XIV
"This way!"
?James hurried after the maids through the never ending corridor, as fast as his small legs allowed him, the smoke choking him from the inside.
His lungs burned heavy in his chest. He fell to the carpet, coughing up black phlegm, his consciousness slipping.
He couldn't even hear the maids call out for him.
?They ran back to get him, one picking him up to carry him. His arm hurt so much he thought he was going to die.
?"But mum... dad..." he tried to protest, his throat raw and weak.
?They ignored his words, their faces horrified. Despite their own injuries, they focused all their desperation in keeping him safe, even as the palace crumpled and caved around them.
?"Eris..."
?"We have her." the maid carrying him told him, "I'm sorry, but she is all we can leave you with."
?James heard shouting from behind them, the stomping of heavy armour rattling in his head. Terror struck him.
?"Shit!" one of the maids cried.
?The woman carrying him looked down at his face, a painfully troubled frown lining her face.
?"Take him." she said, passing James to another. "I'll do my best to stall them."
?"No, you can't," James insisted, "come with us!"
?The maid only spared him one last smile before running back the way they came, towards the flames and soldiers.
?James did nothing but listen in horror as her piercing screams started behind them.
? ? ? ?
"Why do knights actually kill people with red eyes?" Fletcher asked Alex.
?Fletcher had become very interested in the topic after noticing James' that morning.
?Unlike the day before, James sat in the back whilst the other two sat on the bench in front. He thought it would have been more relaxing away from Alex, but the suspension was worse back there and James' bones began to feel tired from the bumpy abuse.
?"We're possessed by demons." James reminded him in a grumble.
?Fletcher scoffed. "Like I believe that. The entire Ankaid royal family had red eyes before His Majesty King Fabian came along. Would His Majesty accuse his family of being demons?"
?"It's..." Alex struggled to find the right words, "I'm not sure how involved His Majesty was in that legislation. It might have been beyond him."
?"Well, that law did start from the Ankaid royal court." James informed them. "Fabian always pushed the issue, right at the start of his reign."
?Alex looked at him from the side of his eye. "Is that so?"
?"Maybe His Majesty was traumatised." Fletcher suggested.
?"He is the trauma." James chuckled bitterly, no one else truly understanding the meaning behind his words.
?Red eyes were about as common as red hair in the empire, it was a pretty arbitrary feature to discriminate against. James knew the real reason Fabian pushed for that law, and it wasn't out of trauma nor was it for religious reasons.
?"How many have you killed?" Fletcher asked Alex.
?"I sympathise with them," Alex said instead, not answering his question, "for obvious reasons."
?Perhaps Alex would understand better than anyone. Even if there wasn't a law to kill all Ashadis on sight, there were enough prejudiced people that Alex was under the threat of being murdered at any time. People hated seeing someone they deemed as inferior in a position of power.
?"You're not religious?"
?"It's not a matter of religion." Alex replied. "Not a single religious text ever said anything about people with red eyes being possessed by demons— nor did it ever say demons want to destroy the world. There was no justification in the first place."
?James sighed, looking up at the grey sky. "I'm bored of this conversation."
?"Do you not find politics interesting?" Fletcher asked him.
?Fletcher seemed to have warmed up to James a bit over the hours. At first the man was so terrified he couldn't look him in the eye, now he was happy to converse with him about annoying things.
?"I haven't followed politics for a while now." James confessed, "All my knowledge is pretty outdated. Alex probably knows more than me."
?"How come?"
?James smirked, excited for the trouble he was about to make. "He's a really high up noble. An Earl at the very least."
?To James' amusement, Fletcher paled, the blood falling from his face.
?"I'm really sorry, Your Lordship, I had no idea. I've been disrespectful." Fletcher rushed out.
?James laughed at the uncomfortable look on Alex's face. Alex glared at him.
?He blanked their conversation out to instead retreat back into his own head.
The situation may not have been as dire as he initially thought; his eyes did not change the fact that the client needed him.
It was unlikely they would suddenly throw their plan out the window for something so small, they would likely hire him anyway— keeping their plan to kill him after he was finished.
James would just have to escape before that point happened.
James was good at escaping. His mentor said running away, on the other hand, was impossible, but James had been doing a good job of that for over a decade.
?If possible, he wanted to avoid killing Fabian.
In the first place, James was doubtful that he could bring himself to kill him with his own hands.
Regardless of whether James hated him or not, it wasn't a good idea to be involved in politics so deeply anyway.
He had stayed away from anything relating to royalty for that reason.
?All it took was the wrong person getting a glance at his face at the wrong time.
?That was also why James was anxious about who exactly his client was. He just had to hope it wouldn't be someone too involved with the Ankaid royal family, which seemed unlikely considering the request itself.
