Kat was seething. She hadn't expected the King of Iride to accept her proposal. She hadn't even expected him to be there to meet her, if she were honest. What annoyed her most, however, was his existence.

He was handsome. So handsome, that all the magical protection in the world couldn't deny that. Had they really been involved? Had she touched him, kissed him? Had he been hers?

Her head throbbed as she tried to find the answers to those questions and deny them at the same time. She remembered the pain. She remembered crying because of him. New information trickled in like ice cold needles piercing her skin.

He told her he loved her. Then he took her virtue and abandoned her on an empty beach to die. He'd hurt her in ways no one had before.

And yet...

Goodbye, Kit-Kat.

That stupid nickname haunted her. It didn't sound disdainful. It only sounded... sad. Like an inside joke between them which had lost its power.

The only good to come out of all of that was Jinx still being by her side. Once the meeting was over, she'd been given a horse and now rode just a few steps behind Kat. Her wrists were still chained, but she no longer seemed to care. Her eyes were downcast.

"You," Kat said. "Get over here." She desperately needed a distraction and this was a better one than most.

Jinx ignored her. Kat clicked her tongue in annoyance, but slowed her horse the slightest bit so that they could fall in line. The rest of her envoy did the same, leaving the two of them in the lead.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Just leave me alone," Jinx mumbled.

"I'm sure you didn't go through all that trouble just to tell me to go away."

Jinx raised her eyes. They were filled with tears that slid down her face with the movement. Even if she could no longer remember things properly, Kat was sure she'd never seen Jinx cry before. She didn't seem like the kind of person to ever cry.

"You could have gone with them."

"I said leave me alone." In a burst of magic, Jinx was on fire.

The horse under her spooked and reared, but she held on tightly. The flames doused and simmered until they were off, but her outburst made a true impression. There were gasps from their entourage and the sound of whining horses and terrified men. Kat herself was taken aback by the power of the display,

"I'm already sacrificing enough for you," Jinx said between her teeth. "The least you could do is give me a few fucking hours."

Kat didn't say anything, but continued to ride next to the other woman. Hours ticked by as they made their way to the nearest garrison. Even if she hadn't planned on what to do in case the negotiations went sour, Kat saw no point in returning to Corosa. It was much too far from the border and she knew that she and her magic were her army's best hope.

Thoughts of Leila had her stomach twisting. She hadn't told her friend about the meeting with the king of Iride. She claimed she wanted to see the status of the border villages. She didn't feel like telling Leila about her plans against their enemy and she wasn't sure why. Her friend and closest advisor was all for war. She'd been pressing Kat about it for weeks. And yet, something held her back. A fear of criticism which felt misplaced. Why would she care so much if Leila agreed with something or not?

"I hope," Jinx said, startling Kat out of her thoughts, "that you realize the weight of my sacrifice."

"What are you talking about?"

"Jazz is my everything and I will not go against him. The only reason I'm still here is because I've heard you talking to Keith and the others. I've seen your dream and it fits mine. A kingdom no longer impoverished, people actually being happy. Magic returning."

Her words warmed Kat more effectively than the flames. "That's what I strive for. I'm not the bad guy here. I only want what's best for Endir."

"Cage is a good man," Jinx said. "He would have kept his end of the deal."

"Cage is just one man. He can be killed." The feel of his name on her lips was strange. Bitter and sweet at the same time. Somehow, it made him even more real than seeing him.

"So can you."

Kat narrowed her eyes. "So can you, but you keep forgetting that."

Jinx shook her head. "This war won't do anyone any good. It's a waste of lives and time."

"This war will give our people what they need. Build their future!"

The other woman sighed. "I know you truly believe that. Because if you didn't I wouldn't be here. But just think about it. What if we lose? What will happen to Endir then?"

Kat had no answer and the question settled on her shoulders like a cape.

⚜

Though it was too early in the year, frost covered the mountain passes between Endir and Iride in the next few days.

Cage knew it was Kat's doing and it only confirmed that she hadn't returned to her capital city either but lingered for the first battle. The uncertainty was like a heavy weight in his stomach, but he was aware that any day of respite was in their favor. General Harkiss only had the failing armies of the Border Barons under his command for now, and to say the men were untrained was being generous.

Jazz and Trix had taken up the task together with Rip. While the captain of his Royal Guard focused mostly on sword play, Jazz and Trix were throwing magic at the men and teaching them how to recognize it before it was cast. Of course, this first created a wave of panic among the soldiers, and Cage had to step in and assure them that magic was no longer punishable by death.

General Harkiss was by no means content with this change in policy, but shut his mouth like everyone else when Cage shot a bolt of lightning into a nearby tree to settle the argument.

"I want all of you to be aware that Endir has magic," he said. "Fearing it will only make you easy targets. We don't have any time to ease into this. You're soldiers, so act like it."

They still mumbled and avoided him for the next few days as the information spread across the army, if not the kingdom. Their king had magic.

Cage was too busy devising a strategy to care too much at this point. He was far away from court, from the people. They were at war and he'd meant what he'd said. They no longer had time to be delicate.

