her arms This was a mission like no other. As such, she had little direction as to how to start.


    Catching sight of Abby ordering some messengers with tributes from Feldgrau, an idea popped into the general¡¯s head. The perfect gift of gratitude. She would show the lord her appreciation and prove the old maid¡¯s doubts in one dish!


    A devious smirk crept up her face. Still, she would need more information. The young woman rubbed her chin thoughtfully. How could she make certain the lord would not take this as a slight? He would probably think she was trying to poison him.


    Asking Abby felt like a dead end and Cristin was always by Nikolai¡¯s side.


    In the distance, the stable boys undid a carriage¡¯s clasp and tied a lead rope around the horses. The animals were feisty, too energized to go back in.


    The Raven General¡¯s eyes lit up. She waved her arms high. The heavy fabric of her training uniform billowed in the air. ¡°Hold it there!¡±


    The stable boys looked up in alarm. They threw a questioning glance at one another before addressing Lady Feldgrau. ¡°My lady? Is there somewhere you wish to go?¡±


    Pulling the door open, the Raven General wasted no time in hopping into the carriage. She stuck her head out of the window. ¡°Take me to the General¡¯s Residence.¡±


    ---


    Rubbing his butt, Rufus Langard sighed. Why did his parents subject him to such cruel torture?


    The boy, almost a man, wished to go back to the days when their focus was on his elder brothers. The eldest was a general while the other was a politician of the Court! Any shame the youngest brother brought to the Langard family was easily displaced by the achievements of the two elder sons.


    In short, Rufus should have been allowed to spend his days lying around, growing fat and lazy as the spare child. But fate had other plans. Especially now that those brothers were married and away in their estates.


    It was only natural that Lord and Lady Langard turned their attention to this troublesome youngest son.


    The young lord huffed. His admiration for his newest instructor had quickly faded, along with the tenth time she had left him too injured to walk properly after their session.


    Trailing behind him, the servants rolled their eyes as Rufus muttered angrily to himself. They were used to his antics. For the son of a general and grandson of a great minister, Rufus Langard was quite terrible in both regards. As many of his teachers noted in dismay, the idiot was too soft for war and too honest for politics. His solutions prioritized ease and comfort over all else and his attention span was like his love life¡­ easily distracted.


    The boy stormed ahead of his retinue, kicking up sand and dirt as he went. He could have wept with joy as the entrance to his rooms appeared.


    The servants hurried their pace. Young Langard was never cruel but his tantrums were quite taxing on the ears and mind.


    Rufus pushed open the doors easily. His form disappeared around the corner as he made for his precious bathtub. Finally, he would get the reprieve he deserved.


    In the hallways, the servants had the bathwater prepared. The water in the buckets sloshed as they stepped forward.


    ¡°Help!¡± shrieked a voice, high-pitched in fright. Rufus scrambled out of the room, face pale and sweaty. His form trembled as he stumbled back and pointed in the room. ¡°What, what are you doing here?¡±


    A second form emerged. Smirking, they crossed their arms, placing it behind their back. Rocking on their heels, this second figure smirked down at the cowering lord.


    In his fear, Rufus tripped on the stairs, landing on his backside. To his credit, the boy continued to scoot backward, distancing himself from the terrifying form. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± His voice wobbled. ¡°I already told you all you wanted to know!¡±


    Jaws dropped in the entire courtyard. The second figure was a woman in men¡¯s clothing. She had a sword at her hip and swaggered with all the confidence of an apex predator as she approached the lord. The young woman knelt down to the height of the mighty general¡¯s son. Scarred hands patted his head twice.


    Rufus let out a sob.


    The Raven General was unperturbed.


    ¡°You want to do this the easy way or the hard way?¡± she asked.


    The boy shook his head, choosing not to answer, and continued to scoot back. Snots streamed down his red nose. The servants were too shocked at the ridiculous sight to wonder how the woman even got into the General¡¯s Residence. At his full height, Rufus was taller than this scary woman. But it was clear who was in control, especially when the boy was bawling like a frightened infant.


    Rolling her amber eyes, the Raven General pushed up her long sleeves. ¡°Hard way it is,¡± she decided.


    Faye grasped the back of the boy¡¯s collar and lifted him in the air. She dragged him along like he wasn¡¯t a near-grown man but a sack of hay, and paid no heed as the lord screamed and cried all the way back to his room.


    ¡°Help, help someone! Help!¡± screamed the boy but the servants were too shocked (and scared) to do anything. ¡°Help me!¡±


    The Raven General tossed the boy into the room. He grunted in pain. Hitting his head against the floor, the boy flopped lifelessly.


    Grasping the wooden doors, the young woman smiled widely at their gathered audience. ¡°Please, go back to your duties. This might take a while.¡±


    ¡°Help me-¡°


    Rufus¡¯ cries were cut short as the wooden doors slammed shut.


    ---


    Rufus Langard glared angrily at the person sprawled across his chair! The woman, no, demon, was casually sipping tea, like she hadn¡¯t just kidnapped him in his own home. He had shot pleading looks at the servant who brought it to them, but the fearful man kept his eyes averted and quickly left.


    While unbound, Rufus knew better than to try and escape. They had already gone through that the last time the Raven General visited. The boy shivered at the memory. He had no desire to go through that experience again!


    ¡°What do you want?¡± he snapped loudly. But his confidence quickly faded.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Rufus stilled when amber eyes landed on him. Panic engulfed him. Why did he snap at her! The young lord¡¯s eyes drifted down to the sword on the table. He was an idiot! A true idiot!


    Meanwhile, Faye set down her cup gently. ¡°Calm down before you wet yourself, boy.¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± came the immediate reply.


    Both froze.


    Rufus looked away, face flushed. This was it. The end of his petty and meaningless life. The young man began his prayers to the gods. If they were merciful, they would grant him a painless death.


    Rubbing the crease between her brows, the Raven General sighed, this fool¡­


    Crossing her arms, she hurried to explain, ¡°Look, I came today because I need,¡± Faye paused, ¡°I need help. And you were the only one I could¡­ think of?¡± Her words ended on a questioning note.


    Rufus shot her an incredulous look. ¡°You need my help? Are you sure?¡± He looked around, then whispered lowly like it was some great secret. ¡°That¡¯s not usually the case.¡±


    ¡°Well it is now,¡± scowled Faye. The Raven General looked disappointed at the prospect of needing the boy¡¯s help, even though it had been her idea to come in the first place.


    To Faye¡¯s surprise, Rufus¡¯ eyes took on an interested glint. The boy leaned forward, but not too forward (he wasn¡¯t suicidal). ¡°Well, what is it?¡± He waggled his eyebrows. ¡°What can this great lord help you with.¡±


    Luckily, his antics were ignored. Biting her lips, the Raven General thought about how to answer. Her fingers drummed against the sturdy wood. How could she put this into words?


    ¡°Wow,¡± said the boy. He leaned back, slightly shocked. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could get nervous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not nervous,¡± snapped Faye. She scratched her head. ¡°I just¡­ I don¡¯t,¡± the woman sighed and banged her head against the table. The lord winced at the loud noise. The woman had the skull of a rock! Anyone else would have knocked themselves unconscious.


    Faye groaned, ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start!¡±


    The lord scooted back subtly. ¡°How about why you¡¯ve disturbed, I mean, invited,¡± Rufus corrected seeing her sharp glare, ¡°yourself to my¡­ room.¡± His face flushed as he recalled the rumors of the general visiting him and their scandalous love affair. ¡°And for the record, I am not remotely interested in you.¡± He sniffed, ¡°I have standards.¡± Glancing up at the blank look the Raven General shot him, the boy backtracked, ¡°Unless you truly do like me, then-¡±


    ¡°I wish to repay a gift,¡± cut in Faye, eager to end the blathering. ¡°My... the Lord of Feldgrau had been kind to me as of late, and I¡­ wish to repay that kindness.¡±


    There was a moment of silence.


    ¡°With a gift,¡± Faye clarified.


    ¡°Yes, you said that.¡± Rufus¡¯ brows furrowed. ¡°Why do you need my help for that?¡± he asked, genuinely confused. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau is your husband.¡±


    Faye¡¯s chair screeched as she got up and began to pace the room. ¡°Because I don¡¯t know any of your stupid traditions! And I can¡¯t ask Abby because she keeps telling me to do things that I cannot do. If I ask the servants, they think I am trying to trick or kill them. And!¡± her face flushed red, ¡°Obviously, I cannot ask Nikolai because, because-¡±


    ¡°Then it wouldn¡¯t be a gift,¡± finished Rufus.


    Faye stared at the young lord in shock. Hurrying forward, she nodded excitedly. ¡°Exactly!¡± The general clapped him heartily on the shoulder. ¡°See! I knew you would understand.¡±


    The boy nodded. He was used to those powerful claps from his brother and father, so he barely noticed the heavy hit. Rubbing his chin, Rufus wondered, ¡°Did you have a gift already in mind?¡±


    The Raven General rolled her eyes. ¡°I wanted to cook but Abby and the cook-¡±


    ¡°Then do that,¡± interjected the young lord. He shrugged at Faye¡¯s glare. ¡°Trust me on this,¡± he raised his arms in a grand gesture, before pointing at himself, ¡°I am a master of love,¡± his voice lowered, ¡°And the matters of the heart.¡±


    Brows furrowing, the Raven General nodded to herself. ¡°I have heard you spend a good bit of your time wooing women. Although mostly unsuccessful¡­¡±


    Rufus choked at the words.


    ¡°Surely, the multiple attempts have given you some knowledge,¡± finished Faye. The young woman deflated. ¡°But the cooks won¡¯t even let me in the kitchen. They say it is improper for a¡­ lady.¡± She clenched her fists.


    Rufus snorted, ¡°Like that can stop you.¡± He suddenly froze. Was that appropriate to say? ¡°I mean,¡± he corrected himself. ¡°You come into the general¡¯s residence like it¡¯s your place whenever you want, I¡¯m surprised you¡¯d let something like etiquette stop you from doing what you want¡­ You¡¯re not really very ladylike, everyone can tell, so why bother trying?¡±


    There was silence from the other side. Rufus¡¯ head snapped up, fearful of having said the wrong thing. At the end of the day, the Raven General was still a young woman. Had his words hurt her heart?


    But it was Faye¡¯s manic smile that greeted his eyes. The boy gulped.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± she murmured. ¡°Why do I have to care?¡± Amber eyes sharpened. ¡°When should I do it?¡±


    Swallowing, Rufus cleared his throat. ¡°Well,¡± he paused to seriously consider the question. ¡°Actually, why don¡¯t you do it during the festival of lanterns? On the lover''s hour?¡±


    ¡°The festival of lanterns?¡± Faye tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    Rufus¡¯ jaw dropped. ¡°What¡¯s the festival of-¡° It was easy to forget that the other was not of Eburean background. He shook his head, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°There¡¯s too much history for me to explain, all you need to know is that it¡¯s the festival of love.¡± He waggled his eyebrows. ¡°I mean, this is for your husband, right? Someone you¡­¡±


    ¡°Admire,¡± finished Faye confidently. She began to list. ¡°In terms of intellect, looks, although his facial expressions could use a bit of work. But there¡¯s also the way he¡­¡± The young lord raised an eyebrow at the rambling. Somebody had a crush, he muttered to himself.


    Faye shook her head. ¡°I cannot do it during the festival. It would not be,¡± she scrunched her nose. Nikolai and her marriage was not one of love. In fact, the young lord¡¯s romance was ruined by their marriage. To present a gift when the other would clearly be thinking of someone else¡­ Faye did not wish to rub salt into the wounds, even if the thought made her chest rumble with unpleasant feelings.


    The Raven General was an angry and territorial creature, but Faye did not wish to live with someone who hated her. If her husband began to send assassin, well, that would ruin her streak of well-rested nights. ¡°It would detract from the meaning of my gift.¡±


    ¡°Okay?¡± Rufus wasn¡¯t exactly following the thought process, but he knew better than to push. Pinching his nose, the young lord sighed, ¡°I get it. Since you want to make it a simple gift of admiration-¡±


    ¡°Repayment,¡± corrected Faye. ¡°But what day should I do it? And when?¡±


    ¡°When you feel it is right.¡± Even Rufus looked shocked at his own answer. The words had stemmed from the back of his consciousness and memory. The boy struggled to remember from when.


    Faye took no notice. The young woman scowled, ¡°If I knew when it was right, I wouldn¡¯t have needed to come to you.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°I need a plan.¡±


    ¡°Sometimes the matters of the heart cannot be planned. What is it you fear? That he¡¯ll reject you?¡± Rufus was staring resolutely in the other direction.


    Now, he remembered. Such embarrassing words¡­ but they rang with truth.


    Although his elder brothers were annoying, they had been his tutors in the trials a young man must go through. They cheered him along when he presented a courting gift to his first love, and drank with him, patting his vomiting form when said love rejected his present in front of the entire square. ¡°


    If you truly want to show the other person you care, then it shouldn¡¯t matter.¡± He rolled his eyes, finally coming back to his regular self. ¡°And you¡¯re the Raven General. If he does anything you didn¡¯t like, you could probably smack him with that sword you always carry around. He¡¯ll grovel at your feet immediately.¡±


    Rufus had never really met the ice prince before. The Lord of Feldgrau seemed like an unapproachable person. As such, Rufus saw no reason to break that illusion. But he was getting to know the Raven General. Those who could stand before her and not cower were probably very few and extremely rare.


    Faye nodded. The young lord had a point.


    "Very well, why don''t you do it on the first day of the festivities? Most consider it a time for family and close friends as well," considered Rufus.


    The Raven General''s eyes filled with a sort of grudging admiration for the other. Catching sight of the look, the young lord rubbed the back of his neck. Surrounded by impressive people all his life, Rufus had always been on the sidelines of admiration, never the recipient. He sniffed. It was nice.


    The Raven General paused, ¡°Wait, but¡­ what about the gift? Do I just give it to him or also serve his guests or¡­¡±


    ¡°Fear not, the wise Love Master is here!¡±


    For the first time, Rufus Langard¡¯s eyes lit up with a sort of determination and drive that would have made his past mentors and tutors cry with awe. ¡°If you want to make it memorable, you have to do it in front of company! The bigger the better! Hire singers and dancers. Make it a grand gesture! Maybe even throw in an ice sculpture or two.¡±


    "That seems a bit extreme," murmured Faye.


    "Nonsense," The young lord picked up his brush. Swift hands grabbed a clean sheet of expensive paper, and shot the Raven General a cocky smirk. ¡°So, this is what we¡¯re going to do.¡±


    ---


    Faye eyed the paper in her lap with an eager smile. She scanned through it for the hundredth time, committing the familiar words to memory.


    If the lord thought he was the only one with a penchant for grand gifts, the Raven General was going to give him a grand surprise.


    Her heart beat with giddiness at the thought. Maybe the surprise would even tease out one of those rare smiles from the ice prince. Faye curled her fists in determination. The Raven General would not fail. Victory awaited.


    Brushing the sweat off his brow, Rufus watched the internal monologue with a relieved sigh. There was a scary grin on the other¡¯s face, and he was only too glad to not be on the receiving end of that amber gaze.


    Resting his chin against his fist, the young lord snorted to himself. Weren¡¯t the barbarian general and the ice prince supposed to hate each other? What type of enemies competed in gift-giving?


    Pocketing the paper, the Raven General¡¯s eyes dimmed. Her voice was low, transforming into one of a commander. ¡°There was another reason that I came today.¡±


    Rubbing his face, Rufus did not bother to try and change the subject. ¡°I figured.¡± Pinching his nose, the boy offered, ¡°Before you get mad at me, I want you to know that I did as you asked last time.¡±


    The Raven General was silent but gestured for him to continue.


    Rufus rubbed the space between his brows. The thought of those events brought a headache to the forefront of his mind.


    ¡°I asked my father what you wished to know, but,¡± the young lord¡¯s frown darkened as he recounted what happened. ¡°My father grew dismissive, almost angry. We fought over it,¡± the boy laughed bitterly. ¡°Needless to say, I lost. He told me to never speak of it again.¡±


    Lord Langard, although often disappointed, was rarely truly angry at his youngest son. However, that night, Rufus almost cried at the fury that twisted the older¡¯s face. There was a terrifying rage that encapsulated the old general as he demanded to know where the boy had heard of the question.


    No one else was supposed to know of the secret letters that were sent to Wenge. Or that they were signed in Rufus Langard¡¯s name.


    Faye leaned back and sighed, ¡°You have helped me greatly, Rufus. But in this, I had hoped for greater success.¡± Her words weren¡¯t exactly a threat, but the boy shivered nonetheless.


    Rufus hurried to offer. ¡°I might not be able to gain the answer from my father but,¡± he swallowed, ¡°there is a room of records and old soldiers that often visit. There must be some way through them that I can find the true messenger.¡±


    The boy worried his lips. In a small voice, he asked, ¡°You won¡¯t¡­" the boy shook his head. "This information will not, it can''t, be used to hurt Eburean. Right?¡±


    The doors creaked open. The Raven General glanced back at the boy. He had not even seen her move to the door.


    The Raven General stared coolly at him. ¡°Your help today was greatly appreciated, Rufus.¡± She inclined her head in thanks. ¡°I will return soon for the name.¡±


    In a breath, she slipped through the door and was gone.


    Rufus hung his head in his hands. A great weight hung off his shoulders.


    Compared to this, he would take a hundred sword lessons instead.

 CHAPTER 17: Crazy Becomes Crazier

    ¡°The Lord has invited a grand assortment of friends to his residence.


    The prominent of which includes the General Langard. Their party was filled with wine and revelry. The lord is said to oft frequent the Street of Joy. And the Raven is still at odds.


    Things go according to plan, but this servant shall continue to report.¡±


    The letter and its plain script were tossed carelessly onto the table.


    Voice dripping with derision, Cristin sneered, ¡°They think so little of us they barely hide these reports.¡± He glared at the letter. ¡°This is starting to hurt my pride. How much longer until we begin to evict the traitors?¡±


    Blue eyes glanced over the letter. A small tilt of his lips prefaced Nikolai¡¯s words. ¡°Caution has stayed our hand. We would have raised suspicion if we removed them too early.¡±


    Sinking into the opposite seat, the attendant sighed wearily. ¡°I miss Feldgrau.¡± Glancing over at the letter, the man crossed his arms. His dark eyes were serious. ¡°My Lord, we may monitor all of these messages, but what shall we do when one slips by us? We cannot keep harboring those we do not trust.¡±


    The words echoed familiarly with Nikolai. ¡°As if you¡¯d let one slip by you,¡± yawned the lord. Cristin was many things, but inefficient was not one of them.


    Blue eyes followed the other man sluggishly as the attendant began to pace the room. The doors to the study creaked open. A head peaked in.


    Nikolai gestured the boy forward. Bian nodded. There was a vanilla envelope within his hands. The boy delivered the letter hastily and scurried out of the room, quiet as a mouse. Maybe even quieter, mused Nikolai.


    Cristin barely gave the new servant a passing glance, enraptured in his curses and vows.


    ¡°These rats are everywhere! The queen is trying to control everything! They just wait until I get my hands on them! I swear to the gods I will-¡±


    ¡°Calm, Cristin,¡± said Nikolai, eyes glued on the paper in his hands. He lifted the newly delivered letter. Although short, it had an official seal of a lord on it. ¡°Your wait is over.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s jaws dropped. ¡°It worked? The¡­ they agreed?¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau pushed back his chair. ¡°Now that the plan is in motion, we can finally begin our counterattack.¡± Blue eyes flashed. ¡°It seems your wish has come true. Time to get rid of the moles.¡±


    The attendant paused at the bold statement. ¡°But¡­ there is still the problem of the queen, my lord. It will be hard to explain if you suddenly got rid of her people.¡±


    There was a deep hum. Nikolai glanced over his shoulders. ¡°Who said I would be the one getting rid of them?¡± The ice prince clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°I am but a spoiled prince.¡± He turned to stare out the window.


    Through the glass, they watched as the gates to the residence were pulled open. A familiar carriage trotted in through the doors. Without waiting for the stable boys, a lively form jumped out. Dark, plain silk billowed in the air as they landed perfectly. The longsword in the figure¡¯s hands was lovingly strapped at her side.


    ¡°I am confused, if not you¡­¡± Cristin scratched his head. ¡°Then who, my liege?¡±


    Nikolai held up the spy letter that had been tossed aside. ¡°I want a copy of this made and sent to the general¡¯s rooms.¡±


    The Raven General was born and breathed the path of war. On the battlefield, trusting your soldiers meant everything. He was certain that Faye would displeased to know that her supposed allies were spying on her.


    Nikolai¡¯s face was blank, but a faint hope soared in his heart.


    If all went well, they would finally be free of the queen¡¯s extra eyes. The Lord of Feldgrau stretched. It was about time that some work got done.


    ---


    Viktor pawed loudly at the ground. His greedy eyes followed the bay of hay. As soon as his meal was tossed in, the war horse snapped its greedy teeth into it.


    Fractured moonlight spilled in through the wooden boards. It was the hour of the wolf.


    Satisfied, the Raven General finally turned to face Bian. The boy blended in with the shadows in his dark clothes. A person with less sharper eyes would not have even known he was there. The boy came out of the darkness as if he were one with it.


    The general held up the letter. Bian had risked being seen to deliver it. ¡°He told you to have this sent to my room?¡±


    Silently, the boy nodded. He signed, ¡°Said to mention nothing.¡± Bian paused, before adding, ¡°Said you would know what to do.¡±


    To have such a letter delivered, mused the Raven General. The lord wanted a favor from her. Faye rubbed her chin thoughtfully.


    Seeing the lack of anger, the boy¡¯s hands began to sign rapidly. ¡°It is a test, general.¡± There was a pause. ¡°I do not know why he requested me, I fear,¡± the loyal spy looked away, guilt covering his expression. ¡°He may be onto me.¡±


    Faye waved a dismissive hand. The circumstances regarding Bian¡¯s arrival would always be suspicious. They were lucky to have gone unnoticed for so long. ¡°There is nothing we can do about it.¡± She shook the paper. ¡°As for this¡­¡±


    The young woman sighed and leaned against the stable doors.


    Viktor looked up from his meal to nicker softly at his master. The general gently pushed the inquisitive nose away. It had been two moons since her marriage¡­ and leaving Wenge as well as her troops. She did not fear for their loyalty, but between the constant border wars and posturing to the other generals, Faye was unused to the lack of people and activity by her side.


    The young woman exhaled loudly. ¡°Any updates on the tribes?¡±


    ¡°Few uprisings, but your men have dealt with them and I have sent spies to check in on the others,¡± knowing her aversion to boredom, the boy shrugged sheepishly. ¡°All is well in the grasslands.¡±


    The Raven General sniffed, trying not to feel insulted. Despite the constant messages she received from her lieutenants, it was a bit disheartening to learn how smoothly everything continued to run in her absence. Leaning back, she let her head fall against the boards.


    Bian winced at the loud thunk. How the general retained no head injury was a mystery to him. The other truly had been born with the skull of a rock.


    With a loud huff, the general dragged herself up. ¡°Well, that decides it then.¡± She scanned through the letter carelessly, not really reading the words. ¡°We weren¡¯t supposed to get involved, but I do owe him twice.¡± For the armory and the targets, Faye listed mentally.


    Before Bian could ask, the general continued, "Bian, get me a list of all the servants that still have connections to the palace. I want to know the names and connections of those with the ability to send messages there and back.¡±


    There was a stunned pause.


    Quick to recover, Bian signed, ¡°Of course.¡± He tilted his head. The boy would never presume to know better, but he had to ask. ¡°But why, general? Did the Chief not say to¡­¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    A loud ripping noise cut him off.


    ¡°Wenge is loyal to the Eburean Crown. This has nothing to do with that.¡± The Raven General messily shredded the letter until it was nothing more than a pile of trash. ¡°We are merely doing some housekeeping for the lord.¡±


    Bian resisted the urge to scratch his head. The general, although occasionally hot-headed, was always practical. Why would she risk this?


    Seeing the other¡¯s expression, Faye crossed her arms, tone softening. ¡°We do not benefit from having rats and spies among our ranks, Bian.¡± Amber eyes sharpened. ¡°We need allies and the lord¡­ I do not wish for him to be a foe,¡± she admitted.


    It was difficult enough to be surrounded by enemies. But Faye knew what it was like when you couldn¡¯t even trust family not to stab you in the back.


    If Nikolai was suspicious about Bian, Faye could only try to regain his trust through this act of kindness.


    It did not hurt that such a thing would bring some excitement to the Prince¡¯s Residence, which was rapidly becoming more boring by the day. The thought made her giddy with excitement. The general rubbed her hands together eagerly as plans and calculations ran through her mind.


    Bian backed up at the manic look in the general¡¯s eyes. The boy shook his head. There would be repercussions for going against the royal family and Fadye¡¯s will. Unknown to most, the Raven General was far from Fadye¡¯s loyal follower. In fact, she tended to thrive off testing the limits of his patience and goodwill.


    It was hard to tell whether the general¡¯s excitement for the task ahead stemmed from going against the Wenge Chief or her admiration for her husband. Bian had seen the way the general would freeze slightly and look in the direction of the lord whenever he passed.


    Either way, by the morning, the city would be alight with gossip and horrid tales of the Raven General and her brutal culling of rats and spies.


    ---


    Faye banged her head against the table. She groaned, ¡°Why! Are! There! So! Many! Names!¡± She let out a frustrated yell, half-tempted to rip Bian¡¯s hard-earned list into shreds.


    The boy winced and stared fearfully for his hard work.


    He peeked over the general¡¯s shoulders. It was indeed a very long list. More than half of the Prince¡¯s Residence were filled with people from the castle. Within that group, another half had correspondences and connections within the castle and its staff and lords. Some were even directly affiliated with the queen and crown prince! The truth was, most did little to hide the affiliation, using it as a way to raise their ranks with the others.


    Nails digging into her skin, Faye rubbed her chin furiously. How could she root out the traitors? To verify and tail each one would be too great of a task, but the thought of even a single spy remaining left a horrid taste on her tongue.


    Faye closed her eyes, resting her head against her fist. The young woman envisioned herself on a battlefield, and learning that these betrayals were from her own men. The proud general¡¯s teeth grit at the thought. She would personally drag them out and leave no trace unturned until all the traitors were punished or dead. Betrayal on the battlefield was unacceptable. Her dark thoughts froze.


    Amber eyes snapped open. That was it!


    If you couldn¡¯t pick out the rotten food from the pile, you got rid of all of it.


    ---


    The line of servants eyed one another nervously. What exactly were they doing here? They all looked up to stare at the Raven General lounging in her chair, a table with food pulled next to her. There was a regal and blood-thristy air as she smirked menacingly down at them.


    The servants looked around. To their surprise, Abby was nowhere in sight. They began sweat and fear even more. At least they knew what the head servant was like. The general on the other hand¡­ the woman was a never-ending enigma that could cut through trees thicker than men and move with deathly silence.


    ¡°All right.¡± The general rose from her seat, like she was commanding a legion of warriors. The servants stiffened as she cracked her neck. ¡°Let¡¯s get this started.¡±


    From her pocket, Faye pulled out a scroll. Unfurling it, amber eyse began to scan through the list. So many names. Glancing up, she shrugged. The scroll was mostly ceremonial, all the servants under any suspicion had been summoned. Faye tossed the scroll behind her. The paper clattered noisily as it hit the ground. The entire pavilion flinched at the action.


    Stepping down from her platform, the Raven General started for the row of servants. Her walk was slow and measured, like she had all the time in the world. The speed only made the hackles rise on some as they wished to quickly get this mysterious affair over.


    The people paled as she approached. The hairs on the back of their necks rose.


    Faye stopped in front of the very first servant. It was a woman whose hair was beginning to gray but had a heart-shaped face and a kind smile. She tried to smile now. The trick always worked with her previous masters, softening their hearts.


    The woman had once served the queen but dutifully came to the Prince¡¯s Residence when assigned. To everyone¡¯s knowledge, she was nothing but gentle and dutiful. If there was anyone that would get out of this unscathed, it was her.


    ¡°My, my lady?¡± the woman stammered, lowering her head perfectly. ¡°What is it this one can do for you?¡±


    The Raven General shot her an unimpressed look. ¡°Pack your bags. From today on, you are released from this residence.¡± She smirked, ¡°Return to your mistress at the palace for all I care.¡±


    Brian had gotten her a sample of the older servants penmanship. The traitorous message had been written in the same script.


    With that, the general continued down the line, approaching the next.


    Behind her, the heart-faced woman sank to her knees as all around her gaped. What in the world? Released from the residence!


    ¡°But why? My lady! Please, you owe me an explanation!¡± The kind voice shrieked with desperation. Withered hands grasped at the air. ¡°I have been nothing but good! Lady!¡±


    Unfortunately for her, the general waved a careless hand in the air. Guards stormed forward and dragged the servant away, and her pleas were lost to the wind.


    ¡°A bit too chatty, that one,¡± commented the general. The people around her could only stare incredulously at her. That was why she had been fired? Unheeding of their thoughts, the general eagerly turned to her next victim. ¡°Too weak. We need able bodied people.¡±


    Everyone gaped as she patted the muscular young man¡¯s shoulders. The man was twice the general¡¯s height and his arms were thick with pure muscle.


    Faye sighed, ¡°You are dismissed as well.¡±


    The servant started to speak but then eyed the approaching guards. Their argument faded. With a sigh, he wisely walked away without protest.


    All jaws dropped.


    But Faye strode forward, and happily continued.


    ¡°Too old.¡±


    ¡°No, too young.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, no dark hair.¡±


    ¡°Freckles.:


    ¡°Only dark hair.¡±


    ¡°Feet are too large.¡±


    ¡°Shoulders too sharp.¡±


    And so on, and so on.


    In no time at all, the area was cleared, leaving only the general. A long line of people trailed out of the Prince¡¯s Residence. There were a range of looks on their faces, some were mournful, others were frustrated, but a good majority just seemed extremely confused. But none could say anything, forced to trudge along with luggage and belongings. The last servant gave a long shake of their head, before walking out. The guards dutifully shut the massive doors behind them. The resounding thud was like a final death toll, ringing throughout the entire residence.


    Cupping her hands to her mouth, Faye bellowed behind them. ¡°And don¡¯t bother coming back!¡±


    With that, the young woman sighed happily. She brushed her hands off. That was a day¡¯s good work done. Glancing up, she squinted at the morning sun. It was time for her ride.


    Fearful to be the next ones facing her wrath, the stable boys were already prepared. They brought out a saddled Viktor for the general. Puffing up, the warhorse preened under the scarred hands¡¯ attention. The woman swung up onto the horse and trotted away without a care in the world.


    Up in the study, Cristin approached Nikolai, completely stunned. The lord had worked through the night. Heavy dark circles were prominent. But that also meant that he had seen the entire procession with the general and the servants.


    The young man stared out the window with a blank expression but there was an amused glint in his eyes.


    The attendant rubbed his face. ¡°When we wanted her to get rid of the spies, who knew she would get rid of all of them! Nikolai, half of the servants¡¯ quarters are empty. She made them all move out in less than an hour!¡±


    Nikolai shrugged. It was an efficient tactic. He had been curious to see how the general would sort out the traitors from the rest. This was better than he could have ever expected.


    ¡°Why do you look like you approve of this?¡± squawked Cristin. ¡°My lord! What will the city say? They will think your wife crazy!¡± The attendant paused. The city already thought the barbarian general was crazy. ¡°Crazier! They will think her crazier!¡± he corrected.


    ¡°I am not worried about the city. However,¡± The lord took a great pause as a thought occurred to him. ¡°Abby is going to kill us, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    Right on cue, the doors to the study burst open as a fuming head maid stormed in. ¡°Where are all of my people?¡±


    The lord and attendant sheepishly stared at one another. ¡°Abby, you might want to sit down for this.¡±

 CHAPTER 18: Deep within the Dungeons

    The carriage was silent except for the occasional sniff or grunt. It was a quiet ride to the castle. The couple within traded no words, lost in their own world and thoughts. They were not quite enemies, but friends felt inaccurate as well.


    Nikolai studied his wife out of his peripherals. The young man avoided looking at her¡­ attire. He sighed at the absurdly bright color.


    Every few minutes, Faye would glance down and smirk happily at her gown. It was almost cute how excited the fearsome general was, if not for the troubling reason for her delight.


    The Lord of Feldgrau rubbed the crease between his forehead. He was still reeling from the events before their departure. When Nikolai had first seen the general in the dress, he had choked, holding back a laugh. The obnoxious color and excessive frills did not suit the general. It was like she was wearing a walking cake. Apparently, with more than half the staff gone, Abby had not been able to send for a tailor. The horrid dress, which had been stashed away for safety, had miraculously been recovered by Faye. No one knew how. Or why.


    Insistent on wearing the gown, everywhere the general went, the dress bumped against one thing or another. In one morning, she had tipped over more than a few precious heirlooms and countless treasures.


    Initially, the lord had assumed that one of the servants played a trick on the general. A simple lie for one who was unused to their customs and styles. To his surprise, the general had worn a giddy smile on her face, practically skipping and curtsying to all she passed as they made their way to the carriage.


    When he pulled the head servant aside, Abby had only sagged in defeat. ¡°She refused to change,¡± the older woman stared helplessly into the distance.


    The stoic lord¡¯s jaws had dropped. ¡°She chose to wear that?¡±


    Seeing as the general still brought along her longsword, the lord wisely remained silent. Thus the quiet ride as they headed out to meet the queen and royal family.


    Faye lifted the fabric. Her eyes glistened, watching the way the cheap jewelry glinted in the light.


    Cocking an eyebrow, Nikolai finally asked, ¡°What sorcery does this dress possess to have made you so happy?¡± HIs tone was indignant.


    Dropping the fabric, Faye shrugged. The general crossed her arms. ¡°I¡¯ve never worn such beautiful things before.¡± Her nose crinkled. ¡°Beautiful things do not suit the battlefield.¡±


    Blunt nails picked softly at the poorly sewed-in flowers. ¡°And we do not have such colors in the grasslands.¡± The small smile returned to her face.


    Nikolai leaned back, slightly stunned. So it wasn¡¯t a question of different backgrounds. That answered his next question.


    The lord was close to scratching his head. ¡°Did they not make you wear dresses in Wenge?¡±


    The young woman barked out a loud laugh. Nikolai barely winced. It was slightly absurd, but he was beginning to grow familiar with the other¡¯s usual volume.


    ¡°My father¡¯s wives used to dress me in male clothes so that I would not outcompete their own daughters.¡± Faye had started wearing boy¡¯s clothing before she was even ten years old. She could barely remember much from before that time. ¡°It was amusing to them, and my father said nothing. When I was older, I took to the battlefield.¡± She shook her head. The loose warrior braids spilled onto her face. ¡°Warriors do not need dresses.¡±


    In her early days, it had taken everything to convince the men that she was one of them. Now, it was a habit to wear the light and flexible warrior cloths.


    ¡°Your mother did not defend you?¡± Nikolai shot her a curious glance. Surely, Faye¡¯s mother, even if not of a high status, would not have allowed her daughter to be so humiliated. In Wenge, the Raven General was still a princess.


    ¡°She was not around to do so,¡± answered the other bluntly. The general looked away, face cloudy. In her lap, she clenched the fabric, almost tearing it with her strength. ¡°Do not ask anymore.¡±


    Blue eyes glanced away sheepishly. He had not known. Or bothered to know. The lord coughed, trying to change the subject. ¡°You did not show such interest in the other dress.¡±


    They both recalled the evening with the lord¡¯s guests.


    ¡°That was not a dress,¡± scowled Faye, thinking back to the death trap Abby had forced her into. ¡°It is a torture device.¡± Scarred hands smoothed the soft fabric in her lap. ¡°This is different.¡±


    That we can agree on, thought Nikolai wryly. He refused to stare at the color which made him nauseous. The lord glanced at the open admiration on the other¡¯s face. He was caught off-guard. For the most part, it was easy to read Faye. She was flippant with her emotions, rarely finding it necessary to hide them behind a blank wall as he did.


    For some reason, the displeased frown on her face made him uncomfortable. It was dangerous to sit in a confined space with an angry general, he figured.


    ¡°I suppose we could have some¡­ more dresses ordered to the castle,¡± he offered as she began to fidget with the longsword.


    A bright smile broke through the stormy countenance. Nikolai choked at the fast change. Had he just been manipulated?


    ¡°See that you do,¡± ordered the general.


    Although he nodded, Nikolai winced at the thought. One ugly dress was enough ¡­ now they had to get more? Maybe he could ask for some alterations.


    ¡°They must look exactly as this one does,¡± she demanded.


    The lord rubbed his brow. Was she trying to make the dresses a sort of uniform? He let out a snort. She was so different from the ladies he had grown up with. Powerful women who used their dresses and beauty as weapons. Even the queen had to play the game, using it to gain favor or make others envious.


    The lord tapped the window. ¡°Three.¡±


    Amber eyes narrowed. ¡°Five.¡±


    Before he could object, Faye began to play with the sword. She slid out the blade as if to check her own reflection in the impeccable metal.. ¡°Five,¡± the general repeated.


    Nikolai scowled.


    ---


    For all the headaches that he had suffered in the morning, nothing was more pleasing than watching the forced smile on Rewanna¡¯s face. The ice prince almost had a smile on his blank face. He would get Faye a hundred dresses as thanks, Nikolai decided. The ugly color was even starting to grow on him.


    For all her false poise, even Rewanna could not hide her unease as dark eyes followed the Raven General.


    The sight brought an elated feeling to the young man¡¯s heart. Especially as the queen tried and failed to compliment the preening general. None dared to say anything, especially as the longsword glinted right on top of the boisterous color.


    ¡°Mother,¡± smiled the young woman in delight, twirling the bunched-up fabric. ¡°Is this not the most beautiful dress you¡¯ve ever seen!¡± It was not a question.


    ¡°It is,¡± Rewanna grimaced, smile faltering. ¡°Very colorful, my dear.¡±


    The general barked out a laugh. ¡°I am sorry to say, it might be even more beautiful than yours!¡±


    Choked off gasps and coughs filled the room. Even the guards¡¯ faces turned red as they held back their laughter.


    Nikolai swiftly looked away.


    ¡°Mother, I mean no insult. You are a beautiful queen.¡± Unheeding of others, Faye continued seriously. ¡°We can have some ordered and sent to your castle if you would like.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± the queen floundered for an excuse. ¡°That, that will not be necessary, general.¡± Her eyes drifted to the figure by Faye¡¯s side. ¡°I see your husband treats you very well.¡±


    The reports stated that the couple were on bad terms. Although the two were far from affectionate, paranoia and suspicion surged their ugly heads in the queen¡¯s heart. Her plan would only work if the two continued to be at odds.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    The younger woman shrugged at that. ¡°We are¡­amicable.¡±


    Meanwhile, Nikolai held that hated blank expression on his face and said nothing.


    The queen clasped her hands. ¡°That is good, my dear. After all,¡± she smirked, ruby lips glinting. ¡°It is so fortunate that your husband is but a lord, allowing you to ascend to Fadye¡¯s place one day.¡± She pouted dramatically, voice lilting. ¡°Imagine if he was the future king, you would have to give up your position to become his queen!¡±


    The Raven General¡¯s eager smile fell. The queen¡¯s words were true. It was why Wenge had agreed to the marriage, and why Rewanna was so sure the union would keep Nikolai in check. It was common knowledge that the general coveted her position. She would not give it up for anything. Amber eyes drifted over to the lord. ¡°It is good that my husband has no intention to change his position either.¡±


    Catching the other¡¯s eyes, Nikolai scoffed. The Lord of Feldgrau brushed himself off and turned on his heels. The young man strode out of the hall, and called in a bored voice. ¡°I will leave you all now. There is business I must attend to.¡±


    Silence followed him as he walked out.


    Rewanna suppressed her sneer. The boy was impudent as always. He had a way of getting under her skin, even when it was she who held all the power. Just like his stupid mother, she thought vengefully.


    ¡°Mother?¡± questioned a voice.


    Snapping out of her thoughts, Rewanna forced a smile. The queen got to her feet and gestured for her private chambers. ¡°Come, my dear. We must meet the other ladies for tea.¡±


    The general nodded sharply and stomped after the mother of the kingdom.


    ---


    The royal dungeons were a dark place of forgotten souls. Muddy water dripped down from the rock ceiling. The smell of blood and shit permeated the air.


    A deathly chill lay over the place, like a blanket of misery.


    As Nikolai walked down the row of cells, the occasional hand would stick through. They were bones with skin, pale and veiny. Dust-filled and matted hair as well as deranged smiles followed him as he walked past. Nikolai kept a blank stare. Some of the braver cellmates spit at his feet.


    The young man stopped at the final cell. Unlike the others, the form inside did not bother moving forward.


    Blue eyes scrutinized the tangled hair clumps and overgrown nails. The prisoner was a shell of her former self.


    ¡°You have grown,¡± the voice was raspy with disuse. It sounded like metal scratching against rock, screeching and painful. ¡°Missed me already?¡±


    ¡°What do you know of the Raven General?¡± asked the lord sharply. He knew the power of her poisoned words.


    ¡°The Raven General?¡± tittered the other. ¡°I have been here this whole time, boy. How would I know?¡± Sharp, overgrown teeth smirked. ¡°Unless I escaped?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve done it before,¡± snapped the lord. ¡°Came out to frame my brother for murder, then came right back Surely, you have not forgotten?¡±


    The prisoner shrugged their bony shoulders.


    Nikolai sneered, ¡°I know you still receive information from him. Does it ever bother you that the Wolf continues to keep you updated but never comes to save you?¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Wolf has had acquired another bride-¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± howled the prisoner, she banged against the bars, causing a ruckus. There was a wild glint in her eyes. ¡°You shut up! Shut up!¡±


    Nikolai rolled his eyes. ¡°He was here two moons ago, you know. He could have done it then¡­ but it seems you¡¯ve been forgotten, Ismeylda. Your lover hadsmoved on, and still you work so dutifully for him.¡±


    ¡°You know nothing of our love, boy,¡± snapped Ismeylda. ¡°It is a love of the gods! I would endure a thousand burning swords for him. And he would do the same for me.¡± She began to rock back and forth. ¡°He would do the same. He would. He would!¡±


    ¡°The best assassin of Wenge, reduced to this,¡± laughed Nikolai. ¡°If only you had poisoned me successfully, and you could have still been with the Wolf. But alas.¡±


    The prisoner glared. ¡°Have you only come to gloat?¡±


    The lord stepped forward. He gripped the bars, knuckles whitening. ¡°I want information. Who is the Raven General?¡±


    ¡°Why should I tell you,¡± snapped Ismeylda.


    ¡°Same as always.¡± A piece of paper was tossed into the cell, along with a bark of charcoal. Nikolai crossed his arms. ¡°One message, I will have delivered to the place of your choosing.¡±


    Ismeylda knew better than to ask why she should trust him. She had watched the boy grow up. Although he would read the message, it would be delivered. He was too soft-hearted to do otherwise. ¡°Why should you trust me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± responded the lord.


    Claw-like hands reached for the paper, snatching it up like precious treasure.


    ¡°Good,¡± hummed Ismeylada as she broke the charcoal in half to create a sharp edge. ¡°You have not forgotten my lessons, then.¡± The prisoner shrugged, ¡°I truly do not know of the Raven General, only that the Wolf loves and fears them equally.¡±


    The makeshift charcoal pen twirled skillfully within the ex-assassin¡¯s hands. If there were no bars between them, it be no feat for her to kill him with it.


    The lord crossed his arms. ¡°She calls him Uncle.¡±


    The charcoal paused. The makeshift pen rolled out of her hands, clattering on the prison floor. It rolled to a stop right outside of the cell. Ismeylda approached the bars, but not for the pencil. Her clouded eyes were wide. ¡°There is only one that he allows to call him Uncle.¡± Clutching her head, the woman let out a deranged laugh. ¡°Of course it is her.¡±


    ¡°You know Faye?¡± asked Nikolai.


    Ismeylda let out an incredulous bark. The woman howled with laughter. ¡°Know her? The she-demon once beat me in a duel. Almost cut off my arm for being too close to her Uncle.¡± The prisoner held up her hand. She shrugged the threadbare prisoner cloth, showing a nasty scar that ran down her shoulder to her elbow. Clouded eyes found Nikolai¡¯s, as they lit with understanding. ¡°You called her Faye. No one calls her that.¡±


    The lord¡¯s brows furrowed.


    Gnarled hands grasped the bar as they studied Nikolai. ¡°They married you to the Raven General, didn¡¯t they?¡± She smacked her lips, a note of awe in her tone. ¡°What a move. Rewanna really hates you. Married to the she-demon herself.¡±


    ¡°What else do you know of her?¡± snapped Nikolai, beginning to grow impatient. ¡°Why was she sent here?¡±


    But Ismeylda did not relent in her taunting. ¡°The she-demon and the ice prince. Yelani¡¯s runt we used to call her.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°She¡¯s Yelani¡¯s daughter?¡± Yelani, who was Nikolai¡¯s mother¡¯s best friend and the main wife of Fadye? But why was the main wife¡¯s daughter so mistreated after her mother¡¯s death?


    ¡°Fadye hated the sight of weak children,¡± commented Ismeylda, as if reading Nikolai¡¯s mind. ¡°When the Raven General was born, she was as weak as could be. Many of her siblings before her had died in infancy. Most expected her to do the same.¡± Ismeylda paused, not many knew but, ¡°Yelani was a good wife, but she never loved Fadye. I assume after her death, her daughter was forgotten.¡±


    Ismeylda¡¯s brows furrowed. She could barely make out the image of the runt that would sulk at the edges of gatherings and hack at the dummies after the warriors left to break for food. Only the Wolf took notice of her. The man had only liked rough and untamable things. ¡°The she-demon had a nasty way with the sword.¡± Ismeylda shivered at the phantom pain of fighting with the demon brat. It had been years, but still. In a fair fight, the other could take her down. The runt hadn¡¯t even been full grown then. The ex-assassin couldn¡¯t begin to imagine what prowress the runt had now.


    Nikolai was silent.


    Ismeylda sighed. She had watched the boy since he clung to his mother¡¯s dress. ¡°That woman caused an entire clan to die to claim its soldiers for herself. The Raven General had conquered the grasslands for her father. Do you think she did that just for his praise?¡± She shot Nikolai a hard look. ¡°You wish to ask me whether you can trust her.¡± When the lord looked away, she continued, ¡°You want me to say yes. Trust your new wife.¡±


    The prisoner sank to the floor. ¡°You cannot. The only desire in her heart is to let all of Wenge finally recognize her. She will take her father¡¯s seat no matter the cost.¡± She sniffed, ¡°Including you.¡±


    ¡°Faye,¡± the boy, for that was what he was in her eyes, faltered, ¡°The general, has not done anything to me¡­yet,¡± muttered Nikolai, hating how he felt like a child being scolded.


    ¡°Why do you think she¡¯s here?¡± The deranged woman smirked, ¡°Her father has sent her to kill a man.¡±


    Nikolai looked away.


    Seeing his tense form, the ex-assassin¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Seeing his lack of response, the prisoner barreled on. ¡°The messenger! The messenger from the grassland war!¡± Her eyes were crazy. ¡°To prove her worth, the general would kill an ally. The true savior of the war, she would murder in cold blood!¡± Her gaze hardened. ¡°You ask why the general has come, that is why. You ask why she has not harmed you.¡±


    Ismeylda barked out a laugh. ¡°She has not needed to. But mark my words. Give her the slightest hint of doubt, and she will.¡±


    The lord had heard enough. Ismeylda seemed to parrot the Wolf. And every other person by his side. But his eyes glinted.


    ¡°Think of how she cleared your residence of those rats,¡± called Ismeylda, cackling. ¡°Destroying all and leaving nothing unturned. She¡¯ll do the same to anything that threatens her claim. And Lord of Feldgrau, believe me when I say, you are on the very top of that list!¡±


    The young man stormed out, not bothering to ask how the ex-assassin even knew all of that. His heart lightened and a small smirk played on his lips as soon as his back was turned to her. Ismeylda loved to gloat. The only way to get her information was to let her feel as if she had won.


    He understood now.


    The Raven General and the Lord of Feldgrau shared a kindred soul. It was a duty and passion that few could understand. He too had a goal that he would drag everyone around him down for. Nikolai would cut down any that stood in his path as well.


    He hummed thoughtfully. A mission to kill the messenger. The ice prince sighed. It was good that only two men knew the truth, and he just so happened to be one of them.


    The Lord of Feldgrau was not the same malleable boy that Ismeylda knew.


    Blue eyes sharpened as they glanced at the guards by the door. ¡°Send a copy of her message to my residence, then destroy the original.¡±


    Soon the woman would realize what she let slip. Wenge could not know that he knew. The precious love letter with dangerous words would never reach the other side.


    The guards nodded sharply. The pouch of gold sat heavy in their pockets.


    Soon enough, the sound of scratching charcoal filled the musty air.

 Chapter 19: A Bear in a Ballgown

    A soft melody drifted through the floors of patrons and courtesans. Conversations paused and noises lulled as they paused to listen.


    Delicate fingers plucked at the stringed instrument. The music was soft but each note struck the air with a gentle strength.


    Those walking by stared wistfully at the Lucky Charm, envious of the nobles and merchants who could afford such luxury and beauty. The music crescendoed, trembling, before slowly echoing into silence. The final note was accompanied by the musician¡¯s soft smile.


    Bowing low, they picked up their instrument and backed out of the spacious chambers. The wooden doors slid close, leaving the two people in the room to themselves.


    Rufus Langard lounged in one of the chairs. He stared wistfully into the distance. There was still working light outside, but that never stopped the lord from taking a well-deserved break.


    Cherry lips quirked. A wooden brush poked at the young lord. ¡°You seem distracted.¡± The courtesan pouted. ¡°Is my beauty not enticing enough for you?¡±


    The young lord flushed. He glared indignantly at the smirking woman. ¡°Like you would let me anywhere near you!¡± Last he had tried, the renowned artist had nearly impaled him with her paint brushes. He shivered at the memory, patting himself to make sure everything was still intact.


    The beautiful woman smirked. Dabbing at the paint, she resumed in her work. Elody was no regular courtesan. Her patrons paid to watch her paint and bid over the chance to commission her pieces.


    Rufus paid to hear the gossip and trade stories. It had always been a fun past time. Now, he genuinely needed information. The young man let his head drop into his hands. Even his break was no longer a true break! This was work!


    Elody studied him with a critical eye.


    Rufus bemoaned his luck. Still, if anyone could help him, it would be Elody.


    It just so happened that good wine and an hour of slightly drunk painting watching was the key to wagging tongues. Or so Elody claimed. Between the woman and her musician sister, Harmon, it was said few courtesans came across as much gossip, and information, as they did. Funnily enough, the reputation only gained them more customers, each more eager to learn other¡¯s secrets than weary of divulging their own. Almost always, it served in the sisters¡¯ favor.


    Elody set down her brush. ¡°You have sighed all evening, boy.¡± She shook her head. ¡°And it¡¯s not your usual lovesick pining either.¡± The woman crossed her arms. Despite the annoyed glare, the image was beautiful. Like a vivid painting, fresh and full of vigor.


    Rufus let his head fall back against the satin pillows. He sighed. If it wasn¡¯t for a certain general, this would have been a nice afternoon.


    ¡°Have you heard anything about someone impersonating me?¡± He glanced at the artist hopefully. ¡°Have you?¡±


    Elody quirked a delicate eyebrow. Thankfully, she had enough class to hold back a laugh. Why would anyone want to impersonate Rufus Langard? Elody swallowed a giggle. His reputation was possibly more widespread than hers.


    In contrast, the boy continued his ramblings, waving his hands this way and that. ¡°To be honest, I could use any information. Anything mysterious about the end of the Grassland wars, really. Truly, I¡¯m at the end of my wits.¡± Rufus pulled at his hair, practically wailing. ¡°This stress might just kill me before my mother does!¡±


    Tilting her head, Elody glanced down.


    Blood red nails drew shapes in the painted mats. ¡°I only know the same as everyone else. Your father aided Wenge and they regained their reign over the other clans.¡±


    Rufus turned on his front and buried his face into the pillow. ¡°I already knew that.¡± He huffed, ¡°Everyone knows that!¡±


    The painter courtesan snorted, ¡°Well, I can tell you something most don¡¯t know.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ head snapped up. ¡°What?¡±


    Elody crossed her arms, she looked off elegantly into the distance.


    Scrambling to his knees, Rufus begged, ¡°Lady El, please! Tell me!¡± He clasped his hands together. ¡°I¡¯ll get you ten new brushes! No! Twelve! I beg you!¡±


    There was a desperate whine in his voice, different from his usual cries. Perhaps the young lord really was in trouble. Compared to usual, Elody relented easily. ¡°Horse hair, and we have a deal.¡±


    For all his flaws, Rufus was not someone that went back on his word. Seeing the boy nod, the artist was quick to get to the point. ¡°It¡¯s said that your father has been frequenting the Street of Joy. Our very own Lucky Charm in particular.¡± She raised a delicate finger in the air. ¡°In fact, just a few nights ago, he was only a few floors above where we are sitting.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ jaws dropped! His father? The boy¡¯s face paled at the thought of his mother finding out.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not all,¡± added the courtesan. She leaned close, excitement tinging her voice. ¡°Few know it, but he was visiting the private room with,¡± Elody glanced around and lowered her voice dramatically. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau!¡±


    Her crescent eyes gleamed. ¡°My cousin was guarding their chambers. I took a peek while dropping off their wine.¡±


    Rufus sat back in disbelief.


    ¡°We all thought it was some lord he was entertaining" she twirled her paintbrush in between her fingers. "But, I¡¯m sure you could guess my surprise when I saw the ice prince without his mask. He is quite handsome, the rumors did not exaggerate.¡± She gave a proud huff. ¡°Lord Langard, this is information no one else knows. You should really be bowing at my feet for this priceless knowledge.¡±


    Although not bowing, Rufus¡¯ jaw was hanging wide open in shock. The young lord¡¯s dread took great pause. Suspicion colored his features. A private room with the Lord of Feldgrau? And so highly secretive? Since when was his father on such good terms with the ice prince? They hadn¡¯t even met in years! In fact¡­the boy ran a hand through his impeccable hair, now stressed to the point of frizziness.


    The last his father would have seen the other would be¡­ Rufus balked at the mental calculations. Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself but¡­ that would be around the time of the Grassland Wars!


    ¡°It can¡¯t be,¡± murmured the boy. But the more he thought of it, the more it made sense.


    Why would his father suddenly visit a prince he had no affiliation to? Unless¡­ there was more connection than most people knew. And to imitate the general¡¯s residence script, the person had to be extremely familiar with the great houses and the writing styles of nobilities. It wasn¡¯t something a snooping maid or even highly trained merchant would be able to copy easily.


    ¡°Rufus?¡± Elody tried not to let the worry show in her voice, but her favorite customer was acting extremely out of character. ¡°Rufus!¡± she snapped.


    The young lord turned to stare at her, finally giving the artist an acknowledging hum. Elody frowned but let out a soft breath. Seeing the familiar wide-eyed stare, she resumed her work. When Rufus began to murmur about his recent love escapades, it seemed the conversation had been put behind them. But behind Rufus¡¯ relaxed expression, his mind was unable to let go of his previous train of thought. Could it be¡­If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    No, decided the boy, it was too early to come to such a drastic conclusion.