?"I'm actually on my way to meet His Majesty King William."
?That caught James' attention.
?"You?" James chimed in, looking at Fletcher. "What does His Majesty want with you?"
?Fletcher seemed hesitant to answer after being interrupted. "Well, it's not the first time I've been to the Drykas palace. You forget I'm a scholar, sometimes they want my insight."
?James thought for a moment. Fletcher could be really useful after all. Perhaps James could make him deliver a message to King William for him, telling him of the conspiracy. But then, would that man even care? How would James even introduce himself?
?So, he decided not to say anything at all.
?As they started to pass more and more houses, the urban density increasing, James found his nervous anticipation increasing also. Excited to see Eris again, yet edgy about his odds of avoiding death.
?He wouldn't regret his decision though. Eris was something he could not live without, his life was always going to be on the line when it came to her— much to his old mentor's displeasure.
?His mentor's decision to pass on the title made more and more sense to James over the years. At this point James was the one who had held it the longest and he could feel past actions ferociously catching up to him. It made sense to want a reset. He just wasn't ready to die yet.
?"You can drop me off here." Fletcher said, later.
?They had already reached the city centre, a hub bustling with life. The clopping of hooves over cobbles and the shouting of the nearby market exchanges drowned out the sound of James' anxious rabbit-like heartbeat.
?"You sure?" Alex asked.
?Fletcher nodded and disembarked the bench. "I'm going to see my family before my meeting. My brothers have come back from the border."
?"I hope they're in good health."
?James took the opportunity to jump onto the front of the carriage next to Alex, his body unable to keep still. He felt naked being so out in the open like this, there was nothing to cover his face with, nor could he hide behind dark corners.
?As they continued, he noticed Alex's eyes kept landing on him, creased with concern.
?"It's fine." James told him. "Also, you're not allowed to feel worried when you're the one who brought me here."
?"I'm not worried. Why would I be? Everyone deserves justice."
?James nodded. "Right."
?As the time passed on, James noticed Alex's frame become stiffer, and his face sterner. He found it a shame that Alex had to turn back into his old self like that. Alex had to be tough though, otherwise there was no other way to survive in the military as a person of his racial group.
?They rounded a corner into a stableyard. It wasn't one that belonged to the knights, surprisingly, but rather an inn.
?"Drinking on the job?" James joked, but Alex's serious self didn't even react.
?He supposed their 'friendly' times were over.
?Alex no longer treated him with the respect that James knew he had for him. Once on the ground, Alex forcibly pulled James' arms behind his back and tied them tightly, the rope tearing his bandages with the friction. It hurt but James let him.
?Knowing that Alex had respect for him was enough, he understood why they had to revert back, as sobering as it was.
?"Don't feel sorry." James whispered to Alex as he was led back out onto the street.
?Alex ignored him, but the tension in his jaw signalled that James was right about the thoughts in the man's head. Even with the facade, Alex was still the same troubled person underneath.
?Maybe if they had met under different circumstances, they could have been friends.
?They approached a tall stone wall and James felt his heart crawling out his throat once he realised where Alex was leading him.
?"Tell His Royal Highness that I request an urgent meeting." Alex ordered the guards at the gate, its flamboyant iron railings reaching high like black snakes.
?James felt the panic simmer. It must have been one of the Drykas princes that made the request after all. He didn't know much about any of them.
?Eventually, the gate was opened for them and James fought to keep his face neutral.
The courtyard of the palace was like how he remembered.
Knights trained under the sun until they passed out, overdressed palace workers rushed from one side to the other, delivering all kinds of messages and orders. He felt his eyes sting.
?Alex led them right down the middle, the scraping of chains against rock catching the attention of many. One knight came rushing towards them, dropping his helmet to the ground.
?"Your Lordship."
?"Riley. I need assistance." Alex said, nodding in greeting. "Please gather a few of the king's royal guard to help me escort him."
?"With pleasure."
?It was definitely a prince if Alex was requesting extra security. James had to remain calm and remember why he was here. He needed his damn Eris.
?Alex didn't wait and continued the two of them on, allowing the guards to catch up with them later.
The palace was oppressively tall, bodied by its thick pillars, blocking out the sun and keeping him in darkness as they neared.
No other building in Lyechester dared to compete in height, not even the temple itself which tried to reach Adeia.
It was nearly taller than the original Ankaid palace.
?"Grab him." Alex ordered the men, once inside.
?They flanked either side, holding James by his arms. He winced from the roughness they held him with.
?Alex led the way, each footstep echoing against the dark marble tiles. James' blood ran cold with every closing distance, deeper and deeper into the palace they went, unsure what awaited him.
?Then, Alex stopped. The knights stopped behind him, their armour clanking. James held his breath.
