The sun had almost set, throwing a calm, reddish light upon the white walls surrounding General Harkiss' manor.

Draped in a dark cloak, the hood pulled deeply over his head, Cage gauged the height. It was more a way of stalling for he didn't particularly enjoy what was to follow. He wasn't aware whether anyone had told Madeline Harkiss that her betrothed had been murdered. That he had broken the promise he'd made her to bring Ferdinand home safely.

The bitterness on his tongue made him reluctant, but he no longer had the luxury to act according to his own personal preference. Time was scarce and so were his options.

Groaning, he propped his hands on top of the wall and, in one fluid motion, hoisted himself over it. He'd chosen the same spot behind the large tree in the General's backyard so that the few patrolling guards wouldn't notice. Unlike last time, the property was actually guarded, so he had to wait for the three soldiers to move around the corner of the villa before he could search for a suitable rock. Then, he waited another round before throwing said rock at Madeline's window. Then, he prayed to any god who would listen that she would come out before the patrol rounded the corner.

She didn't. For a few moments, he was convinced that she wouldn't come out at all. After all, he wasn't even sure whether she was home. But then the door to the balcony opened and Madeline Harkiss stepped out. She wore a black dress with a tight bodice and ample skirt, her dark brown hair caught in a severe bun. Her features seemed even gaunter than before. Her sharp eyes moved across the yard, focusing on the incoming patrol.

They halted, looking up at her. "Any trouble, Milady?" the commander inquired.

"Can I not enjoy fresh air without being questioned?" she snapped.

Cage quirked an eyebrow. It was obvious that she did not enjoy being guarded, and that might turn out in his favor.

The guards didn't answer, but scurried around the corner faster. He took advantage of this to step out from behind the tree and wave at the woman. Her haw-like eyes trained on him, and her thin mouth twisted into a snarl. Unlike last time, she didn't have the power to get him thrown in jail, but being discovered in the General's yard uninvited posed a different kind of problem, so he'd much rather avoid discovery.

Madeline turned her back on him and strutted back inside. If he hadn't seen her glaring daggers at him, he could have believed that she'd missed him. As it was, he was sure that his presence was known. So he retreated to his hideout and leaned his back against the thick trunk, simply waiting. She couldn't be foolish enough to bring the guards with her, but he made a contingency plan in case she did.

The boots of the guards stomped in the yard once again. Then, there was silence before the subtle sound of small feet flitted towards him. In mere moments, Madeline Harkiss joined him behind the tree.

"Your Majesty," she said, her voice filled with poison.

"Lady Madeline," he answered. He wasn't sure what else to say at the moment. His attention was drawn to the lines of anguish on her face, the hatred bubbling in her eyes together with despair. It was clear as day that she knew. "I take it that you've heard the dire news."

He did not see the slap aimed at his face coming. It stung, but not enough to even slightly punish his shortcomings.

"You promised," she said between her teeth, her eyes brimming with tears. "You promised that you would bring Prince Ferdinand back and, instead, you come here, commit regicide, and steal his throne."

Every word was a sharp dagger plunged into his heart, but Cage held his ground and his bearing. Madeline was not a friend, so he couldn't remove the mask of the stoic king for her. That didn't mean he couldn't tell her the truth.

"Believe me, my failure weighs even heavier on me."

"Failure?" She punched his chest. "You took his crown! I'm sure you don't count that as failure, your Majesty."

"I understand your pain. It's the only reason you're hitting me and getting away with it."

Madeline froze with her fist in midair, posed to strike again. At his words, she seemed to realize that she was hitting the king of Iride. That shit wouldn't have flown with anyone else. Fherras would have had her hanged twice by now.

"Your grief is justified. I did break my promise," he continued, his voice much softer. "But I did try. The truth is not well-known, but I would like to share it with you."

"The truth?" Madeline now looked confused as she lowered her fist and hid it in the folds of her skirts.

"I assume you know that Ferdinand is dead. It is the only reason the crown is on my head."

"That and you killing the king," she spat out.

Cage raised his eyebrows. "I wasn't aware you were a fan of Fherras."

"That has nothing to do with it! He was the king!"

"I'll be getting to that part, too. But I'd rather tell you about Ferdinand first."

Madeline glanced over her shoulder at the sound of the approaching patrol. They both waited in silence until it passed before Cage spoke again.

"I did find him. The information was correct. He had been captured by Wolfbane. I always assumed that he'd kidnapped Ferdinand to gain favor with our kingdom, or seek revenge on me. I assumed that once I was there, he would release Ferdinand and focus on me. I was wrong." The words triggered memories that brought bile to his mouth, but he forced himself to continue. "Wolfbane didn't have a plan. By the time I got there he'd already maimed Ferdinand. Made him unfit to be a king."

Madeline frowned in confusion. "Maimed? What do you mean?"

Cage hesitated for a moment, but realized there was no point to spare Madeline of the truth. "The pirate gouged his eyes out and broke his bones."

She shuddered, and tears streamed down her face, but her expression remained firm. "I see."

"Wolfbane killed Ferdinand in front of me. I killed him for it, but it didn't fix anything. It didn't undo my mistakes. It didn't change the fact that the crown prince was gone. That my brother was gone."

Madeline's eyes widened. "Brother?"

"This is something few people know, but the truth will come out. Fherras was not the crown prince. My father was. During the last war, when my grandfather died, it seemed as if my father had also been killed in the battle with the Witch King. He wasn't. He was killed later, as he scrambled to salvage the army and push the forces of Endir back. I've always assumed that Fherras killed him. Then, he married my mother. I was masqueraded as the bastard child of a distant relative and pushed aside. The people who knew I existed were either bought off or silenced in other ways.