    At the time, with so many issues within the royal family, how could the ice prince have possibly cared? Catching sight of the tightened grip on the brush, Rufus turned to placate the irritated artist.


    Still, the young lord couldn¡¯t shake the hunch that there was more to the story.


    What was his father hiding?


    ---


    Do not fall.


    The Raven General¡¯s stern gaze was fixed on the marble floors.


    Those passing by would have thought the floor committed a grave slight against her. To her credit, Faye was a fast learner. Stumbling slightly, she strode out of the Queen¡¯s chambers with her head held high and balance, mostly intact. Abby would be proud of her, Faye decided.


    Chattering lightly, the other ladies made their way out as well. Some lingered for a private word with the Queen while the social ones invited one another to their residences. More than a few gave Lady Feldgrau¡¯s dress a second glance, before smirking at one another and looking away.


    Most of them had daydreamed of marrying the ice prince. The hope had been dashed with rumors of his infatuation with Lady Ashara. But with the recent marriage, they found it hard to squash the triumphant feeling blooming in their chests.


    No one could compare to the Rose of Eburean¡­ but the general who was zigzagging and almost fell into a passing servant? Their chests puffed with pride. It was pleasing to see how far the barbarian paled compared to their elegance and grace.


    Unknowing of their thoughts, Faye rolled her shoulders. She had slept on rocks and spent days in a saddle, but meeting with the Queen was exhausting in ways she was not used to.


    For what felt like hours on end, the ladies gossiped about their houses and husbands. Each seemed to play an invisible game that Faye found hard to grasp. Words were measured and smiles dripped with false sweetness.


    Most of the topics flew over the general¡¯s head despite her desire to partake in the conversations. Although her seat by the queen¡¯s side kept her safe from most ridicule, even she could feel the tense atmosphere. The other ladies appeared at a loss for how to treat her.


    Throughout the morning, the Raven General often nodded or laughed along despite the constant clueless look on her face. However, when it came to the subject of jewelry, it turned out that the general was more than knowledgeable. When Faye revealed that it was due to years of counting tributes from conquered tribes, she puffed up at the awed (and horrified) looks from the rest of the room.


    A form brushed past Faye. The general narrowed her eyes at Lady Asinara who glared right back.


    The Raven General straightened and crossed her arms. ¡°Are you clumsy or blind?¡±


    ¡°A good day to you,¡± snapped Asinara before daintily strutting away with her ladies-in-waiting. She was gripping her left hand to her chest, cradling it like one would an injury. Despite the haughty look on the lady¡¯s face, there was a defeated quality about her slumped shoulders and the dark bags under her eyes.


    Faye tilted her head, watching the other go. She got the feeling the lady didn¡¯t like her all that much. But they had not even met before...Suddenly, an image snapped into Faye''s mind. That was the woman with Nikolai in the market! The general scowled. So, that¡¯s how it was.


    Huffing, Faye turned and headed in the other direction. She had no idea where she was going, but she was the Raven General, she would figure it out.


    The young woman pulled herself into a dark corner.


    Leaning against the wall, Faye let out a sigh of relief and kicked off her shoes. They landed a good distance away. Her aching toes thanked her. She missed the feel of dirt against her toes, and grass tickling her ankles.


    The young woman basked in the silence. Usually, the lack of noise and people made her skin itch. Post-battles she couldn¡¯t stand the silence. Although her pride refused to admit it, the quiet made her question if she had unknowingly joined the dead.


    Her hand fell to the sword on her hip. The blade rattled at the movement. The familiar weight always grounded her. Faye¡¯s breath evened out. The silence was filled with the unknown. Sometimes it terrified her.


    But for now, it was also a nice reprieve.


    ¡°By the heavens, did you see her dress?¡±


    Faye pushed herself tighter against the corner as the voices approached.


    ¡°And that strut!¡± The voice sneered, ¡°She walks like a bear!¡±


    ¡°Have you seen a bear?¡±


    ¡°Well, no,¡± the voice admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m sure if I did, that¡¯s what it would look like!¡±


    There was a sniff as the group paused, ¡°And who carries a sword into the queen¡¯s chamber? If I were her Majesty, I would have had the barbarian punished for such an insult!¡±


    The group burst into agreement.


    One voice laughed, ¡°What do you expect from a barbarian? Even Wenge didn¡¯t want her and sent her to us! And to think we were all so afraid of the Raven General!¡±


    The jeering tone reached Faye¡¯s ears loud and clear. ¡°She¡¯s nothing more than an idiot who can¡¯t walk straight!¡±


    A figure approached from behind the Raven General.


    They paused, staring at the proud woman pressed against the wall, hunched in on herself. The other was so engrossed in listening that they did not notice the figure¡¯s approach.


    Blue eyes squinted at the unusual stillness in the general¡¯s form. What could make the raucous woman so silent?


    Faye was curious. She too had never seen a bear. Did she really walk like one? Still, she deflated slightly. Faye had tried so hard to impress them. It stung her pride to see her efforts be in vain.


    The group of ladies pointed silently at the bare feet sticking out. They stood out against the pristine marble walls. The women eyed each other warily. There was only one person the bare feet could belong to.


    One the younger ladies, feeling bold, exclaimed loudly. ¡°Lady Asinara even said the clumsy idiot was parading around in the commoner¡¯s market! Performing like a fair monkey!¡±


    Emboldened by the first, the others also wanted in. ¡°I heard she shot and killed a man blindfolded!¡± They smirked viciously. ¡°Maybe the lord makes her perform for him as well!¡±


    ¡°As if!¡± protested another. ¡°They hate one another! The lord does not permit her into his chambers, lest she slit his throat!¡±


    ¡°I heard the she-demon was so jealous she chased out all of the pretty maids the queen sent!¡±


    ¡°Poor lady Asinara,¡± murmured the first. ¡°It¡¯s hard enough to see your love stolen by another woman! Imagine having a cheating fool for your replacement!¡±


    There were loud exclamations of shock and excitement.


    The first lady shrugged, ¡°I heard she¡¯s carrying Rufus Langard¡¯s bastard to try and pass off as the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s! But everyone knows the lord¡¯s not stepped into his wife¡¯s chambers even once!¡±


    There was a chorus of agreement. Everyone knew of the general¡¯s indiscreet visits to the Langard Residence! Unsupervised on top of that!


    ¡°And did you see her hands?¡± The ladies grimaced. Ever since their birth, they were instructed to fear callouses and scars. It was considered unseemly to ruin elegant fingers which needed to paint, sew, and perform music to perfection. In contrast, the crisscrossing patterns of scars across the Raven General¡¯s calloused hands were jarring. They looked painful and reminded them who exactly they were dealing with.


    Faye glanced down at said hands. The scars felt more vivid and detailed against the color of her dress. An uneasy feeling grew within her. These fists were stained with much more than scars, but it was the first time that their unseemliness occurred to her.


    ¡°Like a beast,¡± whispered one of the younger ladies. Her small voice trembled.


    Faye shoved her hands behind her back. To her shock, someone snatched them right back in front of her. The Raven General turned, ready for a fight. Only to falter at the sight of blazing blue eyes.


    ¡°Niko-¡° started Faye, but was cut off.


    Nikolai¡¯s grip was gentle but he dragged her forward. Faye gaped at her husband¡¯s uncharacteristic behavior. She was surprised he had not joined the group in mocking her.


    ¡°She is terrifying,¡± added one of the younger girls.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± muttered the others.


    ¡°So you all still have some common sense,¡± drawled a low voice.


    The women gaped at the Lord of Feldgrau who emerged from behind a corner. They glanced at one another fearfully. How much had he heard?


    ¡°My, my lord,¡± stammered the eldest. ¡°We did not know you were here!¡± She tried for a laugh. ¡°Or else the ladies and I would have included you in our little discussion.¡±


    Shadowed, blue eyes glanced over the crowd. ¡°Interesting,¡± he said, clearly not interested. ¡°Tell me, do you have room for one more?¡±


    It was then that the Raven General was pulled out of the darkness.


    Faye stumbled into the spotlight. The woman looked irritatedly at the Lord of Feldgrau. The general¡¯s exposed toes flexed and she clenched a sword in her free arm.


    When she turned to face the group of women, there was a terrifying scowl on her face.

 Chapter 20: Thrones & Thorns

    The group of ladies paled. Each trembled harder than the next, trying to recall their comments and wondering if their voices could be altered.


    Nikolai rested a hand on the small of Faye¡¯s back. Amber eyes widened. They glanced at him warily, unsure what to make of the action.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared ahead, but announced, ¡°Dear wife, these ladies have done a great disservice to their families by dishonoring you.¡±


    His eyes sharpened, but his voice was sweet and doting. The stoic ice prince seemed like a gentle lover. If his ire were not directed at them, the ladies would have blushed at the intimate sight. He spoke with a soft passion and genuine respect.


    ¡°My dear general, you are a princess of the grasslands and heir of the great Fadye. You are the highest-ranked woman in this castle after Queen Mother.¡± He leaned in close, but his words were clear for all to hear. ¡°Whatever punishment you see fit, I shall ensure it is perfectly delivered.¡±


    The lord leaned back and leveled her with a demure and calm look. As if he was not acting like some stranger had possessed him.


    Faye tried searching his face for an answer but found nothing. She was¡­ extremely confused. ¡°Why would I punish them? They speak the truth.¡± The woman crossed her arms. The sword lay against her chest. ¡°Although, I have not recently shot any man blindfolded. I would remember if I had ¡± She sneered, truly insulted. ¡°I have not missed a target since I was a child.¡±


    Nikolai raised an eyebrow. ¡°Dear wife, you didn¡¯t kill someone?¡±


    The Raven General scratched her head genuinely considering the question.


    The group of ladies grew closer to suffocating from fear the longer the Lady of Feldgrau continued to think.


    ¡°Not this week,¡± decided Faye. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you could show some mercy.¡± Nikolai shot the group of trembling women a look. ¡°It would be a pity if your streak was broken.¡± He looked almost bored as he studied them. ¡°Queen Mother would be displeased with staining the new floor with blood¡­. unless you truly desire it.¡± He bowed lowly. ¡°Your wish is my command, my dear wife.¡±


    There was a loud noise as one of the women fell onto her bottom in fright.


    ¡°Please!¡± screamed another, crawling towards the Raven General. ¡°Great general! Have mercy!¡±


    ¡°Lady Feldgrau, all those rumors I heard are from Lady Asinara¡¯s maid! I did not believe any of it to be true!¡± explained one, tears streaming down her face.


    Soon enough, every single noblewoman was groveling at the general¡¯s feet. Faye cocked her head to the side. It had been a while since she had seen such a sight. She swung her sword over her shoulder. Faye winced at the terrified shrieks the action caused. Not to mention, the groveling usually took place with enemy soldiers, not bawling and dolled-up women in expensive dresses.


    Unsure of what to do, Faye floundered for what to say. This wasn¡¯t in Abby¡¯s lessons! "Uhm," she stammered, "I suppose it is-"


    An arm took hers and looped it through the lord¡¯s own.


    Amber eyes glanced at the blank face.


    Nikolai led the way, walking away from the crying group. His expression was solemn and serious. His blue gaze shot towards hers, staring into them as if there were no one except for them in the hall. He murmured lowly. ¡°Leave them, Faye. They are not worth the dirt on your... feet.¡± He shot her an amused look. ¡°And yes, we can replace those shoes as well if you so desire it.¡±


    Faye¡¯s mind was stuck. Her heart beat erratically and she feared for her health. What was going on? All that grounded her was the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s firm hold. He was near enough for his warmth to seep into her side. They had not been this close since their disastrous wedding. She flushed, suddenly feeling ridiculously pleased.


    As the couple left, the unfortunate victims they left behind stared incredulously. Some even blinked and rubbed their eyes in disbelief.


    It was a sight to see.


    The ice prince and the barbarian general walked hand in hand, scarred flesh against pale skin, too entwined to tell where one began and the other ended.


    There was a pregnant pause before someone finally asked:


    ¡°Does that mean she isn¡¯t carrying Langard¡¯s spawn?¡±


    A resounding slap to the forehead followed.


    ---


    Faye sat in a stunned stupor. Her eyes were unfocused.


    Bian was the uncomfortable subject of the uncanny stare. The boy fidgeted in his seat, at a loss for what to do.


    ¡°What has that infuriating man done?¡± muttered Faye. ¡°Bian, I feel like that time my brothers knocked me off my horse!¡±


    Brian glanced towards the door. He respected the general very much, but he had no desire to be part of this conversation. The boy slowly inched towards the exit.


    ¡°I have been jealous before.¡±


    Bian froze. He had never heard the general so¡­ lost. Sighing, he returned to his seat.


    Faye¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I have been jealous of my siblings, jealous that they had their mothers. In the heat of battle I have been jealous of my enemies. By the gods, I have even envied my father before.¡± She gripped her chest. ¡°Always, I have longed to have what others have. But this," she paused, "this is the first time I am jealous of something I already possess.¡±


    She had felt desire before. It was only human. But never so strongly for something not related to a drive to fight and survive.


    ¡°General,¡± signed Bian slowly. The boy¡¯s youth often masked his experience, but he dealt in the trade of people-watching. Although the general was far from normal, he had seen enough to diagnose the truth. He looked at her earnestly. ¡°Have you developed¡­ romantic feelings for the lord?¡±


    There was a pause. Faye¡¯s nose scrunched. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t.¡± Then, her shoulders sagged and the young woman hugged herself. ¡°But sometimes I wonder if he¡¯s the only one that sees me. Not as a god or demon. But just me. He hates me.¡±


    She smiled widely. ¡°I annoy him. Not Fadye¡¯s heir or the Raven General. But me. Faye.¡± Shaking her head, she let out a rueful laugh. Before coming to Eburean she could count the number of times she heard her given name on one hand.


    Fadye always gazed at her but saw others, be it her lost brothers or mother. Those who supported her saw an immovable fortress, a god. Those who wished her dead saw an unnatural creature sent to torment them.


    No one saw Faye.


    Sometimes she wondered who was the Raven General. A weapon? An entity?


    It was a heavy mantle that she loved and hated in equal measure.


    Faye rubbed her temples. She was tired. All the years of fighting had taken a toll, something she was weary to admit. Could one grow tired of something they were so good at?


    The young woman held up her scarred hands. She imagined them soft and elegant like the ladies at court. In another life, maybe they would play an instrument instead of juggle swords and spears. Faye laughed at her foolish thoughts.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Scary, the girl had said. The child didn¡¯t know how true her words were. Faye¡¯s nails were dyed with the blood of the dying. And her scarred hands had tortured and slaughtered for just as long.


    But Faye thought back to the way Nikolai held them. As if¡­ they were precious.


    Her fists clenched. Faye sniffed and straightened. ¡°Bian what news of the border wars?¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai strode towards his study. Compared to the stuffiness of the castle, the Prince''s Residence silent halls were a welcomed reprieve.


    In his pocket, Ismelyda¡¯s message sat heavily.


    Although he did not blame her, Faye was sent by her clan to take his life. He thought the information would have hardened his heart towards her. But when he saw the young woman cowering behind the wall, so still and unlike herself, a mysterious force and rage had overcome him. Foolish, he chided himself. But Nikolai found that he did not quite care.


    ¡°My lord,¡± called a soft voice.


    The Lord of Feldgrau froze at the sound.


    A long-missed but familiar form rose. The dark eyepatch gleamed. Behind them stood a beaming Cristin. The attendant looked happier than he would have been if Nikolai decided to bequeath all his titles and castle to the man.


    But even Nikolai could not stop the small smile from lifting his lips. He held out an arm and gratefully pulled the other man into a tight embrace. ¡°It is good to see you, Darcy.¡±


    The one-eyed man smiled. ¡°I return with good news, my lord.¡± He stepped back to grab a letter from his riding pouch.


    Cristin smirked behind Darcy. He shot the ice prince an amused look. ¡°Darcy brought our men. We have about fifty stationed in the residence and another hundred scattered throughout the city.¡± He crossed his arms proudly like the accomplishment was his own. Faye¡¯s dismissal of the servants, although unplanned, had left the perfect opening to insert their own people. ¡°They are a moment¡¯s call away. Darcy the Brave has done it again!¡±


    Darcy handed the letter to Nikolai. He ribbed a crowing Cristin good-naturedly. His good eye crinkled in amusement. ¡°My lord, the mines are yours.¡± He lowered his head. ¡°The true battle can finally commence.¡±


    ---


    In a luxurious residence on the opposite end of the capital, Lord Asinor stroked through his grey beard.


    The roaring fireplace filled the room with warmth but the cold winds made his old bones ache. His eyes watched the flames lick greedily at the wood, full of life and vigor. How he missed his youth. To sleep one night without his body reminding of his age would be bliss. The only comforting thought was that Langard with his years of battle and injuries likely had it worse.


    ¡°I can tell you are thinking of General Langard,¡± chided a sharp voice.


    The head of the Court glanced to his beautiful daughter. Lady Asinara crossed her arms against her chest. The Lord frowned at her bruises lining her left arm but said nothing.


    Asinara rose, patting down her dress. ¡°That is all I have to say about the Queen¡¯s meeting.¡± She stared at him cooly. ¡°Is there anything else?¡±


    To the court and most nobles, Lord Asinor was a cold and proud individual. A prodigy in his youth and a master in his age. Yet, the distance that had grown between himself and his eldest daughter caused his heart to ache. ¡°How is the Raven General settling in?¡±


    Lady Asinara paused at the question. ¡°The ways of a noble women do not suit her,¡± she admitted evenly. ¡°I do not believe the general is familiar with our battlefield and has made many enemies with her mere presence alone.¡±


    Lord Asinor hummed thoughtfully.


    Asinara snapped, ¡°The rumors you had me spread with my maids did not help her reputation much either, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    Her father¡¯s lips raised into an amused smirk. ¡°Are you defending the Raven General, daughter?¡±


    Turning, the Rose of Eburean laughed mirthlessly. ¡°As if. But father, her standing in Court will also affect Nikolai¡¯s.¡±


    Lord Asinor rubbed his beard. ¡°That is not a concern of ours.¡± He leaned into his chair. ¡°In the king¡¯s absence, Queen Rewanna controls the court, we must play by her rules.¡± If the Queen Mother wished to tarnish the reputation of her step-daughter in law, who were they to stop that? In such matters, it made much sense to abide by the queen¡¯s wishes.


    He continued, ¡°If you are unable to see why I have asked to perform as I have, you still have much to learn, my dear.¡± The old man straightened, ¡°If he knows what is best, then the Lord of Feldgrau will return to Feldgrau after the Festival of Love.¡±


    Asinara rolled her eyes. ¡°And what of his wife?¡±


    Lord Asinor chuckled, ¡°It matters even less what happens to the general. If the gods are good, she will return to her land and continue to kill other barbarians for us." He chuckled, finding the irony humorous. "She is quite proficient in that regard.¡±


    Having heard enough, Asinara stormed to the door. Her beautiful face held an angry frown. Unconsciously, she grasped at her bruised left arm.


    ¡°Your sacrifice is for the betterment of our house and your future happiness, my dear,¡± reminded Lord Asinor. ¡°You will thank me someday.¡±


    Glaring, Asinara shook her head. She loved her father... but she would never forgive him for forcing her into this engagement. ¡°What if I protested that happiness lies in one that would love me for who I am," she sighed, "and not my beauty and house?¡±


    ¡°Then I would call you foolish.¡± Lord Asinor spoke his mind and was used to having his opinion respected. ¡°And foolish you are not, my dear. Either ways, be sure not to irritate the Raven General, I heard she is quite territorial. I do not want our house to get involved any more than necessary.¡±


    His daughter laughed in his face at the blatant warning.


    ¡°Asinara!¡± Lord Asinor snapped, ¡°Do not take this for a joke, the Raven General is not to be trifled with, do you understand? She will kill you for any slight!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it is too late, Father,¡± noted Asinara. ¡°I have insulted Lady Feldgrau twice now, once while hanging off her husband¡¯s arm and the other in front of the entire queen¡¯s court.¡± She smirked sardonically. ¡°And yet, here I am.¡±


    The young woman reveled in the loud slam of the heavy doors.


    ---


    Faye scanned the script in her hands. The candle flickered weakly beside her. She shot Bian another incredulous stare. ¡°This is impossible.¡±


    Not a single fight, rebel, or sign of protest? In all her years on and off the battlefield, Faye had never seen something so bizarre. If her men had truly brought down an insurgent army, there was no way their opponents would go down so peacefully. It was not the way of the Grasslands.


    The Raven General growled. The papers crumpled under her irritation. Someone was tampering with her information. Her eyes lifted to glance at the door. Somewhere on the other side of the residence, Nikolai slept or schemed. Could it be¡­ She shook away her own thoughts. What would be the purpose of getting involved in Grassland politics? Unfortunately, the realization brought little comfort. At least if the enemy were living in the same house, she could keep an eye on them. Now, her enemy pranced around her territory, greedily cementing power while she was away.


    And for that information to trick even Bian¡¯s messenger¡­ Trouble was stirring.


    Faye lowered her gaze back to the crumpled information. In truth, she had not wanted to resort to such methods so early.


    Bian approached, worry tensing his brows. He signed hesitantly. The boy was young but he had been in the information business for more than half his life.


    It was quiet as they waited for the general to make a decision. The charred ends of the candle fell off. It landed with a sizzling noise.


    Faye stood. ¡°Bian, I will tell Abby and the others you have gone to visit family.¡±


    The boy paused, he stared incredulously at her. ¡°They will believe you have killed me,¡± he signed.


    The Raven General laughed softly at that. He was probably right. But she could trust no one else. Despite being alone, Faye leaned forward whisper in Bian¡¯s ear. ¡°You must ride to Livye.¡± She reached into her pockets for the folded message. ¡°Tell my lieutenant the Raven General commands him to ride his fastest horse and not delay.¡± They had not left on good terms, her men unhappy with what they viewed as a deterrent to the Raven General¡¯s ascension to power. Still, she needed to hear the situation from Livye¡¯s mouth, only then could she be sure.


    Bian frowned. To sneak the lieutenant of the grasslands into Eburean¡­ He signed, ¡°You are still looking for the messenger of the grasslands war. I can be of more use here.¡±


    Faye shook her head. ¡°If someone has deceived even Belge¡¯s ears, there is something nefarious at play. We cannot be in the unknown.¡± She laid an encouraging hand on Bian¡¯s shoulder, tone softening. ¡°Bian, you are the only one I trust to reach Livye.¡±


    Anyone else would only deliver the wrong message at best or get her people killed. In her absence, every Wenge general was watching her troops greedily, eagerly awaiting a slip up that would allow them access to her highly trained forces.


    Hearing the serious tone, Bian nodded sharply. Although he was reluctant to leave the general to Eburean¡¯s mercy without a single ally, there was no choice. Bian could not shake the unsettling feeling in his heart that something would go horribly amiss in his absence. But he could not disobey the Raven General¡¯s orders.


    Bian took a step forward and kneeled. The boy pressed a hand to his forehead, then brushed the same hand against Faye¡¯s feet. With that, he took the folded message and hurried away, blending effortlessly into the shadows.


    Faye watched him go, expression stormy. Once she was sure Bian was gone, she allowed herself to sink into her seat.


    Faye had always had a sense for these things. It was what made her a legendary general. Still, sometimes the Raven General cursed her abilities.


    She could feel change in the air, trembling with the might of what was to come. She sighed. It was foolish to assume she¡¯d get a nice break. The scent of battle was all too familiar. The Raven General stretched and reached for her blade. If nothing else, at least her sword would be ready.


    Leaning forward, she blew on the candle, shrouding the room in darkness.

 Chapter 21: Weapon within the Walls

    The line of servants trailed into the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    Most of them were locals and had lived their entire lives next to the grand residence on the edges of the capital. They whispered eagerly to one another as they entered through the tall wooden gates.


    All possible candidates had been forced to go through an extensive interview process.


    But no one could blame them for being picky. It was rumored that after the Raven General had gotten rid of the castle maids, the Prince¡¯s Residence was highly in need of more help.


    However, for fear of aggravating the general, all of the servants were specifically picked with very odd specifications that had to do with unique features and certain quirks. Those who made it through the selection process were in luck. The hours were good and the pay was enough to keep them loyal.


    As the group shuffled in, one lone servant hung at the back of the line. He stared at the walls of the residence for a good minute.


    Catching sight of the straggler, one of the guards hollered, ¡°You there! Keep up!¡±


    The lone servant ducked their head and hurried forward.


    The guard rolled their eyes as they watched the servants head in. He cataloged some of the familiar faces. The last group of the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s men were hidden within this batch. For the past few days, they had been using the guise of employing new help to subtly bring their own people in.


    The guard glanced at a woman strolling around, just outside the gates. She wore a tattered cloak, its worn edges even dragged on the dirty streets, but her hair was pinned up with expensive, ornate clips. A castle worker, noted the guard, most likely within the inner circle of the queen herself.


    It was the third time she had passed their street, all while trying to discreetly watch the servants head in.


    The royal family needed to train better spies, the guard thought. He glanced back at his commander standing in the courtyard. As soon as the Lord had sent his message, calling them to him, the commander had pushed them to ride to the capital at breakneck speed.


    Catching his gaze, Commander Darcy returned his questioning expression with a sharp nod. The eye uncovered by the dark patch glanced through the rows of people, dissecting each individual.


    As soon as the straggling servant was in, the guard gestured for the others. His counterparts straightened and began to push.


    Within seconds, the heavy gates to the Prince¡¯s Residence echoed as they slammed shut.


    ¡ª


    Nikolai rubbed a hand over his brows. He adjusted the candle and then pushed it away. After sitting in the same spot for hours, his bones were starting to ache!


    Despite Rewanna¡¯s greatest wishes, Nikolai was not going to allow his distance from Feldgrau to diminish his lordship. Still, the strain was beginning to take a toll. The Lord of Feldgrau sighed. He missed his own study, so far away. It was only years of work and gathering steadfast loyalty that allowed Nikolai to still hold power over the region despite his absence. It was a strength and weakness that both his allies and enemies were aware of.


    Rolling his tense shoulders, Nikolai cursed under his breath. General Langard was many years his senior yet Nikolai was beginning to feel a kinship with the old man. Nikolai shuddered at the thought. Maybe Cristin was right, he should get up and take a rest.


    Pushing the papers away, he stretched. An unfinished trade agreement glared at him from its spot in his pile of documents. The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s fingers twitched.


    A loud knock resonated through the room.


    ¡°Come in, Abby,¡± called Nikolai, he leaned forward to pick up the agreement.


    The door creaked open. Silent footsteps crept in. There was silence.


    That was not Abby, decided the lord. He glanced up. Surprise colored his face. ¡°Bian?¡±


    The quiet serving boy stood like a silent shadow by the door.


    The trade agreement was set down.


    Intrigued, Nikolai studied the boy. The lord knew relatively little about Bian¡­ other than the fact that he and Faye had a bloodstained grudge that resulted in his muteness.


    Abby cautioned him in sending the boy into the general¡¯s path. But so far, Nikolai had not sensed any discontent from Bian. Nothing as strong as someone who lived in the same residence as their family¡¯s executioner should have. Although he held some suspicions, Bian¡¯s quiet but polite mannerisms and attention to detail had eased Nikolai of his worries.


    There had been more than one late night when the boy had crept in carrying a nice mug of tea. Nikolai never requested it nor did he know how Bian knew of his whereabouts and sleeping habits¡­ but it had become their silent routine.


    Loathe as Nikolai was to admit it, if this was a ploy to lower his guard, the trick had worked.


    Nikolai approached the silent boy. ¡°What is wrong, Bian?¡±


    The boy had a pack on his shoulder. A heavy cloak hung on his lean frame. He began to sign, but unfortunately, Nikolai could only understand the most basic of hand signals. Still, he understood the essence of it.


    Nikolai frowned, ¡°You are leaving?¡±


    Bian nodded sharply. Although the boy was far from expressive, there was a tight pinch to his brows.


    Suspicion reared its head but Nikolai suppressed the doubt for a moment.


    ¡°Frederick will miss you,¡± he commented. It was true. The other boy had practically glued himself to Bian¡¯s side and the two had since become fast friends despite the smaller boy¡¯s penchant for silence.


    The lord crossed his arms. He coughed awkwardly and glanced out the windows. In the far end of the Prince¡¯s Residence were Faye¡¯s chambers.


    ¡°Bian,¡± Nikolai paused, considering how to phrase his next words. ¡°Did you have a dispute with the Raven General?¡± A protectiveness rushed through him. ¡°I am sure there is a misunderstanding. If I can help-¡°


    Bian shook his head firmly. He raised three fingers and placed them over his chest.


    Nikolai fell silent. This was a sign he knew.


    Protect.


    The lord frowned, ¡°Protect from who, Bian? Is someone in danger?¡±


    The boy strode forward and tapped on Nikolai. Once again, he placed the three fingers over his chest. Shocked, the lord did not have a chance to scold Bian for his forwardness.


    ¡°Me?¡± questioned Nikolai. ¡°I am in danger?¡±


    Bian raised his hands, interlacing his thumbs. He nodded towards the wall. Against the light of the candle, Bian¡¯s hands made a shadowed image. It was the shape of a bird. He then nodded at the decorative sword hung on the wall. Nikolai¡¯s frown deepened. A bird and a sword. ¡°The Raven General?¡±


    Blue eyes sharpened. The hair on the back of Nikolai¡¯s neck rose. ¡°I¡¯m in danger from the Raven General?¡±


    ¡ª


    Rufus couldn¡¯t stop the shaking of his hands. They trembled like he had some sort of sickness. The young lord glared at them, but the act did nothing in suppressing his fear. They continued to shake as he slid through the hall, trying to blend in with the candle-lit halls.


    Today he was going to do something he had never done before. Rufus shuddered.


    Enter his father¡¯s private study¡­ and go through his things.


    Rufus gulped. The boy tiptoed forward. Ever since he was a child, his brothers had heralded him with stories of his father¡¯s brutality on the battlefield. His bravery and willingness to personally execute traitors and spies. It was a surprisingly common dinner table topic for a family of generals and court officials.


    Wetting his lips, Rufus froze. He was in front of his father¡¯s study. This was it.


    Considering his father¡¯s rank in the kingdom, the general¡¯s study was filled with national secrets and highly coveted battle plans. It was one of the reasons why so many guards were stationed at the General¡¯s Residence.


    From the slight crack of the door, Rufus watched his father¡¯s shadow pacing the room. A dim candle sat on his study. Its wax dripped onto the table. In the cold night, the fireplace served as a backdrop to General Langard¡¯s muttering. In the back of his mind, Rufus wondered what had his father so stressed.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Swallowing hard, Rufus steeled himself to enter but found that he was stuck in place. His body refused to obey his mind. Fear stayed his hand as he stood frozen in the hallway¡­ like an idiot.


    Suddenly, Rufus saw his father approach the candle. In his hands were a stack of letters. Lifting the pile over the candle, the general held the papers to the fire, watching them burn.


    Rufus¡¯ heart was in his throat! What if those were the papers he was searching for?


    ¡°Father!¡± Rufus slapped a wide grin on his face.


    General Langard¡¯s head snapped up. He pulled the papers away from the fire, blew out the small flame, and set the letters in his drawer.


    Rufus braced himself as his father made his way to the door.


    Seeing his youngest son, General Langard sighed, ¡°What is it, Rufus? I was in-¡°


    ¡°Mother has called for you,¡± lied Rufus. ¡°It¡­ she said it was urgent?¡±


    Old Langard raised an incredulous eyebrow. ¡°And she sent you to fetch me? Not a servant?¡±


    Rufus shrugged helplessly, but before he could come up with an excuse, his father shook his head. ¡°She must have wanted to get you out of your room.¡± General Langard shot his son a long look. ¡°How long do you plan to waste away before making something of yourself, Rufus?¡±


    Trying for a sheepish smile, Rufus could only laugh awkwardly. ¡°Father, it¡¯s not that I want to-¡°


    General Langard¡¯s frown hardened. ¡°What is it that we have not given you, Rufus? I do not ask you to be your elder brothers but to just make something of yourself.¡± The father gripped his youngest son by the shoulders.


    Rufus tensed but his little bit of pride prevented him from slipping away. He was so close to his goal!


    ¡°Every day at court I hear of the new courtesan you are pursuing or your mother¡¯s hiring of new teachers. ¡± General Langard looked physically pained. ¡°It is my fault, I know. You were too young when I went away to war, and when I returned, you were practically half-grown.¡±


    Rufus stiffened at the tender look on his father¡¯s face. It was a sight he had never seen before. He tensed as his father lifted a hand to caress his face.


    Rufus swallowed hard. ¡°It is not your fault, father. But mine,¡± he croaked. His eyes stung. He backed away from the hold. ¡°I am sorry I cannot be a son that you are proud of. I am not my brothers.¡± He laughed harshly. ¡°I am not even good enough to beat stupid Asinoro Vellward.¡±


    General Langard¡¯s eyes were soft. ¡°All I ask is that you become a man that you are proud of. Nothing more or less.¡±


    A sudden stream of anger rushed through the young man.


    Liar Rufus wanted to scream. His father spoke gentle words but not the truth. He was a legendary general in need of legendary sons. Unlike his talented older brothers who were taught personally by General Langard, Rufus had been taught by tutors all his life.


    When his father returned from the war front, Rufus had been delighted. Growing up in the residence with his mother and the servants, he had dreamed of the day his father would teach him to wield a sword or play a game of chess. Unfortunately for both of them, General Langard was a man accustomed to being surrounded by the extremely talented.


    In the few sessions they had had, father and son both quickly learned that the former had neither the patience nor time to teach someone so ungifted in¡­ everything.


    Rufus could still remember when his father had patted his back and walked away for the last time. It had been an afternoon of failed target practice. Not a single arrow had hit the target much less the center bullseye. Rufus¡¯ father had urged him to stop, promising to resume again the next morning.


    Desperate to please his father, Rufus practiced the entire night till daybreak. His fingers had bled but he did not stop until he could finally hit the target.


    But when morning came, General Langard had been called away to a meeting. Furious at the broken promise, Rufus stormed in and interrupted the council of generals and commanders. To his parent¡¯s horror, the young Rufus had demanded that his father watch his improvement. In good nature, the hall of great men gathered to watch with Langard as his son let loose his arrow. True to his practice, Rufus¡¯ arrow hit the target. He turned in delight to face his father.


    However, all he found was the group of war generals laughing at the fact Rufus had missed the bullseye completely. They teased General Langard whose face had filled with shame.


    Lowering his bow, Rufus had called out to his father¡­ only to watch as the man turned his back and headed back to his war room without a single word.


    Needless to say, Rufus never discussed archery, or any other matter truly, with his father again.


    Pulled back to the present, Rufus chided himself for the lapse in control. He had not thought of the target incident in years. He had no idea where such a memory had sprung from.


    Stepping back again, Rufus regarded his father with a bright smile. It was the same one he shot his infuriated tutors and mocking peers. Do you really want to waste time on a fool, his smile seemed to question. ¡°But Father I am proud! A proud man of love!¡± Rufus grasped his chest dramatically.


    The soft look on General Langard¡¯s face faded into one of resignation. But through the years, Rufus¡¯ naturally thick skin had only grown thicker.


    Rufus crossed his arms. ¡°Mother sounded quite urgent,¡± he offered. Stretching his arms up, Rufus forced a yawn. ¡°And I feel a need to return to my bed to dream of beautiful maidens, Father. So, if you could-¡°


    ¡°How did I end up with a son like you.¡± Stomping followed as General Langard stormed down the hall, muttering the entire way.


    Rufus paused. As soon as his father turned down the other corridor, he heaved a sigh of relief and clutched his chest. ¡°I thought he would never leave!¡±


    Without another moment¡¯s hesitation, Rufus hurried into the room. He pulled open the drawers and took out the letters. The corners were singed and the room smelt faintly of burnt paper.


    The letter on the top must have been the one that had his father in such turmoil, Rufus guessed. The letter read:


    ¡°Friend, the Grasslands suspect our partnership. A raven is on our tail, destroy all evidence that may lead them to our secrets.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes narrowed. This is exactly what the Raven General was looking for. His eyes scanned down to the sender. They widened. The letter was signed as Rufus Langard!


    The boy gaped. But he had never sent such letters! Frantically, he began to scan through the different letters. There were different code words. Most of the short messages made no sense to him. The color drained from his face. Every single letter was signed under Rufus¡¯ own name.


    From outside the hall came the sound of approaching footsteps. Rufus plucked a few of the letters from the center of the pile. The young lord stuffed them into his pockets. Hearing the footsteps and voices growing closer, he readjusted the pile so that the first letter was back on top.


    Pulling open the drawer, he returned the pile to its original place and slid out of his father¡¯s study. He could only freeze in place as he heard the footsteps come around the corner.


    Rufus prayed that they would not question him.


    As they turned the corner, the two guards stared at Rufus Langard standing in front of General Langard¡¯s study, staring intently at the closed door. They glanced at one another and slowly approached the boy.


    ¡°Uh, young master?¡± The first tapped the young lord¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Dear gods!¡± Rufus sprung around, face pale as a ghost. ¡°By the gods, my father should attach bells to you! Why do you walk so silently?¡±


    The guards stared questioningly at one another. Surely with their heavy armor and conversation, the two could be heard from quite a distance away. Still, they refrained from commenting. It was common knowledge that the youngest Langard was quite peculiar¡­ and not exactly the brightest.


    ¡°Young master, are you waiting for your father?¡± questioned the second guard.


    Rufus flushed and crossed his arms. ¡°Why of course! Why else would I be standing in front of his study? Do you think I like waiting around like an idiot?¡±


    Again, the guards politely refrained from commenting. Still, the first was kind enough to mention, ¡°But your father is in a meeting with your mother right now, young lord.¡±


    The boy¡¯s face flushed even further. He threw his hands up in the air and growled in frustration. ¡°Why does no one tell me of these things! Gods, it¡¯s annoying! So! Stupid!¡± Yelling and kicking (horribly) at the walls and decorations in the hall, Rufus Langard found his own way out. ¡°Everyone just takes me for a fool! I¡¯ve been standing for half an hour and he wasn¡¯t even there! I can¡¯t believe this!¡±


    The howling faded as he disappeared around the corner, presumably to go simmer in embarrassment in his room.


    The two guards shot one other a pitying look. To have such a son¡­Poor General Langard.


    ¡ª


    It was too late to be morning but too early to be night. In the hours before dusk, a lone figure wandered the great walls of the Prince¡¯s Residence. They carried a bucket of dirty water. It was the straggling servant from the morning.


    After dumping the bucket¡¯s contents, they approached one of the stones in the wall. The servant pulled the false rock out. Sticking their hand into the wall, the man pulled out twin blades.


    The assassin smiled down at his weapons. His target was supposed to be long dead by now, but who would have known that the Prince¡¯s Residence would be so hard to infiltrate? The smile twisted into an ugly frown. The lord¡¯s security had been surprisingly good and after the Raven General had dismissed so many of their staff, only the steadfast and loyal ones remained, making them impenetrable to bribes. The dual-bladed assassin had had to move his family into hiding for fear that his employer would take their lives for the incomplete job.


    The assassin stared at the Prince¡¯s Residence. He had been lucky. An interviewee whose background had been cleared had to return to the countryside to take care of his ailing mother. A sob story and enough money to buy adequate medicine were enough for the young servant to give his certifications over to the assassin. Once in the system, it was easy enough to get in.


    With a sigh, the assassin stuck his dual blades back into the wall. Hefting the false rocks up, he placed them back into position.


    Soon, when the time was right, his blades would be ready to strike.


    Unfortunately, tonight was not the night.


    The fake servant picked his bucket back up and headed in towards the servant¡¯s quarters. Soon, he chided himself. Soon.


    ¡ª


    In the streets, the commoners were busy preparing decorations of lanterns and ribbons. If one were to walk down the street they would be in awe at the ornate silk strings hanging from every corner.


    Couples walking together blushed rosily at the upcoming holiday.


    The merchants were extremely happy as they convinced lovesick teenagers to purchase the perfect gift for the Festival of Lantern: the ultimate celebration of love.


    Unlike the festivities of Morning Day, the Festival of Lanterns was known as the commoners¡¯ celebration. The castle and nobles had their ways of showing off but rarely were there large banquets or lavish parties. Some of the nobility even scoffed at the notion. What use was a celebration of found love for a group of people that based their marriages on political interest? Sweet romantic love was left for the regular folk and a very lucky few.


    Regardless, despite its dismissal, appearance still had to be made. The Prince¡¯s Residence sent their new servants out on errands and Abby gave the younger ones extra coin to splurge on the delights available only at the time of the Festival.


    More than a few couples bought painted lanterns, daydreaming about the last day of the festival when they would release it together in the main streets of the capital.


    Deep in the kitchen of the Prince¡¯s Residence, a loud scream echoed through the halls. The haunting sound echoed through the entire city.

 CHAPTER 22: Chopped Goat Liver

    The chefs and cooking servants cowered in fear. They stared at the crazy general who held a large knife in her hands. The blade glinted evilly.


    The head chef was practically drenched in cold sweat. What exactly was one supposed to do in this situation?


    Faye exhaled out of her nose. She turned to glare at the head chef. ¡°Who messed with my chopped goat liver?¡±


    The man groaned internally. He had told a young servant to take care of it. Unfortunately, the child had taken the order too literally. The goat liver was nowhere in sight, clearly discarded.


    Despite his fear, the head chef was a man who took care of his own. Squaring his shoulders, he prepared to take the blame. He prayed the lord would take good care of his family.


    ¡°Never mind!¡± Before the chef could even begin to explain, the general waved them away. ¡°Out! Out!¡± She scowled, ¡°Let me work in peace.¡±


    The kitchen staff were only too happy to oblige. With Faye waving around the butcher knife, it only added to the speed at which the room was emptied.


    The head chef praised the gods on his way out.


    In the resulting silence, Faye let out a sigh. She glanced down at the recipe she had scribbled on a piece of parchment. This was the first day of the Lantern Festival. Her grip on the parchment tightened.


    According to Rufus, this was her chance to repay Nikolai¡¯s¡­ kindness.


    Faye rolled up her sleeves. She was the Raven General. Her meals during war campaigns were always improvised, randomly generated recipes based on what was available in the rations. Missing goat liver would not deter her. She did admit that the loss of such a key ingredient peeved her. And¡­ it was possible she had overreacted¡­ slightly.


    The general¡¯s warrior braids were swept up into a tight bun. She had put in extra time to do them in the morning, employing the help of Aimee¡¯s small but nimble fingers. The girl was a fast learner.


    Faye cracked her knuckles. Today, the kitchen would be her battlefield. And it was one she intended to conquer. No one had denied the deliciousness of her food. Nikolai¡­ Well, she hoped he would be slightly pleased.


    It would be nice to see the cold mask crack.


    ¡ª


    The three men huddled over the table filled with maps and notes.


    Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes glinted. Everything had to be perfect. Tonight, the plan would be presented and sent out to all of their major supporters. There would be no turning back once they set the chain of orders into motion.


    Nikolai turned to find Darcy. His head commander was busy rolling up the last of the scrolls that would be sent out. Behind him, Cristin lounged on the chair, fidgeting with his stack of papers.


    Perceptive as ever, Darcy coughed softly. ¡°Is there something you wish to ask me, my lord?¡± He stopped in his work to address the lord¡¯s heavy gaze.


    At the other¡¯s request, even Cristin stopped in his fidgeting.


    Feeling the heavy questions in their gaze, Nikolai sighed. They thought he was worried about the plans.


    If they were anyone else, he would have dismissed their concerns. But Darcy and Cristian had bene by his side for almost longer than he could remember. There were few people he trusted more than these two.


    Nikolai looked away. ¡°Did you see him?¡±


    Darcy pursed his lips.


    The ice prince crossed his arms. ¡°It is fine if you did not.¡±


    ¡°Although not in person,¡± Darcy was deliberately careful with his words. ¡°I did have a spy gather information.¡± He shared a glance with Cristin who shook his head warningly. However, the eye-patched man continued, ¡°I will not lie to you, my lord. Time in his¡­ conditions has not been kind to His Highness.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but under the table his fists clenched.


    Cristin cut in, ¡°His Highness is strong, my lord. And our plan is coming to fruition.¡± He placed a comforting hand on his liege¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Soon the crown prince will be free.¡±


    Darcy nodded in agreement. ¡°It is only a matter of time.¡±


    Still, Nikolai¡¯s blank mask was unchanged.


    Cristin crossed his arms and huffed under his breath. ¡°And we can finally leave this dreaded place.¡± The attendant paused, ¡°That is if we win the fight and leave here in one piece.¡± There was another pause. ¡°Preferably alive.¡±


    Nikolai and Darcy both shot him unimpressed looks.


    The lord grunted, ¡°Cristin, please never try to comfort me again.¡±


    The attendant¡¯s mouth dropped open. Before he could protest, Darcy made the wise decision to drag him out of the room. Cristin¡¯s very loud complaints followed.


    Nikolai dropped his head into his hands. Darcy¡¯s words were heavy news that he had expected. Still, the confirmation of his greatest fears did nothing to alleviate the guilt within his heart.


    His proud, fearless brother, reduced to a starving prison sentenced to live out his days at the edge of the world. Nikolai couldn¡¯t stop the anger and helplessness that suffocated him. The last time he had seen his brother, they had both been boys. Now, they were grown men.


    Their efforts were moving as fast as possible, but it wasn¡¯t enough. Tried as he did to maintain his cold facade, the depressing image of his brother staring accusatively at him etched itself into his mind.


    A knock sounded on the door.


    ¡°Enter,¡± the Lord of Feldgrau didn¡¯t even bother lifting his head.


    ¡°Uhm, sir,¡± squeaked a voice. ¡°The general, she is, uhm-¡°


    The lord closed his eyes. ¡°She is the lady of the house, unless she is actively hurting another, leave her be.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± stammered the servant. ¡°But the celebration feast is being delayed because-¡°


    Blue eyes flashed. ¡°Have Cristin or Darcy deal with it,¡± he snapped. Internally, Nikolai flinched at the volume of his voice. More guilt warred within him at the baffled expression on the servant¡¯s face. Nikolai rarely ever raised his voice. ¡°Apologies,¡± the lord sighed. ¡°I, this is not, I can¡¯t-¡°


    To his surprise, the servant merely shot him a smile. The man had followed his lord into enemy territory all the way from Feldgrau, it would take more than a raised voice to frighten him. ¡°I apologize for bringing such simple problems to you, my lord.¡± They proudly declared, ¡°I will personally ensure the matter is dealt with. Please do not worry, my lord.¡±


    With a lowered head, they saw themselves out, but not before hearing the soft thank you the lord uttered.


    However, as soon as they were outside, the servant¡¯s peaceful expression dropped. They clutched their head in frustration. How was anyone supposed to deal with the Raven General?


    Catching sight of Commander Darcy, they rushed forward. Hopefully, the other man would have the answer.


    ¡ª


    Darcy did not know what to make of the bubbling liquid in the pot. The stoic commander raised an incredulous eyebrow. His good eye squinted. The slight purple tinge of the liquid was almost disturbing enough to make him squirm.


    Instead, he turned to face the frowning Raven General. She held her spatula like one would a sword. The spatula appeared in front of his face, pointing accusatively at him. Purple goop dripped off it.


    Darcy prayed it would not stain his shirt.


    Amber eyes flashed angrily. ¡°I was not to be disturbed.¡± The Raven General was a dominating presence, a force of nature that could make any sane person freeze. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Snapping out of his revelry, Darcy straightened and inclined his head. ¡°My lady, I am Darcy.¡±


    ¡°Darcy,¡± tested the general. She frowned, ¡°I¡¯ve seen you around these past few days. What is your relation to Nikolai?¡±


    ¡°I was not aware the lord and lady were on first-name basis,¡± Darcy was genuinely shocked by the revelation.


    ¡°You did not answer my question.¡± However, his comment seemed to amuse the general. The spatula was lowered. ¡°Tell me, has Abby sent you?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly,¡± admitted the commander. He tried to think of an explanation for the frightened servant begging for his intervention.


    Thankfully, the Raven General did not seem too concerned with getting an answer. Having assessed the disruption, she resumed stirring the¡­ colorful goop.


    ¡°Madam, as you know, tonight is the first night of the Lantern Festival,¡± started Darcy. ¡°As such, there is much preparation for the small banquet the lord is hosting.¡±


    The stirring froze. ¡°There is a banquet tonight?¡± There was an uncertain note in the general¡¯s voice.


    Darcy nodded, ¡°Yes, my lady. Many esteemed guests have been invited."


    Amber eyes widened imperceptibly. The spoon clattered to the table as she groaned. ¡°What!¡±


    The commander was at a loss for such an extreme reaction. Was it something he said?


    ¡°There won¡¯t be enough stew to go around!¡± cried the Raven General. She seemed genuinely distressed by the revelation.


    Darcy choked. Always one to recover quickly, he attempted to comfort the general. In the back of his mind, he gagged at the thought that the soup was to be ingested by others. ¡°Perhaps we can serve¡­ smaller portions, my lady?¡±


    The Raven General brightened at the suggestion. ¡°Great idea, Darcy.¡± She sniffed the stew and gave a satisfied nod. ¡°You know, if you weren¡¯t Nikolai¡¯s man, I would take you for myself, Lord Darcy. Such a sensible commander.¡±


    To his own horror, Darcy found himself flushing. Such suggestive language. What did the lady mean by that?


    ¡°My lieutenant just complains about the color,¡± she grunted as she resumed stirring. ¡°But he¡¯s good at what he does.¡± Amber eyes flitted over to shoot Darcy a challenging stare. ¡°I wonder if your lord can say the same?¡±


    An army orphan and then a soldier, Darcy could recognize a test of arms when he saw one. He weighed the options in his mind. From the reports and the little he saw of her, the commander did not know what to make of the woman. Was the Raven General a friend or foe? Although she seemed pleasant enough, if he sensed any hint of danger towards his lord, Darcy would not hesitate to cut her down.


    Seeing her stare glittering with dangerous intent, Darcy decided that it would be a good time to remind the general that the lord was far from unguarded. He had heard much of Cristin¡¯s reservation about Lady Feldgrau.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Plus, it would finally get her out of the kitchen.


    Darcy smiled politely.


    ¡°My lady, I heard you¡¯ve taken to using trees as sparring opponents.¡±


    The Raven General barked out a good-natured laugh. ¡°That is not untrue.¡±


    Darcy nodded, ¡°Well, in that case, I offer myself as an opponent for you to test your skills with the blade against.¡±


    Amber eyes widened, although this had been her intention all along she was still surprised. But shock quickly transformed into delight. ¡°Why commander,¡± she laughed, ¡°I thought you would never ask.¡±


    The wooden stirrer was finally set down as the Raven General reached for her blade. Part of Darcy wondered if she had used the longsword to cut the vegetables.


    Faye smirked, ¡°Lead the way.¡±


    ---


    Nikolai rolled his eyes as Cristin huffed angrily for the hundredth time. His loyal attendant had been glued to the window for the past two hours.


    At the sound of another angry exhale, Nikolai set down his papers. ¡°For the love of,¡± Nikolai exhaled, trying to regain his patience. ¡°What has you in such a mood, Cristin?¡±


    The attendant tore his gaze away from the window and turned to face his lord. ¡°They¡¯re fighting!¡± Cristin frowned, ¡°Why would Darcy be spending time fighting the Raven General? He¡¯s giving the enemy insider information on how to beat us!¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau rose from his seat. He knew of the fight. Darcy had dutifully sent a note ahead to inform him. ¡°Faye is not the enemy. Darcy clearly wants to test her skills as well. After all, none of us have actually seen her against a true-¡° his voice died off as he reached the window and saw the battle in the courtyard.


    The two sword masters moved like they were entangled in an intricate dance. Darcy¡¯s renowned strength with the blade and penchant for holding a strong defensive was matched by Faye¡¯s inhuman agility and speed. The Raven General treated the sword like an extension of herself. She moved like a raging fire, full of life and relentless. But there was a certain calmness that flowed off of her. Against a live opponent, Faye was truly in her element and for once, held the patience of an ancient master who had devoted their lives to their craft.


    In contrast, Darcy was like water, absorbent and flowing.


    Although both were covered in sweat it was clear who had the upper hand. Darcy fought hard and his best while Faye was clearly experimenting. The young woman would change her grip, switch the blade between both hands, and sometimes even add flips and twirls. At times, she incorporated new styles and types of movements that would throw any opponent off. It made her hard to predict and defend against.


    There were times when Faye would falter over a new movement which Darcy was quick to take advantage of. But the general was always fast to recover. Within three or four times that they exchanged blows, Faye would have mastered the move. This was the true strength of a prodigy. The power of a legend. It was why the Raven General¡¯s fame had spread so wide and far and why a mere whisper of her name had enemies trembling in fear.


    Nikolai watched the silent joy on Faye¡¯s face. He wondered if she had missed this. For duty, she had gone from the most celebrated warrior in Wenge to a political prisoner. A foreigner with a husband who rarely spoke to her.


    Internally, Nikolai made a note to ask Darcy his interest in continuing to practice with the general. It would be good for his commander to learn to defend against a strong opponent. And from the bright grin on Faye¡¯s face as she dodged the sword strikes, he thought that she would enjoy them as well. They may be on opposite sides, but he did not wish to treat her unfairly.


    ¡°My lord, this is absurd,¡± complained Cristin. ¡°Darcy is a busy man, surely he- By the gods!¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s head snapped back to the fight. His eyes immediately sought Faye¡¯s kneeling form. The general had¡­ lost?


    But her smirking form hardly seemed defeated. Her smirk was a contrast to a glaring Darcy who held his sword to her throat.


    ¡ª


    ¡°That was quite the duel,¡± commented the Raven General nonchalantly. She pushed Darcy¡¯s blade away and stood. The young woman brushed herself off like she hadn¡¯t just given Darcy the hardest fight of his life. The Raven General picked up her fallen blade.


    With a flick of her wrist, she slid the blade against her shirt, wiping the dirt away.


    ¡°Congratulations on the win, Commander,¡± she shot him a knowing look. ¡°Not many have that claim over me.¡±


    Darcy let out a bewildered laugh. ¡°My lady, you jest.¡± He sheathed his own sword and adjusted his loose eyepatch. ¡°The only reason I bested you was because you attempted to,¡± he shook his head, still bewildered, ¡°throw your blade in the air to block my attack.¡±


    It was a stupid move.


    However, Darcy had to admit that if the General had added slightly more strength and timed the throw better, the move would have worked.


    The Raven General laughed, ¡°What¡¯s the point of practice if not to push our limits?¡±


    ¡°Is that what you do on the battlefield?¡± asked Darcy testily.


    ¡°I do not play around when it comes to the lives of my men,¡± amber eyes shot the commander an unimpressed look. ¡°Surely there is a difference between practice and a real fight in Feldgrau, as well?¡±


    Darcy nodded his head in acknowledgment. Although her moves seemed sporadic and rash, the commander could recognize the refined strength and finessed precision of the general¡¯s attack. ¡°I meant no offense, general.¡±


    ¡°None taken,¡± the young woman shrugged. ¡°Did I pass the test?¡±


    The commander knew better than to brush off her question. ¡°Did I pass yours, my lady?¡±


    The general snorted, ¡°With the highest of honors.¡± She swung her blade over her shoulder and walked towards the residence. ¡°Until next time, Commander Darcy. I must prepare for the dinner tonight.¡±


    But Darcy did not let her get far.


