Felix smiled as he watched Shae play with Mio on the floor of the sitting room, her arm making a wooden dragon swoop down towards the wooden castle they had put together. The remains of their breakfast still covered one end of the table, where he had shoved it all to make space for the letters he had intended to read before he got distracted. He loved his mornings with his family, and while he had a full day ahead of him before the evening's ball, he struggled to tear himself away. The world could wait another moment.

He was just about to join his wife and son on the floor when Castel opened the door to the hallway to let Spymaster Boreas inside. The small man's brown eyes twinkled as he caught sight of the queen and prince on the floor. Despite his sombre profession, he always seemed close to a smile.

"King Felix." Boreas executed an elaborate bow before turning to Shae and Mio and somehow performing an even more ridiculous bow. "Your Majesty. Your Highness."

"Boreas," Felix said with a wry smile. "Thank you for meeting me here. I didn't want the council involved."

"Anything my king commands." Boreas walked further into the room and Cas closed the door behind them, leaving them alone with the Spymaster and a blond woman who followed him silently. "You wished to know what we're doing to keep the Games safe."

Felix nodded, his eyes on the newcomer. He couldn't remember having seen her before, and yet she looked vaguely familiar. Tall and lithe, she wore soft leather trousers with a thigh-length leather jerkin over a forest-green tunic.

"This is Maize," Boreas said, nodding towards the young woman. "She's one of my agents, and she's entered the Games as a participant, which will allow her to mingle with the other contestants and get a feel for everyone. We have done extensive research on everyone as soon as we knew who was joining, and anyone else who we think might be a threat. I have agents spread throughout the Games in various functions, and in the castle, but Maize will be our eyes and ears in the fray."

"Nice to meet you, Maize." He still couldn't quite shake the feeling that he knew her from somewhere.

"If you think you recognise her," Boreas said, sounding amused. "It's probably because she was your chambermaid when you first took the crown."

Felix raised an eyebrow. "You spied on me?"

Grinning, Boreas lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "A new king, suddenly responsible for the world of Erya? I had to make sure you were who you said you were."

"That Goddess Dhim herself appointed me wasn't enough?" Felix leaned back in his chair, shaking his head at the other man's audacity. The Spymaster didn't look the least contrite.

"The Gods have made mistakes before," the Spymaster said, his face uncommonly sombre. "I trust myself first and foremost. My agents second. Some of my agents don't even know each other. You are the only ones other than me who know who Maize is. Don't give it away when you see her during the Games."

Shae left Mio playing with the castle and dragon as she came to stand next to Felix, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder. The small sign of solidarity warmed him. "I'll try to refrain," he muttered.

"I have agents listening out for anyone mentioning the queen or you in unfavourable terms," Boreas continued.

"And?" Felix prompted.

"Nothing we don't see regularly, but we will remain vigilant." The Spymaster turned to Shae. "Did you see anything when you were attacked that might help us, Your Majesty?"

The hand on his shoulder twitched, so he covered it with one of his own and squeezed. He hated that Shae was the one targeted by the would-be assassin. It would have been easier if he were the target. He was used to being disliked. Plenty of people didn't appreciate his ascension to the throne and did not understand why it was so imperative that a High King ruled from Messina. They did not know that it strengthened the veil between their world and the Nether Realm. And how could they? It wasn't common knowledge. He barely understood it himself. All he knew was that it was important, and he had no plans of going anywhere.

Those who opposed the rule of the High King were the loudest dissenters, and it wouldn't have surprised him if they targeted him. But to attack Shae? It made no sense.

Shae fingered the tip of her braid with her free hand as she considered the question. "No," she admitted. "The sun was in my eyes, so I saw little more than a shadow. I do believe my arrow struck their upper chest. Maybe the shoulder."

"So we will keep our eyes open for anyone with an injury." Boreas gave his companion a look, and she nodded. Turning back to Felix, he flashed a wry smile. "I'm sorry I cannot offer any better news. Whoever is responsible is staying quiet. Not a single one of my agents has seen or heard anything to tip us off. But don't worry. Eventually, they will slip up. They all do."

Hopefully, before anyone got hurt. Felix stood and gave Shae a quick kiss. It was time to meet with the council before the evening's ball, and Shae wanted to oversee the last preparations for the event. Ruffling his son's hair, he followed Boreas and the blond woman out the door. They had put a lot of effort into bringing back the Championship Games, and he had been looking forward to it, but after the recent events, the idea of Shae surrounded by strangers didn't sit well with him. He would have to stay close to her tonight. Not that he minded. He rather enjoyed staying close to his wife.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

Shae smiled as Felix leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I am, actually. This must be the largest ball I've ever attended—or hosted—but I think we've done well."

