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∞ | Chapter 11 - Meeting | ∞

Castle Inanis, Vallisrem

"A truce?"

Former Regnant Mabuz Ryker flinched from the violent expression on his counterpart's face.

"She's offering the rebellion a truce?" Medeia repeated, her blue eyes cold as ice. Her Chief Astute nodded. "I'm afraid so Regnant, my sources in the Sage Cliffs have informed me that the rebellion is right at their doorsteps and that a messenger had been sent yesterday."

Medeia stared at him unflinchingly before a deep laugh burst from her painted lips. "That's the best news I've heard all day Gravrs. Thank you. Do keep me updated on the situation."

Her Chief Astute nodded and bowed his head and turned on his feet, leaving the two Regnants in the room alone.

"Medeia, how is Circe offering to work with the rebellion a good thing? I think it's the opposite isn't it?"

She stared at him, lips curling at the blatant stupidity of the man standing in front of her. He wouldn't understand. The only thing Mabuz Ryker cared about was money, prestige and how to save his own skin. He wasn't the scheming sort.

According to her, there were two types of people in the world. One that goes along with everything and the other who schemes to get their way. She was the latter while Mabul Ryker, the former.

"We'll call her out for treason. I'm sure you know the fates of those who do so," she spoke calmly, a hint of impatience in her tone.

The other Regnant merely blinked, mind slowly digesting what she had meant. "B-but she's a Regnant as well. Does it even apply to her as well?"

She strongly resisted the urge to roll her eyes. After all, she had to play nice seeing that she needed the man for his money. Once Mabuz Ryker was of no use to her, she would get him chained to the fences and let the crows eat him alive.

"I believe it does," she smiled before gesturing to the door warmly. "Dinner is ready, do eat your fill especially after that horrid business with the rebellion."

He took in her saccharinely sweet smile, lulled by the sense of security she was giving no matter how false it was. "Yes yes, you're right of course. Thank you so much once more Medeia."

The smile on her face vanished and was replaced with a sneer as soon Mabuz Ryker left the room. She glided back to her desk in her study before her treasured collection on her shelves caught her sight. Tilting her head, she reached out and caressed the smooth top of the skull and smiled. Skulls occupied the whole shelf. Skulls that belonged to her enemies. Skulls that also consisted of her father and brother.

She hadn't been proud of killing them - her father and brother. But they deserved it. She was the oldest damn it! She was to rule, but because of her father favouring her younger brother, she was set aside like a filthy useless Destitute! Medeia's hands clenched but taking in the skulls of her family, she relaxed.

She had won, hadn't she?

Those who crossed her personally would meet the same fate. Bodies would be left for the crows, their skulls placed on her shelves.

Yes, Circe Moreau would certainly meet that fate.

It didn't matter that she had proposed for a truce with the rebellion. Rebellion or not, Circe wouldn't win. With Vlad and Mabuz under her thumb, Draven captured by the rebellion, Circe didn't stand a chance.

She turned and reached for her glass of wine, toasting it to the family portrait on her right before taking a long sip from it.

* * *

Neutral Grounds

"Do you think she's there already?" Jarek questioned and Adrastea glanced at him before her gaze darted back to Rhydderch. She always seemed to be doing that. Ever since the kiss they had shared two days ago.

When she pulled away, eyes wide as she took in Rhydderch's satisfied smug expression on his irritating handsome face, she bolted.

Adrastea was fairly certain that that move was a coward's way of dealing with uncomfortable things. But sue her, what was she supposed to do or say? Both of them had agreed that their relationship would be strictly business but Rhydderch had broken that agreement. Hence, what was going on now? Was their original agreement still withstanding?

Hell, her brain hurt.

Additionally, it didn't help that Rhydderch acted as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. The day after the kiss, she had literally run into Rhydderch but he had greeted her with a mere question if she wanted to be there for the meeting with Regnant Circe. Taken aback by his nonchalance about the whole deal, she decided to take a page out of his book. Meaning, she too would pretend that nothing had happened as well.

