The wine in the king's chambers is always bitter, from the first sip to the last. Yet I force myself to empty the chalice hoping to please him. He's providing the drinks; therefore, I must accept them and appreciate his effort to quench my thirst.

Across the dining table, a strength long for only three people, Binx takes the first sip from his own chalice and winces as he smacks his lips. He's never cared for the king's wine either, but glares coming from the leader of Esaria are more dangerous than not accepting the drink from him in the first place. Binx clenches down on his distaste and takes another sip, all before placing the chalice back on the wooden table.

Over the past month, I've frequented the king's chambers. Most of the time, when he's there. Other times, I go to visit his private library and read in silence without prying eyes. Although the castle has a public library for residents, its frequented to the point that every time I take a seat in a dusty chair, prepared to crack open a leather-bound novel, I'm scrutinized. For some reason, the residents of this castle believe it's okay to start a conversation at the same time someone is nose-deep in an enthralling story.

The only time I've been in the king's private sleeping quarters is that first night when he gifted me a golden dagger, a sentiment for what I had sacrificed to become his warrior, the first in a long strong—yet to come. I haven't taken the golden dagger out of the box since; it's stuffed underneath Celestine's bed and I have no plans on moving it. A treasure that valuable, more than the crystals provided by ancient witches, should not be revealed to the world.

Sitting at the head of the table and hunching over the paperwork in front of him, the king draws his brows inward. He's a hulk of a witch, one of the strongest I've grown to know. The tattoos that travel up his neck are dark and thick, bracing his jaw in a cup-like fashion and disappearing underneath his leather jerkin, only to reappear again on his hands in swirls of that haunting ink. I flinch as I remember bits of Renit's tattoos, only visible in my memories.

I don't remember when I saw those tattoos, but as soon as I see them, they're gone again. Binx raises his eyes to me, but when I meet his gaze, he looks back to the king—expectantly. Flashes of Renit come back from time to time, yet I can't locate those memories or when they happened. They're dreams, blinks of scenarios—then they're gone before I've fully absorbed them.

They're lies, likely, and false truths are nothing I wish to go through again. I haven't had the chance to start my mission—to find him—as fighting in a war is more important to my leader. What he wishes, I will do. Even laying down my life and fighting for a kingdom that has lost too many soldiers already. For them and for my king, I will fight.

As the king tries to find the proper information he's been looking for during the past ten minutes, I take sips from the warm bowl of porridge in front of me. Sometimes, the king is generous enough to invite us to dinner and whatever he eats, it's better than the meals the rest of the castle is scarfing down. Sitting at this table and sharing a meal with the leader of Esaria—there will be no higher honor.

"You trained well today," Binx says to dull the silence further.

I nod, silently thanking him. It's a mercy he points out today's training after I finally managed to beat him in a battle. Binx had left his right side open, allowing me to slide in and knock him to the ground, granting defeat when I pointed the tip of my sword against his throat.

"I've been putting in extra work, considering we have a new mission," I offer.

"This isn't a mission to take lightly." Binx exposes his palm to me—as if I hadn't thought about this before. "The battlefield differs greatly from what you've experienced in this castle. There's nothing like the bloodshed witnessed in war."

I roll my eyes, landing on the king, but that doesn't stop Binx from speaking. Neither does the king. It's likely he doesn't hear us at all. This isn't the first time he's chosen to hear something other than the conversation before him. "I understand what we're up against. The last thing I need from you is another lecture." I prepare for what he might say next by forcing down another sip of the wine.

"I'm not lecturing you. Out of everyone here, I've been to the battlefield recently. The war has changed its tide." Binx's eyes dart to the king. "The soldiers are losing hope."

Of course, the king hears that. With his intertwined fingers pressed against his mouth, feigning exhaustion, he looks to Binx and blinks. That's all it takes for the witch of illusion to shrink back in his chair, shoulders slouching. He never should've said anything in the first place, the result of the war will end in a territory for either kingdom and this is not something the king takes lightly.

"Binx, do you wish for reassignment? Mucking stalls would suit you better. I can arrange for a stable boy to take your position," the king threatens, abrasion lacing his words.

"No, Your Highness," Binx mutters. "I believe my purpose is best served right here, next to you...and Roux." He swallows nervously, daring to meet my eye, and I scowl. What does that mean? Why am I included in his services?

The king runs a hand through his long, silky hair. "Very well. I called you here not only to have a meal with my closest supporters, but I need to go over battle plans, as well."

"I believe we have the chance to change the tide in the war. There is some truth behind the soldiers being winded in battle; I can say the same for enemy lines. They're exhausted, and I believe with Roux's power, we can catch them off-guard. They won't see it coming." Binx leans forward, resting his forearms on the table.

