It wasn't that Alex never suspected his colleagues, more than he wasn't allowed to.

ㅤWhen his father had told him to keep his eyes off his peers at the Bullmar station house, as much as Alex wanted to scream, he’d had to obey. He’d had no choice but to accept it.

ㅤThat was why, when that woman urgently rushed up to him about a civilian carrying a bairn towards the border, he'd become consumed by hateful excitement. He dropped everything and ran. It was a chance to enact some justice, perhaps enough to somewhat soothe his guilt. He’d had no idea he would stumble upon a much bigger fish in the process.

ㅤWhilst child kidnapping was never something Jay had been rumoured to do, for someone as cold and money-hungry as him to know about the knights' complicity, it wasn't an unreasonable assumption to suggest he took part in it.

ㅤAlex frowned in disgust. He knew Jay only agreed so he could escape with that dumb sword. And Jay knew that Alex knew that. Even if they pretended otherwise for the time being, they were both aware that Jay would run the moment he had a chance.

ㅤAlex was just lucky Jay had a strange attachment to that relic.

ㅤThinking of the devil, two of Alex’s subordinates dragged Jay out into the courtyard. Jay caught him with his eyes immediately, nodding as if to say ‘Look at how well-behaved I am’. Alex couldn't help the involuntary shiver that came with the knights’ heedlessness.

ㅤThey pulled Jay towards him, a little too roughly. “Your Lordship.”

ㅤAlex acknowledged them but couldn't help but double take and inspect Jay's appearance. After his wash, his hair was more golden than his original filthy blond, red and bronze hues hailing the sun, giving a shine to the mess after the mats had been brushed out. Although his hair had been kept short, unusually, the front was long enough to somewhat obscure his eyes, adding to the challenge of reading his thoughts. It was compensated with a perpetual slight upward tilt of the chin, always looking down on others.

ㅤThe bruises on Jay’s face remained but he hardly seemed to notice the pain, like a lizard. More severe than that were the burn scars visible by the short sleeves. Alex winced.

ㅤJay must’ve noticed it. “Ugly, right? Maybe a jacket would make me less conspicuous.”

ㅤAlex hated his devious and slippery tongue.

ㅤJay’s ankles were shackled this time, very loosely chained to one another, giving him enough length to walk without agility. A lean rope secured his hands together in front of him.

ㅤ“You two, leave,” Alex ordered the knights, who petulantly did so.

ㅤThey’d secured Jay well; even if Jay liked that sword enough to follow Alex, there was no way to know how strong that particular tether was. If Jay became too impatient, he may decide to flee regardless, sword be damned. Alex had to be careful with how he handled him.

ㅤ“James was the name you gave me,” Alex said. “So that is what I’ll use.”

ㅤJames said nothing but there was a tick in his jaw, gone as soon as it was there.

ㅤAlex raised an eyebrow. “Tell me your real name and I’ll call you that, if that's what you want.”

ㅤJames' expression was better schooled this time, entirely lifeless.

ㅤ“That's what I thought.”

ㅤThe carriage had been prepared by Alex’s subordinates. Predictably, what they gave him was a lousy attempt at what he’d outlined. The two horses the stable boy brought over looked healthy and strong but the carriage was flimsy. It was, thankfully, roofed but the gaps between the wooden planks made it unsuitable for wind and rain. The back didn’t even have a wall, only a large cavity where the goods would normally be hauled on, pathetically hidden by a curtain.

ㅤCarefully keeping James in his field of view, Alex went to inspect the interior. He’d asked for sleeping arrangements for two, but after peering behind the curtain, they hadn't even given that much. A haphazard pile of old pillows and blankets had been tossed onto the hard floor.

ㅤAt least, the boxes of water jugs, food and medical supplies had been properly considered. Perhaps they were worried about the consequences if Alex did actually die on his trip but that was as far as their concern reached.

ㅤHe trampled the prick of anger simmering up, as always.