Fortunately, he bringing up the whole situation of Circe offering the rebellion a truce made her insist for him to take up that offer. That of course had led to Rhydderch narrowing his eyes at her before stalking off.

Thinking about her confusing soul mate and the situation they were in made her head hurt.

"Of course, we're late," Rhydderch said nonchalantly as he strode towards the meeting point, obviously catching Jarek's statement.

Ever the man who was always prepared, he had people posted around the area, ready to take down anyone if the whole thing was a trap.

She didn't know what to think, Rhydderch was dead set on turning down Circe's offer and she was expressly forbidden to object during the meeting.

It took her some time to accept it but looking from Rhydderch's point of view, she knew he was right and how she hated to say that. If they had indeed agreed on the truce, she hardly thought that Circe and the rest of the Affluents would stop their actions and it would present the rebellion as always seeing the easy way out.

They could be branded as cowards.

Not to mention, Circe Moreau could turn on them at any moment.

She glared at the back of Rhydderch's head, hoping that he could somehow feel the weight of her stare because she was so close to reaching out to strangle him.

"He can't see you, you know that right?"

She could feel her cheeks heating up as she turned to see Jarek looking amused at her actions. "I know, he just makes me so infuriated all the time," she replied lowly as she trudged along the path.

"He's testing you, that's all I can say and know. I've known Rhydderch for quite some time and he does this sort of thing with people he respects, be it reluctantly or not," Jarek said as his eyes scanned their surroundings.

She pursed her lips before sighing heavily, "I see, I just wish he would accept that damn truce. But I understand where he is coming from but I certainly don't have to like it, soulmate or not."

Jarek laughed and Rhydderch stopped abruptly, waiting for them to catch up while giving a curt nod for the men in front of everyone to continue walking. Darius gave him a suspicious prying glance before turning around to lead the men.

"Rhydderch," Jarek greeted stoically and he gives a mere nod in return as both men exchange a look between them that causes Jarek to continue walking. "What was that?" Adrastea questioned, not missing the looks shot between the pair.

"Nothing that concerns you," Rhydderch answered smoothly before walking in line with her. "Have you remembered what I spoke to you before?"

"Yes," she said coolly, "in other terms, I am to remain silent throughout the whole meeting."

"Good," he replies and silence sets between them.

"I do understand your reasoning," she added quietly and Rhydderch turned to her, eyebrows arched. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it, people will die," she finished, wanting to break the quiet between them.
A faint smile appears on his face as he regards her, "People will always die."

Glaring at him, Adrastea opened her mouth to argue but Rhydderch interjected before she could. "I can accept your reluctant acceptance if you would accept that my decisions however wrong they seem to you are best for the situation we are in."

She resisted rolling her eyes but the amusement in his and the slight tug at the corner of his mouth caused her to allow herself to give a tiny smile back and Rhydderch stops and stares at her and she could see his mind working.

"One more thing," he began. "If anything were to go wrong, follow Jarek, he would get you to safety."

She blinked, stunned at his sudden words. "What about you then?"

"I'll be fine," he offers another faint smile before making an elegant movement that could have been a shrug. "You won't be if anything were to go wrong. Additionally, it doesn't help that you aren't trained."

Lost for words, her eyes were fixed on his as she absorbed the turn of events.

He did care for her.

At least on some level where he wasn't nonchalant if she died or got injured. The fact that he had contingency plans for her well-being spoke volumes.

"Promise me that you would go with Jarek if anything unplanned happens," Rhydderch repeats sternly and she nodded. "Alright."

His eyes flickered with something she couldn't read before it vanished as soon as it appeared. He gave her a curt nod and they continued walking.

Something in her wanted to reach out to hold onto his hand but she resisted and pushed that side of her away.

She absolutely didn't want to face the facts that she felt something for Rhydderch.

