The Wicked House of Caroline

They flew overhead and watched as flames from biha users pushed back the tide of battalion soldiers. The Red Iron Cavalry was still pouring out of the mountain pass and fanning out on either side to make room.

They didn’t march forward. Deo and several biha users stood guard in the front, creating barriers to the battalion from moving closer when they arrived. Behind Deo and the biha users were rows of horseback archers, poised for defense.

Two members of the cavalry were standing to the side with the Northern Legion Commander standing between them, his wrists still bound in front of him. His head was lowered and he slumped forward.

“Cease your attack at once or your legion commander suffers!” Laz yelled. The two cavalrymen grasped the upper arms of the Northern Legion Commander and dragged him forward. Deo and the others had situated themselves a good distance from the mouth of the mountain pass, but still at a point that was higher ground than the battalion below.

It gave them a good view of the area in front of them and also gave the battalion a good view of their hostage.

Wisp brought the basket she was in towards them, and Gerard rushed to grab the hanging rope to steady and pull it onto a flat surface. As soon as it touched the ground, Beks climbed out of the basket. Lucian followed behind her and one of the cavalry men brought forward his horse and a set of weapons.

Beks lingered behind her brother and the others, but craned her neck to get a better view of the battalion’s reaction. With the Northern Legion Commander shoved to the front, clearly captured by them, the battalion that had been rushing forward came to a halt.

A handful of men in officers' uniforms were near the front of the battalion, and then pulled the reins back, glaring up at Deo and the others.

“Release Legion Commander Reed!” one of the men shouted.

Laz narrowed his eyes. “Vice Commander Holden, you are in no position to make demands. If you wish to discuss, then tell your men to stand down!”

The Vice Commander grit his teeth and appeared torn. He glanced at the other officers, who wore the same hesitant expression as him.

“Release Legion Commander Reed first!” After some time, that was the best he could respond with and Beks shook his head. Did he really not realize where he stood at the moment?

Laz almost rolled his eyes. He looked at the two men holding the Legion Commander and gave them a small nod.

The one on the right suddenly turned and punched the Legion Commander in the stomach. The captured man coughed and lurched his upper body forward at the force.

“We will give you until the count of three to order your battalion to stand down and retreat,” Laz yelled. “One!”

“Vice Commander?” Several officers looked to him for orders, but he continued to hesitate.

“Two!”

The Vice Commander clenched his jaw. “Vice Commander, what-”

“Thr-”

“Fall back!” The Vice Commander’s red face yelled as his eyes remained fixed on the slumped figure of their Legion Commander.

Beks let out a low breath of relief, but it was short lived. A movement caught the corner of her eye.

“Do not stand down!” Legion Commander Reed twisted his body all of a sudden and lunged forward. “Attack!”

“Legion Commander!”

“I said attack!” His voice filled the air as he avoided the grasps of two cavalrymen. He began to run forward. For a moment, Beks thought he was making a run for his battalion, but that wasn’t the case.

“Stop him!” Deo reached out with a cry to stop the Legion Commander, but the old man was too far.

His bound wrists moved forward and grabbed a dagger on the hip of one of the cavalrymen. One dagger used by an old man who had his wrists tied together wasn’t threatening, but that wasn’t the Legion Commander’s plan.

Beks wasn’t sure if she was the one who gasped out loud or if it was Efren behind her.

Blood splattered to the ground as the Legion Commander pushed the knife between his ribs. Beks’ eyes went wide.

“Attack!” Blood trickled down the corners of the Legion Commander’s lips as he turned around, the front of his clothes dark with blood.

“Is he crazy?” She heard Gerard cry out before several people rushed forward to try to save the old man.

His wrinkled face was twisted with satisfaction as his body twitched. They caught him before he hit the ground.

“Get him aid at once!” Laz ordered.

Beks stood in place with one thought on her mind. The Legion Commander was going to die, and that was his plan. He wanted to be a martyr to force his soldiers into action.

Blood continued to seep out between his fingertips, making the grip of the dagger slippery. It was inserted deep, down to the base of the blade, and right between two ribs. He was a lifetime soldier, Beks knew he knew where to stab. His breathing was labored. He’d punctured a lung.

“Legion Commander!” Voices shouted for the old man, and the front lines began to move closer, urged forward by their commanding officer’s sacrifice.

Laz whipped his head back to the battalion. “I said stand down!”

Deo raised his arm and swept it in front of him, sending out a long whip of flames to keep the soldiers at bay. The soldiers yelled and stumbled back.

“We will give you one chance to stand down!” Deo yelled, his voice booming across the field. “If you value your lives, stand down and retreat at once!”

Beks’ eyes flickered towards the groups of soldiers that had been forced back at the threat of the Red Iron Cavalry. She bit her lower lip, silently willing them to stand down. They were outnumbered, and the arrows of the Red Iron Cavalry would reach them before they managed to engage the first row of horseback soldiers.