    ¡°Raven General, what is your intention with the lord?¡± Darcy stood resolute as she turned to frown at him.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked.


    Darcy straightened, ¡°You seem an honorable and just warrior. However, I know that you are honor-bound as the rest of us.¡± His eyepatch may have hidden his one eye but it did not hide the sharp, warning edge to his voice. ¡°If you ever do anything that could threaten the lord¡¯s wellbeing, I must warn you that I will not hesitate to cut you down.¡±


    The Raven General tilted her head. At first, Darcy thought she would turn and leave. To his surprise, she asked softly. ¡°Do you hold something close to your heart, commander?¡±


    Startled by the question, Darcy froze. A certain person¡¯s image came to mind. ¡°I do, General.¡±


    ¡°As do I,¡± said the Raven General. ¡°But when it comes to love and duty, which wins, Commander?¡±


    Darcy did not know how to respond. Love versus duty. ¡°My loyalty is to the lord,¡± he decided. It was true. If ever the question came to choice, although it would pain him, he knew what his choice would be. Darcy knew his partner would say the same.


    The Raven General inclined her head. ¡°I think we are very similar, Commander.¡± With that, she continued back to the residence.


    Darcy did not know what to make of the general¡¯s answer and her question left him with only more of his own.


    ¡ª


    The kitchen staff had truly put their best into serving the lord¡¯s guests well. Many were eager to finish off their duties so that they could enjoy the nightly celebrations after their shifts. However, tensions were running high. There was too much to do and too little time. Within the chaotic mess, it was fairly easy for someone to sneak into the kitchen. The strict regulations that usually kept out any non-kitchen staff had been disregarded in the rush to quickly finish the menu for the lord¡¯s personal banquet.


    The false servant quickly slipped their way past dishes and the yelling head-chef. He picked his way through the crowd until he reached his target.


    The purplish goop soup was still bubbling. However, per the commander¡¯s orders (and fear of the general¡¯s wrath) it had been left undisturbed.


    The assassin smirked. Glancing around, they were fast to slip a satchel from their sleeves into their hands. They sprinkled the coarse white powder into the soup. The powder disintegrated and melted into the material.


    The man went to pick up a stirrer, it would be best to mix it well and leave nothing to chance.


    ¡°Hey!¡± yelled a voice. It was the head chef. ¡°Get away from that pot!¡±


    The assassin froze. He dropped the stirrer and bowed his head. At the head chef¡¯s reproach and the attention of the entire kitchen, he mumbled an apology and slipped out of the area as fast as he could.


    ¡°Make sure no one else goes near the lady¡¯s soup!¡± hollered the chef. His eyes and frazzled hair promised pain to any that dared to disobey. Seeing the frantic nods of agreement he scowled, ¡°Now get back to work!¡±


    As the staff resumed in their duties the man called over his assistant. He lowered his voice. ¡°Check into that servant, I¡¯ve never seen him around here before.¡±


    The assistant¡¯s eyes widened. They quickly nodded.


    Outside of the kitchen, the assassin groaned. This was a cursed job. Nothing ever went to plan.


    He clenched his fists. Although they itched for his dual blades, the snake flower powder would draw less attention. He could only hope that the painful convulsions it caused would make his wait worthwhile. The assassin rolled their shoulders.


    If all went well, tragedy would strike the Prince¡¯s Residence tonight.


    ¡ª


    Faye froze at the doors to her chamber. She did not know whether to smile or scowl at the sight of her husband sitting on her bed. The Lord of Feldgrau looked up at her entrance. He even had the guts to shoot her an amused look.


    The young woman sighed. She crossed her arms. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure, dear husband?¡± Her tone was as sharp as her blade. Although she was not displeased to see him, the invasion of her private space irked her. She also refused to acknowledge the nervous croak in her voice. ¡°You of all people should know that proper etiquette requires you knock.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s amusement faded slightly. ¡°I suppose I do deserve that.¡± He gestured helplessly to the large package sitting beside him. ¡°I was going to wait till you came back but Abby told me to drop this off and hurry to get ready myself. So, you see, I,¡± Nikoali paused, slightly confused at his own ramblings. He had a penchant for using too little words, never too many. ¡°I apologize,¡± he bowed his head towards her. ¡°I will take my leave now.¡±


    As he strode past her, a hand shot out to hold him in place. Instincts made him stiffen as his body prepared for its fight or flight response. He glanced warily up to meet Faye¡¯s piercing gaze.


    She seemed to be in a good mood and shot him a playful smirk. ¡°Stay while I open this gift.¡± Seeing that he would not bolt at the first chance he got, Faye released his arm and grabbed the package. It was heavy and the length was almost as tall as she.


    ¡°How else will I determine if I should thank or gut you?¡± she continued.


    With anyone else, the lord would have played if off as a joke. With his wife, the circumstances were quite different. Faye¡¯s sword was too close in range of his¡­ guts. Nikolai sighed, ¡°Of course. I would expect no less.¡±


    Faye raised an eyebrow at his resigned tone but continued in her unwrapping. She tore away the paper without much fanfare. However, the mighty general froze at what was underneath. She brushed the ripped package away.


    Nikolai peeked over, curious.


    ¡°This is the one from¡­¡± Faye¡¯s voice drifted off. It was the remake of the dresses. The one she had requested in their ride to the castle. Every single one had been made identical to the original, just as she had asked.


    The Lord of Feldgrau tipped his head. ¡°I know we are not on¡­ the best of terms. However, it felt remiss if I did not repay your patience with a¡­ gift.¡±


    Every other married woman in the kingdom would receive a gift for the festivities.


    He did not mention that Abby had had to remind him numerous times of the special occasion. Although they were far from¡­ lovers, they were at least fine acquaintances and Faye deserved to be gifted a special ornament like the rest of the ladies in the kingdom would be.


    ¡°You could have sent a servant,¡± murmured his wife. Amber eyes sought his.


    Nikolai blinked. It was true. He opted for the truth. ¡°I felt like delivering it myself.¡±


    Her eyes widened. She felt a foreign heat fill her cheeks as she watched him go.


    Once she was alone, Faye slapped her cool hands on her flaming face.


    A helpless smile came onto her face. He had one-upped her again. For supposed strangers, the ice prince was quite the gift-giver. Faye¡¯s mind drifted towards her own special surprise.


    Nikolai wasn¡¯t the only one who knew how to deliver a present.


    ¡ª


    In the main hall, guests started to trickle in. Abby, her own attire perfectly cleaned and proper, ushered the servants to lead the lords and ladies to the main banquet hall.


    The assortment of merchants, commanders, and nobility were all secretly Nikolai¡¯s newly sworn bannermen. His compatriots in their cause. There were a few extra who had been invited to distract from the gathering of some of the most powerful people in the capital. It was a precaution in case the queen was keeping an eye on them. It was also why some of the more prominent guests like the Langards had not been invited.


    The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s cold disposition did not make him a stranger to playing a good host. He made sure to greet the lords and ladies properly. Although his wife was not by his side, he nodded and answered politely when asked about his marriage.


    When the time for the banquet came around, the guests were split into different halls.


    Nikolai and the most influential of his guests were ushered into the banquet room.


    As soon as the doors closed, they glanced eagerly at the lord. Nikolai gestured for Cristin and Darcy to step forward. Both men had their arms filled with plans and maps.


    The guests eyed the newly commissioned maps and tapped at the newest region.


    ¡°So that is where you¡¯ve decided to put it?¡± asked the famed Spice Merchant.


    The Lord of Feldgrau nodded. He tapped the map and almost smiled. ¡°Our patience has not been in vain. Darcy had ridden and seen the production itself.¡±


    Deep in the mountainous regions where few dared to roam, a group of the best miners and blacksmiths of Feldgrau began work on supplying their army. It was a backup in case things escalated into a fight.


    They had successfully employed the help and aid of the nearby governors who supplied them with the valuable ores and extra hands needed for such mass production.


    Now, they would be able to fight with more than ploys and careful words. Within a few months, Nikolai¡¯s rebellion would finally be armed with weapons.


    ¡°We have worked hard and toiled for years.¡± The Lord of Feldgrau clapped his hands together. ¡°For now, let us eat and celebrate!¡±


    Excited cheers followed his announcement but weary eyes shifted around. They all knew.


    This was only the calm before the storm.

 CHAPTER 23: Supper Is Served

    The servants were already used to the Raven General¡¯s unusual shenanigans. As such, they barely batted an eye at the absurdly ugly color of her dress or the way she had fashioned a typical warrior¡¯s knot with the ball gown.


    Aimee¡¯s glowing praise as she escorted the lady down to the kitchen was a common sight now as well. The little girl was practically glued to the Raven General¡¯s side.


    It seemed the general was quite fond of the maid as well, always keeping the young one by her side.


    Seeing her soup undisturbed and in the same condition as before, Faye shot a proud smile to the head-chef. The man hid his grimace with an eager nod, ¡°Happy to help, my lady!¡±


    The pot was quite large and heavy. Even the kitchen staff needed two people to lift the soup. The head-chef turned to an assistant. ¡°Go help the lady deliver-¡° he choked.


    In one heft, Faye lifted the pot of soup easily and strode out of the room. The kitchen staff gaped at the sight. More than a few of them suddenly gained an immense amount of respect for the Raven General. Also, no one wanted to be the one to deliver the soup and accidentally incur any blame for the monstrous creation. But it seemed their fears were unfounded.


    Still, if they could all agree on one thing, it was that Lady Feldgrau sure was something else.


    ¡°All right, get working on the desserts!¡± The head chef tore his eyes from the door and turned his attention back to his craft.


    ¡ª


    Compliments for the chef floated around the room. Although battle plans and strategies were strewn across the table, there was a festive cheer present as the allies toasted one another for their early victories.


    In his seat at the front of the room, the Lord of Feldgrau watched on. Although his expression seemed blank, it was more relaxed than usual. The man joined in the occasional toast and nodded along to the conversation. In the back of his mind Nikolai planned how he would deliver the good news to his counterparts at the Lucky Charm later in the evening.


    Cristin raised his cup. ¡°A toast! To the greatest liege of all, the lord of-¡°


    The doors slammed open. Dead silence and shock enveloped the room. Servants were informed to let no one in. Who dared to¡­


    The Raven General, in an absurdly ugly dress, strode into the room. In her arms was a large pot of bubbling goop. She had a bright, (sinister, the cynics though) smile on her face as she practically skipped towards the table despite the heavy object she was carrying.


    The hands that had fallen to their concealed weapons froze, unable to even draw their blades out.


    Even the Lord of Feldgrau sat up and watched with narrowed eyes. To those who knew him, Nikolai may as well have dropped his jaws to the floor.


    The heavy pot was dropped onto the edge of the table with a loud thunk. One of the smaller lords hurried to move a map out of the way of the spilled goop.


    ¡°No one was to be let into these chambers,¡± the Lord of Feldgrau frowned. ¡°To what do we owe the pleasure, dear wife?¡±


    ¡°Please, the guards are terrified of me. And I am Lady of the house, who dares to stop me from sharing my wonderful creation with my husband¡¯s guests?¡± The Raven General glanced at the papers on the table. She ignored them and grabbed her ladle. Staring expectantly at the first lord, the fearsome general held out a hand.


    The lord gulped and picked up his bowl. His hands were shaking so hard that the Raven General snatched the bowl from his grasp. She filled it to the brim with soup, if it could even be called that.


    And so it went, until every single bowl, including the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s, was filled with the Raven General¡¯s masterpiece.


    Nikolai picked up the bowl of soup. Its chunky contents floated to the top. ¡°You made this?¡± he shot Faye a concerned look.


    But the young woman only smiled brightly. ¡°Eat up!¡±


    The rest of the room tried to glance at the ice prince for guidance. Unfortunately, he looked just as lost as the rest of them. It did not help that the Raven General still carried her mighty long sword at her hip.


    There would be no escaping this torment. If the Raven General wished to poison them, then so be it. The smaller lord who had been handed the soup first, bravely grasped his spoon and shoved a mouthful into his mouth. His eyes bulged.


    Wide eyes stared, waiting for him to spit out the purple liquid. To their surprise, he actually lowered his spoon and sipped another mouthful. ¡°My lady,¡± he stared in awe at the Raven General. ¡°This is actually quite delicious.¡±


    Faye rolled her eyes. ¡°What do you mean actually? Of course it is!¡±


    The other occupants in the room stared at their own bowls with renewed awe. Was it truly delicious? Had they let their prejudice get the better of them?


    Even the Lord of Feldgrau hesitantly picked up his spoon. He gave it a sniff. There was a surprisingly pleasant aroma to the purple goop that was a mix of spice and something sweet.


    Then came the sound of crashing. Head snapped to the front of the room.


    The first lord spazzed on the ground. His eyes rolled to the back of his head.


    The room erupted into loud exclamations and fear as all eyes turned to the Raven General whose eyebrows were also raised in concern.


    ¡°Surely it was not that spicy,¡± muttered Faye.


    When the man began to froth at the mouth, her curious look faded into one of unease. ¡°Definitely not the spice, then.¡±


    ¡°What is the meaning of this!¡± hollered Cristin. The attendant drew his sword.


    Faye knelt to the fallen man¡¯s side. ¡°He¡­ he has been poisoned,¡± she said faintly.


    ¡°After drinking your soup!¡± shouted one of the governors.


    ¡°The barbarian poisoned our meal!¡±


    ¡°Lord, you must arrest her.¡±


    Unheeding of their calls, Faye was quick to dip her finger into the soup and stick it in her mouth. Amber eyes narrowed. ¡°Snake flower poison,¡± Faye whispered to herself in growing horror.


    The young woman¡¯s heart jumped to her throat. Snake flower poison was one of the deadliest venoms from the Grasslands. If the first lord died or the contents of the soup were found to have poison, not only would she have to shoulder the blame, but much scrutiny and anger would fall on her people. Faye has been framed. She cursed colorfully in her mother tongue and rose to her feet. Thankfully, she carried the antidote with her. But the accusative glares from around the room prevented her from leaving.


    As the glares and suspicion in the room increased, eyes turned to stare at the ice prince. The Lord of Feldgrau frowned. If he could not guarantee safety within his own house, no one would take his word seriously. He nodded at Darcy.


    The commander approached Faye and grabbed her by the arms. Faye¡¯s eyes widened. Although she did not fight back, her frown grew.


    Darcy whispered lowly. ¡°Don¡¯t resist, my lady.¡±


    His sword came to rest close by her jugular, ready for the fatal strike should the prisoner resist. It took everything in her willpower to not fight back. Even she knew the political turmoil such a risky move would bring. A foreigner poisoning a lord in an dishonored prince¡¯s home¡­ The gods had thrown their dice, now it was a matter of where the pieces would fall, and whose head doom would be brought on. All eyes turned to the front of the room.


    The ice prince announced his orders to his attendant so all the room could hear clearly. ¡°Send for the doctor, Cristin. I for one, believe that it is a mere allergic reaction.¡± He took the soup and passed it over for the man to study. Cristin raised the bowl to his nose.


    Some of the braver lords stood. ¡°And what of the Raven General? If this is her fault and she has poisoned the soup, surely she cannot go unpunished!¡±


    He received a cold glare for his troubles. ¡°My men will conduct an investigation. Until we have a definite answer, the general will be confined to her rooms.¡±


    ¡°That is not enough punishment! She is a danger to us, my lord!¡±


    Commander Darcy sighed, ¡°The general would not stoop to such methods, this is a misunderstanding-¡°


    ¡°She is an enemy! The wrench should not have been allowed to take a living step into our kingdom! They are worthless barbarians! They all deserve to die!¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Faye snarled, her pride for her people smarted. ¡°I will tear you to shreds, fool.¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± came the echoing roar. Wide eyes turned to glance at the ice prince. Blue eyes flashed. ¡°Are we so weak?¡± His next words were barely louder than a whisper and they strained to hear it. ¡°It is disgraceful to see such a small conflict is enough to ruin our friendship.¡±


    The room fell deathly silent. A celebration of camaraderie has so easily fallen to pieces. Their future held tougher conflicts with much higher stakes.


    More than a few looked away in shame.


    The Lord of Feldgrau picked up his bowl of soup. He leveled the Raven General with a calm stare. ¡°Raven General, is this soup poisoned?¡±


    Faye clenched her fists. She did not blame Nikolai for using such a method but his question put her in an impossible corner. If she told the truth, no one would believe that she had been framed with a rare poison that could only be found in the grasslands. More research would lead to the knowledge that Wenge was the sole tribe that had access to the deadly white powder. Those sabotaging her had done their work well. But to lie¡­


    The Raven General lifted her head haughtily. She sneered, ¡°There is nothing in this soup that those with able bodies should not be able to digest.¡± Amber clashed with blue. ¡°Or do you doubt me, my lord?¡±


    There was a flash of something on Nikolai¡¯s face, but it faded as quickly as it came. He lifted his bowl. ¡°Join me then, dear wife.¡±


    Faye¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. An amused laugh escaped her as Cristin picked up one of the bowls and held it to her mouth. It seemed her husband did indeed doubt her. She could not help the stab of betrayal that stung her heart even though her mind understood what the Lord of Feldgrau was doing.


    ¡°You first,¡± said Nikolai.


    The Raven General smirked, ¡°Very well, then.¡± With that, she broke free of Darcy¡¯s hold. Rather than ran, she snatched the bowl of purple soup. Amidst the shouts of alarm, Faye downed the liquid in one go. She buried her hurt with the burning soup. The familiar tangy taste made her wince. It was definitely snake flower powder.


    Wiping her face, Faye lifted the bowl towards her husband. She was curious to see what he would do. ¡°Your turn,¡± she challenged. In the worst case, she would sneak some of the antidote to him later.


    The Lord of Feldgrau paused. He seemed to glance at Cristin whose responding gesture was lost to Faye. The general was resolute in staring her husband down.


    The room flinched at the sound of crashing porcelain. The Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s expression remained blank while his soup was splattered across the floor. He clasped his empty hands behind his back and took a seat.


    ¡°Apologies wife, it seems my hand slipped. Perhaps next time we shall share a proper toast.¡± He turned to address Darcy. ¡°Commander, escort my wife to her rooms and bring Lord Darwin to one of the studies while he recovers from his¡­ allergic reactions.¡±


    Commander Darcy nodded firmly. ¡°Of course, my lord.¡±


    ¡°Get the servants in to clear the plates. I believe desserts are in order!¡±


    Faye barely heard Nikolai address the rest of his guests as she was dragged out of the room and back into the hall.


    Once outside, Darcy¡¯s voice was a low growl. ¡°This way, my lady.¡±


    Faye, slightly defeated at the turn of events, could only shrug and follow. So much for Rufus¡¯ infallible plan. When Faye found out who had ruined her wonderful surprise, she would wring their necks. For now, she focused on making it back to her room as the the world spun around her and her senses dulled. Although she had cultivated a strong immunity to poison, snake flower powder was quite potent. She did have an antidote to swallow after all.


    And if the poisoned lord was lucky, Aimee would deliver her extra stash to the unfortunate man before the full effects of the poison truly set in.


    ¡ª


    As two maids dragged a body to one of the studies, the assassin peeked up in interest. He turned to the serving boy next to him. ¡°What happened?¡±


    But the boy only shrugged, ¡°Probably drank too much. Happens all the time.¡±


    ¡°Any news from inside?¡± pressed the man, desperate to learn any news.


    The boy frowned as he thought about it. ¡°Nothing. Oh!¡± His eyes lit up. ¡°I heard the general made some soup but the lord hated it and had it all tossed out.¡± His shoulders sagged, ¡°Our lord can be so cruel. I¡¯m sure the general put a lot of effort into that soup.¡±


    The words took the assassin out of his own angry thoughts. He shot the other an incredulous look. ¡°You feel¡­ sorry for the general?¡±


    With another shrug, the serving boy sniffed, ¡°Of course. She worked so hard on her creation and for her husband to discard it today of all days¡­. It truly is a pity.¡±


    The assassin barked out a cruel laugh. ¡°What? Do you wish to comfort her or something?¡± He sneered, ¡°I heard she and the lord sleep apart, maybe you¡¯ll have your chance.¡±


    ¡°Maybe on any other night,¡± laughed the serving boy. He crossed his arms and sighed in defeat. ¡°But tonight¡¯s the first night of the Lantern Festival, custom dictates that the lord and lady share a room.¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    With that, the serving boy brushed past the shocked assassin. The fake servant drifted away as he began to make new plans. It seemed the snake flower powder had not worked. He would have to resort to other means.


    Glancing over his shoulder, the serving boy shot the man a look. He rushed over to the corner where another was waiting.


    ¡°Bian!¡± Frederick whispered worriedly. ¡°That man is definitely suspicious. We should report this to the lord immediately!¡±


    The quiet boy shook his head. He wore dark clothes instead of his usual serving uniform. He placed a hand on Frederick¡¯s shoulder and signed, ¡°Thank you, friend.¡±


    With that, Bian disappeared into the shadows.


    Frederick sighed. Although his conscience stung for disobeying the general¡¯s command, he trusted Bian. He could only hope his friend knew what he was doing.


    ¡ª


    When Nikolai entered his wife¡¯s chamber, he was unsurprised that she was sharpening her swords. Such a sight no longer fazed him.


    The angry glare on her face surprisingly soothed his fears. As soon as his guests had left, Cristin had confirmed that there was indeed a poisonous component to Faye¡¯s soup.


    However, the angry glare only convinced him that whether Faye was guilty or not, the plan had not worked.


    The trusted maid he had secretly watched over Lord Darwin also saw Aimee sneak in some concoction. It must have been an antidote of some type as the poor lord had fortunately woken up none the wiser. Whatever the plan, Faye had not harmed an innocent.


    As if sensing his thoughts, Faye glanced up at him. She set down the sword and stood. The young woman had not even changed out of the dress. ¡°Have you come to question me?¡±


    ¡°Is there something I should suspect you of?¡± questioned Nikolai.


    The other had the audacity to laugh. ¡°Considering I am still here, I suppose not.¡±


    From the frown on Cristin¡¯s face and the slight purse of Darcy¡¯s lips, Nikolai could tell they did not find the situation as funny. If Lord Darwin had died, they would all be in serious trouble. This was also why Lady Feldgrau was not yet turned over to the city guard.


    ¡°Leave us,¡± commanded Nikolai.


    ¡°My lord,¡± growled Cristin stepping forward. ¡°She cannot be trusted. The poisoned soup may be a ploy to get you alone!¡±


    Faye sneered. She muttered something in the Wenge tongue. By her tone, it seemed to be an insult.


    ¡°You!¡± Cristin glowered at the Raven General, anger overpowering his usual wariness of her. ¡°You have no idea what type of scandal you could have caused! If word of this gets out, Rewanna will not hesitate to blame our lord! Have you no shame-¡°


    ¡°Enough!¡± snapped Nikolai. ¡°I said to leave us.¡±


    To his surprise, it was Darcy who spoke. ¡°I do not know if that is wise, my lord.¡±


    There was a huff from the bed as Faye crossed her arms like a petulant child.


    Pinching the bridge of his nose, Nikolai frowned, ¡°Darcy, I have seen your training sessions. Faye has beaten you eight out of ten times. If she wished to harm me, your presence would not make much of a difference.¡± In a quieter tone, he repeated, ¡°Leave us. Please.¡±


    For a moment, it seemed as if the eye-patched man would protest. But with a small frown, Darcy bowed his head. The one-eyed man finally acquiesced, ¡°Very well, my lord.¡± He paused and turned to the Raven General, addressing her. ¡°But we will be right outside.¡±


    True to his word, Darcy dragged a protesting Cristin out and closed the door.


    Finally alone, the Lord of Feldgrau did not beat around the bush. ¡°Did you poison the soup?¡±


    The bluntness of his question seemed to get Faye¡¯s attention. There was a shocked, almost hurt, look on her face that her angry glare quickly replaced. The look sent a chill down Nikolai¡¯s spine but also raised a similar flare of temper within him. The instigator or not, Faye had almost ruined his entire plan.


    ¡°Do you think I did?¡± Pushing herself up, she stalked towards him until they were face to face. He could feel her hot breath on his neck.


    ¡°What am I supposed to think?¡± He glared down at her and gestured, ¡°What was the entire soup deal? You don¡¯t cook and suddenly you do and one of my men keels over?¡± Ice blue eyes were fiery as they stared at her. ¡°Tell me, Faye, what am I supposed to think?¡±


    The desperation in his tone made her falter. Faye felt her throat close up as frustration bubbled within her. She could neither admit that the poison was from Wenge or that she had no idea how such a precious substance would end up in her soup. Faye could not find it within her heart to be upset with Nikolai. If their places were reversed, she would not be going about the interrogation so politely.


    ¡°The soup was fine,¡± insisted Faye. ¡°I do not know what happened.¡±


    Nikolai was silent as he studied her. His emotionless gaze pierced into her as if trying to decipher a puzzle. It was clear her lack of answer frustrated him almost as much as it did her.


    ¡°Trust me,¡± urged Faye. It was all she could offer at the moment. All she could give him until she found the true culprit and had the answers. A bitter part of her protested. This was all for you she wanted to say. ¡°Trust me, Nikolai.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Nikolai¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°You were the one who told me not to.¡±


    Faye¡¯s mind flashed to their encounter on the roof. It all seemed so long ago. ¡°Just this once,¡± repeated Faye.


    There was a chuckle, born of disbelief not humor.


    ¡°What of when our interests clash?¡± asked Nikolai incredulously. Whatever truce they held would eventually end, he realized. Did it matter whether it was now or later if it was inevitable?


    Faye regarded Nikolai with a curious look. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The ice prince was undeterred. ¡°You saw the plans and maps. I know you did.¡± He continued, ¡°You know I am planning something. What will you do when my plans interfere with yours?¡±


    ¡°Why are you asking me this?¡± asked Faye warily. Their future clash of interests had never been a topic of discussion.


    ¡°Answer the question.¡± Nikolai¡¯s patience wore thin.


    Unless necessary, Faye preferred the truth. She saw no reason to begin lying now. ¡°I will serve Wenge¡¯s best interests.¡± She licked her lips. The slight wind from her opened windows nipped at her exposed elbows. In her anger, she had forgotten that she was still wearing the dress. ¡°If that means going against you, I will.¡±


    Her husband was silent. She could not read his blank expression.


    They stood in bated silence.


    ¡°Everyone warns me not to trust you.¡± Finally, Nikolai turned. ¡°But for what it¡¯s worth, I don¡¯t think you did it.¡±


    He reached for the door. ¡°This once.¡± The ice prince opened the door and caught sight of his two attendants. He did not turn back. ¡°I will trust you this time. Faye.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± she demanded.


    ¡°I have business to deal with,¡± he said. ¡°Please do not leave this room until the investigation is over.¡±


    As soon as the door closed behind him, Faye let out a frustrated groan. Gripping her hair, she cursed Rufus. This was all his fault! His stupid plan had failed.


    The young woman froze. Nikolai was right. She had come here for a goal. Shrugging off the dress, Faye stared at the beautiful fabric. Despite her rage, she folded the gown and set it on the bed.


    Slipping on a cloak, Faye opened her window. Mouse, who was perched outside gave her a curious look. Outside of her room, she could hear Nikolai ordering the guards to stand by.


    The Raven General slipped out into the night. Her raven took to the sky, inky form following close by. Only a dark feather was left behind.


    ¡ª


    Lady Asinara watched the festivities pass by the Vellward Estate. Processions were carried out by the common people. Even from her window, she could hear the excitement of the nearby marketplaces as lovers took to the streets for the celebrations. True to its name, the Lantern Festival colored the streets in a warm glow as yellow cream lanterns lined every possible corner.


    There was the slight creak of the door as Lady Asinara¡¯s personal servant walked in. The girl was disappointed to find her lady sitting so silently by the window. Unknown to most, the Rose of Eburean had quite the temper. Unlike most, her anger was shown through despondent silences.


    The servant set down the plate of sweets. ¡°Butter bread as you requested, my lady.¡±


    Lady Asinara hummed in acknowledgment.


    Per tradition, she should be in the castle celebrating with her fianc¨¦. The lady would rather be beaten with a stick than willingly spend an extra moment with her spoiled betrothed. The one thing the two shared in common was their mutual dislike for one another.


    ¡°Your father had a missive sent to the castle,¡± started the servant carefully. ¡°Unfortunately, it seems the crown prince Argan has left the palace.¡±


    ¡°For the Street of Joy I presume,¡± commented Lady Asinara blithely. ¡°Good riddance.¡±


    The servant studied her lady for a moment before drifting to the young woman¡¯s side. She squeezed Asinara¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I know the real reason why you are upset.¡± She smiled playfully. ¡°And it is not because of the crown prince¡±


    The Rose of Eburean frowned, ¡°Elaina, don¡¯t.¡±


    Unlike other servants, the girl did no back down. Elaina was an orphan who had been taken in by the Vellward family. She grew up with her ladyship. The two were raised together to foster loyalty. As such, Elaina got away with more than most would.


    The younger smirked playfully. ¡°It¡¯s because of our returned ice prince, is it not?¡± The servant shoved her lady, ignoring the glare thrown her way. ¡°If you miss him so, why don¡¯t you go to see him?¡±


    Asinara¡¯s glare hardened. ¡°Because he is married!¡±


    ¡°So?¡± The maid shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s not like they like each other.¡± The girl brushed herself off and stepped back. She held a paper in her hand. ¡°But if you made up your mind, I won¡¯t push.¡±


    Elaina fanned herself with it. ¡°I suppose you also won¡¯t want to read his letter then.¡±


    Elaina bit back a laugh at the way her mistress lunged for the paper. Asinara was practically rabid as she ripped the package open and scanned through the note.


    Peeking over her shoulder, Elaina asked, ¡°Well, what does it say?¡±


    Asinara tried hard to keep the emotion off her face, but the blush on her cheeks matched the dazed look in her eyes. ¡°He,¡± the lady hiccuped in shock. ¡°He wants to meet me at the¡­ lover¡¯s market.¡±


    Crossing her arms, Elaina sighed, ¡°Well it¡¯s too bad you¡¯re not interested-¡°


    ¡°Help me get dressed right now!¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai elbowed through couples and merchants. By his side, Darcy followed dutifully.


    ¡°Why you are following me again?¡± asked the lord. The furrow between his brows showed that the event of the evening had left him more unsettled than he¡¯d rather admit. ¡°I can deliver the update to the Lucky Charm myself.¡± He held the silver mask in his hands.


    But the commander was unfazed. ¡°Sir, I would prefer not to have this argument for the fifth time this hour.¡± The eye-patched man had been adamant about not being left behind. ¡°My lord, you know I would never doubt you, but is it wise to leave the Raven General unguarded?¡±


    ¡°She is to be confined to her room, is that not enough?¡± asked Nikolai.


    ¡°My lord, I do not think you are taking this seriously,¡± snapped Darcy. His tone gave Nikolai pause. The commander never raised his voice. ¡°Cristin is right. What if she had truly intended to poison you? We would have been too late to stop it!¡±


    ¡°Enough, please Darcy. If she wanted to poison me, why wait?¡± Nikolai dodged a drunk couple of courtesans as they floundered around. ¡°You¡¯ve fought with her, does it seem like her style?¡± He noted the busyness of the Street of Joy. It seemed the Lantern Festival had its share of unhappy partners and unwed revelers. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be focused on the actual person who put the poison in the soup?¡±


    ¡°Why do you think Cristin stayed behind?¡± retorted Darcy. The information master was hard at work to find the culprit.


    ¡°What do you wish for me to say? Even if it was Faye, I¡¯m not sure there is anything we could do. Until she successfully kills me, we cannot take any action unless we want the whole of Wenge¡¯s wrath upon us.¡± Nikolai exhaled shakily. ¡°Honestly, if Rewanna is behind this, I would applaud her genius.¡±


    ¡°What if Lord Darwin had died tonight?¡± asked Darcy.


    ¡°He did not, so let us not think of it,¡± deflected Nikolai. ¡°Cristin¡¯s mothering is rubbing off on you.¡±


    BOOM!


    The two flinched at the noise, only to stare up in the air as colorful light exploded. The fireworks would only be let off on the first and last day of the festival. Even the rowdiest of festival goers paused to gape at the beautiful display.


    A hand landed on Nikolai¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Do not blame Cristin, my lord.¡± Darcy¡¯s good eye was hooded. ¡°You know what happened to his family. A lesser man would not have been as patient as he.¡±


    Nikolai frowned. Before he could properly answer, a form barreled into him. The ice prince grunted.


    Darcy¡¯s blade was out in a flash and pointed at the guilty party. The woman, a messenger, quivered at the sight.


    ¡°Apologies, my lords,¡± the woman¡¯s lips wobbled as she fell to her knees. ¡°Please, have mercy!¡±


    The ice prince shot Darcy a look. Although the commander lowered his blade, he kept it out. After the events of the night, they would not be taking the risk.


    ¡°Speak quickly,¡± ordered Nikolai.


    ¡°My prince,¡± the woman lowered her head, not noticing the way the two men regarded her with even more suspicion. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a letter. ¡°Please, this is from Lady Asinara, she bid me to deliver this to you at once.¡±


    Eyes teary, the woman begged, ¡°She is in great trouble.¡±


    The woman watched the ice prince eagerly. The man¡¯s rumored love for the Rose of Eburean was well-known. Surely, he would not hear the plea for help and stand idly by.


    To the messenger¡¯s shock, Nikolai¡¯s frown only grew. ¡°You should not have come to me.¡± He did not bother opening the message and handed it back to the kneeling woman. ¡°Go send for her father or brother. They will be more well-equipped.¡±


    As the two turned to leave, the woman cried out and gripped at the lord¡¯s pants. ¡°Please, my lord. She requested you and only you!¡± The woman lowered her voice. ¡°At least read the message before you make up your mind.¡± She held the letter out once more.


    With a sigh, the ice prince tentatively opened the letter. He scanned through it. The furrow between his brow continued to grow. Blue eyes glanced up to meet Darcy¡¯s.


    Leaning in, Nikolai slipped the letter with the meeting updates into Darcy¡¯s hands. ¡°Take this to Langard and the others,¡± he whispered. ¡°I have to go.¡±


    ¡°My lord, I should stress that this is not a good idea¡± murmured Darcy lowly. ¡°If the Raven General did not slip the poison, then there is someone out there trying to kill you. I should stay by your side.¡±


    But Nikolai halted him. ¡°The message cannot wait. Do not worry.¡± He glanced down at his belt where a dagger was hidden. ¡°I am not completely defenseless. I will meet you back at the residence.¡±


    The Lord of Feldlgrau addressed the still-kneeling woman. ¡°Get up and lead the way.¡±


    To Darcy¡¯s unease, the woman nodded eagerly and the two disappeared into the crowd. If he found out, Cristin would kill him. Cursing, the commander jogged towards the Lucky Charm. Perhaps if he hurried he could catch up with the lord.


    ¡ª


    The Lady Asinara wore a veil to conceal her face which would have drawn unnecessary attention to herself. But her eyes darted around. ¡°Do you see him, Elaina?¡±


    The servant girl pouted, ¡°No, my lady. You are certain this is where he said to meet?¡±


    The lady nodded helplessly. They stood in the middle of the bustling lover¡¯s market. Around them, couples held hands and enjoyed the festivities. There was everything from re-enactment of great love stories to food stalls filled with delicious aromas.


    ¡°Asinara!¡±


    The lady¡¯s eyes widened and a bright flush reached her cheeks. She turned, a bright smile on her lips. ¡°Nikolai!¡±


    But it was a grave face that met hers. Nikolai grasped her by the arms, face serious. He glanced over her making her chest flutter. ¡°Are you hurt?¡±


    The lady frowned, confused. ¡°No, why would I be?¡± Pulling away, she laughed awkwardly. ¡°I am not that fragile.¡±


    But Nikolai¡¯s frown only grew. ¡°Then why did you summon me?¡±


    Clenching her jaw, Lady Asinara did not know what to say. An indignant anger rose within her but her proper upbringing prevented her from exploding.


    Thankfully, Elaina spoke for her, angrily asking, ¡°What do you mean by that, my lord? You were the one that requested my lady¡¯s presence!¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± asked Nikolai coldly.


    The maid flinched. Asinara finally let some of her displeasure show. ¡°Niko, it is true. I received a message earlier this evening, signed by you.¡±


    With a slightly chastised expression, Nikolai sighed, ¡°Asinara, do you not see?¡±


    Asinara shook her head. See what?


    ¡°We were tricked,¡± said Nikolai bluntly. ¡°I never sent any letter to you.¡± He pulled a message from his pocket. ¡°I assume you never sent a plea of help to me either. Right?¡± Gritting his teeth, the lord sighed, ¡°We were set up. This is a trap.¡±


    The Rose of Eburean blinked back the stinging in her eyes. Her wide eyes brimming with tears made for a pitiful and beautiful sight, but Nikolai was busy studying the square as if searching for someone.


    ¡°Who would do this?¡± she asked.


    Nikolai rubbed his face. It was clear he already had an idea of the mastermind behind the game. ¡°Who else?¡±


    A slow clapping noise came from the opposite entrance to the square. The crowd parted way for the person as they approached the two. ¡°Bravo! What a show, am I right?¡± A nasty smirk was shot towards Nikolai. ¡°Why am I not surprised to find my bride with you?¡±


    Argan¡¯s bratty voice carried throughout the entire market as all quieted at the sight of the Crown Prince. Royal guards followed by his side.


    Asinara¡¯s face paled. Nikolai looked like he had smelled something horrid.


    ¡°Care to answer,¡± Argan smiled gleefully. ¡°Brother?¡±

 CHAPTER 24: A Withering Crown

    Painful coughs wracked the feeble form in the large bed. The royal chambers were dark except for the few lit candles. During his fits, the king preferred the darkness.


    Outside, the celebrations for the first day of the Lantern Festival continued without care of its ailing monarch.


    As the night continued, fireworks began to go off. Their bright colors and loud noise covered the sound of coughs and wheezing.


    Slinking over to the window, the queen pulled the curtains down, blocking the festivities from view. Satisfied, Rewanna headed back to the king¡¯s bedside. She took a limp hand.


    ¡°Why did you close the curtain?¡± King Arganus¡¯ voice was raspy and weak.


    The queen patted the hand gently. ¡°I thought the noise might disturb you.¡±


    ¡°But you love the fireworks, Iliana,¡± muttered the king in confusion. He did not notice Rewanna¡¯s frown nor the tightened grip on his hand. ¡°No matter,¡± Arganus tried looking around. ¡°Where are my sons?¡±


    Biting back her resentment, Rewanna tried for a smile. ¡°Our sons are enjoying the festivities, my king.¡± She tried for a laugh. ¡°I am sure the younger ones are in the kitchen trying to cajole more sweets and toys out of the servants.¡±


    The king¡¯s brows furrowed and his glazed eyes narrowed. ¡°Why would Nikolai be trying to get toys from the kitchen?¡± He tried to sit himself up. ¡°And where is Malakai, the boy should be in his studies, not off in the city.¡±


    With a sneer, Rewanna let go of the hand. ¡°Malakai is in exile, my husband. You sent him there, do you not remember?¡±


    The glassiness of the king¡¯s eyes faded as a sudden clarity came to him. He sighed heavily. ¡°Yes, I supposed I did.¡± He clutched his throbbing head. A sudden desperation overcame him. There was something important he had to do! ¡°Bring me Nikolai, I must speak with him. Tell him to come to me. Nikolai!¡±


    Rewanna crossed over the room to the incense hanging by the bed. She borrowed the flame from a candle and relit the incense. Once more, the scent of smoke began to fill the room.


    ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau is not here, husband,¡± said Rewanna. ¡°Remember? He is married and within his own residence. Again, your decision.¡± Seeing the king¡¯s eyes begin to droop, she continued, dropping the nicety in her tone. ¡°In fact, your precious boy probably hates you as much as he does me now, I hear his marriage is quite tumultuous. Your perfect prince has even taken to the Street of Joy.¡±


    Coming back to the king¡¯s bedside, she wipe away the sweat from his brow as the sick man fell back into a deep slumber.


    ¡°Why do you never call for our son? Argan is your heir and still you ignore him.¡± Sharp nails clutched the king¡¯s face. ¡°I am the one who has been here with you and you still call that wretched woman¡¯s name. Why?¡± Her frame quivered with anger. She let go of her husband¡¯s face. Rewanna had everything she ever wanted. ¡°But it is no matter. She is gone and soon her second son will be too. My blood will sit on the throne.¡± Rewanna glared at her husband. ¡°Our son will be king.¡±


    Weak coughs answered her.


    Before she could say more, a knock interrupted her. There was only one person that it could be.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Rewanna snapped.


    The door creaked open.


    Lord Vellward bowed his head in respect as he entered. ¡°How is he, Your Majesty?¡±


    Rewanna sighed and dabbed at her dry eyes. Her voice became croaky and weak. ¡°His condition seems to worsen by the day.¡± She sniffed, ¡°The palace physicians tole me that are doing all they can.¡±


    The head of the government sighed sadly. The minister kept by the door. It was painful to see his ruler in such a state.


    ¡°Do you bring an update?¡± asked Rewanna.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lord Vellward crossed his arms. ¡°But I must warn you, my lady, the policies you propose may be too taxing. You ask too much of the border villages. They will not be able to afford the taxes while successfully defending against the raids.¡±


    But Rewanna waved the worries away. ¡°You know I have my deal with the grasslands, the border will not be disturbed.¡±


    For Argan to ascend the throne, many gatherings would have to be thrown to sway the nobles to their side. Although he was the official heir, a demonstration of power and gifts would be needed to ensure the nobility¡¯s loyalty. That would require much coin. At the same time, Rewanna could not risk levying higher taxes on their future allies. In the end, it was decided it would be best for the gains to come from their citizens. After all, it was in their best interests to serve their future king.


    ¡°For the past two years, we have recieved fewer petitions from governors on the East and West. They no longer call for the need for aid,¡± added the minister with a frown.


    Rewanna laughed, ¡°Is that not good news?¡±


    ¡°If a stray dog no longer begs for scraps, it is either dead,¡± Lord Vellward¡¯s face was stormy, ¡°Or it has found another owner.¡±


    But again the queen waved off his worries. ¡°Times of famine and natural disasters come and go, I am sure they have merely found a better alternative. Do you not see, Minister? It is good that we did not send needless aid.¡±


    Seeing that his words were going nowhere, the lord could only change onto another subject. ¡°There are also whispers of your hand in the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s marriage.¡±


    ¡°What of it?¡± griped Rewanna. ¡°Surely the rumors of his visits to the Street of Joy have diminished his popularity.¡± She knew when the rumors of her son visiting the same streets began Argan had fallen out of favor with many.


    ¡°You married him to a foreigner who holds no love for him,¡± said Lord Vellward. ¡°They say she terrorizes his household and refuses to be in the same room as him. Many blame you for ruining the prince¡¯s-¡°


    ¡°He is a lord not prince!¡± Rewanna glared at Vellward as if he had insulted her.


    ¡°Very well,¡± retorted Lord Vellward. ¡°Prince or lord, they believe you have ruined the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s prospects. His distance from the palace and the court also put him in favor with the commoners. They see him more than they see Crown Prince Argan or yourself. Your ploy has gained him even more favor.¡±


    ¡°From those who do not matter,¡± huffed Rewanna, tone exasperated.


    Lord Vellward¡¯s lips pursed. It was clear he planned to continue arguing. His daughter was meant to marry the crown prince. In order for that to happen, the throne could not be usurped by the brat¡¯s older brother. But if the queen continued as she did¡­


    Another knock at the door halted their conversation.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Lord Vellward was not in the mood.


    From the other side of the door, a messenger squeaked fearfully. ¡°My lord, there is an urgent missive for you from the crown prince.¡± There was a pause. ¡°He says it is about your daughter and urges you to come at once.¡±


    Lord Vellward stilled.


    Behind him, Queen Rewanna rose. ¡°Before you counsel me on my household, it seems you should learn to have a better hold over your own.¡± The queen smiled with no mirth. ¡°I will not have a daughter-in-law with a stained reputation. Remember, Lord Vellward, your family depends on my support, but should the need arise, I can easily replace your daughter with another.¡±


    Lord Vellward bowed his proud head. ¡°Yes, my queen.¡± Behind a mask of indifference he gritted out, ¡°Please excuse this old man.¡±


    With that, he stormed off with the messenger.


    Once in the halls, outside of the cursed woman¡¯s sight, he growled angrily. Snapping at the messenger, Lord Vellward commanded, ¡°Fetch me a carriage and take me to Asinara.¡± The lord prayed that his daughter was all right. Do not do anything stupid, my girl, he thought.


    If only Asynur had listened to his wife and stayed home for the festivities.


    ---


    Faye reveled in the fresh wind blowing in her face. The night air was crisp and sharp. As it nipped at her skin, she thought she could try to forget the disaster of the previous hours. In the busy market, she was just one of a thousand people. None had eyes for her as they focused on their own lives and the sights before them.


    She breathed in the heady aroma of the food stalls. Faye¡¯s mouth watered. Her stomach grumbled in protest. Faye groaned. In her haste, she had forgotten to bring any coin. The young woman grumbled under her breath.


    Around the square, the crowd began drifting towards the center. Loud cheers and gasps erupted. Approaching onlookers followed the commotion, eager for a good show. Was it drunkards fighting or scholars making fools of themselves?


    Enamored by the atmosphere of it all, Faye found herself following the sea of people. The commotion seemed more serious than many had imagined. More and more people gathered by the second. The lovebirds and festival goers began to form a circle following the lead of those in front of them, curious but wary of getting too close.


    Intrigued, Faye tried to look over tall shoulders and half-heartedly elbowed her way past the others. It was unlikely the commotion would truly be worth her attention.


    When Faye caught sight of red molasses in fruit, she considered getting out of the crowd to try her haggling skills with the food vendor.


    The crowd suddenly fell silent.


    ¡°Think of what you are doing, Argan,¡± warned a low voice from the center of the square.


    Amber eyes widened in shock. That was Nikolai¡¯s voice. At the realization, Faye turned swiftly, sweets forgotten. Her sharp hearing could recognize the sound of swords being drawn. Nikolai¡­ although a master with words, could not fight.


    With a new surge of determination, Faye fiercely fought through the crowd to get to the front. The young woman ignored the pained grunts and dirty looks. As she finally pushed through, she froze at the sight before her.


    ---


    Lady Langard picked up her skirt and hurried. Most of the servants were out celebrating the festival or already working. As such she would have to fetch the extra wine pitcher herself.


    The elegant woman rolled her eyes. Her husband¡¯s friends were war-folk. There was nothing they loved more than good alcohol to celebrate¡­ especially at their boss¡¯ expense. Lady Langard thought that they might have finished off half of the family¡¯s cellar in this night alone.


    But there was no choice. With the general¡¯s absence, alcohol was the only solution. Lady Langard had a feeling the lovely dancers she had hired would not hold their attention for long.


    Lord Langard had cited a need to meet with a messenger in the city. He promised to be back soon, but until then, making sure their guests were fed and entertained was up to his wife.


    The lady suddenly paused.


    Turning her head slowly, she stared, baffled at the light in Rufus¡¯ room. The boy was still here? Lady Langard pursed her lips. Rufus never missed the opportunity to celebrate the first day of the Lantern Festival. Although not displeased, she was amazed at the thought that her youngest son was sitting quietly in his room rather than wooing some unfortunate maiden.


    The lady clasped her hands together and praised the gods. Her prayers had been answered. Their hard work was finally paying off! Perhaps it was time to begin truly finding a proper match for Rufus. What was she doing here again?


    Right, the wine, Lady Langard thought. The woman placed her worries to the side and hurried on her way.


    Although strange, Rufus would be fine. He always was.


    ¡ª


    Contrary to his mother¡¯s relief, Rufus¡¯ hand shook. Cold beads of sweat trickled down the back of his neck. He found it hard to breathe. The boy picked up the stolen letter. He had finally found a name. And that was the problem.


    ¡°Gods help me,¡± he begged quietly. Rufus wished he could go back to his ignorant self. Now, he finally understood what his father meant. Knowledge was power.


    The plan for the Raven General¡¯s surprise was supposed to take place tonight. She would come to him soon and ask for an answer. But the question was, would he give it to her?


    Could he knowingly do so with the knowledge that his answer could put the entire kingdom at risk? The name could change everything. The boy was half-tempted to burn the letter, but fear stayed his hand.


    Rufus dropped his head into his hands and exhaled shakily. ¡°Damn it.¡±


    The solitary candle flickered.


    ¡ª


    Egged on by the gathering crowd, Argan stalked forward head held high. Many were surprised to note that the crown prince was sober.


    Nikolai tried to hide his unease. Argan had come prepared tonight. Whatever his plan was, it was worth not partaking in the festivities and his usual habits.


    The boy sneered at his brother and fianc¨¦. ¡°It seems the lover birds just could not wait.¡± He approached his bride-to-be and lifted her pale hand as if to kiss it. ¡°What would your father think of this, Lady Asinara?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± In response, Asinara ripped her hand from his grip. ¡°Because there is nothing improper going on, my prince.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how I see it!¡± Argan smirked sardonically. His eyes turned to gaze at Nikolai. ¡°A married man and a betrothed woman out enjoying festivities in the lover''s market. My, what would the Raven General think?¡± He gasped in fake delight at Nikolai¡¯s frown. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, she doesn¡¯t know! Brother! The poor barbarian waits at home playing wife while you toy with other promised women? I almost feel bad for her.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes narrowed. It was clear now that he had fallen into a trap. The messages had been a ploy from the crown prince. ¡°What are you planning, Argan?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Your Highness to you!¡± snapped his younger brother. ¡°All I wanted was to spend an evening with my bride, but guess my surprise when I learned she was with you.¡±


    ¡°My father sent a message,¡± interjected Asinara, eyes flashing angrily. ¡°Your servants said you were out and unavailable.¡±


    Her words were ignored.


    Argan stared up at Nikolai. Their slight height difference only aggravated the boy even more, but he plastered on a dark smile. He whispered lowly. ¡°Perhaps I will visit your lovely wife since you''ve enjoyed the company of mine." Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "I am not your wife!" snapped the lady.


    Argan blocked out Asinara''s protests. "You wouldn''t object, would you, Lord of Feldgrau? I¡¯ve heard you rarely visit her anyway.¡±


    Cold blue eyes stared at him with no hint of emotion. ¡°I do not believe the Raven General would welcome your advances.¡± Finally, his lips quirked, showing the first hint of a reaction. ¡°But you are welcome to try." He towered over the other. "Do not blame me if lose a limb because of it.¡±


    Argan reeled back. Even he was shocked at his brother¡¯s answer. ¡°Never mind, I hear she is already pregnant with Langard¡¯s bastard. How gracious of you, brother, to take care of another¡¯s child. Does it really not bother you?¡±


    ¡°Unlike you,¡± retorted Nikolai, crossing his arms. ¡°I am not enough of an idiot to fall for baseless rumors.¡±


    Asinara stared at the interaction, frozen.


    ¡°You!¡± Red rage exploded as Argan¡¯s face tinged with fury. The crown prince pulled out his sword. ¡°Fine then. If you want to fight and insult me, then let us do it the proper way.¡± The younger smiled as he pointed a sword at his brother¡¯s heart. ¡°Fight me, brother. If you win, I might even renounce the throne to you.¡± His eyes, dark like his mother, glared at the ice prince. ¡°Fight me, coward.¡±


    "No." The Lord of Feldgrau turned, facing his back towards the crown prince, and walked away. He would not engage in such a stupid game.


    ¡°Niko, watch out!¡± cried Asinara.


    Blue eyes widened.


    SLASH.


    Nikolai gripped his shoulder. Blood soaked through his shirt from where the blade had cut him. He whipped around to face his brother. Argan faltered at the enraged look on the ice prince¡¯s face, but his ego made him hold up his bloodied blade. Crimson droplets dripped from its tip. ¡°That was merely a warning,¡± Argan taunted.


    The Lord of Feldgrau gritted his teeth. The cut was deep, but not enough to be seriously damaging.


    No one dared to breathe a word, but they all frowned at the dishonorable act. Still, if the crown prince was willing to do this while his opponent¡¯s back was turned¡­


    The crowd had fallen deathly silent.


    ¡°Think of what you are doing, Argan.¡± Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes flashed dangerously. "I am unarmed."


    But the younger was undeterred. He held up his blade and nodded towards the royal guards. ¡°Give your blade to him.¡±


    The royal guard seemed at a loss for what to do.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± snapped the crown prince.


    The guard ducked his head. He hurried forward and handed his own blade to the ice prince who took it with distaste.


    Asinara hurried forward, grasping her betrothed¡¯s arms. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Argan.¡± She tried to pull him back but the crown prince pushed her away. She stumbled to the side. The crowd hurried to help her stand and pull her back. ¡°No!¡± she cried. ¡°Wait!¡±


    ¡°Lady Asinara,¡± one of the women watching warned, ¡°This could turn dangerous. It is best not to intervene.¡±


    The woman she was right. By her side, Elaina shook her head and held her lady back.


    With a cry, Argan burst towards Nikolai and attacked.


    Dodging to the right, the strike barely missed. Nikolai quickly raised his own blade to defend against the sudden onslaught of attacks. He gritted his teeth as the movement pulled at his shoulder.


    The two exchanged a flurry of blows. Sparks flew in the air. Argan was relentless in his pursuit as he added more and more strength to each blow. The boy was out for blood.


    With his injured shoulder, Nikolai played to the defensive.


    The crowd watched with growing fear as the ice prince continued to lose ground and back away. Every few moments, he seemed one blow away from not blocking properly. It was well known that the Lord of Feldgrau was not a fighter. It was amazing enough that he had lasted this long. He could have bested a regular soldier. But the odds were against him. The ice prince was not a warrior while his younger brother was said to be quite proficient with the sword. Some even hailed him as a prodigy.


    Nikolai grunted as Argan landed a lucky blow to his side. He did not initiate any attacks. Any injuries Nikolai inflicted on Argan could be used against him. Rewanna and her lackeys would not care that he was fighting for his life. They would use this as an example of his desire for the throne.


    With another cry, Argan pressed forward. With both hands, Nikolai crossed blades with him. Metal pressing against metal, they pushed at each other with all their might. Sweat beaded down his forehead, but Nikolai breathed through the pain.


    A rage like no other came into his heart. Argan for his silly delusions of revenge had dragged him and Asinara into this mess. The boy was crafty in his fake letter. He had known that by putting Asinara in danger, Nikolai was likely to come to her aid. Although he truly had no desire to marry her, the young woman had been in his life for a long time. And if not for himself, he would protect her for an old promise he made.


    This dual was just another reminder of how the queen¡¯s family loved to torment him, with no care for anyone other than themselves. It mattered little to them if people got hurt, only that they achieved their own goals.


    Argan¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he found his brother successfully pushing back against his attacks with a sudden ferocity.


    Out of his peripherals, Nikolai caught sight of a flash of amber. The figure watched silently as their dark cloak blended with the crowd. There was only one person that could be. His jaws tensed as he turned to look again and met Faye¡¯s serious expression. She was kneeling in the front of the crowd, watching the fight with rapt attention. He wondered if he was imagining the worried downturn of her lips.


    Seeing that his brother was distracted, Argan fully pressed it to his advantage. He aimed a high kick at the older¡¯s injury. When Nikolai winced and faltered back, Argan knocked the blade out of his hand.


