Cage was sure he wouldn't get away easily during his dinner with General Harkiss. For the first time, he regretted that he couldn't wear the crown, but he'd decided that he would no longer do that before the coronation. Instead, he decided it was about time to wear some clothes befitting his title. Even he was aware that it would be inappropriate to show up at the General's house wearing the uniform of the Navy Admiral, especially since that title no longer belonged to him.

After studying the court archives, he had found that Fherras had hesitated to name a new Admiral after Cage's disappearance, keeping the interim title for himself. When he'd shown up again, it should have been his, but the fact that he was king meant he would have to name someone else soon.

Given the short notice, the palace tailors were unable to come up with anything complicated, so his attire was mostly simple with a black tunic with silver buttons, trousers and boots. What had changed the most were the fabrics.

As the sun set, he headed out of the Grand Palace and towards General Harkiss' manor, two of his personal guards in tow. He saw no reason to bring more or turn his presence into a state affair.

The manor itself was a spectacle of lights. Carriages lined the driveway and servants milled about trying to maintain a semblance of order. Cage made his way towards the entrance, doing his best to keep a straight face and not groan. He couldn't say he was surprised, but he was hoping for an intimate dinner to discuss the status of the army and the general's support.

As it was, he had to pass through a mass of people who halted at the sight of him and forced hurried curtsies and bows. His two guards stayed close at his side as he made his way inside the reception hall.

It took General Harkiss a full three minutes to show his face. He was a tall and broad man with graying black hair and weathered skin. His dark eyes settled on Cage and he could read the shrewdness in them even as he launched forward with a grin.

"Your Majesty! What an honor to have you in my humble home."

Humble, my ass. His manor reeked of undeserved privilege. But he kept his civil smile. "So nice of you to have me, General."

"Come, come. The others have already settled around the table."

Cage was ten minutes early specifically because he was sure that being on time would make him late. The General might have extended the invite, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to state his superiority and underline the king's inadequacy by any means possible. It was a game Cage was fortunately very versed in.

"Sorry to keep you and your company waiting," he said smoothly. "Urgent matters unfortunately held my attention." He nodded to his guards to follow.

"Is this the entirety of your personal guard, your Majesty?" the General asked with feigned surprise.

"Believe me, Dalton and Rip are more than enough. Besides, I am in your home, General, and your prowess in battle is well known." The man frowned at the well placed compliment, so Cage decided to take things even further and send a message. "So unless you will be the one attacking me, I believe I couldn't be safer."

Harkiss let out a derisive laugh. "Of course no one will be attacking you, your Majesty. Your safety is ensured in my home."

Cage bowed his head, the easy smile still on his face and continued to the dining room. In regular fashion, the guests were seated at a long table. Since he was the guest of honor, he was to be seated in the middle of the table, across from the host. As he walked to his seat, Cage took note of those in attendance. He wasn't surprised that he was surrounded by all the high ranking officers in the army and navy. The only foreign presence there was Madeline who was seated next to her father. She was the only woman there, her own mother absent.

"Your Majesty," she said with a bow once Cage took his seat.

"Lady Madeline."

She wore a golden dress this time, her hair caught up in an elaborate bun on the top of her head, her shoulders on full display. Cage could easily guess that her father forbade her to wear black this time and wanted her to look as lovely as possible. The probability of a potential marriage not being at least alluded to were slim.

"You look dashing this evening," Madeline said, giving him a soft smile.

The other patrons were still making their ways to their seats, so Cage afforded to drop his voice and lean closer. "You don't have to flirt with me, Madeline. I know what this is about."

She let out a tiny oh then focused on her lap. Her cheeks caught a reddish tinge. This, combined with the sunny dress stirred a memory. One of the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen seated before him at a table very similar to this one, for a pretend ball. A sharp pain shot through his chest and he winced.

"Are you alright, your Majesty?" Madeline asked.

No, he wasn't. Because Kat still haunted him, no matter what she'd become. No matter what Cecille tried to do to ease his burden.

"Let's all be seated," General Harkiss declared and took his seat across the table from Cage.

Everyone who was still standing took their seats as well and the first course was instantly served. It was a light vegetable soup, traditional for state diners. Cage glanced into his bowl, not hungry at all. He knew that seven more courses would follow and the waste of it all grated on his nerves like it always did.

As it was customary, the guests began to eat. Cage instead surveyed the scene, taking note of who was there. Almost every man in the room reported to Harkiss. Cage knew some of them and was well aware that they were the sons of lower ranking nobles looking to make a respectable career in times of peace. When war would be upon them, he wasn't convinced if they could face it. Unlike Harkiss who was old enough to have fought in the last war, the rest of his officers were barely older than Cage.

From the navy, there was Lucius Dirk, a former lieutenant Cage was familiar with. He was a fair man, even if a little boisterous and could be a worthy candidate for the position of Admiral.

"Your Majesty, you're not eating. Is the food not to your liking?"

Cage snapped out of his analysis. "Forgive me, General. I'm merely not hungry. It has nothing to do with the prowess of your kitchens."

Harkiss narrowed his eyes. "But my invitation was for dinner."

"I'm just not hungry in general these days."

The man watched him with a pensive air, obviously trying to guess his game. It was pointless since Cage had no game at all. He only needed this man's support in order to save the kingdom. And given the circumstances, he didn't see why he would beat around the bush and not come forth with it.

"I wanted to discuss the state of the army with you. I also wanted your counsel on the state of the kingdom." He leaned back and indicated towards the rest of the table. "What I didn't need was a state dinner."