If they were smart, they would stand down.

She could hear her heart beating in her ears. There was little movement in the ranks of the battalions. Did they hear her brother? Or did they simply not wish to stand down.

“His Majesty King Laurence does not wish to harm his own people!” Laz stepped forward and shouted as well. “If you do not stand down now, you will be known as a traitor and we will be forced to treat you as such! Stand down and you will be spared!”

Beks clenched her fists at her sides.

Deo’s stern look darkened. He glanced at Lucian. “Archers at the ready!”

A series of shuffling was heard behind them and Beks turned around. The fahn, a unit of Red Iron Cavalry, behind them had notched arrows and prepared to shoot. Seeing them simultaneously ready their arrows cued the other nearby fahn also raised their bows.

Beks turned back to the battalion in front of them. The tension in the air was palatable. Stand down.... She pleaded in her mind. If you want to live, please stand down!

The battalion seemed to freeze for a moment, then she caught a movement on the left. A small trio shifted from their defensive stance. They seemed to glance at each other before they lowered their weapons and began to walk away.

Once someone started, there were others.

The chain reaction began with individuals near the first three men. Those who saw that others were abandoning their position, and were swayed by the need to survive, also lowered their weapons and began to move.

Pockets of soldiers began leaving their positions, but many more remained standing. Some wore contemptuous looks. Some were confused or in disbelief that their brothers-in-arms would back down at the order of someone who wasn’t their direct superior.

Beks saw a few people try to stop some of the soldiers who were leaving, but those soldiers persisted, shrugging off the hands that tried to hold them back.

Voices broke out amongst the battalion. Beks was too far to hear what they were saying, but responses became volatile, attracting the attention of the officers at the front. Several turned to their men and began yelling out for soldiers to stay in position.

“Where do you think you’re going!?” The Vice-Commander whirled around and screamed at the soldiers behind him. “You are under orders from His Majesty King Luther! Do not fall for their lies!”

“They won’t let you live if you run away now! Cowards!” Another officer riding beside the Vice-Commander yelled, lacing his words with profanity before tugging his reins and charging into the crowd. “Get back! Get back!” He raised his sword, waving in the air in a threatening manner that had the opposite effect.

More soldiers began to stop others from leaving, aggravating the situation. Soldiers began to fight amongst themselves while those who could ran to leave the battalion.

“Get back here! Stop them!” The Vice-Commander yelled. “This is an order!” He turned his horse around and began galloping towards a group of soldiers trying to leave. “I’ll sooner kill you all than let desert my battalion!”

“Kill the cowards who flee!” It was a battle cry just before chaos erupted.

Beks didn’t know where it started, as there were multiple areas of unrest amongst the battalion, but she saw those who were running being chased. Weapons were raised, screams were heard, and the scent of blood reached her nose.

“Dammit, stop them!” Deo yelled. “Shoot the men on horseback and anyone who is attacking first!”

Lucian and Laz yelled the order on Langsher. All around her, the whistling of arrows flew past.

Shouts were heard as soldiers fighting amongst themselves turned around. The Vice-Commander turned his horse back to the cavalry, and pointed towards them with his sword. “Forward!”

She could almost feel the ground tremble beneath her under the weight of thousands of soldiers rushing towards them. Beks closed her eyes and exhaled a low, disappointed breath.

Laz grabbed the saddle of his horse and pulled himself on. Lucian yelled for someone to protect her.

Everyone was talking at once. On her left, a half dozen people were trying to keep the dying Legion Commander alive. In front of her, Deo had sent out another wave of fire before letting out a yell. Above the endless shouting, she heard the whistle of arrows.

For a fleeting moment, she was cooled and shaded from the sun by a volley of arrows flying overhead. They hit their targets with dull thuds, sending soldiers down to their knees.

Dust flew around her as the cavalry rushed forward on either side, avoiding the area where she stood like a river going around an island. The thunderous sound of horses beating the ground with each step filled her senses.

The two armies clashed.

Beks’ eyes squinted as she watched the Red Iron Cavalry sweep through the last battalion standing. Blood and dirt filled the air.

Her heart sank and she swallowed hard. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen bloodshed and battle. She’d watched her brother set fire to a forest, seen her mother sink ships, and saw off her husbands when they charged into battle.

She had personally destroyed siege weapons while a battle was happening below her.

This time was strangely different. Was it because their opponent hesitated? Previous fights had her on the receiving end of an attack, but this time, she knew that there were those who didn’t want to engage.

There were those who didn’t want to fight; they just wanted to survive. Beks didn’t consider it selfish to want to live.

Her eyes drifted to the old man on his last breaths, laying on the ground. She considered it selfish to want others to needlessly die. She narrowed her eyes. Though they were on opposite sides, Beks didn’t want the battalion to be slaughtered. Though misguided, they were still citizens of Kadmus.

