Cage's adventure with Trix had been a well-deserved reprieve and a return to what he mattered to him most. Action and throwing himself head-first into things. He wondered how it had become so, when in his thirty years of life had he decided that the only way to overcome an issue was to run straight at it.

Well, there were some things he couldn't run straight at. The diplomatic envoy from Napoletta was one of them.

The leader of the envoy was Lord Terrani, what he supposed was the Talian equivalent of a Baron. A fat man with trembling jowls and beady eyes. As was the case for Talians, he was deeply tanned and his hair dark, as was his disposition. His two companions had too low of a rank to be introduced, so Cage had no idea who they were, but he suspected they were paid guards.

"We would like to see him, please." The please seemed to have been pulled out of the man's throat by force. "Your Majesty." The title appeared to cause him even more pain.

Cage gave a nod as if the gravity of the situation was not lost on him. It had been very long since he'd had to be diplomatic about anything, but he still had some tricks up his sleeves.

"I'm not sure who you are referring to."

The man's face flushed. "I assumed that when you finally agreed to see us that--"

"My apologies, Lord Terrani. Current circumstances did not allow me to receive you sooner. However, I assumed that your visit was due to the opening of borders, not a certain person."

Terrani turned even redder, lowering his eyes since they were obviously filled with malevolence. "I apologized as well. Knowing of your reputation, I too assumed that your Majesty was already aware of our issue."

Cage hummed and drummed his fingers on his chin. The crown pushed heavily on his head again, but for once, he didn't mind it. It made it impossible for the Talian to openly accuse him of harboring fugitives. It was good to know that they realized he was playing dumb. Talians were shrewd people. They needed to be in order to run their guilds and keep peace amongst themselves.

Of course, Cage knew that. He'd been to Talia on several occasions and was very aware that everything there operated by means of gossip. If something floated through the streets, the chances were it was real and had to be treated as such. It was the same this time. The moment the envoy had crossed the border into Iride, word on the street was they were looking for a fugitive. It didn't take a genius to realize who it was.

But that didn't mean Cage wouldn't frustrate them as much as he could. "Well, I have been away for a very long time, so forgive me if I am not up to speed with the gossip."

Terrani flinched. Even if it was the basis of what they did, Talians abhorred the word. "So I've heard," he said, his gaze fixed on the floor in front of the throne as if he could see the blood which was spilled there.

Cage shifted on his throne. He wished he had Jazz by his side for this. He also wished he did not need to keep telling himself that he had done nothing wrong. He'd given Fherras the options to either do something about the impending war with Endir or step aside. The former king had chosen to try and kill him instead.

"Then you will forgive my ignorance and present your case."

The man looked left and right, but there was no seat in the room apart from the throne. Cage had known what he was doing when he'd received the Talians in the throne room rather than his counsel chamber. It was a declaration. He would not be persuaded or pushed around. They were seeing a king.

Unfortunately, he was also aware that this position was hostile. Truth be told, if he wasn't trying to protect Jazz, he'd be rushing for an alliance with Napoletta. After all, they were the brains behind siege machinery and any form of engineering. Since the borders had been closed for over thirty years, the machinery and knowledge they had at the moment was probably obsolete. All Cage hoped was that Talia continued to hate and fear Endir after the last war.

"Very well. Your Majesty." It sounded like an insult, but Cage let it slide. "There is word on the street that Iride is aiding a traitor to the Free City of Napoletta."

Cage leaned forward on his throne, a frown on his face which indicated both worry and curiosity. "You don't say." Terrani picked up that he had been mocked immediately and Cage had to admire the man for it. "Please tell me more."

With the words gritted, the man continued, "It is said that Lord Jason Landos, son of the Governor of our free city, has fled to Iride. We have reasons to believe that he is currently residing in this very castle."

"Jason Landos, huh." Cage hummed, keeping the frown on his face. He hadn't known Jazz's real name until then, but he was sure that his friend was the sought one. "He has not announced his presence, if he is truly in the palace." A truth.

"He could be going by a different name," Terrani said. "He is a fugitive, after all." Another truth.

"Are you aware of this potential different name?" A fair question.

"I am afraid not."

"I will have to look into it, then." Cage stood from his tone. "I will begin an inquiry among my staff. You will have to forgive me, but I did not get the opportunity to put everything in order, so there are things I cannot answer right away."