Harkiss tensed, watching him between narrowed eyes. Cage didn't lose his easy smile or relaxed demeanor. If the man wouldn't cooperate, he had ways to make it work.

"My counsel on the state of the kingdom, you say."

"Yes, General. I value your experience and expertise in matters of protocol. You are very well aware of the fact that I was a poor student when it came to the ancient rituals of the court."

Of course he knew. General Harkiss had been very against Cage's nomination as Navy Admiral for those precise reasons. He was too young, too reckless, too out of control. He was not an obedient soldier. He was a hothead with the reputation of a womanizer. Maybe somewhere deep down, he even suspected why Cage had been awarded that position when he was barely in his twenties.

"What would you ask of me?"

Cage straightened in his seat. Even if everyone appeared to be enjoying their soup, he was well aware that they were all listening in.

"Advice regarding my coronation. I must admit that it slipped my mind completely in the current climate and I almost overlooked it. I believe that would have been a mistake."

"Aye, it would have," Harkiss confirmed, proving useful. "But I do not understand what you mean by current climate."

Cage seriously doubted the man had no idea what was happening. He was probably the only person in the kingdom outside of Cage's inner circle who had information about what was happening in Endir.

"I believe you are all aware by now that Prince Ferdinand was killed." Once again, the words brought pain, but this time, he couldn't show it. He had to be cold and ruthless, just like the man in front of him.

Harkiss hesitated as if trying to decide how to handle the subject. "My daughter has informed me of this tragedy. She mentioned it was the dreaded pirate, Wolfbane."

Cage nodded. "I once again offer Lady Madeline my deepest condolences. I know she was betrothed to my brother."

His words brought a sudden hush over the attendance. A moment too late, Cage realized his heritage wasn't common knowledge. However, he was also aware that it had to be, and soon.

"Excuse me, your Majesty, but... Your brother?"

From the look on Madeline's face, she'd already shared that information with her father. Cage wasn't sure why he was playing dumb. Maybe not to seem as if he listened to idle gossip. But this had to be addressed either way.

"Yes, General, Prince Ferdinand was my brother. As is Prince Edmund."

"But... How?" one of the sergeants asked.

Cage glanced up and down the table. Every set of eyes there was trained on him, eager for information, even if it was in the form of gossip. It had always been like that at court and Cage had always hated it. It didn't matter how high up a person was. They still enjoyed drama and gossip like the lowliest peasant girl.

"I am convinced that some of you, if not all, have noticed the changes to the Pengranton lineage displayed before public authority buildings. I am also certain that you have noticed that all that had to be done was to remove the banner placed there by the late King Fherras. My uncle."

There was a sharp intake of breath, but the low muttering following the statement was excited. The top of Iride's army was eating this all up.

"My father was Darian Pengranton," Cage continued. He left his mother out of it, because he didn't want to dive into that can of worms. Maybe she didn't deserve his protection, but if the people would consider her a harlot, he wanted no part in it.

"Therefore, I believe a coronation is in order," he concluded.

There was silence greeting his words. General Harkiss had his eyebrows raised as if he couldn't believe Cage had drawn the legitimacy card. It left many things in the air, such as Fherras' right to rule and the whether his death might have been deserved retribution.

Cage didn't believe that. He hated that he had to do it, but that didn't mean he wasn't aware that the alternative would have been dire. With some guilt, he concluded that even if Fherras had listened to him, their cooperation would have been tainted by resent and could have proven inefficient.

"And you came to me for advice," the General finally said, his tone even.

"Not so much advice as counsel. You are aware of my history. I'm more versed in naval tactics than court policy."

"I've heard that you've already announced a coronation."

"That can still be undone if you believe it wouldn't be appropriate."

"Oh no, it should be done, but..." Harkiss hesitated because he was an intelligent man. He could guess there was a lot more behind Cage's story.

"I assume you have questions, General." Cage gave a polite nod. "I do not blame you in the slightest. It is precisely for these questions that I extended my invitation to you."

The tips of the General's ears turned crimson, but he gave no other sign that the words unsettled him. Cage could read beyond his tranquil face. The subtle jab had not been ignored and the man could tell that he was now being punished for refusing the king's invitation.

"I see," he finally said. "I was not aware of the purpose of your summons, your Majesty."

"It was not a summons, General, or you would have been brought in by force." Cage leaned back so that he could look at the other men at the table.

It was to make it clear that he was well aware of his power, but chose not to employ it against their general. As much as he hated this entire game of pleasantries, he knew he needed Harkiss. The entire army was loyal to him, which was a sign of his prowess. Cage was very aware that he could not wage a war with a hostile army.

"Pardon me, your Majesty. I meant invitation. Um..." It was a sign of compromise that Harkiss chose to appear hesitant before his men and Cage registered that it was due to his curiosity winning over his desire to potentially humiliate his king.

"I'm so very sorry, General. I cannot elaborate on these matters now. It would greatly indispose your audience, and I have no intention of ruining your soiree." And it was the final slap in the face that let Harkiss know he wasn't getting anything else out of him.

He was an intelligent man and was well aware of the power of confidential information, so he just bowed his head in acceptance and began a light conversation concerning the weather and the winds at sea. Cage tuned it out, merely nodding politely. For him, this party was over. However, manners dictated that he had to wait at least until after the third course or his departure would be considered rude.

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I know this part is a little longer but I didn't have an appropriate place to break it off, so you get a shorter part next time.

Isn't general Harkiss the sweetest man? And this game of politics won't bite anyone in the butt. Hope you're having fun with it!

Any feedback is very appreciated! And don't forget to leave a vote.