Citizens that she had worked hard for. They were so close to regaining the throne; these soldiers didn’t need to die.

She clenched her jaw and shook her head. Luther wasn’t worth dying for.

“My lady?” Efren’s voice was quiet beside her. She turned her head and saw him offering her a piece of cloth. Beks stared at it for a moment before lifting her hand to her cheek. It was wet. “Are you all right?”

Beks let out an unsteady breath. She took the cloth offered and patted her face. “All they had to do was stand down,” she said. “Just leave their weapons and acknowledge King Laurence as the rightful king.”

Efren lowered his eyes. “They are soldiers, my lady. They are taught to follow orders. Since they chose to follow orders, they are our enemies.”

Beks nodded. “I know.” But that doesn’t mean I wish they weren’t.

The screaming from the battlefield rang in her ears. She stood in her spot, watching as if disembodied as the Red Iron Cavalry collided with the opposing army and then almost trampled through them. It happened both so fast and so slow, and only part of the Red Iron Cavalry had been ordered to advance.

The majority of the cavalry were still making their way through the mountain pass, and before the last of the members came through, the eastern shore of the river was littered with bodies.

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

“Were there any survivors?” Beks sat on a rock outside the tent that was set up for her. Just up the road was the picturesque garrison overlooking the river, but the battle had reached it, taking the lives of hundreds of battalion soldiers who had been backed into the garrison. It wasn’t a suitable place for her to stay the night.

Her older brother released a low, heavy breath as he tugged off his gloves. “A few who managed to get away before the battalion officers ordered deserters to be killed survived.”

Beks raised her eyes. “How many is a few?”

Deo hesitated. “Fifteen.”

Beks closed her eyes and felt her body grow heavier. When they last gave the order to stand down, there were many more than fifteen people who abandoned their positions and succumbed to their orders. Much more.

She didn’t know if the majority had been killed by their own or how many were killed by Deo and the others.

Deo approached her and knelt down on the ground beside her. “We are finding many wounded. More soldiers have been wounded than killed.”

“But will they survive?” Beks asked in a knowing voice. Her dulled eyes looked at her brother. “We don’t have many medics and their priority is to treat our people. Many of those soldiers who were injured today won’t live to see tomorrow.”

Deo clenched his jaw for a moment. “I know you didn’t want to fight them, Beks, but we had no choice.”

Her eyes turned towards the campfire in front of her and stared at it with a blank expression. “I know.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just that I had hoped that we could get through this smoothly. It is naive of me to think about it, but I didn’t want to have to fight more of our citizens.”

Deo opened his mouth, but couldn’t seem to find the words to reply to her. “We will try to save who we can.”

Beks shut her eyes and nodded. Deo looked at her once more before pushing himself up.

“She didn’t want this to happen again.”

He stopped and turned back to look at her. “Who didn’t?”

“The late Queen,” Beks replied, her eyes still fixed on the fire. “The reason she was so strict with training Brother Laurence, with training me, was to ensure that her people were able to live peaceful lives, without having to live through another battle for the throne. Brother, it’s strange. I knew from the beginning that when we returned to put Brother Laurence back on the throne, we would need to fight against our people. I knew this was inevitable....”

“But you still hoped you wouldn’t have to,” Deo said, finishing her sentence. She turned her head and looked up at him. His expression became soft and helpless. “Beks, we gave them a chance.”

“I just don’t think Luther is worth dying for,” Beks replied in a faint voice. “They didn’t die for the sake of the kingdom, or to protect their families. They died to keep Luther on the throne.” She let out a small, bitter laugh. “I hate that because of him, it has come to this. We have been advancing for weeks. He should know by now that his brothers have returned. At any point, he could have given the order to stand down. To retreat.” Her voice rose with each word.

Deo narrowed his eyes. “He won’t give it all up now.”

Beks pursed her lips. “We need to reach Kadmium soon. I want this to be over.”

Deo touched her head. “I do, too.”

He stepped back and left her to continue sitting and mulling over the situation. Wrath, who had been under heavy escort at the back of the cavalry train, brought her some food along with Thad and Sunny. One sibling sat on either side of her.

“Are you two all right?” Beks asked as she held the bowl of food in her hands, but didn’t pick up the spoon.

“I’m all right,” Wrath replied. She looked at Beks and frowned. “Are you mad?”

“No.”

“Sad?”

“A little.” Beks lowered her eyes and picked up the spoon. “I am...disappointed.”

“But we won,” Wrath said with knitted brows. Beks smiled a bit, but her demeanor remained despondent.

“We won, but there was a cost of life,” Beks replied. “That is how it is in war.”

“Sister, we should be clear to march to Kadmium after this,” Thad told her with some hope in his voice. “I don’t think there will be much resistance now.”

