War of the Princes 03: Monarch

by A. R. Ivanovich

  “Thank you for the audience, your highness,” Dylan said, propping a hand on one knee and leaning forward, his back straight as a board. “We are truly honored that you've taken the time to see us.”

  The so-called prince sat sideways upon his chair in a truly Kyle-like fashion. “Drop the formalities, Dylan, we're not strangers.”

  “Apologies, sir, but as a Lord of Breakwater, I'll not bypass courtesy with familiarity.” Dylan cleared his throat and did not so much as shift a glance my way. Those of us who'd walked with him here understood how exhausted he was, but looking at him now you'd never know it. I had to hand it to him, he was a fantastic actor. “You have been declared the prince, and I humbly request your consideration on the matter of my city. When Prince Raserion discovers what's been done, he'll send an army to obliterate us.”

  Kyle rubbed his eyes and dropped his hand onto the tabletop. “I know what happened, I was there.”

  Dylan didn't seem to care about Kyle's comfort level. He may not have even believed Kyle was truly Varion at all– he may have believed that Kyle was simply acting the part. It didn't matter either way. Dylan had a singular goal. “Pardon my impertinence, but it may have already happened, for all I know. If we don't receive aid now, people will die.”

  I studied the young lord. He was passionate, angry, and took his brother's plight very seriously. Perhaps there was hope for him after all.

  “Mind your tone, Lord-Commander,” General Deasun warned.

  “It's alright,” Kyle said, flicking his hand up. “Of course we'll help Breakwater. It's our fault they're in the position that they are.”

  Our fault. So he still considers himself one of us.

  “The fault is mine, your highness,” Rune said, rising from his seat to stand at attention. “And no one else's. I would take punishment from Raserion himself if it meant no others would be harmed. I am indebted to you and if there is a way I can pay for it, simply give me the order.”

  Kyle rolled his eyes and dropped his head in his hands. “Rune, please sit down.”

  Rune followed the order, and now it was Kyle's turn to stand.

  “I'm the same person I was.” He leaned on the table, palms down. “You don't need to treat me differently because of what's happened here. All this standing and bowing and tiptoeing is going to drive me off the balcony. Dylan, I plan on sending a fleet of ships to Breakwater this very moment. Rune, you've only just won your freedom, don't leap into servitude so quickly.”

  Deasun spread the wrinkles free of a map that lay on the table before him. “Highness. I know you feel a kinship to the people of Breakwater, but you haven't recovered your memory. You must keep in mind that leadership is like a weighing scale with a thousand platforms. When one burden is lifted, another forms. If we send part of our fleet out of Caraway, we'll be relying entirely on our defensive force to protect the city and our ability to flank and pursue will be eliminated.”

  Kyle looked as overburdened as any responsible teenager would. “I understand that.”

  “No one has ever attempted something like this before. We don't know how our soldiers will be received by the people of Breakwater. If fighting broke out, it would be a disaster.”

  “It won't,” Dylan assured him. “Breakwater has just regained its children. We're on Prince Raserion's black list. We have too much to lose to risk fighting with your soldiers. I'm certain that even a child would understand that much. Our militia is strong, but no match for trained Hussars or Dragoons. If my brother believed your involvement would create a bloodbath, he wouldn't have sent me.”

  Deasun's warning sounded as though it had come from personal experience. “Accidents happen. All it takes is one pint too many and the wrong word in misplaced company. I'm not saying it's a cause we shouldn't take up. A foothold in the far West could be the asset we've been waiting for. It may even be enough to turn the war. What I am saying is... consider your steps carefully.”

  “Vance,” Kyle said, plopping back into his chair. “We're doing it. Just pick the right leaders, and it'll be fine.”

  A line drew over the General's forehead. Somehow, I expected that picking the right leaders wouldn't be the simplest of tasks. “So you'll have me be Lord and General, both? I'm not sure any single man is equal to such a task.”