Every room in the castle that wasn't a bedroom was being used for the ball, including the courtyard and gardens, to fit the sheer number of guests. Several royalties from the kingdoms took part in the festivities, together with emissaries and dignitaries who either lived in Messina or had been sent to represent their kingdom. They had brought fresh flowers in to create elaborate wreaths hanging over doorways and decorating tables. Tapestries with the dark green and silver colours of the High King adorned the walls. In between the multitude of decorations and guests, King's Guards and soldiers stood sentinel, watching over them as much as everyone else present.

Following her eyes as she looked at Tamcred, their second-in-command of the King's Guard where he stood between two large flowerpots, Felix chuckled. "Maybe we should have decorated their armours to make them blend in more."

The idea of the knights wearing armour threaded with blooms and ribbons made her smile. "They would never forgive us."

"Worth it." His hand rested gently on her hip as he steered her away from the refreshment table where she'd been getting a drink. "Come, let me introduce you to some visitors. We'll be seeing a lot of them in the next fortnight."

They spent some time mingling and meeting the many guests, including the group of elves sent by the elf queen. The most notable one being the elf prince, Mithrin, who appeared to look down his nose at the humans in attendance. This attitude was returned by many humans, and exactly why Felix was adamant to repair relations between them. The elf prince was not making it easy. Shae much preferred the elven emissary, T'chol, who had been in Messina for weeks leading up to the Games, but forced herself to remain polite. She even held her tongue when the prince spoke badly of her home kingdom of Adreas, which shared a border with the Elven Lands.

Needing a moment after listening to the prince disparage her kingdom, she sought out a group of her ladies-in-waiting. The women all looked beautiful in their evening gowns and elaborate hairdos.

Tall, blond Hedda grinned as she approached, nodding towards Felix, who still spoke to a member of the elf prince's party. "King Felix seems barely able to keep his hands off you. It's good to see."

Her cheeks heated, and she glanced back towards her husband, who saw her and winked. Warmth flooded her. Things were good right now. And Hedda was not wrong. He certainly liked to pull her in for an embrace or kiss any chance he got.

"I can't believe he's giving those elves so much of his time though," Ornice, another lady-in-waiting, said.

"They couldn't be bothered helping us when the Dark Disciple killed the previous High King and vanished," Ilione from Nolde said. "I don't see why we should fawn over them now. It was an elf who betrayed us all. We can't know it was not on orders of his queen."

Shae shook her head. "We cannot blame an entire nation of people for the mistake of one individual. Deva had many followers, including humans. They weren't all monsters. By your logic, we are to blame as well, if we place guilt at the feet of any race who had members following the Dark God."

The lady-in-waiting stared at her, then nodded. "Yes, my queen."

"We are all at fault for this rift between us." She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, not used to discussing politics. But if she was to take a more prominent role, she would have to lead by example. "We blamed them for the mistakes of one elf. They blamed his corruption on him being around humans for so long. We cannot know what made him turn to the Dark God and betray us all, but we can do better moving forwards. We can work together instead of blaming each other."

Something they might sorely need if the Son of Deva was not just a myth. She fought back a shudder at the thought. Spymaster Boreas seemed convinced that this was a genuine threat, and as much as she didn't want to believe him, she trusted his judgement. To avoid panic, the council had agreed not to tell the public about the suspicions until they knew if it was something they needed to worry about. Everyone was still recovering from the destruction caused during the years Deva had terrorised the lands. No one was ready to consider another onslaught.

Silence settled between the group of women as they considered her words, and she almost regretted them, as she appeared to have ruined the good mood. Then Hedda grinned again.

"He's rather handsome, though, the prince," she said. "Even if he has the attitude of a posh toad."

A giggle rippled through the group, easing the tension and leaving everyone smiling. It was such a relief to speak to this group of women. How had she allowed it to be so long before she actively took part? They were not bad. As she was getting to know them better, she realised she had more in common with them than she had initially thought. Hedda had turned out to be an excellent archer, and they had agreed to practise together. Deianeira loved the same type of books. Idelle had a son around Mio's age.

It was as if she had been walking through life separated from everything the past few years, and suddenly the veil had lifted, allowing everything to rush in. Allowing herself to get close to others was terrifying, but also rewarding. These women she had kept at an arm's length could very well turn into fast friends. She smiled, so happy to have dared to take the step. Her gaze fell on Ornice and her smile faded as she saw the dark stain on the other woman's shoulder. Blood was seeping through the blue fabric of her dress.

An icy shiver travelled along her spine as she met the other woman's eyes. There was something cold and dark inside she had never noticed before.

"Ornice?" Her voice wavered. Steeling herself, she glanced over to see how close Felix or the King's Guards were. "What's happened with your shoulder?"

One of the ladies-in-waiting let out a shriek as they noticed the blood-stained dress. But Shae was too intent on Ornice to see who it was. The lady-in-waiting touched her shoulder with her fingers before holding them up before her face to inspect them. She frowned as she saw the red dampness on them. Her dark eyes met Shae's again and the naked hostility in them was frightening. Then she lunged.

~~~~~~