To Catch a King

12.

After Victor was moved and Chanok was settled, Andreas felt infinitely better. The villagers had accepted him as one of their own and tried to pay him in the three days he worked, but he would have none of it. The doctor even respected him a bit. All of the patients were moved into the new doctor’s area, and they were only waiting on the payment.

In the meantime, he and Chanok were becoming fast friends. The Chief King was a big fan of strategies, and the two men found themselves talking about battle strategies continuously throughout the day.

On the fifth day, Jask arrived with a straggler in tow. He knew who it was instantly by the look on Chanok’s face: a mixture of surprise, fear, and anger.

The Chief King and his father glared at each other as Andreas walked, nearly ran, to help Jask from her horse. She gave him a grateful smile followed by a wary glance at the two foreigners.

“So you know?” he asked, helping her gather her things. Neither of them noticed that they looked as if they were lovers, and that the two foreigners were staring at them. Achak had an impressed look on his face, maybe because he could tell that Andreas was a warrior in his gait and poise; and Chanok looked at the two with an inkling of concern.

Jask nodded. “Stephen told me everything.”

“Did you talk to Achak on the way here?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t warmed up to him yet. I mean, I believe that he is my father, but it seems unbelievable.” She got her last pack from her horse and had someone lead it to the stables. Achak did the same. She glanced at the man before looking back at Andreas. “How is Victor?” she whispered.

“Fine,” Andreas answered. “But he hasn’t woken up yet. Chanok knows who he is and has been guarding him. Apparently, Victor was found wandering in the deserts of Suecha, badly injured. Chanok accompanied him here, but he became comatose on the journey.”

“We should take him to Court to see the Royal Physician,” Jask said. They walked to the two men. “He’d know what to do.” Andreas nodded in agreement.

“But first,” Andreas said. “Let’s go to the inn. There’s someone waiting for us.”

Wick smiled as the group of four entered the inn. Jask was suddenly on high alert, immediately going into a stance that allowed her to fight easily, if she needed. She didn’t trust the assassins. The three were like the harbingers of disaster, and if one of them visited, she knew that she wouldn’t like the news.

Chanok and Achak noticed her change in posture and were very impressed. Though Jask had both a natural and acquired catlike grace, they didn’t expect her to know combat. There were very few women who fought back in Suecha, though all genders were welcome to join in war.

“Friends,” Wick said, standing. “Welcome back, Jask.”

She grunted in response. “What do you want?”

Wick tsked before gesturing to the group to sit down. “I have valuable information for you,” he said. “Concerning the state of this country.” Wick nodded in the direction of the Suechi. “They are involved as well. You see—” Wick leaned forward, causing the others to do so as well. “—a war is coming. Armin Blackshadow, the new king of Merias, wants to create a dynasty.”

“That’s impossible,” Jask cut in. “He doesn’t have nearly enough power.”

Wick glared at her. “Listen, girl. He’s forming alliances with the other three countries, or at least trying. His country is landlocked, and his aim is Ferilis.”

“So he’s planning to go outward first before pulling back in,” Andreas observed. “We’re a coastal country with a strong navy, useful in war.”

“Yes,” Wick confirmed. “Ferilis is his first plan, a stupid one at that. Your country is one of the best in terms of war, following them.” He nodded toward the two Suechi.

“Why not go to the royal family with this?” Jask demanded. “Or at least the General Elite.”

“They’re too stubborn,” Wick answered. “And won’t do anything until death stares them in the face. You two have been traveling around Ferilis. You’ve seen the fresh battlegrounds and you are more in tune with the people.”

“That’s not the only reason you’re telling us, is it?” Jask said. “Why are you doing this?”

Wick smiled and Jask fought the urge to shudder. “Because I like Ferilis. Specifically, I like the two of you. You’re both smart and both of you are well-rounded. Perfect recruits. Also, I disagree with King Armin’s plan. It’s a disaster in the making. He’s the one that hired us to kill King Janus and kidnap the prince, you know.”

Wick stood, brushing off imaginary dust and ignored the shocked faces of his audience. “Well, I should be going. I trust that I will see you in Hena very soon.”

After the assassin left, their room was silent. Jask paced the floor, gracefully twirling as she reached the wall. Andreas watched her, a blank look on his face as he processed the information. The foreigners in the room were forgotten, but talked quietly amongst themselves about the new information.

This couldn’t be happening, she thought angrily. The mission was to find and return the prince home safe, and she’d get paid enough money that she didn’t need to thieve. She unconsciously unsheathed her knife and twirled it around her fingers.

Wick had also called them perfect recruits. That and the assassin liked her and Andreas. If the war didn’t make her uneasy, the comment almost certainly did. And she felt as if Wick was talking directly to her. Andreas had gone to a military academy and did things by the book. He was trained well by renowned military leaders and well versed in the country’s history. He was also trying to prove a point to the people that hated Natives, so there was no way he’d consider joining the assassins.