    The borrowed sword clattered to the ground. It slid out of reach into the feet of the crowd.


    Argan shoved the ice prince to the ground. With a sick sort of glee, the crown prince raised the blade as if to kill the unarmed man.


    Shouts and cries rose in the crowd.


    With adrenaline pumping through him, Argan slashed down.


    Nikolai closed his eyes, preparing for the inevitable.


    ---


    In the carriage, Lord Vellward thought that his old heart might suddenly fail him with how fast it beat. He ran through the lectures he would give his daughter when they met, but it was not enough to keep away the worry and fear.


    He was a seasoned politician who had dealt with national emergencies with a clear head and firm mind. However, when it came to his children and their problems, it was like something possessed his body and he was a different man.


    The old minister unceremoniously stuck his head out of the window. "Hurry," he snapped at the driver. "We must make haste!"


    The carriage master nodded and slapped his reins. "Come on, old girl," he urged his horse. The animal brayed loudly and broke into a canter startling the couples crossing the street.


    Lord Vellward closed his eyes. His wife was the more religious one, but he prayed to the gods that he would arrive in time before anything bad could happen.


    The carriage''s speed was noticeably faster as the ride became bumpier. They would arrive soon. However, Lord Vellward could not shake off the foreboding feeling that he was already too late.


    ---


    The sound of metal against metal rang throughout the square.


    Jaws dropped. Asinara yelped and held a hand to her mouth.


    Crouched in front of the Lord of Feldgrau, amber eyes glared up at the crown prince. In the young woman¡¯s hands was the sword that had been swept into the crowd.


    The Raven General deflected Argan¡¯s blow with a flick of her wrists and scowled, ¡°How dare you strike down a fallen man outside the battlefield? And your own brother!¡± In a swift motion, the woman got to her feet. Unclasping her cloak, she tossed it into the mass of people. The blade glinted as she held it out towards Argan and approached him like a predator would its prey.


    The boy seemed to be in shock, not comprehending the sight before him. ¡°What? Raven, Raven General?¡±


    Without turning, Faye asked, ¡°All you all right?¡±


    Behind her, Nikolai nodded. He didn¡¯t mention that she was supposed to be in the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    ¡°I thought you had business to deal with,¡± grunted his wife.


    On the other side of the crowd, they could both see Asinara and her maid, elbow and try to make their way over.


    ¡°I was delayed,¡± muttered the ice prince.


    ¡°Do not forget,¡± scowled the Raven General. ¡°You may like any woman you like. But your marriage vow is to me.¡± Amber eyes flashed at Nikolai angrily.


    Then, in a flash, they were back on Argan. Faye scowled, ¡°Come now, boy, you want a fight? Let me teach you what that really means.¡±


    As she stalked forward to engage with his brother, Nikolai stared at Faye¡¯s back in confusion. Even when Asinara knelt by his side and checked over his wounds, he could only scratch his head. Why was Faye so upset? She wasn¡¯t the one who got stabbed.


    ¡°You need to stop the fight,¡± said Asinara worriedly.


    Nikolai could only wince as she applied pressure on his shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can.¡±


    In the square, Faye and Argan were circling off. Both were intently studying their opponent. To Nikolai¡¯s surprise, it was his wife that struck first. Faye was fast as a viper as she landed blow after blow on Argan who struggled to keep up. He was lucky she was using the blunt edge of the sword, otherwise he would already be littered with cuts instead of bruises. But to the boy¡¯s credit, he matched her speed and was able to block most of her infuriated attacks.


    Even in her duals against Darcy, Nikolai had never seen Faye put in as much effort as she did now into her offensive.


    The Raven General parried each blow perfectly, but she played more to her agility and smaller size against Argan¡¯s brute strength and strong core. Even Faye had to admit that the boy had true potential. She had underestimated him. Argan may be a coward, but he was not untalented.


    Breathing hard and getting desperate, when Argan saw an opening, he took it.


    Quickly dodging the incoming strike, the crown prince dropped his sword and rolled out of the way to land behind Faye. As she turned, he grasped her by the neck, attempting to choke her. His fingers dug into her flesh, blocking off her airways. Having the upper hand, his grip tightened.


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened. He struggled to get to his feet and started forward. The crowd erupted into outrage.


    But Faye was even faster. The Raven General bit down on the fingers holding her captive. Any harder and she would have bit them off. Argan squealed. As the grip loosened, Faye changed sword grips and elbowed the crown prince in the face. As the boy stumbled back, she dropped to the ground and aimed a sharp kick to the back of his knees.


    When he fell, she lunged forward. Glaring down at him, she kept a knee on his throat and punched him in the face.


    The crown prince of Eburean saw stars.


    You fought well and dirty, boy. " Breathing down on him, Faye pressed the point of her dagger at his heart, uncaring as the sharp tip pressed into flesh. No one knew where she had gotten the small blade from but it must have been concealed somewhere on her person. ¡°But not enough to beat me. If you dishonor your opponent, do not be shocked to be disrespected as well.¡±


    One of the crown prince¡¯s eye was swollen shut. He groaned painfully.


    ¡°Be thankful I did not kick you in the balls,¡± Faye noted nonchalantly. But her next words were serious. ¡°If I let you up and you do not go peacefully, I may change my mind.¡±


    Still seeing stars, the boy nodded. His good eye gleamed with tears.


    The Raven General backed off. She held out a hand but the boy did not take it. Instead, he scrambled to his own feet and picked up his blade. The crown prince sheathed the sword.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, Argan bowed towards the Raven General. ¡°Thank you for the lesson, sister-in-law.¡± Then, he added a disgusting smile. ¡°You should come by the castle more often. Perhaps we can practice more than just with our swords next time. You are certainly more than a worthy opponent for me.¡±


    The crowd gagged. Nikolai had an irritated frown on his face. In contrast, Faye looked undisturbed, if only a little confused. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to improve your footwork a lot more if you expect any lessons from me," she said.


    Suddenly, a loud commanding voice came over the square. ¡°What is going on here?¡± All eyes turned to stare.


    Lord Vellward stepped off his carriage and stormed into the center of the recently finished fight. With his dominating presence, the crowd parted easily for him. The minister glared at the parties involved. He shot an especially hard look at his daughter who looked away guiltily.


    Lord Vellward pointed at the guards. ¡°You four! Escort the crown prince back to the castle and make sure he gets treated immediately.¡± The royal guards hurried to do as they were ordered. They grasped the prince and hauled him away before the foolish brat could get them into any more trouble.


    With that done, the minister turned to the crowd. ¡°Go back to your own families and troubles! Go on!¡± He waved them away. Luckily, they could see that the excitement was over and none were too eager to get tangled in official business or trouble. As fast as the crowd had formed it dissolved easily.


    Those involved let out a short breath of relief.


    As her father approached, Asinara grasped Nikolai by the arm, a detail not lost on Lord Vellward¡­ or the glaring Raven General.


    ¡°You two,¡± Lord Vellward nodded towards Lady Asinara and the Lord of Feldgrau like they were schoolchildren. ¡°Come with me. We must talk.¡±


    Brows furrowing, Faye inserted herself in front of the minister. ¡°What of me?¡±


    The old minister shot her an unimpressed look. ¡°Lady Feldgrau, you have just assaulted the crown prince." His voice was dull and to the point. "Whatever trouble that brings to your household is not my concern. When I am done with him, your husband can decide your punishment.¡±


    The Raven General¡¯s amber orbs flashed with anger at the insinuation.


    ¡°Bold of you to assume I hold any power over the Raven General,¡± called Nikolai. Hand still pressed over his wound, he hobbled over. ¡°Please excuse us for a moment, Lord Vellward.¡±


    Nikolai tugged a fuming Faye to the side before she could engage in another sword fight.


    Seeing him, an important thought dawned on the Raven General. Nikolai was not supposed to see her. In fact, he was under the illusion that she was under lock and guard, waiting in her room. She worried her lip. Although not terribly worried about his reaction, Faye did not wish to fracture his trust even more.


    Blue eyes searched over Faye¡¯s person. ¡°You were not supposed to leave the residence.¡± He murmured, ¡°Cristin will think you have run away because of a guilty conscience.¡±


    ¡°He should be thanking me for saving your life,¡± retorted Faye, voice sharp from instinct. She stamped down the guilt when Nikolai¡¯s expression dropped into a displeased frown.


    ¡°He is not wrong to be suspicious,¡± warned Nikolai, words sharp. ¡°You should not have stepped in to fight.¡±


    ¡°If I hadn''t stepped in, your brother would have sliced you open,¡± laughed Faye, insulted by his words. ¡°But if that is what you prefer, I will keep it in mind for next time.¡±


    ¡°You need to go back,¡± Nikolai insisted as if he had not heard her. "Too many p


    ¡°Why?¡± snapped Faye, finally fed up. ¡°You should be thanking me! I saved you. Why aren¡¯t you at least grateful?¡±


    She did not expect Nikolai to stare at her like she had grown a second head.


    ¡°What?¡± she demanded.


    As the silence continued, Faye groaned loudly. ¡°Are you still upset about the soup? I told you I had nothing to do with it!¡± She crossed her arms. "If we were in the grasslands, you would be groveling at my feet."


    "Groveling at your feet?" Nikolai snapped, ¡°Faye, do you realize what you¡¯ve just done? You¡¯ve given my enemy more to use against me.¡± Nikolai didn¡¯t have to raise his voice for her to read the anger in those blue eyes. His hand shot out to grab her wrists. ¡°Argan will report this to the queen and she will use this as an excuse against my house. If she decides to take revenge, what will you do?¡± He let go of Faye¡¯s arm. ¡°Will you fight your way out of Aimee or Frederick¡¯s execution? Abby¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°The queen would not go that far,¡± stated Faye, not one to back down so easily.


    Nikolai stared at her, almost helpless in his frustration. ¡°But what if she does?¡±


    The Raven General frowned. She let his words sink in. Despite her time in Eburean, she was still a stranger to their ways. Who was she to say what the queen would do or not do?


    Nikolai huffed and ran a hand through his messy hair. This was a waste of time. Faye would never-


    ¡°Fine, I may have acted slightly brashly,¡± Faye crossed her arms. ¡°But at least admit it.¡±


    The ice prince raised an eyebrow. What, he seemed to ask.


    ¡°You enjoyed watching me beat that whelp,¡± sniffed Faye. ¡°You would have done it yourself if you could.¡±


    Nikolai couldn¡¯t stop the incredulous laugh that escaped him. ¡°Did you give him a black eye for me too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Faye¡¯s tone was serious.


    The lord paused. He thought back to Argan''s bruised face and swollen eye. The brat had threatened to execute Cristin and had gotten away with it. The boy''s position made him arrogant, and none dared to reprimand him. Even Nikolai often had to play his cards right and tread carefully with the younger. But Faye had not cared. Faye had seen the injustice and stepped in, correcting it in the way she saw as most just. It was almost refreshing how rash her actions were. Argan most certainly had not expected to walk home with defeat written on his face.


    ¡°Fine. It was, satisfying,¡± Nikolai didn¡¯t know why he was admitting such a thing. ¡°You''re right. I¡¯ve been wanting to do it for years.¡±


    Faye smirked knowingly. She patted his shoulder. ¡°You can think of how to repay me during your stuffy meeting.¡± His wife nodded behind him, towards where Asinara and Lord Vellward were waiting. The older looked close to exploding with impatience.


    When Nikolai turned back to Faye, she was gone, having disappeared into the wave of moving bodies. Part of him wondered if he had dreamt the entire encounter, but the stab wound still stung.


    Nikolai paused. In his anger, he forgot to ask if Faye was hurt. The Lord of Feldgrau trudged over to the Vellwards.


    If on the way to the Vellward Estate, he picked up an ornament that matched the ugly shade of the Raven General¡¯s dress, no one was the wiser. In the carriage with supposedly one of the most powerful men and beautiful women in the kingdom, the lord pocketed the colorful keepsake and found his thoughts drifting back to black eyes and smirking wives.


    ---


    Bian hid himself in the hallway leading to the general¡¯s chambers. The boy held his dagger close to his chest. Something was going to happen tonight. An evil presence was lurking within the walls with nefarious intentions.


    The silent boy stilled his breaths. He prepared himself for a restless night.


    Whatever was coming for the general would have to go through him first.


    A familiar face exited the hallway. It was the mysterious man Frederick had flagged.


    Bian¡¯s grip on the blade tightened, keeping his back to the shadowed walls, he began to silently follow.

 CHAPTER 25: Wenge will Never Forget

    With her dark cloak, the Raven General blended into the night. As she crept across rooftops, she marveled at the slowly dying celebrations taking place below her.


    However, even as she marveled at the fireworks and lights, there was a panging loneliness in her heart. Times like these reminded her how far from home she was.


    Luckily, she was used to loneliness. As the unfavored daughter of the chief, her girlhood had left her mostly isolated. Her ascension into power and fame only pushed her further away from her peers. The Raven General¡¯s path was a bloody one that Faye had learned required her to rely on her strength. A solo road she would tread alone.


    As she headed for the Langard Residence, she could hear the excited voices of couples beneath her feet. It seemed many had moved their celebration to the privacy of their own homes.


    The image of Nikolai and the fair lady by his side flashed in her mind. Part of Faye wondered if she should have let the father-daughter duo whisk her husband away. A sudden weight landed on her shoulder.


    Faye turned to glance at an unrepentant Mouse. The bird pecked at her hair fondly.


    She brushed a finger through his dark feathers. ¡°If Nikolai¡¯s spoilt brother is to be her husband, it is no wonder the lady wants for my husband. Nikolai is clearly the more handsome brother.¡± Recalling the angry expression on the old minister¡¯s face, it seemed that Lord Vellward was against the two¡¯s relationship as well. It was surely a lashing down that Nikolai would find himself heading into. That was the only reason why the Raven General had let him go.


    Faye stewed in her own thoughts as an important question came to her. ¡°Do you think he went to her or did she come find him?¡±


    The bird let out a loud squawk. It shot her a look as if to ask, ¡¯ Does it matter?¡¯


    The young woman sighed loudly and swung her arms out behind her. ¡°No, I suppose it doesn¡¯t.¡± She touched the dagger hidden within her belt. Although she had not brought her blade, Faye was never unarmed. ¡°But if I find Nikolai was the one to seek her out, I will,¡± she faltered, ¡°I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll!¡± The general smacked her forehead, at a loss for what to say.


    Her loyal companion sent a pitying look. The bird pecked her, hard.


    ¡°Hey!¡± she protested. ¡°I thought wives were supposed to be jealous! I¡¯m only doing my job.¡± Even in the grasslands where men had many wives, she had watched as her dozens of stepmothers fought for the attention of her father.


    The young woman deflated. In her current position, it was hard to say what she was supposed to feel. According to the queen, the Lord of Feldgrau had been madly in love with the Rose of Eburean. Maybe Nikolai even resented their union for ruining that. If their interactions at court meant anything, she knew the beautiful lady certainly did.


    Tired of her moaning, Mouse let out a caw and took to the skies. Faye sighed and cursed Eburean and their ice prince.


    The balcony below her had an assortment of potted flowers. When she caught sight of crystal blue petals, her pulse quickened. Blue eyes flashed in her mind.


    There must be something in the water, Faye decided. Never before had she been so thrown off by a person. This place was truly driving her crazy.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Do not let the general¡¯s fanatic ideas entice you.¡± Lord Vellward had begun his lecture the moment the doors had closed behind them.


    As soon as they reached the Vellward Estate, Asinara and Nikolai were practically dragged into the older man¡¯s study.


    The ice prince¡¯s blank expression gave away nothing. ¡°Whatever do you mean by that, Lord Vellward?¡±


    The older man grimaced. His bones creaked as he took a seat and his hands ached for a good cup of tea. ¡°Forget it. If you do not know, then it is best to stay that way.¡± Lord Vellward leaned forward. ¡°The Nikolai I knew would not have been so stupid to engage the crown prince in a brawl.¡±


    Nikolai shrugged, ¡°You must mistake me for someone else. I am but a foolish prince.¡± His shoulder twinged. ¡°I thought a good duel might make things more exciting in this boring city.¡±


    Lord Vellward sneered at the absurd excuse.


    Sensing the growing tension, Asinara frowned, ¡°Father, you misunderstand the situation. Nikolai, I mean,¡± she paused realizing how her familiar call might come across. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau, he saved me today.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Lord Vellward did not seem impressed.


    ¡°Yes!¡± exclaimed his daughter angrily. ¡°From that pig of a man you have betrothed me to! Argan struck him while his back was turned.¡±


    The minister stared at Nikolai¡¯s bruised face and injured shoulder. The wound had been treated briefly during the carriage ride. The minister had enough foresight, and fear, to bring a doctor along with him. ¡°Dear daughter, it looks to me that your defender lost.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes narrowed at the minister¡¯s words.


    ¡°Let this be a lesson, Lord of Feldgrau.¡± warned the older man. ¡°You are no match for them. Whatever it is you are planning, you will lose.¡± His tone became gentle as if reprimanding a senseless child. ¡±You will hurt, just as you have today.¡±


    ¡°Do you refer to this?¡± asked Nikolai plainly. He gestured to his wrapped shoulder. ¡°I barely feel it,¡± the ice prince smiled thinly. ¡°And even if I did, it is a wound I carry with pride.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau approached Lord Vellward¡¯s desk, towering over him. ¡±Look at yourself, minister.¡± His blue eyes were ice cold. ¡°You fear pain so much, you allow them to treat you like a dog.¡± It was the ice prince¡¯s turn to sneer, ¡°They step and piss on you and you thank them for it.¡±


    Lord Vellward clenched his jaw. ¡°Watch your mouth, boy.¡± His false smile was ugly and full of threats. ¡°I see what you are doing. My spies have heard what they call you in the borderlands. Lord of Feldgrau, their savior. They claim they would go to war for you.¡±


    ¡°Nikolai, you are playing a dangerous game. One that you are going to lose. You will fail that I am sure of.¡± Vellward¡¯s eyes cut across to his still-seated daughter. ¡°I may not be enough to convince you to stop.¡± The old minister glared as his gaze settled back onto the Lord of Feldgrau. ¡°But don¡¯t you dare drag my family into this¡±


    Loathe as he was to admit it, the father feared his daughter was too young and inexperienced. For all her intelligence, Lady Asinara was so blinded by the young lord¡¯s charm. She did not see his cruel determination like her father did. Although the ice prince may hold affection for his daughter, it was not the love of legends like she so craved, but a fondness born of old times, easily discarded. If the need arose, the young man would only use her as an end to a mean.


    Nikolai straightened, not even bothering to acknowledge the other man¡¯s claims. ¡°Unlike you, I will not stand by and watch my people suffer.¡±


    "Your people?" The old minister was not cowed. ¡°Shall I consider that evidence of treason and present it to the queen?¡±


    ¡°So you admit my father¡¯s rulership has been usurped?¡± challenged the ice prince.


    ¡°I will not answer a foolish question,¡± snapped Lord Vellward. ¡°I thought your exile would temper you. But no! You are still the brash fool.¡± He crossed his arms, shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°My worst student, just like your brother.¡±


    The young man burst forward. In a fit, he swiped all of Lord Vellward¡¯s belongings and papers onto the ground. The items went flying. Asinara flinched at the loud crash. "Do not speak of my brother."


    "Pathetic." Lord Vellward laughed without amusement. ¡°You¡¯re still the little boy hiding behind his elder brother,¡± he spit.


    Nikolai was silent. In his younger years, he had been personally tutored by Lord Vellward. The man had recognized his raw talent and had proudly lauded his student¡¯s prodigious mind to all. It seemed the years had changed both of them. Vellward had once been a just and righteous man who stood for fairness and acted for the betterment of the realm. And Nikolai the most studious of his peers, almost religious in his dedication to his studies and teacher.


    ¡°Heed my words, Lord of Feldgrau,¡± urged the minister. ¡°Stop whatever it is you are planning while you still can. Go back to Feldgrau and live your days in peace. If you know what is best, you will never return to the capital.¡±


    Finally, Asinara burst from her seat. ¡°Father, please stop this nonsense.¡± She stormed in between the two men. ¡°Niko¡¯s home is here. He was born and raised in the capital. How can you say such a thing?¡±


    But Lord Vellward was deaf to his daughter¡¯s words. ¡°Have you not lost enough, Nikolai?¡±


    Although his face did not betray him, blue eyes flickered and the minister knew he had struck a nerve.


    The Lord of Feldgrau bowed his head. ¡°Thank you for your wise words, minister.¡± He lowered himself to the ground and began to pick up the fallen missives and papers. ¡°You mistake my intentions, Lord Vellward.¡± The young man stood and placed them back onto Lord Vellward¡¯s desk. He nodded towards Asinara, tone suddenly friendly and pleasant. ¡°I merely wished to ensure the lady and yourself returned home safely. Now that the task is done, I will see myself out.¡± A small insincere smile played on his lips.


    Even Lord Vellward was taken aback by the sudden change. It was unnerving to see how fast the young man could switch his tune. Lord Feldgrau ambled pitifully to the exit, dragging his feet and clutching his injured shoulder. An onlooker would think the Vellward family had greatly slandered the poor man.


    Still, never one to be outspoken, Lord Vellward called out, ¡°You¡¯d do well to remember that you are married, and my daughter is betrothed! Do not seek her out again!¡±


    ¡°Father!¡± came the protest. ¡°Niko, don¡¯t listen to him. You are always welcome!¡±


    ¡°Asinara, stop interjecting in everything I say!¡±


    But Nikolai continued walking, paying no mind to either.


    Stashed in his pocket was one of Lord Vellward¡¯s letters. The ice prince had been sincere in his thanks, but not for the reasons the minister assumed. Despite the headache Lord Vellward¡¯s presence tended to induce, it was worth the pain.


    It just so happened that Cristin was excellent at forging signatures and official seals. With the head of government¡¯s unknowing help, their plan would finally proceed into the next phase.


    Once outside, Nikolai nodded at the carriage master and mumbled his address.


    As the carriage began its route home, the Lord of Feldgrau closed his eyes. If the carriage master looked back, it seemed the ice prince was dozing.


    But in his mind, Nikolai was hard at work¡­ drafting a letter from Lord Vellward that would go out tonight to the Minister of Coin requesting a review of all recent expenditures.


    Part of Nikolai almost wanted to thank Argan for this entire mess.


    ¡ª


    The assassin approached behind one of the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s personal servants. He recognized the boy from earlier. It was the one with the crush on the Raven General.Stolen novel; please report.


    As the man lifted his hidden blade to end the boy and access the room, he heard footsteps approaching. The blade fell back into his sleeve.


    ¡°Frederick, are the lord¡¯s quarters prepared for-?¡° Abby¡¯s eyes narrowed. She tilted her head to study the mysterious man behind the boy. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The assassin took a moment before ducking his head. ¡°The general instructed me to come here,¡± he started, voice soft as not to be recognizable. The man pulled out some night clothes he had grabbed as a backup. ¡°I believe these are to be put into the lord¡¯s quarters since she is to reside there tonight?¡±


    ¡°Step closer into the light.¡± The assassin did as ordered.


    Abby was silent for a moment. She stared at the man unable to tear her eyes away.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± asked Frederick. He approached worriedly. ¡°Abby? Are you all right?¡±


    Clearing her throat, Abby waved off the boy¡¯s worries. ¡°Go now, Frederick. You there.¡± She gestured for the man to follow her. ¡°I will show you to the lord¡¯s room.¡±


    The assassin nodded and followed the maid. They walked in silence. As they passed the guards, no one gave them a second glance with Abby taking the lead.


    Arriving at the chambers, Abby opened the doors. The man headed in and placed the fabrics down.


    Abby shut the doors behind her. With the lord away, the room was dark except for the moonlight shining in through the windows.


    The two were alone.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± asked the old maid. ¡°You¡¯re not from Feldgrau.¡±


    The assassin pondered his options. There were no witnesses. He could end her easily and stick to his original plan. ¡°I am from the palace,¡± he decided.


    Abby frowned, ¡°Lady Feldgrau got rid of all the palace workers.¡±


    The man shrugged and put on a helpless expression. ¡°I am one of the lucky few. The general took a liking to me, I suppose.¡±


    For a moment, it seemed as if Abby would press the issue. From her frown, he could guess that she had not bought the lie. Instead, she stared at him.


    ¡°Why do you look at me like that?¡± he asked quietly. ¡°Like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    His words seemed to get to her. After a tense moment, the old maid dropped her head in defeat. ¡°I apologize. You look like someone I, I used to know.¡±


    The man felt for the blade under his tunic. He once again considered drawing it. With his skill, it would take no longer than a blink of an eye and the woman before him would be no more.


    Abby frowned at the other¡¯s silence. ¡°Well?¡±


    Sighing, the assassin let his hands fall to his sides. He already knew he would not be able to take action against her. It was no use lying to himself.


    ¡°My mother used to say I had my father¡¯s looks. Back in the village, she would comb my hair like this,¡± the man lifted the hair and revealed his nape where a diamond birthmark sat. ¡°And she would tell, my darling boy,¡± He glanced up at Abby who held a hand to cover her gasp. ¡°You have your father¡¯s eyes.¡±


    Tears welled in Abby¡¯s own eyes, threatening to spill over. ¡°What was your father¡¯s name?¡± she asked, even though she already knew the answer.


    ¡°Harold.¡± The assassin smiled sadly. ¡°He was a soldier in the border towns. My mother was a noblewoman named Abigail.¡±


    Abby stepped back as shock wracked her frame. ¡°You¡¯re not from the palace, are you?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± admitted the man. He stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, mother.¡±


    There was a breath of silence.


    ¡°My son.¡± Abby swallowed hard. The man was the spitting image of her late lover. It truly was like seeing a ghost. She could no longer deny it. Abby had dreamed of the diamond birthmark more times than she could count. She breathed, ¡°Why have you come here?¡±


    The assassin laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± He gestured towards her helplessly. ¡°For you, of course. All this time, I didn¡¯t know how to approach you. I-¡± he gaped silently at the sudden embrace.


    Abby clung to her son for dear life and sobbed. The man¡¯s arms slowly lifted to embrace her back.


    They stood in silence except for Abby¡¯s cries.


    Finally, the older woman stepped back. She wiped at her face but it was little use. Her neat bun had come loose.


    ¡°If we do not leave soon, the guards will ask after us. This is no place for a proper conversation.¡± The old maid jutted her head towards the room. ¡°I have duties to attend to. But,¡± her eyes welled with hope. ¡°Perhaps you would share your journey with me? In the morning?¡±


    Her son nodded. ¡°I would like that,¡± he said quietly.


    Abby nodded, ¡°Wait a few minutes after I leave.¡± She opened the doors hurriedly. Before she left, his mother shot him a small smile, then slipped out.


    The assassin stood frozen like a statue. He could still feel the warmth of her embrace. When he heard the footsteps of approaching guards, he hurried to the window and undid the locked latch.


    Everything had to be perfect. His job had to be finished tonight. In his heart, he apologized to the older woman. If all went well, he would be long gone by daybreak. His mother would not be getting the reunion she longed for.


    With a sigh, the man left the room. He closed the doors behind him.


    ---


    It was the dead of the night: the hour of the Wolf.


    Rufus stiffened as he heard the latch to his window come undone. He had been expecting it but the sudden presence behind him was still unnerving.


    The boy turned to face the Raven General.


    Arms crossed, amber eyes turned to him, narrowed. ¡°Your plan didn¡¯t work.¡±


    Rufus faltered. He was not expecting her to say that. ¡°Oh,¡± he said weakly. ¡°Apologies?¡±


    He thanked the gods that she only rolled her eyes playfully. Settling against the wall, the Raven General crossed her arms. ¡°Well, spit it out.¡± Her gaze was expectant. ¡°You said you had an important message for me?¡±


    Swallowing, Rufus nodded jerkily. His clenched fists were sweaty and cold. Reaching into his pocket, the boy pulled out a folded sheet of paper.


    He searched into the other¡¯s eyes. ¡°The messenger¡¯s name is in here.¡± Rufus gulped as if expecting her to draw her blade and hunt down the person immediately.


    Instead, Faye¡¯s eyes only widened. Her lips curved upwards. ¡°Impressive.¡± The boy was more resilient than she had thought. ¡°How did you figure it out?¡± Still, Faye did not allow herself any excitement, a name meant nothing if his method was flawed.


    Rufus twisted his hands nervously. ¡°I had a hunch so,¡± the boy swallowed hard, finding it hard to admit what he had done out loud. ¡°I snuck into my father''s room and found his letters. He¡­ was trying to destroy them so I took one. I then found some official correspondences sent by the person I suspected.¡±


    Let it be known that Rufus could be unrelenting when he had to be. His string of failed romancing attempts could attest to it.


    ¡°I took the two to an old woman who reads scripts.¡± He didn¡¯t mention that he usually employed her help for other matters. Such as reading fortunes with scraps of paper the women he liked left behind. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, she is very good at what she does.¡±


    From her expression, it seemed the Raven General had some questions, but thankfully, she kept them to herself.


    ¡°She said they were faked to look different, but the owner is the same.¡± He didn¡¯t know how she did it, but the old woman could tell a person¡¯s heart from how they wrote. Identifying whether two letters were written by the same person was nothing for her.


    The Raven General stretched out a hand. She had heard of such talents before, masters who could read destiny in tea leaves or determine a person¡¯s name through the lines in their hands. Although rare, they existed.


    Staring at the expectant hand, the young lord stepped back. Rufus gave her a hard look and stood with his shoulders back and straight. It was only the trembling of his hands that gave away his fear. ¡°Raven General, I must ask. What will you use this for?¡±


    The other shook their head. ¡°It is not your concern.¡±


    Rufus surged forward. ¡°Of course, it is my concern. Especially¡­ if you intend to hurt someone!¡± He held up the paper, gripping the center as if to rip it.


    ¡°Boy,¡± growled the Raven General lowly. ¡°Give it here.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ voice trembled. ¡°Swear it. Swear that you won¡¯t use this information to harm anyone and I shall give it to you.¡±


    Faye barked out a disbelieving laugh. ¡°Even if I swore it, would you believe me?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Rufus¡¯ response was immediate. He nodded his head, voice firm. ¡°I would.¡±


    The change from his usual cowardice sobered the other. The Raven General sighed. It would be easy to fool him. She could lie and easily gain what she wanted. But for the same reason she did not kill Rufus Langard on sight for having his name be used, Faye restrained herself.


    ¡°I admire your strength of will. But-¡± This was neither the time nor place for it. The Raven General crossed her arms. ¡°I cannot promise that, Rufus.¡±


    The boy¡¯s heart fell. His expression sank. The message hung limply in his hands. It was useless for him to pretend. The general could snatch the paper from his grasp and gut him before the boy could even cry for help. The fact that she hadn¡¯t was a small act of mercy. A false sense of security to keep his remaining pride intact.


    ¡°At least tell me what you plan to use it for. You would not believe the trouble and stress I have gone through to get you this. I¡¯m not meant for this type of work.¡± Unfortunately, his joking tone fell flat. Rufus shook his head. ¡°You cannot blame me for not wanting¡­ to be a traitor to my kingdom.¡±


    The Raven General was silent.


    Rufus stood still, fearful of making a wrong move, terrified of setting off the warrior and ending up on the wrong side of her blade.


    Faye lowered her voice, even though they were alone. ¡°What I say cannot leave this room.¡± Her eyes sharpened. ¡°Or I will have to take your life.¡±


    Rufus shivered. That was not a threat, but a promise.


    He nodded. So be it.


    The Raven General held out a hand. ¡°If you give me this letter, you will live.¡± She stepped forward. ¡°Take the fact that you are still living and breathing as a sense of my goodwill. According to my orders, Rufus Langard should already be dead.¡±


    The young lord squinted at her in confusion. ¡°I do not understand.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple, Rufus.¡± Faye¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°If you do not give me this letter, I will assume that the messenger was you. I will assume that the Rufus Langard in the letters is Rufus Langard the person.¡± Seeing his confusion, she snapped, ¡°Your head will be the one I deliver to Fadye, Rufus! Do you understand?¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes widened. The Raven General¡­ was sent to kill the sender of the messages.


    ¡°There is little time. These letters were signed in your name,¡± warned Faye. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before others find out as well. And the assassins that the grasslands send, they will not-¡± she looked away, hissing through her teeth. ¡°They will kill you without a single feeling of remorse. And simply for Fadye¡¯s approval.¡±


    Rufus closed his eyes, trying to will his sudden headache to go away. Surprisingly enough, it was not his own life that he feared for. The boy groaned. He never should have opened the message. This would be so much easier if he didn¡¯t know the real sender. But he could not help himself. And now the life of the sender was in his hands.


    ¡°Raven General,¡± started Rufus. ¡°Please, there must be another way. Maybe you can convince Fadye to-¡±


    ¡°You think Fadye is someone that can be convinced?¡± Faye stared at Rufus in amazement. ¡°You really are braver than you look.¡±


    ¡°Stop mocking me,¡± retorted Rufus. ¡°You¡¯re the Raven General, you can do what you wish!¡±


    ¡°I have my loyalties and duties as well,¡± snapped Faye, a crazed look in her eyes. ¡°If I do not do this, my position in Wenge could be contested. This is my final step in securing my place by my father¡¯s side. We are both running out of time, Rufus.¡±


    Her words held a grave implication. It was as if a sudden hourglass had been set off. Like grains of sand, time trickled effortlessly, stopping for no one.


    ¡°What did the messenger even do to warrant a death sentence?¡± Rufus worried his lip. ¡°Was this person evil? Did he harm your tribe?¡±


    ¡°He shamed us,¡± said Faye bluntly. ¡°And that is one of the worst crimes in the grasslands.¡±


    Rufus gulped.


    ¡°The messenger made us lose face,¡± continued the general. ¡°He and his country only send aid at the last moment. They toyed with us, proving that Eburean could easily betray and destroy us. Insinuating that our life was in their hands, whether to save or destroy. Their delay led to the deaths of many. But Wenge is merciful. We will only ask for the life of one to repay the many.¡± The Raven General lowered her head. The woman¡¯s voice was weak. ¡°At least, that is what Fadye believes.¡±


    Rufus stepped forward, hearing the sudden vulnerability in her voice. It did not seem that Faye believed what she said.


    ¡°But what do you believe?¡± he pressed. ¡°General, in the little time that I have gotten to know you, I¡¯ve seen that you are different.¡±


    Seeing her doubtful look, Rufus pointed at himself. ¡°You said your entire life¡¯s work rests on killing this messenger. But you didn¡¯t kill me. You could have ended me and gone home with none the wiser.¡± He smiled faintly, in sudden awe as something clicked for him. ¡°But you spared me. Why?¡±


    ¡°I- Because,¡± Faye paused. Her voice was barely audible as if she feared admitting something would make it real. ¡°Wenge will never forget.¡±


    ¡°What do that mean?¡± asked Rufus.


    Amber eyes crinkled at the thought, thinking of something and watching memories only known to her bright orbs.


    ¡°Wenge will never forget. Those are the words I sent your father after the battle.¡± Seeing the boy¡¯s confused look, Faye explained, ¡°Wenge will never forget, I will never forget because-¡± her voice trailed off. She scratched the back of her neck, suddenly shy.


    Rufus stared wide-eyed at the other. For some reason, the thought of this messenger brought a certain softness to the usually boisterous and tough woman.


    ¡°Because,¡± the Raven General couldn¡¯t stop the helpless laugh that escaped her. ¡°He saved us. All of us. We are forever in his debt. That is my vow.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes gleamed with understanding.


    ¡°Wenge will never forget.¡±

 CHAPTER 26: In the Tavern Business

    In the tavern business, there was an important rule. Those who came in after the night watch¡¯s bell had to be carefully studied. Shifty-eyed or already-drunk patrons were likely to loiter, while adrenaline junkies or the insomniacs would stay all night, delaying until daybreak.


    Staring at the young woman, drowning her tenth jug of ale, the barkeeper could not determine which category she fell into. At first, he had thought her a man with her dark cloak and pants. It was only after she tossed her hood back, revealing her wild mane of hair, that he realized that they were a young woman.


    The patroness had come alone and wanted no company. A young man had approached with a charming smile only to receive a vicious glare. Those nearby had gasped at the speed in which the young woman brandished her concealed dagger.


    The bar keeper had reached for the wooden club he hid under his table. Although no practiced fighter, he could hold his own if things turned ugly. The last thing he needed was a fight. They were a surprisingly peaceful establishment.


    It would also bring the guards knocking at his doors. City guards, once a sign of hope and justice, were now regarded with weariness and suspicion. Under the loose reign of those currently in power, the guards were greedy and always took, more like stole, extra coins for checking in on anything. Thankfully, the young man understood. He quickly stumbled away at the sight of a blade.


    The bar keeper sighed. Anger but not weariness of men? He was the father of four daughters. The man knew the signs.


    ¡°This one¡¯s on the house, young lady.¡±


    Faye blinked at the bar keeper. The man shot her a pitying look. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of other fish in the lake, girl. Forget him and move on.¡±


    Despite her confusion, she was never one to pass up a free drink. Faye took the offered jug and added it to her pile. ¡°Thanks,¡± she muttered, not drunk enough to feign friendliness.


    The bartender drifted away. He sighed under his breath as he went to attend to the other patrons. There were too many dishonest young men in this generation, he thought. But which one had broken the maiden¡¯s heart, he wondered.


    Groaning, Faye dug the palms of her hands into her eyeballs. Maybe if she pushed hard enough, she could will her troubles and the headache away.


    When another fool tapped her shoulder, Faye¡¯s hand shot out, with all the intention of dealing out a not-so-friendly warning. Part of her was itching for a fight. The adrenaline would allow her to forget, if only for a short time.


    But to her surprise, the fist struck air. There weren¡¯t many who were fast enough to dodge her.


    Faye squinted balefully at the one who swiftly took a seat next to her. Amber eyes narrowed as they met the other¡¯s knowing smile.


    The young woman, only a few years older than the Raven General, gracefully perched on her stool. She swept her purple hood back, revealing a tattooed forehead and lilac eyes. Silver ringlets shaped like the crescents swung from her gray hair.


    The surprise quickly soured. Faye¡¯s lips pursed.


    ¡°Am I hallucinating or are you really here, cousin?¡± groused the Raven General. She even swatted at the other for good measure. She didn¡¯t think she was that drunk¡­


    The other woman dodged easily.


    Celinis, the young woman, poked at Faye¡¯s head playfully. Her voice was soft like the summer wind. ¡°What do you think? Has time in these demon lands really dulled your senses?¡± She nodded at the line of jugs. ¡°This used to be nothing for you.¡±


    Faye rolled her eyes. ¡°Wow, you really are here. Pity.¡±


    The other woman leaned closer, eyes narrowing to study the younger. ¡°Here I thought you would be more excited to see me. How unfilial of you.¡±


    ¡°The last we crossed paths, you poisoned me,¡± the Raven General¡¯s glare was downright murderous.


    ¡°Please do not exaggerate, cousin! People will misunderstand.¡± She grinned, ¡°It is not as if you were in any danger!¡± Celinis laughed knowingly. ¡°I knew you could take it!¡±


    ¡°It took weeks for my fever to break,¡± grunted Faye. ¡°I missed campaigns because of it. My father almost put a bounty on your head for that.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, you were in no true danger,¡± Celinis smiled softly like she wasn¡¯t one of the greatest poison masters in the grasslands with a conscience that made even Faye uneasy. When it came to her craft, the poison master had an extremely loose set of morals. It was what made her knowledge so vast and valued. The young woman pulled Faye in for a hug. ¡°Come now. Don¡¯t be sour and give your big cousin a hug.¡±


    Faye rolled her eyes but allowed the other to embrace her. She even patted the other woman on the back. ¡°I will admit it is nice to see a familiar face. And no, Celi, I will not try out your newest concoction.¡±


    Some of the cheer faded from the poison master¡¯s eyes. ¡°Very well,¡± she sighed.


    Faye suddenly eyed her cups suspiciously. ¡°Or have you already added it?¡±


    ¡°No, I did not get a chance to,¡± admitted her cousin. ¡°Truthfully, I was not expecting to see you here. Also, these bastards would probably freak if one of them really did keel over.¡±


    Faye snorted at that, even though she knew the other wasn¡¯t jesting. It was slightly unnerving how Celinis spoke of murder with such a sweet and melodious voice.


    When in the middle of research, Celinis had a bad habit of testing on innocent victims. With a stronger constitution than most, Faye had been her unfortunate victim when they were younger. However, for all her flaws, Celinis was quite protective over those she considered her own. Even as a child, Faye trusted the older to always heal her back into shape. Despite her fascination with it, Celinis was no sadist. When she could, she ingested many of her own creations. The young woman¡¯s gray hair was a natural effect of self-testing.


    Pushing her drink to Celinis, just in case, Faye asked, ¡°What brings you to this side of the wall, cousin?¡±


    Sighing, the ringlets jingled as Celinis pouted and leaned her face against her elbows. ¡°What else?¡± Unless ordered to by the Wolf, the poison master would never stray from her tent in the grasslands, happy to experiment with different substances till the end of her days.


    ¡°Here I thought Uncle was trying to marry you off like I was¡± teased Faye. At the thought of her own marriage and specifically her husband, some of the mirth faded from her eyes.


    Celinis sighed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid step-father doesn¡¯t care for me half as much as he does you, dear baby cousin.¡± The poison master was the fearsome general¡¯s adopted daughter. Despite her words, the Wolf rarely let the young woman stray far from his camp. There was only one reason why the poison master would travel so far.


    Faye sniffed, ¡°So, you¡¯re still going to see that-¡°


    ¡°Watch your words,¡± warned Celinis cheerfully. ¡°She¡¯s still my mother. Yes, adopted. But still, if you say anything bad against her, I¡¯ll be forced to act.¡±


    But Faye was undeterred. ¡°So you and Ismelyda are on talking terms now?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± admitted the other. ¡°But step-father doesn¡¯t trust anyone else.¡± She gestured to herself grandly. ¡°So here I am.¡±


    Faye grunted. Every few moons, the Wolf would send Celinis to give updates to his ex-lover in the Eburean dungeons. Furious that it wasn¡¯t the Wolf himself, the assassin refused to speak to the poison master. After delivering her message, Celinis would sneak out of the dungeons and back over the wall. A few moons later, the cycle would repeat.


    Truthfully, Faye wondered if it was some psychotic pleasure the three shared, but she respected her uncle and cousin too much to question their decision in the matter.


    ¡°Enough about me,¡± said Celinis, sneaking a sip of Faye¡¯s drink. ¡°What has you in such a mood? I heard you married a prince!¡±


    ¡°I merely wanted a drink.¡± Faye shrugged, ¡°It is nothing.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve known you since you were in the crib, cousin,¡± Celinis¡¯ smile was dangerous. ¡°I know you better than that.¡±


    The Raven General grumbled into her cups. As much as she appreciated her good cousin¡¯s concern, any information she revealed would find its way back to her Uncle. And when it came to a certain ice prince, Faye was sure the Wolf would only be too happy to learn anything useful. She shuddered at the thought. Faye was not going to provide him with the satisfaction of rubbing her troubled marriage in her face.


    ¡°Actually,¡± Faye turned to her cousin, a glint in her eye. ¡°Have you heard of any snake flower powder being sold to foreigners?¡±


    Celinis¡¯ brows furrowed as she thought about the question. ¡°Nothing particular. Obviously, we have been using it, but foreigners?¡±


    Easily dissolved and hard to trace, snake flower powder was a highly coveted and unique. Those who had never encountered it would find it nearly impossible to identify. One of the reasons it was so effective was because it was not something that could be kept very long. In fact, the longer the freshly ground powder had contact with air, the less potent the poison would be. It was only purchased to be used immediately. That was why Wenge kept such a tight hold over its distribution. They cataloged the buyers carefully but there was safety in the knowledge that the poison had to be used within a short time.


    ¡°Actually, now that you mention it,¡± Celinis hummed thoughtfully. ¡°A certain group does come to mind.¡±


    Faye beckoned the bartender over. ¡°Let me buy you an actual drink, cousin.¡± As she slid over the jug of ale, the Raven General leaned forward, eyes glittering dangerously. ¡°Tell me everything you know.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°This was nice,¡± determined Faye as she stumbled out of the bar, following Celinis¡¯ lead.


    The poison master was still walking straight and shot an incredulous look at the Raven General who could barely walk straight. For all her accolades, Faye had an oversimplified method to deal with her troubles, hack at it, and if that was unavailable, she would drink her sorrows away.


    Celinis sighed. She dug into her pockets and pulled out a vial. ¡°Take this,¡± she pressed the vial into her cousin¡¯s hands. ¡°This will help with the headaches.¡±


    Faye eyed the vial suspiciously. Then, the young woman broke into a large smile. Taking another step forward, she stumbled and fell into her cousin¡¯s arms. ¡°Celi, I did something bad.¡±


    Brushing hair out of her face, Celinis hummed, ¡°You¡¯re always getting into trouble. What could be so bad this time?¡±


    ¡°I think I fell in love,¡± mumbled the drunk general.


    That got Celinis¡¯ attention. She stared at the younger in amazement. ¡°Well that¡¯s wonderful, baby cousin.¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve always said you needed a companion. And that lousy lieutenant of yours doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°Livye is a good man,¡± countered Faye, always quick to defend her own.


    ¡°Yes,¡± appeased the poison master. ¡°But he and the rest of your men, see you as some god to follow. They¡¯ll do whatever you ask.¡± She smirked, ¡°I know you like a challenge. Someone who¡­ sees you. As Faye.¡± It was a drunken admission the younger had made when the Raven General was more myth than legend.


    ¡°And blue eyes,¡± burped the Raven General. ¡°And a stupid face that doesn¡¯t smile.¡±


    That was oddly specific. Although she had no idea how the younger would have met someone while trapped in a political marriage¡­ the poison master was quite happy at the news. Celinis had always thought her cousin was over-exaggerated by many, whether in fear or awe.


    ¡°He¡¯s beautiful,¡± sighed her cousin. The fearsome general had hearts in her eyes. ¡°Like a painting! The best-looking man, no, person I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± She wagged a finger at Celinis. ¡°But you can¡¯t have him!¡±


    After a brief moment to filter the shock, the poison master patted Faye¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You really are in deep. Where did you find the time to meet this poor bastard anyway?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not poor,¡± sniffed Faye, like it was a significant detail. ¡°He¡¯s a lord!¡±


    ¡°Not the poor I meant,¡± corrected the older. At the other¡¯s confused look, she laughed, ¡°My dear baby cousin, you used to bite me for looking at your rag wolf.¡±


    ¡°So?¡± Faye tilted her head, not following.


    ¡°With you as a lover, the poor fellow will have to wear a hood when he goes out! You¡¯re as territorial as your father sometimes,¡± said the poison master. Her words weren¡¯t entirely true, unlike the Wenge Chief, the Raven General had quite the self-sacrificing streak.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Faye grumbled.


    ¡°What was that?¡± The poison master strained her ears to hear the Raven General¡¯s words.


    ¡°He¡¯s in love with another,¡± muttered Faye.


    ¡°So?¡± Celinis was much more proficient in dealing with love and matters of the heart than her war-mongering cousin. ¡°Time can easily fix that, and I can lend you some of these.¡± She flashed the rows of glittering vials and droughts lining the insides of her cloak.


    Faye grimaced, ¡°I have orders to kill him.¡±


    Celinis blinked. That would be an issue. ¡°I see.¡±


    The two had arrived at a fork in the road. The streets were desserted. If they were any two other young women, they would be wary of walking such places alone at such an hour.


    ¡°Well, this is where I leave you,¡± Celinis flicked Faye on the forehead. ¡°Take care, Raven General.¡±


    Rubbing the spot, Faye scowled, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°And if you want my advice.¡± The poison master leaned close, words barely louder than a whisper. ¡°Be selfish, baby cousin.¡± Celinis pulled the other close and pressed their foreheads together. She closed her eyes. She slipped easily into their native tongue. ¡°You saved us, Raven General. Despite what my step-father may say, Wenge will follow you.¡± She paused, a protective edge to her voice. ¡°I only hope that he is worthy of you.¡±


    Faye closed her eyes, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. ¡°I have my duties.¡±


    ¡±You deserve happiness, cousin. It is what your mother would have wanted,¡± insisted Celinis, not unkindly. The elder pulled away and returned back to Eburean¡¯s common tongue. ¡°Fadye¡¯s will be damned.¡±


    Faye¡¯s lips pursed, but she did not reprimand the other for her treasonous words.


    ¡°But be careful this love does not ruin you,¡± warned the elder. Love could blind even the wisest, and she did not wish for Faye to be hurt by something her sword would not defend her from.


    Celinis always knew more than she let on. Faye looked away. ¡°I will try, cousin.¡±


    ¡°That is all I ask.¡± Having imparted her invaluable wisdom, the poison master waved lazily. Heading into the dark alleyway away, she walked towards the royal dungeons and a not-so-touching family reunion. ¡°Until next time, baby cousin!¡±


    Amber eyes watched her disappear into the shadows.


    ¡°Be selfish,¡± Faye muttered to herself. ¡°If only it were that simple.¡±


    ¡ª


    True to the poison master¡¯s words, the vial did help with Faye¡¯s headache¡­ and balance. Still, she stumbled back to the Prince¡¯s Residence and scaled the walls so that she wouldn¡¯t have to deal with the guards.


    Thankfully, no one was present when she miscalculated the distance of her first jump.


    The mighty Raven General landed on her rear end so hard even the passing squirrel stopped to look. Faye scowled at the rodent. If Mouse was around, the raven would make a quick meal out of the judgy creature. Unfortunately, the raven was nowhere in sight.


    Faye had sat there for a few minutes, stunned at her own lack of coordination. In the grasslands, she was always on guard. Even if there were no battles, she never let herself become so disoriented, aware of the target her name brought her.


    Faye had let her anger cloud her judgement. She wished to blame the emotion, but in truth, it was the relatively peaceful life she had been living that had left her comfortable enough to drink to this point. What was this place doing to her, she thought, mortified. Blue eyes and entwined hands flashed in her mind. Her cheeks warmed. A warm hand that was unafraid to hold her scarred ones.


    She realized, with growing horror, it was not this place¡­ but a person.


    No one had to know that it took Faye four attempts to scale the walls¡­ except for the guards on the inside.


    The two, loyal to Feldgrau, winced at each groan and curse that came from the intruder trying to scale their defenses. It was only the familiar voice that stopped them from ringing the bell and calling for reinforcements.


    When the general finally landed on the inside and saw two, they all mutually agreed to never say a word. Faye¡¯s drunk dagger swinging might have done most of the talking, but a deal was made.


    Faye headed for her own quarters. Sure, Abby had mentioned something of couples and staying together for the festival but the young woman was quite certain Nikolai would not be as excited as the old maid to see her in the middle of his room. The thought had her pause. Actually, she wondered, what would be the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s reaction? An amused snort escaped her.


    She blamed the alcohol as her feet turned towards the other end of the residence. Faye murmured, ¡°It¡¯s only to make sure he made it back in one piece.¡± The fight with Prince Argan and the following scolding by the minister was surely taxing. She hiccuped, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly why!¡± She lowered her voice, pretending to mimic Nikolai¡¯s clipped speech, ¡°Why, dear wife, thank you for checking on me! Well, Faye, you are quite the genius, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re such a great fighter! I¡¯ll get you all the dresses you want.¡±


    The night guard, having grown accustomed to the weird sights that tend to come about during their shifts, politely kept to themselves as the Raven General babbled away to herself.


    It wasn¡¯t all too long before Faye found herself right outside the ice prince¡¯s window.


    ¡°And isn¡¯t that romantic.¡± She yawned loudly, stretching her arms up. ¡°Too bad that darkly cloaked fellow beat me to it.¡±


    The young woman blinked. Something was wrong with that sentence.


    Before her, a figure dressed in dark was currently pushing open the lord¡¯s window. From his lithe and smaller frame, it was neither Darcy nor Cristin. Also, both men would never be crawling through windows. Probably.


    ¡°That¡¯s so unfair, I want to climb through the windows.¡± Faye hiccuped, ¡°But that¡¯s a nice set of blades he¡¯s got.¡± Her eyes followed as the figure drew his dual blades and crept into the room.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s definitely an assassin.¡± At her own words, Faye stilled. A sudden clarity washed over her. The Raven General tilted her head. She cursed.


    ¡°That is definitely an assassin.¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai looked around in confusion. Why was he at the castle? The Lord of Feldgrau took a step forward and almost stumbled. He looked down. His legs were a lot shorter.


    The ice prince glanced over at the mirror. Nikolai recognized the engravings but could not place them. Taking a step forward, his eyes widened. Nikolai¡¯s younger self stared back.


    ¡°Niko!¡± called a voice.


    Nikolai felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise. That voice¡­ It was one he had not heard in years.


    ¡°Mother!¡± his young voice chirped. Nikolai turned to face his mother, the former queen. His short limbs ran for her and embraced her tightly. ¡°I have missed you,¡± the older Nikolai admitted.


    She was exactly as he remembered, graceful and elegant. Blue eyes crinkled in fondness. The woman¡¯s slight frown lessened at the sight of her youngest. ¡°You should not be here,¡± she scolded lightly.


    Nikolai felt a cheeky smile raise to his lips. ¡°Why not?¡± he pouted.


    It was all coming to him now. They were in the queen¡¯s chambers. A sudden apprehension had him tensing, but a fogginess kept him from connecting the dot. What was this unsettling feeling, he wondered.


    Outside, the sun was bright and there wasn¡¯t a single cloud in the sky.


    Suddenly, the queen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Nikolai gasped as his mother dragged him towards her closet. Her grip was tight, leaving bruises on his pale skin. ¡°Hurry, Niko,¡± she hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t come out unless I tell you, okay? You cannot let them know you were here!¡±


    The words were like a slap to the face. And the memories came flowing back. His mother was currently under a self-imposed house arrest. None were to see her, not even her own children. Desperate to visit, Nikolai had snuck in. But something had happened during that visit.


    Even young Nikolai had heard the desperate edge to his mother¡¯s tone and had not argued. The closet doors slammed closed and he was rooted in place, silent.


    With a sudden clarity that came with dreams, for that was what this was he realized, Nikolai felt a dawning fear come upon him. This was not a mere dream, but a memory.


    He struggled to fight for control, to warn his mother of what was to come, but his young self was rooted in place. To his frustration, his body was not his to control.


    Hearing angry voices, young Nikolai stepped close to the closet doors. Curious blue eyes peered out of the small crevices. He squinted and frowned. It was Rewanna. And his mother was arguing with the consort.


    The ice prince¡¯s little fists clenched, but he heeded his mother¡¯s words and stayed put.


    The two women spoke angrily to one another, but Nikolai could not make out clearly what they were saying. He pressed his ears to the crevices.


    ¡°Are you threatening me, consort?¡± His mother¡¯s voice was detached and cold. It terrified him. He had never heard her speak in such a tone.


    ¡°Please, you refuse to leave your rooms and the King refuses to see you.¡± Rewanna¡¯s laugh was grating to his ears. ¡°I am already pregnant again. The entire kingdom can tell that you are only a figurehead.¡± She lowered her voice and the words were lost to the prince.


    Nikolai strained to hear. His body pressed so tightly against the door, that part of him feared he might push it open and reveal his eavesdropping.


