IX
It wasn't that Alex never suspected his colleagues, more than he wasn't allowed to.
?When his father told him to keep his eyes off his peers at the station house, as much as it made Alex want to scream, it was an order he had to obey. He had no choice but to accept it.
?That's why, when that woman came up to him urgently about a civilian carrying a kid towards the border, he'd become consumed by hateful excitement.
He dropped everything he was doing and ran.
It was a chance to enact some justice, perhaps enough to somewhat soothe his guilt.
He had no idea he was going to stumble upon a much bigger fish in the process.
?Whilst child kidnapping was never something Jay had been rumoured to do, that man knew way too much about it for Alex to give him the benefit of the doubt.
For someone as cold and money-hungry as him, as well as knowing the knights' complicity, it wasn't an unreasonable assumption to suggest he took part in it.
?Alex bit the inside of his lip out of frustration, pissed off about having to deal with someone so disgusting.
?He knew Jay only agreed so he could escape with that dumb sword. And Jay knew that Alex knew that. Even if they pretended otherwise for the time being, both of them knew Jay would run the moment he had a chance.
?Alex was just lucky Jay had a strange attachment to that relic.
?Once they made it to Lyechester, and he got that thing back, there was going to be absolutely nothing to stop him from running rampant. Heads would roll. But, that would no longer be Alex's business, his work would be done by then. He only had to worry about the present.
?Thinking of the devil, two of his subordinates dragged him out to the stable area. Jay caught him with his eyes immediately, nodding as if to say 'look at how well behaved I am'. Alex couldn't help the involuntary shiver that came with Jay's escorts' complete lack of awareness.
?They pulled Jay to him, a little too roughly. "Your Lordship."
?Alex acknowledged them, but couldn't help but do a double take and inspect Jay's appearance with how different it was.
After his wash, his hair was much more golden than the original dirty blonde he seemed to have, red and bronze hues hailed the sun, giving a shine to the mess after the matts had been brushed out.
Although his hair had been kept short, unusually, the front was long enough to obscure his eyes, adding on the extra challenge of trying to read his thoughts.
?With the right mannerisms, he'd look like a completely ordinary non-murderous gentleman, which was scary to think about.
?The clothes he had been given were simple, but did much to hide the abuse he had received the day before.
The bruises on his face remained, but Jay hardly seemed to notice the pain; if the lizard was able to feel pain at all, that was.
More severe than that, the scars on his arms were red, white and angry, uncovered by the short sleeves.
?Alex winced just looking at them.
?Jay must have noticed his gaze. "Ugly, right? Maybe a jacket would make me less conspicuous."
?Alex hated his devious and slippery tongue.
?At the very least, Jay was shackled this time. His ankles were very loosely chained to one another, giving him enough length to walk, but not enough to be agile. A lean rope secured his hands together in front of him.
?"You two, leave." Alex ordered the knights, who petulantly did so, leaving them alone.
?Alex was pleased with the way he was secured; even if Jay liked that sword enough to follow Alex, there was no way to know how strong that particular tether was.
If Jay was treated bad enough, or became too impatient, he may just decide to attack and flee regardless, sword be damned.
Alex had to be careful with how he handled him.
?Which was difficult when he hated the guy enough to slaughter him.
?"James was the name you gave me," Alex said, "so that is what I will use. It's not a good idea calling you 'Jay' in public."
?James did not say anything, but there was a certain clench in his jaw, gone as soon as it was there.
?Alex raised an eyebrow. "Tell me your real name and I can call you that instead, if that's what you want."
?James' expression was better schooled this time, entirely lifeless.
?"That's what I thought."
?The carriage had been prepared by his subordinates, as Alex did not know much about the process of going to hire one from the knight's order himself. Predictably, what they gave him was a lousy attempt at what he outlined.
?The two horses the stable boy brought over looked healthy and strong enough, but the carriage was a flimsy wooden transport wagon.
It was, thankfully, roofed but the gaps between the wooden planks made it unsuitable for wind and rain.
The back did not even have a wall, just a large cavity where the goods would normally be hauled on, pathetically hidden by a curtain.
?Carefully keeping James in his field of view, Alex went to the back to inspect the interior, he had asked for sleeping arrangements for two, but after peering behind the curtain, they hadn't even given him that much.