?Alex knocked on the door, a massive dark wooden entryway, too grand to enter a normal room.
?The door slipped open to a crack, and a low voice conversed to Alex in a whisper, too quiet for James to hear. He watched Alex's curt nod, his quiet murmurings back, and then as he stepped away.
?Out of nervousness, James slowly got to work untying his hands, the knights paying too much attention to Alex to notice. He had too much of a bad feeling to allow himself to be at a disadvantage.
?There was nothing for a moment, but Alex remained standing at strict attention, obedient like a dog as he waited. James clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling the freedom. He held onto the rope in case someone glanced at his hands, making it seem like they were still tied.
?The door opened suddenly, its heavy doors resisting slowly with effort. James couldn't see inside from his angle.
?"Announcing Lord Alexander Chamberlain, Marquess of Maystair, and his prisoner." a voice boomed from inside.
?Chamberlain?
?James was whiplashed by the surprise, Alex's identity becoming evident. The Chamberlain name belonged to a duke. Alex must be the duke's adopted son. He noticed Alex deliberately avoiding eye contact with him.
?James obediently allowed himself to be dragged by the knights, following Alex into the room.
?It was only once he was in the doorway that he recognised exactly where he was.
?Fuck.
?Panic seized him and he whipped his hands out of the rope, grabbing the concealed knives from his waist to fight his way out.
?The knights had been distracted and caught off guard, blood fell to the ground as James cleanly sliced through their palms. It didn't take long for them to pay attention, the shouting hardly reached James' ears as he tried to struggle his way to freedom. His client was no prince.
?It was King William.
?The struggle echoed in the hall in front of them, the room repeating every sound back to them in mocking.
?He lunged for it, escaping the circle of guards that tried to restrain him, his heart drummed in his veins, ready to make a run for it— to escape.
?A blade was set to his throat.
?He stopped, breathing heavily through his nose, his face hot with sweat. Alex was next to him, holding a sword to his neck, his eyes dark with fury.
?"I apologise, Your Majesty." Alex said, "I wasn't aware your guest would be so irresponsible to cause a scene in your presence."
?James bristled, feeling like he'd been slapped in the face.
?"Drop them." Alex said, quieter, just for James.
?James looked at the scene around him. The lightly injured knights, the blood on the floor, their anger.
Then, he risked a glance into the inside of the hall, white pillars holding the painted ceiling up, the blue running carpet that led to a white gold throne.
He couldn't look King William in the face.
?James recognised Duke Chamberlain, despite how much time had passed. He still looked like the same cold man he always had been, now older and his hair dark grey instead of black. He stood next to King William, watching James like he was a disgusting bug squashed on the bottom of his shoe.
?The room was full of danger to James.
?Every instinct resisting, James slowly opened his palms, the knives dropping to the floor with a clink.
The knights grabbed him then, not even allowing him to walk as they dragged him inside.
James kept his head down, his skull throbbing, watching the blue carpet under him.
They then stopped, holding James down onto his knees.
James thought he might pass out in terror.
?"How was he armed?" Duke Chamberlain asked, his voice so familiar James wanted to throw up.
?"I apologise, your grace. I had no idea." Alex replied, coming up to stand next to where James kneeled.
?"Leave it, Philip." King William ordered the duke, his voice a baritone rumble. "Our guest isn't easy."
?"His Grace is right, Your Majesty. I've made a fatal mistake."
?In his peripheral vision, James could see the king wave Alex's concerns away.
?"Jay, is it?"
?James tasted blood in his mouth, the flesh from the inside of his cheek bitten off.
?"Answer when His Majesty is talking to you." Duke Chamberlain ordered, stomping down to James.
?He grabbed James by the hair and smashed his cheek against his knee, James avoiding getting his nose broken at the last moment. James gritted his teeth against the pain, no sound escaping, but didn't struggle, allowing himself to get punched afterwards.
?He was too scared to talk.
?He did, however, hear Alex's hitch of breath every time he was hurt.
?King William held his hand up and the duke stopped, breathing heavily from the exertion.
?"All guards except Riley and Thomas, leave us. Alexander, you may stay too."
?"Thank you, Your Majesty."
?There was silence until almost all the guards that left, leaving only a select few people in the room.
?James clenched his fists, his fingernails digging into his palms through his bandages. He never wanted to be involved with royalty again, but life doesn't care about your wishes. He supposed this was karma. He'd rather die than be stuck dancing for a king.
?He took in a deep breath, calming his nerves. Panicking was going to achieve nothing.
?"I want to get a look at his face."
?Shit.
?James bent over and pressed his forehead against the floor, pressing hard enough to bruise, struggling against the guards' attempts to lift his head.