    ¡°You will never be queen so long as I am around,¡± his mother¡¯s voice dropped into a menacing growl. ¡°Your children will never sit on the throne, you greedy slut.¡±


    ¡°Oh but they will.¡± Rewanna¡¯s smile was deadly. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll realize how wrong you were to underestimate me.¡±


    ¡°Over my dead body,¡± snarled the queen, eyes flashing. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°You gone.¡± Rewanna smiled falsely. ¡°Take some coin, leave, and never come back. Die in a ditch or raise another family, I do not care. Just never step foot back into this kingdom, unless you wish to face death.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s mother laughed, ¡°What makes you think I would do that?¡±


    There was silence. Nikolai hurried to peek out of the crevice. He could not see what the consort handed to the queen, but it was enough to startle a shocked gasp out of his mother. Nikolai¡¯s small mouth pursed.


    ¡°This will make the entire kingdom question your son¡¯s legitimacy,¡± crowed the consort. ¡°You¡¯ll most certainly be exiled, and in the best-case scenario, they may just send your precious bastards to-¡°


    SLAP!


    ¡°My sons are true born, I was loyal to my husband,¡± the queen¡¯s voice was deathly quiet, trembling with rage. ¡°These are slanderous accusations!¡±


    ¡°Well, we can certainly test it in front of the court,¡± jeered the consort to the queen. ¡°Especially with the tragedy of the Feldgrau family, your blood holds no seats in the King¡¯s court. Can you win if it comes to a vote?¡±


    The queen was silent for a long time.


    Nikolai¡¯s heart thundered.


    ¡°If I leave, how do I know you won¡¯t hurt the crown prince and second prince?¡± His mother¡¯s voice was resigned. ¡°You could send assassins after them when I leave.¡±


    ¡°True, I might.¡± Rewanna only laughed, confident in her victory. Even the consort could tell she had won. ¡°If you value their lives, perhaps you should take them with you as well.¡±


    ¡°People would only think the lies true then,¡± snapped the queen. ¡°And you could still send assassins after we leave the capital¡¯s protection.¡±


    Rewanna¡¯s snide voice chided, ¡°Do you have a choice, queen mother? You can only trust in my goodwill.¡± The consort¡¯s voice was filled with glee.


    Nikolai pushed open the closet door, unable to bear it. Immediately, his mother¡¯s eyes cut to meet his. With her back turned, Rewanna had not heard the noise, relishing in her power over the queen.


    ¡°I win, Iliana,¡± snarled Rewanna, taking a menacing step forward. The two stood on the terrace overlooking the kingdom. ¡°I will be queen, and you and your filthy children will be nothing. And there¡¯s nothing you can do, Your Highness.¡±


    But Iliana¡¯s gaze was reserved for Nikolai. Even as she grasped Rewanna close to her, causing the consort to stumble, his mother stared at him. She pulled the consort by her collar, causing the other woman to squeak. The consort squeaked in fear, bravado lost as she whimpered in fear. Iliana¡¯s fingers squeezed Rewanna¡¯s neck, nails almost sharp enough to draw blood.


    ¡°Look away,¡± his mother mouthed.


    The older Nikolai wished he could once again control his own body, but his eyes closed against his will.


    ¡°Over my dead body,¡± he heard his mother say.


    And then there was a furious scream. Rewanna¡¯s. Then came the sound of crashing and even more screams from below the terrace as servants rushed to the scene.


    When Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes flashed open, it was to the sight of the consort standing alone on the terrace. Even from his place, the prince could hear the cries and terrified sobs as people called the former queen¡¯s name.


    ¡°No,¡± he gasped. His mother¡­


    In his shock, the prince accidentally stumbled back into the closet.


    Just in time as the doors to the chambers and guards and maids spilled into the room.


    Nikolai gasped, and suddenly the scene changed.


    In an empty room, it was once again just Nikolai and his mother.


    Suddenly, he was looking down at her, no longer his younger self. He kept his eyes down, unable to look at her. He noticed the dirt and blood on her shoes.


    His voice cracked, ¡°Mother, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    But to his surprise, his mother only strode forward and wrapped her arms around him. ¡°My dear boy, I never blamed you.¡± She grasped his face, studying it with tears in her eyes. Her face was bruised and bloodied, just as he remembered from the funeral. ¡°But you are in danger. You must leave.¡±


    ¡°No, I wish to stay,¡± he murmured. ¡°I will not abandon you again.¡±


    ¡°You cannot. You have a duty.¡± The grip on his face tightened. ¡°Your promise, Nikolai! Don¡¯t forget it!¡± His mother¡¯s tears streamed down her face. Her voice was frantic with worry and fear. ¡°Where is your brother, my child? Why is Malakai not with you? You swore that you would protect one another and the realm!¡±


    His nose filled with the smell of burning wood. A sudden heat wave had Nikolai hissing. When he glanced out at the terrace, their beautiful kingdom was embroiled in flames and soldiers fought in the streets. Blood and tears filled the streets. Ash rained down in a sea of orange, red, and grey.


    ¡°Mother, what has happened?¡± Nikolai glanced back worriedly at the ghost.


    His mother¡¯s face twisted into an ugly frown as she pushed him back. He grunted. Pain erupted into his backside where the stone dug into his flesh. ¡°Wake. Up!¡±


    There was the sound of clashing metal from below as the battles continued. The noise rang in his ear as his mother came forward¡­ and pushed him off the terrace. ¡°Remember your vow, Niko.¡± Blue eyes which mirrored his own bore into him as he fell.


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°How can you sleep through this?¡± shrieked a voice. But Nikolai could not tell where it came from. ¡°You are in danger! Wake up!¡±


    He tumbled back and fell through the air. Pure instinct had him gasping for air, hoping to grab anything that might allow him to save himself, but the effort was in vain. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable.


    Maybe he deserved this.


    ¡ª


    Blue eyes snapped open. The ice prince gasped awake.


    Above him, a blade was held right above his heart. It was a sword he recognized. A blade he had seen being carried around, and chopping down his greenery for the better part of his marriage.


    Danger, his body warned. Run.


    Amber eyes glinted dangerously.


    ¡°I know who you are,¡± growled Faye. Her cheeks were flushed and he could see the fury burning in her eyes. ¡°Enough games.¡±


    She flicked her wrist and lifted the blade.


    Nikolai could not move.


    ¡°This ends now.¡±


    The longsword swung, aiming for his heart.

 CHAPTER 27: Two Blades Against One

    In the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s room, the wife held a blade over her husband¡¯s heart.


    ¡°This ends now,¡± came the low growl.


    After everything, thought Nikolai wryly, it was almost pitiful that this was how it¡¯d end.


    The longsword swung.


    Nikolai¡¯s foot shot out, aiming a solid kick at Faye. The Raven General stumbled back. The ice prince grasped the dagger from under his pillow. He aimed it at the young woman. Although his skills paled in comparison to hers, Nikolai felt slightly safer with his own blade.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this, Faye,¡± warned the ice prince. Nikolai panted as he straightened but his dagger did not falter. He could still feel the heat from his dream. The distinct scent of flames and ash seemed to stick to his skin. Sweat gathered on the back of his neck.


    Amber eyes flashed at him, regarding him silently. He flinched slightly. The color reminded him of the image of the burning city.


    Nikolai took in the other¡¯s disheveled form. The woman¡¯s immaculate braids were loose and her cheeks slightly flushed. There was a stiffness to her that made him realize how relaxed she had gotten in the past few weeks.


    The fact he could recognize such a thing gave him pause. They were no longer strangers. The thought made him hesitate. Against his better judgment, Nikolai did not call for the guards.


    Wherever Faye went after they parted had changed her. The amber gaze was filled with a newfound suspicion and weariness. What could have happened in so little time?


    His grip on the dagger tightened. ¡°Drop the sword, Faye. I do not wish to fight you.¡±


    But to his surprise, Faye squinted at him like he was the one who burst into the room and aimed a sword at her.


    ¡°Are you stupid? I wasn¡¯t talking to you!¡± Faye¡¯s furious gaze turned to settle¡­ behind Nikolai.


    The ice prince paused.


    Faye lifted her blade and darted forward. Eyes narrowing, he cursed and lifted his dagger, hoping it would be enough. But he was not the Raven General¡¯s target. She jumped over him and slashed down with her longsword.


    Her blade clashed against another¡¯s. Sparks flew. The harsh sound of metal grating against metal rang in the air.


    Nikolai quickly turned, only to gape as the Raven General crossed blades with a man dressed in black. The other¡¯s body was entirely covered. Only his eyes were visible.


    The Raven General was relentless in her attacks but the other wielded his dual blades with a deadly precision and efficiency. Having one less sword than her opponent, Faye made up for it with her speed, blocking strikes rapidly while trying to pierce the other¡¯s openings.


    The assassin held his own. He spun out of the way and unleashed a flurry of of attacks.


    ¡°Who is he?¡± asked Nikolai. What were all these people doing in his room?


    ¡°Who else?¡± snapped Faye, ducking out of the way of a nasty cut. Judging by their eerie hue, the dual blades were most certainly poisoned. ¡°It¡¯s the bastard who framed me for the soup!¡±


    Still half-asleep and relatively out of danger, the ice prince nodded numbly. Despite his misgivings, Nikolai was confident in his wife¡¯s abilities to defeat the mysterious man.


    Although she fought with more caution than usual, Faye¡¯s attacks were no less brutal. She moved with inhuman agility. Her blade swung in graceful powerful arcs. But unlike her duels with Darcy or even Argan, this time, Faye was aiming to kill. ¡°You ruined my creation! You¡¯ll pay for that.¡± She slashed at his side, sneering when he blocked the blow. ¡°With your life.¡±


    The assassin only growled, too busy fighting for his life to respond.


    Faye feinted to the left but her opponent was ready, intercepting the blow with his dual blades and pushing her back. The young woman was quick to rebalance herself and dashed forward with a burst of speed.


    Their battle was a blur of motion, each thinking ten moves ahead in order to keep up with their opponent. It was an intricate dance. A wrong step would spell in death.


    Nikolai crossed his arms, suddenly feeling very left out. Was he intruding, he wondered vaguely. The thought came and went. They were in his chambers! Next time, he would kindly request the fight take place somewhere else in the residence. And at a more preferable time.


    The Lord of Feldgrau brushed the hair out of his face. ¡°Is he here for you or me?¡±


    Faye had the audacity to roll her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have any assassins in my room, dear husband.¡± Despite the taxing battle, she had the energy to tease him. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m here, otherwise your pretty face would be dead. That¡¯s twice I¡¯ve saved you in one night!¡± she crowed.


    ¡°Why are you here, dear wife?¡± Nikolai huffed, ¡°It does seem like a wonderful coincidence. Is this man perhaps your friend?¡±


    ¡°How are you so intelligent and dumb?¡± Faye grunted and aimed a powerful kick at the assassin. Even as the man went flying, she charged forward, giving chase. ¡°If you¡¯re going to die, Nikolai, it will be by my blade!¡±


    ¡°Well, that really assures me on where we stand,¡± mocked Nikolai, but he did not press further for fear of distracting Faye too much. She seemed less focused, gaze slightly dazed. The ice prince noticed her stumble more than once. Before he could mention it, he was cut off. ¡°Why do you-¡°


    The assassin grunted, he had enough of their bickering. ¡°Shut up,¡± his gravelly voice was sharp. ¡°I only came for one, but I¡¯ll take the chance to end both of you!¡± From his sleeves came flying knives. The small blades flew out in the blink of an eye.


    Faye grunted as one of them caught her in the arm.


    At the sight of blood, Nikolai stiffened, ¡°Faye! Are you-¡°


    Amber eyes sharpened. ¡°Not now!¡±


    When her hand came up bloody, the Raven General¡¯s gaze turned absolutely murderous. ¡°You bastard,¡± she sneered at the assassin¡¯s satisfied gaze. ¡°You only got me because I am drunk.¡±


    The ice prince tilted his head. Faye was drunk? He sighed. Only the Raven General could be inebriated and still fight so well. The woman was a demon with her blade.


    ¡°Now, I really can¡¯t let you leave here alive.¡± Faye braced herself for the attack, switching grips and leaning into her uninjured side. ¡°It¡¯d ruin my reputation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take my chances,¡± the assassin twisted his body. Turning his feet, he sprinted for the ice prince. ¡°And kill this one first!¡±


    The Raven General stepped forward to intervene, then paused, freezing in place. A puzzling expression came across her face.


    The slight hesitation was all the assassin needed. Everyone knew the ice prince was no fighter. He would take the prince down and in her shock, kill the infuriating woman as well. Gleefully, the assassin raised his blade towards the Lord of Feldgrau.


    Coming to her senses, Faye reached a hand out as if to stop the poisoned blades. But she knew it would be too late.


    Under his mask, the assassin smiled gleefully.


    But to both¡¯s surprise, the ice prince ducked and stuck his dagger into the assassin¡¯s shoulder. The blade pierced into the flesh.


    The assassin howled and crumpled in on himself. Contrary to popular belief, the ice prince was not completely defenseless.


    Nikolai stared at Faye, slightly out of breath, safe for the moment as the assassin stumbled back.


    The masked man scooted back as fast as he could, clutching his injury. Blinded by the pain, his grip on his blades loosened. A sense of foreboding had chills running down his spine. When he looked up, he felt his entire body tense in fear.


    The Raven General punched his face with enough force to break his jaw. The assassin collapsed to the floor, trembling.


    Unknown to Nikolai, the Raven General¡¯s gaze was absolutely terrifying. Her snarl was animalistic. Blood lust burned in her eyes. ¡°You should never have accepted this job.¡± In a single motion, her longsword came down. Blood spurted and a pained scream filled the air.


    There was a thump as something fleshy and wet hit the ground.


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    The assassin stared in shock at the stump of his arm, now missing his right hand. One of his poisoned blades clattered to the floor next to his severed hand.


    The Raven General¡¯s longsword had slashed through the bone and cut the appendage cleanly off.


    Despite the crimson blood speckled across her face, the Raven General¡¯s gaze held no remorse. ¡°I am going to kill you.¡±


    Gasping in pain and shock, the assassin hated her with every fiber of his being. ¡°Then why did you cut my hand off!¡±


    ¡°Because I wanted to.¡± She looked every part the monster she was said to be. The cut on her arm bled sluggishly, staining the floor with even more blood, but the injury barely affected the Raven General as she stepped forward. Her pace was leisurely, like a hunter staring down its bleeding prey. ¡°You will never take another contract again.¡± Faye hated assassins with a deep passion. Her dark glare was chilling. ¡°Will you?¡±


    The longsword rose with every intention of claiming the assassin¡¯s life.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    Faye¡¯s blade stilled.


    Seeing the opportunity for life, the dying man took it.


    Clutching his injury, he left behind his right blade and hand, and jumped off the terrace. He grunted as his back hit the shrubbery. Although the landing was hard, he would live. The man began to sprint blindly, the more distance he put between himself and that demoness, the better. A trail of blood followed him.


    Throwing a dark glare behind her shoulder, Faye sprinted over to the bannister. She could make out the assassin scurrying across the grounds. He was no stranger to the Prince¡¯s Residence. It would be futile to give chase. By the time she reached the walls of the residence, he would be long gone. The man had been hiding long enough to know the grounds. Like a rat, she thought.


    The Raven General cursed. She slammed a fist against the stone.


    A presence suddenly came behind her.


    Faye whirled around and spit, ¡°This is your fault. You distracted me! Now, we might never learn of his master!¡± Amber eyes burned. ¡°You are a soft fool, Nikolai!¡±


    ¡°How would you get that information with him dead?¡± But Nikolai was not concerned with such matters. If the assassin thought he could get past Cristin¡¯s secret guards hidden throughout the city, he was in for a nasty surprise. He would order Cristin to send his men to follow the assassin back to his hideout.


    But the blue eyes were icy as he focused on the more pressing issue. ¡°You were going to let him kill me.¡±


    He pushed away the sting of betrayal. Faye did not owe him any mercy.


    The ice prince clenched his fists. Had the intent been there and he had foolishly missed it? Was Nikolai the one who had lowered his guard too much? The fascination with Rufus Langard was no coincidence. He had thought their relations would lead the Raven General astray. Instead, it had somehow brought her to the truth.


    Faye knew who he was. She knew he was the messenger.


    ¡°You were going to let that assassin finish me.¡± Nikolai stalked forward. Despite his earlier accusations, he had never truly believed that she would take action.


    At her silence, he trembled in silent rage. ¡°Answer me, Raven General.¡±


    The woman rubbed at her cheek. She studied him for a moment, crimson still staining her face.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Faye admitted. ¡°For a moment, I was.¡± She looked away, pouting slightly.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Nikolai¡¯s cold countenance grew even more icy. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I changed my mind,¡± offered Faye flippantly, having no intention of saying more. ¡°I chose to be selfish.¡±


    The room fell into a heavy silence. The anger twisted into disbelief and then back into anger. ¡°Selfish? That is the excuse you choose?¡± asked the ice prince. ¡°Don¡¯t make me laugh.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau backed away, slowly inching for the door with every intention of arming himself with something stronger than space. ¡°I was wrong to think we could co-exist, Raven General.¡±


    Unfortunately, Faye followed, ¡°Stop it. I am not your enemy, Nikolai.¡± Her voice had no right sounding as indignant as he had been. ¡°I just proved that!¡±


    ¡°For all I know, he might have been your man,¡± Nikolai frowned at the bloody hand on his terrace. It was a gruesome sight. Would Faye sacrifice her servant¡¯s fighting ability for this ploy?


    Faye did not take the accusation well. She stormed forward, closing the distance between them.


    ¡°Do you think I also hired him to attack me? To frame me?¡± snapped Faye, sharp eyes flashing.


    But the Lord of Feldgrau was undeterred. ¡°It would have given you a perfect alibi.¡±


    Faye¡¯s unarmed fists clenched. It had not escaped Nikolai¡¯s notice that she was still holding out her longsword. Would she cut off his hand in rage, the ice prince wondered with morbid fascination. Or would she simply take his head?


    The assassin¡¯s blood had yet to dry. The red liquid continued to drip from the end of the Raven General¡¯s blade. Faye glared. She pointed at her own bloodied shoulder. ¡°Why would I have my own people attack me?¡±


    ¡°As proof. You had him hurt you on purpose.¡± The ice prince¡¯s tone was neutral and calm as he explained, ¡°After I die and the guards came, you would say you came to defend me but the assassin was too strong.¡± Nikolai shook his head, voice lowering. ¡°Cristin said the poison in the soup came from Wenge.¡± Seeing her wince, he knew it to be the truth. ¡°Was the assassin your backup plan?¡±


    The Raven General scowled. ¡°That is one of the most stupid ideas I have heard.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± challenged the Lord of Feldgrau. ¡°You complete your mission and return to Wenge. Go back to being Fadye¡¯s favorite, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    At his words, Faye¡¯s lips pursed. Rather than defend herself, her gaze narrowed. ¡°What mission?¡±


    ¡°Do not play the fool with me, Raven General. I know what you came for.¡± He fell silent for a moment. ¡°And somehow you know I¡¯m the messenger.¡± The ice prince suddenly laughed, but it was a hollow sound. His uncaring facade cracked slightly. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I really trusted you. Everyone warned me, but I-¡± He shook his head. ¡°You are right. I am a soft fool.¡±


    He had always been too soft. This sentiment had caused his mother¡¯s life and brother¡¯s freedom. Now, he had risked the lives of all of his people. Would Feldgrau pay for his foolishness? Faye had seen their plans. She could so easily turn against them. ¡°You should have killed me, Raven General.¡±


    Silence enveloped the room. It was suffocating. Neither knew how to break the silence.


    Finally, Faye stepped forward. Her boots squished against the wet tile. The woman¡¯s face was still stained with blood. ¡°I never suspected that it was you.¡± Her voice quivered as if she was the one who had been wronged. ¡°My father will not allow me to take my place as his heir until you are dead. You are not wrong. I should have let the assassin finish you.¡± Her lips pursed stubbornly. ¡°But I did not.¡±


    ¡°You were going to,¡± retorted Nikolai. ¡°I saved myself.¡±


    Faye looked away and clenched her fists.


    Nikolai sighed. He was going to need to get a new dagger, he noted faintly.


    ¡ª


    Compared to crazy ramblings and fights between prisoners, the squeaks of a small mouse were barely audible.


    The creature pawed at the air, screeching furiously as it was held up by the tail. The animal was terrified.


    Ismeylda studied the fearful animal. Her bony fingers were bone white against its dark fur. The mouse tried to bite her. If she wished, Ismeylda could crush the creature¡¯s windpipes easily.


    The disheveled prisoner clenched her teeth. She used to instill such fear into humans. Now, she was reduced to intimidating mice. Pathetic.


    The former assassin released her hold on the wiry tale. She watched as the rat fell to the ground and hurriedly scampered away. The fat rodent slipped between the bars easily, heading for its burrow in the walls.


    She clutched at her scarred face, furious at her own envy. Jealous of a mouse. The former assassin truly had fallen.


    ¡°I thought you were going to eat it,¡± commented a gentle voice from outside the bars. It was a sound that seemed to ooze with kindness. ¡°That would have been a most interesting sight.¡±


    Ismeylda grunted. She had no intention of speaking to her visitor.


    Celinis squatted down. Her lilac eyes studied the dirty woman. A part of her raged at the condition her mother was in. But every time she tried to offer clothes or even a comb, Ismeylda would snarl at her like some deranged animal.


    It was fortunate the poison master always used strong dosages for the guards. There were times she feared their one-sided arguments would rouse the men from their drugged states.


    Although she refused to speak, Ismeylda kept glancing at Celinis.


    The poison master brushed her gray hair behind her back. ¡°You must be wondering why I have come empty handed.¡±


    The former assassin huffed and looked away. Even in the face of death, she would never admit liking the gifts the poison master usually brought.


    Celinis¡¯ gentle expression cracked slightly revealing the ugliness under it. Sadness and anger warred within the cruel poison master¡¯s heart.


    What use did the former assassin have in carrying her pride, especially in such a way that only hurt her?


    Celinis settled for an easier topic. ¡°We have not been receiving your missives.¡±


    Ismeylda¡¯s eyes narrowed. Like a dog, the prisoner crawled towards the bars, curiosity and fear lighting up in her eyes.


    Celinis crossed her arms. ¡°Your messenger is either dead or lying to you.¡± Her sweet voice did not hide the threat in her next words. ¡°Since you are no longer able to provide information, what use do you think step-father has of you?¡±


    Ismeylda¡¯s clawed fingers gripped at the bars.


    Celinis smiled sadly, voice full of sad pity. ¡°It seems this family ritual of ours is coming to an end. I will miss these meetings, Mother.¡±


    Ismeylda burst forward and began to bang at the jail cell. Even as her knuckles bled, she did not stop. The loud ruckus echoed in the quiet dungeons. The woman persisted as if such a thing would save her from being left behind.


    The other prisoners turned to look. Most were only just noticing the mysterious young woman outside the cell doors. A gray haired maiden, unaccompanied by guards. Who was this visitor, they wondered. They inched closer, bony hands wagging for attention. Information was worth a good meal in the royal prison.


    ¡°Mother, you are embarrassing yourself,¡± chided the poison master softly. Suddenly, she tilted her head and broke out into a large smile. ¡°Wait,¡± she reached forward and clasped the clawed hands. ¡°Does this count as you talking with me? Dear Goddess, we are finally communicating!¡±


    Ismeylda¡¯s howls cut off. She shot a deadpan look to the poison master and shook her head.


    Celinis deflated. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a pity.¡± With a sniff, she straightened. ¡°Time to say goodbye.¡±


    Ismeylda¡¯s pride smarted as her eyes stung. She clenched her fists, uncaring as the sharp, uncut nails drew blood. She was being abandoned again. Permanently this time, it seemed. The former assassin wanted to curse the ice prince but found she could not. He had used her arrogance to outsmart her. Never would she have assumed that he would lie to her. The honest boy had grown into a scheming man with cold eyes and the heart of ice.


    There was the sound of creaking metal as the doors to the cell swung open.


    Ismeylda¡¯s teary eyes widened.


    The other prisoners burst forward, gaping in shock at the prison break.


    Celinis swung the keys around her fingers. She tilted her head at a shocked Ismeylda. ¡°Well, come on,¡± the poison master beckoned. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day. Step-father has big plans.¡±


    For the first time in more than a decade, Ismeylda got to her feet, and stepped beyond her jail cell. Freedom was moist, sharp rocks that cut her feet and the disgusting odors of the prisoners, but her heart soared.


    ¡°Celinis,¡± her daughter stared up excitedly at her but Ismeylda only stared ahead. Her fingers itched for a blade and she longed for the grasslands. ¡°Take me to your step-father.¡±


    ---


    ¡°You used Rufus to distract me,¡± realized Faye. That is why her husband encouraged her trips to the General¡¯s Residence. ¡°And then you used the affair rumors to stop me from visiting too often! You started those, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Nikolai glared at her. ¡°You were going to murder me! For all I know, you still are.¡±


    ¡°How many times do I have to explain?¡± The Raven General¡¯s teeth gnashed together. ¡°If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead. I could have used the assassin as an excuse to get away.¡±


    ¡°I thought that was a stupid idea,¡± muttered the ice prince. Despite wanting to argue, Nikolai stopped at that.


    For now, he knew she was right. Faye would not kill him. At least, not tonight. He leaned his head back against the wall, a sudden realization hitting him. ¡°I helped Wenge. I sent the weapons and plans,¡± he shook his head. ¡°Now they want me dead.¡±


    Faye¡¯s bright eyes dimmed. ¡°Fadye believes you have embarrassed Wenge. By the old laws, the betrayal of the Grassland Wars is enough for us to declare a blood vengeance against the Royal Family.¡± She was serious now in a way she rarely was.


    ¡°And yet you support them,¡± murmured Nikolai.


    ¡°My father¡­ does not wish for war.¡± Faye¡¯s gaze was fixed on the bright light of the moon outside. The cool light covered her with a certain softness that was usually lost in her brash nature. ¡°Fadye will allow the blood of one to repay the loss of many. You must understand, Nikolai, Wenge almost lost because so many of us were dead.¡± Her eyes gleamed. ¡°There is not one of my people that did not lose someone in the war.¡±


    Nikolai sighed.


    Two people of their status and background would find it difficult to be friends, much less a married couple.


    His blue eyes stared at her. ¡°What do we do? I can never trust you,¡± he paused, ¡°And you must finish your mission.¡± Their marriage was destined to fail.


    Faye did not answer his question. She did not have an answer. ¡°I was sent to kill the messenger,¡± she admitted. ¡°And to learn whether Eburean and its crown can be trusted.¡± She raised her head proudly. ¡°Wenge is not loyal to the Royal Family, but merely has no reason to fight with them. My people will listen to me. I will choose who Wenge will follow or not.¡±


    ¡°Bold claim,¡± said Nikolai quietly, eyes narrowing as they drifted to the longsword. ¡°What will you choose?¡±


    Faye frowned but sheathed her blade. ¡°Peace. I do not want to fight a war for or against your people without good reason.¡± Her words were a threat and a promise. ¡°I will do what I must to ensure that.¡±


    Nikolai paused to ponder her words.


    ¡°You know I am moving against the crown,¡± said Nikolai. ¡°I hate the queen and I would sooner die than see her son on the throne.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°I will not compromise my plans for anyone, not even for the great Raven General.¡±


    He watched as her amber gaze widened. At this distance, he could make out the tiny specks in her eyes.


    ¡°My people will follow me too, Faye,¡± said Nikolai softly. ¡°I cannot betray the trust they have placed in me.¡±


    Faye stared at him as he towered over her. It was not often she was reminded of his height. They rarely stood so close together. She could feel his warm breath against her skin. Scarred fingers curled around air and a warm flush found its way to Faye¡¯s face as she stared at his dizzyingly blue gaze.


    ¡°We will always be enemies,¡± he breathed. The Lord of Feldgrau slowly reached for her blade, pulling out the longsword. The Raven General stiffened. He placed the long sword back into her hands. ¡°You may as well kill me now while you still can.¡±


    There was a stillness to the room. The bold claim echoed in the silence.


    Taking a stuttering breath, Faye pushed the blade away. ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± demanded Nikolai. ¡°You might as well do it tonight. I am unarmed. You have all the advantages.¡±


    Faye exhaled shakily. ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to.¡±


    There was a stunned laugh as Nikolai stared at her incredulously. ¡°You expect me to believe that?¡± They fought silently as he glared at her. ¡°Do it! Finish your mission. Wenge will never forget, isn¡¯t that what your message said?¡±


    The general¡¯s gaze sharpened to hide the hurt. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what that means,¡± she hissed.


    ¡°Then explain it!¡± he challenged. ¡°Explain to me, why you have come here and ruined all of my plans but do not take action! Come on, Raven General! You do not wish to betray Fadye, do you? Betray the trust of Wenge-¡°


    ¡°Do not say another word.¡± Faye grabbed him by the collar, pulling him even closer to her, emotions dancing in her amber gaze. ¡°You are not a needlessly cruel man, Nikolai. What is it you want me to say? That I will give it all up for you? I can¡¯t! I won¡¯t!¡±


    Despite being the Raven General, esteemed and loved, she was sent into a hopeless cage. She was also a prisoner of the situation.


    ¡°I want the truth,¡± said Nikolai. How would he lead his men if there would always be an executioner¡¯s blade by his side, ready to drop at any time? ¡°You are not faint of heart. And I have not done much to receive your mercy. Why allow me to live? What game are you playing at?¡±


    ¡°Game?¡± Faye paused. The fight seemed to drain out of her. ¡°I am not playing any games. But it does not matter what I say, you will not trust me.¡±


    ¡°No, but at least give me something so I can try to guess,¡± frowned Nikolai.


    ¡°Very well,¡± mumbled Faye. She straightened, and a weird sense of determination seemed to wash over her.


    Nikolai¡¯s brows furrowed. His eyes widened as a sudden warmth enveloped his lips.


    Faye was kissing him! It was a gentle and chaste press that seemed to last an eternity. Before he could react, Faye pulled away.


    She released him and looked up. A cautious smile played on her lips. She looked unsure of herself but the pride she always carried remained.


    ¡°Wenge will never forget. I will never forget.¡± Her amber eyes stared up at him earnestly. ¡°When your aid came, I was intrigued. A foreigner who saw the better path amidst chaos and betrayed his own country for justice.¡±


    Nikolai felt his breath catch. He could not look away from her burning gaze. It was as alluring as a warm fire on a winter night. Tempting to stay and dangerous to leave.


    Her voice lowered. ¡°My father sent me here to kill the messenger, but I came because I wanted to see if you were still the same as then.¡± Amber orbs stared at him with a passion that unnerved him. ¡°If you were not, then I would follow Fadye¡¯s will. But if you were,¡± a deep blush filled her face, ¡°I would choose my own path.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand now, Nikolai?¡± She licked her lips nervously. ¡°You saved Wenge, and I have chosen to save your life instead of take it. Now, our debts are cleared. We are free of it.¡±


    Nikolai blinked. The other¡¯s admission slowly sunk in. His voice was hoarse. ¡°How can I trust that you will not change your mind?¡±


    Faye brushed a finger against her red lips and then pressed her fingers against his. Her blush worsened. ¡°Is it not obvious?¡± she grumbled. Faye looked at him, smiling playfully. ¡°I really, really like you.¡±


    Nikolai stiffened.


    Faye had never felt such a way before. But after seeing Nikolai¡¯s possible demise before her eyes, she knew. In truth, she had known even before that moment. She had felt it when he had defended her and held her scarred hands like they were not broken.


    Affection and love were strange concepts for her. Her parents had not shared it. On the battlefield, love was said to be a great strength, yet she had observed men and women break from the loss and pain it caused. It was something she had always seen but never understood¡­ until now. Faye reached out a hesitant hand. ¡°I think I love you.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s blue eyes glittered. His usual mask had fallen as they swelled with emotion.


    But just as soon as the mask had lowered it rose again.


    Nikolai shook her hold off and pushed her away.


    Not expecting it, Faye stumbled back.


    The Lord of Feldgrau glared at the Raven General. ¡°Are you messing with me, right now?¡±

 CHAPTER 28: A Deep Sleeper

    This was shaping up to be the longest night in Nikolai¡¯s life.


    The ice prince dragged a tired hand across his face. ¡°You really take me for a fool.¡± His eyes were cool as they regarded Faye. ¡°Did you think a false love confession would distract me?¡± As he moved, part of his tunic lowered, revealing the bandages wrapping his injured shoulder.


    Faye frowned.


    It was a harsh reminder of the other battle Nikolai had fought with his bother, only a few hours ago.


    ¡°It was not false,¡± Faye¡¯s expression fell. She wanted to slap herself silly. The confession had bubbled out of her and it was too late to rescind her words. ¡°I am not trying to deceive you.¡±


    ¡°Before I may even have believed you. But after tonight, I see the truth.¡± Nikolai looked disappointed. It was as if she had insulted him rather than bare her heart. Faye crossed her arms.


    ¡°Who are you to dictate if my feelings are true or false!¡± Faye had never been in love before but she found Nikolai¡¯s doubt insulting. Was this not how the bards¡¯ songs wrote it to be? It was certainly unlike any of the raunchier love stories her brothers had whispered or the scrolls she had seen hidden in her soldiers¡¯ belongings. Even if it was different, it did not make it untrue. Faye had never done things the normal way.


    Nikolai shook his head. ¡°Enough.¡± He pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°Please leave, Faye. I cannot deal with this tonight.¡± The ice prince did not have any fight left within him. Anger was an ugly emotion. The mention of love had irritation bubbling in his guts. As he moved, his injured shoulder stung at the movement.


    Love was sacred, his mother had whispered into his young ears. As a boy, he had thought love was his family, and then he thought, it might be Asinara. You must try the many before you find the one, his elder brother would jest. But love meant nothing, he had learned. His father loved the first queen, but that did not stop him from falling for another. Love did not save his mother or brother. Love had not saved the orphans and widows in Feldgrau after the Great War. Even if her words were true, Faye¡¯s love guaranteed nothing.


    Nikolai wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. The gods were mocking him. He never wished for love. Marriage was a duty and weapon. A vow he intended to honor and serve his house with, but never expected much more from.


    He shut his eyes.


    What use was love if all it seemed to bring was pain?


    Faye stared at him expectantly.


    ¡°What do you know of love, Faye?¡± asked Nikolai.


    The Raven General was sure to have many admirers. Men who would fall to their feet just to be in her presence. Faye was a princess of Wenge. She should have had her pick of suitors to find one that truly adored her, gifting her anything she desired. One who was able to support her ambitions, proudly standing by her side.


    Nikolai would never be that. He was sorry to disappoint her.


    Blue eyes hardened. ¡°Love is not something to be proud of.¡±


    Faye opened her mouth to retort, anger twisting her bright features.


    Suddenly, her face paled. The general winced. A hand flew up to clutch at her injured soldier. The bleeding had only slowed but not stopped.


    Nikolai froze as he realized why. The dual blades the assassin had wielded¡­ they were poisoned. He stepped forward, hand outstretched.


    Faye¡¯s brows furrowed as she came to the same conclusion. ¡°The blades,¡± she murmured. Then, her eyes rolled back, fluttering closed. The young woman¡¯s sword clattered to the ground as she pitched forward.


    Before she could hit the ground, a figure dropped down from the ceiling. The form caught the Raven General gently into their arms.


    The unconscious general¡¯s tan skin was pale and sweaty. The figure lowered themselves, cradling the young woman¡¯s head. Faye¡¯s eyelids fluttered, but she did not wake.


    ¡°Unhand her,¡± warned a cold voice. Ice blue eyes glared at the figure. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Nikolai tensed, trying to think of his next move. Another assassin? The Lord of Feldgrau hesitated. Calling for guards might provoke the mystery person.


    But when the figure lifted their head, Nikolai stilled. It was a face he recognized.


    ¡°Bian,¡± he breathed. Realization struck him. He stared at the careful way the boy held the Raven General. That was not how someone would hug their enemy. It was a hold of reverence and respect. ¡°Faye is your master. You were her spy all along.¡±


    Bian nodded, acknowledging the claim. The boy straightened easily despite the weight in his arms. His usual stoic brows were pinched with worry.


    Nikolai studied the boy. ¡°That time you told me to protect,¡± he shook his head as it came together. ¡°It was never for me.¡± The ice prince nodded toward the unconscious Raven General. ¡°But for her.¡±


    The boy¡¯s protective hold tightened.


    Bian stared at the Lord of Feldgrau. In the time he had served him, the Belge heir had come to a slight understanding of the ice prince.


    Still carrying, Faye, Bian knelt in front of the man. He cleared his throat painfully. ¡°Please,¡± he croaked, voice raspy with disuse. It was an unnatural sound, forced out through desperation. Bian continued, despite the pain. It felt like his throat was being ripped to shreds as he willed himself to make out the words. ¡°Hi-Help, her.¡±


    ---


    Dark eyes snapped open. Rewanna grimaced as the maid squeezed too hard.


    At the queen¡¯s glare, the girl murmured apologies but continued massaging the woman¡¯s tense shoulders. She had since learned better than to stop.


    The queen scowled. Finally, she addressed the bearded man kneeling before her.


    ¡°Well, what news do you have?¡± She sniffed, ¡°Any updates on the Lord of Feldgrau?¡±


    The bearded man reluctantly shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, my queen.¡±


    Rewanna rolled her eyes. ¡°So much for the King¡¯s Hounds. I thought I would be dealing with professionals,¡± she brushed her long hair back. ¡°Yet I spend all my time explaining how you should do your jobs.¡±


    The bearded man kept his head lowered and said nothing. It was not in his nature to argue such things.


    The King¡¯s Hounds were Eburean¡¯s royal secret weapons. They were the shadows that collected information in the dark and committed the less moral acts of keeping the kingdom¡¯s peace. But most importantly, they were steadfastly loyal to the reigning monarch.


    Although the people knew of the King¡¯s Hounds, few could recognize them. They were made up of men and women of many talents, all used in service to the crown. Selected as children, they were taken in and taught the many arts.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Throughout Eburean¡¯s history, the Hounds had been used as the royal family¡¯s first and last retort.


    The bearded man was the current captain of the King¡¯s Hounds. He knew their code better than most having proved his skills throughout his years of service. ¡°Well, Hound?¡± The loyal servants were never referred to by name. Their titles were stripped away when they entered the service. The anonymity was both an insurance in case of capture and a harsh reminder of their vows to live celibately as servants for the crown.


    However, unknown to the royal family, that did not stop the Hounds from picking their own names and forming secret families outside the castle walls. They were only human after all. And the current captain, having his own family, was more than happy to turn a blind eye so long as it did not affect their work. Although it would never be acknowledged publicly, the bearded man referred to himself as Eryck, the name his lovely partner had picked for him.


    ¡°My queen, I do have some good news,¡± announced the bearded man. ¡°Your shipment of supplies were delivered and struck from the revenue records.¡± Under his facade of everlasting loyalty, Eryck scowled. This was the part of his job he hated the most. He could only cry in his heart as the queen and her allies greedily stole from the castle and people for their own goals, then demanded higher taxes to make up for the loss.


    Rewanna sat up. The massaging maid backed away. She exited the room silently, closing the doors behind herself.


    The queen smiled wide. ¡°Now that is good news.¡± She tapped her finger against her chair. ¡°And what have they offered in return for my gracious gift?¡±


    The captain lifted his head. ¡°They have not responded yet, my queen.¡± Sensing her shift as a displeased frown grew on her face, Eyrck hurried to add. ¡°But there is another good news.¡±


    ¡°Well hurry and spit it out. Do you think I have all day to waste with you?¡± snapped Rewanna.


    Eryck sighed in his heart and apologized to the poor prince. ¡°We have found the lady that Lord Nikolai has been visiting, my queen.¡± He pulled a scroll with the image of a beautiful maiden and offered it to the queen. ¡°She is an artist courtesan at the Lucky Charm.¡±


    The queen snatched the scroll for herself. Her dark eyes studied the image with great interest. The maiden was indeed beautiful. Glee filled her heart. The people laughed at her son but their precious ice prince was no better. Not even the haughty bastard was able to resist charm and beauty.


    It was time to see what the Lord of Feldgrau was up to.


    ¡°Perfect,¡± she smiled. ¡°Set up a meeting. I would like to meet this courtesan my son has been seeing.¡±


    The Hound lowered his head and pressed a hand to his heart. ¡°Of course, my queen.¡±


    ¡ª


    At Bian¡¯s request, Nikolai was silent. Suddenly, their positions were reversed. The tables had turned.


    Now, it was Faye¡¯s life on the line. With evidence of the assassin¡¯s blade and the soup that used poison from Wenge, Nikolai would not face much scrutiny in the investigations if the Raven General passed from her wounds.


    The greatest fear was retaliation from Wenge, but Faye herself had admitted that Fadye did not seek war. The chieftain had many sons who could still inherit his chiefdom. With clear evidence that it was not Nikolai who caused her death, would Wenge really attack Eburean?


    Bian¡¯s heart thundered for his savior¡¯s fate. He worried while the Raven General could not.


    ¡°Help her?¡± asked Nikolai. With the passing of the Raven General, the Lord of Feldgrau would be allowed to take on another wife, particularly one with a better standing at court. His proverbial leash from Rewanna would be cut off and their plans would be able to resume without delay.


    The boy nodded. Despite his prowress in espionage, Bian was only one person. He would not be able to fight his way out of the Prince¡¯s Residence with the Raven General unconscious and unable to defend herself.


    The boy stared at the ice prince¡¯s cold eyes.


    There was no reason for Nikolai to help them.


    Bian lowered his beloved general onto the floor gently. The boy knelt and pressed his head to the floor. He kept still, holding the position.


    There was an exhale. ¡°What are you doing, Bian?¡±


    The boy did not dare lift his head.


    Nikolai yanked the boy up. ¡°We do not have much time.¡±


    Bian stared up at the lord in shock.


    Nikolai scooped up the Raven General. Faye was lighter than expected. She turned her face towards him, nestling into the warmth. The lord glanced down at her. He noted the spasms in her muscles and eyed the green bruises surrounding the wound. ¡°You have my permission to gather what you must and heal her.¡±


    Pale and sweaty, the vibrant woman suddenly looked fragile. He tried to keep a steady hold so as not to jostle her. The look did not suit the young woman at all. ¡°There is a healer named Jonathan down the hall from here, you may ask of him what you must. Have him assist you.¡±


    Bian stiffened. He dared not to move for fear that the ice prince might rescind his help.


    Nikolai approached his bed. Part of him wondered if this was an act. He half-expected her to bounce up and laugh at him before bounding away. He lowered Faye onto the soft mattress. Despite their animosity, Nikolai would summon Cristin and ask for his expertise as well.


    Faye had saved him twice tonight while he had only saved Wenge once. Now, they would be even.


    The Lord of Feldgrau got up to his feet, leaving the two. He reached for the door.


    Bian stared wide-eyed at the ice prince, glancing between him and the Raven General.


    ¡°When Faye wakes,¡± Nikolai¡¯s voice was emotionless. ¡°Tell her that my debts have been paid.¡±


    The doors closed softly behind him.


    ---


    As a man walked down the streets, face half-covered, many of the commoners walking by pointed and whispered to one another.


    One girl patted her mother excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s the ice prince!¡±


    The mother hushed her, but sneaked a glance and blushed. Was it really royalty?


    Similar sentiments echoed in the conversation of other passerby¡¯s.


    A small smile lifted on the man¡¯s face. This was the best job ever! He basked in the whispers and sneaky glances.


    Smirking, he approached the infamous Lucky Charm with the lazy swagger of a familiar patron. The lantern¡¯s red glow washed over him and he shivered in delight and anticipation. As the man entered the foyer, beautiful women gathered and delicious scents and music filled his senses.


    Lady Athena herself, the matron of the infamous establishment, approached. Her walk was elegant and dainty, but a wide smile graced her lips.


    The other patrons looked up curiously. The matron only ever greeted the most esteemed of guests. Lady Athen smiled daintily, greeting the man. ¡°My lord, Lady Elody awaits you.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful!¡± smiled the man. He held out a hand and the different courtesans began flocking to him. They eagerly held onto his arm, leading him to his private room. The man always tipped well.


    With a face that looked eerily similar to the second prince, but with a lecherous smile that would never be found on the aforementioned man¡¯s face, the stranger laughed, ¡°Who¡¯s ready for some fun?¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai¡¯s brows furrowed. Throughout the halls, he thought he could smell the faint scent of smoke. The lord¡¯s eyes narrowed. Where were all his guards? Even the extra guards that Abby had stationed were missing from their posts. He hastened his pace as the scent grew stronger. This was not a faint memory of a dream but a very real smell.


    The Lord of Feldgrau hurried down the hall to reach Darcy and Cristin¡¯s rooms.


    ¡°My lord!¡±


    Cristin turned the hall and ran towards the ice prince, eyes wide. He held a cloth to his face. Ash marred his face. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Nikolai studied the other¡¯s disheveled form. ¡°What is happening?¡±


    ¡°How did you sleep through all of this, my liege?¡± Cristin coughed and gestured for his lord to follow him towards the opened balcony with fresh air.


    The open terrace blew in the smell of smoke.


    With a shared look, the two ran towards the balcony. Nikolai¡¯s eyes widened.


    Below, the guards ran around like ants. Some servants drew buckets of water from the well while others hurried to hand it off to those attempting to douse the fire. Darcy led the charge, directing his men back and forth.


    Smoke rose into the night sky and the amber glow could be seen from far away.


    A wing of the residence was on fire!


    Cristin sighed, exhausted. He leaned against the banister. ¡°I really do not understand how you slept through this.¡±


    He only received a slap to the back of his head for his troubles.


    Nikolai watched. The flames began to die and the fire seemed to weaken. ¡°Cristin, I need you to catch me an assassin.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s head snapped over.


    ¡°A what?¡±

 CHAPTER 29: A Gamble on All Fronts

    The assassin lowered his hood.


    He pressed his injured arm to his chest, trying to stifle his stuttered gasps. Every step was torture. But the pain was nothing compared to the reminder of the loss of his hand.


    He dragged himself through the empty streets. The flames behind him had saved him. Whether it was fate or a lucky coincidence, he had taken advantage of the distracted guards and slipped away.


    ¡°Young man!¡±


    The assassin¡¯s eyes widened. He turned to face the person, only hesitating at the last second to draw his remaining blade.


    The old woman stared at him with glassy eyes. She had a thin shawl draped over her bony shoulders. The woman tilted her head, taking in his bloody form. ¡°My dear, are you all right?¡±


    The assassin was silent.


    She took a wobbly step forward.


    From down the street came the sudden shouts of guards and horses.


    The man¡¯s eyes widened. He tensed, ready to kill the witness and try to run for it. He held his breath, bracing himself.


    A weathered hand grasped his. Opening her door, the old woman pulled the assassin into her home. ¡°Those guards are menaces, I tell you,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°Come, you can use my son¡¯s room to heal and rest. He is away on business and will not mind.¡±


    Making up his mind, the assassin slipped into the house.


    As the door closed, he could see the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s guards rushing down the street. Leading them was a familiar eye-patched man.


    Once inside, the assassin couldn¡¯t help but sigh in relief. He may have lost a hand, but he had kept his life.


    ¡ª


    Men stormed down the halls of the Prince¡¯s Residence. The Lord of Feldgrau was at the lead. His two right-hand men followed beside him.


    There was an irritated growl on the ice prince¡¯s face. The dark circles under his eyes were mirrored on every person¡¯s face.


    They stopped in front of the charred room. Nikolai¡¯s frown grew. It was rare to see him so openly furious.


    The guards shifted nervously.


    ¡°How did an assassin and an arsonist get through our doors?¡± The lord¡¯s voice was calm but rage simmered underneath. ¡°I thought we got rid of all the rats.¡±


    Cristin stepped forward. His voice was cautious despite the many years he had spent by the lord¡¯s side. ¡°They must have slipped through during the hirings.¡± He cleared his throat at the sharp look thrown his way. ¡°I am to blame.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± interjected Darcy. His dark eyepatch only added to his somber expression. ¡°We believe the assassin impersonated one of the servants. Using their pass, he entered the residence.¡± The man lowered himself to his knees. ¡°I deserve to be punished, my liege. It was my oversight.¡±


    ¡°I should have realized it! Punish me, my lord¡± snapped Cristin. ¡°The head chef alerted me of a suspicious person.¡± The attendant clenched his fists. If the assassin had succeeded, the Lord of Feldgrau would be dead now. Cristin looked away in shame. ¡°I should have investigated it immediately.¡±


    Darcy stepped forward, a protest ready on his lips.


    Nikolai lifted a hand, cutting the apology contest short. He gestured for the guards behind him to enter the charred room.


    The good news was that the flames had only spread to one room. The problem was whose room it was.


    ¡°Bring me anything salvageable,¡± commanded the ice prince.


    Apparently forgiven, for the time being, Cristin wet his lips. ¡°Where shall we deliver it to?¡±


    ¡°My rooms,¡± Nikolai¡¯s tone was short.


    A tense silence filled the air.


    ¡°Will the Raven General be amiable to this?¡± questioned Darcy. ¡°Shall we not bring it somewhere she will not take offense?


    ¡°Perhaps the armory?¡± wondered Cristin.


    Darcy turned to look at the guards. ¡°Send the items to the armory.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Nikolai¡¯s eyes were glued to the charred fabric on the floor. It must have been one of the dresses he had gifted Faye. He turned to regard his friend. The eye-patched commander had a point, under normal circumstances.


    Behind him, the charred remains of Faye¡¯s old room was a stark background. Nikolai strode off. ¡°Bring it to my rooms.¡±


    ¡ª


    Despite the early hour, the royal training yard was filled with the noise. A training sword hacked away at the post which trembled at the force.


    Crown Prince Argan panted. He sliced at the training post viciously. His black eye was fully swollen shut, purplish in the morning light.


    ¡°What is this nonsense?¡± came a sharp voice.


    The prince did not bother turning his head to greet his mother.


    The queen frowned at the sight. Picking up her dress, she approached her son in case he had not heard her over the ruckus. When her ladies in waiting tried to follow, her dark eyes shot them a look halting them in place.


    ¡°Crown prince,¡± called Rewanna. ¡°Crown prince!¡±


    Argan yelled and kicked at the post before stabbing it with his sword, completely ignoring the woman. The post fell back, hitting the ground. The crown prince snarled. Groaning, he tried to heave his stuck sword out of the wood. A hand gripped at him tightly. Long nails pinched at him warningly.


    ¡°Crown Prince Argan,¡± said the queen. ¡°You will look at me when I address you.¡±


    Throwing his hands in the air, Argan finally turned. ¡°Enough with the farce, mother. There is no one here.¡± He grumbled as he kicked at the post for good measure. ¡°Call me by my name, woman.¡±


    ¡°You will address me as Your Higness,¡± Rewanna¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I am the queen of this land. You will treat me with respect.¡±


    Argan looked away but did not dare say any more to refute her.


    A finger prodded at his injury. The crown prince winced.


    ¡°Will you finally tell me who has dared to injure you?¡± The queen¡¯s dark eyes gleamed. ¡°Are you certain it was not the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s men? Perhaps you did not see them clearly in the late hour.¡±


    ¡°I will not speak of this, Mother.¡± Argan only pursed his lips. ¡°Drop the matter.¡±


    ¡°I will not!¡± screeched Rewanna, all of a sudden, furious. ¡°Someone had dared to lay a hand against you! My son! That is a slight against the crown.¡±


    ¡°You mean it is a slight against you,¡± muttered the boy. He barely winced when his mother pulled him towards her, sharp nails digging into his flesh as she gripped his face. Dully, he wondered if it would draw blood.


    ¡°You are a stupid boy.¡± Rewanna glared at him hard. ¡°My dear son, you know nothing of this world, or of the sacrifices I have made for you.¡±


    She released him with a huff. ¡°A slight against either of us is a slight against the crown. It is treason.¡± Rewanna worked her jaw. ¡°You must set an example for your subjects. What will the people say if they saw their prince with a black eye?¡±


    ¡°They will think me brave for fighting,¡± the boy puffed up.


    ¡°Or they will see a fool who cannot control his violent impulses,¡± snapped the queen.


    The sight of his black eye made the queen¡¯s blood boil. But she did not know who to set her anger towards. As soon as her precious son had returned, he had gone to his chambers refusing to say a word about the injury. Childishly, he had forbidden the guards who had accompanied him to breathe a single word of the incident with the promise of horrible pain by the crown prince¡¯s own blade.


    ¡°Put away your toy,¡± she started. ¡°It is time for your lessons.¡±


    ¡°It is a sword!¡± glared the crown prince. ¡°Not a toy. I am not a child!¡±


    ¡°Go to your lessons, now.¡± The queen¡¯s tone brokered no room for arguments.


    Argan grabbed his sword and turned back to the post. ¡°Later,¡± he huffed. ¡°I must practice.¡±


    ¡°No, you will not,¡± said the queen. She nodded towards the guards at the perimeter of the training yard. They straightened, ready to obey her orders. Rewanna relished in the feeling. Her son may not understand, but this was the power promised to him. It was Argan¡¯s birthright, she thought viciously. She would do anything to protect it.


    The guards would drag her son to his lessons if it came to it.


    ¡°Do you think yourself so intelligent that you can skip lessons? You are not your brother.¡± Rewanna stared at the destroyed post with distaste. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau was already leagues ahead of you when he was only half your age.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Argan froze, sword hanging midair.


    ¡°What good is your sword if your enemy is already ten steps ahead?¡± Rewanna¡¯s tone was gentle. ¡°Your fate is that of a king, not a guard. Next time you leave the fighting to the servants.¡± She sighed, ¡°Or has Nikolai not embarrassed you enough?¡±


    Her cruel words echoed in the training yard.


    Argan dropped the training sword. It clattered noisily. The boy stalked off.


    Rewanna watched him go.


    Argan was simply too young. But Rewanna was not worried. She would guide him well.


    ¡ª


    Rufus ambled through the crowd, annoyed at the delay. Elody and the Lucky Charm awaited. He patted his pockets, feeling for the horse hair brushes.


    ¡°Did you hear! The Raven General set the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s house on fire!¡±


    ¡°Why would she do that?¡±


    The ladies clucked like a flock of hens. ¡°Well, don¡¯t you know? Her husband was with the Lady Asinara last night. He even defended the Rose of Eburean against the Crown Prince!¡±


    ¡°She was jealous!¡± they realized.


    Rufus¡¯ eyes widened. A cold sweat broke out. Were things really that simple? Was the Raven General merely venting a jealous rage? Or was there a killing intent in the act? Faye now knew that she was living with her enemy.


    ¡°Ah,¡± grumbled an old man. ¡°You gossiping fools! Fires break out all the time, it was merely an accident.¡±


    A fire so perfectly timed.


    His conscience twinged with guilt. As the young lord scurried away, he prayed that the old man was right. Let it please be an accident, Rufus prayed.


    ¡ª


    There was a looming presence spread over the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    The servants kept their heads down and not even the youngest of stable boys dared to laugh too loud or make a ruckus.


    In his stalls, Viktor kicked at the doors, anxious and angry. Its bright coat was losing its shine and the animal refused to eat its meals. Despite the handlers¡¯ attempts to calm him and the numerous times they led him out to the corrals, the animal was difficult. It reared and bit any that dared to stand near it. But when it was silent, the stable boys watched as the creature¡¯s dark eyes searched for a missing female general.


