Marccus

Marccus knelt in the council room, he had been summoned. He had no doubt it was about Adri getting away. A large door in the back of the room swung violently open. Instead of the council entering, it was the queen the surface expert, Mortimer. Something was wrong.

"Bryce," The queen started, his old name and the force she put behind it made him flinch. She was livid. "What has happened to our lovely Vyron, Bryce? How do you expect us to win the war now, Bryce?" She wanted to make it clear, she had not forgotten his past.

Marccus took in a deep breath and prepared to respond. Instead, Mortimer chimed in, "It's almost as if he doesn't want you to win, my lady." The worm rubbed his hands together viciously. "It's almost as if his allegiance is with the long-dead dragons. It's almost as if he is a fool."

The duo stepped directly in front of Marccus. As the knight prepared to stand, Mortimer shoved him back to his knees. "Dragons and their supporters kneel and face their fate before the queen." The weasel pushed his glasses back onto his face. Marccus had always disliked him. Now his feelings bordered on hate.

"My queen, you know I have pledged my allegiance to you and to your kingdom," Marccus said. He ignored his old name and tried not to panic. Under his helmet, his eyes darted around the room, thinking of an exit strategy. Things were not looking good for him.

"Yes, you did." The queen's eyes glared down at him as she drew her blade. "Despite your years of service, Bryce, I fear you do not trust me. I fear you still love the dragons, even though you helped me crush them."

Marccus swallowed hard, fearing both her blade and her words. "My queen, I sought their downfall in the last war, why would I not do the same this time?"

"Once a double agent, always a double agent." Mortimer squeaked out, Marccus had always thought his voice was revolting. It took everything Marccus had not to reach for his blade. He felt the cold tip of the queen's sword touch the back of his neck.

"We do not know where your allegiance lies, my little knight. I need you to prove it to me. We know she is heading for JiJan. We can't take her by force during the fighting festival. Go, join in the festivities and bring her back to me. Ideally, to secure our victory, she would be alive but..." She leaned down, her face close to his helmet. Her sword pushing deeper into his skin. "I do not care if you bring her back in one piece or twenty. Bring. Her. Home."

In a single movement, the queen spun and sheathed her blade. A thin stream of blood dripped down Marccus' neck.

He ignored the urge to wince as the duo turned their backs and walked pompously away. He had no doubts about what he had to do.