"So we've heard." This time, the affirmation came with a hidden question that Cage picked up on. The conversation could yet turn useful.

"What exactly have you heard?"

Terrani jumped at being asked directly. It was against Talian custom to go beyond the word on the street.

"Your Majesty?"

"What have you heard regarding my coronation?"

"Your coronation did not take place, your Majesty." The man's dark eyes fixed on his crown. "And yet, you are sporting the crown."

"I hardly believe we can afford a long and costly ceremony when there is so much to do. I know that you've heard this. I want to know why Talia thinks this is happening."

"I can hardly speak for all of Talia--"

"Then speak for yourself!"

The order in Cage's voice was clear. They were done with the games of diplomacy.

"Is it true, then?" Terrani asked, dropping his oily manner. "Has the heir of Endir been found?"

The question had Cage gritting his teeth, once again too aware that this was all a waste of time. "Yes."

"Is war upon us once more?"

"I'm not sure about Talia's position, but it will be upon Iride unless we work to prevent it. Unfortunately, Lord Terrani, that is also the reason I have no time or patience for games. How many spies are in my castle?"

"Spies? I take offense."

"The Free Cities of Talia have always found support in Iride. That will not change. It is one of the reasons that the first thing I did was open the borders." Cage narrowed his eyes. "Do not make me regret my decision." He motioned for the master of the Grand Palace to move closer. "Humphrey, please provide Lord Terrani and his escort with fine lodgings. I will look into the issue, your lordship, but do not expect me to make it my priority."

Humphrey bowed and ushered the Talians out of the room. Cage dropped back on the throne and slumped, taking the crown off.

That simple conversation had raised a million tiny issues that he had overlooked. He hadn't lied when he'd said that he'd been away for too long. Joey had been right. Being stuck in his castle for seven years had sapped him of his social graces.

⚜⚜⚜

"They sent Terrani after me?" Jazz asked, sounding amused.

Cage was far from it. He was now slumped on the chair in his council room, nervously shifting the crown from one hand to the other. He wanted to throw it again, but he'd learned better than to do that with Jazz present.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"It's ironic since he's the guy who's daughter... Well, let's just say that he's one of the the reasons I went into forced exile."

Cage straightened in his seat. "Really? Since he came in with just two men who looked like hired swords, I assumed he wasn't a man of much importance. He's what? A baron there?"

Jazz heaved a heavy sigh and dropped on the chair in front of Cage's. "You are painfully ignorant of Talian politics."

"Word on the street is I'm not that hopeless, Jason."

"Oh yes, that. He would have mentioned my name."

"Jazz is an interesting way to shorten it."

"So's Cage going from Kale." Jazz rubbed his forehead. "I have a lot of explaining to do."

"That's true. I told Terrani I'd be looking for you, even if it would not be my main priority. I also had Humphrey put him in the suite farthest from here, but that does not mean I can keep him in it."

"Let's start there, then. Those men with Terrani are not hired swords. They were wearing crimson, weren't they?"

Cage shifted in his seat. "Yeah. A very dark shade. Sort of like your hair."

Jazz nodded. "They're Crimsonhawks. Tallian elite guards. Nobles trained as assassins. So your first assessment of Terrani was wrong. He is a big deal."

"Crimsonhawks? I had no idea those even existed."

"Of course you didn't. You're not Talian high ranking nobility. Those men are deadly."

Great, he had two highly skilled assassins from a foreign land in his castle. More trouble. Something else came to mind and he narrowed his eyes at Jazz. "Are you a Crimsonhawk, too?"

"No. I did train to become one, but I was forced out of the country before the final trial."

That explained a lot about Jazz's skills with a sword and beyond. "Take me through it again. What actually happened?"

⚜⚜⚜

I forgot to update again... This is going to be fun. I should set a reminder.

Anyway, once again short and sweet, cutting off right before you get to find out more about Jazz's intense history. Funny how he trained to become an elite assassin, huh? Explains why he's so good with a sword. And diplomacy is so much fun! Cage hates it.

Stick around to see where this is going. I hope you're enjoying the story even if the pace is different given the fact that Cage now has responsibilities and people to please.

Don't forget to leave a comment and vote!