Unless Jask decided to join.

Her mind started thinking, quickly. Of course Wick would eye her. She’d grown up in the shadows under the tutelage of the Master of the Thieve’s Guild. She’d killed her first person at 12 and felt no remorse. She was good at being a thief. One of the best.

But she was recently named an Elite Soldier. She was no longer thieving and she was paired up with a man that lobed her, regardless of her past. She had a new brother and father, family in Challus. Being an Elite kept her family safe.

Achak and his son left the room some time later. Jask was still pacing, and Andreas was worried. He grabbed her arms, stopping her.

“Calm down,” he whispered. Jask took a shuddering breath and leaned into him. “Tell me what you’re thinking.” He already knew. It was obvious.

“I do want to join them,” she said quietly, relaxing against him. “But I can’t think of myself. I have a family and I have you. I have something good, for once.”

“But…?” he asked, his voice just as soft.

“But I haven’t stolen anything in a long time. I grew up in what Wick is asking us to join. I know what to do and how to do it. What I did before Elites, not only was it something I enjoyed, it was necessity. And what Wick and the other two do, they influence change. I can do that.”

Andreas ran his fingers through her hair, soothing her. “Don’t decide now. We’ll see Wick again soon. Not today, not tomorrow, or a week from now. You have time to think on it.”

She nodded into his chest. “Don’t leave me tonight.”

“I won’t.”

Victor woke up three days later. Jask had been cleaning her weapons, Andreas was doing inventory of their supplies, and the Suechi were arguing. The last part was not uncommon, as Achak disagreed that Chanok should have left the country. Both Jask and Andreas wondered how Jask was related.

A long groan from the bed shut them up. Andreas was the first to get to Victor, and then Jask.

“Your Highness,” Andreas greeted. “How are you feeling?”

Victor groaned in response. Andreas and Jask glanced at each other. In an instant, Jask left the room and went downstairs to inform the innkeeper of their departure in two days. Chanok started packing his things, leaving out only what he needed, as did Achak. Andreas checked on the prince.

“Do you feel any pain at all?” he asked the prince.

“N-no,” he answered. “Who are you? Where am I?”

“I’m not answering that yet,” Andreas said. “But please, stay calm. Are you dizzy? Do you need a pail? Or some water? My partner is coming back with food.”

“No, no, y-yes,” Victor answered. “And thank you.” His voice was stronger now, but gruff with disuse. “Now tell me where I am.” Andreas tried not to glare at the prince or roll his eyes.

“We’re nearly four days from Hena. What do you remember?”

Victor looked confused. “I-I was kidnapped, wasn’t I? And…I remember…darkness. The sound of waves, and the taste of sand in my mouth. I remember hearing voices…” He trailed off and wouldn’t continue. Jask came in with a tray of food.

When speaking to Chanok later that night, Andreas learned that what Victor spoke of wasn’t surprising. There were two ways to get to Suecha: through land and by water. Victor must have been taken to Suecha though means of magic—however possible that may be since Ferilis hadn’t had magic for two centuries—or land. Judging how quickly he arrived in Suecha, which was about two days after Janus’ death at the very least, magic seemed more likely. That also meant confirmed Chanok brought the prince back by boat.

It made Andreas wonder about Way, Red, and Wick. Yes, they had better than average skills and qualities, which was probably why they were in all essences, mercenaries. It explained why they wanted he and Jask, though it was obvious they wanted Jask more. She’d made it clear last night.

But back to the situation at hand. He rolled over on his cot. Victor still kept the bed, while Andreas and Jask slept on cots on the floor. Just for propriety and to keep Victor from wondering what was going on between the two, there was a pillow between the cots.

From what he’d seen of the three assassins, one of them had to possess magic. But magic in Ferilis had vanished decades ago. Natives, with their sacred rituals, had been the ones to travel the land and keep magic alive. With the herding and murder of Natives, though, that hadn’t been able to happen.

Now, there was the possibility of magic in Ferilis. After all of this time.

There was a shuffling sound and the pillow moved. He could feel Jask’s grey eyes on him. Careful as to not wake anyone, she moved so that their bodies were touching. Andreas instantly relaxed, his arm curling around her side. Oh, how he’d waited so long to do this.

“Stop stressing yourself out,” she whispered. “I can almost hear you thinking.”

Andreas let out a quiet chuckle and immediately after, Victor let out a loud snore.

“I can’t help it. Victor’s disappearance makes no sense. There are over 200 guards at the palace at every point during the day. All possible exits are monitored, and those who enter the palace are checked, even Elite Soldiers and the siblings of Janus.”

“Andreas, calm down,” she said. She noticed that he tended to ramble when he was upset, as if his brain was moving too fast and he needed to say every thought running through his head. “You need to sleep. Victor is our priority.”

