What I end up doing turns out to be an even dumber idea than sending my guards on a wild bird chase, and, as I stand before the door to Min’s cell, I begin wondering if maybe all those people have a point. I might actually be incompetent. Or maybe I’m just really stupid.

You could be both. My mind chimes in unhelpfully and I scowl at the thought, a sour taste coating my tongue. Man what does it say if even I’m starting to question some of my choices?

I shake my head a few times to dispel the thoughts before running a hand down my shirt. No, I can’t think like that. I’m not incompetent or stupid. I just occasionally make decisions that lack intelligence and common sense.

Yeah that’s right. How dare anyone think differently, myself included.

Feeling a bit better I smooth the last of the non existent wrinkles out of my shirt and push the cell door open.

“Vigil.” My name comes from the corner of the room and I look over to see Jintao Min sitting on the floor. He has one hand cuffed to the wall above his head and a heavy looking metal ball attached to his ankle by an ugly looking chain.

He is shirtless and I almost flinch at the sight of the dark red and purple lash marks that cover his chest. He also has a fair amount of bruises which somehow manage to look almost more painful than the cuts.

“Min.” I acknowledge and he gives me a biting half grin, his teeth flashing menacingly at me.

“Where are your guards?” He nods at the door behind me and raises one eyebrow in question.

“They are outside.” The lie rolls off my tongue smoothly and I cross my arms over my chest in an effort to appear relaxed.

“You’re lying.” He smirks at me and it somehow manages to be just as venomous as his previous half grin. “Wasn’t very smart of you to come down here without them. Don’t tell me you forgot what I told you yesterday.”

“You are chained to a wall, what are you gonna do? Rush me? It’s not like you can really use your hands right now.” I tell him with a pointed look at the chain attached to his wrist. “Besides, if you try anything, I will send for the guards.”

“They won’t come because they’re not there.” He says and I scowl at him.

“What makes you so sure?” I tilt my head up a little and glare at him as I ask.

“You get defensive when you lie.” He says with a look like he has just solved some sort of puzzle.

“I do not.” My voice comes out defensive even to my ears and I glare at him. “How dare you accuse me of lying. You do not know me.”

“Was that a challenge?” He asks and tilts his head back in a way that makes it seem as though he is looking down on me, even though he’s on the floor and I’m the one standing. “You like peaches, sweet buns, and archery; even though you’re crap at it and couldn't hit a target if someone guided your arrow to the bullseye by hand. You are constantly making stupid decisions that end up backfiring on you. You’re King now, but weren’t first choice for the throne and you get angry when people undermine you're choices because of it. Even though, you don’t have any real interest in being King.” He says calmly and I bite my tongue to keep from getting defensive again.

I take a deep breath before replying. “That all you got? Because I hate to break it to you, but those aren’t exactly defining characteristics.” 

He pauses for a minute to look at me closely before a cold smile pulls across his face. “You admired your brother and did everything you could to catch up to him, but no matter what you did it was never good enough. Even so you never blamed him, instead you blame yourself for not being good enough.”

I almost laugh at that last bit. “I never blamed myself.” I tell him and he raises one eyebrow at me in question.

“Don’t you though?” He asks and I scowl at him.

“No I don’t.” I growl at him and he grins at me again, his eyes glinting with cold glee.

“You know how I know when you’re lying?” He asks and my scowl deepens. “You get defensive.” He finishes with a triumphant expression.

I stare at him for a minute, not bothering to speak. A strange range of emotions flow through my body and I do my best not to let them show. At last I regain my composure enough to tell him, “Think what you want, but that will not make you right.”

“Whatever you say.” He says in a cold tone before continuing with a wave of his hand. “So, what brought you down here? I’m sure this wasn’t what you had in mind when you came down here.”

Did I even have anything in mind when I came down here? I wonder for a minute before shaking the thought out of my head. Alright brain, think. Why would I come down here?

“I want you to tell me who the man I caught you with is.” I say after I take a moment to think of something believable.

“If I’m remembering correctly I already told you my conditions yesterday, but instead of accepting them, you decided to have me flogged.” He drawls at me, his voice dropping a few more degrees.

“I am not going to play your sick little game.” I growl at him even as the image of the council room fills my head.

Admiral Ali’s voice rings in my head along with my own answering remark.

“Then I hope you are prepared to fight because I will not rest until my nephew is free.” The Ali in my mind says.

“Very well. I accept your deal.” Comes my response.

“It’s not sick, it's a game even children can play. You’re the one who assumed the worst of it.” The sound of his voice pulls me out of my mind and I snap back into focus to find his eyes directly on me. “As much as I don’t like you, I think you should reconsider. It’s in your best interest.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?” I ask, even though I know exactly where he is going with this.

“Have you ever met my uncle?” He asks and even though I knew this was coming, my hand still twitches at his words. It doesn’t go unnoticed and a sharp smile wraps its way around his face. “Well then, as you must have realized, my uncle is not an ordinary man. He will no doubt try to negotiate his own deal with you, if he hasn’t already.”

I grit my teeth at his words and his smile grows even wider. “Your uncle does not intimidate me.”

“Are you convincing me or yourself?” He asks and I cross my arms back over my chest.

“I have no intention of playing either of your games.” I change the topic quickly and he chuckles coolly at me.

“The fact that you’re still here tells me otherwise.” He says, his smile still as sharp and wide as ever.

“I will not play your game, just give me a straight answer, or I will make your life a living hell.” I do my best to remain in control of the conversation, but I can feel myself steadily losing it and if the look on his face is anything to go by he knows it.

“I think you will.” He licks his lips, flashing me a sliver of his teeth as he does.

“I refuse.” I state once again, trying to get him to fall for my bluff, but he doesn’t seem swayed in the least.

“I don’t think you have a choice.” He tells me and unintentionally shifts in place.

His eyes snap to the movement and the last of my control over our conversation crumbles. His face contorts once more into a smirk and I almost want to curse myself for losing my cool, knowing that I just revealed my bluff.

“So, Vigil. How about that first clue?”