Two Weeks Ago

After politely urging Kain to change, Lyre insisted that they had to leave immediately if Kain was going to avoid being late. Seeing no reason to protest, except perhaps the desire to see if the others were okay, Kain let himself be led away from their rooms.

The route Lyre chose took them through ostentatiously decorated halls was one that, somehow, Kain recognized.

"Isn't this the way to His Majesty's office?" he questioned.

Lyre puffed up with pride. "Of course. The entire west wing is his majesty's personal quarters. You recognized it because of the beauty, right? Only the best artists in Eol have been allowed to make pieces for these halls."

Kain resisted the urge to grimace. Beauty wasn't exactly the word he would have applied to it all.

"It's certainly memorable," he hedged.

That was all it took for Lyre to launch into an explanation of each "masterpiece" they passed. The servant knew everything about the palace, it would seem, and was far too eager to let Kain in on what he could manage to shove into their short walk.

The only intriguing news Kain was able to pull out of the mess was the distinct lack of art involving the previous king. Asha, Kain had expected to be absent, but why Akaikos? Difficult memories? Or was there some other reason?

"Here we are," Lyre announced, dragging Kain from his thoughts.

They'd come to a stop outside a guarded door. If the knights cared for their presence, they gave no sign as Lyre urged Kain inside. He relaxed the faintest degree as he studied the room and realized it was unoccupied--well, mostly.

"Melitta," he greeted. "Callias."

They were seated at a long, gold trimmed bocate dining table that dominated the majority of the room. At his greeting, Callias stood and offered an appropriate greeting bow, while Melitta stayed seated. His face heated as he realized the reason behind their presence--Alekos had wanted to invite Kain's "partner" and her escort to their dinner.

"Kain," she replied, a bright smile lighting up her expression. "I was wondering when you would arrive. His Majesty's aid said the king was busy and would be late, but we'd heard nothing about you."

On the bright side, their presence made it easier for Kain to decide where to sit. Melitta was positioned midway down the left side, which meant Kain could take the seat to her right. A position of authority at a dining table, but still below the head. Traditionally the hostess or the guest of honor would be seated at the opposing end to the head, but given Alekos lacked a queen, and Melitta had seated herself in the center, not the end, it gave Kain the ability to sit next to Alekos without lessening his own position.

He resisted the urge to message his temple as he sat and Callias straightened from his bow. Gods, why did politics have to be so complicated? It was just a table.

Aware there were eyes and ears everywhere in the king's quarters, Kain resisted the urge to spill everything he had learned to Melitta. Instead, he allowed a warm, curious smile to his face, the sort one might wear when greeting their partner--it was easy with Melitta, thankfully--and focused on the other questions he had about the day.

"Isidor, Natia and I took today as a chance to explore Sol," he explained. "We would have invited you, but I heard you were called to tea by the queen mother?"

"Ah," Melitta paused, eyes subtly flicking to the door and back to him, before she continued. "Yes, she was curious about His Majesty's guests."

Was she warning him not to ask more? Kain hesitated, and was saved from searching for a change of topic by the door opening. Knowing there was no one else it could be, Kain stood even as he turned to face it. The soft scrape of the others' chairs told him they assumed the same, which proved smart as his eyes found the king.

Kain bent into a shallow, station appropriate bow as Alekos swept into the room.

"Rise," he commanded. "You're my guests, so there's no need to hang on to formalities here."

Something about the wording rubbed Kain wrong, but he straightened as requested. As he racked his mind, attempting to figure out what exactly bothered him, Alekos took his seat, then gestured for them to do the same. Several servants had entered with the king, and as they settled, one broke away from the others with a bottle of wine.

"I've been looking forward to this," the king revealed. "We didn't have enough time to talk when I summoned you before."

"Your Maj--" Kain began.

"Ale," Alekos corrected. "It's traditional in Eol for those of similar stations to call the king by their name. And, there is not much closer to a king than you, Kain."

Kain stilled. His knowledge of the tradition the king spoke of was limited. But, even he knew that calling a member of the royal family by their shortened name--the version that lacked the distinctive '-kos' that they received upon joining the line of succession--was something only allowed of their inner circle.

That's what was wrong, Kain realized. He had thought Alekos was acting familiar before, when he insisted that Kain not bow like the sell-sword he was pretending to be, but this was a step further. 'He's acting as if--'

"I'm afraid you give me too much credit," he said, then paused. Kain's eyes flicked to the servants present, but ultimately decided that if the king wasn't being cautious with his words, there was no point in him holding back. Either they were certain to be silent, or they would share whatever Alekos said regardless of Kain's hesitance. "I'm not the crown prince."

