Thael did not sleep that night. He sat upon his chair, mulling over what he had done. He had fucked Verena. He had remembered when they had taken her, how it had felt to kill them all… it felt right. To fuck her however, he felt ashamed and deserving of the same fates as the men that had forced themselves upon her.

The kite’s wooden case rested on the table. Kuhien waited for him on the other side of the world with their son, waiting for him to take her elsewhere, anywhere else. With them the world felt worth enduring, to make a home for them all.

With Verena there was nothing but death and despair, to merely survive from one bloody skirmish to the next. There was no future. And Kuhien’s promise... to strangle their own son and hang herself should they not leave. It would all be their corpses in the end. Unless he could think of something beyond the dominion of the order.

Somehow, he knew, Krystos was the answer. Mitsune, the secret ruler of Qinshu, had said it herself. A rebellion against the arch queen with the support of Haol and the Isles, all for her half-brother. There was something missing, however. The arch queen had not ordered Krystos’ assassination. If not them, who?

The sun crept upon him. There was nothing they could do but wait. He left his quarters, making his way to the pavilion where he continued to wait

Hours passed before his cadre came. All except for her.

Thael sighed. “Cyrus, fetch Verena.”

Soon Cyrus returned, Verena beside him. She stared back at Thael – questioning, accusing, condemning him with her grey eyes.

“Well,” Cyrus aid. “I can’t wait for this breakfast.”

“Shut up, Cyrus,” Verena said.

“Crux, seems like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or was it not in the right?”

Thael stared at Cyrus then, and his grin disappeared.

Everyone was silent, and remained silent, until there was a patter of footsteps from the servants bringing their breakfast. Neither Thael nor Verena ate.

Cyrus ate with gusto, holding out a sausage and wriggling it in front of Verena. “Sausage?”

She raised a fist, the man’s grin turning to a choked gasp, the air wavering around his head. Loric and Deckard stood, glowering at her.

“That’s enough,” Thael said quietly.

She continued channeling her craft before Thael bent her hand down at her wrist and pushed her head against the table.

“That’s enough!” he snarled.

“Can’t even stand to look at my face, Thael? Or won’t?”

He released her, Cyrus taking a ragged gasp, spitting and coughing out food.

Noticing the surrounding guards with their hands on their weapons, Thael raised his hands and spoke in Haolo, “Forgive us, my comrades grow impatient to be on our way.”

They withdrew, one man uttering, “Control yourselves, or be confined to your quarters.”

They all sat, silent save for Cyrus still recovering his breath.

“If we’re going to survive this,” Thael said. “We’re going to need to act as one. One body. One mind. They aren’t speaking of a treaty. They’re speaking of an uprising against the arch queen. You all know this. We have to play this by ear. Our orders were to guard Krystos, nothing more.”

“The arch queen expects none of us to return,” Deckard said. “Perhaps there’s a fleet waiting to sink us soon as we reach the Casparn Coast?”

“From what we’ve seen so far, the monarchy’s influence is spread thin past Arcadia itself,” Thael replied. “Vinnith stands with Krystos, even Haol. The question is whether Krystos will survive overthrowing his sister’s rule.”

It was near noon before the magistrate who had led them on the first day approached and said, “The Jade Empress wishes to speak with all of you. Follow me.”

Thael’s thoughts spiraled as they ascended. This was what their entire journey had come to. To herald a new ruler of the Empire, or be cut down before even returning.

“If we’re going to die,” Cyrus murmured, looking out of the passing windows at the city beyond, “at least it’ll be a pretty view.”

Mitsune sat on the same wooden throne, her husband, the Demon King standing beside her. Krystos was nowhere to be found.

The small woman stared at Thael. “Your charge was wounded in an assassination attempt in this very room last night.”

“They were very good, quick and quiet,” her husband murmured.

Mitsune continued, “He is being guarded and is still recovering. The only reason you are still alive is because we knew of your whereabouts… and doings. It is likely there are still agents under the arch queen’s employ lurking in Ghuang.”

Thael stepped forward. “What will you do?”

“I am focused on preserving Krystos’ life. It has become clear there are spies within this palace. Who is to say it is not his own guard? Now, tell me, were you ordered to assassinate your charge?”

“No. Only guard him.”

Mitsune’s stare flicked to the magistrate, who said, “He tells the truth.”

“Were you ordered to kill Krystos?”

Each from his cadre spoke their refusal.

The magistrate nodded his approval.

The empress sighed. “It would have been simpler to kill you all.”

“Perhaps it would have,” Thael replied. “You can’t protect Krystos here. He has to leave this city. There are other allies that can support him.”

“Did you know that the arch queen offered a reward to kill her half-brother? Others would have taken such a bargain. It was quite a sum of gold. The offer was made to the grand duke.” Mitsune smiled. “Yes, we have spoken much, the grand duke and I. No amount of gold will sway us to follow your queen’s plot. We had to see for ourselves whether this prince was everything his sister wasn’t. I agree that your charge is not safe here. You will leave at dusk on your ship.”

“That would be ill-advised,” Thael said grimly. “You know then how futile it would be to defend his life.”

“It would be, were it not for our aid. We will accompany you.”

Thael frowned. “Even if we reach Arcadia, who is to stop the arch queen from killing her brother herself?”

Mitsune’s smile widened. “Which is why we will journey with you, alongside Vinnith’s fleet – to overthrow the arch queen, with Krystos as arch king.”