She let out a little hum. She also didn’t think there would be much resistance going forward, at least not until they reached Kadmium. Her correspondence with the rest of Laurence’s army was promising. Nearly all the other battalions, after her eight days of manipulating many of them, were either assigned in a place where they wouldn’t have a chance to fight, were imprisoned to prevent retaliation, or had joined Laurence’s army.

With orders from Southern Legion Commander Laurent, the entirety of the Southern Legion had become loyal to Laurence.

With the Northern Legion leaderless and scattered, as well as faced with the pressure from the Southern Legion, it was unlikely that they’d get involved again. The only real defense Luther had left, provided there was no foreign interference, was the royal guard.

The royal guard was in a precarious position. On one hand, they were supposed to always be loyal and follow the orders of the current monarch. On the other, the current monarch occupied the throne illegally, and the real king was the one attacking.

Beks suspected that like today, the royal guards who be torn, but the majority would still protect Luther because Luther was the current king.

It was frustrating to think about.

“What do you think we should do when we reach Kadmium?” Wrath asked with Sunny eating next to her.

Beks narrowed her eyes and stopped eating. Her mind raced with different scenarios using what information she had and what she could predict would happen based on her experience and understanding of the situation.

Currently, there were three main forces under Laurence. The groups of the Southern Legion going northwest, Laurence’s army moving north to Kadmium, and the Red Iron Cavalry coming in from the east. In addition, there was a fourth force led by Lady Seneca holding the north. They could start to close in on Kadmium at any time.

Luther had two choices: either he remained in Kadmium and tried to keep his throne to his death, or he would flee Kadmium and seek sanctuary elsewhere. The oracle would likely stay with him, unless of course, she was with child, in which case, the priority for both of them would be to have the new oracle escape to ensure the safety of the child.

Luther’s father, the Third Consort, would likely flee. In fact, Beks was almost certain that the conniving man would. If they caught him, he’d be executed immediately. It was well deserved if Beks had anything to say about it.

She ate a spoonful of food and swallowed before answering her brother. “We need to secure the royal grounds, and capture and imprison the Fourth Prince and his followers. Our focus should be on the royal grounds, but we can’t rule out securing the capital so as to prevent the Fourth Prince and his followers from escaping.

“Then, we’ll seal off the city first?” Thad asked.

“Ideally, while our armies are still a few days out, we should send a vanguard to seal the city. I’m sure the Fourth Prince and his people are following our movements, or at the very least, can approximate how long it will take for us to reach Kadmium. By the time we get there, they may have already fled....”

Thad frowned. “Then, how do you seal the city?”

“Commandeer the gate houses leading into and out of the city center,” Beks replied. “The five gate houses are guarded by royal guards.”

“But if they find out we’ve taken over, they’ll send more guards.”

Beks narrowed her eyes. “We can send over our people dressed as guards.”

“Won’t the others not recognize them and become suspicious?” Wrath asked.

The corners of Beks’ lips curled up. “That’s only if the royal guards notice, but they won’t.” Her younger brother and sister turned to look at her. “The royal guards will be put out of commission temporarily.”

“How?” Thad asked.

“The same way as before,” Beks replied. “Food poisoning.”

It worked to replace the royal guards with paladins. It should work again for replacing the royal guards with their soldiers. Any of the royal guards missed could be captured and sent outside the city to be imprisoned while the rest of the army arrived and surrounded Kadmium.

With the royal guards unable to do their duty, entering the city and surrounding the royal grounds would be a simple matter. Any remaining guards wouldn’t be a challenge with the amount of strength they had.

As her mind went over the logistics of the plan, Laz arrived, his clothes stained with blood and dirt, and his face caked with sweat and even more dirt. He let out a heavy breath as he sat down on a bench across from them and removed his gloves, and arm guards.

“Lucian is arranging the burial of those who died,” Laz told her. “Afterwards, he will go up to the garrison to see the wounded. Those who are dying will be given last rites if they wish.”

Beks let out another low breath. “I sometimes forget that he’s a priest.”

“Sometimes, he forgets he’s a priest, too,” Laz replied with a wry smile. He waved his hand and called for one of the soldiers standing by to bring him something to eat. “We didn’t lose any one this time, but we have a few seriously injured. They will follow behind.”

“When we reach Green Meadows, leave them there to recuperate,” Beks told him. “I will make sure there will be doctors and beds.”

He gave her a nod. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do much this time. I just stood there, watching everything happen,” she said.

Laz furrowed his brows. “You tried your best to avoid as much conflict as possible. Your work this last week spared many lives, Beks. How many battalions were able to leave and avoid battle with us? That doesn’t only spare their lives, but the lives on our side.”

Beks took another deep breath. “It was going so smoothly.”

Laz gave her a helpless look. “No conquest is bloodless.”

Beks let out a small scoff. “Legion Commander Reed is dead.” If there was anyone’s life she didn’t regret was taken that day, it was the Northern Legion Commander’s. “The damage was too much and our medics couldn’t save him.”