Instead, they had a haphazard pile of old pillows and blankets on top of the hard floor.
?At least, the boxes of water, food and medical supplies had been properly considered.
?Perhaps they were worried about the consequences if Alex did actually die on his trip. That was as far as their concern reached.
?He trampled the prick of anger simmering up, as always.
?It would have to do.
?"Ready the horses." Alex told the stable boy, who hurried to do so.
?A gust of wind brushed past them, and Alex glanced at James, watching as his hair blew out of the way of his eyes.
?James' chestnut gaze blankly analysed the carriage, like he had no care in the world.
Alex knew James would have to be feeling nervous, even if he didn't show it.
James suddenly looked at Alex, but his expression was no more passionate than it was before.
Alex couldn't help but find the lifelessness creepy.
?He cleared his throat, and went to inspect the bench at the front of the coach, looking for any places to tie James to.
?Although it would have been a lot more comfortable, and arguably safer, to have James tied in the back, he could keep an eye on him if they were sat together.
Alex's safety was a negotiable point, his mission's success meant more.
In the carriage, James could silently escape and Alex would be none the wiser for miles.
?Obviously James had predicted this as he seemed to already be walking to the bench before Alex got the words out.
?"Come here."
? ? ? ?
James was severely headstrong by nature.
Right now, he was like a lion being smugly led by a string of cotton, and it made it all too tempting to swipe a claw at the self-satisfied prats that acted carelessly around him.
They had no idea what kind of animal they were dragging around and their easy posturing made James want to show them who was really in charge.
?Alex seemed to be the only one who was aware that James was simply humouring them for the time being.
?James' stomach dropped as the wagon passed over a rock, jolting their bodies. The suspension on this piece of shit must have broken a long time ago.
?To make matters worse, James was forced to be staring at horses' arses for hours on end.
?He flexed his tied fingers, glancing over at Alex. He wondered if Alex thought that little bit of rope was enough.
?Alex deliberately didn't look back, but by the tension hanging in the air, he definitely knew he was being watched.
?Alex hadn't told James where they were going, keeping his cards close to his chest. It was wise. James couldn't guarantee he wouldn't just run off and investigate on his own, after all.
?"I'm still hungry." James announced. He didn't know how he was going to handle being in the company of this silent statue for hours, let alone the days it would probably take. Silence was something that James wasn't used to. And, at least, humans could talk back.
?Alex didn't reply to him.
?James sighed. "I know you hate me, but the hungrier people are, the less patient they are. Just saying."
?Still no response.
?In a spike of annoyance, James suppressed a growl. Instead, he started work on freeing his hands.
?The movement and struggle must have finally gotten Alex's attention, and his head whipped round, his eyes wide with panic and accusation.
?"What the fuck are you doing?" he snarled.
?"Oh, you aren't mute?" James replied sarcastically, not slowing his attempt to free himself.
?Alex pulled the reins, stopping the horses. By that point, James' hands were already freed and he held them up to show Alex, dangling the rope in one hand.
?Alex appeared outraged, he reached over to grip James' nearest arm. His grip was strong and firm, his palms rough.
?"You didn't seriously think some shitty rope was going to stop me?"
?James snatched his limb back and threw the offensive cord onto Alex's lap, staring at Alex in challenge, silently asking what he was going to do about it.
?One of the horses grunted in annoyance.
?Me too, bud.
?After a moment of glowering at him with pursed angry lips, Alex dived a hand into his pocket, and James readied himself in case he was getting a weapon. Instead, Alex yanked out a pouch, slamming it to James' chest with a scowl.
?James sniffed, taking it gracefully. "That's why you listen to me when I tell you I'm hungry."
?James helped himself to the dried meats, nuts, and fruits, his mouth watering from his long starvation.
As he enjoyed them, he turned his attention back onto Alex, who was facing the front, but had a sharp bloodthirsty eye aimed at him.
James had to admit, the man gave an intimidating glare, but it wasn't enough to scare him.
?"Are we not going?" James asked, then added; "I can re-tie my hands if that'll make you feel better. I can just free myself again when I need to."
?Alex's glare twitched and he looked forward, whipping the horses into a steady walk again.
?James was also cold, but he wasn't going to push too many buttons at once. Alex could easily attack him and claim it was self-defence to his superiors when there weren't any witnesses.