He wasn't even in the line of succession.

Alekos quirked a brow. "If not you, then who?"

That heavy feeling in Kain's gut returned with the reminder of the king's previous words. 'Welcome, Kain Okeanos. It is indeed an honor to meet the last prince of Cieon.'

"His Highness Prince Del," he answered.

Something unreadable crossed Alekos expression as he lifted his wine glass to his lips. Kain shivered as the distinct impression that he was being evaluated brushed the back of his mind. There was too much measurement in the king's eyes.

The moment Alekos finished lowered his glass, his smile slipped into a somewhat sympathetic frown.

"I see. I hadn't considered how little information you might have received on the road."

A memory long lost in the mess of their race for Iliana flashed through the back of his mind. Dalphie had ordered him to talk, then Rhode offered the topic of Del's trip to the mountains. 'Rumor says that Prince Del confronted Reotak infiltrators then disappeared.'

"According to what little news has escaped the Cieonian palace, Prince Del's death was confirmed two weeks ago."

The world seemed to stop, even as Alekos' words continued to wash over Kain's ears.

"From what I understand, the high priestess Gabrielle, your mother, has been declared the temporary regent. Rumors, of course, say the palace is searching for the next in line."

He was going to faint.

"And while you can't really trust rumors, everyone knows who the next blood relation would be following Prince Del," Alekos continued, swirling the wine in his glass. His eyes seemed to dig into Kain's. "You see why I'm reluctant to treat you with anything less than respect, yes?"

A hand grabbed Kain's leg beneath the table, steadying him. His attention flicked to Melitta, and she squeezed his thigh. It was a comfort in the tremulous sea of emotions drowning his heart.

Kain. The next in line was Kain.

It wasn't official, of course. No one had been willing to put his name on things back when he had been sent from the palace. He had been too young, his future too questionable. He didn't have a signet ring.

Just his grandfather's sword.

"This is all a bit much to take in at once," Melitta stated, her voice polite, but firm. "You will understand if my love needs a moment."

The pet name stuttered his thoughts, but even that wasn't enough to derail the panic overtaking him. His hands trembled beneath the table and he curled them into his knees, as if the pain of his nails digging into his skin could ease the weight crushing his chest.

Del was dead.

Kain was to be crown prince.

"Yes, of course," Alekos replied, tone equally polite. If he had been offended by Melitta's unsaid reprimand, it didn't show.

"The king," Callias said. It drew Kain's attention, pulling his eyes from the king. Callias was watching Alekos with that serious, yet even expression he always wore. "If Her Majesty Gabrielle is the standing regent, what has happened to the king?"

Kain couldn't breathe. Among everything Alekos had said, that question had skipped his mind. As his attention flicked back to Alekos, the king seemed to consider the question, taking another long sip of his wine.

"Again, I only know what rumor says, but...the king hasn't appeared in public since the day after Prince Del departed for whatever business got him killed in the mountains. With Gabrielle being appointed regent, it can only be assumed he's ill, or worse."

Killed. It was possible Kain's grandfather had been killed and--to prevent panic--the palace had concealed the news.

Melitta squeezed his leg again and Kain forced air through his lungs. If he fainted at the table, he had the feeling that whatever Alekos was waiting and measuring Kain for, he would fail. He had to keep the face of a noble. He couldn't panic.

But gods how his head spun. The room tilted on a different axis than it had before Alekos' announcement.

Kain focused on Melitta's hand, on the warmth of her palm against his pant leg.

"Of course, that makes the situation here so much more difficult," Alekos continued. Kain couldn't help but notice how despite the severity of the situation, his tone was akin to someone talking about the weather. It was as if the fact he'd just placed the weight of a country on Kain's shoulder was as insignificant as clouds in the sky. "As I've said, I can't just release you. It would draw public outcry of injustice."

'Would it really?'

Kain wasn't sure where the doubt had come from, but the thought swirled through his mind, overtaking his others. Would the public really care if Alekos released Kain given the circumstances?

It was a power play.

He gave Kain the news that he was likely to be named crown prince the moment his people could reach him, then dangled the fact that technically Kain was his prisoner over his head. Then, covered it all by saying Kain could call him Ale, an address for equals.

"Have--Have you gotten in touch with the truthsayer?" Kain managed to ask.

His voice wasn't as steady as he would have liked. But, he'd said something. That would have to be good enough.

