Page 30 of The Final Battle

Since our conversation and the matter of spending time with Cassarah one on one was discussed, things have worked out naturally. Breakfast, we all had together, catching up about what was going to happen throughout the day. May and Becka were constant companions to Cassarah while she had us working on things in and out of the castle. Becka, already having been her personal maid growing up, now turned into her assistant. She ensured that Cassarah got to meetings on time, took time to eat, and checked in with us throughout the day, making sure we knew where she would be when.

If there was ever a woman more suited to being queen than Cassarah, I couldn’t picture it. Every matter she gave her utmost attention, treating each person and their needs at equal value. The viceroy, now turned advisors, were having a challenging time retraining people to now address matters with the queen instead of them. Cassarah came up with the brilliant plan that instead of doing her hearings in the throne room she would conduct them in the village hall, where they’d been going.

“Guys, it gives me a chance to leave this place and be with the people,“ she pointed out. “Remember, I’m not the type of queen to view myself as above anybody, I want to be a queen who knows her people. Being in the village also ensures I know what is going on day to day.“

Cole and I both knew it was pointless to argue with her once she’d made up her mind, if it wasn’t worth the fight. While I stood behind the fact that in our current situation it wasn’t the wisest choice for her to make, it was true to who she was. The Lost King might be breathing down our necks, moving his people into formation, and gearing up for an attack, but that didn’t mean Cassarah was going to hide away.

Letting out a long heavy sigh, I leaned against Tahir as I watched my little bird talking with her dragon. Those two had a relationship that would make anyone envious. While I knew in my heart Cassarah loved me as much as I loved her, despite the arguments we got into about her safety, sometimes it was hard to let myself believe that anyone else could care about me to watch my back. My own brother tricked me into killing my parents and then hung me out to dry, hoping I too would be put to death for their murder.

When Cassarah asked us if we considered each other family, brothers, I just couldn’t bring myself to say what I felt. The first interaction I had with most of these men when I brought Cassarah to the mountain hideout was less than welcoming. Granted, I had been an incredibly closed off person, but something about Cassarah and the way I watched her fight for what was right, even if the Norden king and queen were owed nothing from us. Of course, I didn’t know she’d been raised as a noble, but she didn’t risk it all out of alliance, it was the core belief of it being the right thing to do. My darkness craved the light she brought into my life, so I was willing to suffer the other men called to be her guardians.

We’ve butted heads many times, even still, we formed a bond of men who all loved the same woman. Willing to do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it was from herself. While I did feel these men were friends, something I’ve almost never had in my life, the title brother or family was so tainted for me I didn’t know how to get past it. I’d known Cassarah was worried about me, but I wasn’t ready to come forward with my thoughts and fears just yet. Now we were getting ready to leave for Creisal, a kingdom that we didn’t know or trust. The Lost King has had his grip on it for years, who knows what the queen might have done in secret.

If there was a time that all of us guardians needed to be on the same team, it was now. So, I asked that the men meet with me while Cassarah was dealing with a few last minute things. While waiting for them to arrive, I paced the library in our quarters, trying to find the right words to articulate what I needed to say. I wasn’t the world’s best speaker, and my temper was quick to flare, but this needed to be addressed.

“What’s up man, you know we need to leave right when Cassarah’s done, right?“ Cole asked as he entered with Abbott and Izel.

I waved them off, motioning for them to take a seat while the others filed in. There they all were, looking at me expectantly, with a hint of irritation on Cole and Paxton’s faces. Stopping my pacing, I turned to them and widened my stance as if I was preparing myself for battle. They might know about what happened with my parents but that wasn’t the only mission I’d been sent on over the years. It’s just the one that was used to try and get rid of me.

“Look, we all have our pasts and secrets we don’t want anyone to find out about. I’m the grim reaper who killed his parents and was cast out of the clan to be an outlier. While I was left to fend for myself, I used my skills as an assassin to keep myself going. Some of those jobs were pretty high profile and no one knows that they happened,“ I explained.

Paxton rolled his eyes. “Come on, Jade, just get to the point. I was a spy for another kingdom. Do you think my hands are clean of shady shit? Say what you need to say so we can all figure out what has you so moody.“

While I wanted to punch Pax, he was right, I just needed to spit it out. “Fine, I was the one who killed the Crown Princess of Errit that the Lost King was married to. I didn’t know who hired me, they used a third party to make the deal, it was money I couldn’t pass up at that time. Now that I look back over the jobs I had, I think the Lost King used me more than once to get people out of his way. No one knew I used to be part of the clans, I kept that to myself, but a man who looks like me, with the Birthright I have… word travels fast.“

They all sat there in stony silence, staring at me with shocked expressions.