    Most of the other horses stared jealously at the stallion¡¯s special treatment. With the recent lockdown, only the most trusted of servants and the head chef¡¯s assistants were allowed to leave the Prince¡¯s Residence, leaving the horses anxiously waiting in their stalls.


    ¡°I have not left the residence in two days!¡± complained one of the maids to her friend.


    ¡°My mother asks after me,¡± murmured her friend. ¡°But I heard you need express permission from the lord to leave! I dare not ask.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau appeared the same as usual, but these days there was a certain gloominess to him. Even those who knew him well were hesitant in their approach.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone dares to,¡± the maid admitted. ¡°Perhaps it is best to wait it out.¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± the young voice was sharp. ¡°Lower your voices! You are disturbing the lady!¡±


    The two startled and turn to meet the little girl¡¯s glare.


    Aimee, the brightest soul in the residence, glowered at the two maids. These days, her happy face was filled with fierce scowls and short tempers. Sometimes, in the comfort of her bed, she would cry, sniffling silently at night. But in the days, she dutifully attended to her mistress, refusing to leave Lady Feldgrau¡¯s side unless physically dragged away to sleep and eat.


    ¡°If you have nothing to do here, then leave,¡± Aimee stared at them suspiciously. ¡°Or I shall call the guards.¡±


    The maids paled. They did not fear the little one, but she was fiercely protective and had called the guards more than a few times in the past days. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the guards always responded, following the little girl¡¯s orders. If there was anything even slightly off, the people would be taken away to be investigated.


    ¡°There is no need, Aimee,¡± comforted the first maid. She picked up her mop and shot her friend a look. ¡°We were just finished.¡±


    Aimee crossed her arms. The little girl watched as the two went. She bit on the side of her mouth. Maybe she should report those two to the lord. Her sharp eyes glanced at the dirty spot on the ground. They did seem suspicious.


    As they hurried away, the two maids stared at each other in open awe and fear.


    ¡°We must be cautious of what we say,¡± whispered the second maid, elbowing her friend. They could no longer carelessly joke or speak too loudly.


    The first maid sighed, clenching her mop tightly. ¡°I hope the Raven General wakes soon.¡±


    Maybe things would finally return to normal then.


    ¡ª


    The assassin stared at his bandaged hand. He still could not wrap his mind around the loss. He rubbed his head. At least his belly was full and he was able to rest on a soft bed.


    No one would suspect the old woman and it seemed his stroke of luck really had saved him. The old woman lived by herself. Alone in the house, she brought him food and medicine without asking for any compensation. Although he had planned to get rid of her once she had gotten him his supplies, he realized the woman suffered from an illness of the mind.


    She told him that her son was away, but he had overheard the neighbors pitying her as they dropped supplies on her doorstep. The woman¡¯s son was dead, a soldier lost to the battlefield. But the woman resolutely held onto the hope that he still lived.


    She also forgot things easily, always asking the assassin¡¯s name and hometown repeatedly, simultaneously forgetting where they lived and the day of the week.


    There had even been an incident on their second morning. When she had seen him in the bed, she had freaked, forgetting for a moment that she had led him there until he reminded her.


    For the past few days, he had lived in peace. Once his injuries healed, he would head off. The old woman would likely forget him in a few hours, so there was no need to claim her life.


    There was a knock on the door to his room. Without waiting for a response, the old woman bumbled in carrying medicine. ¡°My son!¡± she called as she ambled in, trying to balance the tray.


    The assassin looked up and played along. ¡°Yes, mother?¡±


    The old woman set the tray of food and the medicine on the table. ¡°I asked for the most expensive tonic they had. He said this would ease you of the pain.¡± She showed him the bottles with great pride.


    Her glassy eyes watered as they stared at his stump. She squeezed his shoulders. ¡°Eat your medicine, my boy. I know you dislike the taste, but please do this for me.¡±


    ¡°Of course, mother.¡± The assassin reached over and downed the liquid in one go. ¡°Anything for you.¡±


    ¡ª


    There was a silent creak as the door to Nikolai¡¯s study opened. He glanced up.


    Bian froze as a sword came to rest near his throat. He stared up at a solemn Darcy. Seeing the familiar face, the commander looked over at his lord. He seemed to relax but his weapon did not lower.


    Nikolai studied the tray of tea in the boy¡¯s hands. ¡°Come in, Bian.¡±


    With a flick of his wrist, Darcy sheathed his sword. He stepped back to let the boy pass.


    Bian nodded his thanks.


    ¡°It is an honor to officially meet the Songbird,¡± commented Nikolai.


    Bian stiffened slightly at his secret moniker. He nodded his head in acknowledgment. He tried to keep his form small as he passed Darcy. Despite his sheathed blade, the one-eyed man continued to regard him with a hard expression.


    The boy approached the lord with the tray. Before he could reach the table, Darcy called out. ¡°Not too close, Songbird.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Nikolai regarded Bian and beckoned him forward. ¡°I did not realize we were still doing this, Bian.¡± He picked up the steaming cup of tea. The steam curled in the air lazily.


    The boy stared at the lord expectantly, but the man was silent.


    Darcy stared at their quiet battle of wills as the silence dragged on.


    He knew how stubborn his liege was. Despite the many times the lord had deliberately passed by his own chambers, he did not ask after the Raven General. He would only pause to stare at the closed doors before walking away.


    For the past few days, his liege had been staying in Cristin and Darcy¡¯s quarters. The ice prince slept on an old cot barely fit for a guest much less the lord of their household. But the lord met any protest with an annoyed glare and feigned ignorance.


    It was quite frustrating.


    Darcy sighed and shot the ice prince (a creative name he had to admit) an expectant look. As much as he respected his lord, the man could be stubborn to a fault once he made up his mind.


    No one even truly knew what had transpired the night of the fire except that there was an assassin and now the Raven General had been unconscious for days.


    Darcy shifted in his armor. ¡°How fares the Raven General, boy?¡±


    Bian shook his head. Despite their best efforts, the poison was spreading to the young woman¡¯s vital points. Despite the general¡¯s excellent constitution, if the antidote was not found, she would soon be in a difficult situation.


    ¡°Perhaps we should send for another healer?¡± asked Darcy, brows pinching. ¡°What does Johnathan say?¡±


    Nikolai looked back down at his notes. ¡°It is no use. This is not a natural sickness, but something caused by poison.¡±


    Darcy raised a curious brow. ¡°Are we truly out of options then?¡±


    Bian¡¯s shoulders drooped. He picked up the tray and backed away. It had been days and still, there was no sign of the assassin. The man was probably out of the capital by now. It would take weeks if not months to track him in this unfamiliar territory. Not to mention, such an investigation would certainly raise the crown¡¯s suspicions.


    It was a gamble on all fronts.


    The ice prince could be cruel when he believed he needed to be. Darcy tensed. But would the lord forfeit the general¡¯s life?


    Nikolai flipped a page of his documents.


    Despite everything, Darcy had admittedly grown fond of the Raven General. His heart clenched at the thought of her passing.


    ¡°My lord,¡± started Darcy. ¡°At least, let me send for a pharmacist, perhaps they can recommend-¡°


    There was a loud bang. The heavy door slammed against the wall. Cristin rushed into the room. Behind him, a line of guards waited diligently outside. Panting, he approached the lord¡¯s table, slapping it excitedly. ¡°We got him!¡±


    The lord disregarded his papers and burst up. The pages fluttered in the haste, flying all over the room.


    Silently, the man left his desk. Nikolai went to the side of the room where a sword hung on the wall. It was the ancestral sword of the Feldgrau family, passed down to every heir of their house. It was said to be used in dealing the ancient Feldgrau trials of justice. In ancient history, it was the blade that began and ended wars.


    ¡°Forgive me, brother, but I must borrow this.¡± The lord picked the sword off the wall and attached it to his side. He turned to the others. ¡°Let us go.¡±


    Cristin straightened with a smirk.


    Darcy and Bian shot each other a curious look. The commander stepped forward cautiously. ¡°And where exactly are we going, my lord?¡±


    ¡°Where else?¡± smirked Cristin, he rubbed his hands together excitedly. ¡°Our plan worked just like you said, my lord!¡±


    Nikolai pressed a hand to Darcy¡¯s shoulder giving it a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Come along, Bian. Johnathan will watch over Faye.¡± The lord turned to face the boy. ¡°We can have the antidote by tonight.¡±


    Bian stared at the lord with wide eyes. Finally, he smiled, nodding. "Mhm.¡±


    Nikolai headed for the door. ¡°Cristin, Bian will follow your team-¡±


    But before any of them could react, Bian headed for the window.


    Pushing it open, the Songbird jumped out, as if forgetting that his moniker was only a name and that he did not actually have wings.


    The three men stared in silent shock.


    Darcy rushed forward and peered his head out.


    ¡°Is he¡­¡± Cristin¡¯s voice trailed off, unsure if he wanted to know.


    ¡°He¡¯s alive,¡± breathed Darcy, relief evident in his voice. ¡°He¡­ is really good at climbing.¡±


    Nikolai and Cristin joined him by the window. They all peered down, watching in slight awe as the shadow of a form scaled down the building.


    Nikolai could only sigh. No wonder Faye was so fond of the kid, he thought.

 CHAPTER 30: Who Has Feelings for Who?

    Sitting in a field of flowers, the young woman hummed happily. She basked under the warm rays of the summer sun.


    ¡°Faye!¡± called a loud and deep voice.


    A wide grin broke out across her face. ¡°Adalwolf! Leif!¡±


    Two men waved at her across the field. The tallest of them barked a loud laugh, opening his arms wide. Faye broke out into a run, her legs practically flying across the grass. She barreled into the taller man, practically tackling him. Despite the force, the young man held still. He threw Faye up into the air like she was still a child.


    Faye burst out into joyful laughter. ¡°Adalwolf!¡±


    A rough hand mussed her hair as the second man joined them. Faye swatted at it playfully, smirking at the fake wince of pain. ¡°Stop it, Leif.¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± taunted the man.


    ¡°She¡¯ll set her teeth on you that¡¯s what,¡± warned the eldest of the three. Adalwolf rubbed his arm. ¡°It hurts, I tell you.¡±


    Faye buried her head into Adawolf¡¯s chest. ¡°Ada, I have missed you.¡±


    ¡°What of me?¡± Leif poked at her side. ¡°Did you not miss me, Faye?¡±


    The young woman rolled her eyes. ¡°Of course,¡± she stuck out her tongue, ¡°Not!¡± With that, she kicked at the warrior¡¯s leg and attacked him.


    The two rolled in the grass, each trying to grasp the upper hand. Leif shoved her. Grunting, Faye fell flat onto her back. The young woman let out a burst of joyful laughter. Tears welled up in her eyes as she giggled. ¡°I have missed you,¡± she hiccuped, ¡°so much.¡± She glanced at Leif. ¡°Both of you.¡±


    The two settled down beside her.


    Leif chuckled, ¡°I thought you would¡¯ve forgotten us in favor of your new prince.¡±


    ¡°Faye would never,¡± defended Adalwolf. ¡°She may have a thousand princes, but she will only have two brothers.¡±


    Faye laughed softly. ¡°Father¡¯s other children might disagree.¡±


    But they knew the truth.


    The three stared up at the vibrant blue sky. A trio of hawks flew across the sky together. The two larger ones beat their powerful wings while the third, the smallest of them, lagged behind.


    ¡°Are you both well?¡± murmured Faye. She held up her scarred hands, blocking out the sun.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Leif turned to stare. Amber eyes identical to Faye¡¯s stared sadly at her. ¡°You are unwell, Faye.¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡± Faye closed her eyes. ¡°The Raven General is hard to take down.¡±


    ¡°You are dying, little one,¡± scowled Adalwolf. Her eldest brother had always been blunt.


    ¡°I am not so little anymore. I am a grown woman now, Ada,¡± Faye shifted to face him. His features were so similar to their father¡¯s. Adalwolf was the spitting image of a young Fadye. Everyone had expected his reign to outshine his father¡¯s. However, reality was cruel. Two brilliant sons, taken before their time.


    ¡°You will always be my baby sister, Faye,¡± chided Adawolf.


    Although they shared different mothers, Iliana had raised Adalwolf like her own after his birth mother¡¯s passing. When Faye was a sickly infant without a mother, Adawolf rode for days in search of a great healer. It was said he held her before their own father did.


    ¡°How is Mother?¡± asked Faye.


    ¡°Not in any hurry to see you,¡± said Adalwolf. ¡°Why are you so weak, Faye? Where is your fighting spirit?¡±


    The Raven General sighed weakly. ¡°I am fine.¡±


    ¡°Is it that husband of yours?¡± growled Leif, cracking his fist. ¡°Does he dare mistreat you, Faye?¡±


    ¡°Nikolai is civil with me,¡± reassured Faye, then her vibrant tone faltered. ¡°But he does not hold the same affection I hold for him.¡± The young woman pouted like a child. ¡°Brother, he rejected me. He said that I did not understand love.¡±


    ¡°How dare he!¡± Leif sat up. ¡°I will kill him for you sister.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, Leif,¡± Adalwolf had a fierce face, but he was the most level-headed of the three. ¡°Faye, did you offer the man any insight into your feelings before this?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°That settles it. I¡¯ll kill him,¡± vowed Leif again.


    ¡°Well, I planned to, but,¡± the young woman¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°Not really.¡±


    Adalwolf ruffled her hair and laughed, ¡°Things like this require time.¡± He shot her a fond look. ¡°You likely scared the poor man. Patience, little one. If he is the one you choose, then give him time.¡± His gaze met her challengingly. ¡°Unless he is not worth it.¡±


    Faye stiffened. She had not thought of that.


    Amber eyes fluttered close. ¡°It is no matter.¡± She reached her hand to hold theirs, but they felt cold in her grasp. ¡°For now, my life is in his hands.¡±


    ¡ª


    The assassin pressed himself to the wall and crept down the stairs. He had woken to the sound of unfamiliar voices.


    It was most likely nothing. However, his years of experience bid him to act cautiously.


    ¡°No, my lord,¡± murmured the old woman. ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary.¡±


    There was a sigh. ¡°I see. I apologize for disturbing you then,¡± apologized a familiar voice. It was the ice prince.


    The assassin stiffened. He had left his blade in the room. Luckily, the kitchen knife he had swiped was hidden within his sleeves.


    ¡°However, I am sure you will not mind if I take a look,¡± announced the Lord of Feldgrau.


    ¡°Of course,¡± smiled the old woman.


    The assassin burst from his corner. He pulled the old woman to his chest. She yelped at the sudden movement. The man held her own kitchen knife to the woman¡¯s throat.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stared at him with no hint of surprise. This was a setup.


    The assassin growled. ¡°How did you find me?¡±


    ¡°Let her go first,¡± the ice prince nodded at the old woman. ¡°What grudge you hold against me has nothing to do with her. She is innocent.¡±


    The words only made the assassin tighten his grip on the blade. He pressed it closer to the old woman¡¯s neck. Any closer and the sharp edge would kill her. ¡°Do not test me,¡± snarled the assassin eyes darting around like a crazed animal. ¡°I know you do not come alone.¡±


    ¡°You are right,¡± admitted the lord easily. ¡°My men surround the perimeter of this house and street. Even if you escape the two of us,¡± he gestured to himself and the old woman. ¡°You will not leave this city.¡± He took a step forward, unflinching as the assassin brandished the knife in his direction.


    ¡°Then I should kill you anyway!¡± he howled.


    ¡°Leave her out of this then,¡± said the ice prince evenly, drawing his sword. ¡°Do not spill innocent blood.¡± The Lord of Feldgrau smirked, ¡°Even with one hand, surely you can beat me.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The assassin snarled but seemed to consider the deal as his grip on the old woman loosened.


    It was at this moment that Darcy and Cristin opened the door and entered. Light burst into the room. From the door¡¯s opening, the assassin could make out the dozens of guards that lined the outside. The Lord of Feldgrau did not lie. They were truly surrounded. His only path was defeat.


    ¡°If I am to die.¡± The assassin laughed internally. This truly was a cursed mission. He twirled the kitchen knife between his fingers. ¡°Then I will take you all down with me.¡±


    The assassin shoved the old woman hard. As the ice prince turned to stare at her fall, he aimed the kitchen knife at the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s throat and made a run for him. Blue eyes shifted and watched his impending doom. Even now, the other man regarded him with a bored look. The assassin would claim the ice prince¡¯s life if only to wipe that horrible look off his face!


    ¡°My lord!¡± warned Darcy, but he was too far away.


    Suddenly, the assassin¡¯s muscles seized painfully. He collapsed ungracefully in front of the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s feet. His chest seized and he coughed painfully. Blood sprayed from his lips.


    The Lord of Feldgrau stepped back calmly to avoid soiling his clothes.


    The assassin tried to lift his blade but his arms were weak. He could barely lift the kitchen knife. ¡°What did you do to me?¡± His words were weak and slurred.


    The ice prince lowered himself down. His blue eyes flashed dangerously. ¡°Did you think I would not take precautions after last time?¡± He plucked the knife and tossed it to the side. ¡°You¡¯re lucky I need you alive. For now.¡± The lord held his blade to the assassin¡¯s throat. ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡±


    ¡°But how?¡± The assassin¡¯s eyes grew blurry. How did the lord manage to drug him when he did not even know where he was hiding?


    The old woman pushed herself up from the ground. Suddenly, she seemed years younger as her eyes cleared and her back straightened. She brushed her gray hair out of her face. ¡°My lord, I apologize that it took so long.¡±


    The assassin turned to face her. ¡°It was you!¡± His face paled further. ¡°The medicine.¡± She had been drugging him since the first day.


    The old woman ignored the assassin and bowed to the lord.


    ¡°You did well, Elissa,¡± praised the ice prince. He turned to Cristin and Darcy. ¡°Drag him away.¡±


    Calling the last remains of his strength, the assassin picked up his blade and burst up. But his target was not the ice prince.


    Elissa¡¯s eyes widened as the blade came for her.


    Nikolai¡¯s heart thundered. ¡°No!¡±


    Before the blade could strike, a dagger cut at the assassin¡¯s hand. A figure dropped from the ceiling, landing on top of the man, easily disarming him. The assassin groaned in pain as he hit the floor once more.


    Elissa gasped. She held a hand to her pouting heart. ¡°Thank the gods.¡±


    Bian held the assassin roughly by the hair, glaring down at him. His dagger was pressed to the man¡¯s throat. He stared at Nikolai expectantly.


    Cristin and Darcy sighed in relief.


    The Lord of Feldgrau sheathed the ancestral Feldgrau sword. He glanced at the boy gratefully. ¡°If he tries anything else, Bian,¡± his eyes darkened, ¡°slit his throat.¡±


    Bian nodded. He glared down at the assassin who had passed out from the pain. The boy stood and dragged the now unconscious man out the door, uncaring as his face mopped the floors.


    Cristin stared at Darcy. ¡°Did you know he was up there?¡±


    Darcy shook his head. ¡°Did you?¡±


    Cristin shivered and also shook his head. ¡°Some songbird, they should have called him bat boy.¡±


    ¡ª


    Healer Johnathan was no longer a young man. But at the sight of the lord himself bursting into his study with the directions for an antidote, a surge of adrenaline rushed through him.


    ¡°A nasty poison,¡± he murmured. Slicing the white root, the healer pounded it until it created a fine powder. Holding his breath, the man added the powder into the medicine pot. He waited with bated breath as the color slowly changed.


    Bian handed Johnathan the ladle. The two looked at one another excitedly. Johnathan filled the bowl, smiling too brightly as one did when they had not slept in days. ¡°What a fine antidote. Truly, a masterpiece of genius and-¡±


    His words were cut off as Bian tugged at his sleeve.


    ¡°Right. Less talking, more healing. It¡¯s a pity you don¡¯t understand the ingenuity of this, but no matter.¡± Despite his grumbling, Johnathan hurried to fill up the rest of the bowl and sprinkled in the final ingredient. It bubbled and then melted into the antidote, finally completing it.


    The boy practically shoved the man out of the study. The two rushed toward their dying patient. ¡°I really hope this works,¡± Johnathan¡¯s hands were steady but he was an old man. And he refused to go one more night without sleep! ¡°Please, please work,¡± Johnathan prayed under his breath. He turned to glare at the boy carrying the heavy medicine pot. ¡°By the gods, move faster Bian!¡±


    The boy glared at him but complied.


    ¡ª


    The hour was late. Nikolai resisted the urge to yawn.


    After dealing with the assassin, a weight had fallen from his shoulders.


    Donning his mask, the lord exited the Lucky Charm with Cristin by his side. There were only a few hours left before dawn but the warm glow of the colorful lanterns seemed far too bright.


    ¡°My lord,¡± Cristin stretched and rubbed his eyes. ¡°Could we not have these meetings in the morning?¡±


    Nikolai did not bother answering. Reaching into his pockets, he pulled out the precious jewel. Blue eyes studied the intricate workmanship of the jade ornament. Each within their inner circle had received one. The green glimmered. Its beauty was subtle but undeniable.


    They had been a gift from the craftsmen at the mines. The ornaments also served as identification for those within their larger circle to certify one another¡¯s identity.


    ¡°Brilliant idea, my liege,¡± commented the attendant as he studied his own ornament. Each was made unique for the individual.


    Lifting his eyes, Nikolai studied the couples that still wandered the streets. Their copper coin bracelets tinkled as the coins clanked against each other. The ribbons in their hair only added to the brightness of the night.


    ¡°It¡¯s the last days of the festival,¡± murmured Cristin.


    Nikolai hummed but was silent.


    Cristin poked at the stoic lord. ¡°I can tell you are frowning under that mask. Relax!¡± He laughed heartily. ¡°I¡¯m sure she misses you just as much.¡±


    ¡°Misses me?¡± Nikolai stopped. Now that they were away from the crowd, he undid his mask. He shot Cristin a curious look. ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°The girl by her side has a big mouth,¡± At Nikolai¡¯s look, the attendant faltered, not expecting such seriousness. ¡°Well, also¡± Cristin scratched his neck. ¡°She cares a lot for you, so of course she would be upset that you are not spending the festivities together.¡±


    He smiled sadly. ¡°I¡¯m certain anyone with such strong feelings would be the same.¡±


    They passed by a merchant selling love charms. The stacks of papers were scattered messily. The man snored away, unknowing of the charms sticking to his face.


    ¡°How do you know of her feelings?¡± Nikolai continued to walk, but his pace was slow. There was a hint of suspicion in his tone. ¡°Did she tell you this?¡±


    Cristin guffawed, ¡°Even a blind man could see it!¡± He held his lord by the shoulder, guiding him along. ¡°She is clearly in love with you.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Nikolai stiffened.


    ¡°Trust me, my liege!¡± Cristin pointed at the tips of the lord¡¯s ears which were flushed. He stared at them with excitement and awe. ¡°It¡¯s clear you hold the same feelings as she!¡±


    The ice prince shoved the other away. ¡°No, I do not! Stop spouting ridiculous ideas, Cristin or I¡¯ll double your paperwork.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just have Darcy do it for me,¡± Cristin waved the threat away, undaunted. ¡°Rid yourself of all the reasons you can¡¯t be together and tell me,¡± he ignored Nikolai¡¯s deadpan stare. ¡°Would it truly be terrible if you could also celebrate the festival? Walking hand in hand with one another¡¯s coin and ribbon tying you together? Giving flight to a love lantern as a couple?¡± The attendant sighed dreamily. ¡°Promising to love and cherish one another in this life and the next?¡±


    The ice prince was silent. Cristin did not expect an answer. The fact they were having such a conversation was already a miracle.


    ¡°It would be nice,¡± admitted Nikolai softly. ¡°But it would never happen.¡±


    ¡°By the gods,¡± grumbled Cristin, cursing his liege¡¯s practical nature, ¡°A pity. Your love story is like one of those tragedies from the old tales. Always hated those.¡±


    ¡°Is that why you brought four copies from Feldgrau?¡± Nikolai stared at the other, unimpressed.


    Cristin crossed his arms, ignoring the comment. ¡°Damn that Argan, if it weren¡¯t for him, none of this would be an issue.¡± He mimed strangling the crown prince. ¡°But not to worry my lord, I¡¯m almost entirely certain she holds no feelings for him.¡±


    ¡°As if,¡± snorted Nikolai. ¡°I think she would sooner punch him again. Well, when she wakes that is.¡±


    Cristin laughed, ¡°I mean, I would too if I were going to marry that brat.¡±


    ¡°Faye would never marry Argan,¡± said Nikolai bluntly.


    ¡°They are engaged,¡± Cristin tilted his head. ¡°When did she punch him?¡±


    Nikolai and Cristin both froze. They spoke at the same time.


    ¡°Did you say Faye?¡±


    ¡°What do mean engaged?¡±


    The two pointed at the other accusatively but Cristin looked downright horrified. ¡°I was talking about Lady Asinara!¡± His face flushed red from secondhand embarrassment and shock. ¡°You were talking about the Raven General?¡±


    Nikolai blinked. Suddenly, Cristin¡¯s words made a lot more sense. He pointed behind the man. ¡°Cristin, are those the sword covers Darcy was looking at?¡±


    Tricked, the attendant turned to stare, only to frown at the empty stall. ¡°Don¡¯t you run away, my lord!¡±


    But it was too late, Nikolai was already halfway down the street. At Cristin¡¯s frustrated yell, he broke out into a run, sprinting back to the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Cristin hurried to give chase. ¡°What do you mean she had feelings for you?¡± Even as he said it out loud, the thought only made him scream even louder. ¡°The Raven General has feelings for you?!¡±

 CHAPTER 31: Love & Betrayal

    The man held the dark brush to his face and paused. There was an extra dark smudge on his face. He cursed but not too loudly.


    The man glanced behind him at the guard stationed by his door.


    Grumbling under his breath, he hurried to wipe away the mistake and reapply the paint.


    Despite his natural likeness to the Lord of Feldgrau, there were certain features he needed to accentuate and others he had to hide in order to sell the act. Luckily, his past trade had required fine art skills, which meant he had been practicing for years.


    Taking a final look at the mirror, the man shrugged, ¡°Well, good enough.¡± He twirled around. ¡°About time I get a break from your ugly face.¡±


    The guard only rolled his eyes before heading over. The man lifted his chained hands, smiling when they were uncuffed.


    ¡°Do not come back late, Romelo,¡± warned the guard. ¡°The lord is already displeased with your activities.¡±


    ¡°Cease your worries.¡± The man waved the concerns off. ¡°Our ice prince has someone follow my every move. What could I possibly do?¡±


    The guard huffed, ¡°Do not be late.¡±


    But Romelo paid no heed as he skipped out of the room. ¡°I¡¯m coming, my precious Elody!¡±


    ¡ª


    Faye blinked awake slowly. The fog in her mind slowly parted. She winced at the sudden brightness. Raising a hand she tried to block out the piercing glow.


    She could make out a blurry figures standing by her bedside. ¡°Too bright,¡± she croaked, throat dry.


    Thankfully, the person was quick to draw the curtains, blocking out the sun¡¯s glow.


    Faye groaned and pushed herself up.


    ¡°My lady!¡± squeaked a voice happily.


    Multiple hands helped her to sit up. Faye opened her eyes and stared at Aimee and Bian.


    The two stared at her with glowing smiles. ¡°It is not like I rose from the dead, stop looking so amazed,¡± sniffed Faye. ¡°It would take more than some poison to get rid of me.¡±


    Aimee huffed angrily. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, my lady.¡± She burst forward to hug Faye by the waist. ¡°I was so worried!¡± The girl sniffled.


    ¡°I am sorry for worrying you.¡± The Raven General pat the little one¡¯s head. Smoothing out her knotted hair. Aimee looked haggard, clothes filled with messy stains. It was not the way a happy child like her should look.


    There was the hungry sound of a growling stomach.


    ¡°I am well now.¡± Faye gently pushed the girl away. ¡°Go freshen yourself and eat.¡±


    When Aimee hesitated at the door, Faye¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°I will speak to Bian privately.¡± She shot the girl a sideways grin. ¡°Go, Aimee.¡±


    Seemingly convinced, the girl left.


    Bian approached the bed. A guilty look marred his face.


    ¡°You are not supposed to be here.¡± Faye stared at him in half-surprise. ¡°Why have you not left?¡±


    Although she remembered seeing him before fading to the poison¡¯s effects, she found it unbelievable to see him here. ¡°You defied a direct order.¡±


    Bian¡¯s head lowered. The boy knelt on one knee. He signed, ¡°Please punish me, general.¡± His eyes did not hold regret. ¡°But I had to save you.¡±


    Faye stared at his resolve, unmoved. But the tense silence only lasted for a moment. Finally, she sighed. What was done was done. She crossed her arms. ¡°What of the message to Livye,¡± her brows pinched. ¡°There was a reason I wanted to send you, Bian. Please tell me you did not assign it to another.¡±


    The boy reached into his pockets and held out the letter she had written.


    His hands began to sign, ¡°The assassin is caught and the danger has passed,¡± he paused briefly. ¡°If the general still believes in me, I will depart tonight.¡±


    ¡°Bian, it would take more than this for me to lose faith in you.¡± Faye¡¯s hard expression melted in the heart of the boy¡¯s sincerity. ¡°I would trust no one else, little bird.¡±


    Bian looked up, eyes shining. A small smile broke out on his face.


    Faye shifted. The longer she was awake, the more she was anxious to begin moving around. The aches in her muscles and the crick in her neck were telling. She must have been asleep for many days.


    ¡°How did you find the antidote?¡± asked Faye, suddenly curious. Her eyes glanced around. This was not her room¡­ but Nikolai¡¯s. Faye¡¯s face warmed as her heart quickened. The fact she was alive¡­


    ¡°It was the lord,¡± signed Bian quickly. ¡°Once we brought the assassin back, he made him give up the antidote and had it brewed immediately.¡±


    Faye scratched her head. The assassin did not seem like someone who would give up that information easily. ¡°How did he do it?¡±


    Bian shrugged. It mattered little to him as long as the general was awake and well.


    ¡°Maybe he was charmed by Nikolai¡¯s good looks too,¡± murmured Faye.


    Bian stared at her in disappointment but was too polite to object outright.


    Faye crossed her arms. ¡°It worked on me!¡± she protested.


    The boy held his head in his hands. Maybe the Raven General wasn¡¯t as recovered as he thought.


    ¡ª


    Sighing happily, Romelo stood in front of the Lucky Charm. The aunties in his village had always said he had a flair for the dramatics. Out in public, he now assumed the name Nikolai the ice prince.


    He strolled inside the establishment like he owned the place. It was surprisingly quiet. Most of the early patrons were left over from the night before, passed out drunk on their tables.


    To his surprise, Madam Athena was nowhere to be seen. Romelo¡¯s sixth sense tingled with foreboding. He had been a notorious thief for years before the real ice prince caught him. Romelo knew better than to disregard it. Suddenly, his pompous air was gone.


    The man slinked into the background, trying to call as little attention to himself as possible. He slid against the wall as he made his way towards Elody¡¯s private rooms.


    Taking the lesser known route, he slipped in through the servants¡¯ quarters so as not to be seen.


    As Romelo watched, he noticed a notable silence unassociated with the Lucky Charm. The usual chatter and laughter were muted.


    Romelo stopped in front of the artist¡¯s rooms, stiffening at the extra voices. There were the shadows of men with swords and a seated woman in a cloak. Then there was the kneeling form.


    Suddenly, the artist spoke in the form of the kneeling shadow. ¡°Your Highness,¡± Elody¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°What can this humble one do for you?¡±


    The seated woman¡¯s voice was sharp, carrying a domineering air. ¡°I wish to know of my son¡¯s visit to you.¡±


    There was a pause.


    Elody¡¯s tone was one of confusion. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have never met with Crown Prince Argan, Your Majesty-¡°


    ¡°Not him,¡± snapped the queen, because who else could it be, realized Romelo frantically. ¡°I want to know of your meetings with,¡± her voice lowered, ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    Romelo¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau?¡± gasped Elody.


    ¡°Will you not help this poor mother?¡± sneered the queen. ¡°I hear he is a frequent patron of yours.¡±


    ¡°He¡­ is,¡± Elody dipped her head, voice trembling. ¡°What,¡± she bit her lips, ¡°what do you wish to hear?¡±


    ¡°Everything.¡±


    The artist nodded, ¡°Of course, my queen.¡± Elody straightened, ¡°I will tell you everything I know.¡±


    At those words, Romelo turned tail and ran. Face pale and heart pounding, he could not leave the Lucky Charm fast enough.


    This was bad, really bad.


    Romelo cursed himself. If he knew he was going to be in such a mess, he never would have taken this job in the first place. He gulped. The ice prince was going to kill him.


    ¡ª


    In the basements of the Prince¡¯s Residence was a small row of cells.


    The bars were sturdy but slightly rusted from the years. In the basement, there was the ever-present scent of iron and mildew that stuck to the air. It was an archaic function of the Prince¡¯s Residence, its use mostly faded over time. Until now.


    All the cells were empty but one.


    At the sound of footsteps, the two guards peered up curiously. They shot the gray-haired woman a grin. ¡°Abby, what brings you here?¡±


    The old woman smiled weakly. The recent events had taken a toll on the head maid. Her shoulders were hunched and the fight had drained out of her.


    Abby held up the meager meal in her hands. ¡°For the prisoner.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    The two guards shot a look at one another.


    ¡°Seems a bit wasted on him, doesn¡¯t it?¡± commented the first. He reached out to take the bread but was slapped away by the older woman.


    Abby glared, ¡°It is the lord¡¯s final mercy.¡± Her words were sharp. ¡°Do not sully it.¡±


    ¡°Apologies, Abby,¡± stammered the guard. He was confused at the sudden hostility but tried not to show his bruised pride ¡°The one-armed bastard¡¯s to be sent to the royal dungeons tonight. Guess he should enjoy a good meal first.¡±


    Abyy smiled tightly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Stepping around them, she balanced the tray and carried it to the last cell. Her eyes peered in, almost fearfully.


    The hunched form looked up. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Abby lowered herself down. She slipped the meal under the bar and beckoned the assassin closer.


    As he crawled forward, he murmured lowly. ¡°Now that you know the truth you must be ashamed.¡± The man grinned ruefully as Abby¡¯s eyes trailed down to his missing hand. ¡°Disown me if you wish, Mother. I will not hold it against you.¡±


    The assassin reached for the bread. He froze. A weathered hand was touching his face, caressing it softly. He stared into Abby¡¯s teary eyes.


    ¡°Oh, Harold,¡± she sobbed quietly. ¡°My poor boy, what have they done to you. My son.¡±


    ¡°I do not need your pity¡± The assassin stiffened. He backed away from his mother. ¡°Your precious mistress was the one who took my hand.¡±


    Abby¡¯s eyes widened, then hardened. ¡°Faye did this? But-¡± She shut her eyes to try and suppress her tears. ¡°How could she, I- My lord should never have married her. He is too kind and she is a savage.¡±


    But her son only sneered, ¡°Kind? Mother, surely you jest. Your useless master tortured me until I revealed the answers he sought.¡± His eyes burned with hate.


    Abby reeled back. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°They say he is a spineless coward, but the ice prince stabbed me with my poison blades,¡± he clenched his fist, ¡°Until he got his antidote for that demoness.¡±


    Abby took in her son¡¯s battered form. ¡°Nikolai,¡± she stammered. ¡°He did this to you?¡± Then, her voice softened. ¡°But you tried to kill him. Harold, you, you¡¯re a killer.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a survivor,¡± snapped the man, eyes dark and dead. ¡°With no thanks to you.¡±


    Abby flinched like she had been physically struck.


    ¡°Now, I see what I always feared to be true,¡± laughed the assassin. ¡°You will always choose another.¡±


    The guards shifted. They turned to stare, unable to hear their conversation but a moment¡¯s away from storming over.


    ¡°Leave, mother,¡± sighed the son. ¡°I do not wish for our last meeting to be like this. It is best if you forget you ever had a son like me.¡± He looked down. ¡°I still think of our memories fondly, even if you cannot bear to look at me.¡±


    Abby¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Do you think so little of me?¡±


    The guards¡¯ armors rustled. ¡°Abby! Are you all right?¡±


    The woman turned to face them and called, voice normal without a hint of a tremor. ¡°Yes, I will be right over.¡±


    She lowered to pick up the tray. ¡°Who do you think set the fire for your escape?¡±


    The assassin¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°I will not watch my son be taken from me again,¡± her gentle eyes found his and she nodded at the bread. ¡°Be careful, Harold. Chew slowly when you eat.¡±


    Under the tray, she unstrapped the kitchen knife and slid it into the cell. The assassin was quick to tuck it under his tattered shirt.


    Abby¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°The guards switch watch at-¡°


    He cut her off. ¡°I know.¡± As she left, he reached out for her hand. ¡°Let us meet again, Mother.¡±


    ¡°I-¡° Abby¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°Unhand her!¡± The guards rushed over and banged at the cell.


    The assassin scurried back, clutching the bread to his chest. He curled in on himself.


    The guards turned to a frazzled Abby. ¡°Are you injured, Abby? Did he try anything?¡±


    ¡°I, no, he-¡° The woman shook her head. ¡°No, he startled me is all. I think he was hungry.¡± She pushed past them, muttering apologies under her breath. ¡°Please excuse me.¡± The woman practically ran from the dungeons, stumbling as she went.


    The guards turned to glare at the assassin. ¡°If you value your other hand, don¡¯t you dare try anything else.¡±


    The assassin only watched them with dark eyes, refusing to say a word.


    When the guards returned to their post, his grimy fingers stabbed into the bread. He smirked as it caught onto something something hard. Ripping it in half, he victoriously pulled out the iron key.


    Grasping the kitchen knife, he grinned at the guard¡¯s turned backs.


    ¡ª


    ¡°I need you to send a message to my uncle as well, Bian,¡± Faye¡¯s grin faded. ¡°The poison from the soup and the poison from the blade are both from Wenge. Twice is no coincidence. There may be a traitor within my father¡¯s council.¡±


    The boy signed, ¡°Should I alert Chief Fadye as well?¡±


    Faye shook her head. ¡°No, we cannot make any moves until we know for certain. The traitor might be watching my father¡¯s every move.¡± She crossed her arms and sighed, ¡°If I were anyone else, the poisoned blade would have killed me.¡±


    It was only lucky that she had gained a sort of immunity to most of the poisons known to her people. Many revered the Raven General, but it was also a position constantly ridden with danger and envy.


    While she was away, her uncle was the only one she would trust.


    The Wolf had a high enough ranking to investigate without her father¡¯s permission and loyalty to ensure the culprit would be found.


    ¡°Go rest, Bian,¡± Faye¡¯s words were hard but she meant well. ¡°You have a long journey ahead of you, little bird.¡±


    Bian nodded.


    The door slammed open as Aimmee stumbled in, a tray of food in her arms. The little girl grinned widely at the Raven General. ¡°My lady!¡±


    She dropped the platter onto the general¡¯s lap and picked up a spoon as if to feed her. The utensil was quickly taken away. ¡°Please eat, my lady,¡± Aimmee chirped, ¡°You have to regain your strength.¡±


    By the time Faye looked up, Bian was already gone. She glanced at the opened window.


    At the door, she saw Frederick walk by. The olde rboy peeked his head into the chambers. Although the Lord of Feldgrau no longer resided in his own rooms, Frederick made sure to keep to his duties in tidying the room. As their eyes met, he hurried to bow.


    She nodded towards him. ¡°At ease, Frederick.¡± Her voice lowered in case others were listening in. ¡°Bian told me of your help. For that, you have my thanks. Ask for anything within my power and you shall have it. ¡±


    ¡°That is not necessary.¡± The boy flushed but smiled brightly. ¡°It was nothing, my lady.¡± He leaned against his broom. ¡°If there is anything else I can do for you, please do not hesitate.¡±


    Faye nodded, ¡°I will.¡±


    With a final bow, the boy left. Aimee stared, gaze shifting between Frederick and the Raven General.


    Faye sipped the warm soup.


    ¡°My lady, I am glad to see you on better terms with the Lord of Feldgrau,¡± commented Aimee. ¡°Frederick is very trusted by the lord.¡±


    Faye continued her slurping. ¡°I suppose so,¡± she managed to say between gulps. ¡°Aimee, please send my things back to my chambers.¡±


    The girl froze, a curious expression coming across her face. ¡°Your chambers?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Faye set down her bowl. ¡°I cannot keep staying in the lord¡¯s rooms, can I?¡± The tips of her ears grew red. ¡°I should return to my chambers as soon as I finish this meal.¡± She picked her spoon back up,


    ¡°You wish to return to your chambers?¡± Aimee crossed her arms, shooting her lady an unimpressed look. ¡°The one you burned down?¡±


    A stream of liquid flew out as Faye spat out the soup. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I think I must have heard wrong,¡± said Faye weakly. Coughing, she pounded against her chest. ¡°Burned down?¡±


    ¡ª


    Nikolai wasn¡¯t exactly expecting it, but he was far from surprised when the doors to his study burst open and a furious woman stormed inside. After days of silence, he almost welcomed the noise that accompanied her presence.


    ¡°Why are people saying I burned down your house?¡± Faye scowled, amber eyes flashing. ¡°How exactly would I set fire to a room when I was busy saving you from your assassin?¡±


    Nikolai set down his parchment. ¡°It is good to see you as well.¡±


    ¡°You sent your men to start the rumors,¡± said Faye, crossing her arms. ¡°Just like you did about Rufus.¡±


    The ice prince shrugged, ¡°I required a story that would take attention away from my stepmother¡¯s tale about me and the crown prince.¡±


    ¡°The one of your pitiful battle?¡± Setting her sword down, Faye stalked forward. She peered down at his relaxed form. ¡°Did her version include striking you while your back was turned?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± said Nikolai, almost flippantly. ¡°Luckily for us, your act of arson seems to have a stronger appeal with the people. It¡¯s all they talk about, dear wife.¡±


    A book came flying above his head.


    The lord loudly protested the attack.


    Faye rolled her eyes. ¡°It was not even close to you.¡±


    Shooting her a look, the ice prince picked his parchment up. There was almost a petulant air about it.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Nikolai did not look up. ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°You did not harm Bian despite his identity,¡± Faye looked away. ¡°And for saving me.¡±


    Nikolai flipped a page. ¡°Bian and Healer Johnathan did most of the work.¡±


    ¡°But you could have forbidden them from interfering,¡± interjected the Raven General eyes knowing. ¡°I believe there is a part of you that does like me.¡± She crossed her arms behind her head and sauntered over to his side. ¡°I just need to give you some time.¡±


    The ice prince looked up at her in shock. ¡°I do not!¡±


    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± sang the Raven General. ¡°You have feelings for me!¡±


    Nikolai held up his hands in defeat. ¡°You¡¯ve lost it.¡± He pursed his lips, even as a slight flush crawled up his neck. ¡°I was merely repaying your debt.¡±


    But the Raven General refused to listen.


    ¡°You like me, you like me!¡± she crowed, prancing around the room.


    ¡°Do not!¡± The ice prince crossed his arms. ¡°Stop spouting nonsense! Shouldn¡¯t you be resting?¡±


    Faye laughed, ¡°I¡¯m all healed!¡±


    ¡°I would hope so,¡± grumbled Nikolai. ¡°The tonics Healer Johnathan were the best we could buy without arousing the queen¡¯s suspicion.¡±


    The young woman suddenly froze. She turned slowly to peer at him.


    ¡°What?¡± Asked Nikolai, suddenly afraid of the silence. ¡°Did you wish to be bedridden for longer?¡±


    ¡°You really do like me,¡± a wide grin broke out on Faye¡¯s face. ¡°Is that why you let me sleep in your rooms all this time? My, what a devious lord!¡±


    ¡°Please stop talking!¡± groaned the man, burying his face into his arms. ¡°It was the most convenient! Do you think I enjoyed lugging your weight around?¡± He brushed away the memory of Faye nuzzling into his chest.


    ¡°Hey!¡± screeched the woman suddenly offended. ¡°What are you implying, Nikolai!¡±


    ¡°Nothing!¡± His blue eyes widened slightly in fear as the Raven General¡¯s scowl grew. ¡°You misunderstood, I meant that it was a delight carrying you!¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡±


    ¡°Stop throwing my books!¡±


    It was at this moment that Cristin walked in.


    When the two turned to stare at him, he took one look and raised his hands in surrender. ¡°I will leave.¡± And he did.


    After an exhausting arguing match, the couple sat in their respective chairs. Arms crossed, they refused to look at each other.


    ¡°How exactly do you get the rumors to spread so fast?¡± asked Faye suddenly.


    Nikolai was silent.


    Faye sniffed, ¡°Never mind.¡±


    ¡°I hire some very loud people,¡± began Nikolai. ¡°To shout in very crowded places. For days.¡±


    Faye turned to stare at him, an incredulous expression across her face. ¡°You are joking.¡±


    Nikolai shrugged, ¡°It truly works.¡±


    ¡ª


    At the market, the vegetable vendor suddenly sneezed.


    Strange, he thought, it was not allergy season yet.


    He rubbed his ears. It was probably nothing. The man turned back to his counter, counting the extra coin he had received from the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± called a voice. ¡°Can I buy that sack of carrots?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± The merchant smiled, blocking the coins from view. He began to pack up the customer¡¯s items.


    ¡°By the way, have you heard of the fire at the Prince¡¯s Residence?¡±


    The merchant¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°Well, if you want to know the truth¡­¡±

 CHAPTER 32: Roses Trampled Underfoot

    Rufus squinted up at the blaring sun. Beads of sweat gathered at the back of his neck. He moved away from the window.


    In his lap, the horse-tailed brushes were carefully balanced. Despite her expensive tastes, Elody would be pleased, he thought.


    In the middle of their session, they had been rudely interrupted by Madam Athena herself.


    It had been hours since. The thought of leaving had crossed his mind a few times, but in the end he couldn¡¯t bear to do it. Something was clearly wrong. And the pleading look Elody had sent him before being whisked away was enough for him to stay the entire day.


    Rufus peeled at the wooden chair.


    SCREECH.


    The wooden door slid open. The boy slid the brushes into his pocket. Rufus sat up but the greeting died on his tongue.


    Elody stared at him from the entrance, looking utterly lost. There was a redness under her eyes. The artist courtesan¡¯s pristine hair was disheveled.


    Rufus burst to his feet. ¡°Lady El, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She took a step forward, then collapsed to her knees.


    Rufus hurried over, hands worrying around her. Stupid, the boy cursed. He placed his hands back at his sides.


    ¡°Oh Rufus,¡± cried the young woman.


    He winced when Elody broke out into quiet sobs. Rufus wasn¡¯t equipped to deal with this. He wasn¡¯t equipped to deal with anything.


    ¡°Lady El? Please,¡± he started quietly. ¡°What is going on?¡± The boy tried for a smile but it fell flat. ¡°Did one of your brushes break?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m so petty?¡± snapped the artist. But her tears stopped flowing.


    They sat in silence.


    Rufus thought of the brushes in his pocket. He did not dare to give them to her. Elody¡¯s makeup was stained and ruined. He reached out to hand her his handkerchief instead.


    ¡°If there is someone bothering you, you know you can tell me,¡± offered Rufus. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to-¡°


    ¡°Do what?¡± challenged Elody, eyes flashing. She pushed his hand away. ¡°What can you do, Rufus? Even if you wanted to chase him away, it would be your father¡¯s guards or the Langard status. Not you.¡±


    The boy tried to hide the hurt on his face. Elody was always the one encouraging him. The only one to believe in him.


    Lady El looked at him guiltily. ¡°Rufus, I did not-¡° She was cut off.


    ¡°My family¡¯s power is mine too!¡± Rufus Langard hung his head. ¡°If I can at least offer you help, is that truly a crime? So what if I must leech off of them?¡±


    Elody stared at him, pieces of hair falling into her face. ¡°Oh Rufus,¡± she chided sadly. ¡°When will you learn?¡±


    ¡°Learn what?¡± challenged Rufus, finally fed up. He had waited all day in worry. ¡°If you hate my presence so, then let me call someone else for you, Lady El. Someone useful.¡±


    Elody¡¯s frown smoothened. ¡°I apologize, my lord.¡± She sighed, ¡°I did not mean to blame you, Rufus. It is not your fault. Right now, I find myself stuck between two immovable forces.¡±


    Fortunately, Rufus was no immovable force, and he told her so. Her small smile made him inch closer.


    ¡°You should not apologize.¡± The boy sat up straighter. ¡°El, you know me better than my own parents. I know I am useless,¡± he said earnestly. ¡°But please, let me help you. Despite my best efforts, the Langard name still holds some weight around these parts.¡±


    Elody studied him with a critical eye. But a glimmer of hope shimmered within them.


    Rufus scooted himself so that they sat side by side. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°The queen came to visit me,¡± said Elody evenly but her brows bunched. ¡°She requested my presence specifically.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ mouth dropped. ¡°Her Highness came to a brothel?¡± He worked his jaw. ¡°That feels treasonous to even say.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± agreed Elody. ¡°But that is not the worst of it.¡±


    There was a pause. Rufus stared but did not press.


    Elody used her finger to brush back her hair. ¡°She wanted to know about the Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    ¡°The ice prince?¡± asked Rufus, genuinely surprised. He thought of the Raven General and her heartfelt plan to win over the Lord of Feldgrau. ¡°I always thought him to be¡­ more private. Have you been treating him?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± Elody bit her lip and lowered her voice. ¡°And no.¡±


    ¡°Lady El,¡± Rufus took her hands. They shook despite the calm facade she had. ¡°If it were so simple, the queen would not come find you.¡±


    ¡°When he was drunk, the Lord of Feldgrau revealed to me that,¡± Elody licked at her dry lips. ¡°He was a double, not the true lord.¡±


    Rufus froze. He should not ask further, but he had to know. ¡°What of the one you saw in the meeting room?¡±


    Elody gulped, ¡°That was the real one.¡±


    With that, two large targets were painted on their backs. It was only a matter of who would get to them first. The severity of it pressed down on both of them. This was a secret they could die just for knowing.


    ¡°Who else knows?¡± asked Rufus, face paling.


    The artist¡¯s voice shook. ¡°Only me.¡±


    ¡°And now the queen as well?¡± Rufus ran a hand through his hair, worrying it.


    ¡°I did not tell her!¡± Elody had tears in her eyes. ¡°But I fear she suspects. And if the double who was here, I saw him, reports this to the ice prince-¡±


    Rufus burst to his feet, trying to pull the artist up as well. ¡°Elody, you are in danger!¡±


    ¡°I know that!¡± cried the artist. ¡°But what can I do? If I leave, they will only find it more suspicious! The lord may send people after me.¡± She winced, ¡°Or Her Majesty¡¯s Hounds will drag me back if she finds out I have lied.¡±


    ¡°I can borrow my father¡¯s guards,¡± Rufus¡¯ eyes were blown wide with panic. ¡°They could escort you out of the capital.¡°


    ¡°I can¡¯t leave my sister, Rufus.¡± Elody crossed her arms, tone adamant. ¡°You know this.¡±


    The young lord deflated. He sighed in defeat and clenched his fists. If only he was¡­ the boy sighed.


    ¡°What do I do, Rufus?¡± Elody¡¯s voice wobbled. ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes snapped open. ¡°The Raven General.¡± The beginnings of an idea began to form in his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m being serious, Rufus!¡± snapped the other.


    ¡°So am I!¡± protested the young lord. ¡°The Raven General owes me. And if she won¡¯t help me,¡± his eyes lit up as the details came together. ¡°I have something that could be used against the lord. I will trade your safety for the information!¡±


    Elody stared at him, bewildered. Since when was the boy so well connected with the infamous couple? Were the rumors of him and the Raven General true, she wondered. Her thoughts were cut off.


    ¡°I may be useless, Lady El,¡± Rufus took her hands again, ignoring the confused expression on Elody¡¯s face. ¡°But I promise you this.¡±


    The artist stared at his earnest eyes.


    ¡°I will save you.¡±


    ¡ª


    Yawning, Faye breathed in the floral scent. Frederick always used lavenders and roses in his soaps. He said it was Nikolai¡¯s secret back in Feldgrau. It made the lord¡¯s room smell like a garden.


    Faye had to admit, there was something nice about waking in a bed without fear of the next battle or assassin. According to Nikolai, the dual-bladed assassin had escaped and fled. They had men looking for the one-armed man but it was clear he was nowhere near the Prince¡¯s Residence.


    For the time being, she could feel safe in the soft blankets and bury her nose into goose-feathered pillows. She turned, pressing into the warmth next to her. It was comfortable. She sighed happily, snuggling into it. There was a huff of air.


    A hand draped over her.


    Faye¡¯s eyes snapped open. There was another person in the bed! She flipped over, ready to kick the unknown person into the next life. Instead, she froze and gaped at the sight.


    The Lord of Feldgrau snored softly. His hair was a mess as it splayed on the pillow. He slept on his side, blankets pulled to his nose. His head was tilted towards her side.


    Amber eyes glanced down at the hand hanging over her. Faye¡¯s cheeks flushed. She floundered for what to do. How did the man even end up here? Although it was technically his room, Nikolai had been sleeping elsewhere.


    Faye blinked. The lord would not willingly have come here. Was he drugged?


    Curious, she picked up the limp arm and held a finger to the pulse. Closing her eyes, she counted silently. Curious, Faye thought, everything seemed normal.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Before she could investigate further, the hand moved as Nikolai pulled it back to his side. Still holding onto the hand, Faye gasped as she was pulled over too. Her eyes widened.


    Faye found herself face to face with the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s suspicious blue eyes. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Her breath caught before spluttering, ¡°I should be asking you that! Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be in my own bed?¡± Nikolai¡¯s nose crinkled. ¡°I¡¯m in my own bed,¡± he repeated.


    The lord burst up as he pushed himself to the edge. Nikolai held the blanket up to his chest. The usual stern lord looked like an offended maiden. ¡°Why am I in my bed?¡± His voice was pitched.


    Sitting up as well, Faye crossed her arms. ¡°That¡¯s what I would like to know.¡± She tilted her head at the other¡¯s genuine distress. ¡°What is the last thing you remember?¡±


    ¡°I,¡± Nikolai ran a hand through his hair. ¡°I was in my study, working. I must have fallen asleep. But Darcy and Cristin were with me, they should have¡­¡± His voice trailed off.


    Cristin had been acting suspiciously. And whatever Cristin wanted, he was sure to get Darcy to pitch in for his crazy ideas as well. He cursed the two names under his breath.


    Pushing away the blankets, Nikolai got to his feet. He turned to Faye. ¡°They must have thought it funny. I apologize if,¡± he seemed at a loss for words, ¡°I made you uncomfortable in any way, Faye.¡±


    ¡°I did not mind.¡± Peering at his night clothes, Faye commented, ¡°At least they had the decency to change you.¡± Her cheeks flushed slightly at the sight.


    Nikolai stared down at his night tunic in growing horror. ¡°How am I supposed to go out like this?¡±


    Faye yawned, ¡°Like normal? I do not see the problem. You look dashing as always.¡±


    Dragging a hand across his face, Nikolai groaned, ¡°People will see me roaming the halls in night clothes, leaving a room that you have been staying in.¡±


    Faye lifted an eyebrow. ¡°You are a lord, why should you care for their gossip?¡±


    ¡°Because I do not wish for this news to spread,¡± grumbled Nikolai.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see the issue.¡± Amber eyes narrowed. ¡°We are married, Nikolai, no one will care.¡±


    ¡°You do not understand, Faye,¡± complained Nikolai. ¡°Everyone from my men in Feldgrau to my great stepmother in her castle will care. By the gods, maybe even my father will hear of it!¡±


    There was a tense silence.