?Instead, he sat back and relaxed, chewing on his food. Watching the trees go by as their path became ever more desolate and ever bumpier. He kept a keen ear out for wild animals as they ventured deeper into the forest.
?Even if Alex hadn't told him where they were going, he suspected they were going to Lyechester, which was roughly in this direction.
It was the capital of the Drykas regions and where the territorial government and royalty operated.
Alex seemed like a loyal knight through and through, this business was more likely official rather than rebellious.
?It was huge.
?James wondered if the Drykas king, William, knew about the scheme, or if it was organised by powerful political figures instead.
King William, from what he remembered, wasn't the scheming type.
He mostly cared about protecting his people, in the royal sort of way— he did his duty even if he didn't emotionally sympathise.
Could it be one of his children? He had a few.
James didn't remember them well enough to make a judgement.
?Without this knowledge, he couldn't escape Alex yet. Lyechester was a big place, he needed to meet his client.
?The target of their schemes was also very strange.
?"Fabian, huh..." James muttered out loud, out of habit.
?Alex gave him a sideways glance. "That's His Highness, King Fabian, to you."
?James laughed. "You're strangely concerned with propriety for an outcast. He's not going to be anything once he's dead."
?"I'm not an outcast."
?James grinned, leaning further back and allowing himself to relax under the sun. The words sounded hollow even to James' ears. There wasn't any point in commenting on it, they both knew James was right.
?"You're not very respected for a noble." James said, instead.
?"It's not from lack of status."
?That much was obvious. In a country where the population were used to looking at Ashadi people as either war enemies or slaves, they were bound to suffer from those prejudices, regardless if they were free or not.
?Just as a test, James muttered something in the royal language. "You look handsome for an outcast."
?James could tell by the way Alex's shoulders went still.
?"High enough to understand the royal language." James whistled like he was impressed. "What are you? Son of a viscount, an earl, even?"
?He couldn't be anything higher than an earl, James had all of those memorised. No Ashadis up there.
?"It's none of your business." Alex replied coolly.
?"I'm interested nonetheless."
?Alex didn't bother to suppress his sigh. "If you know, you should use better manners with me, commoner."
?James couldn't help his wry smile that split his lips. If only this man knew who he was talking to. "I don't respect nobles." James said, "That's why I kill them."
?"Is that a confession?"
?James paused, stretching his hands above his head, his shoulders still stiff from being chained up. Alex watched the movement keenly.
?"Just imagining what Jay would say." James teased.
?Alex was silent for a moment, and James wondered if he'd given up on humouring James' conversation.
?"What do you think Jay would say if I tried to kill him for kidnapping children?" Alex asked with a restrained growl in his words. It came out of left field, but he wasn't going to back down.
?James became serious. "I think he would laugh in your face and ask why you haven't done a single thing about those knights if you knew about it.
Who has really done more damage? Especially when you've enabled it for this long, and his only crime was saving one of them.
I bet he'd think you're a disgusting coward. "
?James couldn't have helped the sharp edge to his words, his temper brewing.
?It clearly hit a sore spot within Alex, and his blank mask slipped. Fury and guilt flashed on his face in a confusion of emotion.
?Alex's words came out hurried. "Maybe Jay should consider that it's better for me to keep my power and do what I can and save some of them, rather than losing that power and saving none at all."
?"I bet Jay would punch you in the face if he was in a position to, because what kind of bullshit is that? That's not an excuse." James' voice got louder.
?"I don't think Jay can take a morally superior position when he murders people for a living." Alex spat.
?James laughed, vexed. "What do you think a fucking knight does?"
?"Well, they don't profit off someone's murder."
?"Yeah, they're too busy kidnapping children and killing their corrupt superiors' political rivals." James spat. "The same superiors that stop them from doing basic decency, by the way. I bet Jay would feel secure knowing he could enact more justice than you ever could."
?Alex's body was tenser than a rock, his hands white-knuckled and shaking around the reins from the fury pumping in his veins. Still, he had nothing to say back, and stewed to himself.
?Maybe he thought James was right, or maybe he thought James was talking from a position when he had no idea what Alex's life was like.
Either way, he didn't care. Alex shouldn't be throwing stones in a glass house.
There was definitely something to be said about James' moral compass, but not from a knight.
?Never from a knight.