⋘ ──── ∗ ⋅ ◈ ⋅ ∗ ──── ⋙

She sat with Lavinia in the gardens, aware of Theo and Chege standing not far away. They looked very different: Theo, pudgy and pale, with a plain face and blonde hair, and Chege, lean with brown eyes and dark hair falling into his eyes. The ground was still wet from a day of rain before, but Audrey was grateful to be outside, able to feel the cool, fresh air on her face and smell the scent of the flowers planted nearby. She had sent a request to Landon through Chege asking for permission to visit the gardens, and received a single note in response with the word 'accepted' written in cursive, neat writing.

"I kept trying to see you," Lavinia said. She was dressed in a flowery dress with puffed sleeves and a necklace of stones carved into stars hanging on her neck. Lavinia swung her legs, too short to sit properly with her feet touching the floor. "And they kept telling me the same thing over and over." Her voice went an octave lower as she imitated the guards. "'If you want to see her, you'll have to ask the king'." Lavinia rolled her eyes. "Then I went to see the king, but the guards at his door told me I wasn't permitted to do so. So I kicked one in the private bits and then he yelled and called me a brat, then his friend pulled me away. According to pa, I shouldn't have kicked a King's guard."

Audrey laughed lightly, although it sounded hollow. She was glad to be in the company of the diminutive girl with her messy hair. "It's good to see you again, Lav."

"You left me." Lavinia pouted. "Please stop getting yourself into cells."

Audrey shrugged. "It seems to be my speciality."

"Well, it's not a very good one." Lavinia paused. "Your hair is becoming browner."

It was true. Audrey had looked in the mirror that morning and noted the redness fading from her auburn hair, turning it into a browner hue. She did not know how to stop it.

"I know," Audrey said. "I'm not sure why."

"Oh well. That's scholarly stuff, which is boring." A shrug. "I found a spider the other day. So I took it to give it to my maid. I thought she might like him. But she screamed and squashed it with her shoe."

"That was rude of her."

"If I gave you a spider, would you kill it?"

"If it was from you, then no." Audrey tapped her on the nose, and she giggled. "I'd name it Alannal and let it live in my room."

"I can find you a spider," Lavinia offered. "But probably only a boy one."

"Why a boy?"

"Well, I have only ever found a girl spider once. But she died after a few days."

Audrey was amused. "How can you tell?"

"Girl spiders have seven legs. So boy spiders must have eight," Lavinia explained.

She noticed Ethelind in the corner of her eye. She took long strides through the garden, conversing with Jax. Audrey was aware of the brief flicker of emotion on Jax's stoic face before he briefly nodded. The two spent a suspicious amount of time together.

"I thought that all spiders have eight legs," Audrey replied, keeping her eyes trained on Ethelind and trying to read her lips from afar.

"I found a spider with seven legs once. It must have been a girl, because all eight-legged spiders look the same. I checked, but none have a weird stick thing that men have," Lavinia said. She followed Audrey's eyesight. "What are you looking at?"

"Weird stick thing? What, how do you...?" Audrey glanced at Lavinia, bewildered, then shook her head, deciding not to pursue the topic. "You know what, never mind. Will you excuse me?"

Lavinia looked offended. "You don't need to ask me. I'm not a princess."

"I'll find time for you again soon, I promise."

"You won't. I know your duties are more important than I am, but all the other children my age think I'm weird or something because I like snails and spiders and they like dresses and knights," Lavinia said, sighing.

"You are the closest thing to a sister I have," Audrey told her. "Don't ever think you aren't important to me."

Lavinia stood and reached up onto her tiptoes to wrap her arms around Audrey's waist in a brief hug. Audrey paused before putting an arm around her in response.

"I've never had a sister," Lavinia said, looking up at Audrey.

"Sometimes I wish I did." Audrey doubted any sister would ever amount to Thomas, though.

"Can I play with Autumn?" Lavinia looked at the fox, who was sniffing in the rose bushes.

"Of course." Audrey smiled at the girl before she stood and made her way over to Ethelind.

"Ah, Audrey," Ethelind said, curtseying when Audrey walked over. Jax watched her with penetrating violet eyes before making a swift bow. "What would you like?"

"You are talking about something important."

"What an accusation," Ethelind said with a small smile.

"Just tell her." Jax's voice was emotionless.

"There was a riot down in a village near Ardensford Castle, Lady Hill's residence," Ethelind said. "They want an Everwood on the throne and are angry that nothing has happened. So Landon wants to combine his coronation and wedding together to shove his rule in their faces. I tried to push Landon towards a marriage with Faiza, King Adebiyi's eldest daughter, but he claims he needs you or else some of the Northern lords might revolt and join a civil war."

