A jagged stake had pierced Cage's heart and refused to disappear even after Jazz finished his story.

Still covered in blood, he sat in Cage's private chambers, his forearms resting on his knees and his gaze drilling into the floor, as if the carpet had mortally offended him. As it soon turned out, his smile was entirely for show. There was nothing joyful about him or how their mission had gone.

Cage wished he could comfort his friend, but the news of Kat and her lack of memories had rattled him to the core. There was also the matter of Jinx being held captive in Endir and not knowing whether she was safe or not. That also weighed on him, but not as much as the other aspects. Like how Kat was already the queen, had a general, and was obviously preparing for war.

"I understand," Jazz said. "Just like you, on some level, I hoped it wouldn't happen."

"I at least hoped it wouldn't happen so soon." That wasn't even the most important part, which made the fact that he was fixating on it strange. "Maybe there's still hope. She does want to talk."

Jazz nodded, but the movement was wary. "I wouldn't get my hopes up about that. I mean it's a good first sign, but..." He winced. "Cage, seeing her is going to hurt."

He was aware. Despite Cecille's spell, he wasn't naive enough to believe he would get through this without massive amounts of pain. He also had the vague impression that the High Fairy might not know the exact effects of her spell on him. He hadn't even dared ask.

"I know that. There's no way to do this without someone getting hurt one way or another."

Jazz hummed, his gaze focusing on his bloody hands. He turned them over, as if trying to find something which had been covered.

"I'm so sorry about Jinx," Cage whispered.

"She's strong. She can handle it." The hollow tone made it clear that Jazz had been telling himself that for days.

"Want to tell me about the blood?"

The question brought a twisted smile to Jazz's face. "Endir is strange. They hate Iridians so much that they would kill them on sight. Kat knew that when she let me go. Without her aid, she knew I would be in constant danger until I crossed the border. What she didn't count on was that I no longer had to be subtle about it." He twisted his hands again. "None of this blood is mine."

Cage had gathered that much. Jazz didn't seem hurt at all.

"I will also take it that you didn't attack anyone unprodded."

"Take it any way you like." He stood. "You can imagine how it went. I knew I had to get to you as fast as possible. After all, we only have three days to get to Zunin."

Cage nodded. They needed to leave right away if they hoped to get there on time. They were cutting it close either way. It was therefore obvious that Kat hadn't intended for them to get there.

"It's going to be you, me, and Trix," he said. "General Harkiss is already at the border and I'll send word for him to meet us in Zunin."

"I'd take at least a unit of soldiers along. I don't trust that Kat would come with only a few people."

"Harkiss has soldiers there. We don't have time to get any from here. I'll just grab a few members of the royal guard. You should go wash up and get ready. We're leaving in an hour."

Jazz nodded. As he headed for the door, he squeezed Cage's shoulder, leaving behind a bloody print. Cage didn't mind. He was just happy to have his friend back. The moment he was alone, he started packing the essentials. They would have to ride almost constantly, so they would need to change horses on the way. The more he thought about it, the more it became obvious that Kat expected Jazz to fail. Would she even be there?

"Kale, what are you doing?"

He'd been so deep in thought that he'd completely missed Edmund letting himself in. He'd probably knocked as well. He only halted for a moment before resuming his packing.

"I'm leaving. There's a chance of peace talks with Endir and I'm taking it."

"What? How?"

"Jazz came back with a message. We're meeting the queen in Zunin in three days."

"Yeah, I saw your friend, he was covered in blood, but... Wait? Zunin? That's all the way to the border. Do you even have time to get there?"

"I do if we leave in the next hour."

Edmund's cheeks lost the little bit of color they had. "We?"

"I mean Jazz, Trix and I. You're not coming."

Cage had expected his brother to relax, but he tensed even further. "Why am I not coming? This is a very important step in our future!"

"That's true." Cage halted his packing and focused on his brother. "But as you've pointed out yourself, getting to Zunin will be a challenge. Also, I'm sure Jazz made it here faster than expected which means that this entire peace talks proposal could be a trap. I can't have you with me. You're my heir."

Edmund opened his mouth, probably to point out that he shouldn't ride right into a trap, but closed it. "We can't afford not to go in case it's not a trap."

"Exactly."

"Damn." Edmund dropped on one of the armchairs in the room, his head in his hands. "I'm not ready."

"I'm not going to die, Ed." Cage laughed, but it sounded hollow to him as well. "General Harkiss will be there to back me up."

"It's just not fair. Why can't we..."

"Just have peace? It never worked that way between our countries, unfortunately. Maybe it will now."

"There's no good faith in this meeting."

"I know." But what Cage didn't know was how Kat would react upon seeing him. He had no idea how he would react. "This could go very well or very poorly."

"I wish there was no very involved." Edmund stood. There was both panic and determination in his pale green eyes. "I won't keep you. I know time is of the essence. I promise I'll hold down the fort here while you're away."

Cage nodded, appreciating the prince's maturity. "I'll leave Marshall Malcom here with you in case you need anything. I hope nothing will happen, but in case it does... I trust you will handle yourself."

Edmund walked over and caught him in a hug. "Good luck, brother. May you bring news of peace to us all."

Cage barely managed to hug him back before the prince detached from him and hurried out of the room. The last time Edmund had called him brother had been filled with sarcasm and scorn. This was the first time he'd said it honestly. And it broke Cage's heart that they might indeed never see each other again.

⚜

Kat glanced at herself in the mirror, her heart as small as a flea. She'd never worn armor before. She'd also never gone off to discuss peace treaties with someone who was much more politically versed than her. Someone who most likely knew a lot of things about her and who she couldn't even remember.