    Nikolai sighed. Instantly, he felt a sense of regret. It had been numerous late nights of planning and playing the feeble prince in the queen¡¯s court. ¡°Look, Faye, I¡¯m-¡°


    ¡°They aren¡¯t the only ones you¡¯re worried about knowing, are they?¡± Faye¡¯s voice was dark.


    ¡°Well, yes,¡± said Nikolai failing to see what had set off the young woman. ¡°I suppose a great many more will also hear of it.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± growled Faye. ¡°And among those many more include your precious Lady Asinara.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau froze.


    ¡°That¡¯s the one you¡¯re really worried about.¡± The Raven General glared at the floor. ¡°She is the one you wish to protect.¡±


    Nikolai was taken aback at the sudden harshness. ¡°Are, are you jealous?¡± He let a small laugh slip. ¡°I was not expecting that.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I am jealous,¡± Faye walked up to him. In her nightclothes and without her sword, she almost seemed normal. As if she wasn¡¯t a warrior goddess who could tear him and his house down with a single command.


    Still, Nikolai shifted uneasily.


    Faye stared up at him. ¡°I am your wife. It may be a burden to you, but I have tried to honor my side.¡± She clenched her fist. ¡°Regardless of my personal feelings, you have a duty as well.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s blank mask fell back into place. ¡°Have I mistreated you, Faye?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± admitted the young woman. ¡°But you protect her from the queen¡¯s rumors by spreading lies about me.¡± She pounded harshly at her chest. ¡°You would tell everyone I burnt down your home so that her honor won¡¯t be tarnished.¡±


    ¡°Faye,¡± started the ice prince. ¡°I was only protecting myself. It was not about Asinara.¡±


    ¡°You know she spreads rumors of me at the court,¡± interjected Faye angrily. ¡°And you have never once said anything to her.¡± She exhaled slowly. ¡°Not even once.¡±


    Nikolai stared at the other, almost amazed by the anger. ¡°I did not think you would be affected by that,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°Why?¡± spit Faye. ¡°Because I am the Raven General?¡±


    The silence spoke for itself.


    Faye went to the mirror. She pulled at her hair, combing through the knots with her fingers. She snatched the brush. In the grasslands, she had never needed to use one. Frustration bubbled within her. Faye tugged at her hair, pulling harshly.


    ¡°It is true that I once held affection for Asinara.¡± Nikolai did not make to move.


    Faye lowered the brush. She peeked at him through the reflection.


    ¡°I once thought I would marry her,¡± admitted her husband.


    Faye glanced down so that she would not have to look at him. ¡°Tell me the truth,¡± she began. Faye was no coward. She steeled herself. ¡°Do I even have a chance?¡±


    ¡°Faye, aside from all other issues, your father demands a messenger¡¯s head, he demands my head.¡± Nikolai could only state the obvious. ¡°To my knowledge, you do not have a head to deliver to him.¡±


    ¡°Enough talk of heads,¡± Faye gritted her teeth. Her grip tightened on the brush. ¡°Answer the question.¡±


    Nikolai pushed open the door.


    ¡°I am fond of her, Faye,¡± he said. ¡°After my brother¡¯s trial, Asinara was my only friend in the capital.¡±


    Faye set down the brush. ¡°So you do-¡°


    ¡°But I do not love her.¡±


    Nikolai¡¯s eyes were fixed on the hallway, but she could see the faint redness on the tips of his ears.


    The young woman stilled, heart pounding.


    ¡°In truth, I have also grown¡­ quite fond of you.¡± There was a pause. Nikolai feigned a cough. ¡°Perhaps more than I should.¡±


    The door creaked open. The ice prince slipped out into the hallways.


    Servants peeked up and then quickly looked away. The lord was in his night clothes! The more daring snuck in a few more appreciative glances.


    There was the rapid sound of footsteps as Nikolai hurried back to the privacy and safety of Cristin and Darcy¡¯s room.


    In the lord¡¯s chambers, Faye finally stared at her own reflection. A small, shy smile graced her face. She touched it, amazed. Her cheeks were warm.


    ¡°That stupid man,¡± she swore, but the smile remained.


    ¡ª


    ¡°Asinara!¡± called a female voice.


    The Rose of Eburean looked up from her book. A brilliant smile broke out across her beautiful face. ¡°Mother!¡±


    Getting to her feet, she bounded over to the other side of the royal library. Lady Asinara did not bother saying goodbye to the crown prince as she hurried to the older woman¡¯s side. ¡°Please tell me you are taking me back home.¡±


    ¡°Asinara!¡± scolded Lady Vellward. She curtsied, bowing towards the crown prince. ¡°Your Highness.¡±


    But Argan only brushed by the mother and daughter, a sneer on his lips. ¡°Thank the gods this dreadful session is over.¡± He waved over one of his squires. ¡°Ready the training yard, I must prepare for my next fight against the Raven General!¡±


    Asinara frowned angrily, glaring at the crown prince¡¯s back.


    A hand grasped her, squeezing it warningly. ¡°Remember where you are, my love,¡± warned Lady Vellward lowly, the demure smile still on her face.


    The two women stayed in place, waiting until the crown prince was out of sight.


    ¡°The carriage waits outside, my dear,¡± said the mother.


    As they left, the servants and passing-by nobles stared with equal awe and envy. The Lady Asinara was the sight of elegance and poise. Her walk was straight and her expression soft.


    ¡°I hate him, Mother,¡± Lady Asinara nodded politely toward a passing lord. ¡°There were times I considered jumping out the window.¡±


    Lady Vellward hummed, ¡°You must be patient. He will grow out of this phase.¡±


    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± said Asinara. She picked up her dress to hasten her pace. ¡°I find it hard to believe they are related.¡±


    The mother sighed, ¡°Why do your thoughts always return to him, my love?¡± She tapped her daughter¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Do not slouch.¡±


    ¡°I am not!¡± protested Asinara.


    ¡°Not doing what?¡± Lady Vellward raised an eyebrow. ¡°Slouching or thinking about the ice prince?¡±


    Asinara rolled her eyes.


    The two stopped in front of the gardens. Beautiful roses and fruit trees filled the area. In the center of the garden was a plain oak tree. It had little leaves and was of medium height.


    ¡°If there was a great fire, would you choose to save the roses or the oak?¡± asked the older woman, tone airy.


    Asinara crossed her arms. ¡°You know I am very fond of roses and their beauty, Mother.¡±


    ¡°Did you know,¡± started Lady Vellward. ¡°This oak tree was planted by King Arganus¡¯ great uncle?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Asinara, slightly bewildered at the change in topic. ¡°Nikolai told me. He said the king was raised more by his great uncle than his own father.¡±


    ¡°And that is why this ugly tree remains to this day,¡± said Lady Vellward.


    At the heart of the tree, the trunk was a messy spiral that resembled a scowling face. It would have been considered a bad omen in any other case. However, for this oak tree, the spirals supposedly reminded the king of his great uncle. As such it was never to be touched or altered.


    ¡°It is a lucky tree,¡± said Asinara


    ¡°Indeed,¡± stated Lady Vellward. ¡°This tree is treated better than most ordinary men and women. It is unfair, but that is the privilege of being valued by the king.¡±


    ¡°Mother,¡± warned Asinara, guessing how the conversation would go. ¡°I do not wish to hear this.¡±


    ¡°But you will,¡± said Lady Vellward. ¡°I know you hold much affection for the second prince, but you must grow up now, my love.¡±


    ¡°Why must you and Father push me towards unhappiness?¡± Asinara huffed angrily.


    ¡°And pursuing a married man will grant you happiness?¡± challenged Lady Vellward. ¡°Even if the ice prince annuls his marriage with the Raven General, you will only be a second wife.¡±


    Asinara frowned, ¡°It is better than being Argan¡¯s anything.¡±


    ¡°Maybe at first,¡± Lady Vellward caressed her daughter¡¯s face. ¡°But later when the servants gossip and the queen turns her ire towards you, will you be satisfied then?¡± She smiled sadly. ¡°We are too similar, my love. Aside from your affection, you crave the ability to do something with your time, to help people and make your kingdom better.¡± Her eyes hardened. ¡°You cannot do that with the Lord of Feldgrau. Even if he wishes to, he will never grant you the life you want.¡±


    ¡°Father put you up to this, didn¡¯t he?¡± cried the rose. ¡°Have you considered the possibility of supporting Nikolai?¡±


    ¡°And plunge our family and kingdom into a war of succession for your love?¡±


    Asinara gasped at the insinuation.


    ¡°Your father has protected you far too much,¡± decided Lady Vellward. ¡°The queen has heard of your tense relationship with Argan. You realize there are other candidates for the crown prince¡¯s intended.¡±


    Asinara¡¯s pride flared. ¡°But I am the best choice!¡±


    ¡°As long as the queen believes so,¡± Lady Vellward frowned. ¡°What do you think will happen to our family if we lose her favor?¡±


    Asinara¡¯s eyes watered at the harsh words. ¡°Is there truly no way?¡±


    ¡°Marry the crown prince,¡± insisted her mother. ¡°You will thank me one day when you sit on the throne and your son becomes the future king.¡±


    Asinara¡¯s lips pursed. She plucked a rose and pressed the flower to her nose. She inhaled its sweet scent, rich and intoxicating.


    ¡°Please Asinara,¡± begged her mother.


    The rose fell to the dirt floor. Mud marred its beautiful red petals.


    ¡°The rose is sweet, but it will die when winter comes. Its beauty is fleeting.¡± Asinara turned to stare at the oak. Her expression was solemn. ¡°Do not worry Mother, I may not enjoy it, but I swear I will not let you or Father down.¡±


    Lady Vellward clasped her hands together, pressing them to her chest. Reaching out, she took her daughter¡¯s arm. ¡°My darling rose, you could never let us down.¡±


    Asinara hid the thorns of her pain with a beautiful smile. ¡°Let us go, Father and Asinor surely await.¡±


    The remains of the rose lay underfoot, crushed and scattered as two pairs of footsteps passed over it.


    In her heart, Asinara said a silent apology. But she was unsure who it was for.

 CHAPTER 33: Nikolai Meets Rufus

    Abby tried not to fidget under Darcy¡¯s warm smile.


    ¡°Apologies, Abby, but you know this is just procedure,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Abby darkly. ¡°I was the last to see him, it¡¯s only proper I am investigated. I suppose no exception could be made.¡±


    Darcy stepped back at the hostile tone. ¡°Yes, well, we need to know everything that happened that night.¡±


    Abby stared down at her lap. She nodded once.


    ¡°The guards said you were delivering food to the prisoner under Nikolai¡¯s command,¡± began Cristin. ¡°We believe that must be the key to how he escaped.¡±


    Abby flinched slightly. Her nails dug into her skin. ¡°How are they doing?¡±


    ¡°We are hoping for the best.¡± Crossing his arms, Cristin leaned against the wall. ¡°If we were any slower they would have bled out. Even now, Johnathan has them under constant surveillance.¡±


    The two guards were from Feldgrau. They were young. Darcy had watched them grow from scrawny teens. He had been the one to take them into the lord¡¯s command. Now, they were dying.


    ¡°It is my fault.¡± Darcy clenched his fist. ¡°I was the one who advised the lord to send the assassin to the royal prisons. We should have gotten rid of him immediately.¡±


    ¡°They are strong, they¡¯ll make it.¡± Cristin patted the other man¡¯s shoulders. ¡°We will find him.¡±


    Abby trembled, ¡°And what will you do when you catch him?¡±


    ¡°Find out his accomplice and have them both hanged by the old laws of Feldgrau,¡± said Darcy, eyes blazing. The calm commander burned with the desire for revenge. ¡°They forfeited their life when they dared to touch our lord and attacked the lady.¡±


    Abby licked her lips nervously. ¡°Will the people not think our lord too harsh? Perhaps they will accuse him of being merciless.¡±


    ¡°They will think him weak if he does not,¡± explained Cristin. ¡°When our enemies realize we will allow assassins to live, what will they have to fear?¡±


    ¡°It is harsh, Abby, but necessary,¡± Darcy adjusted his eyepatch. ¡°The old laws exist for a reason. Only the lord may pardon him, and he certainly won¡¯t be doing that.¡±


    Cristin suddenly perked up. ¡°Abby, Nikolai never ordered the prisoner to have a last meal. Who told you of this?¡±


    The older woman was silent. She looked down at her scratched palms. They looked painful, but they didn¡¯t even hurt.


    ¡°Abby? Are you alright?¡± asked Cristin, he stepped forward worriedly.


    The head servant looked up, face calm. ¡°There was a servant. They said it was the lord¡¯s command. I had not seen much of them so I decided to deliver the meal myself.¡±


    Cristin and Darcy shared a look.


    ¡°Abby, would you be able to identify them?¡± asked Darcy.


    In her lap, Abby¡¯s fist clenched. Cristin said it himself, there would be no mercy. Even if she begged, Abby knew Nikolai would not pardon her son. But could she really sentence an innocent soul to cover up for her own crimes?


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡ª


    Romelo was a master performer. He had scammed hundreds of people, and half of them were still unaware of it to this day.


    But under the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s glare, he could not help but feel like an animal stuck in a trap. It was as if those blue eyes, a shade deeper than his own, could pierce through his skin seeing all that laid beneath.


    It was unnerving to say the least.


    ¡°Romelo,¡± called the ice prince.


    The man stiffened, ¡°Yes, my lord?¡±


    Folding his hands on his desk, the lord shot him a curious look. ¡°Do you wish to go back to jail?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Romelo shook his head so fast the world spun. The man fell to his knees. Sweat ran down his forehead. Life¡¯s cruelty had taught him pride meant little, groveling came easy. ¡°Please, my lord, have mercy.¡± He cursed his own stupidity. ¡°I should have reported this to you at once. It was foolish of me to wait.¡±


    ¡°Indeed,¡± hummed the lord but his gaze was set back to the ever-present documents on his desk.


    ¡°But I reported this now,¡± started the lookalike. ¡°Surely this counts for something. A lesser man may have kept silent until it was too late.¡± He trailed off. Romelo swallowed down his nerves. ¡°Maybe it even merits an award.¡±


    There was a pause.


    ¡°Romelo, by the old laws you would be hanged off the walls of Feldgrau.¡± The lord sighed heavily. ¡°You could still be hanged. In fact, a good many of those you swindled have asked for it. The only reason you still walk this land is because I have use of you.¡±


    As the poor man trembled, the ice prince beckoned the guard forward. The man eagerly unsheathed his sword.


    ¡°Easy there!¡± Romelo¡¯s voice was pitched. ¡°I meant no harm, my lord! Please! I am grateful for all you have given me!¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± The ice prince picked up his quill. ¡°Do not become a liability, Romelo.¡±


    The guard sheathed their blade.


    ¡°Keep your head low and do not leave the residence. The Lucky Charm is no longer safe.¡± Seeing that the man was about to protest, the lord added, ¡°The courtesan likely told the queen your true identity. If she has, Her Majesty will have your head for impersonating royalty.¡±


    And with that, the protests died on his tongue. Romelo wanted to slap his past self. Telling Elody his true identity was a slip-up, one he never would have made in the past. Living as the lord¡¯s double had been luxurious. He had enough food to eat and all the paints he desired. Such a lifestyle had dulled his edge.


    However, if the ice prince no longer needed him to roam the streets in his place, Romelo¡¯s only use was as bait for assassins. ¡°My lord, I have many other skills, I can also-¡°


    He was rudely cut off as the lord snapped, ¡°You have done more than enough.¡± There was a finality in his tone. ¡°Do not make me regret this.¡±


    The master thief gritted his teeth. Hiding his clenched fists behind his back, the man bowed low. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡±


    ¡ª


    ¡°Well, this is curious,¡± Faye set down her cup of tea. ¡°Usually it¡¯s the other way around.¡±


    Fidgeting in his seat, Rufus did not dare pick up his cup. He cleared his throat. ¡°Yes, indeed.¡±


    Leaning her chin against her hand, Faye gazed at the boy. ¡°You¡¯re not here to congratulate me on my recovery.¡±


    ¡°Recovery? From what?¡± asked Rufus, thrown off by the topic. ¡°I was not aware something happened to you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because you were only listening for news of something happening to Nikolai,¡± said Faye bluntly. ¡°Are you here to warn me off?¡±


    Rufus scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Well, aside from a slightly burnt residence, the lord seems in good health.¡± Rufus shook his head. He needed to focus. ¡°General, I have come this time with a request of my own.¡±


    Faye leaned back. ¡°And if I deny it?¡±


    Rufus stared down at his lap. ¡°I hope it does not come to that.¡±


    Amber eyes regarded him steadily. ¡°We shall see then. What is it you want?¡±


    The great hall of the Prince¡¯s Residence was quite unnerving. A few paintings hung on the wall, but they were faded and random. It was clear the space was not personalized. It was always said that the residence was a lady¡¯s place of power, the great hall the couple¡¯s court for entertaining friends and enemies alike. But this great hall felt as if it were borrowed.


    For a moment, Rufus wondered what the great hall of the ancient Feldgrau castle was like. It was an ancient structure, centuries older than its royal counterpart here. Was it large and dominating, mocking outsiders that dared to sit in it? Or were the walls narrow and sharp, suffocating those with treasonous thoughts?


    Suddenly, Rufus felt glad that they were only in the Prince¡¯s Residence where he could manage a semblance of self-control. Since even the Raven General seemed as much a stranger within these walls as he did, it gave him the confidence for his next words.


    ¡°I wish to have,¡± the young lord cleared his throat. It was now or never. The words tumbled out of him. ¡°A private audience with the Lord of Feldgrau. There are important matters I must discuss with him.¡±


    To the boy¡¯s surprise, the Raven General did not press the issue.


    ¡°That sounds simple enough,¡± but Faye¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°I shall pass along your request. A messenger will reach out with the date and time. When the day comes, we shall go together.¡± She downed her tea and made to get up. ¡°If that is all-¡±


    ¡°Actually, I need to talk to him alone.¡± Rufus gulped and added nicely. ¡°And preferably as soon as possible. Such as today. Thank you?¡±


    Faye set down her cup. She fixed the young man with a hard look. ¡°Now, why would you want that?¡±


    ¡ª


    Rufus stood awkwardly. He was alone in another lord¡¯s private study. It was certainly improper, and definitely impolite. Lady Langard would have him flogged if she found out.


    Crossing his arms, Rufus was unsure if it was more proper to sit or remain standing.


    ¡°Gods, I hope this works,¡± he muttered.


    Exhaling, the boy finally chose to sit. The young lord crossed his arms. He puffed up his chest. The Lord of Feldgrau might be intimidating but Rufus was the son of General Langard! Technically, they were of similar standing.


    ¡°You¡¯re in my seat.¡±


    Rufus jumped up to his feet immediately. Face red, he stammered, ¡°Apologies, I meant no disrespect I-¡° He quivered under the eye-patched man¡¯s glare¡­ and the sword pointed towards him. ¡°My lord, please forgive me.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± came the low growl.


    Rufus¡¯ eyes widened comically. ¡°Uh, Lord of Feldgrau, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I apologize for any indiscretion, my lord, but I am-¡±


    ¡°Boy, you are greeting the wrong master.¡± The eye-patched man huffed. The sword lowered slightly. The man stepped aside to reveal another. ¡°I do not believe an assassin would be so¡­ dim, my lord.¡±


    Blue eyes stared at Rufus. ¡°At ease, Darcy.¡±


    The young lord froze at the cold stare. It had been many years since they had seen one another in passing, but how could a person grow to look even more serious and aloof? Rufus could not fathom why the Raven General liked such a stone-faced and cold person. The Lord of Feldgrau had handsome features but with one look he could make you feel like a speck of dust.


    ¡°You¡¯re not my wife,¡± noted the ice prince. He glanced around the room as if searching for something. He even glanced up at the ceiling for some unknown reason.


    Rufus smiled awkwardly. ¡°That I am not.¡±


    There was a silent pause.


    The boy hurried to add, ¡°The Raven General told me to wait for you here.¡±


    ¡°Where is the lady now?¡± asked the eye-patched man. The lord called him Darcy, noted Rufus.


    ¡°She wanted to go to the festival,¡± Rufus glanced at the sword before looking back up to meet his stare. ¡°If you need to make certain of my identity we can go find her-¡°


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± cut in the ice prince. He stalked towards his desk. ¡°I know who you are, Rufus Langard.¡±


    ¡°After using my name for so many years, I¡¯m not surprised,¡± blurted out the boy before he could stop himself. He covered his mouth realizing the mistake but it was already too late.


    But the lord only took a seat and sighed, ¡°So you¡¯re the one who told Faye.¡± He looked bored but his tone was sharp. ¡°I was led to believe you were quite useless, my lord. It seems they were wrong about you.¡±


    Squaring his shoulders, the boy met the lord¡¯s challenge. ¡°I am resourceful when I need to be.¡±


    Their silent staring match lasted a moment before Rufus looked away. ¡°In truth, I came today because I need your help, Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    The ice prince folded his hands. ¡°And Faye knows of this?¡±


    ¡°She led me to your study, didn¡¯t she?¡± retorted Rufus. He found it odd that the subject matter kept returning to the general. ¡°Please, it is an urgent matter that endangers you as well.¡±


    ¡°Endangers me? Lord Langard, I am a forgotten prince, practically exiled to the borderlands. Who could want to do me harm?¡± The lord seemed genuinely distressed and confused.


    But Rufus knew better than to fall for it. ¡°The queen, my lord.¡±


    Behind the lord, Darcy shifted. His hand fell to his sword, but neither man seemed surprised.


    ¡°Well, that is unfortunate,¡± said the ice prince. ¡°What is your request?¡±


    ¡°A promise of protection.¡± Wringing his hands together Rufus mumbled, ¡°And before I tell you the information, you must swear that this person will not come to harm.¡±


    ¡°I cannot do that,¡± came the blunt reply.


    Rufus¡¯ eyes narrowed. ¡°Then I will not tell you.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± the lord gestured to his door. ¡°Darcy will see you out.¡±


    Gaping, Rufus stared at the man before him. Bursting to his feet, the boy exclaimed, ¡°But you could be in danger! What I say might save you and your household, my lord.¡±


    Rufus could not hold back his disbelief. Was this such a hard request? ¡°All I need is a promise you won¡¯t harm them!¡±


    The lord leaned forward. ¡°And if I believe this person needs to die?¡±


    ¡°Die?¡± Rufus paled at the drastic implications. ¡°But they are innocent! Truly, this I promise you!¡±


    The ice prince was unmoved.


    Rufus slammed his hands against the table. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m telling you to protect a murderer! Lady El is-¡° he cut himself off. ¡°I mean, this person-¡°


    ¡°You refer to the courtesan Elody,¡± the blue eyes grew even colder. ¡°So you know of this matter as well. I must say, I am quite impressed Lord Langard.¡±


    The eye-patched man suddenly spoke up. ¡°She is a liability now, my lord.¡± Darcy¡¯s tone was disgusted. ¡°Not only has she given us up to the queen, but she is telling this to her other patrons as well!¡±


    The ice prince shook his head. ¡°This is a serious breach of the Lucky Charm¡¯s contracts.¡± He turned to Darcy. ¡°Go inform Matron Athena of this. She will take care of the rest.¡±


    The eye-patched commander nodded.


    Rufus felt like all the air had left his lungs. He had just doomed Elody. ¡°No, no, no! My lord, please, she has only told me of this! No one else!¡±


    ¡°You expect us to believe that?¡± sneered Darcy.


    Rufus glared at him.


    ¡°You are already one too many,¡± said the lord. ¡°It is only your father¡¯s honor and friendship that stays my hand, otherwise you would find yourself in the same position as your paramour.¡±


    The young lord fought to regain his composure. He looked away. His best friend was going to die because of him. And there was no one he could go to without putting even more targets on her head.


    ¡°You can¡¯t do this.¡± Rufus choked. He tried to hold back his tears. ¡°Please, my lord, have mercy.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau frowned, ¡°Remember this, Rufus Langard.¡± His words were sharp and unforgiving. ¡°If you had not said anything, your courtesan would still be fine.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes widened.


    ¡°If you tell the queen or any of the royal guards what has transpired here today, you not only doom yourself but your family will also be led to ruin,¡± warned the ice prince. ¡°And it will not save your courtesan.¡±


    Rufus¡¯ eyes hardened. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said the lord firmly. ¡°Your courtesan¡¯s life is already forfeited. Do not bring everyone else down with you.¡±


    The boy hung his head. Gritting his teeth, he could only hold back his anger and shame. ¡°There is a danger living in your house with the means and desire to kill you,¡± Rufus¡¯ eyes burned. ¡°I hope it does.¡±


    ¡°Darcy,¡± The lord turned to his commander. ¡°Escort Lord Langard out.¡±


    ¡ª


    Faye took a bite of the butter bread Aimee had brought for her. She stuck out her tongue. Scrunching her nose, she stared in affront at the pastry.


    The obscene amount of sugar doused her tongue with unpleasantness. She wrapped it back in the fabric.


    Faye kicked at the dirt. She tried to ignore the grumblings of her stomach. It was foolish to come out without a meal but she had been too excited.


    There were only a few days left to the Lantern Festival and Faye was not going to miss it.


    She hummed a marching anthem under her breath as she eyed the different stalls and merchants. This was a different part of the city. One she had never frequented before. The Street of Joy.


    Bian had mentioned a few of his clan mates traded information there. The Street of Joy¡¯s information trade was one of the strongest in Eburean. But after one unnamable bad experience, Bian refused to take a step there again. He always sent others in his place despite it being against his careful nature to do so.


    Faye was curious to check out a place that could make the little bird so flustered and nervous. And do some information gathering herself.


    The number of couples seemed to thin as she walked down the street. A heavy mix of floral scents floated in the air. The colored lanterns grew bolder, saturation high but lights dimmed. Silks and beautiful men and women filled the streets. Their smiles were painted and their calls were melodious.


    Faye¡¯s ears perked up. To her right came the sound of protests and grunting.


    A woman cried out. ¡°If you have any decency left, leave me alone!¡±


    Faye picked up her hood. She eyed the display of ribbons. Apparently, these accompanied the ones Ebureans received from their parents at birth. She wondered what color her mother would have picked her ribbon to be.


    ¡°Leave me alone or I shall cry out loud!¡± came the voice again. ¡°The royal guards will come running.¡±


    The only guards in the Street of Joy were hired men who were only loyal to their establishments.


    Faye reached into her pockets. Did she bring enough coins? The light blue ribbon was quite fetching. The color reminded her of the open skies of the grasslands. And a certain lord¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Help!¡± screamed the woman. ¡°Please someone help!¡±


    Faye grimaced. Not enough coin. What a pity.


    ¡°Somebody, please!¡±


    The Raven General¡¯s shoulders drooped.


    In the alleyway, those who saw the three burly men hurried to pass and cross to the other side. They shot the frightened maiden a pitying look but did not answer her cries for help.


    One of the men stepped forward, towering over the woman. He reached a hand out to touch her face but was slapped away.


    He scowled, ¡°I thought women from the Lucky Charm were nice! You¡¯re not nice at all.¡±


    ¡°I am not from the Lucky Charm!¡± protested the woman, backing herself into the wall. ¡°You¡¯ll regret laying a hand on me! Leave before it is too late!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what they all say!¡± The men laughed cruelly. ¡°It¡¯s never true.¡±


    A new voice suddenly chimed in. ¡°That I highly doubt.¡±


    Staring at one another, the men were confused. That voice did not come from them.


    The woman peered over their shoulders to stare at the mysterious party. Their face was hidden by their hood but there was a swagger to their walk. ¡°Step away. Last chance,¡± offered the stranger.


    A rough hand gripped the woman¡¯s chin. She cried out.


    ¡°We¡¯ll deal with you after,¡± spit the leader.


    The three turned to face the interloper. They towered over the smaller. Cracking their fists, they smirked at one another.


    ¡°I was itching for a fight.¡± The stranger opened their arms wide as if asking for a hug. ¡°What are we waiting for?¡±


    They all lunged at the same time.


    ¡ª


    Nikolai almost slipped on the tile of the roof. Catching himself at the last moment he cursed his attendant. ¡°Take the roofs, it¡¯s easier,¡± he copied Cristin¡¯s snide tone. For a man usually so terrified for his lord¡¯s safety, the fact that Nikolai could faceplant into a stranger¡¯s terrace did not seem to cross Cristin¡¯s mind.


    Treading carefully, the lord could only thank the fact he was almost at the Lucky Charm.


    Cristin was right about one thing. People rarely looked up. With the courtesan¡¯s betrayal, it was necessary to be overly cautious. No doubt Rewanna would have stationed men to watch over the Lucky Charm.


    Unconsciously, Nikolai brushed a hand over his mask. He tightened the strings just in case.


    ¡°By the gods!¡±


    Nikolai paused. That voice was familiar but he could not place it. Creeping to the side of the roof, he peered down into the alleyway.


    Three men, face bloodied and bruised were fighting against a smaller figure. The small fighter moved gracefully but their hits were full of vigor and force.


    ¡°We¡¯ll show you, little shit!¡± Screamed one of the larger men. His teeth were bloodied and his wrist was broken.


    The figure laughed, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± They dodged out of the way of a kick and landed one of their own. ¡°So far, this fight has been boring.¡±


    The hairs on the back of Nikolai¡¯s neck rose. That was Faye¡¯s voice! He was sure of it.


    In the corner, a woman cheered.


    For a split second, Nikolai wondered if he should step in and plead mercy for those unfortunate enough to gain the Raven General¡¯s ire. Three against one was quite unfair. The lord was surprised the fight was still going on. The three men were brutes but not great fighters, their centers unbalanced and punches loose and wild.


    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± One of the men was grabbing at their pants. ¡°I¡¯m out of here!¡±


    ¡°No, you aren¡¯t!¡± Faye chuckled darkly. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡±


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Came the pained cry.


    Nikolai shivered. Those men did not deserve his help. They probably were asking for a beating. Shaking himself, he crept away from the edge. He would leave Faye to her fun.


    ¡ª


    The Raven General blew the hair out of her face. She spit out a wad of blood. One of the men got in a lucky hit.


    She glanced up at the dark roofs. There had been a presence before. She thought perhaps someone had been watching.


    Tensing, she readied herself to end the fight. They had been toyed with long enough.


    Grabbing the leader forward with inhuman strength, she brought her knee up to his chin. The white of his eyes rolled back before he fell to a heap on the floor.


    ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡± She grunted.


    The remaining two glanced at each other. They very much wanted to keep their lives¡­ and their teeth.


    ¡°Wait!¡± One of them rushed at her, but only to feint and drag their third counterpart away. Without another word, the two ran like they were possessed. In a blink, they were gone.


    Faye brushed at her bloodied mouth. ¡°That was unexpected.¡±


    A hand landed on her arm. Faye tensed.


    ¡°Thank you, sir! I do not know how I could even thank you.¡±


    Sighing, Faye started, ¡°It is-¡° She stilled at the sight.


    The Rose of Eburean, wearing servant clothing, stared wide-eyed at her, clearly recognizing the Raven General as well. She backed away. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    ¡°Well met,¡± Faye¡¯s eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms. ¡°Lady Asinara.¡±

 Chapter 34: An Unlikely Drinking Buddy

    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± asked the other woman.


    ¡°I could ask you the same.¡± Wiping her brow, Faye shot an unimpressed look at the lady. The woman was petrified. Despite her best efforts to hide it, her entire frame shook fearfully.


    The Raven General sighed, her breath was even and steady. It was like the fight exerted close to little effort. She held out a hand. It was muddy and bloodied. Ugly red splotches marred the scarred knuckles.


    Lady Asinara eyed her warily. Clear distrust and unease clouded her features.


    Faye groaned, rolling her eyes. ¡°I just saved you, I¡¯m not going to harm you.¡±


    ¡°You mistake my distrust for fear.¡± With a sniff, Asinara straightened her spine and frowned. ¡°I am not afraid of you.¡±


    ¡°You should be,¡± Faye muttered under her breath. When the lady¡¯s sharp eyes narrowed, the Raven General waved a hand dismissively¡­ not unlike swatting away an annoying bug. ¡°I am not here to play word games with you. In fact, I want very little to do with you.¡±


    Irritation swelled within her. Asinara¡¯s lips parted, ready to retort.


    ¡°Do not make me regret saving you.¡± The firm words were like a sharp blade, cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. Effectively shutting the other up, Faye grabbed Asinara¡¯s by the arms and hauled her forward. ¡°Come. You may as well join me for a drink.¡±


    The young woman stumbled but let herself be pulled forward. Reluctance shined clear on her face and every hesitant step, but she wallowed silently.


    Asinara blinked back frustrated tears.


    All her life, when she had called out, people would come running, tripping over themselves to assist her. But tonight when she cried for help, the one time she truly needed it¡­ no one had answered. Her eyes slide to glance at the proud general dragging her along like a petulant child. No one except for her greatest rival.


    Faye could feel the weight of pondering eyes on her. All she wanted was a relaxing night away from the estate. Where did all the extra trouble come from? Comfort and care had never been her strongest traits but Faye tried to soften her tone. ¡°Trust me, unless you want to go straight home, this is the best after-,¡± Faye¡¯s voice trailed off. She shrugged, at a loss of words. ¡°Such things.¡±


    Silence stretched between them.


    ¡°You have my thanks, Lady Feldgrau,¡± Asinara finally said. Her tone was sincere but there was a grimace on the beautiful woman¡¯s face. Asinara pulled away from the general¡¯s hold, dipping her head in thanks. ¡°But I do not need your pity.¡±


    The Raven General shot her an irritated look. As always, Asinara¡¯s elegant poise was delicate and graceful, a practiced defense she had cultivated to perfection.


    To Faye¡¯s surprise, Asinara pressed on, ¡°I will take you up on your offer. Follow me, I know a place.¡±


    Before Faye could respond, the lady stomped past her quickly, steps forcefully long and quick, but not so fast that Faye could not follow.


    With a shrug, the Raven General trailed behind, still half-wondering if it would be rude to just turn and walk the other way.


    ¡ª


    Asinara stared at the bubbling golden liquid. The jug of ale¡­ was a lot bigger than she expected. She resisted the urge to poke at it.


    Beside her, the Raven General was already downing her third.


    ¡°Is that healthy, Lady Feldgrau?¡± asked Asinara hesitantly as she picked up her jug for a cautious sip. Her eyes widened as the liquid burned her throat. The lady coughed. Despite the sting, the flavor was pleasant. She took another sip, larger than the last.


    Burping loudly, the Raven General slammed the empty jug down on the wooden counter. ¡°If it¡¯s the ale that kills me,¡± she sighed almost dreamily, ¡°then I¡¯ll count myself fortunate.¡±


    Asinara pursed her lips. It was quite the morbid proclamation, but not entirely surprising given the other¡¯s lifestyle. ¡°For your sake, I hope it is then,¡± she muttered dryly.


    Faye glanced at her, amber eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°And that is the kindest thing you have ever said to me.¡± The Raven General¡¯s sharp gaze swept over the private room. She was entirely unbothered by Asinara¡¯s guilty wince. ¡°What did you say this place was called again?¡±


    ¡°The Lucky Charm,¡± she replied quickly. The name felt foreign on her tongue, but Asinara leaned forward, eager for the change in subject. ¡°I have never been myself, but my brother and his friends speak highly of it. They-¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a brothel,¡± Faye interrupted. She raised an eyebrow. ¡°You do realize that?¡±


    Asinara¡¯s cheek flamed. She had gathered as much after the pointed stares the hostess shot them and the men draped over the beautiful but scantily dressed women. ¡°Yes,¡± she said stiffly, ¡°but it has much to offer.¡±


    To her surprise, Faye nodded in agreement. ¡°The women here have many talents. They choose their drinks well,¡± she picked up one of the tarts from the tray. ¡°Their chefs are undeniably gifted as well.¡±


    Asinara could only nod. Not knowing what else to say, she picked up a tart of her own. The food was, in fact, delicious. It was ironic how packed the Lucky Charm was during a festival meant for love.


    The lady pondered what to say next. She felt out of her element. Without the etiquette of the court or the wall of ladies in waiting between them, Asinara felt naked. Exposed.


    The Raven General was intimidating, yes, but for the first time, watching the other attempt to stuff down two pastries at once, the other woman seemed¡­ surprisingly human. Asinara bit her lips to hold back a laugh as the Raven General choked.


    At the moment, it was hard to muster the bitter irritation Asinara usually felt in her presence.


    ¡°Why were you alone in the alley?¡± Faye asked suddenly. Amber eyes regarded the lady curiously. ¡°It¡¯s an odd place for the future queen.¡±


    Asinara bristled at the title, her fingers tightening around her cup. For a moment, she considered lying. Instead, the truth slipped out. ¡°I wanted to get away.¡±


    ¡°From what?¡± asked Faye, licking the crumbs on her fingers.


    With a tired sigh, Asinara leaned her head against her hand. ¡°An evening with the crown prince would make anyone want to throw themselves out an open window.¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem so bad,¡± commented Faye. ¡°Childish but,¡± she shrugged nonchalantly. ¡°He is young.¡±


    ¡°Why does everyone say that?¡± Asinara set down her cup with a sharp clink. ¡°If I remember correctly, the last you were with him, you punched him in the face!¡± Her eyes flashed angrily as she added, ¡°Did you even think of the repercussions that might have on Nikolai¡¯s image?¡±


    Faye groaned, ¡°Your precious lord already scolded me for it.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± snapped Asinara, pleased that Nikolai wasn¡¯t influenced by the general¡¯s brutish ways.


    ¡°He also thanked me for breaking his brother¡¯s nose,¡± added Faye unhelpfully.


    Asinara pinched the bridge of her unbroken nose. Typical of Nikolai. Many were unaware of it, but the Lord of Feldgrau could be incredibly when he wanted to be. Thinking back, the image of Argan¡¯s bruised face and stunned expression brought a smile to her lips. ¡°In all honesty,¡± she admitted after a moment. ¡°I should thank you as well. Perhaps you could beat some sense into my family next time?¡±


    The general choked. She let out an incredulous laugh. ¡°Now, that is definitely something I did not expect to hear.¡± She held out her jug towards Asinara. ¡°I accept your thanks.¡±


    Hesitantly, Asinara raised her own jug, clinking it gently against the general¡¯s. ¡°You are kinder than I expected, Lady Feldgrau.¡±


    ¡°Few are foolish enough to say that,¡± replied the general with a smirk. ¡°But you are not so horrible yourself, Lady. Especially for a woman lusting after my husband.¡±


    Asinara nearly dropped her jug. ¡°You would too if your intended was as much of a brat as mine!¡±


    ¡°It is fortunate then,¡± taunted the general, ¡°that I am already married!¡±


    Asinara huffed, crossing her arms. Her tongue moved on its own accord as the words tumbled out. ¡°I envy you. Not just because you married Nikolai but,¡± the young woman¡¯s shoulders slouched in defeat, ¡°you are able to do whatever you wish.¡±


    Faye¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Now that,¡± she said, ¡°is a lie.¡±


    Asinara waved her arms in the air. The expensive fabrics of her gown rustled at the sudden movement. ¡°You go where you desire and fight any that challenges you.¡± Her hands curled into a fist. ¡°Meanwhile, my father controls my every move. All my efforts, my words, my looks,¡± she spit, ¡°go solely towards bettering my house and family name.¡±


    Faye stared silently.


    ¡°Sometimes I wish to hurl my tea at the queen.¡± Bitterness laced Asinara¡¯s tone. ¡°Or punch Argan myself.¡± She let out a dry laugh. ¡°Sometimes I dream of it.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°A dream that would land you in the royal dungeons,¡± retorted the Raven General, voice rich with amusement .


    ¡°Not if I run,¡± challenged Asinara. She leaned back, bracing her hands against the cool railings. Her gaze drifted towards the open windows where she could make out the glittering lanterns in the streets below. ¡°I could ride for the other side of the world. Perhaps live out my days as a merchant¡¯s wife. I would be capable¡­ and free.¡±


    The sharp crunch of a tart broke the silence. The Raven General wiped at the crumbs. ¡°It seems the Rose of Eburean is not so perfect after all.¡±


    ¡°I hate that name,¡± groaned Asinara, she rubbed her face with both hands. ¡°There are worse things than being a pretty wife to a king,¡± murmured Faye. Her amber eyes glinted like fire in the low light. ¡°The price for freedom is high.¡±


    Outside their private room, the muffled noises of the brothel drifted in. Outside the doors, they could make out the excited calls and music as the patrons sought secret pleasure away from the public eye. Most were men. That was the true power of the Lucky Charm. It was not that they offered the best drink or women but a promise for the taste of freedom, no matter how fleeting. It was all an illusion, but intoxicating nonetheless.


    ¡°Are you willing to pay the price, Rose?¡± asked the general faintly.


    Asinara stared at her empty cup. She thought of the dirty streets she had glimpsed earlier and the peasants begging at the corners, eyes hollow and dull. After her sixteenth birthday, she had been forbidden from helping the destitute. Now, those streets and faces were now foreign to her.


    Even when she was young, she had never been without guards. It had been merely annoying at the time. Now, she knew they had shielded her from the truth. Their shiny armor had kept the worst of it away from her.


    The streets of the Vellward Residence were pristine and orderly, a world apart from the chaos of the lower quarters. Her father never spoke of the poor when sharing the politics of the Court.


    The lady sighed. She thought of the three men that had cornered her in the alley. If her parents knew, they would be furious. The Rose of Eburean was precious. The Vellward family¡¯s key to inserting their bloodline into the royal family.


    ¡°In the history of my family, that is all I will be remembered for,¡± she said at last, her voice trembling. ¡°For the beauty of my youth, and how many children I bear for the crown.¡± Asinara closed her eyes, lips twisting into a bitter smile. ¡°No matter how much I dream of it, I could never do it though. Run away, I mean.¡±


    The Raven General was silent. Her expression was unreadable as her gaze fixed on her drink.


    ¡°I could not abandon my family,¡± continued the lady. ¡°And¡­ there is a part of me that has always wanted to be queen. To do my part for my people.¡± She laughed but the sound was short-lived. ¡°If not for that, maybe I would have eloped to Feldgrau.¡±


    At the uncharacteristic silence, Asinara opened her eyes to study the silent general. ¡°Lady Feldgrau?¡± she prodded, suddenly worried.


    The Raven General¡¯s reply came, flat and startling. ¡°You could always get rid of Argan after you marry him.¡± She said it so casually, as though she wasn¡¯t suggesting murder and the highest treason. ¡°As queen, you could then command Nikolai to set aside his wife and marry you instead. That way, you would get all you wish for.¡±


    The general tilted her head to the side, eyes narrowing in mock contemplation. ¡°Of course, you would have to go through me and my entire army first, but¡­¡± she help up a finger ¡°there is the slightest possibility, I suppose.¡± The woman¡¯s brow furrowed as if calculating the odds. ¡°A very, very small chance though, don¡¯t get too excited.¡±


    ¡°Are you¡­.¡± Asinara stared dumbfounded at the young woman. ¡°Are you teaching me how to start a coup against my intended?¡±


    The Raven General shrugged, entirely unbothered.


    It took a moment for Asinara to find her voice again. It was hard to wrap her head around the absurd direction their conversation was headed towards.


    ¡°So,¡± the Rose of Eburean picked up her ale with exaggerated care. She was going to need more to get through this conversation.


    ¡°In theory of course,¡± Asinara leaned forward, curiosity piqued despite herself. ¡°How exactly would I go about this?¡±


    ¡ª


    Elody burst into her private room. Her breath hitched as she froze misstep. A man knelt before the low table. The porcelain glass of tea in his hand steamed faintly as he blew on it with an air of unbothered calm. His pale face was serene and indifferent, as if he had no care in the world.


    The painting courtesan¡¯s pulse thundered in her ears. She stepped forward, her expression a mix of fury and fear. ¡°I told you not to come here again! You were to lie low!¡± Her voice shook as she curled her hands into tight fists. ¡°There is no telling what the lord will do to us if he finds out!¡±


    Fingers bunching her skirts, the courtesan dropped to her knees. She knelt in front of the quiet man with all intention of slapping him out of his maddening stupidity. ¡°Why would you-¡° Elody word¡¯s cut off abruptly as her heart dropped.


    The man¡¯s eyes, now fixed on her frozen form, were like ice. The dark warmth she had grown familiar with was nowhere to be found. Now that she was closer, the image before her made her blood run colder still. The skin was even and smooth. The curve of the jaw was sharper and the arch of the brow was higher. Even the hair, so deceptively similar, carried a slightly different hue than the one she had grown accustomed to.


    Elody fell back in shock. Her skirt pooled around her like the petals of a wilted flower. ¡°You¡¯re not Romelo,¡± she whispered, voice shaking despite her best efforts to hide it.


    The man set down his teacup with deliberate precision. ¡°My dear lady Elody,¡±the fragile porcelain clinked softly against the tray. ¡°You wound me.¡±


    Elody bowed her head, thankful for her training. ¡°My lord.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau sat before her. Having seen the man himself, she felt foolish for ever falling for the charm of his double. Though their features were alike, to compare their prescence would be to compare the tides of a peaceful pond to the roaring waves of the raging ocean.


    When she straightened, Elody¡¯s expression was one of dumb obedience, eyes dull and naive. ¡°This one apologizes. I mistook you for another.¡±


    His lips curved, but it was not a smile that graced his eerily beautiful face. Where Romelo¡¯s features were attractive, accentuated by pencil strokes and paints, the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s presence was almost otherworldly. His ice blue eyes were stark and cold, like frost against moonlight. ¡°It is I. Nikolai,¡± he said quietly, a hint of false pain in his words. ¡°We have been meeting for weeks. I am hurt that you have forgotten me so easily.¡±


    Elody stilled, unsure of her next move. The lord was lying, that much she knew. But how much did he know? It had been a mistake to utter his double¡¯s name, but he may not have caught on. Her heart drummed against her ribs, but Elody forced herself to play along. ¡°My lord, I could never forget you,¡± her voice was coy and pitched in a way most patrons found hard to resist. ¡°I mistook you for another, but that misunderstanding was cleared the moment I set eyes on you.¡±


    ¡°That is good,¡± murmured the lord, though a trace of amusement lingered on the edge of his tone. Silently, he held out his cup.


    Hastily, Elody reached for the teapot and filled the cup with practiced ease. Her hands were steady despite the growing worry brewing within her.


    Before she could retract her hand, cool fingers encircled her wrist. It was a gentle grip but the painter stiffened, rooted in place. The teapot in her hands shook.


    ¡°Where is all the jewelry I gifted you?¡± asked the lord, his voice was light but the undercurrent of suspicion was unmistakable. ¡°Were they no longer to your liking, dear Elody? Or did you gift them to your sister? I thought I saw something familiar on her.¡±


    Elody¡¯s pulse quickened. He knew of Romelo¡¯s gifts. He knew of her sister.


    The grip loosened, and Elody drew her hand back carefully.


    ¡°They were quite expensive,¡± he added pointedly.


    Elody¡¯s mask did not waver as she maintained her smile. ¡°I had to stash them away, my lord. Lady Athena was not fond of them.¡± It was a half-truth. She did not mention the Lucky Charm¡¯s strict policy on gifts.


    The lord crossed his arms, frowning petulantly, like a child who did not get their way. ¡°That cannot be right. I just spoke with Lady Athena and she made no mention of them.¡± He paused, icy gaze piercing. ¡°Perhaps I should bring it up with her. I¡¯m sure she would make an exception for us.¡±


    Elody paled at the words. If Lady Athena found out, the artist would be harshly punished. The consequences would make exile seem merciful. ¡°Please, do not,


    she said quickly. ¡°I lied, my lord. I had other reasons for not keeping them on me.¡±


    ¡°Such as meeting with the queen?¡±


    Her breath caught. All false pretenses crumbled as understanding dawned on her. He knew everything.


    ¡°I did not betray you, my lord,¡± Elody¡¯s body betrayed her as her voice edged with desperation, ¡°But I had no choice but to treat with her.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau regarded her with unnerving calm. ¡°Romelo told you much,¡± said the man, tone even. ¡°You may have let something slip.¡±


    ¡°I am smart. I am careful, my lord,¡± said Elody, straightening her spine. ¡°Romelo knew that. I did not give anything that would harm your identity. It is a strict policy of the Lucky Charm.¡± Elody pursed her lips. There was no point in lying. Yet.


    His gaze did not soften but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression. The Lord of Feldgrau reached over for the teapot. He picked up a clean cup and poured a steady stream of tea into it. The leaves had soaked long past the amount they were supposed to and the acrid scent filled the air, pungent and sharp.


    ¡°I do not know you,¡± he said finally. Leaning forward, he placed the tea in front of her. ¡°As such, I cannot know if you lie or not. However, I do need to decide,¡± his voice grew quieter, more dangerous. ¡°What I should do with you.¡±


    Elody stared at the steaming tea. Her fingers hovered over the cup as a thick tension filled the room. ¡°Is that a threat?¡± She picked up the tea but did not drink it.


    Glancing at the door, Elody found herself ill at ease. Where were the guards the matron had patrolling the Lucky Charm?


    Elody licked her dry lips. ¡°Will you send me to my grave to protect your secrets, ice prince?¡± She asked, her tone was cool but her pulse erratic. ¡°I thought you were an honorable man, my lord.¡±


    ¡°You are not the first to make that mistake,¡± came the sharp response. The ice prince stared at her, expression blank and unreadable. ¡°Now, give me one good reason why I should not do as you suggest.¡±


    ¡ª


    Faye could still walk straight but Lady Asinara was an entirely different story.


    The other woman¡¯s arms were draped over Faye¡¯s shoulder and she could barely hold herself up.


    ¡°Did you know!¡± Asinara declared loudly, practically tripping over herself. ¡°Lady Bernice only has four toes! Oh!¡± She hiccuped in between her words, as she whispered loudly, ¡°And her maid is sleeping with her father!¡±


    Heads turned as eyes around the establishment rose to stare at the two women.


    Faye turned to Asinara, not sure whether to feel annoyed or amused. ¡°You are quite the gossiper.¡±


    ¡°I take that as,¡± there was a short belch before Asinara continued, ¡°a compliment!¡± She sniffed loudly like her nose was runny.


    Faye rolled her eyes as Asinara paused mid-step, staring into emptiness. The lady was smirking proudly¡­ at the wall.


    ¡°Who, ugh,¡± in an unladylike motion, Asinara wiped at her nose with the back of her hand. ¡°Who do you think taught Niko?¡±


    Asinara stumbled again but Faye caught her with a steady grip, muttering under her breath about life being easier on the battlefield than dealing with drunken ladies who wanted to steal other people¡¯s husbands.


    ¡°Must you bring him up in every conversation?¡± Faye stared upwards, praying to the gods for patience.


    Asinara¡¯s hazy gaze snapped into sudden focus as she shot Faye a hard and serious look. ¡°At this point,¡± her voice was firm despite the drunken slur, ¡°I really only do it to annoy you.¡± She jabbed the other woman¡¯s shoulder.


    The esteemed Raven General considered her options. Dropping the stupid lady right then and there seemed increasingly tempting. Oh, so tempting.


    But then the thought of blue eyes flashed in her mind. They were calm, steady¡­ disappointed. She sighed in frustration.


    With a grunt, Faye shook her head as she maneuvered them to the exit. ¡°Let¡¯s just get you to a carriage.¡±

 Chapter 35: The Board is Set, Let the Pieces Play

    Darcy leaned back in his chair, his single eye fixed on his partner. Without warning, he reached over the chessboard and flicked Cristin square in the forehead.


    ¡°Hey!¡± protested the attendant, shooting a glare at the eye-patched man. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    With a shake of his head, Darcy moved his piece into place. He swept up yet another one of Cristin¡¯s pieces¡­ for the fifth time in a row. ¡°You¡¯re distracted.¡±


    Cristin bristled at the comment. Despite the immediate anger that flared within him at the words, Cristin could not deny it. Between the two of them, Cristin was the much more talented player. Yet now, he was losing like a novice who had just encountered the game for the first time.


    ¡°I am merely worried for the lord,¡± he muttered as his eyes roamed the board. His fingers hovered indecisively over the different pieces, in search of any chance at turning the game in his favor. ¡°He should have returned a few hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Maybe one of the ladies caught his interest,¡± offered Darcy dryly.


    There was a poignant pause as the two locked eyes.


    Suddenly, the two grown men erupted into hysterical giggles.


    Cristin wiped a mirthful tear from his eye. ¡°I¡¯d believe that if we were talking of anyone else.¡± His shoulder still shook with laughter.


    Darcy shrugged but a smile played on his lips. ¡°The lord can take care of himself.¡±


    ¡°Not against a half-trained assassin,¡± Cristin shot back, slamming his piece down with more force than necessary. ¡°Or a poisoned drink. Or stupid brats sticking their noses in places they shouldn¡¯t be in.¡± He winced as the table wobbled under the impact.


    ¡°Or traitorous spies,¡± Darcy added casually. Picking up his piece, he set it down deliberately. If all went to plan, victory would be secured in the next two moves.


    Cristin stiffened, hand stilling. ¡°The lord told you?¡±


    ¡°He didn¡¯t need to.¡± Darcy shook his head. ¡°When the lord gave me the orders¡­ I figured the rest from that.¡±


    Cristin stared between the game and the captain. Drumming his fingers anxiously against the table, he exhaled sharply. ¡°Just say it. I know you want to.¡±


    Darcy¡¯s gaze softened. He reached across the board to rest his hand firmly on top of Cristin¡¯s, halting the finger taps. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is!¡± spat Cristin, expression twisting with anger and self-loathing. ¡°I¡¯m the one who brought them in. The one who trained them. Armed them with knowledge and connections!¡± Jerking his hand away, he beat his own chest. ¡°I should have seen the signs the moment their intentions strayed from our cause.¡±


    Darcy tilted his head, expression unreadable but voice light.¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a mind-reader.¡± He stuck out his hand. ¡°Read my palm?¡±


    Cristin flew out of his seat, eyes blazing. He towered over the other man but Darcy casually reached for his drink, remaining unfazed.


    Cristin¡¯s chest heaved as he glared down at his companion. But he was only met with a knowing look. They had knew each other too well.


    With a defeated sigh, the attendant sank back into his seat. He buried his face in his hands, voice breaking. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t¡­ If I just¡­¡± The words faltered, dropping into a haunted whisper. ¡°The lord would never have had to make this decision if I had just done my job properly.¡±


    Darcy glanced at the other, genuinely surprised. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re upset?¡±


    ¡°I failed our lord,¡± snapped Cristin. ¡°And now we¡¯re forced to make a dangerous decision that could ruin everything because of it.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s voice wavered as regret laced his words. ¡°I never should have trusted Harmon. Never should have let Elody stay.¡± Cristin¡¯s head snapped up, body trembling. ¡°If it were up to me, I¡¯d have them both-¡°


    ¡°The lord already made his decision.¡±


    There was the soft scrape of a chess piece sliding across the board.


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you not to feel guilty,¡± continued Darcy, tone steady, almost soothing. ¡°But what¡¯s done is finished. Now, you focus on what you do best.¡± He gestured towards the board.


    Cristin¡¯s gaze lingered on the other man, suspicion flickering in his eyes.


    All of a sudden, his expression sharpened, as something clicked within his mind. Straightening in his seat, the man quickly reached over to move a piece with practiced precision.