?The king laughed, the sound surrounding them. "You'll allow yourself to be beaten but your face is too much? How ridiculous. Philip, if you would."
?Even if the duke had aged with time, he was still King William's military general. James resisted as hard as he could, but couldn't stop the duke from lifting his upper body up by the hair, his scalp burning tightly in pain. He hissed from the sting.
?"Thank you Phill—"
?The king's amusement froze cold, the air shifting.
?It was as if everything had stopped.
?James slowly, hesitantly, lifted his gaze from the floor up to the king's face. The king stared back, his icy eyes wide and his face pale. It was as if he was staring into the eyes of a ghost.
?The king opened his mouth but no sound came out, unable to look away.
?"Your Majesty?" the duke prompted after a beat of apprehension. He knew something wasn't right.
?James was defiant, despite his whole world burning down around him. His body felt awash with cold water, his chest frenzied, and his lungs dragging in as much air as possible, starved. But, he'd never back down. He bore right into the king's eyes without doubt.
?King William broke eye contact first and stared at the ground intensely, overwrought. James could only imagine the things running through his mind at that moment.
?"Your Maje—"
?"I want everybody to get out."
?Everyone in the room tensed, except for James. The duke shuffled, unsure. No one moved, too confused to know what to do.
?"But—"
?"Right now." The king insisted, his shock hardening into a disturbed turmoil. "Get out. Right now. Philip, you stay."
?The guards that held him hesitated, not wanting to leave a dangerous criminal unchecked in the presence of their king. After a moment, they let go, as did the duke, their grips lingering like James may explode if left untouched.
?James could hear them backing away, unsure if they heard correctly. After Alex made a move, the guards followed.
?Even after the door shut behind them, the boom vibrating under their feet, neither the king nor James said a word.
?"Your Majesty, this kind of danger..."
?The king ignored him and dragged his gaze back to James.
?"I thought you were dead."
?James pursed his lips. He slowly shifted his body, pushing himself up so he could stand. He didn't deserve to be kneeling.
?The duke almost went to force him back to the ground, for daring to stand in the king's presence, but the king stopped him with a gesture.
?"I was as good as." James replied, testing the soreness in his shoulders.
?"I still can't believe it."
?"Your Majesty, may I ask what's going on? Why did you send the guards out?"
?The king scrunched his eyes shut as if something was tormenting him and then opened them again, like he was expecting James to vanish like a dream.
?"Alex told you what we wanted Jay to do, did he?" the king asked, ignoring the duke's question.
?James nodded. "That he did."
?"Then, you're probably curious why."
?A sharp sting caused James wiped his face, blood coming off onto his hand from where he'd been hurt. Of course, he had been curious, but he also didn't want to know. He'd spent so much time away from all this that he didn't feel it mattered to him anymore.
?"I never had a good relationship with Fabian." James confessed.
?"That was never a secret."
?"Yes, but the extent of it was."
?The king stared him down.
?"What are you trying to say?"
?James lifted his chin. "I'm trying to say that I don't hold any hostility over your desire to see him dead. But, I don't want to be involved. I want it to be like you had never seen me in the first place."
?"That's not going to happen Julian. You know that's not going to happen."
?The duke drew in a careful breath, his shoulders like stone. He turned around then, looking at James like it was the first time he'd seen him.
?"Oh my gods, you're..."
?"Whatever you want to do, it doesn't concern me anymore."
?The king spluttered a laugh. "My boy, it concerns Prince Julian more than it concerns some random assassin. I could get however many of them I want, there's only one of you. It's your brother, this has everything to do with you."
?James clenched his teeth, inwardly flinching every time his name was said.
?"I'm just here to get Eris, nothing more."
?"I thought that sword seemed familiar." the duke murmured, he was the one who had given it to James' father after all. "Your Majesty, what do we do?"
?"Well, you're not leaving, that's for sure." King William told James. "Stay here for a few days."
?"Is that a request or an order?" James asked, his hands cold and sweaty.
?"That depends on how much you want that relic back." the king replied, "Don't tell anyone who you are. Fabian's spies are everywhere, you'll be dead the moment he hears of you."
?James didn't mention how he'd tried to do that already. Fabian had no idea whether James was still alive or not, that's why made up that stuff about demons. He probably hoped James would get killed along the way and thought nothing more of it.
?"Don't run away and we'll give her back."
?James inclined his head, smiling. "What if I do?"
?"We'll kill you."
?James nodded, expecting that answer. "Give me some time to think about it."
?"Phillip, get these chains off Julian, we'll put him in a guest room."
?"As you wish, Your Majesty."
?James sighed silently to himself, knowing there was no way he could ever go back to his current life after this. It's as his mentor always said; you could never run away, not truly. The past just didn't want to let go no matter what he did.