  “You're right. It's almost like being prince. Relax. It's only temporary. I just need some time to figure out which members of cabinet I can trust. Who knows how Headly swayed them in twelve years. I also want the people of Sheer Town pulled out of that fake city he was building. They need to be returned to their homes before Raserion takes the bait and kills them all.”

  Kyle always was the smart one. He was thinking on his toes and considering as much as he could. After a day and a half of being crowned as royalty, I was sure I wouldn't do half as well.

  “You've mentioned this before, and it will be done, sir,” Deasun answered.

  Kyle sighed. “This has been the longest forty-eight hours of my life.”

  “If I may,” Carmine said, leaning forward in her seat. “I don't know much about ruling a kingdom, but I think you can trust your cabinet. If what you told me is true, most of them thought that this bodyguard of yours was you all along. They didn't know Headly was driving the boat. They should still have your best interests in mind.”

  Kyle’s expression lightened when she spoke, and I could see that his affection for Carmine hadn't changed.

  Dylan's shoulders shook with quiet laughter. “My, my.” He leaned forward in his seat to look past Rune and I. His hazel eyes locked onto her with disdain. “Advice without expertise is about as useful as ink without a pen. All mess and no matter.” He turned forward to look at Kyle. “Highness, I have studied tactics in leadership across the West. Do away with your entire cabinet. Release them from their duties, or at least return them to a more basic position. Choose anyone else that you please, but announce the position as temporary. You will not have to worry about Headly's influence. These people will be loyal to you without question. If they must compete to obtain their new positions, they will work twice as hard to please you. Issue resolved.”

  Kyle looked between them.

  “What we say doesn't matter,” Carmine said, unfazed by Dylan's insult. “We're only your friends.”

  “That matters to me more than you know,” he said to Carmine. There was a moment of peace on his face, and I was happy to see it. “Kat, you've been quieter than usual.”

  I didn't expect him to bring me into it at all and I jerked at the sound of my name. “I doubt my perspective is useful.”

  “Don't be so hard on yourself. You are Haven's ambassador.” Was he poking fun at our strangely elevated positions?

  I laughed. “Pointless, isn't it? You know everything about Haven. You don't need an ambassador.”

  “You're right, in a way,” he said, sadly. “But if I continue to sit in this chair I can't exactly be impartial.”

  “I mean no disrespect, but is it wise to discuss official matters with these people?” Deasun's onyx eyes glided over each of us in turn. His question had come off as sincere and not at all biting. “I cannot thank you enough for returning our leader to us. We can devise rewards for you. Amnesty in the North is a given, but there could be more.”

  “More is always better,” Carmine purred.

  “Do as you see fit, General,” Rune said, shooting our pilot a sideward glance. “But returning you one prince was easily worth an exchange for Breakwater's protection.”

  I nearly choked. Was Rune being serious or playing along? I couldn't tell. Were we going to leave Kyle here on his own?

  “I'm right here, guys.” Kyle waved.

  “Apologies.” Deasun bowed his head, and thick strands of his ropey white hair spilled over one shoulder.

  “This is a discussion, not a lecture. You're all here to speak your minds.” Kyle shifted in his seat, straightening his back.

  “Even the Axton?” Carmine asked coyly.

  Kyle s
tudied Dylan and was quiet for a moment. “I know what you did. A year ago, Katelyn almost died because of you. In the time we've known one another, I've witnessed you acting spoiled, demanding, arrogant, even cruel. But in that time, you have not abandoned us. I never thought I'd hear myself say it but, yes... I even trust the Axton.”

  Dylan's nostrils flared against the criticism, and his chest rose slowly with gathering breath, but when Kyle admitted his trust, the young lord's mouth pressed together in a line. He actually appeared to be moved to the point of emotion. Posture as straight as a ruler, back as flat as a board, Dylan said nothing.

  Days ago on the Flying Fish, Dylan had said Kyle was the only person he trusted among us. Now he sat in the prince's chair.

  “Well, I think that covers it for now. Unless you have anything to add.” Kyle turned to his bodyguard.

  The construct turned his head to look at Kyle and then back at us. “I've heard all of the points you've made. Know that your ruler will deliberate a course of action that will benefit each of you and inspire the Northern Kingdom to greater success. You are relieved from this audience, and, as always, remain vigilant.”