Andreas sighed, his grip on Jask tightening. “I know. It’s just…”

Jask put her hand to his face, quieting him. “If I stay with you like this, will you go to sleep?”

“Most likely,” he answered. “But—”

Jask kissed him. “Sleep. We both need it.”

She moved closer to Andreas, getting comfortable, and he tried to relax. Jask had much more to worry about than he. While he faced racism every day, was used to it, and was a great soldier, Jask had recently met her father and brother, was offered a job working with assassins, was guarding a prince, and she was just recruited into the Elite Soldiers ad=fter being a thief for most of her life. All of this occurred within two-and-a-half months.

Jask started stroking his hair and all of his thoughts instantly melted away. Soon, he drifted off to sleep.

The next morning came with Victor getting his bearings and the group avoiding contact with the citizens, though Andreas did visit the clinic to check on its patients. The entire town was in mourning. Hena had just released news of the king’s death, along with news of recent attacks on Ferilis’ borders, and the fear of an impending war.

The message finished with: “Yet let we as a country remain in solidarity, as our strength has been a strong force since the beginning and our king would wish us to remain fierce. Fidae mon carro.” In our strength we prosper.

At the end of the message, Andreas scowled. “Fidae mon carro” was an old war cry that Natives used when defending or at war. It annoyed him how few people knew that fact and went with the common belief that it was in the Old Tongue.

Victor didn’t seem surprised at the news. If anything, he just became resigned but shrugged it off. To stay busy, everyone cleaned the room, while Andreas spent his day at the clinic and Jask threw out old supplies and replaced them.

The plan was to leave for Talehaven the next morning, rest there, and then continue on to Hena. They needed to get to the capital quickly if they wanted Victor to have utmost safety.

Against people like Way, Wick and Red, even four people that knew how to fight weren’t enough. Not if want Andreas thought about Wick was close.

By the time night fell, they were ready to leave. Andreas and Chanok—two unexpected friends, Jask and Achak realized—were busy trying to figure out the best way to get Victor back into Hena quietly. The Crown Prince himself was subdued, finally realizing that the fate of the kingdom rested on his shoulders. Achak was resting in a cot near Jask’s bed, fearful of losing his daughter when they were just united. And Jask, she was observing them all.

Earlier, Andreas voiced his worries about the three assassins, consequently voicing his worry that Jask was going to join them. They both knew that she was thinking about it. She sighed quietly.

Looking at the room full of people, she thought of how she never really had people to bond with. The Thieves Guild disliked her and she stayed to herself. Her jobs consisted of stealing precious artifacts, and she had no plans for the future. An ordinary woman would be married by now, with a child already or one on the way. An ordinary or one the way. An ordinary woman—not counting the determined few that joined the military—would be preparing for a life that stayed the same.

They didn’t have to worry about dead parents and missing princes as well.

But here she was with a man she loved, her father and brother, and the future king of Ferilis.

Achak, Chanok, and Victor were welcomed into Talehaven with open arms. Victor was immediately “adopted” into Andreas’ family after hearing of his ordeal. Chanok, to everyone’s disappointment, bade everyone goodbye, stating that he needed to return to Suecha, though he promised to Jask, Andreas, and Victor aid in case Ferilis entered war.

Achak chose to stay, wanted to spend more time with his daughter, and to give Andreas his blessing, should he choose to as for Jask’s hand.

“Are you feeling rested?” Andreas asked Jask later that night. It was late and they were the only two still awake, so they decided to sit on the beach, a small fire in front of them.

“A bit,” Jask answered. “But I’m ready for an actual bed.” She refused to take Andreas’ bed and asked for a cot.

Andreas chuckled. He looked at the sky, forcing himself to quit thinking of their mission and enjoy being under the stars. He looked over at Jask. She too was gazing at the stars, and he thought her beautiful in that moment.

For the entire mission, he’d been focusing on just that: the mission. He ignored his growing feelings for Jask, convinced that if he ignored them long enough, they’d go away. But they hadn’t. They’d only grown stronger as time went on and they continued to journey together.

“What will become of us, after this?” Jask wondered aloud, her voice a whisper.

“I don’t know,” Andreas said. “But we should still see each other. You’re the only Elite I feel comfortable with.”

Jask let out a peal of laughter. The laugh was unexpected, but it was the first time he’d heard it. He loved it as soon as he heard it.

“We had no time to meet them, Andreas,” she said, smiling to herself. “But I agree.” She looked at him, her eyes dancing. “I only feel comfortable with you as well.”

She leaned forward, touching her forehead to his, and he fought to keep his breath even. She gazed at him. “Is…is it improper to want to kiss you right now?” she asked, her voiced a whisper.

Andreas’ breath caught. “No,” he answered. “It’s not.” He smiled. “So shall we?”

And they did.