"Ah, yes, Semele said she would be here by the last day of the banquet," Alekos replied. "About two weeks from now."

A knock came on the door as Alekos spoke. The king gave a wave of his hand and a servant rolled in a cart. Silence took the room as their dinners were served. Kain didn't bother to look at his--he had the distinct feeling that if he tried to eat something he would be sick.

"Lyre mentioned the banquet," Melitta said. "It's a celebration?"

"Of a kind," Alekos agreed. "Duke Levantis said he had unfortunately never attended a true Eolian ball before, and it had been too long since our last. So, the queen mother offered to hold a banquet that will end with a ball on the final day."

The queen mother again. What did she have to do with all of this?

Kain's heart stuttered. Was this news why she had invited Melitta to tea? Had she assumed she was drinking with a future queen?

"Of course, you are all welcome to attend. Even your servants, although you'll understand if I ask the nightmare be left behind. Most will consider it bad luck that the nightmare isn't leashed, let alone dining amongst the rest of us."

"That's--"

"We understand," Melitta interrupted, giving Kain's leg a painful squeeze. Somehow, he kept from wincing. "Just as you must understand the difference of our cultures."

Melitta smiled, and even Kain could feel the chill in her expression. Her hand released his leg, picking up her dining knife in her free hand. She tilted it just so--bordering rudeness, but still angled enough towards her plate to make it impossible to truly accuse her of a threat.

"In Cieon, slavery is impossible, as you're aware. And nightmares are considered children of the gods, just like the rest of us. Telling the child she can't attend a banquet because of her species...well, we'd have to explain descrimination and might wrongly incline her towards an unfavorable opinion of this country. And given her status as a trusted aid to my darling, it would be such a shame..."

Alekos cleared his throat and settled his glass on the table. His eyes narrowed faintly, before an amused smile spread across his lips.

"Yes, that would be a shame, wouldn't it?" he replied, then paused before continuing. "Ah, perhaps your witch could prove a solution. If you can conceal what she is, she would be welcome to attend as well."

Melitta cut her steak with a thoughtful hum, before settling her knife in it's appropriate position on the table. "That seems like a wonderful solution. I will have to talk to him after we return. Thank you for your consideration on this matter."

"It's my pleasure. Onto more important matters, I've called for a tailor..."

┈♔◦𓇣◦☽◦❤◦☾◦𓇣◦♔┈

The rest of dinner passed unremarkably. The king seemed somewhat content to drop the conversation of Kain's potential change in title--something he was grateful for. That consideration didn't stop him from hinting at it, however. He talked of what seat Kain would receive at the banquet, of how he would just have to participate in one of the first dances, as was his right as a guest of state.

By the time they were released to return, Kain felt physically ill.

He rushed to the bathroom that married their rooms, only vaguely hearing Callias shoo Lyre from the room. Every bite he had taken in dinner was lost as he hung over the toilet, stress tangling his gut into impossible knots. A quiet hand rubbed his back as he rested his head on his hands.

"I can't be the crown prince."

He wasn't cut out for it.

Kain may have had the training of a noble, but that was different from the education of a royal. He had never lived a life of status. He couldn't pile vague threats behind words like Melitta.

Fates, he couldn't even protect Iliana--how was he supposed to protect a country?

"It's a rumor," Melitta reassured him. "His Majesty brought it up to test you."

"It can't be just a rumor," Callias said quietly. His voice came from the bathroom door somewhere behind Kain. He couldn't bring himself to turn and look. As it was, he didn't trust his stomach not to revolt the moment he raised his head. "No one of his station would make such bold statements without something to back it up. It is less of a test, and more of a warning. He wants us to remember the favor he has offered us here."

Kain shuddered. They were both right. There was nothing proving Alekos had told them the reality of the situation--but there was also no reason for him to lie, and every reason for him to give Kain the truth.

Del was dead.

The King was likely dead.

His mother had the throne--something she had never desired, and if her letters were to be believed, something she feared.

"There's something else," Callias added. "The truthsayer..."

Kain forced himself to look up when the merfolk paused. Callias had pinched his brow, an obviously hesitant expression overtaking his usual blankness.

"I think she's a member of the group that took Iliana. The Unseen Hand."

A/N: Things are heating up! Hope you guys are ready for what's about to go down soon. We're about five/six chapters from the first climax of the book.

As for the rest of that, were you expecting the news? Or did it come as a surprise? Think Kain is over reacting? Is Callias too suspicious, or do you think he's spot on about his guesses?

See you next week!