  Kyle laughed. “This guy. The greatest invention I've ever met. You know, I think it's about time you were given a name. We can't all call you Prince Varion or the bodyguard forever. Let’s see... how about Trevor? No. Let's make it... Wick. That sounds like it'd fit you.”

  Kyle always named machines. I was surprised it had taken him this long to name a sentient one.

  General Deasun rocked back in his chair. “He already has a name your Highness.”

  “Oh. What is it?”

  The construct responded for himself. “My name is Wick.”

  Kyle's eyes widened. “Yeah, I just told you it was.”

  “My name has always been Wick.” Using one arm, he reached to his shoulder plate and slid a panel down. Emblazoned in gold were four capital letters:

  WICK

  Tired as he seemed, Kyle had been holding up well until now. It was like someone had dropped him into a vat of ice water. His mouth worked without words and he stared. “I–I...” He looked back at us like he was horribly confused, and embarrassed about it. Instead of addressing the matter, he rushed past it. “Well, General. You know what to do. Send someone to gather the people of the displaced towns. Organize the force that will go west and report to me. Dylan, we'll need to go over our outpost's construction with you. Choose the best defensive location that won't upset the locals.”

  “Yes, sir.” Dylan nodded. He was on surprisingly good behavior. Was this the potential Brendon had seen in him?

  “Rune, I'd like you to join us. As a former soldier of Raserion's your input is vital. We need to be ready for him.”

  “Sir,” Rune echoed, returning to his feet. As an afterthought, two words followed. “Thank you.”

  Kyle looked at him curiously.

  “Thank you for giving us a second chance.”

  “That's exactly what the children we rescued said to you,” Kyle mused. “As much as I'd like to return to the Flying Fish and crawl into the engine room for a short eternity, I have a million things I need to familiarize myself with. Someday–someday, I'll get some sleep. You may all go. I'll call upon you soon. Vance, your ceremony is tomorrow. I'd like you all to be there. Don't forget.”

  “How could I?” Deasun grumbled, but I could see that he wasn't entirely upset by the prospect.

  We all got up to leave, and Hussar Prie reopened the doors for us. All I wanted to do was have a nice hot bath and settle into a quiet corner with Rune.

  I wanted to forget about wars and princes, if only for a moment.

  “Not you, Kat,” Kyle said, stopping me before I could escape. “We need to talk. In private.”

  Chapter 48: The Honest Truth

  All of our company, even Deasun and Prie, abandoned the room at Kyle's request. The only two who remained beside Kyle and myself were Wick and Sadie. Being as both were at least partially machine, neither of them seemed to mind witnessing a private conversation. Sadie trailed after Kyle when he left his post at the head of the table, and Wick remained in his chair, unmoving.

  Kyle walked around the edge of the table, shortening most of the distance between us. “Are you okay?”

  “Why wouldn't I be?” I didn't mean to sound so short.

  “You're acting strange,” he said, slowly letting his hands fall into his pockets. So, even his royal regalia sewed them in. It didn't seem like a habit that befitted a Prince.

  “I'm acting strange?” I could almost laugh. “I'm adapting.”

  “So am I.”

  “You speak to General Deasun on a first name basis...”

  He interrupted me to explain. “The guy's been leading me around since he showed up. I can't keep calling him General.”

  “And Wick?”

  The robotic construct looked up at the mention of his name.

  “I–I didn't know that was his name. Honestly, I thought I made it up on the spot. It was the first thing that popped into my head. This isn't easy for me. I'm so sorry.”

  “You don't owe me an apology.”

  “Actually, I do.” He paced in a circle wringing his hands and Sadie trotted along. “This is hard for me to admit.”

  “You're Varion and you knew. Is that it?” Anger sprouted within me. I didn't want to think about it or consider that it might be true. A betrayal that deep would ruin me. Kyle had been one of my two closest friends for most of my life. I wasn't sure I could survive such a cruel deception. The hurt crushed my lungs, but that didn't stop me from speaking. “Is that why we're friends? If you knew I had the Pull when we were children, you could use me to get out. Is that what happened?”

