Scarlett

When I woke up, the first thing I thought was, I still couldn't believe my kids were still in the dungeon.

In a few hours, they will be released. That put me at ease. I met Fortis for breakfast.

"Morning." I joined him at the table.

"Good morning, Scarlett." He smiled.

He always smirks, but every once in a while, I'll catch a smile from him.

I smiled back. "Are you nervous about the exchange?"

"No, not at all."

I nodded. "Good. Please be careful, Fortis."

"I will. You're staying here, right?" He inquired.

"I don't want anything to do with that exchange."

Lair! I want everything to do with that exchange. But I know Fortis won't let me go.

He nodded.

"Hey, I meant to ask you, why did you ask about the age of one of the wolf king's daughters? Trying to find Stephen a suitor?"

"I know it would make you happy to see your children married one day. But I was just asking out of curiosity."

"It's not a bad idea. I don't know if he'd agree since you did capture three of his men and are making him pay for the other two."

"He will if it was his only choice."

"True."

"I don't know. He doesn't seem like the king to start a war." Fortis said.

But you are.

"I should let you go; you have important things to do," I told him.

"Once I get back, I'll find you, and we can walk down to the dungeon together, yes?" He walked over to me.

I nodded. "Be safe baby,"

"I will, my love." He kissed me and squeezed my hand. Then he left the dining room.

I care for Fortis so much, but it breaks my heart that I can't trust him. There is one way I can sway his opinion.

Fortis

Luis, Brody, and I walked into the dungeon. Luis closed the door behind us.

Maya and Stephen looked up at us.

"Hello kids, enjoy your night in here?" I asked them. They didn't say anything. "Well, you'll be out of here in a few hours."

Brody walked over to Ben's cell and freed him.

"You should tell Brody to watch himself. He's been disrespectful to Maya and I," Stephen spoke.

"He's treating you exactly how a traitor would be treated."

"Really, and you told him to do this?" He questioned.

"No. But I'm not entirely against it." I told him.

Stephen looked ready to beat the shit out of someone.

It's not like he can hurt anyone while he's in there. I'm not too concerned.

Luis walked over to Matthew's cell and freed him.

"You're gonna have to trust us eventually," Stephen said. "But what I will say is that I learned my lesson."

"Me too," Maya mumbled; I almost didn't hear her.

I've never seen her so sad before. I cannot interfere as much as I want to.

"I have to go handle this exchange. But I'm coming back here with your mother, and we're going to talk this out."

Stephen and Maya nodded.

I left the dungeon with a feeling of guilt.

I'll be back, guys, don't worry.

Brody, Luis, I, three other guards, and the two prisoners walked east towards the river.

I walked slow, on purpose. I wanted to be late, to make the wolf king worry that I wouldn't show up. He specifically said don't be late in the letter. Probably because he had other shit to do; I mean, he is a king just like me. But he can wait a little longer to see his guards.

After all, what's the rush?

We showed what I estimated ten minutes late.

Henry was on the other side of the river with his five men. And two bags, the bags full of shillings, I presumed. I also noticed that Dave was among those men.

"Sorry, I'm late. I was busy not giving a fuck." I greeted Henry.

"Fortis, I specifically told you not to be late."

"Again, that's me not giving a fuck." I reminded. "At least I bought the prisoners. Could you imagine if I forgot them? That would be a shocker!" I said with sarcasm.

Henry ignored me. "Not only are you late, but you also didn't write me back-"

"Sorry about that. I was a little busy punishing my kids for fraternizing and exchanging information with your kids. Which of your kids did you punish?"

"Katerina and Alexander." He said bluntly.

I nodded. "Anyways, continue what you were saying."

"The fact that you are here proves that you got my letter, so thank you for at least showing up. But not for being late."

"No, thank you for letting me know what my kids were doing. I'll have to keep a close eye on them. How did you punish your kids?" I asked Henry.

"I made them spend the whole day in my office with me where I could keep my eye on them. We're doing that again today."

"Right cause they're trying to get the 'important information.' What better place than the office, right?" I said with emphasis on important information.

"Yeah," Henry said. "How did you punish yours?"

"I put them in a cell, not my idea; it was my son's, Stephen's idea. I asked them what punishment they would like, and he said, since you want to treat us like prisoners, put us in a cell like one. So I did. He thought I was playing."

"At least they got to choose," Henry said.

"True. Anyways they had been there since dinner last night. I even fed the actual prisoners more food than them." I laughed. "Don't worry. I'll free them as soon as I get back to my castle."

"Nice. Anyways, we should get started."

"Definitely."

"So this is how this is going to go. My guard Adam here will walk over with the money bags and set them down. Then he will escort Ben and Matthew. Sound good?" He explained.

"Sounds good," I confirmed. Then I lowered my voice. "If I see either one of you in my territory again, I will kill you, understand?"

"Got it," Matthew said, and Ben nodded.

Henry

Fortis was saying something to Matthew and Ben, but I couldn't make out what it was. Then he looked straight at me.

"I'm gonna send Adam over!" I told him.

"Wait!" He said. "Prove to me that there's money in the bag."

He's careful and clever. But I'm not trying to trick him; I just want my guards back.

"Show him," I mumbled to Adam. Adam opened both bags and took out a few coins from each. He showed them to Fortis. Then she shook both of the bags. Fortis nodded in approval. Adam put the coins back in the bag and closed both of them.

"If I count this money when I get back and it's not 800 shillings or more, I swear I will find a way to may you pay more." Fortis threatened.

"I'm not trying to trick you; I just want my guards back," I told him.

"Alright."

"Are you ready to walk over there, Adam?"

He nodded.

"Let's try this again! I'm sending Adam over!" I said.

"Go ahead!" Fortis said.

Adam walked over the bridge and handed one of Fortis' guards the bags. Then Adam grabbed Ben and Matthew and escorted them across the bridge.

"Until next time, Henry. I'm sure we'll see each other again."

I knew he was being sarcastic. 

"God, I hope not," I mumbled.

Ben and Matthew laughed at that.

We walked back to the castle. I told Ben and Matthew to receive medical attention, food, and water. Dave looked so happy to see his fellow guards. And seeing that made me happy.

Charles

My son Aaron and I sat outside and enjoyed some sun.

"Today is a beautiful day," Aaron said, admiring the sky.

"Every day when it's not cold or raining is a beautiful day here in Mercia," I told him.

A maid brought me a letter. "Who is this from?" I took the letter.

"Your nephew, James." She said, then she walked back into the estate.

"This should be interesting." I sighed as I opened the letter and read it out loud.

"Dear uncle Charles,
This is James, your Nephew." I know that, dipshit. "I have an offer for you. I'm inviting you to Mercia court to help me steal the throne from Alexander. It should be me on the throne and not Alexander. I will make you my advisor if all goes well. Write me back if you're interested if not, don't bother.
~James"

I looked over at my son. "What do you say, son? Do you want to go to Mercia court?"

"A chance to steal the throne from Alexander has come up. I never liked Alexander; he was always rude to me. So yes, father, let's take a trip to Mercia court." Aaron said, completely agreeing with me.

"To Mercia court, it is! Began packing immediately, while I write him back. We leave in two days." I told him.

He nodded. "Yes, father." He turned and headed back into the estate.

Even if I'm not getting on the throne, being an advisor is the closest thing to it.

God has blessed me with this opportunity, and I will not let it go to waste.

~Dominique