Laz sighed and shook his head. “He was almost fanatical in his determination. How can the benefits that Luther gave him be enough for him to be willing to lose his life? Land and tax exemption? Was it worth it?”

Beks narrowed her eyes. “If he was greedy, he could’ve tried to bargain with us.”

“Maybe he was bitter because we confined him and used his position to separate his legion,” Laz said.

“Or there was some other reason.” Beks poked at her food and narrowed her eyes. “The two battalion commanders under him who attacked us were from families who deep ties to the Temple.”

Laz raised a brow. “You suspect that he also had deep ties to the Temple?”

“People are willing to die for their beliefs, and he seemed awfully sure that the Temple would become involved.”

“He also said the Hessings are stronger than you think.” Laz gave her a pointed look before accepting the plate of food from the soldiers. “But the Hessings should be losing power and influence at this time.”

“To my knowledge, they aren’t heavily involved in the Temple, either,” Beks told him. “While they practiced, it was the bare minimum. They don’t send children to the Temple or make hefty donations.”

“The Hessings have a large network. They may use it to escape considering what they’ll face when Brother Laurence returns to the throne.” Laz shook his head and poked at his food. “Though Luther’s father is a Hessing, the rest of us also have Hessing blood through our mother.” She could almost hear his silent question asking why the Hessings pushed to make Luther king. Could it be because their fathers were foreigners?

Beks had her own answer. “It’s not that they didn’t know, but because of Luther’s father. The Third Consort is in the direct line of the Hessings, so the family would side with him.”

“They don’t like the other princes?” Wrath asked.

“Well...specifically, the Third Consort doesn’t,” Beks replied. “Thinking about how he acted when we were younger, and before the late Queen died, he isolated himself and Luther from the rest of the brothers. Uncle Timur and Brother Laurence’s father raised their three sons together.”

“We already know that the Third Consort doesn’t like us or our fathers,” Laz told her.

“Which is why he so badly wanted to put Luther on the throne,” Beks said. “Everyone says he was the late Queen’s first love, but she didn’t marry him for political reasons. He wasn’t good enough to marry as a husband of choice or convenience, despite being loved by the Queen. Wouldn’t it make sense that he harbored resentment and tried to push his son to be king in order to prove that he was better than his predecessors?”

Laz sneered. “He knew his wife struggled to keep the kingdom peaceful and thriving, but he still willingly threw it into chaos, disregarding all of his wife’s work and wishes, to put his son on the throne. It seems he didn’t love Mother as much as he said.”

“I’ve read books where love is twisted into hate. Perhaps that is the case for the Third Consort.”

Laz let out a heavy breath. “It doesn’t really matter what his reason is. He instigated this. I don’t believe for a moment that Luther was able to conspire to kill Brother Laurence by himself.” He lowered his eyes. “I don’t know the extent of his part in it.”

“I’d like to know how much influence the Temple had in all of this.” Laz looked up towards her.

“You think the Temple was involved? Beyond the new oracle?”

Beks nodded. “When we were at the Great Temple Complex, Sister Levina had a collection of documents regarding the past oracles. I memorized the texts and read them when I had some time. The documents she had were different from the official records that the Temple has on oracles. There is a bit more detail.”

Laz cocked his head to the side. “Were you to trying to find something that would disprove you are the Daughter with Dawn in her hair again?”

Beks sighed. “At this point, I’m resigned to my fate. I was trying to find out more about what the oracles had in common. Sister Levina said that the new oracle is a fake.”

“A fake?” Wrath perked up at this. Her eyes shone with curiosity. “As in, she’s not the real oracle? Did she kill the real one and take her place?”

Beks squinted at her younger sister. “I don’t think so, and that’s quite a morbid conclusion.”

Wrath wrinkled her nose and Thad snorted at her. “Why does Sister Levina think the new oracle is a fake?”

“There were two things she pointed out. The first is the location of when an oracle is awakened should be in the same place where the last oracle died. It’s recorded that when the previous oracle died, she was in the Great Temple Complex, but when the new oracle was awoken, it was not in the same area. We’re not completely sure it counts. The second concern has to do with her name, which is the strangest part.”

“What makes it strange? Is she using a fake name?” Thad asked.

Beks shook her head. “She went by the same name. According to the texts, every time an oracle awakens, she gives a new name to be called. For instance, the previous oracle started as a priestess in training, an orphan, and her name was given to her by the nuns at the orphanage she was adopted as - Henrietta. When she awoke one day, before she started correctly prophesizing, she addressed herself by a different name.”

Laz narrowed her eyes. “That’s a strange coincidence. And every oracle had a similar situation?”

Beks nodded. “Yes. They wake up after an injury or prolonged illness able to give prophecy. The new oracle did not, which makes me wonder if she is a legitimate new oracle or if perhaps everything else was a coincidence.”