ㅤIt would have to do.

ㅤ“Ready the horses,” Alex told the stable boy, who hurried to do so.

ㅤA gust of wind brushed past them, and Alex glanced at James, the hair blowing out of the way of his eyes. James' chestnut gaze blankly analysed the carriage like he had no care in the world, even though he had to feel nervous. James suddenly looked at Alex but his expression was no more passionate than it’d been before. A creepy lifelessness.

ㅤAlthough it would’ve been more comfortable, and arguably safer, to have James tied in the back, Alex could keep an eye on him if they sat together at the front. Alex's safety was a negotiable point. His mission's success meant more. In the carriage, James could silently escape and Alex would be none the wiser for miles.

ㅤObviously, James had predicted this as he was already walking to the bench before Alex could get the order out.

 

➵ ➵ ➵ ➵

 

James was headstrong by nature. He was a lion being led by a string of cotton and the self-satisfied prats carelessly pulling him around ground on his nerves. They had no idea what kind of animal they were prodding and James wanted to violently swipe at them to punish that ignorance. Alex seemed to be the only one aware that James was simply humouring them for the time being.

ㅤJames' stomach dropped as the wagon passed over a rock, jolting their bodies, again. To make matters worse, James was forced to be staring at horses' arses for hours on end.

ㅤHe flexed his tied fingers, glancing over at Alex. He wondered if the soldier thought this bit of rope was enough.

ㅤAlex deliberately didn't look back but, by the tension in the air, he definitely knew he was being watched.

ㅤHe hadn't told James where they were going, which was wise.

ㅤ“I'm still hungry,” James announced. He didn't know how he was going to handle being in the company of a statue for hours. True silence wasn’t something that James was used to. And, at least, humans could talk back.

ㅤAlex didn't reply to him.

ㅤJames sighed. “I know you hate me but the hungrier people are, the less patient they are. Just saying.”

ㅤStill no response.

ㅤIn a spike of annoyance, James started work on freeing his hands.

ㅤThe movement and struggle must’ve finally gotten Alex's attention, his head whipping around, eyes widened in panic and accusation.

ㅤ“What the fuck are ye doing?”

ㅤ“Oh, you aren't mute?”

ㅤAlex pulled the reins, stopping the horses. By that point, James' wrists were already freed and he held them up to show Alex, dangling the rope in one hand.

ㅤOutraged, Alex reached over to grip James' arm, his grip strong and firm.

ㅤ“You didn't seriously think some shitty rope was going to stop me?” James taunted.

ㅤHe snatched his limb back and threw the offensive cord onto Alex's lap, staring in challenge, silently asking what Alex was going to do about it.

ㅤOne of the horses grunted in annoyance.

ㅤMe too, bud.

ㅤAfter a moment of glowering, Alex dove a hand into his pocket, and James readied himself to retaliate to a weapon. Instead, Alex yanked out a pouch and slammed it to James' chest with a scowl.

ㅤJames sniffed, taking it gracefully. “That's why you listen to me when I tell you I'm hungry.”

ㅤHe savoured the dried meats, nuts, and fruits he found inside, mouth watering as he regarded Alex’s reaction. James had to admit, the man gave an intimidating glare but it wasn't nearly enough to scare him.

ㅤ“Are we not going?” James asked, then added: “I can re-tie my hands if that'll make you feel better. I’ll free myself again when I need to.”

ㅤAlex's scowl twitched and he looked forward, whipping the horses into a steady walk.

ㅤJames was also cold but he wasn't going to push too much at once. Alex could decide to attack him and claim it was self-defence to his superiors. It wouldn’t have been the first time James had witnessed such a scene amongst knights.

ㅤSo, he sat back and relaxed, chewing on his food, watching the trees go by as their path became more desolate and ever bumpier. He kept a keen ear out for wild animals as they ventured deeper into the forest.

