24
Dawn starts to appear just through the dark clouds above. The rain had dissipated on our short journey back to Erador’s main city and I was ever so thankful for it.
I hadn’t spoken to anyone as we rode back. But I had noted that Mannuel was the only one of the King's royal guards that joined us tonight.
Fray I understand as even though I’m sure she can fight, her power is only tracking. Finch probably just didn’t get the message in time or is off doing something else. Alistair is the only one I'm unsure of, his power could either be of no value in this circumstance or too valuable to lose.
I leave my horse with the stable men and start to walk towards the castle, ready to wash the blood and dirt from my skin and hopefully get some sleep.
I hear the sound of Xander and Cole’s footsteps through the soft damp grass that leads from the stable to the castle stairs. They’re following along close behind me, but I don’t look back.
They say nothing at all as we make our way into the castle doors. When we get to the staircase that I know takes me to my room, I turn around to face them.
“Are you two gentlemen going to walk me all the way to my room?”
Cole lets out a chuckle before covering it with a cough.
“I just wanted to say thank you for your help tonight, we were able to save more people with an invisible assassin on our side.”
I smile at him softly. “Careful commander, I think that might have been a compliment.”
He rolls his eyes and I turn and head to my room. I note that one pair of footsteps still follow. I don’t have to turn to know who it is.
“I am quite capable of walking to my room, your highness.”
“Well aware.” Is all he says.
Xander’s pace increases and he ends up by my side as we walk up the rest of the stairs and down the hallway.
“Are you okay?” He asks.
I shoot him a glare. “I’m offended you even have to ask.”
Xander laughs softly but doesn’t offer anything else.
I look up as we walk further down the hall and almost sigh when I see the guard still there at my door.
The King approaches him first. “You’re dismissed from your post, Saul.”
The guard nods and walks off.
“So that’s his name.” I murmur, mainly to myself.
“Who’s replacing him?” I ask Xander, keeping my tone casual.
He looks up at me, a shy smile forming on his lips.
My eyes widen at the reason I assume is behind that look on his face. “Don’t tell me it’s you? Don’t you have better things to do than be a body guard?”
The King scoffs. “It’s not me, love. Though I’m sure you’d enjoy spending extra time with me.” He says with a wink.
I scowl at him, fighting the urge to give him a much more violent response to his insinuation.
“Who is it then?” I ask bluntly.
Xander turns to look at the wall. “It’s no one actually.”
My brows crease as I stare at him. “You’re not actually saying—”
He looks back at me, bearing a crooked smile.
“Consider it my gift for helping us tonight, you no longer need to have a guard by your room.” He says carefully before adding, “Saul and any other guards are dismissed permanently.”
My brows rise, does this mean I’ve finally earnt a hint of trust from the King?
“I suppose I should say thank you.”
“No need.” Xander replies, raising his hands for a moment before sliding them into his pockets.
“Well, I hope that wasn’t my only gift, I’m still getting paid right? Extra for the lack of sleep, one would assume.” I say with a grin.
Xander laughs, a deep laugh this time. “Of course, love.”
“Very well, good night then your highness.” I reply grabbing the door, before looking up, considering, “or I guess good morning.”
He smiles back at me. “See you later Maeve.”
The next couple of days are spent training and preparing.
Cole and I have been trying to extend my invisibility to last longer than twenty minutes, but it hasn’t gotten us anywhere.
Cole can hold his shield for much longer and doesn’t even have to be touching me to shield.
I was more than a little jealous of the strength he has in wielding his power but I later found out that he’s had over a hundred years to train, his age nearing Xander’s.
I suppose that means I’m not doing too bad mastering my power.
I had been practising at night too, just with objects in my room. Which is not the same as hiding a living organism but Erix had told me long ago that it can help strengthen my powers.
On the last night before we leave, the King sends a guard as a messenger to let me know I’m wanted in his office.
I walk the halls by myself, smiling slightly at how freeing it feels to be alone. I haven’t missed the guards watching my every move. Though it was good to have a tour guide, it would have taken me much longer to find my way around this place without them.
“Maeve?” I hear a female voice call my name and I pinch my brows together as I turn.
I’m met with a flash of short black hair and I quickly realise it’s Fray.
“Hi.” I say, somewhat cautiously. I haven’t seen her in a while, not when I haven’t been eating in the dining hall. I’ve mainly been eating in Xander’s office or in the training rooms with Cole.
“I heard you helped save the hybrids in that town.”
I nod, not knowing what else to say.
“I just wanted to say thank you, Maeve. I have friends that live there, friends that are alive because of you.”
“Oh— uh don’t mention it.” I reply, waving a lazy hand, to shrug off her thanks.
“I was surprised not to see you there.” I add after a moment.
Fray smiles softly. “I’m not taken into battle all that much. They have enough soldiers, my skills and powers are more useful in stealth missions.”
“Right, you’re a tracker.”
Fray’s eyes widen and her brows shoot up.