“Every oracle before her awakening the same way was a coincidence?” Laz asked. “That’s hard to believe.”

“I’m hoping to find out more about the last oracle. She didn’t take everything with her when she returned to the Great Temple Complex to die,” Beks told him. “She left some of her writing in the royal grounds, in the guest house where she lived before she left Kadmium. I may have a clue there.”

“But what about the new oracle?” Wrath asked. “Didn’t she do something bad?”

“Beyond seducing Sister’s fiancé and sending clerics to pretend to heal King Laurence?” Thad asked with a disgusted expression.

“Oracles have a very strong influence on the Temple. They’re almost living gods,” Beks said. “But she is the first oracle to become so entangled with a country’s politics. All the oracles seemed to have avoided becoming too caught up with a specific country’s politics. Sister Levina is right to suspect that something isn’t right about her. The closest was the last oracle who lived in Kadmium as a guest and made the prophecy about me, but that was it.”

“You were also her last prophecy,” Laz told her. He paused for a moment. “She also told Mother to find you.” Beks raised a brow. “Mother would’ve searched for you regardless, but I distinctly remember the last oracle telling Mother directly to look for you and bring you back to Kadmium. She was very insistent at the time.”

“Did she think I was in danger?” Beks asked. “She was never clear on which kingdom would be made an empire because of me. I could’ve been seen as an enemy or a commodity for others.”

“And your life would’ve been in danger as a result,” Laz replied. He nodded his head. “Then, it seems she knew something about you that we don’t.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

“What do you mean Northern Legion Commander Reed is dead?” Luther looked up from the map he was hunched over. Around the table, several older men were gathered, and all turned to Chamberlain Wilton when he arrived.

“What happened to the Northern Legion?” The low voice of one of Luther’s councilors as a shadow passed over their face.

Chamberlain Wilton took a deep breath, but kept himself poised as he answered in as neutral a voice as he could. “A message has arrived. Legion Commander Reed was held hostage by the troops of the Second and Third Prince. In order to instigate his battalion to attack, he fatally wounded himself. The battalion splintered and was surrounded by the Red Iron Cavalry.”

Luther’s eyes narrowed. Seated in the corner, Iris pressed her hand over her chest to try to calm herself. She tried not to send such a hateful glare at Chamberlain Wilton for breaking the news at such a time.

Iris had her remaining paladins intercept all messages from the front lines in order to hide the fact that King Laurence was returning from Luther. Information had been carefully fed to Luther and his council that their opponents had sided with the Second and Third Prince. This included Marquis von Glasser and the Carolines.

However, news of King Laurence’s survival was omitted. Iris feared that Luther would have second thoughts about keeping the throne if he found out that his oldest brother, who was the most fitting to be king, was alive and coming back.

If Luther gave up the throne, everything she had worked for would be for naught. And his brothers wouldn’t let her live.

“What about all the other battalions stationed with the Northern Legion Commander?” the Third Consort asked with cold glare. “That entire region should’ve been guarded tighter than the Gilded Palace!”

Chamberlain Wilton hesitated and appeared at a loss. “Your Highness, the other battalions left.”

“What?” A wave of chatter exploded from around the table as disbelief filled the room. “How can that be?”

“Why would they leave? They know that the Red Iron Cavalry is coming from the east and would go through the mountains there!”

“Marquis von Glasser’s heir has somehow brought together the von Glasser army and has gotten in contact with the Southern Legion Commander. The Northern Legion Battalions have been relocated to try to block the Southern Legion Battalions,” Chamberlain Wilton reported.

“This is the first I’m hearing of this!” Duke Seneca burst with frustration. “I suspected that von Glasser’s son would retaliate if given the chance, but the von Glasser’s army’s supplies were confiscated. Where are they getting their resources?”

“Agreed, we have stockpiled all the weapons and confiscated horses and wagons from nobles who opposed His Majesty’s rule,” a different marquis said as he slammed his hand on the table. “Where are they getting their weapons? With what money?”

Chamberlain Wilton held out his arms helplessly. “I cannot answer that, my lords. I am only reporting what I’ve been told.”

“Is the von Glasser army coming from a different location?” Luther asked with narrowed eyes. He looked back at the map. Their placement of troops needed to be rearranged.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Chamberlain Wilton reported. “They are moving north. The Southern Legion Commander has ordered several battalions to go north from the west side of the kingdom, along the coast.”

“This is a three-pronged attack,” the marquis at the table muttered with a frown. “They’re trying to surround us.”

“How far away are they?” The Third Consort demanded with trembling fists. “If they’re marching towards the capital, how much time do we have?”

Chamberlain Wilton paled. “I’m afraid it’s less than a week, Your Highness.”

Iris felt the air pushed out of her at once.

She didn’t hear anything else despite everyone else in the room appearing to talk at once. In a daze, she sat in place, her eyes staring out blankly in front of her as Luther and his council made plans to prepare the royal guard.