    Darcy¡¯s smirk curled deeper as his piece was forced to retreat back. They exchanged moves back and forth, a tense rhythm forming as the tides of the game shifted.


    Cristin¡¯s earlier hesitance was all but gone, replaced with calculated and deadly precision.


    ¡°Come with me on the mission,¡± Darcy smiled, even though that last move had certainly sealed his defeat. ¡°Let us finish this business with the sisters together. We¡¯ll make sure there are no loose ends¡­ no witnesses.¡±


    Darcy raised his hands, surrendering to the inevitable. The only one who could beat Cristin when he got into his element was currently busy, gallivanting the city alone with his mask.


    Cristin stretched his knuckles, eyes gleaming with victory. ¡°Never should have given me inspiration, Darcy,¡± he taunted, a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth. ¡°Now you¡¯re going to lose.¡±


    Darcy lifted his glass and held it out. ¡°So will our enemies.¡±


    ---


    Elody stared at the open door. Although the Lord of Feldgrau was gone, she shivered. It was as if his icy presence still lingered. She held her breath, ears sharply listening for the footsteps to fade.


    Elody¡¯s didn¡¯t dare move, head still pressed low into the mat, every muscle tense as she waited.


    Time stretched unbearable until finally, the light tread receded, and the footstep faded into the dulled noises of the Lucky Charm.


    Lifting her head slowly, Elody uncurled her clenched fist. She stared down at the beautiful jade ornament in her palm. The intricate carving caught on the candlelight, glinting softly. Despite her untrained eye, Elody could appreciate the excellent craftsmanship. The jade was impossibly smooth, a piece too valuable to belong to a mere courtesan like her.


    Elody bit on the inside of her cheek. It seemed like a lifetime ago when she and her sister had been orphans on the streets, fighting for the mere right to survival. Her pickpocketing skills, though rusty, had not failed her now.


    The jade ornament glimmered as she closed her fingers over it.


    She would not wait for the lord to pass his sentence. Not without having a say in it. Not when she held a piece of leverage in her hands. Surely, this ornament was precious enough to negotiate certain conditions.


    Rising to her feet, Elody scanned the room. Her mind raced for a hiding place.


    New footsteps, louder now, returned. The heavy but familiar footfall made the artist scramble as panic flared in her chest.


    Her breath caught as the doors slide open, and she hastily shoved the ornament beneath one of the ornate pillows. Scrabbling to her feet, the courtesan fell into a respectful bow.


    Lady Athena¡¯s sharp eyes regarded the artist. The woman¡¯s sharp gaze dissected the younger like a wolf would its prey, cutting through her form like a knife. ¡°Follow me,¡± came the harsh command, tone leaving no room for argument.


    Elody swallowed hard and nodded. Her movements were graceful, just like the madam liked, as she slid towards the door. Her eyes flickered briefly towards the door before she forced herself to face forward.


    Elody resisted the urge to look back again. It would all be fine was the mantra she repeated to herself despite the unease that gripped her.


    Lady Athena was not a patient woman. Elody had no choice but to follow her brisk pace. She would come back for the ornament soon.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡ª


    Faye wandered the halls with mild interest, her sharp eyes peered around her surroundings. She was pretty sure she was in a private section of the Lucky Charm she wasn¡¯t supposed to be in, but the realization did little to worry her. Her gaze lingered on the portraits lining the walls. There were collections spanning multiple kingdoms, each its own masterpiece. Among them were even pieces Faye knew were unmistakably from Feldgrau. The madam clearly had refined taste and vast connections.


    Faye froze. She peered up at the striking painting of a fearsome general. The warrior¡¯s body was covered in blood and dark feathers while their long hair was entangled within skulls and crimson flowers. A frown pulled at her lips. The painted general¡¯s mask was identical to her own.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, but there was a faint trace of amusement in her eyes.


    ¡°Behave, or I shall take your head, fiend,¡± the velvety voice of a courtesan drifted down the empty corridor. ¡°If you¡¯re good, this Raven General may even reward you.¡±


    Drunken laughter had Faye¡¯s jaw slack in disbelief. They were using her name in such a way? The nerve.


    Her fists clenched at her sides. There was a part of her that wished to burst out from the hiding spot and bash some sense into their heads. But the sound of their approach dissuaded her. If word got around that the Raven General was frequenting such places¡­ Faye could only huff in disappointment. The encounter would bring more trouble than satisfaction.


    ¡°Right this way, my lord,¡± the courtesan purred.


    Faye flattened herself against the wall, tensing as she watched their shadows across the walls. The couple rounded the corner.


    The brave and infamous Raven General flung herself into the nearest empty room. She held her breath, crouching low. Eyes wide, she crawled towards the corner of the room, praying that they wouldn¡¯t notice. And waited.


    A thud broke the sudden silence, followed by giggling.


    ¡°Not here!¡± gasped the courtesan. She pulled at her customer, urging him further into the Lucky Charm¡¯s private rooms.


    Thankfully, the couple were quick to move on.


    Sighing in relief, Faye leaned back only to hiss in pain. Something had cut her palm. Pulling it out, she glared down at the object.


    The jade ornaments had slipped out from under the satin pillow.


    Despite the sting, irritation gave way to curiosity. Faye turned over its cool surface in her hands. So smooth, she marveled.


    The jade ornament winked in the dark. Why did it look so familiar, Faye wondered, trying to place where she had seen the carvings on the ornament.


    Without a second thought, Faye slipped the ornament into her pocket . It had drawn her blood so now it was hers.


    Faye slid open the doors, holding her breath. Glancing around at the empty corridor, she stepped back into the hallway, movements silent.


    ¡ª


    Nikolai stepped out into the cool night, letting the crisp air wash over him. Lifting the mask, he scratched his nose. It was an appreciated reprieve from the cloister of perfumed scents in the Lucky Charm. The ice prince held back a sneeze. Noticing the presence behind him, he coughed and lowered the mask back into place.


    ¡°My lord?¡± a soft voice called.


    Nikolai turned back, glad for the shadow of the mask that concealed his shocked expression.


    Standing at the backdoor of the Lucky Charm was a beautiful pale woman. She bore an uncanny resemblance to Elody, if not for her shorter stature. Her presence was quiet, clad in a muted grey dress that practically blended into the wall. Her long features and downcast eyes confirmed her identity. This was Elody¡¯s twin sister, the infamous musician, Harmon.


    For a moment, Nikolai considered leaving without a word. Instead, he inclined his head in acknowledgement.


    ¡°You work for Lord Cristin, do you not?¡± Harmon¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper.


    The masked lord gave a brief nod.


    Harmon stepped forward. The shadows seemed to cling to her as her dour expression darkened. ¡°Please extend my apologies to him.¡± Her hands clenched tight, betraying her unease as she bowed her head low.


    Nikolai stiffened, caught off guard. Harmon was a renowned courtesan, known for her silent pride and yet here she stood before a messenger, humbled and pleading.


    ¡°My sister has been foolish,¡± the woman kept her head bowed, voice measured. ¡°It was my fault. I should have taught her better.¡± The rose-like lips, painted white and pink, pursed. ¡°I will accept any punishment the lord sees fit.¡± There was a pause before the woman¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°For both of us.¡±


    The masked man offered no response.


    ¡°But we are loyal to the lord,¡± Harmon insisted, trying to break the silence pressing down on her. ¡°My sister never asked for this life,¡± Harmon hung her head like she had committed a grave crime. ¡°She stayed because of me.¡±


    The streets were eerily quiet, empty in the early hours. Even the clamor and noise of the Lucky Charm had died down to a faint hum.


    The masked man shifted, leveling her with a hard stare behind the mask . ¡°Lord Cristin serves the Lord of Feldgrau.¡±


    Harmon stiffened, glancing around warily. ¡°There are many ears around,¡± she warned. ¡°You should be careful with your words.¡±


    The masked man merely shrugged, unmoved by the warning.


    ¡°I merely wanted to clarify. Any grievance you hold is against the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯,¡± answered the masked man, tone cold. ¡°He is who you should blame... or hate.¡±


    Harmon twisted her fingers behind her back. ¡°And why should I hate my benefactor?¡±


    The masked man¡¯s reply was blunt. ¡°You claim to be loyal but you failed to stop your sister from entertaining young Lord Langard, sharing our secrets with him. Nor did you stop her from meeting with the queen.¡± His voice turned sharp. ¡°What happens to courtesans who have a loose tongue?¡±


    But Harmon¡¯s eyes widened in terror. ¡°Elody spoke to the queen?¡± Her vision blurred as the revelation crash down on her. How could her sister be so stupid? Gossip with the Langard boy was one thing, but to tell him their greatest secret and entertain the queen. It was betrayal.


    ¡°Treason,¡± she murmured faintly. By the old laws of Feldgrau, they would be executed, rotting bodies hung off the Feldgrau Wall as an example to others.


    The musician fell to her knees. The mud soaked her dress. Harmon stared, unseeing, into the space before her.


    The masked man turned on his heels. The dark cloak trailed behind him, wrapping the figure in shadows.


    ¡°What will you do to her?¡± Harmon¡¯s voice rang out, the sweet softness long gone and replaced with cold steel. ¡°My lord! Answer me! What will you do to my sister?¡±


    Nikolai did not bother looking back.


    He heard the creak and slam of the backdoor behind him. Would they go into hiding or seek the help of their new benefactors, he wondered faintly.


    Reaching the fork in the road, Nikolai paused, frowning. The streets stretched before him, unfamiliar and long.


    The ice prince scratched the back of his neck. This was slightly embarrassing. The Lord of Feldgrau was lost.


    Blue eyes lifted up to stare at the night sky. He squinted against the moonlight. Perhaps the rooftops would be more familiar.


    With a resigned sigh, Nikolai reached into his pockets. It was best to secure his items so they would not be lost on the climb up.


    His movements stilled. In half disbelief, his fingers searched the pockets frantically. But it was too late.


    The jade ornament was gone.


    ---


    It was long past a decent hour to be up and about¡­ even for an establishment like the Lucky Charm.


    Slipping out the window, Nikolai could not get out of there fast enough.


    He wasted no time in pulling himself onto the rooftops. The night wind was a temporary relief. Passing to catch his breath, the ice prince kicked at the tiling. The jade ornament was gone. Either it was lost before he had even arrived or someone else had found it. He wasn¡¯t sure what was worse.


    Peering over the edge, he braced himself for the jump and lept onto the haystack below. The sharp hay jabbed at his skin. Brushing himself off, Nikolai adjusted the dark clock, now heavy with mud and dried leaves. Nikolai rounded the corner, stepping into the shadow.


    Rounding the corner, Nikolai slammed a fist against the stone wall. His knuckles stung, bleeding slightly.


    ¡°Damn everything,¡± he muttered angrily.


    This night was cursed.


    A muffled sound broke the silence.


    Nikolai froze, head tilting slightly as he strained to listen. He wasn¡¯t alone. It was a faint noise that should have been lost to the wind. A pained grunt, soft but distinct filled the air, followed by the unmistakable noise of a fist meeting flesh.


    His jaw tightened. Someone was getting their ass handed to them.


    Nikolai banged his head against the wall, letting a moment of defeat wash over him.


    ¡°Not so tough now, lady,¡± a man¡¯s voice jeered, cutting through the empty night. ¡°Where¡¯d all that fight go?¡±


    Nikolai let out a slow breath. It was impossible for the jade ornament to have fallen out. It must have been taken. But by who?


    ¡°I could take all,¡± a woman slurred, voice unsteady. There was a pause, accompanied by a hiccup. ¡°Four of you, or is it five? I¡­¡±


    Blue eyes flashed open. That voice.


    She sounded disoriented, barely coherent. The words trailed off. ¡°What is going on? Why is my head-¡° followed by another grunt, louder than the first. Something, or someone, fell to the ground.


    Nikolai edged around the corner, heart pounding despite himself. His eyes widened at the sight.


    Faye knelt in the dirt, surrounded by three men twice her size. Her head hung low, staring at the dirt. Her proud braid had come undone. The loose dark hair clung to her face.


    Nikolai stepped forward, then stopped. These men were smaller than Darcy and Cristin, Faye could handle them. Easily.


    If he interfered, she would have questions for him. Ones that he didn¡¯t want to entertain after the disastrous night.


    Faye could handle herself. She always did.


    But then the leader of the sorry bunch lifted Faye by the collar of her cloak. He laughed as he hauled her up by one hand.


    ¡°Let me,¡± she coughed, ¡°go.¡± She clawed weakly at the hold lacking the uncanny strength she usually possessed. ¡°Unhand me.¡±


    In her expression was something Nikolai had never seen before.


    Fear.


    The man sneered, lifting his fist in the air. ¡°Take this, you sorry-¡°


    A loud crack echoed in the stillness of the night.

 Chapter 36: The Snowfoxs Rescue

    Faye gasped, the air burned her lungs now that she was finally released from the suffocating grip. Any longer and she might have passed out, she realized.


    The young woman coughed violently, rubbing at the bruises on her neck. The pain was nothing in comparison to the burning sting of humiliation. To display such weakness, especially in front of such weak opponents.. the thought had her gritting her teeth. Faye balled her hands into fists. As soon as her head cleared she was going to get these bastards. The world spun as she stumbled to her feet. Faye took a determined step forward, only to trip.


    Her blurred vision cleared slightly, and her gaze fell down to the crumpled body beneath her. The unconscious body that had tripped her belonged to the boss of their little group.


    So that¡¯s how she was freed.


    The other two men who had circled her were now distracted. They had their backs to her, choosing instead to focus on the figure who had saved her.


    The masked stranger stood tall and lean. His silhouette practically blended into the shadows.


    The mask was far from special, but it gave off a dangerous aura. Faye rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the dizziness, but her vision was still too hazy to focus.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± one of the men growled, voice laced with a hint of caution.


    Holding her pounding head, Faye could barely make out the words over the ringing in her ears.


    ¡°You sneaky bastard!¡± accused the second man, holding out his fists, ready for a fight. ¡°Attacking us from behind!¡±


    The figure stepped forward, kicking at their boss¡¯ unconscious form. As the body rolled over, Faye could see the foam dribbling out of the fallen man¡¯s mouth adding to his pitiful state.


    Although, she felt anything but pity for the brute.


    From the folds of his cloak, the stranger drew a dagger. The thing rays of moonlight caught the sharp edge, glinting coldly. Faye could tell instantly that it was a weapon well cared for. The metal was pure, unlikely to shatter or chip.


    The two men faltered, fear creeping into their expression as they quickly backed away.


    The smaller of the two rushed to grab Faye by the collar. With a rock in his other hand, he held it against her throat. Despite his false bravado, she could feel the hand tremble against her skin. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he stuttered, voice shaking. ¡°Don¡¯t come closer! This woman humiliated us.¡±


    ¡°Precisely!¡± added his partner. ¡°This has nothing to do with you. Walk away!¡±


    Faye winced as her captor dug the rock closer into the flesh. ¡°Or else,¡± they threatened.


    The stranger before them froze.


    In a swift motion, Faye raised her elbow, driving it into her captor¡¯s face. With a pained shout, the man staggered back, leaving just enough space for Faye to land a solid kick to his chest, sending him flying into the wall.


    She clutched her throbbing head. It was like war drums were pounding in her skull. Shutting her eyes, she tried to block out the noise.


    The last one left of the trio rushed at the masked figure. However, without the threat to Faye holding him back, the figure was able to deflect the attack. The masked man sidestepped, moving with efficient precision, and slammed the hilt of the dagger on the back of the man¡¯s head. He collapsed in a single step, crumbling to the ground.


    Now that the fight was over, Faye¡¯s legs trembled. This was embarrassing. She opened her mouth to thank the stranger. ¡°Thank you, good-¡° Her legs gave out beneath her.


    But a steady form caught her. Faye froze. Her back pressed up against a sturdy chest.


    Her breath quickened, instinct flaring as she braced herself for another fight. But no attack came.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± murmured a low voice, calm yet cutting through the fog of her dizziness. ¡°Those men should have been nothing for you. I almost left.¡±


    Faye swallowed hard. She lowered her head to her chest, red flushing her face. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    She exhaled slowly. The warmth of the body behind her was comforting.


    The effects of the drugs the men had laced her drink with were beginning to fade. Now, she knew they were friends with the men who had harassed Asinara. Faye had to give it to them, it was quite an unexpected surprise. She had underestimated them.


    The so-called apology and offer of a drink had been a clever trap. She had let down her guard, not expecting to be met with a desire for revenge¡­ That was until they had dragged her out and she found herself unable to even count to five.


    Two hands steadied her. Faye winced as they brushed against the bruises on her throat. ¡°This is the first fight I¡¯ve seen you lose.¡± The voice softened, almost as if in disbelief. ¡°If you were anyone else, I¡¯d tell you to stop picking fights you can¡¯t win.¡±


    Faye sighed. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, surrendering herself to the sudden exhaustion.


    Behind the mask, Nikolai¡¯s eyes narrowed. His gaze settled on the dark, purple blotches that marred Faye¡¯s throat. His stomach twisted, a roar of anger and disbelief churned within him.


    He knew she was human like the rest of them but¡­ for some reason, it was hard to believe that she could get hurt.


    Nikolai flinched at the press of cold steel against his skin. He glanced down.


    Faye stared at him with narrowed eyes, sharp and clear unlike before. She held his own dagger against him. The tip of the blade pressed against his neck softly, a silent warning.


    ¡ª


    A single candle lit the dark meeting room. Shadows seemed to cling to the edges of the room, its design intentional. The room had been built for meetings like this, where the interrogators could maintain the upper hand when meeting with informants. The shadows concealed the layout and the hidden weapons which were always within arm¡¯s reach.


    The Hound peered at the courtesan in front of him.


    The woman lowered her hood. Glittering, dark eyes lifted to meet the piercing stare head-on. Her face was pale, half illuminated by the flickering candlelight.


    The hound strained his ears to hear her soft voice.


    ¡°I have information for the queen,¡± came the quiet explanation.


    ¡°So, I¡¯ve heard.¡± He crossed his arms, considering the woman¡¯s clothes and position. ¡°And is there a price for this information?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said without hesitation. From her defensive stance, it was clear she had not come on a random whim. ¡°Protection. For my sister.¡±


    The Hound stroked his bear and hummed softly. Protection would be simple enough to secure.


    ¡°And safe passage out of the kingdom,¡± added the courtesan, more force behind her voice. ¡°I wish for her to be sent away. The farther the better.¡±


    ¡°And what about for yourself?¡± asked the Hound, expression curious. It was rare for informants to not ask for their own protection


    To his surprise, the courtesan merely shook her head.


    Leaning back in his chair, the Hound¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°You ask for much. As for whether the crown can grant these requests.¡± The faintest flicker of impatience crossed his face. ¡°That depends entirely on the value of your information.¡±


    The courtesan straightened, determination blazing in her eyes. Her calm facade cracked. The man¡¯s words had sparked the hidden desperation within her.


    ¡°The ice prince has been holding secret meetings in the Lucky Charm. Among those he treats with is Lord Langard.¡±


    The air stilled as her words hung like an executioner¡¯s blade, poised to fall and pass its judgment.


    ¡°I will tell you half now,¡± she continued sharply. ¡°And the other half when my sister¡¯s safe passage is secured.¡±


    True to his training, the Hound¡¯s expression betrayed nothing. This woman, regardless of whether her words were truth or lies, held dangerous knowledge. It was the sort of knowledge that could turn family against each other, the kind that led to civil war and the destruction of kingdoms.


    ¡°If the crown wishes to use this information at the court session,¡± the woman added, her voice faltering slightly. ¡°I am willing to testify.¡±


    Another pause stretched between them.


    The Hound made his decision. The weight of her offer was a gamble worth taking. He knew such a valuable pawn would be greatly welcomed by the queen. For the courtesan¡¯s sake, the Hound hoped that she was telling the truth.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said at last. The Hound uncrossed his arms, rising to his full height. ¡°Your sister will be protected.¡± He gestured towards the door. ¡°In the meantime, let us continue this conversation in private.¡±


    Harmon sighed in relief. The first part of her plan was accomplished. However, as she nodded, her arms raised to hug herself. A sudden chill crept over her, setting the hairs on the back of her neck on edge. But still, the woman nodded and followed the queen¡¯s loyal servant. Her resolve only strengthened despite entering deeper into the labyrinth of lies and betrayal. This was for her sister. It was worth it.


    Harmon hugged herself tighter, her steps faltering only slightly as the heavy door slammed shut behind with a defining finality.


    As she entered the Hound¡¯s private room, she could make out the faint streaks of moonlight breaking through the darkness.


    Harmon dug her painted nails, the ones her sister had done for her just earlier, into pale skin, welcoming the painful reminder.


    Dark clouds rolled over the sky, blocking the moonlight, but she barely noticed.


    Anything for Elody, she vowed.


    ¡ªStolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Despite having his own weapon used against him, Nikolai couldn¡¯t help but smirk under the mask. At this point, he wasn¡¯t surprised.


    Faye¡¯s gaze locked onto the mysterious mask, eyes clearer and more focused than before.


    ¡°You seem to know me,¡± noted Faye with a tone of interest, the dagger steady in her grip. ¡°But I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    The masked figure remained silent.


    With a sigh, Faye lowered the blade. Flipping it in her hand, she offered the hilt out to him. Without hesitation , he reached forward for the blade and slipped it back within the folds of his cloak.


    ¡°You work for Nikolai, don¡¯t you?¡± An arrogant smirk tugged at Faye¡¯s lips as she tapped her chin playfully. ¡°You seem familiar, but I can¡¯t place where we¡¯ve met.¡±


    The man shifted lightly, posture betraying a hint of hesitation. There was an awkward pause. ¡°That is¡­ quite observant.¡±


    Faye stepped closer, rising on her toes, she reached forward for the mask. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯d recognize you without this.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± The figure recoiled, dodging back from her outstretched hand.


    Faye¡¯s playful expression dimmed. She lowered her hand, respecting his decision, but a flicker of suspicion clouded her face.


    The air stilled between them


    Finally, there was a long, exaggerated sigh. The masked man¡¯s head snapped towards the pouting general.


    ¡°I see your lord still distrusts me,¡± the proud warrior scoffed. Faye brushed past the silent man, hating the sudden feeling of disappointment that filled her.


    She stumbled. The woman sucked in a painful breath as pain erupted in her foot. During the scuffle, her ankle had rolled. Now, it buckled under her full weight.


    ¡°Stop,¡± a hand snapped out to steady her before she could topple over. ¡°Let me walk you back, Lady Feldgrau.¡±


    Faye shook off the hold, her pride smarting. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your aid earlier but I can manage on my own.¡± Her shoulders straightened, eyes ablaze with a silent challenge. ¡°I won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstood, my lady,¡± said the masked man. ¡°I am unfamiliar with the area, I fear I may lose my way.¡± He paused before adding almost abashedly. ¡°Please.¡±


    Faye hesitated, turning the explanation over in her mind. She glanced at the way the masked man stood stiffly, arms crossed defensively across his chest. What was his expression behind the mask like? Faye¡¯s lips lifted into a mischievous grin.


    ¡°Fine.¡± A warm feeling bloomed in her chest as she reached over to punch the tense shoulders, laughing at the other¡¯s wince. ¡°What is your name?¡±


    ¡°My name?¡± The man faltered as if struggling to answer. ¡°Uhm¡­ it¡¯s Malakai.¡±


    ¡°Malakai?¡± Faye tilted her head. ¡°You don¡¯t strike me as a Malakai.¡±


    That earned her a chuckle from the masked man. ¡°Then what name do you think suits me, my lady?¡±


    Before she could answer, a black streak swooped down. With a loud call, the pitch-black bird landed on Faye¡¯s shoulder. The raven pecked at her ear, earning an annoyed huff.


    ¡°Stop it, Mouse,¡± muttered the young woman. ¡°I am thinking.¡± She tapped her chin in serious contemplation. ¡°What about Mysterious Hero? Or Lord Mask Man?¡±


    Although his eyes were hidden behind the mask, Faye could feel the other¡¯s incredulous stare.


    He held a hand to his mask, shaking his head in disappointment. ¡°You are horrible at names.¡±


    Faye waved a dismissive hand in the air. ¡°I¡¯m wonderful at giving names.¡± Stepping out onto the street the young woman beckoned him to follow. ¡°Well? Come on!¡±


    Her second step brought a sharp throb to her ankle. With a wide smile, Faye forced herself to step forward. She had been through worse, much worse. Experience had taught her. A few more steps and the pain would dull. On her shoulder, Mouse the Raven cawed, as if protesting the idea.


    The masked man sighed loudly. As he approached, the bird shot him a beady-eyed stare before taking off into the air above them.


    Without a word, he moved in front of her, blocking the path. Lowering himself into a squat, he planted his feet firmly on the ground, his undefended back open to her.


    Faye stared, brows furrowing at the unusual position. ¡°Did you injure your leg as well?¡±


    Rather than respond, the masked man flung his arms back. He waved them in an exaggerated motion¡­ like a squatting chicken. Smacking her hands over her mouth, Faye tried to stifle the laughter. ¡°What¡­ What are you doing?¡±


    From his squatted position, the mask turned back to stare at her. ¡°Come on,¡± he said, voice serious. ¡°Get on.¡±


    Faye¡¯s face erupted into flames. She backed away quickly, waving her hands. ¡°I couldn¡¯t!¡± Even if he worked for Nikolai, this was too much. Faye couldn¡¯t remember the last time someone had carried her. Maybe her brothers when she was a child, Faye thought hysterically.


    Memories surfaced of being thrown over a shoulder or supported after a battle, but this was entirely different.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Faye insisted. She fought the ridiculous urge to cover her burning face, even though no one else was around to see the embarrassing scene.


    The masked man hung his head, letting out a frustrated noise.


    ¡°I¡¯m not getting up until you get on.¡± Although he shifted his weight, true to his word, the man stayed resolute in his stance.


    Faye crossed her arms. ¡°That is not happening.¡± She sidestepped to get around him, but a subtle dip in the road caught her off guard. Faye couldn¡¯t help the dismay that fell over her. Her injured ankle twisted painfully as she stumbled.


    Faye wanted to cry. Where had the fearsome war general gone? Had her stay in Eburean dulled her sharp senses so much?


    Before she could muster another thought, strong hands caught her. In one swift motion, she felt her arms loop around broad shoulders.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± came the soft command.


    Despite his lean frame, the masked man easily hoisted her onto his back. His arms locked firmly beneath her knees, steadying her as though she weighed nothing at all.


    Face aflame, Faye muttered, ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t going to move.¡± Turning her head, her cheeks pressed against the warmth of the man¡¯s back.


    The masked man froze imperceptibly, but he merely adjusted his hold and continued forward. His voice broke the quiet night. ¡°You are the most stubborn woman I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    Faye couldn¡¯t help the laugh that escaped her. ¡°That¡¯s like the tiger calling the wolf vicious.¡±


    The late hour seemed to breathe with a rare peacefulness. The air was cool, and the starlight illuminated their path.


    ¡°Am I the tiger or the wolf, my lady?¡± asked the man.


    Faye stifled a yawn. ¡°Neither.¡± Her eyes gazed up to find a sliver of moonlight filtering through the buildings. ¡°You remind me of a snow fox. Clever and quick, and¡­¡± Faye felt her eyelids grow heavy. Her voice grew softer. ¡°Very cute and cuddly.¡±


    The man strode forward with a quiet confidence. It seemed like he didn¡¯t need her guidance after all.


    ¡°Hey, Snowfox,¡± she called out suddenly.


    The man hummed in acknowledgment. As the silence returned, he wondered if she had fallen asleep.


    Ahead of them, the gates of the Prince¡¯s Residence loomed in the moonlight. The towering gates cast long shadows across the ground. They were close now, but Nikolai¡¯s night was far from over. He sighed quietly.


    ¡°Here.¡±


    The Lord of Feldgrau almost dropped Faye in shock. His eyes were wide as Faye dangled the jade ornament, his jade ornament, in front of him like a toy.


    Faye¡¯s voice broke through his shock, though her words slurred with exhaustion. ¡°Snowfox,¡± Faye murmured with a faint smile, ¡°hand this over to your liege when you get the chance. I think it might belong to one of his men.¡±


    Nikolai stared, torn between relief and a whirlwind of unanswered questions. knew he shouldn¡¯t ask. It was a miracle enough that the jade ornament had ended up in her hands. Yet, his mind raced. Did the ornament pass through other¡¯s hands? Where exactly had she found it? Was it taken or had it been left behind?


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you give this to him yourself?¡± Nikolai asked, forcing his tone to be stay even. Remembering his current identity, he hurried to clarify, ¡°The lord, I mean.¡±


    He could feel Faye shift slightly in his arms. ¡°He would think that I stole it¡± she shook her head. ¡°Or worse, that I was trying to blackmail him.¡±


    Nikolai pursed his lips. ¡°Is that how you see him?¡± He was genuinely curious. Just a few weeks ago that Faye had professed her admiration. Love, she claimed. Now, she seemed convinced of his mistrust.


    ¡°I admire Nikolai very much,¡± Faye admitted easily, professing such a statement like it was an undeniable truth. ¡°I don¡¯t blame him for doubting me . We are natural enemies.¡±


    ¡°It is unfortunate but¡­¡± Her voice trailed off before adding quietly ¡°Sometimes I wonder¡­ if I wasn¡¯t who I am,¡± there was something vulnerable in the question, ¡°do you think the lord and I could be friends?¡±


    Steps faltering, Nikolai dragged his feet in the dirt. Her words struck something deep within him. ¡°I think we-¡° the ice prince cut himself off, choosing his next words carefully. ¡°I think the lord would not¡­ be opposed to that.¡±


    ¡°Would he love me, then?¡±


    The question cut into the uncomfortable sphere of emotions that Nikolai felt extremely unprepared to face. Something he couldn¡¯t face. Before he could summon a response, Faye saved him from answering.


    ¡°Ah Swowfox,¡± she said, suddenly cheerful and filled with energy. Nikolai winced as Faye patted his shoulder with unexpected strength. ¡°You are so easy to talk to. Your lord should send you out as an interrogator!¡±


    He allowed himself a faint smirk. ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± cheered Faye enthusiastically, tone brimming with excitement. ¡°You are so easy to talk to, I think I would tell you all my secrets.¡± She pitched forward, nearly unbalancing the both of them. ¡°Here¡¯s a secret!¡± Amber eyes squinted at the side of his mask. Her voice fell into an conspiratorial whisper. ¡°You know, I once recruited Rufus Langard to help me write a love letter to your lord.¡±


    ¡°You what?¡± Nikolai¡¯s tone betrayed his disbelief. A part of him wondered if she had figured out his identity and was merely trying to trip him up. Was that really what they were doing during all her trips to the Langard residence?


    ¡°Yup,¡± said Faye, grinning impishly. ¡°The dinner fiasco was his idea as well.¡±


    Nikolai opened his mouth to retort but Faye beat him to it. Her expression was uncharacteristically wistful.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never felt this way about anyone,¡± she admitted, shrugging helplessly.¡°Sometimes, I feel so much love for him I think I will explode. And other times¡­¡± her eyes glanced down and her shoulders drooped. ¡°When I see him, I want to ride away in the night. Back to Wenge.¡± The young woman sighed, pouting.


    Nikolai mulled over the words, the confession unsettled more than it should have. Despite his earlier threats, Faye could easily leave for Wenge whenever she desired. There was little truly stopping her. But he didn¡¯t know why the thought suddenly bothered him.


    ¡°You know, Snowfox, I¡¯ve always hated fighting losing battles.¡± Faye chuckled, the sound was as boisterous as she was. ¡°I¡¯m too arrogant for that.¡±


    Nikolai shrugged. Out of anyone, Faye¡¯s arrogance was well-earned. And he told her as much.


    His response garnered a soft chuckle from the general, her laughter washing away the previous tension.


    The rest of their walk continued in silence. The only sound was the soft crunch of footsteps on the dirt path. A chilly breeze swept through the air.


    Nikolai stopped in front of the Prince¡¯s Residence. His gaze lingered on the large wooden doors, an ancient legacy that towered over the both of them. A rare hesitation flickered in his normally cooly composed demeanor. ¡°Faye,¡± he started. ¡°The truth is, I¡¯m actually-¡°


    A loud snore interrupted his admission. Nikolai froze. He felt the weight of her head fall against his shoulder. He glanced back to find her dozing face. Her dark hair tickled the nape of his neck. Faye snored softly, her warm breath brushed lightly over his skin. For the oddest reason, the ice prince felt the tips of his ears grow warm.


    Even in sleep, she clutched the jade ornament tightly. Her fingers curled protectively over the pendant protectively.


    ¡°My lord!¡± came the frantic shout. The heavy gates were hurriedly shoved open revealing Cristin with Darcy close behind.


    Nikolai¡¯s expression turned cold, his sharp glare pinned Cristin in place. He gestured to the sleeping general on his back. Thankfully, the loud noise had not woken her up.


    Cristin¡¯s jaw dropped. What was this crazy sight before his eyes? Was this really their stoic ice prince, carrying the mighty Raven General, asleep no less? The attendant wanted to scratch his head as his mind struggled to process the absurd image. How did the two even end up together?


    Darcy stepped forward quietly. His movements were careful as he reached for the sleeping general.


    ¡°Careful,¡± murmured Nikolai, gaze fixed on the young woman. ¡°Bring her inside. Don¡¯t wake her.¡±


    Darcy¡¯s dutifully loyal side showed as he nodded without question. He lifted the general from Nikolai¡¯s back. She stirred slightly but remained asleep. Darcy carried her into the residence.


    Nikolai watched them go, expression unreadable until they disappeared behind the heavy wooden doors.


    Cristin was less composed.


    ¡°By the gods!¡± he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. ¡°What was that, my lord? You and the general? I don¡¯t even understand how the two of you were able to meet up? Wait, weren¡¯t you at the Lucky Charm? Was she there too?¡± His questions came in rapid succession, each filled with disbelief.


    Cristin looked up, only to gape as the lord was already walking away. The ice prince was speed walking, practically running, as his long strides carried him into the residence and away from Cristin¡¯s lecture.


    ¡°Hey!¡± called the attendant, voice brimming with exasperation. ¡°I want, no I need answers, my lord!¡± He jogged after the taller man. ¡°Come back here!¡±


    The holler echoed, shattering the former peace of the quiet night.

 Chapter 36:So Much for a Trading Post

    ~One months ago~


    Coming from the capital, there were only two types foolish enough to travel to the borderlands. The incredibly unfortunate¡­ or the Ice Prince. For some, there was little distinction between the two.


    The merchant inhaled deeply, letting the crisp, cool air fill his lungs. It smelled of harvest, wildflowers, and something untamed. He closed his eyes, savoring the freshness. For a fleeting moment, the ache of homesickness faded slightly.


    Staring at the sprawling green before him, the lonely ache was replaced by a sharp thrill of excitement. This was the spot. He could feel it in his bones.


    Here, he would accomplish every merchant¡¯s dream. To build the perfect trade post.


    Under the shade of the willow, Byrn sat contentedly, surveying the small village nestled in the valley.


    The fields seemed to stretch endlessly, a patchwork of gold and green rising towards the snow-capped mountains. Irrigation channels snaked through the land, cleverly redirecting the melted streams. Byrn marveled at the ingenuity. For a people often dismissed as uneducated, the borderlands were remarkably resourceful.


    In the fields, two farmers argued with smiles, their laughter carried on the wind. Excited barks filled the air as a boy sprinted through the tall stalks of wheat, his dog chasing close at his heels. The crops seemed to grow as easily as grass. The orchards were heavy with fruit, their vibrant color matched by the birds darting between the healthy branches.


    It was a far cry from the infertile land of sand and rock Byrn had expected. He craned his neck to study the bountiful land. It was said there were more thieves than farmers in the borderlands.


    And while bandits had indeed relieved him of both his coin and cart along the way, the further Byrn traveled from the capital, the more peace he found. These lands were supposed to be lawless, filled with peasants and ruins, remnants of the Great War. Yet the villages thrived, their fields abundant.


    Why? Despite his long journey, the question lingered, unanswered.


    An ox cart rumbled past. Its polished wooden frame creaked under the weight of the barrels it carried. The great beast let out a low grunt as it trudged uphill. The farmer slackened his reins, yawning lazily.


    ¡°Good sir!¡± Byrn called, hurrying forward. ¡°Might I catch a ride to the village square?¡±


    The farmer didn¡¯t bother halting the ox, but he turned and hollered back. ¡°If you¡¯re quick enough, you can hop on the back!¡±


    With a wide grin, Byrn jogged over. He threw his bag in first before pulling himself onto the back of the cart.


    ¡°You¡¯re not from here are you?¡± the farmer asked, watching him with interest. Without warning, he tossed an old cloak towards Byrn. ¡°Don¡¯t dirty my new cart. Set your bag on that.¡±


    Glancing at the dusty board of the freshly unloaded cart bed, Byrn chuckled. He placed his bag on the cloak with care, shielding it from the stray bits of hay and mud. The roundabout hospitality was something he was beginning to grow used to. It was oddly comforting.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± said Byrn, settling against the cart¡¯s side.


    As the ox trudged down the road, they approached the village entrance. Villagers stared up at the approach, eyeing the stranger with curiosity. The streets were clean and tidy, and the smell of warm cooking drifted out of the opened windows.


    Byrn noticed the brightly colored flags adorning the houses. He wracked his brain, trying to place the sigil. The streak of blue and white were strikingly familiar. Suddenly, the name flashed in his mind.


    ¡°Are we near Feldgrau?¡± he asked in surprise. The merchant glanced around. He searched for the royal flag of Eburean or the royal family¡¯s emblem but found none.


    ¡°Feldgrau¡¯s about a two-day hard ride if you don¡¯t stop overnight,¡± answered the farmer. ¡°In my experience, it¡¯s wise to take the night off and use an extra day.¡± He tossed the merchant a look behind his shoulder. ¡°Are you headed there, son? My nephew¡¯s going in a few days. He might be able to give you a lift.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, nothing like that,¡± Byrn waved his hands, chuckling sheepishly. ¡°I was merely curious. The flags caught my eye.¡±


    The ox let out another low grunt. It came to an automatic stop at the edge of the square. The farmer patted its side fondly. ¡°The Lord of Feldgrau is well regarded around here.¡± The farmer hopped off and offered the merchant a hand with his bag. ¡°He¡¯s a good man. Quiet, but sharp. The flags are the least we could do to show our respect.¡±


    ¡°You speak as though you¡¯ve met him,¡± laughed the merchant, taking the offered hand. But his mirth faded at the farmer¡¯s serious expression. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me,¡± realized the merchant, ¡°You¡¯ve actually met the Lord of Feldgrau?¡±


    ¡°A few times,¡± offered the farmer vaguely. ¡°My granddaughter swears she wants to go up to Feldgrau for work. Says she¡¯ll move up there for a chance to work near him .¡±


    Byrn considered his next words carefully. ¡°What of the royal family? Are they as¡­ well-regarded here?¡±


    The farmer shot him an incredulous look. ¡°Oh, we are so very grateful for the high taxes,¡± he sneered. ¡°The royals don¡¯t give a rat shit about us.¡± Crossing his arms, the farmer spat into the dirt. ¡°Unlike the lord, I¡¯ve never seen them cross through these parts, and I hope I never do.¡±


    Byrn swallowed a sharp retort. Aren¡¯t they the same, he wanted to ask but wisely held his tongue.


    The farmer perked up. ¡°Where are you actually headed, son?¡± The ox raised its head as if anticipating his owner¡¯s next words. ¡°Maybe Rupert and I can take you a bit further if you like.¡±


    Byrn beamed, ¡°Well, actually-¡°


    A frantic shout tore through the square, cutting the merchant off.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    At the call, the town bell began to ring. The piercing noise reverberated through the entire village. A man covered in ash staggered toward the center, coughing as he yelled.


    ¡°Fire at the forge!¡± he cried. ¡°Hurry! To the wells!¡±


    With those words, the square erupted into action. Villagers abandoned their former tasks and rushed towards the well. In an orderly fashion, everyone gathered their pots, buckets, and pans, anything that could hold water. Despite their rush, they formed an orderly line.


    Sensing the urgency, Byrn sprang into action. There would be no trade post if the village burned down!


    He joined the stream of people rushing toward the well, curiosity flickering at the edge of his thoughts. It was unusual, if not unheard of, for a small village to have a forge. Metal tools and goods were usually imported at great cost from the capital. If the villagers did have something as sophisticated¡­ it was no wonder they were so protective.


    At the well, a woman took the lead, hauling up bucket after bucket of water. She worked with a single-minded focus. As soon as she emptied one into a waiting pot, she thrust it into Byrn¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Take this and run it up,¡± she barked, not even pausing in her work. ¡°Hurry!¡±


    Following the others, Byrn ran up the hill at the village¡¯s edge. He hoped they would be so supportive if his trade post ever caught on fire! As he neared the top, Byrn slowed, bewildered. There was no forge in sight, only a grassy hill crowned by drifting wisps of smoke. He scanned the area in confusion, wondering if he had misunderstood.


    ¡°Over here!¡± A voice from ahead redirected him, and Byrn hurried forward.


    Finally, he reached the top of the hill. Despite the sloshing water threatening to drench him, he stumbled to a stop, eyes widening in astonishment.


    Nestled behind the rise was a yawning mouth of a great cave. Men supported one another as they jogged out of the entrance. Though many were covered in soot, they seemed largely unharmed, waving away the black smoke with tired hands.


    "The forge is inside?" gasped Byrn, but his question was lost as the others pressed forward to help the injured.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± asked one of the villagers. He raised his bucket of water for the forgeman to sip.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Taking the bucket, the forgeman took a long drink before replying. ¡°Not terrible. We can put it out before it spreads. Most of the supplies were moved to the second cave.¡±


    ¡°And the tools?¡±


    ¡°Would have been gone if we used our usual method,¡± the forgeman chuckled weakly. ¡°It¡¯s good we started those precautionary measures Sir Cristin sent us.¡±


    Byrn strained to hear more, but the flow of villagers pushed him forward. Finding himself at the cave entrance, he mimicked the others in shielding his nose and tossing the water at the orange flames.


    With a final hiss, the worst of the fire died down. A breeze swept through the cave entrance, momentarily clearing the air of the black smoke. The reprieve was brief. But it was long enough for Byrn to see inside the forge.


    He gasped.


    It was extraordinary. The cave extended deep into the mountain and its tall ceiling was higher than most houses. Wooden stairs crisscrossed the interior, creating multiple levels of workspaces. Stone tables lined the cavern floor, covered with intricate tools and half-finished projects.


    This was a forge fit for royalty, thought Byrn.


    He barely noticed as the workers trailed back inside. They scavenged for salvageable material, picking up the intricately detailed blueprints traced on sheepskin. The tools were gathered with practiced precision, and crates of supplies were inspected for damage.


    Byrn¡¯s bucket clattered to the floor.


    ¡°Grab your things and let¡¯s go!¡± called a gruff-looking fellow. His thick beard was curly and aged wrinkles lined his face. ¡°Let the place air out!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The barked orders were lost on the merchant. His eyes were fixed on the scene before him.


    The stone walls were dark and rugged. And bright blue flags of Feldgrau hung across its sides. Below the banners stood rows upon rows of weapons and shields.


    Where Byrn had expected to find plows or scythes was instead an arsenal of swords and spears. The arrowheads sorted on the work tables were finely craft, too sharp to for mere hunting. Each wooden shaft bore the same hand-carved emblem: the crest of Feldgrau.


    The symbol of the Ice Prince.


    ¡°By the gods,¡± gasped Byrn, suddenly short of breath. Stumbling back, he looked like a crazed man as he grasped the nearest villager, a burly man who stared at him in confusion. ¡°Sir, where can I get some pen and paper? Quickly!¡±


    As he returned to his room in the inn, Byrn¡¯s thoughts raced. He scribbled furiously, words pouring onto the parchment. Feldgrau was arming itself¡­ for war.


    Later, as Byrn handed the sealed letter to a swift-footed rider, he felt a grin spread across his face.


    Forget the humble dream of a trading post. Given to the right people, that letter could buy him riches, influence, and power beyond anything he had imagined.


    Byrn watched the rider disappear into the horizon. The borderlands had proven far more lucrative than he had ever dared hope.


    ¡ª


    ~Present Day~


    By the time the meeting concluded, the sun had long dipped below the horizon. The streets were lit with the soft shimmer of lanterns. The vibrant decorations for the Festival of Love filled the air with a warm glow. Under the watchful gaze of the full moon, the capital sang with life, despite the late hour.


    Mask in place, Nikolai trailed behind Cristin. Together, they exited the Spice Merchant¡¯s extravagant trade post. It was one of the many establishments the crafty guild leader owned. But she had assured them that it was the most secure by far.


    Compared to the Lucky Charm, their new meeting location was nestled into a silent corner of the capital where few roamed. Still, it was better to be cautious. Although Nikolai¡¯s instincts told him they were safe for now, he couldn¡¯t shake off the practice.


    In the mornings, he could feel the heavy gaze of the queen¡¯s spies, no doubt ordered to keep tabs on his every move. Thankfully, they seemed uninterested in Cristin or the masked figure who often accompanied the attendant.


    ¡°My lord,¡± Cristin broke the silence with a gleam in his eye. ¡°You seem to be in high spirits.¡±


    The ice prince answered with a low hum, the closest he¡¯d come to acknowledging Cristin¡¯s claim. Tonight¡¯s meeting had been a success, great enough to lift his mood.


    ¡°We should thank the queen for her support in our cause,¡± teased Cristin, smirking at the irony.


    For years, Rewanna¡¯s relentless extortion of the borderlands had ignited unrest and resentment. Riots often broke out as villagers would attack traveling envoys and patrolling soldiers.


    In response, the crown had withdrawn resources entirely, leaving the villages to fend for themselves, starving and vulnerable against the raids from the grasslands.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe they actually came,¡± said Cristin, awe softening his words. ¡°They shook my hand! Can you believe it?¡±


    Nikolai snorted at the childlike gleam in the other¡¯s eyes.


    During the turmoil, the court remained silent, save for three generals. The men who defended Eburean''s fragile borders.


    While the children in the capital grew up on tales of General Langard¡¯s bravery, in Feldgrau, the three generals were like living legends. They were the ones whose achievements were recounted at dinner tables and celebrated in tavern songs.


    The Tactician General of the South, the Warrior General of the West, and the Wise General of the East.


    While technically subordinates to General Langard, these men were respected as leaders and protectors of their districts. Their soldiers were entirely loyal to their generals.


    Cristin clenched his fist. ¡°After all these years, my blood still boils when I think of how the crown treated them.¡±


    Nikolai could only sigh and shake his head in disappointment.


    Speaking out against the crown always came with consequences. As a result, the three generals had seen their armies stripped and resources siphoned away. The ministers of the capital, drunk on greed and fearful of the military¡¯s growing power, had laughed at their misfortune, all too eager to take their share. They were blind to the consequences as their lack of defense made the villages even more susceptible to grassland raids and bandit attacks, and anger grew still towards the capital and the crown.


    In a time of turmoil, the borderlands turned against their beloved generals. Loyal to a fault, the three men stayed in their districts, defending against enemies and their own people.


    ¡°How did you know the generals would accept the deal?¡± asked Cristin suddenly. ¡°Everyone knows that they¡¯re loyal to the crown. And they¡¯ve always rebuked our offers before.¡±


    ¡°They were desperate,¡± replied Nikolai evenly. Despite the legends and grand stories, the generals were only men, as human as the rest. ¡°And so were we. Without their support, we would have no manpower to reach the capital.¡± He paused, expression darkening. And without the manpower to cow the capital into submission, the inevitable war would break out, leaving bloodshed and tears in its wake.


    ¡°They could have turned us in,¡± Cristin¡¯s voice held no judgment, he was merely stating a fact. "It could have been a trap."


    ¡°They could have,¡± Nikolai conceded simply. "It could have."


    The Ice Prince had gambled everything to secure their support, depleting the ancient Feldgrau stores to send the generals rations and weapons. Each shipment was accompanied by an offer of alliance without terms or threats. For three years, the letters went unanswered.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m expecting a grand feast this year,¡± muttered Cristin, elbowing the lord in mock anger. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a pork roast in three years, thanks to you.¡±


    While the rest of Feldgrau flourished in the past few years ¡­ the portions at the castle had been conservative, to say the least. Despite his grand plans, Nikolai hadn¡¯t dared to ask for more from his own people, stocking the shipment with the Feldgrau family''s resources.


    ¡°No promises,¡± came the blunt reply. The Lord of Feldgrau glanced at the three dark carriages secreting away in the night, pulling the generals back to their borders.


    ¡°For some reason, they remind me of the Raven General,¡± Cristin scrunched his nose. ¡°Not sure why.¡±


    Nikolai nodded wordlessly but the comparison wasn¡¯t lost on him.


    The three men had lived up to his mother¡¯s stories. Despite their rough mannerisms and blunt speech, they were genuine. Unwavering in their dedication to their lands.


    ¡°My lords,¡± a voice interrupted.


    The two looked up to see a young man in black approach. His features were plain, but a sword hung at his belt with the emblem of the Eastern General. The same symbol could be found on his dark uniform.


    Bowing slightly, he offered a scroll of parchment to Cristin. A smile danced on the man¡¯s lips.


    ¡°You¡¯re the Eastern General¡¯s son-in-law, are you not?¡± Cristin asked, though he already knew the answer.


    ¡°Future son-in-law, Lieutenant Edward,¡± corrected the young man. ¡°Emma and I aren¡¯t married yet, though we hope it will be soon.¡± He patted his chest before adding with a grin. ¡°Please extend my congratulations to the Lord of Feldgrau on his recent marriage. My general was sad he could not attend.¡±


    ¡°I will let him and the lady know,¡± assured Cristin, caught off guard by the words. "You''re a lot more gracious about it than some of the others," muttered the attendant. Although none had outwardly voiced it, many were uncomfortable in learning that their great enemy had become part of the Eburean royal family.


    "I will admit that lord¡¯s choice in a partner is quite puzzling," Edward chuckled. Leaning in slightly, he lowered his voice. ¡°Marrying the Raven General might not have been the wisest decision.¡±


    Cristin stiffened at the words. He raised his eyes to glance at the young man with a guarded wariness.


    Beneath the mask, Nikolai¡¯s quiet voice cut in. ¡°Will that be a problem?¡±


    Was the Eastern General and his heir having second thoughts about their new alliance?


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t misunderstand me,¡± Edward raised his hands in an exaggerated surrender, the least bit intimidated. ¡°I have fought the Raven General before. He,¡± Edward coughed, ¡°I mean, she- has my respect as much as any warrior could.¡±


    ¡°But you don¡¯t approve of the marriage?¡± Cristin noted sourly.


    Edward hesitated, clearly sensing he had misstepped. ¡°I think the two of them could make an unstoppable match. However,¡± his voice lowered as his expression grew earnest. ¡°One should only marry for love, not for any other purpose.¡± He smirked knowingly. "Even we have heard tales of their marital troubles. There was even some arson involved, wasn''t there?"


    Nikolai exhaled a sharp, disbelieving sigh. If only the world could afford such simplicity, maybe things would be easier.


    He shot Cristin a glance, a silent command in his nod. Returning a brief nod, the attendant unrolled Edward¡¯s parchment. His eyes scanned the contents. Peering over his shoulders, even Nikolai was stunned.


    ¡°This¡­¡± Cristin trailed off, at a loss for words.


    Nikolai turned sharply towards Edward. ¡°Your general is sure about this?¡± Grabbing the parchment from Cristin, he offered it back to the young man. ¡°You can still take this back. We¡¯ll act as if this never happened.¡±


    Cristin¡¯s brows furrowed. Disappointment crossed his features, but even he dared not object. A gift of this magnitude meant nothing if it wasn¡¯t given with absolute certainty.


    ¡°This is the personal stamp of the Eastern General, as well as his signature,¡± continued Nikolai, a part of him stuck in disbelief. ¡°To give us this letter-¡° He cut himself off.


    By his side, Cristin suppressed a shudder. It was unnerving to think of the power that piece of paper held.


    ¡°The General was sure of his intentions,¡± assured Edward, smile unwavering. ¡°And should he fall, I have sworn to fulfill his promise. As will my heirs and their heirs, so on until the deal is seen through.¡±


    Nikolai tightened his grip on the letter, mind racing. Compared to the countless battles and inching victories, this felt like divine favor dropping into his hands. The thought made him uneasy. But as hesitant as he was to accept such a thing, Edward¡¯s words left no room for refusal. "Why?" he gritted out.


    Edward''s bright smile dimmed slightly. ¡°We owe much to the lord,¡± he began slowly. ¡°My general''s daughter was deathly ill. The doctors said Emma would not live past winter.¡±


    Edward¡¯s gaze drifted away, gritting his teeth. ¡°She is everything to me,¡± he said, voice raw with emotion. ¡°When your shipment arrived ¡­ it saved her life.¡± Edward stepped back and bowed deeply, his sincerity etched into the movement. ¡°That is a debt that cannot be easily repaid, so please,¡± he lifted his head to meet their eyes. ¡°Trust our sincerity on this. The offer is not made lightly.¡±


    If Edward found the masked man¡¯s fixed stare suspicious, he did not voice it.


    It was one thing for the Eastern general to sign an alliance. It was a mere agreement to lend support at the time of Malakai¡¯s crowning. But this letter? This was the promise of an army at the Lord of Feldgrau¡¯s call, no questions asked.


    Any soldier loyal to the Eastern General would obey the command it carried without hesitation.


    ¡°Thank you, Edward,¡± Cristin said softly. ¡°We will ensure the lord receives this.¡±


    ¡°You have my thanks.¡± Raising his head, Edward flashed them a relaxed grin. He certainly smiled a lot for a military man, noted Nikolai. ¡°And please extend my¡­ best wishes to the new Lady of Feldgrau as well.¡±


    Nikolai opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by a loud, familiar voice.


    ¡°Best wishes for what?¡±


    Exchanging a glance, Nikolai and Cristin hurriedly turned. Their uninvited guest was unperturbed by the frowns on their faces. Faye sauntered towards them lazily, arms crossed behind her head. Her dark cloak fluttered behind her, revealing glimpses of the sword she hung by her side.


    Cristin blanched. He moved instinctively, attempting to intercept her, but it was already too late. Edward turned as well. His constant smile finally faltered as his gaze locked on the approaching young woman.


    The cocky grin on the young woman¡¯s expression melted into a one of surprise. Her steps slowed.


    ¡°Lieutenant of the Eastern General,¡± she whispered in awe. Faye¡¯s hand drifted instinctively to her side, brushing against the hilt of her longsword. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    Recognition dawned in Edward¡¯s eyes. This wasn''t a lucky fool who had stumbled upon their meeting. Although her face had always been hidden by the golden, raven-shaped mask, he knew with sudden clarity exactly who she was. His gaze flickered to the longsword she was reaching for. It was a familiar blade. One he had watched cut down his men like blades of grass.


    ¡°Raven General,¡± he murmured, the realization slipping from his lips.


    ¡°Well met, lieutenant,¡± the young woman crossed her arms. The commanding presence and unmistakable edge only confirmed Edward''s suspicions.


    A slow, chilling grin spread across the lieutenant¡¯s face, impossibly wide. The manic expression did nothing to hide the distaste burning in his eyes.


    ¡°Lady of Feldgrau,¡± he said, voice laced with dark amusement. ¡°We meet again.¡±