"It has been very clear over recent conversations that Roux will be at the front lines. That is conclusive. I have decided that I will be there with her, using my power to take down the soldiers closest in range. My arrival will boost the spirits of the soldiers, don't you think so?" The king directs the question at me, not Binx.

I straighten, tightening my hands into fists so I don't jump with glee. Making a fool of myself in front of the king would not be acceptable at his dining table. And just when he offered to fight side by side with me, on a muddy, bloody battlefield.

"I think the soldiers will appreciate your recognition of their hard work," I respond easily. The king dips his chin in silent gratitude. There's none of the hardness I've seen before in his features, only calm resonance. "It's not often someone as notorious as you is in their presence."

The king sucks on a tooth; once again looking through the list of soldiers and their available powers. There's something missing on that page, something that could help them win the war without question.

"It's a shame you're the only one," the king muses. I know he's talking about my power of ground, a strength I hold dearly. If it wasn't for that, I never would have found myself here, amongst the presence of such strong witches. "Another witch of ground would be helpful in a time like this. You could cleave apart that entire battlefield without thinking twice."

A face flashes into my mind. A faint lick of recognition is all I get before it's gone once more, then...arriving again. As if someone is opening and closing the door to my thoughts, rearranging my deepest memories to their liking. Citlali Leski.

"Citlali Leski," my lips speak for me. The king raises his brows, not only in surprise but in confusion, too. That's no doubt a name he's never heard. "There's a witch of ground in Lona, her name is Citlali Leski. She's been hiding out for some time now; the city is protecting her identity."
"How do you know that?" Binx asks.

I can't give him a complete answer. I don't know how I'm aware of Citlali's presence. Ever since I became the king's third hand, my official title, I don't have all my memories. It's something I'm willing to give up in favor of his loyalty and care. "I think...I met her."

A flash of white hair, innocent magenta eyes, olive skin. Citlali's face is there again in my memories, surrounded by rubble in an abandoned home. Pieces of the memory come back, but not all; there's another figure standing in the corner of my vision, but I can't see them. They're nothing more than a shadow.

She's kind and...reasonable. She didn't loathe that I discovered her.

"If she's willing, we might have the opportunity to bring her to the battlefield, as well," I say.

The king smiles and reaches over to squeeze my hand. His touch is warm and accepting, all I've been longing for in my life. As his gold rings press against the back of my hand, he thanks me. "You're wise, Roux. You've done more than anyone else here."

A silent insult towards the witch sitting across the table. As the king's hand slides away and back to the paperwork in front of him, a new plan already crafted in his mind, Binx looks to his hand. Underneath the table, I press the toe of my boot against his and he flinches, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. He wouldn't dare reveal that to the room though.

No one is fully accepted in the eyes of the king, not even Binx and all he's done to help. But I will be there when he is repeatedly kickeddown, when no one seems to shoulder the fact that he's useful.

To tell me he accepts my recognition, Binx lightly kicks the tip of my boot.

We may have our differences, but we're to be there for each other when no one else wants to be.

"She doesn't have to help me willingly," the king mentions. "She will fight for us, or she'll lose her life. There's no other option."

"As far as I know, she's very well trained. Knows her power inside and out," I remember. Again, facts I didn't know I had spill from my tongue. "She would be a deciding factor on the battlefield."

"I agree." The king nods. "I'll send a search team as soon as possible to Lona. When they find her, they'll bring her back and I'll use her to create another version of a loyal soldier. There are few that get to say they have two, very loyal witches of ground on their side."

I can't hide the blush on my cheeks. Binx rolls his eyes at me, silently making fun when I can't control my loyalty to a man that hasn't done any wrong. Surely, everyone has made mistakes, but the king did everything for all the right reasons. He did nothing he didn't have to.

The king's mouth quirks to the side as he considers. "Now that I think about it, if the search team finds her, there's no guarantee she'll make it back in time to fight," he ventures. "We may have to go with one power of ground...even if it kills you."

I swallow. Binx opens his mouth to retort but quickly clamps it shut. "Anything for this kingdom," I say quietly. A hole opens in my stomach, nerves leaking through, but I don't let that stop me. I promised to give my life if that's what it came to, I will not disappoint my king.

The king reveals the rest of the plans and the entire time; I try to stomach the wine and the porridge, a meal with no taste. At least, I can't taste it. Binx tries to tap my boot but I keep my eyes down. It's just more evidence I may not make it out of this, even if I had realized that before. The reality of it is too much to bear.

On my way back to Celestine's chambers, alone and without Binx's constant shadow looming over me, I stop in my tracks at the sight of who stands in the hall. He waves at me, an awkward smile blossoming on his cheeks.

"Care for a chat?" Silas asks. His tone is anything but ordinary. As soon as one shadow left, another one has arrived.