Kadmium was not easy to storm, someone said. The late Queen had taken pains to make the royal grounds more difficult to breach.

Iris lowered her hand to her stomach. She thought that with an heir, they would solidify their position, but before she could confirm she was pregnant, Laurence’s army was making their way across the country to Kadmus.

Her eyes reddened. How? How could a man who went missing while on the brink of death suddenly have an army? Was it his brothers? Was it because the Second and Third Prince were alive? Was it the Second and Third Prince who found a way to save him from them and smuggle him out of the kingdom?

“Iris.”

Her heart quickened. What would the princes do to her when they arrived in Kadmium? She only had a handful of paladins left, and the Temple hadn’t responded. She feared that communication to them had been cut, which meant she couldn’t ask for help.

“Iris!” She snapped her head up, her eyes wet with tears as Luther knelt down in front of her. He took her hands in his and squeezed him, meeting her red eyes with a gentle gaze. The room was empty except for them and for a moment, she wondered how long she had been sitting there in a daze. “Iris, are you all right?”

No, she wasn’t. Her lips parted for a moment, but no answer came. She lowered her gaze. “I’m...I’m worried,” she said in a breathy voice. She swallowed hard “Can we still stay in Kadmium?”

Luther’s eyes crinkled up. “I need to talk to you about that,” he said in a tight voice. He squeezed her hands once more and stood up, pulling her to her feet with him. “If I leave, I’d essentially be abandoning the throne to my brothers.”

“Luther, they’re a week’s travel away. Perhaps even less at this time!” Iris choked out as she grabbed his forearms. “They’re going to storm the city!”

“The royal guards will close the gates-”

“You can’t stay.” She shook her head as the realization hit her. “If your brothers enter the city with multiple armies, the royal guard will not be able to keep them out. Your brothers will come after you!”

“Iris-”

“We have to leave.” Iris pulled him towards the door. “We have to leave before your brothers reach us or they’ll imprison us, Luther. Or worse!”

“Iris, I can’t leave!” Luther said. He pulled her back and forced her to meet his eyes. “Iris, if I run away, they will chase me. I need to stay.”

“But if we stay-”

“We are not staying.” Luther’s voice was strained. His grip on her hands tightened. “I am.”

Iris slowly let her words sink in before her legs began to shake. She shook her head. “You can’t stay-”

“I have to.”

“If you stay, they may kill you-”

“My brothers will be angry at me, but they won’t kill me,” Luther told her with a reassuring smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Even as he said it, he didn’t seem to fully believe it. He swallowed and diverted his eyes to the ground. “Iris, I want you to go into hiding.”

Her eyes dilated. Her breathing became uneven. “You have to come with me.”

“If I come with you, they will chase me and you will be in danger,” Luther told her. He raised a hand and cupped the side of her face. “I can’t put you in any more danger.”

“But we’re married!” She cried out in a broken voice. “You’re my husband! You’re supposed to stay with me!”

“I’m your husband. I’m supposed to keep you safe,” he told her as his face softened. His thumbs wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Iris, didn’t you say that you think you may be pregnant?”

Her breath caught in her throat. She did say that, but it hadn’t been confirmed yet. “I....”

“I don’t want my pregnant wife to be put in prison. I don’t want my child to be born in prison if we are caught,” Luther told her. “Take your paladins-”

“Luther-”

“And go into hiding,” he told her with determination. “Go back to the Great Basin. Remember that small cottage where we stayed? You’ll be safe there.” She opened her mouth to insist that he go with her, but he cut her off. “Listen to me. My brothers likely won’t kill me. They may exile me. If they exile me, I can come to you without a problem. No one will be chasing me. No one will try to punish us. You, me, and our baby will be safe.”

Exile was the best-case scenario. And Luther was right; his brothers were unlikely to kill him. In her previous life, no matter how angry they were at Luther, at most, he was disowned and sent away, but he wasn’t killed, let alone physically harmed.

She didn’t want to leave without him, but he made a good point.

She wasn’t naive enough to think that she’d be treated with the same mercy if the Second and Third Prince caught her. They had no affection for her. If anything, considering how she had an affair with Luther and negatively affected Lady Rebecca, they hated her.

Iris stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. She buried her face in his shoulder. “How long?” she asked in a choked voice. “How long do I have to wait?”

Luther’s arms went around her body and he pressed his head against hers. “A year...maybe two. It depends on how merciful they will be.”

Iris shut her eyes, her fingers digging into his forearms. “You swear to me that you will come for me?”

Luther nodded. “I swear it.”

She turned her head and kissed him firmly on the mouth. When she pulled away she burned his face into her mind. “You must come back to me.”

Luther nodded. He cupped her face once more. “You should get ready to leave. Captain St. Moore is here and he’ll be able to protect you well.”