ㅤEven if Alex hadn't told him where they were going, he suspected they were going to Lyeaister, which was roughly in this direction. It was the capital of the collective Druteius region and where the territorial government and royalty operated. Alex seemed like a thoroughly loyal knight so this business was more likely official than rebellious.

ㅤIt hadn’t fully sunk in yet.

He wondered if the Druteius king, William, knew about the plan, or if it was being organised by powerful political figures instead. King William, from what James remembered, wasn't the scheming type. He mostly cared about protecting his people, in the royal sort of way—he did his duty without sympathy. Could it have been organised by one of the king’s children? He had a few. James didn't remember them well enough to make a judgement.

ㅤThe target of their schemes was also very strange.

ㅤ“Fabian, huh...” James muttered out loud, out of habit.

ㅤAlex gave him a sideways glance. “That's His Majesty, King Fabian, to you.”

ㅤJames chuckled. “You're strangely concerned with propriety for an outcast. He's not going to be anything once he's dead.”

ㅤ“I'm not an outcast.”

ㅤJames grinned, leaning back and relaxing under the sun. The words sounded hollow even to his ears. They both knew he was right.

ㅤ“You're not very respected for a noble.”

ㅤ“It's not from lack of status,” Alex muttered.

ㅤThat much was obvious. In a country where the population were used to looking at the Ashadi people as war enemies or slaves, they were bound to suffer from those prejudices.

ㅤJust as a test, James muttered something in Rois, the royal language. “You look handsome for an outcast.”

ㅤJames could tell by the way Alex's shoulders went still.

ㅤ“High enough to understand Rois.” James whistled like he was impressed. “What are you? Son of a viscount? An earl, even?”

ㅤHe couldn't be anything higher than an earl; James had all of those houses memorised; there were no Ashadismen up there. Whatever he was, Alex didn’t seem interested in advertising it. He hadn’t donned a title sash once.

ㅤ“It's none of your business.”

ㅤ“I'm interested nonetheless,” James persisted.

ㅤAlex didn't bother to suppress his sigh. “If you know I’m nobility, you should use better manners with me, commoner.”

ㅤJames couldn't help his wry smile that split his lips. If only this man knew who he was talking to. “I don't respect nobles. That's why I kill them.”

ㅤ“Is that a confession?”

ㅤJames stretched his hands above his head, his shoulders still stiff from being chained up. Alex watched the movement keenly.

ㅤ“Getting in character. Imagining what Jay would say.”

ㅤAlex was silent for a moment and James wondered if he'd given up on humouring this conversation.

ㅤ“What do you think Jay would say if I killed him for kidnapping children?” Alex spat. The aggression was sudden but James wasn't going to back down.

ㅤ“I think he would laugh in your face and ask why you haven't done a single thing about those knights if you’d known about it. Who’s really done more damage? Especially when you've enabled it for this long. I bet he thinks you're a disgusting coward.”

ㅤFury and guilt flashed on Alex’s face in a confusion of emotion, his words came out hurried. “Maybe Jay should consider that it's better for me to keep my power and do what I can and save some of them, rather than losing that power and saving none at all.”

ㅤ“I bet Jay would punch you in the face if he was in a position to because what kind of horseshit is that? That's not an excuse.”

ㅤ“I don't think Jay can take a morally superior position when he murders people for a living.”

ㅤJames laughed, vexed. “What do you the fuck do you think a knight does?”

ㅤ“Well, they don't profit off someone's murder.”

ㅤ“That’s your salary. Not that the knights notice since they're too busy kidnapping children and killing their corrupt superiors' political rivals. I bet Jay feels secure knowing he enacts more justice than you ever could.”

ㅤAlex's hands were white-knuckled and shaking around the reins. Still, he had nothing to say back, stewing to himself.

ㅤMaybe he thought James was right or maybe he thought James was talking from a convenient position. Either way, James didn't care. Alex shouldn't have been throwing stones in a glass house. There was definitely something to be said about James' moral compass but not from a knight.

ㅤNever from a knight.