“Don’t worry, it was the King who told me.” I explain with a soft laugh.
“Oh.” She replies, slightly surprised before schooling her features. “Well I suppose I’ll see you around anyway Maeve, I just wanted to say thanks.”
And with that she darts off in the opposite direction.
I stare after her for a moment. I can never quite get a grasp on Fray.
Sometimes it seems like she doesn’t trust me, other times she tries to make conversation and shows me empathy.
It almost seems like she’s feeling me out.
Trying to see whether I’m worth knowing or someone who will stick around.
I don't even know the answer to that myself.
I turn back, away from the now empty hallway and walk onwards, towards the King’s office.
I knock on Xander’s door, just two knocks and Cole opens it. The commander is still dressed in his black training gear, like he's been here with Xander ever since I left him this afternoon.
I’m met with the smell of hot food as I walk in the room and hear my stomach rumble.
I look over to the couches and chairs in front of the fire and note that Xander, who usually sits on the couch, is on the floor.
Maps and a buffet of food that smells delicious, all spread out in front of him.
Cole and I walk over to join him, I sit to his left.
The fire beside me warms my face and my hands. The rest of my body, already covered by my usual pants and jacket, is still quite toasty despite the fire. Xander on the other hand, is dressed much more casual than usual, just baring combat pants like my own and a short sleeved undershirt.
I hide my surprise. I hadn’t seen him like this since we sparred. Maybe that’s what he and Cole have been doing this evening.
“So.” The King says suddenly, looking between us both.
“Are you two ready?”
Cole nods his reply and all I say is, “please, I could do this in my sleep.”
Xander looks across to me and smiles. “I’d pay to see that.”
I roll my shoulders and sit up straight. “And I would accept the challenge.”
He smirks. “I know you would, anything for the right price.” He winks after his last word.
The comment about money makes me remember that I still haven’t been down to see just how much he’s paying me. I will one day, when I need it. For the moment I have shelter, clothes and food, I needn’t worry about the rest. But I’m sure it will come in handy sooner or later.
I roll my eyes at Xander and grab a plate to help myself to the spread of food, there’s chicken, vegetables and different gravy’s to choose from. I take a helping of all and look towards Cole.
“Are you ready to spend a few days alone with me?” I ask before chucking a bit of food in my mouth.
Cole looks tense but there's a playful expression in his eyes.
As boring as he is sometimes, I know if it weren’t for worrying about me betraying them, he would be much more fun.
I’ve heard it sometimes when he lets it slip.
I know he and Xander have that type of relationship, he just doesn’t like to share it with me.
Which is why what he says next surprises me.
“That.” He says pointedly while he helps himself to the food in front of us. “Makes me more nervous than the mission itself.”
I smirk at him, maybe this will be fun after all.
“Bold of you to admit it.”
He shrugs. “Just be on your best behaviour.”
I give him a mock salute while smiling and then look over to Xander to see him smiling too.
“Since Cole has neglected to tell me.” I say to Xander, subtly eyeing Cole. We had been running through our plan briefly in training but none of which actually went through where we’re going. I’d asked countless times but he had just said that Xander would tell me.
“This King that is a so-called friend of yours, does he have a name?” I ask Xander.
“His name is Jenson and–”
I cut him off. “He’s the King of Wendil.”
“Have you met him?” Xander asks, slightly surprised.
I shake my head. “I just know of all the Kings.”
It had been a requirement at the Agency, to know all potential enemies and their powers.
Jenson’s power is truth, you can’t lie to him when he taps into his power.
It’s particularly unique, not many fae in history have had that specific kind of magic.
All the more reason we can’t get caught, he’d make us tell him everything and Xander said he’s not ready for people to know more yet.
“Then you know his power?” Xander states.
I nod again.
“Perfect, you’re all caught up.” Xander says pleasantly, throwing another piece of food in his mouth from the spread below.
“Why does Jenson have the other piece of the artifact?” I ask Xander.
He takes a drink before answering. “Jenson likes to… collect things.” Xander says before he nods to Cole. “I’m sure he told you the room in which you would find the artifact?”
I nod my head, slowly. Cole had mentioned that the room we would need to access is home to many different items from our history.
Xander brings his knees to his chest and rests his forearms over them, grabbing his wrist with one hand.
“Jenson is obsessed with fae history, he has many items in his collection, some of which are even weapons from the hunt.”
I stare across at him, brows furrowed. “I don’t know why you’d want to celebrate and display that.” I say bitterly, taking another harsh bite of the food on my plate.
“Easy.” Xander says, eyeing me.
“It’s less of a celebration and more commemoration, in addition to learning of history and its atrocities. The more we know, the less likely we will want to repeat past mistakes. It’s the reason that even though his collection is heavily guarded,
he allows the fae of his kingdom to look at his display.”
I say nothing, but stare into the fire, my cheeks burning from the heat. What Xander says makes sense, when I think about it. But we have never had anything of the sort in Hidale.
That I know of anyway.