But both dread and anxiety were eating her away. Today could be the day that they all died. No one knew for certain that they weren't entering a trap nor were they certain that they weren't. Adrastea inhaled sharply before clenching her fingers together.

In no time at all, they reached a clearing in the woods, close to the Sage Cliffs where Circe Moreau ruled as Regnant - somewhere that was neutral ground.

She could already see that the Rhydderch she hardly knew - not the one that opened up more to her - was on display. His eyes were shuttered and closed off from emotions and to her, he seemed like a different person.

"You must be the rebellion leader." A stunning woman in her fifties declared. She had a friendly smile on but Adrastea could see that it was all false. A facade to lull them into false security. Beside her were two men, dressed in Valiant regalia. Behind her, there were about five other men, adorned with weapons and faces filled with disdain as they took them in.

Already, Adrastea could feel herself wanting to look around for more Valiants hidden about in their surroundings, hidden in the thick forest.

Rhydderch stopped about two metres away, Darius on his right while Jarek along with three other men stood a few metres behind them as well. She could safely say that the atmosphere was thick with tension.

"Yes, I've thought about your kind proposal but sadly, your trip here is unfortunately wasted," Rhydderch responded nonchalantly, eyes fixed on Circe.

"You're turning it down?" Her smile seemed frozen on her face and Rhydderch smiled. "I'm afraid so, yes. Your interests and the aims of the Rebellion are not aligned."

Her smile disappeared and she stared down at him and the small group of people he brought. Circe didn't doubt that more of his men were about, she had done that after all.

"You're willing to risk the lives of your men because of your pride?"

Impassive as ever, Rhydderch let a wry smile cross his face knowing that Circe was trying to provoke him into action.

"No, however, I'm sure that you're not entirely willing to compromise on the way things are being run," he replied, mouth etched into a mocking smile as he regarded the woman facing him.

How easy for him if he were to kill her now. A simple gesture with his hand that anyone can mistake for a stretch and the Regnant in front of him will just be another dead body.

But no, he couldn't. Rhydderch was absolutely certain if that happened, the Sage Cliffs would be impenetrable if their Regnant died. Regnant Circe Moreau wasn't acknowledged as the cleverest Regnant just for existing. He was sure that she had planned for outcomes where she turned to be dead in their meeting.

"Well, if I were to order my men to kill everyone here? Would you acquiesce? Or what about your soulmate? I heard you found her. Would you be willing to risk her life just because of your pride?" Circe smiled beatifically, eyes flitting over the rebellion leader's face for a reaction.

Rhydderch dearly hoped that none of his men or Adrastea was giving a reaction. Now with that threat looming over his head, he was sorely tempted to kill her. But no, she couldn't know that his soulmate was indeed here with him. Forcing himself to not flit his eyes away from Circe, he gave her a cold smile and shrugged. "I wouldn't particularly care. I don't need a soulmate, they're just weaknesses," he paused.

He sincerely hoped that Adrastea would know that he didn't really mean it.

And really, since when did he change his mind about her?

"It's funny, isn't it? I have nothing to lose," he clasped his hands behind his back as he regarded Circe who looked like she was closer to murdering him when he continued. "But you do, I know you've been wondering where your youngest son is. I know his last known location was in Vonsworth where we took in just a few scant weeks ago..." he trailed off, letting the words sink in.

"You wouldn't!" Circe raged, dark eyes flashing as she took an indignant step towards him and immediately, Darius took a step forward, a hand ready on the dagger he kept at his waist.

"He's just ten! You wouldn't kill a child!"

Rhydderch shrugged, "Would I? Everything and anyone can be fair game when you're at war."

He could feel Adrastea boring holes into the back of his head as he spoke and he knew that they would certainly be having words about this.

"Now," he began, a cold smile forming on his face as he took in the anguished expression on his counterpart. "I suggest that you go back to your castle and formulate a surrender. We are not accepting your truce."