A prang of guilt shot through her when he mentioned the man who’d tried to kill his former fiancée multiple times. Luther didn’t know that Captain St. Moore had tried to assassinate Lady Rebecca, but that wasn’t why Iris felt guilty when he was mentioned. Her hand moved over her flat stomach.

“As long as you survive, you will have another chance,” she told him. She wouldn’t delude herself into thinking that they, protected only by a few paladins and royal guard, would be able to keep their seat of power.

“Stay quiet,” Luther said in a low voice. “And don’t let anyone know you’re leaving. If they see you leaving, they will panic.”

Iris nodded. “Then, I will prepare.”

He kissed her once more and released her hand. Biting her lip, she turned and walked towards the door. It seemed that Luther had sent everyone out to prepare the battlements around the city for a possible siege.

As she stepped out, she almost ran into Chamberlain Wilton. He bowed his head and stepped back at once. “My apologies, Your Highness.”

Iris gave him a dismissive wave of her hand and stepped around him. The royal guards that were usually stationed outside in the hall had been reduced by half that of when she arrived earlier. Her two attendants remained in their spot and straightened up as they saw her.

She narrowed her eyes and quickened her steps to get to them. She lowered her head, keeping her voice a whisper as she spoke. “One of you summon Captain St. Moore. We will flee the city tonight.”

The two attendants gasped, but didn’t let out a word of protest. One bowed and rushed off while the other remained by her.

Iris took a step forward, but paused.

She needed to ask Luther for money. Typically, the Temple sent money to cover any additional expenses that weren’t covered by whoever was hosting an oracle, but it had been weeks since she’d heard from them at all.

She held out her hand to signal her attendant to wait while she returned to the meeting room. She heard Luther’s voice become sharp and aggravated within, and stopped before she entered the door. She pressed herself back against the wall and listened.

“You are sure? Can it be a mistake?” Luther’s voice was tight.

“The witnesses who passed on the information are almost certain, Your Majesty,” Chamberlain Wilton said in a somewhat hesitant voice. “The man called himself Laurence dun Kadmus...and he looks like his late Majesty.”

Iris grasped onto the wall to keep herself from falling to the floor when she heard him. Her heart pounded in her chest. How did the Chamberlain find out? She had sent her paladins to block the news! Where was the Chamberlain getting this information?

“No....” Luther’s voice was breathy, full of resistance to the very idea. “My eldest brother is dead. You’re wrong!”

Iris pressed her hand against her chest. How could Luther accept the news so easily? He’d seen the body of the ‘late king’ be entombed. He’d even kept vigil over that waterlogged corpse. Luther had no idea that it was just the body of some random drowning victim his father dug up.

“Your Majesty, Marquis von Glasser is with him,” Chamberlain Wilton replied. “And if that man truly is the late king, then it would give Southern Legion Commander Laurent a reason to rebel against you.”

“But his body is in the tombs,” Luther choked out. “It was verified! No. No! I refuse to believe it! It must be my Second or Third brother’s doing!”

“Your Majesty?”

Iris peeked into the room and saw Luther pacing back and forth, pale and shaken by the news as Chamberlain Wilton stood to the side with a distressed expression.

“My eldest brother is dead. That’s why I took the throne! No one else was fitter to do so. It must be my Second or Third brother who is trying to delegitimize me!”

“But by having an imposter as the late king?”

“They need a figurehead to rally our opponents together,” Luther said. “Since they don’t have the experience or education necessary to rule, they’d need to find some other way to get support. That must be the reason.” He said the last sentence with so much confidence, Iris almost believed him.

“Your Majesty, King Laurence and the Marquis von Glasser aren’t the only ones who are marching towards the city,” Chamberlain Wilton told him. Luther stopped pacing and turned to look at him. “We thought the Caroline army was sent from Sagittate to aid the Second and Third Princes, but they weren’t just sent. Duke Robert of Caroline and his heir, Lord Amadeo, have been sighted leading the armies.”

Luther’s eyes went wide. He stood in his space and he shook.

Iris’ brows shot up. She heard that the Caroline army was marching towards them, but not about the duke and his heir. How were they able to lead armies within Kadmus? They may have survived the assassination attempts, but they were exiled with exiled markings!

They would’ve been killed trying to cross the border.

“That’s impossible! Duke Caroline and his son were both branded with exile markings! No one with an exile marking has ever managed to return!” Luther nearly shouted, his voice growing more frantic.

“The sentries that are along the routes have reported this,” Chamberlain Wilton said. “And, Your Majesty, they are not the only ones who have returned.”

“There is more?” Luther threw his arms in the air and walked away. “Are you going to tell me that my mother is alive, too?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Chamberlain Wilton said, his voice weakening. Luther turned to face him with a glare.

“Then who else?”

Chamberlain Wilton held his gaze. “Lady Rebecca has returned to Kadmus.”