“Fabian…” James repeated, his chest seizing up.

ㅤJames’ head had effectively been put in a noose—the rope held by some more dangerous than him. The moment he’d heard that name spill off Alex’s lips, it sealed his part in this conspiracy, a plan that was life-threatening to be privy to.

ㅤKilling a royal was not a joke.

ㅤAlex’s dark eyes bore him down, an oppressive severity weighing the room.

ㅤJames needed to plan his next move within seconds to know what to say. His life could end if they developed a modicum of insecurity or doubt from him.

ㅤDenying his identity was no longer an option; if he genuinely convinced them he was, indeed, an innocent civilian he would be murdered for simply knowing. He had to proceed as Jay or, at least, not deny it any longer.

ㅤAlex’s gaze only became more constricting, with James struggling to take in steady breaths. The knight was slowly tapping a finger on his folded arm, like he was counting down, reading every single thought that came to James’ eyes.

ㅤShit. Shit. Shit. Think!

ㅤThere must've been a reason to pick Jay, a criminal they wanted dead anyway, rather than assassinate Fabian themselves. Although an outsider’s involvement was a risk, it was likely they would kill the one who drew the last arrow for their own safety. It was possible all the players knew this. No one in the know would volunteer with that knowledge.

ㅤIt was pure speculation but it was what James would’ve planned in their stead.

ㅤDead if he did, dead if he didn’t.

ㅤ“The reward is a pardon?” he asked as filler, trying to buy time.

ㅤThe question also served as a weak attempt to bait for information about his client. James couldn’t ask what could be interpreted as fishing for their identity—he’d be dead the moment they thought of him as too nosy.

ㅤAlex blinked. “Aye.”

ㅤPredictably, like a true professional, he revealed nothing.

ㅤ“What’s the leverage?” James asked, feeling like this question was okay.

ㅤIt was hard to refrain from making mistakes after his injuries and prolonged hunger. He battled to toe the line.

ㅤAlex tilted his head, still absorbing as much information from James’ face as possible. Those endless guileful eyes like voids made him feel more naked than he was, like Alex’s gaze could slither under his skin.

ㅤ“Your sword,” Alex revealed. “It’s important to you and I sent it away. My superior has it. You won’t get it back unless you come with me to meet him.”

ㅤShit.

ㅤJames didn’t understand how such a shrewd man could be so unaware at the same time. He knew James hung his life on Eris after a single conversation, yet didn’t know the knights were selling children. It was utterly peculiar.

ㅤ“Truthfully, they thought the threat of death would be enough,” Alex continued. “But, well, this is better.”

ㅤJames’ jaw was clenched so hard he thought he might break his teeth. His body was plagued by a chaotic storm of danger, frustration, and desperation.

ㅤIt was good news that his client underestimated his ability, however, it was dangerous and unfortunate that Alex did not.

ㅤ“Okay,” James said, finally, knowing he had no other option.

ㅤAlex narrowed his eyes and then nodded, accepting the answer.

ㅤ“I’ll let my superiors know.” Alex pushed off the table to leave.

ㅤBefore he left James to his thoughts, he paused.

ㅤ“Agreeing doesn’t make you safe from me. I’ll kill you the moment you make a mistake.”

ㅤJames forced a smile, even if he felt like he was suffocating inside. “Not sure my client would like that.”

ㅤ“I have permission,” Alex made clear. “You worry about His Majesty, King Fabian. I will worry about my superiors.”

ㅤJames nodded and Alex took that as a satisfactory answer. He shut the door behind him, the metallic grind of the door locking piercing the space.

ㅤLeft in the dark again, James cursed everything that led him there.

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

“You’re too possessive,” his mentor had said, giving his body a weak kick.

ㅤJames scoffed, lying flat on the ground. Dirt clung to this sweaty skin as he gasped for air from his lost battle. His flesh cooked in the sun. He used his arm to block the offensive beam.

ㅤ“Isn’t it a good motivator?”

ㅤHis mentor shook his head. “It makes you desperate and that makes you reckless. It’s inhibiting your growth.”

ㅤJames pursed his lips in displeasure. “I need to get her back.”

ㅤJay barked a laugh. “You’re not going to earn her back at this rate. Not with those kinds of reckless moves. You’d be dead twenty times over today alone if this was a real fight.”

ㅤYea, but it’s not real, James wanted to bite back.

ㅤ“Your possessiveness over her is a burden,” his mentor reiterated. “Right now, she’s mine, not yours. If you don’t have her, you don’t own her.”

ㅤJames sighed and dragged his body up, sitting on the ground pathetically. The bruises multiplied daily from the abuse that Jay called ‘training’ and he was sick of seeing only the same person.

ㅤ“I will get her back from you one day,” James warned.

ㅤThis only flared Jay’s sick amusement. “You need to learn your place, orphan boy. You’re not in a position to be arrogant right now—that’s for those with status and power and you have none of that.” Jay looked down at his training sword, inspecting it for scratches. “I will beat that haughty attitude out of you if it's the last thing I do.”

ㅤIt was something his mentor had repeated many times already. James was aware his childhood had left him with pride that was too big for his current life. He knew Jay was right. But Eris was his, no matter whose hands she was in.

ㅤAfter a sigh, James hardened his resolve and picked up his wooden sword, his hands sore and splintered. Standing in position, he held it out in front of him.

ㅤ“Again,” he commanded.

ㅤJay smirked, his own training blade twice as long and his body towering over James’.

ㅤJames felt his stomach knot, anticipating pain.

ㅤPredictably, he ended up on the ground once again. But he was not discouraged. He stood, stumbling.

ㅤ“Again.”

ㅤHe would get her back.

ㅤNo matter how many times it took.

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

Murmurings outside his cell snapped him awake, his brain instantly aware.

