[We're on the move! This chapter we finally get to see more of Jaye! Let me know any thoughts 😊]

[Copyright, all right reserved. By law, no part of this story may be published by another individual. It is under my complete ownership.]

Arlo's steps echoed through the hall, eased like a proud stallion. Paintings of men floating over magic from their enemies' hands, and the king surrounded in golden light casting them away. Arlo felt a shiver across his spine, as if someone walked over his grave, but smothered it with a smile.

            "I expected my heir be treated like family, if you will." Arlo explained. His smile staggered as he seen the reluctance on his servants' expressions. "If anyone argues over his presence, you may say whatever you wish, and tell them those complaints are to go to me."

            The boy next to him straightened his suit, did not meet his gaze: "Sire."

            "Yes?" Arlo asked, his tone light. His breath felt strained between his ribs, thought even the servants are skeptical of my decision.

            "For now, he seems to be a suitable heir." The boy nodded to himself, "I hope the Courts are welcoming."

            Arlo's fist loosened at his sides, cleared his throat like a dismissive ringing from a school bell. "I hope so too, Sebastian. Thank you."

            Jaye rolled his eyes, a wide smile on his lips as he dawned an exaggerated accent as he noted the other withdrawn expressions, "And I will be addressed as Sire. Oh, how will I ever put on this jacket without my servants!"

Alro's dimples revealed themselves. A soft chuckle from his gut shook the hallways, a humerous shake of his head like a sheep dog. Bold, this one. Arlo considered. While offensive, I do not think any harm of it at this moment. We need a laugh in this castle.

            The servants eyes were wide with fear. Arlo grinned slightly, "Did your mother teach you that?"

            "Yes, very well, Sire." Jaye continued, his chin pushed a little upward as he continued to mock them.

            "I don't think the courts will take a liking to that tone. Farewell will certainly not see to it."

            "Farewell—Oh! I don't want to offend him, no!"

            "Jaye, you are keener than that."

            "You have only known me for three hours; how can you know all of a person?" Jaye crowed, his head leaning to Sebastian, his eyes like a trickster evening sprite. "He's a quick one to end decisions, even I can tell."

            The doors loomed over them, a wide foreboding wall. Arlo uttered to the guards, "Please escort Jaye to his room. I do not want any of you communicating this as rumours. Am I understood?"

            "Yes, your Grace."

            Arlo perked up two fingers at a salute, his ring finger in the air with a silver ring for integrity, then signaled subtly in their code, the code his father taught to only his most trusted guards. "Thank you, Mark. Elaine."

            They will take him to my room, not anywhere else. They will wait outside his doors, with no word to anyone until I, and I alone arrive. Only Marie, my father's caregiver is allowed to enter with a meal.

            The servants slipped back to their quarters, their gowns and suits flowing like sheets of the night sky, littered with stars, with small silver veils over their heads. He wondered what clarity that silver brought them now, and whether they considered of selling them.

            The current market is a mystery to me, but if in any doubt, our silver isn't worth enough on the market.

            Arlo sighed, steadying his breath. His eyes studied the doors for a moment, tracing the grooves of his spine along his neck.

            His kingdom was a thin sheet in the hot wind, taken up over a forest fire. The pressures pinned into his neck like thorns.

            The words from his mother came to him, you will be a prince, but also a knight.

            "But what honour do I have left, from this kingdom?" He muttered to himself, before shaking himself. His spine was as limber as his smile, before he eased into his chair.

            Calvex laid his hand into the crook of his palm, his eyes a brimming silver pool. His lips were curled into a thin line, much like Farewell had. Arlo's eyes skimmed once over him, a firm glare locked in his eyes for a split moment as they met the fire in Calvex's eyes. I can see his hunger for power grow on him by the day, but he does care for me. His anger may make him outburst like an explosion on the kingdom, unless he learns to heal soon...

            Calvex met his brothers gaze as he stood with the other council members, thought: Righteous, a stupid man. I refuse to accept him, not now. I may not get the throne, but he must be gone. The Court must marry him, they must!

            Arlo eased into his chair at the front of the table, two seats away from Calvex, and fixed the papers already prepared for him next to his meal, simple toast with two omelets. His eyebrows furrowed as he only found one paper for him to review. Discussion: Heir of Bell sung. And then just below, Meeting with the Princess Cassie Ardleigh, of the East Kingdom... Marriage agreement. To the very bottom was Tree witch, location and recovery.

            Arlo clenched his jaw, his eyes refusing to move from the paper, to keep his body still despite the fire provoked in him. He glared ever so slightly before recovering his expression. I expected this, but they have nothing to lose. I exposed them, but then that is why they brought Calvex here. Calvex could be used by them, to be used as a king until it suits their needs.

            Calvex turned to another member, a mumbled conversation passing between them as the others sat, the formal welcome finished. A servant closed a near by window left recklessly open, the rose quartz curtains settling into the silence. Shelves of books covered one side of the wall, barely touched by the candle-lit chandelier overhead. The light from the windows, facing the door, captured Farewell and most of his allies in a perfect silhouette.

            Arlo paused as he stood, giving a quick glance between their expressions, some shifting in their chairs while others rested their arms and leaned in closer, as rooted as stones into a river.

            "I would ask that you do speak your minds over the course of this meal, if you have any. A restless mind can make for unsavoury meal, of course."