"Why..." Audrey started.

"You might not believe it, but I really care about you."

Audrey imagined herself reaching for a shield at her side and throwing it up against Ethelind's lies.

"Then why did you kill Thomas?" Audrey shot back. "And Tyrek. And..."

"I have killed many people. I play on many sides. If you play on just one side of the board, you only see one perspective of it all. If you move around, you get to see who is winning. It's all about survival, Audrey." Ethelind was skirting around the subject.

"Tell me whose side you are really on," Audrey said coldly. "And be honest."

"I think you know the answer," Ethelind said with a sly smile. "I belong to no one, but I'm not afraid of playing, not like you. Take Lady Hill, for example. If I were you, I wouldn't have denied her request."

"I am not going to even ask how you know about that."

Ethelind did not explain. "Power is a game where the winner is often undetermined, so you need to be careful."

"I am."

"No, you're not. You are still naïve and have a lot to learn," Ethelind said.

"Don't presume to tell me what I am and am not!" Audrey's eyes flared.

Ethelind's blue eyes scrutinised Audrey carefully. "We are planning naval attacks on the South. How delightful."

Audrey kept the surprise from her face.

"Don't worry. We've got it all planned out," Ethelind smiled.

"Is there something going on here?" Theo's voice cut through the conversation as he walked over. His hand was on his sword threateningly, but neither Ethelind nor Jax seemed fazed.

"Nothing much. We were all having a pleasant conversation about the delights of being on a winning side," Ethelind said, shooting him a coy smile.

Theo blinked dumbly. "A'ight then. Princess, get back inside. King never said ya could stay out forever."

"Fine." Audrey waited for Chege to move forward, too, and took a deep breath before wheeling around.

The gardens were bustling with scheming nobles and gossiping servants, all watching her as openly as they dared.

"I would like a change of guard," she declared to Jax. "A queen should not be served by a lazy man and an inexperienced boy, should she?" She felt guilty for bringing Chege into it but did so anyway.

Theo's face turned red in anger, but Chege's did not change.

"How dare you?" Theo hissed, an arm reaching out and shoving her. Servants nearby paused to watch, trying to be subtle about it.

Audrey took a deep breath, stumbling but straightening herself. I am a wall. I am unbreakable and won't let them push past my barriers.

"I am to be Landon's wife," Audrey said calmly. "Therefore, I have more control than you do. Move out of my way, or else I assure you it will not end well."

"Get moving!" Theo snapped, pushing her again.

Lord Edison moved to his daughter's side, and Lavinia gestured for Autumn to go to Audrey. Autumn did so, protectively slinking in front of Theo.

"Attack," Audrey said loudly, hoping the fox's keen hearing would pick up on the command. Please...

"What did ya say?" Theo blinked.

The fox gnarled her teeth at the guard before charging and sinking her teeth into Theo's leg. He yelled, hopping backwards.

From afar, she heard Ethelind laughing.

"Don't touch me," Audrey said, her voice chilly.

Audrey turned to Ethelind to see her give a small grin. Audrey did not give her the pleasure of a reaction.

She made it seven steps before she turned, hearing Theo yell a curse. He had unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the fox, the threat clear.

"I will kill this filthy animal!" Theo shrieked.

"Then Landon will punish you for it," Audrey sneered back. "Do it, I dare you."

Lavinia quickly rushed forwards, scooping Autumn into her arms before Theo could hurt her.

Instead, Theo grabbed Audrey's arm and yanked her. Ignoring her attempts to shove him away, an angry Theo dragged her across a gravel path. Lavinia tried to follow with Autumn but was kept away by Ethelind.

Oh no, Audrey thought as soon as she caught sight of the coppery haired man sparring with another guard. He stopped when he saw Audrey, however.

Jasper Northborn gave her a wolfish grin.

Audrey was secretly terrified of Jasper. He seemed to have no scruples at all. She wanted to tell Theo that he was making a mistake, but stayed quiet. It was too late.

"What?" he demanded. He was slightly out of breath while the other guard was completely winded, panting like a dog left to burn in the heat of a desert.

"The bitch sent a wild animal on me!" Theo accused. "You have recently been appointed my commander, right?"

Audrey looked over at Chege and could have sworn she saw the faintest trace of a smile on his face, although it quickly disappeared.

"Yes, I have," Jasper said, licking his lips like a wolf about to devour its prey.

"I will not tolerate this!" Theo protested. "Give me another assignment, or tell Landon to control his whore and kill her savage fox."