  “No, no. It's not like that. I swear. I'm not like Dylan. I would never use you.” He looked at me and took a deep breath. “I think some part of me understood that I needed to be here. Subconsciously. The day you woke up all bandaged and told me and Ruby where you'd gone, I didn't believe what you said could be true. But I would have done anything to get you to show me. Why? I had everything I wanted there. But I was hooked. The idea poked at the back of my mind every day.

  “I knew that eventually you'd go back out. People don't make discoveries like that and walk away clean. The day the radio tower came down, Eddie Elm said things that alarmed me. None of it made sense, but I knew I had to follow you. If I'd known what I was getting Ruby and Sterling into, I wouldn't have gone. Gravity, if I'd known what would happen, I wouldn't have risked myself. If I could do anything, I'd go back in time and erase that day.”

  His words left me with conflicting sentiments. If the day the tower fell never happened, I wouldn't have reunited with Rune, but Sterling would be alive.

  And if you hadn't returned to the Outside, Rune would have died in Cape Hill.

  “You've always told me that there's no sense in regret,” I said.

  “I'd still like to believe that, but I'm not so sure anymore.”

  Invisible walls had shot up between us. I could almost feel them. “So you're him then?” I wanted to hear him say it. Prince Varion was known as a monster, guilty of killing his father and driving his kingdom to war with merciless conviction.

  “I–I don't know. I'm me. I'm the same person, Kat. I just don't know how to deny all of the things that have happened.” His eyes grew blurry and red. “When I left Haven, I thought it'd be fun. I felt like we could handle anything. Then the dreams began, and the longer we stayed Outside, the more real they felt. On the Flying Fish, when you and Dylan went to Cape Hill with the Margrave, I asked Sterling to help me remember. He saw what we all did when Wick played back that recording, but he felt it too. The same way I feel it every time I dream. It was real. Sterling's oath to protect his family honor kept him from telling anyone what he experienced.” His voice wavered and he frowned as a tear slipped from his eyelash. “Neither of us quite believed it, but we couldn't deny it either. Sterling knew that I might be Prince Varion: the
murderous warlord who killed that Empty man who is still sitting on the Old Throne– his own father! Gravity, Kat, Sterling knew what I didn't have the courage to tell anyone! It didn't matter that people said Varion was immortal. I believed I was going to die the way I did in those dreams. And do you know what? When I was too terrified to set foot in Cape Hill, Sterling called me a coward. He said it more than once. 'Life is empty without the people who matter.' That's what he told me. He was right.”

  “A real man finishes what he starts,” I said, quoting Sterling. “And that's why you were acting so strangely when we set off from the Gold Palace to free Paperglass.”

  He nodded and sniffed, blinking his eyes as clear as he could. “Yeah. I thought I'd die that morning– but it was Sterling instead. I should have been the one that... I was a coward. All I could think about was the pain I'd feel if they thought I was Varion and killed me. I almost let you go off on your own. Sterling was a better person than me... he should have been the prince.”

  I stood by watching him ward off genuine tears, trembling in his finery, not knowing how to feel.

  Lifting his head and steadying his shoulders, he looked at me like he was facing his own firing squad. “I'll understand if you hate me. I hate myself for the both of us.”

  “Gravity, Kyle, shut up,” I whined. If ever there was proof that my friend was the same person at his core, it was this. “You're acting stupid again.”

  He laughed and snorted despite himself. “Now you're speaking my language.”

  “Sterling was a good guy. But so are you. Comparing yourself to others is...”

  “It's what dumb people do. I know, I've said that enough, haven't I?”

  Breaking through the walls between us, I planted my hands on his shoulders and looked at him directly. “We've known each other a long time and you've never been a coward. Aloof, stubborn, infuriatingly logical– those are more the types of words I'd associate with you. The nightmare is over.”

  “That's debatable,” he said, looking down at his feet. “They want me to be their prince.”