            No hesitation, I see... Why show his hand so easily? He is acting too soon. Calvex glanced between the men, before uttering "You heard our arguments earlier."

            The tension around Arlo shifted as he replied, "Brother, you know of our respective mannerisms."

            "To call you 'Sire', feels like an insult to me."

            Another woman braced like a panther ready to pounce, his skin folding like leather around his eyes, his hands. "He is your king, regardless of your heritage, or the issues any of us currently face. Can we not enjoy a meal, for the sake of our minds? If we continue this fighting, we would be no better than animals!"

            Raised eyebrows passed between the group, uncertain. Others scowled and looked elsewhere, shame falling over them.

            Aerilyn. I will need to remember her for this. Arlo considered, the stich in his heart loosening slightly.

            "I think you have brough us to our senses after such a meeting we had. I understand that my judgement has not aligned with the Courts, nor any agreements have been reached. But, we are all tired, stressed, exhausted, and fearful. Those conditions do not make for good judgement, but rest can help us ease ourselves. Please, let us eat what food we have and then continue."

            Farewell paused, hiding his nervousness between a mouthful of food. Oh, traitor! She is looking for a fight—She must not know of my plans. I have many allies here, but not all know.

             The conversations passed without brawl, passively between the positive, and the fair grey areas they could discuss. Arlo took up conversation with his brother, though not much more than small talk. He noticed the new rings over his hand, "How did you get those rings, if I may ask?"

            "Not much of your business, Sire." Calvex's voice was as smooth as oil. "I sold Gvirs' Scars, to pay for the castle. I figured the treasury needed some restoring, and that old dragon skin cloth would just be a bad reminder."

            Farewell looked up, a piece of omlet stuck around his lips, "This is your history, and yet you—"

            "I remember a story that my mother told me, that although make up may not matter, the fools with money will judge you upon it. In that reason, I think that before the wedding, Calvex has made a good decision, don't you think?"

            "So, then you agree?"

            "I didn't say that. That is why we are here, however." His voice hesitated in his throat before he spoke, the blood under his skin boiling as he thought: I wish he hadn't sold it. We argued about it many times, again and again. Now he does so anyway, because I will be removed.

            Farewell hesitated, lost for what to say. Arlo's playing with me, like a cat and mouse. Not today, never!

            The servents collected their food and went, their loyalties passing in their expressions. Arlo notices a girl roughly Calvex's age smiling at him particularly well. He caught his brother lips quirk into a smile. When Calvex noticed Arlo, he winked in return but shook his head. He's not that foolish, anyway.

            Calvex turned red for a moment, the bridge of his nose furrowing, "Shall we begin?"

            "First, before we start, I would like to bring in the Heir I addressed, considering he is apart of this matter."

            "I think he should be allowed." Calvex continued, Farewells mouth left open and his retorts unsaid. "Arlo, I understand, has the tendency to keep important factors else where. Shall we let the man in, and see what he wastes his time for?'

            "Ah, yes. I do apologize for that out burst."

            Calvex tilted his head like a bird, "This is not the room for sarcasm, Arlo."

            Arlo nodded, "But, you have to agree that there has been a lot of doubt, and suspicions despite my rulings, and this war?"

            "If I may, Sire." The man toyed with the corner of his paper as he spoke, an mustache saving for his appearance. Alro regretted forgetting his name as he sat close to them.

            Arlo nodded to the man, his muscles coiling like springs, "Speak, then. I do not wish to delay your criticisms any longer."

            "I have no conflict with your ruling, but I do agree that new chapters must be made. I think we should give Alro's idea some thought, regarding this heir, in that he could serve another role. We let go of bitter ties, and build from a dark era."

            Arlo smiled, drifting his chin up slightly as the man spoke, masking his butterflies in his stomach. This was unexpected, I thought they had lost hope in me... How interesting when they never spoke in favour of me until now.

            Arlo smothered a grin, and turned to another councilmembers conversation. Calvex raised an eyebrow, bit into the side of his cheek as he looked to the window, lost as to what to think of this.

            A knock came from the door, the guard opening it a short moment after, calling "Presenting Jaye Exodus, Apprentice of the blacksmith of Augustine, of the Kingdom of Bell Sung and Wish."

            That's longer than my title, even. Arlo mused.

            Jaye walked into the room, their faces stalked shadows with Calvex as their commander. Alro's face was one of the few bright ones in the room. He passed a questioning gaze to Arlo, to which he strugged.

            "Have a seat. We will begin in a moment. Was your meal well?"

            "Better than my mothers." Jaye's tone floated casually through the room as if any slight pressure could release the tension. Jaye could sense it even as Arlo's shoulders were loose, and eyes at ease for danger. "Will the guard be staying?"

            "No, not today." He nodded in thanks as the guard left. The guards' footsteps were quick, his grip on the door barely withheld from slamming shut as he rushed from the room.

            "Hm... Well, I can say this is unprecedented. Your Grace, it is a pleasure to be in your presence."

            "Thank you." Calvex's reply was as bland as concrete. Arlo's smile strained, his cheeks round. This façade will soon drop, I can show them my plan, my ace.

            Jaye smiled in return, uncertain asto how to respond to the gaping grin. Jaye stomach dropped as he realized that even the kings mask to the situation was only good for so long. He considers me not as his playing piece, and gave me the choice... but here I am, being used just as that. I would have done the same thing.

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