Audrey resisted the urge to punch him.

Jasper grinned. "You want a new assignment?"

"I'm bleeding! The fox tried to eat me."

Jasper clapped his hands together. "Okay, here is your new assignment. How many stab wounds can you take before you bleed out to death by my feet?"

Theo paled. "What? The king appointed me to this role, he will not—"

Theo never finished his sentence. Chege's face remained calm as Jasper sunk his sword into Theo's shoulder. Theo let out a high-pitched scream, trying to run, but Jasper was already on him, sword swinging.

Blood was everywhere as Jasper shoved his sword into Theo's body repeatedly, as if it were a game. He was laughing while he did so, and Audrey felt disgusted by the man's glee.

She did not feel any pity for Theo, however, and did not turn away. Instead, she watched with a fixed expression as Jasper stabbed her guard to death in front of her own eyes for entertainment. A plea for his life lay on the end of her tongue, but she did not speak. She did not want to plead for him, even when she saw the raw terror in his eyes.

The sword went in again and again, hacking him to pieces as if he were an animal. The others around them turned away.

"Please," Theo was trying to say, curled into a ball with his bloody hands by his head. Audrey had not realised it was possible for there to be so much blood, and it gurgled out of his mouth as he spoke. "Please."

Jasper stood over him, sword raised. "Louder."

"P—please," Theo whimpered.

Suddenly Theo stilled, the end of Jax's sword protruding from his back. Audrey stared at his body, keeping her face impassive. Forcing herself to see it as nothing else but a body. Then she turned to Jax, standing above Theo's stabbed body. She had never seen him so angry. By his side, Ethelind was standing with pursed lips.

"All the fun is gone now," Jasper said, looking up at Jax.

Jax was not amused. "You cannot hurt sworn subjects. That is not how we do things. Our power is not to be abused, and His Grace shall hear of this. But, for now, I am removing you from the King's Guard. As far as I am aware, being part of a guard is about defence, not offence." His voice rang with authority, and he did not look afraid of the insane man in front of him.

Jasper hung his head like a berated boy. "Yes, commander."

His face twitched in disgust. "Clear this body immediately. Do not let me hear of any more troubles."

Jasper bowed before walking off. Audrey noticed that the guard Jasper had been sparring with had fainted.

Jax did not look at Audrey. "Chege, you can do the job alone?"

"With pleasure, sir," Chege bowed.

Jax ran a hand through his golden hair with a sigh, then turned to Ethelind. "Can you speak to the king for me?"

Ethelind nodded. "Of course."

Chege nudged Audrey gently, and she moved, not sure of her emotions. She realised her hands were shaking and kept close to Chege, as if he were there to guard her instead of keeping her prisoner.

Theo's blood was splattered all over her skirts, staining the brown silk skirts.

"Did you like Theo?" Audrey asked as he walked her towards her room.

"It is not my place to state my opinion," Chege said.

"I command you to tell me then, as your queen."

Chege smiled faintly. "Or you will send your fox on me?"

"You never know."

Chege rolled his eyes as they walked up the spiral staircase to Audrey's room. She paused after opening the door.

"Seriously, did you like Theo?" she pressed without turning.

"No." Chege's response was curt.

Audrey nodded before walking in, feeling somehow more relaxed without Theo outside her door. Alika instantly was on her, measuring the size of her waist. She stopped when she saw the blood sprayed onto the front of her dress, however.

"What happened?" Alika asked quietly, taking her bandaged hand to check if it had started bleeding again. Audrey pulled it away, holding them close to her chest. The physician had managed to keep the worst of the pains away, but looking at it made her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Theo was stabbed to death by Jasper."

She paled. "A-and Chege?"

"He's alright."

"Ah, thank goodness he is safe." Alika sighed at the news of her brother. "I do wish that the king would just get rid of Jasper."

She stepped forward and resumed her measuring.

"What is this for?" Audrey asked.

"The coronation is going to involve a ball and I need to make you a suitable outfit for that, as well as your wedding dress," Alika said. "I only have seven days."

Audrey looked out the window at the blue sky outside. Freedom was so close.

But never close enough. Maybe learning to see the world as it was would be a freedom in itself.

Audrey Shadowhart, she considered, and, for some reason, the thought didn't bother her much.

"Make the ballgown black," Audrey said to the sky.

It's getting closer to part fourrr

I'm just happy about that because parts four and five are my favourite to edit

I have a load of homework and revision to get through so my writing is kinda gonna flop for a while :))

Love you all,
Shelly x