Kat avoided telling Leila about the presence of Jinx and Jazz. She wasn't sure why she felt the need to hide them, especially since she knew Leila had been on the ship with them and could tell her clearly whether they were friends or not. She could also reveal their powers and their weaknesses, and Kat needed the upper hand.

But Leila knew everything, and it was that particular detail which made Kat uneasy. Her mood had shifted again, frustration taking over her previous certainty. Why couldn't she remember things clearly? She knew that Lucille, her grandmother, had worked on her mind, but it was to provide her with everything she needed to rule. She'd truly appreciated it because without it, she wouldn't have known even where to begin leading a kingdom. But sometimes, she got a nagging feeling that her faulty memory was hiding more. Important details that shaped a part of her personality which now seemed to be gone.

Jazz and Jinx seemed to fall under such details. Could she truly believe that they meant her no harm? They had sounded sincere, but she couldn't trust her own judgement when there was a blank slate where the two used to be. Since she didn't want to talk to Leila about it, she summoned Keith and met him in her private chambers.

"Your Majesty, I do not believe it is appropriate for us to meet here," he said, his eyes taking in her imposing furniture.

She started pacing the length of the room, the skirts of her dress a hindrance. She had half a mind to put a pair of trousers on. Something told her it wouldn't be the first time, but this was once again something she couldn't truly remember, and it further frustrated her. 

"General, palace gossip is the least of my worries at the moment."

Keith shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I understand, but the rest of the staff, of the nobles..."

"Can choke on their malevolent words." She stopped pacing and narrowed her eyes. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

The man looked like a cornered animal.

"You are my adviser as well as my general. You know I came from Iride. If there are any important Endirian customs I'm missing, please share."

Keith hesitated some more, but finally seemed to relax as his frightened demeanor left way to that of the confident man she'd first met in Corosa. "I heard you executed a man in the Circle."

"That is true. A rapist who got bold."

He nodded. "The warden described his disgusting affirmation. Your action was justified and has earned you an appropriate reputation among the lowlifes."

The words had her muscles tensing painfully. Once her mood had shifted, she didn't want to remember that she had murdered a man in cold blood. It didn't matter that he deserved it, that he was disgusting, that he'd probably hurt many women. She was not a killer. 

And yet, sometimes, she was.

"Go on," she said, waving her hand.

Keith heaved a sigh. "Your Majesty, you must know that Endir is traditionally a patriarchy."

She rolled her eyes. "Why am I not surprised?" The fact that rapists weren't hanged stood testimony to the worth of women.

Iride wasn't different. Women were considered trophies to be paraded around by men. She'd suffered so much for possessing intelligence. This was a part of her life she remembered to some extent. The town of Darkwood, living in abject poverty with her controversial father. Being betrothed to a simpleton who only cared about her pretty face.

Her beauty is the least impressive thing about her.

Words spoken in a voice she longed to hear infiltrated her mind and the numbness in her chest. It was so painful, she had to fight not to wince, not to show Keith the turmoil inside her. Memories like that never became clear.

"Surprising or not, it does create a slight... Difficulty," Keith said, drawing her back to the present.

"Do you believe that the people will not support me as their queen?"

"They will support you, your Majesty, because you have magic. Magic is the most important force in our kingdom. The only force beyond our traditions. But..." He hesitated and she knew what would follow before he opened her mouth. "That does not mean that the people do not expect you to take a husband. Which is why my being here is slightly problematic."

She could see it and understand it. What Keith and her people couldn't understand and see, however, was that her heart was locked away in a magical prison. It was what allowed her to do what needed to be done for her kingdom.

"Are you married, Keith?" she asked, her voice calm.

"No," he said immediately, his eyes widening in surprise.

"Then I see no issue with you being here."

"Your Majesty..."

"Or maybe you have a problem with people talking?"

"No, not at all. I only long to serve the throne and my country."

"As am I. But if the gossips will feel better hoping that we will be together, let them. We do not have the time or energy for this."

Keith hesitated, a small frown on his face. In the months they'd worked together, Kat had come to know and appreciate the expression. It was a prelude for the kind of honesty she needed.

"I agree. Our impending war with Iride is our first priority. But don't forget that court drama fuels all courts and that sometimes, it can become dangerous."

"I do not intend to take a husband, Keith."

He startled at this. "Ever?"

"Not until our country is secure. Not until our people are fed." Not until the magic suppressing her feelings was no longer needed and she could feel again.

He bowed his head at this, so Kat could finally focus on the reason for her summons. "I wanted your thoughts on the two supposed Iridian spies."

The man raised an eyebrow, "You do not believe they're spies?"

"I'm fairly convinced they're not working for the usurper king."

Keith hummed in thought. "They said that much. I too found it odd that she's Endirian and he's Talian. Why would they be working for Iride?"

They're not working for Iride. They're working for someone within Iride. For the one she could not force herself to remember. And yet, at that moment, he was so close, like wraith floating in her subconscious, just out of reach.

Don't be scared, Kit-Kat.

A scream escaped her lips.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?"

No, she wasn't. The magic keeping her together was faltering, and she felt nauseous all of a sudden. Like she was on a ship in the midst of a storm. That voice... She remembered that voice. And for the briefest moment, the emptiness inside her was gone. But it was a flitting emotion and now she was more confused than ever.

"They know something." She raised her eyes to Keith. "I wish for you to join me. We will return to the Circle and question them again. Together."

"Yes, of course, your Majesty."

She hesitated for a moment. "I would like you not to mention this to Leila. As a matter of fact, whatever we will get out of them will remain between you and me."

"Of course, but... Why?"

It was a fair question since Leila was the royal advisor. He seemed to realize that she'd called him in precisely so she did not have to speak to Leila about it.

"I believe I know them."

His eyes widened. "Know them how?"

That was very hard to explain, especially since no one technically knew about the barrier inside her or the fact that every decision she could make was fueled by magic. Did it make her less of a person? The thought was frightening.

But would her people find it so? Or would they believe she was some sort of goddess through which magic spoke to Endir?

Keith needed an answer, so she concentrated on phrasing it properlu. "Before I arrived to Endir, they provided me with transportation."

Abandoned her on a beach with only Leila for support. She remembered so much pain, even if she could no longer feel it. There was a very good reason why she couldn't place what happened before, why there were only bits and pieces. But the information she had regarding Jazz and Jinx could be important, so she had to drag it out of them.

"Should we release them?" Keith asked, rightfully confused.

"No. We should question them about the status of Iride. As long as they're here, it is only appropriate to find out what the enemy is doing, don't you think?" On the off chance that they had indeed come from Iride and not from the sea.

"That is a great idea, your Majesty. This will help us better prepare for war."

"Be advised, General. They both possess magic." Keith became pale, so she continued. "What they do not possess is the ability to defeat an army by themselves. So give the appropriate orders. Should we not come out of the Circle unharmed, they are to be killed."

"Your Majesty, I cannot allow them to kill you."

She smiled and shook her head. "They won't kill me, Keith. They claim they are my friends."

⚜⚜⚜

We're back to Kat and get to find out more about how much she's forgotten and also some of Endir's traditions. She is very confused, poor woman. Will she handle a war? Maybe there will be no war.

Anyway, let's get this show on the road! Thanks for reading and for all your support!