"It will be fine," she whispered to herself. After all, she'd received every answer to every question she had about ruling so far. Everything she needed to know came to her. This would, too.

There was also a big chance that he wouldn't even come. Jazz could be dead. He was a stranger in a kingdom who hated them. Yes, he had magic, but how much would that help in the face of hunger and potentially being killed in his sleep? Could he even get to Valona on foot in two weeks? It had taken her longer than that to travel from the coast to Corosa.

And yet, she was making preparations to leave for Zuning. If there was even the slightest chance for the king of Iride to show up, she would be there to meet him.

Cage.

The name had her shuddering. She couldn't even remember what he looked like, but when the name escaped Jazz's lips, she knew it was important. She also knew it wasn't real.

"I don't even know your name."

"Maybe I'll tell you someday."

"On our wedding night."

The memory had pain piercing her chest and she winced. Wedding night. Something else stirred inside her, but the memory stayed buried. It had to do with how she cried on an isolated beach for days. How he'd broken her. And how Lucille had tried to protect her by locking all thoughts of him and his betrayal away.

Her thoughts screeched to a halt. Even through the confusion, she had to admit that she found it odd how certain things decided to resurface, how her memories and feelings fluctuated. How she could have days like the one in which she'd torn Jazz and Jinx apart and sent him away into mortal danger, and then days like this when she was very in tune with her past.

Even if she now had magic and used it without fear, she couldn't even begin to understand it. She wished she had someone to talk to about it. And then she realized she did.

She turned away from the mirror, exited her chambers and headed towards the opposite wing. On the way, she saw many guards and palace staff rushing around to prepare the leave of the convoy to Zunin. They all stopped as she passed, dipping their heads in a show of respect.

For the first time since she'd been in the castle, Kat's skin crawled. Why were those people bowing to her? Yes, she was the queen, but she'd hardly done anything to prove herself yet. An icy cold drifted through her veins, towards her head, and the thoughts and uncertainty disappeared. By the time he reached Jinx's chambers, she knew exactly what needed to be done. At least until she saw that the other woman was packing.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Jinx stopped and turned to her, her green eyes narrowed. "With you."

"I don't remember asking you to come along."

"I don't believe you're foolish enough to think I wouldn't."

"Watch your tongue."

Jinx turned to her completely, her fists clenched. Even if they were nearly six feet apart, Kat could feel the heat radiating off her body.

"You will not keep me away from Jazz."

"I beg to differ."

A derisive laugh escaped Jinx. "You're the only one here with magic. Once you're gone, I will burn this place down."

The threat had Kat's entire body tensing. "You will do no such thing. I will have you guarded, and if the temperature even slightly rises around you, you will be killed."

"I'd like to see them kill me. You know, the fact that you don't remember me also means you can't remember what I'm capable of."

An image of Jinx completely on fire flashed through Kat's mind and the certainty she felt wavered. "This is your kingdom. How can you position yourself against it?"

"This is not my kingdom. I have no kingdom. I am a person who simply wants to be free. And so far, only Jazz could offer me that."

"You are Endirian, whether you like it or not."

"And you are Iridian. You were born and raised there."

"Raised poorly!"

Jinx huffed. "I will give you that one. You were obviously raised poorly. And I remember you mentioning that your father was so careless, your family almost starved to death."

Kat's entire body felt as if it were floating. Too many images assaulted her, filling her with a sensation of cold that was beyond her powers. It was regular cold. And hunger. As she drifted between these sensations, her mouth opened at her own accord.

"Silence! This is not a debate."

"I agree, it's not," Jinx said with a shrug. "Because I'm coming, whether with you or after I burn down the entire city."

Kat fought to pull herself out of her head before she did something she didn't want to. It worked once she stopped considering her past and returned to the present. It just left her nearly trembling in front of a stranger who claimed to be a friend. Her mind started to scheme, considering all the ways in which she could use Jinx.

She knows things. She's a link to the past.

The voice was soft, her own.

She could be used to press an advantage. She's a war prisoner.

This voice was cold and calculated, fueled by magic.

She tightened her jaw and clenched her fists, overwhelmed by the contradiction inside her. She was aware her days were different, but it had never been so obvious that she was fighting the magic inside her, the one which was meant to help. Lucille's blessing.

But is it really a blessing if it's taking over me?

Jinx claimed that Lucille had brainwashed her. It wasn't so simple. Brainwashing implied malevolence and the desire to hurt. All her grandmother had done was help her know what to do when she had to rule. Give her the strength to do what needed to be done.

You must do what needs to be done.

The slightly familiar voice calmed her down and she took in a deep breath.

"Very well," she said. "You may come along." And on the journey there, Kat could try to persuade Jinx to serve her own kingdom. There was nothing tying her to Iride after all, not even Jazz who was Talian. Once she did, then she could ask about the powers of magic and how to use it to their advantage.

Jinx faltered, obviously not expecting to get her way. "Alright then," she said. "I'll continue packing."

"I'll send someone to fetch you once we're ready to leave."

"Thanks." Jinx narrowed her eyes. "But if you don't, I will burn the place down."

"Don't worry about that. I changed my mind. You could be useful." And with that, Kat returned to her quarters and her fears.

⚜⚜⚜

Who's excited about a get-together? No one? Oh, I know you are. Kat and Cage are about to meet, and Jinx is coming along to see Jazz as well. That is, if they reach the little village on time... Could I tease this meeting to not make it happen? I guess you will have to wait and see.