“So, what you’re really saying is that the Lost King already knows who you are and what you can do,“ Cole concluded. “Did you ever meet him in person? I know you’ve seen him since you and Cassarah attacked his camp.“

“No,“ I answered, shaking my head. “Never have I met that man, it was always different people. That’s why I didn’t connect the dots until Cassarah. Now that we are looking at the big picture of all that was done to set up this whole war, I can point out where I helped him remove an obstacle.“

Abbott leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked up at me. “Why are you telling us this?“

“Cassarah wants us to be a family, that idea scares the shit out of me. The only family I’ve ever known betrayed me and I betrayed them. I killed my own fucking parents because my brother set me up to do it. The thought of letting more people in my life who could do the same thing to me is terrifying. Yet, I know when we leave Sheca that’s it, this war has begun. As her guardians and consorts, we all need to be on the same side, trusting each other. I’m coming clean about this to you because I didn’t want it to come out some other way, and you see it as me lying to you, or holding back information,“ sighing I run my hands over my head and start pacing again. “Telling you this gives you the power to ruin me, but I have to trust Cassarah and the fates that brought us together. It’s my proof that I’m in this, fully committed to this family we’ve created. I’m going to tell Cassarah of course, but I felt that it would show you how sincere I am to have you hear it from me first.“

Gavin stood and walked over to me, pulling me into a hug. Shock echoed through my body at the act, never having expected that kind of reaction. Stepping back, he held my shoulders and looked me right in the eye. “Thank you for telling us, Jade. It’s clear that it was a hard thing for you to do and I want you to know I appreciate your trust in us.“

“Ah… thanks,“ I answered awkwardly, slightly uncomfortable with the affection.

Gavin took his seat, looking at the others like they should be doing the same thing. In situations like this it was clear to see that the prince was raised extremely differently than we were. Abbott walked up to me and slapped me on the back then left the room, clearly not feeling the need to dwell on the matter any longer.

“Anyone else have some deep dark secret they want or need to share?“ Zan asked as Ezzu looked around the room for him to see everyone. “No? Great, I suggest that we all take this information as the offering that it was intended to be and move on. None of you better say a damn thing to Cassarah either until Jade had spoken to her personally. As a family, it’s the right thing to do.“ With that announcement the others all nodded their agreement.

“It’s nice to see what a real family is supposed to be like,“ I said under my breath as they all left the room, only leaving Pax sitting there with his legs crossed waiting for me to notice him. “What?“ I snapped.

His brows shot up at my less than caring tone. “Seems that the warm touching moment is over and the prick is back, I see. Well, I was just going to say if you ever wanted to talk to someone who knows what it’s like to have your family want to see you dead, I’m around. My own twin thought he managed to kill me, and my father was an evil bastard that helped to create this monster we’re now trying to kill. If you want to keep score, I might be winning.“

I realized he was right. The two of us had more in common than I ever would’ve guessed. Being a spy for another kingdom put him in the same situation it did for me, helping those who were against the mercenaries. I could imagine he also sees an area that he undermined what we are trying to do now, but at that point no one knew anything about the Lost King.

“Thank you, Paxton,“ I said bowing my head. “You’re right, we have far more situations that are similar compared to the others.“

Paxton made a face and stood up. “Ugg, don’t go all soft on me, that’s not your thing. Don’t even think about trying to hug me, if you do I’ll punch you right in the dick.“

“Thanks for clearing that up for me.“ I laughed and slapped him on the back as I passed him, heading to grab my bag and load Tahir up for the trip.

Creisal was a coastal kingdom that was flat, lush, and green, scattered with farmlands rich with crops. The flight over had been easy, yet boring as the landscape all blurred together. I missed the mountains and forests that gave Sheca personality. I was thankful that the air stayed warmer knowing it was entering the winter months further mainland. If the battle was going to be waged closer to Norden, that was something we would need to consider.

As we flew over the castle perched on the cliffs of the Celedon Sea, I observed the rest of the city sprawling out before it. Red tiled roofs marked the wealthy section of the city if the size of the homes were anything to go on. Further away from the castle the homes became less opulent and simpler until they reached the wall.