His eyes turned to Darius, giving him a nod that meant they could slowly leave when Circe let out an angered shriek before shouting something at her men.

The next thing he knew, pain erupted in his body as an arrow flew and got lodged into his right arm.

Chaos erupted and beside him, Darius was already in action and he turned to see Adrastea's horrified expression on her lovely face before Jarek quickly tugged her away.

* * *

"What are you doing?" she hissed in protest as Jarek continued pulling her along with him to where their mode of transport was.

"Getting you to safety," he replied curtly, eyes darting around their surroundings and she gaped at him as she tried to keep up with his pace.

"What about the rest? What about Darius and Rhydderch? Rhydderch is injured! Didn't you see that arrow?"

She was almost getting to the point of being hysterical and Jarek glared at her. "Yes, it isn't easy abandoning your fellow men as they fight but I'm following my orders of getting you to safety. Besides, they can handle themselves. We fight dirty and Rhydderch has injuries that are worse than that. He'll be fine."

She stared at him, eyes darting back to the path that they came from. "He'll be fine," Jarek repeated, eyes boring into hers and Adrastea could see that he was pleading with her to hurry.

"He'll be able to focus on getting he and the rest of his men out of that fight alive without having to worry about your safety because he knows you're with me back to base camp."

She slowly nodded and swallowed harshly. "Alright."

Jarek sighed in relief and they continued racing through the forest.

Even though all she wanted to do was run in the opposite direction.

* * *

Rebellion Lands

She was pacing the length of her tent, fingers clenching the hem of her blouse. Anxiety and fear ran through her veins as her eyes unseeingly took in her room.

It had been hours and none of the men had come back yet. What if something had really gone wrong?

Her mind kept playing the scene of that arrow piercing through her soulmate's arm, making a gruesome sounding squelch over and over till it made her head hurt.

Rhydderch had grunted in pain as people started to fight, the sound of arrows being shot and pistols firing rang in her ears. She did see Circe fleeing the scene with one of her men as the rest fought on the field.

She hadn't seen what happened after as Jarek had tugged her forcefully away from the scene. But the not knowing was eating her alive. She didn't even know why she was this worried, she couldn't be that attached to Rhydderch, could she?

He may be arrogant, manipulative, ruthless, occasionally irritating with his games but somehow, he had grown on her. Even though she didn't really want to admit it. Not even to herself.

Suddenly, the door bursts open and Adrastea got up, ready to pick a fight with the idiot who thought it would be wise to interrupt her solitude when the familiar sight of the tall dark-haired man entering stopped her.

The anxious feeling in her gut disappeared as soon as she saw him. He was limping a little, bruises marred his forehead and the right side of his face, and his right arm was bandaged and resting in a sling.

Even though he seemed to be knocked about, the sight of him breathing and walking made relief sink into her lungs. Without thinking of the subsequent consequences her actions may bring, she rushed to him and hugged him tightly, her body avoiding his right arm.

Rhydderch seemed to freeze the moment her body made contact with his but slowly, his hands slowly stroked her back as he eventually returned her embrace.

"You're alright," she breathed out, more as a statement than a question.

"I'm alright," he reassured quietly, hesitating a tad bit before pulling her a little closer.

Her fingers curled tighter and uncaringly into his dirt and blood streaked coat as she thanked the gods that he was alright.  

* * *

A/N: Hi all, I'm so sorry for this hella long break! I've sent out a message in July that explains my month long absence. Basically, I have been incredibly busy, my health was awful and I have been dealing with personal issues that simply exhausted me. Anyway, I intend to finish this by this year! I hope that all of you enjoyed this chapter and please please let me know what you lovelies think! <3

Chapter dedicated to therowanclair :) 

Love, 

Sheryl

P.S. If you guys didn't know, I have posted a book which you all can post requests for one shots/drabbles of your favourite characters from any of my books and I will do my best to fullfil them! It's called Their Things, so check it out if you haven't! :)