So he let the rumors fly while he poured over the map of the two kingdoms, trying to devise a proper strategy. For the time being, they'd set up camp a few miles from the middle of the seven passes between Endir and Iride with small garrisons dispatched to watch the other passes. Cage doubted that Kat would use the middle pass, but this way, he could reach any of the others as soon as possible.

"This is no place to fight," General Harkiss said, studying the map as well.

"I know," Cage mumbled.

"Fighting in the mountains will not be to our advantage."

"It would have been if the border garrisons were prepared."

"Well, you and I both know they're not."

Cage sighed. "We can't leave now. But I agree that this won't be where we meet their armies. We'll have to retreat to the outskirts of Tiron."

"Your Majesty...." The General heaved a deep sigh as if he'd had enough of dealing with children. "We shouldn't retreat. We should be meeting them on the plateau on the other side of the mountain."

Cage's fingers tightened around the table the map was placed on. "We've discussed this before, General. I'm not going to invade Endir."

"So you're going to let them invade us?"

There was no winning this. Harkiss had a point, but Cage knew that it would be a lot worse if they were the ones to ride into Endir.

"If we cross the mountains, we will be seen as what they're trying to paint us."

"What do we care what they think?"

"And what would you have us do then? Let's say we win the battle on their side of the mountains. What then? Will you march to Corosa?"

Because Cage had thought about it long and hard. He didn't want Endir. Even if they managed to defeat Kat, he could never hold the country with the hatred between their people. He'd only add a much poorer and disgruntled land to his own. Iride's resources would then have to go into sustaining Endir.

"We should," General Harkiss mumbled. "And then place our own king on their throne."

Cage lifted his eyebrows. "Who? You?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of Edmund."

"Edmund can't hold Endir," Cage said with a wave of his hand. "He can't even speak the language. We can't hold people who hate us. It will only weaken Iride."

Since the general was by no means a stupid man, this particular argument silenced him, and he returned to glaring at the map.

"I don't like this," he mumbled.

"I don't like it either, but it's the better choice."

"What if they win?"

"If they win, we're lost either way." Because if Kat won her first battle, it would mean that him, Jazz and Trix would all be dead. He hated that he didn't believe the kingdom had any chance without them. Without magic.

"We should move a few troops inside the southern pass," the general said, pointing to the location on the map.

"I think we should send lookouts into Endir through every path, but not troops or anything that actually looks like soldiers. We need a web of runners who can inform us as quickly as possible where their army would come through. Though, if you ask me..." Cage pointed on the map to the second most southern pass. "They're coming in through here."

Harkiss studied the area and nodded. "It's because you believe they will rally their forces on this platform here, before the mountains."

"Looks like a good place to set up camp, doesn't it?"

"Agreed." The general gave him a once-over. "I never took you seriously as admiral, but you do apparently have tactical knowledge."

The affirmation almost made Cage laugh, but the situation didn't let him express any emotion other than concern. The drums of war sounded in the distance

"How's training going?"

"I wish I could say well, but as long as your two... friends continue to pummel all my soldiers..."

"Are the soldiers at least putting up a better fight? Evolution is just as important as success."

"You know how it is. Some of them are, some of them aren't."

Cage's muscles ached to be put to use as well, but he'd have to finish planning before he could head for the training grounds himself.

"Give the order to move the bulk of the troops to Tiron. As far as I'm aware, there's a citadel there we can use for defensive purposes."

"So this is the approach you're going to take. Defense." Harkin didn't necessarily sound disdainful, but it was obvious it bothered him.

"I repeat. I'm not going to invade Endir."

"The moral high ground will be of no use to you in the long run."

"Oh, yes it will. Because if we fight where we want, we can organize the supply chains properly. The queen of Endir was right about one thing. They don't have food."

"And we don't have steel to replace the swords we break."

Cage shrugged. "They do."

Harkiss startled, his eyes widening with surprise. "Are you suggesting we pillage the fallen Endirians?"

"If that's what you'd like to call taking their weapons..."

"You're a lot sneakier than I thought."

Cage grinned at this. "You call it defense, I call it luring them into a trap."

This time the general smiled as well. "I should stop underestimating you, your Majesty."

"You really should. Now give out the orders. I want to be ready when the first Endirian crosses into Iride."

And just like a sign, one of the runners entered their tent, panting.

"Your Majesty," he called. "The Endirian army is on the move."

Cage tensed. "Which pass?"

"Driftor."

The second pass from the south, just as he'd suspected. "How far are they?"

The man faltered. "We're not sure. We didn't actually see any soldiers."

Harkis frowned. "Then why do you claim that the army is on the move?"

The soldier was once again silent for a few moments. "Ice has moved through the pass and engulfed everything it touched. It looks as if winter has come there."

⚜⚜⚜

You got to see what Jinx was thinking when she stayed behind. But will she be able to influence Kat? Or will this turn ugly? Everyone is preparing for war. And I'm sure you're all looking forward to that! Time for some action.

Thanks for reading! Any thought is appreciated.