"Once Fherras was king, I was put into the navy to train and eventually lead it. Part of the privilege was in exchange for my silence. And I intended to stay silent because I knew Ferdinand would make a great king. Once he was killed, the circumstances changed. So, in part, you are correct, milady. I did take the crown instead of Ferdinand."

Madeline was silent as her gaze took him in from head to foot. "Your story is unbelievable."

"I know how it sounds. I also assure you that it is true. Despite my birthright, I didn't want the crown. I would have had no issue with Fherras keeping it as long as he listened and did what had to be done."

"Oh, gods, there's more." She put a hand on her chest. "I will have the privilege to hear why you've murdered our king, won't I?"

"He didn't believe that Ferdinand was dead," Cage said, doing his best to control his voice and keep it calm. "He thought I was only stirring trouble. But a war is coming, milady. The heir of Endir has claimed her throne and we must prepare for an invasion."

"The heir of Endir? What is this madness?"

He let out a long breath. "With the borders closed, most of the populace was unaware of what was happening with Endir. After the war, they were left without an heir. Their Steward was not an issue, but now..." He knew there was so much more to the story, but he couldn't say anymore.

The mere thought of Kat and all that had happened between them summoned the visions of ice, fire and death. It still plunged him into despair. It broke him from the inside out and this was something he didn't wish to share with anymore who wasn't already privy to what he and Kat had gone through.

"Is this why you're here? Because of the war?" She hesitated for a moment. "Because my father won't see you? You do know that he is forced to answer a summons. Not an invitation, which is what you extended."

"I don't want to force your father into anything. I know his relationship with Fherras was a good one, that he was one step away from entering the royal family. These are things I cannot give him, which automatically makes me his enemy."

"Smart assessment, your Majesty. You do not win my father over with force."

"Which is why I came to see you, milady. In part, I owed it to you to explain about Ferdinand. Believe me, I will forever carry the burden of his death. But my main objective is to save this kingdom. And for that I must ask you to speak to your father, try to sway him to meet with me. I will not deny his merits as general."

Madeline hesitated, most likely trying to determine whether he was manipulating her. He was, a little, but he truly wanted to gain her trust. He needed an ally in this game of favors, and she was a likely candidate.

"This is a lot to take in," she finally said.

"Which is why it doesn't have to be today. Think about it. And if you wish to speak to me again, you can always contact me. I will answer any question you may have. Keep in mind, however, that time is short. War may be upon us faster than we think."

She said nothing else, so Cage took it as his cue to get out of there. With a light leap, he was back on the other side of the fence, alone. He hoped this strategy would bear fruit and he wouldn't have to start making people do what he needed them to.

⚜⚜⚜

Cage was so fed up with lists, but kept demanding more. After the matter of the palace staff was settled and the questionable people were let go, it was the turn of the royal guard.

Unlike the rest of the people serving in the castle, the royal guards had always been chosen directly by the king from likely candidates, so pruning them was much harder, Humphrey claimed. For Cage, it was just a matter of shoving the metaphorical fist in their mouth.

He gathered them all in the training yard of the castle as soon as he returned from his little excursion into General Harkiss' backyard and stood facing them, his hands behind his back, his sword on his hip. This time, he'd left the crown back in the throne room. Even if he hadn't decided if a coronation was needed, he now had an excuse not to wear it and he was taking it.

Fifty men in light armor faced him, supposedly the best fighters in the kingdom. Cage wondered if they could compare with Lord Terrani's Crimsonhawks.

"How many of you were aware that I left the palace today?" he asked.

There was a light murmur before the soldiers once again fell silent, most of them staring at him with wide eyes. A few in the back raised their hands.

"You, come to the front."

The four soldiers heeded his command and Cage analyzed them. One of them was a guard who usually lingered near the front entrance, and as Cage hadn't used any hidden passage out of the place, he motioned the man back to his original place, which left only three observant guards.

"Second order of business," he said. "I am aware of the selection process for the royal guard. I am also aware that a job like this requires a fealty unlike any other. So, if there are any of you who feel they cannot serve another king, let them speak now and you will be released from this service and reassigned to the army." There was silence, and Cage knew what that meant. "Not liking me won't get you punished. Your loyalty is to the kingdom, not some man with metal on his head. You will not be punished for leaving the king's guard."

This time, a little over twenty men stepped forth, looking either stoic or uncomfortable. Cage nodded to them.

"You are free to go. Present before General Harikss and inform him that you are to enter his service with my approval. I harbor no ill will towards anyone."

Muttering, the men moved to the entrance of the training court.

"Of course you don't, killer," one of them whispered.

Cage didn't flinch, even if some of the remaining guards placed their hands on the pommels of their swords. He wouldn't impose sympathy, but he would impose discipline and respect when the time came.

"The rest of you, if there is any other reason you would not like to serve, now is your chance to come forth. Because if you are to stay, you will become my elite guard. Which means you will have to rise to my standards." He crossed his arms over his chest. "A war is upon us and I will do my very best to save this kingdom from it."

This time, there were no further deserters, which was good to see. Replacing twenty men was hard enough. But before he settled on the number, he had to see if the ones who'd chosen to remain could handle the pressure. So, with a grin, he pulled out his sword.

"Let's see where we're starting from. Come at me!"

⚜⚜⚜

Cage is in no way having fun fighting guards. Nope. He likes the bureaucracy of ruling a kingdom.

At least he got to do fun things in this chapter. Like sneak around, reveal secrets and get into a fight with elite guards. Things are going great, aren't they? But will he get the support of the army? Will he be able to win everyone over in time for the invasion (which I'm not confirming is coming)?

Hope you're enjoying the story so far!