ㅤThe door was unlocked and a knight he didn't recognise came in, lamp in hand. The man whistled, long and low, once he got sight of the state James was in.

ㅤ“Clay-face really fucked this one up, huh?” he said, joking with the knights lurking outside

ㅤJames recognised one of them as one who’d attacked him before.

ㅤThe man in question grinned in response. “Yeah, I suppose not even an assimilated Ashadi can hold back their barbarism. The animal probably got off on it.”

ㅤJames held back the urge to spit on their faces. How could Alex not suspect these people when they behaved like this?

ㅤ“That’s unlucky for you,” the first knight said to James, grinning. “Probably feels like shit, eh? Normally his race are the ones in your position, not the assailant.”

ㅤThe man’s smile fell slightly when James didn’t respond.

ㅤ“What’d you do to end up like this?”

ㅤ“Rude carvings,” James muttered.

ㅤThe guy laughed. “Whatever. Brody, fetch us some clothes. We’ll be up in a minute.”

ㅤWithout knowing how dangerous James was, the knight cheerfully unlocked James from his chains at his hands and feet, too merry to be wary of any damage a freed prisoner could do.

ㅤAlex must’ve considered James clever enough not to try anything shifty. Despite being entirely unshackled, James knew better than to struggle now that he was complicit with something larger. Not only would he probably fail to leave the building quick enough when his mental map was lacking but Alex would kill him on capture without hesitation.

ㅤFreed from his clasps, James groaned in relief as he rolled his aching shoulders in circles, regaining blood flow to his hands.

ㅤ“Don’t suppose he’s going to let me eat?”

ㅤThe knight shrugged. “No idea. Bet you’re feeling glad enough you’re leaving this shithole though.” He chucked again. “Some don’t make it out breathing.”

ㅤJames didn’t feel all that grateful. He didn’t know how much longer he’d be allowed to breathe for.

ㅤThe man nudged him out the door and through the corridor, the mood inappropriately high and jovial as the others followed.

ㅤ“Be grateful you give good head,” the one who’d assaulted him uttered, just loud enough for James to hear. “If it wasn’t for clay-face I would’ve made you beg for death, bastard.”

ㅤJames raised an eyebrow. “No need for jealousy.”

ㅤThe knight kissed his teeth but otherwise said nothing.

ㅤJames savoured the increasingly fresh air as they led him towards the surface, the damp sticking to his body being brushed by it.

ㅤDespite his expectations, they didn’t take him to his original holding cell. James recognised the corridors stretching beyond as the other knights broke away, leaving only the jovial one and spiteful one.

ㅤThe jovial one knocked on Alex’s door, receiving an ‘enter’ from inside.

ㅤ“Your Lordship,” he announced, a twinge of sarcasm lacing his words. “I present your favourite prisoner to you!”

ㅤJames allowed the address of ‘Lordship’ to confirm his suspicions of Alex’s nobility. Peculiarly, James had memorised all noble houses as a child and not a single one had someone of Ashadi race in them. Alex didn’t appear to be mixed race, so it was unlikely he was an illegitimate child of a noble and slave, unless his looks were deceiving.

ㅤAlex took one glance at them and frowned.

ㅤ“You didn’t tie him up.”

ㅤThe knight chuckled. “This guy is harmless. Isn’t that right, son?”

ㅤJames stared at Alex directly in the eye, smiling slowly and deliberately. “That’s right.”

ㅤAlex’s frown deepened.

ㅤThe young knight called Brody returned that moment, clothes in hand. “I’ve got them.”

ㅤ“Good lad. We’ll leave you to it then, Your Lordship.”

ㅤBrody dropped the clothes on the desk and followed his colleagues out the door, not once acknowledging Alex, which was harsh.

ㅤWorrying about himself first, James quickly examined the room, glancing at every corner for any sign of Eris. He thought he’d been discreet but evidently not.

ㅤ“It’s not here,” Alex said, catching him. “I told you, I’ve sent it to my superiors.”

ㅤJames clicked his tongue in disappointment but he’d already known it wouldn’t be that easy.

ㅤA wooden drawer opening at Alex’s desk caught his attention and he watched Alex wave a thin rope.

ㅤ“Come on,” James complained. “There’s no need for that. I behaved myself, didn’t I?”

ㅤIn fact, he would’ve done Alex a favour by punching a few of them.

ㅤ“You must believe I’m an idiot if you think I wouldn’t tie you up. I want to keep my blood inside my body.”

ㅤJames’ jaw ticked but he submitted. He held his arms out and Alex batted them away.

ㅤ“You stink. I’m not going to dirty this rope with your filth. Come outside.”

ㅤGaze landing on the other door inside the office, Alex opened it, revealing a small and tight outside courtyard. Being pushed through, James looked up and recognised the walls were too high and smooth to escape from.

ㅤHe didn’t expect the sudden shock of cold water dousing him.

ㅤ“Fuck!”

ㅤHe snapped his head back, glaring at Alex behind him who dropped an empty bucket to the ground with a clatter. He had another bucket in the other, filled with more water and a bar of soap floating in it.

ㅤ“Wash yourself.”

ㅤJames scoffed, snatching it. The door was slammed behind him, leaving James wet and shivering in his little outside cell.

ㅤHe stared down at the pail. He couldn’t help but bring it up to his lips to quench his urgent thirst, soap be damned. He took ravenous gulps before stopping, the water just as cold as the one doused over him. He sighed.

ㅤAt least he had the opportunity to wash himself after so long.

ㅤHe looked up at the sky again and measured up the walls surrounding him. He was dispirited. Just as he thought the first time, it wasn’t possible.

ㅤSo, he obeyed.

ㅤIt wasn’t as if he had any other choice.