~ Amira ~Amira leaned back in her chair and sighed, unaware that Sebastian remained behind. She opened her eyes after the silence felt strange, discovering Sebastian standing beside her, waiting to speak, and Baltir slumped in the seat beside her, watching him. “Lord Harrington has been leaking information for coin. I believe this helped with both attempts on your life,” Sebastian said in a hushed tone. There was nobody besides the three of them in the gloomy meeting room now, but the topic of discussion needed the utmost prudence.“How do you know? Who is your source?” Amira asked, instantly intrigued and sitting upright. This was interesting because Amira didn’t know much about their sources which were so little anyway. But the information for the coin was incorrect. The rebels didn’t need to pay for information. There were too many that wanted to see them succeed in an uprising against the throne, against Rhys.Sebastian smirked. “Lord Harrington’s maid is a vengeful lover. He c
~ Amira ~Amira leaned back in the chair again, her unladylike and rogue-like demeanour showing as her legs remained wide and comfortable, her back slumping as she pinched her nose. This was the issue with acting as the king. What Sebastian was suggesting would be helpful for the king, and it was a good idea to try and find the rebels. But Amira was not the king. She had to lead them astray. Still, acknowledging the sensibility of Sebastian's suggestion was unavoidable for Amira. What alternative could she propose in this situation?“The problem with that is the possibility of Harrington escaping,” Amira said, hoping to dissuade them.Baltir nodded along, so at least some of her thoughts might align with something Rhys would say or do. Amira glanced at her wide legs and cleared her throat, crossing her ankle over her knee. Sebastian stepped closer, leaning his hand onto the table. “Didn’t you just give a mini-speech to those old crones about at least trying and failing rather than
~ Amira ~Sighing after facing Eden, Amira raked her fingers through her hair. What the hell was up with this chick? Who randomly turns up in the king's wardrobe?“I’m fine. Now go back. I want to rest,” Amira ordered, feeling irritated and wanting to be left alone. Once she was in her room back at the guild, her privacy remained undisturbed.Amira didn’t care if they knocked on her door when she was in her study because she was always plotting and scheming or throwing her daggers at random objects. Once she was in her room, only her cousin or lover could interrupt her. Even that was too much. Amira was used to time to herself. Having servants and now this she-wolf trying to win Rhys’ attention was annoying. Why seek him out? Surely, it was better to chill and enjoy the time she had away from the king until he called for her? If Amira was in her shoes, which thankfully she wasn’t, that was exactly what she would do. Eden pouted, her hands sliding up Amira’s muscular chest, pushing h
~ Rhys ~Dropping the cypher on the latest note, Rhys looked at the parchment he had been writing out the letters he decoded and turned into words. With a sigh, he tapped his finger on the desk whilst reading the notes. Many were now outdated and of past notes that would have helped him but not anymore.The last of what he discovered was interesting, though with the conversation one-sided, he couldn’t quite grasp the meaning. But the last few notes he knew to be a trail between the same people due to their cursive writing were beginning to make sense. He sighed upon reading the words and digesting the news. Rhys didn’t have all the details, but it had something to do with the mission in Willowbrook- Amira’s plan. The one he had no idea about. After exposing his ‘amnesia’ to Zayyan, he was sure Amira’s cousin would tell him the rest. But half of the contents were on this paper.Elixora, the apothecary responsible for crafting the Blight's remedy, harboured an operative within its rank
~ Rhys~The carriage jolted and provided an uncomfortable seating experience. Rhys even felt a little nauseous. He was beginning to realise just how much he didn’t like being poor. He was also overly aware of how much his luxurious lifestyle may have made him a little soft.Sure, he had a temper and was a tyrant, but the simplest of things about Amira’s life had been dampening his mood. Well, dampening it more than it already was. This was not his life! Why did he have to suffer like this?! Rhys sighed, glancing to the skies as though the Moon Goddess might hear his frustrations. Could she help with whatever this was? His gaze then shifted to the wolves stationed on either side of the carriages and the carts loaded with food. Other rogues were mounted on horses, remaining vigilant and watchful.“Keep staring outside like that, and you will feel unwell,” Zayyan advised him. Rhys leaned his head back and sighed. “How much longer?”Zayyan shook his head. “I swear, you're becoming more
~ Rhys ~The group arrived at Crimson Hills, where the scenery was breathtaking, but the village itself presented a stark contrast. The strong wind howled ominously, creating eerie sounds as it rattled the makeshift wooden structures crafted by the residents. These homes were hardly deserving of the name, resembling little more than rickety shacks struggling to withstand the relentless, frigid gusts.Some of these shacks had crumbled to the ground, left unrepaired and untouched. They stood as poignant symbols of the hopelessness and despair that seemed to envelop the arriving group like a dark raincloud. Rhys furrowed his brow, his gaze scanning the desolate surroundings as he picked up one of the two sacks of provisions they had brought. He had already inspected their contents, finding cold broth in tins easily opened with clawed hands alongside bread and cooked meat.Rhys followed Zayyan and Oclan, whose sleeves had a slight claw mark after the kafuffle with the other rogues, the ba
~ Rhys ~Rhys inquired, "What keeps you here instead of being somewhere else?" He observed the child closely, making sure to maintain a composed expression as he suspected the child wouldn't appreciate his pity.“Where would we go? To Howls Lot?” He looked at Rhys pointedly. “Or to Shanties town?” He shook his head. “We’re safer here and not sitting on the streets begging or being beaten up. The others do not venture this far up Crimson Hills. The cursed stories following it make others stay away.”“Cursed stories?” Rhys asked before he could stop himself.The boy nodded. “You know… The witches cursing the hills and any who dare climb them be struck down… blah blah… Have we been struck down? Have we had any issues besides the weather living up here?” The kid shrugged before biting into a loaf of bread.Rhys nodded. “Ah, right.. that curse..”‘Was Amira’s idea to send rumours about a curse. Crimson Hills have since been free of any raids or kidnappings. Any crimes within the Hills is b
~ Rhys ~Rhys remained quiet for the entire carriage ride, even as the hills and forests slowly drifted away to the open expanse of the ocean. He had been deep in thought about his rule and the issues regarding the damned elders and his wolf. Without a mate, he couldn’t rule efficiently. He couldn’t help his people. All of his people.Rhys gazed at the sun, which painted the sky in hues of orange and gold, its rays stretching across the calm sea. The breeze felt much milder than the winds of the Crimson Hills, carrying the scent of salt through the air while the clamour of seagulls and the bustling Shanties town harbour grew more pronounced as they approached.“One day, Amira.”Rhys’ head turned to look at Zayyan. He, too, was looking outside the window, deep in thought. “We will help them. It all takes time,” Zayyan added. “They are mostly safe there; that’s what counts for now.”Rhys nodded, shocked that Zayyan was the one to read his mood so well. He looked at his reflection of Am