Chapter 3

"There has been no word from Guard Valente for the past few hours," the soldier said to Jayden as he practiced swordplay with a hay figure. "We presume he's dead,"

"Does the King know of this?" Jayden asked, sheathing his sword. He was going to become the Seventh Guard and he couldn't wait any longer.

The closer he gets to the King, the more that he trusts him, the easier it shall get to kill him.

And once King Garland is killed, Titus will be made as King. But Titus would be a puppet Jayden would use to rule over the lands.

A magnificent plan of vengeance.

Trust is a fragile glass cracked by betrayal.

"The King has ordered me to call you to the throne room. He shall declare you as the Seventh Guard." the soldier said.

"Very well, I'll be there in a few minutes,"

~~~

Jayden went to his chambers that were available in the base. It wasn't a big room or a fancy one, it was just a simple one with rocky walls and a white bed. He opened his wardrobe, and took out his formal wear of a black coat and a chevalier doublet underneath it.

He placed his sword sheath on the belt and inserted it in. Fixing his hair with water and freshening himself up, there was no other day that he could wait until Garland was dead.

He walked out of the base, and to the castle. On his way, he saw his mother from afar, walking out of Everwood Forest.

"Jayden," Penelope approached him, with a basket of berries in her grasp, "You're promoted to the Seventh Guard?"

He gave a thin and unsure smile, "Yes, mother,"

"I've told yo-"

"I will not end like my father, mother. I know my plans and decisions will not fail me," he stated. "Why were you at Everwood Forest?"

"I picked up berries," she replied.

"You've always picked berries in this forest, mother. Or is that a diversion as you're doing something else in there?" he furrowed.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" Penelope scowled, "Go."

Jayden snorted, "See you around, mother,"

The boy walked with full power and respect to the castle. In the throne room, Garland was sitting there with his wine on his right hand and the sword he would use for the promotion and accolade on his left hand.

"Your Majesty," Jayden bowed.

"Hello, Jayden," he greeted, rather drunk. "Valente's dead, so that leaves you to become the next Guard. Imagine if you joined him earlier, you're dead meat and I'll lose my trusted hunter," he pouted.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he responded.

"Okay, let's get this over with," Garland stepped down from his seat and Jayden kneeled down, his hand on his sword as looked down on the concrete floor.

Garland balanced the sword on his hand, and some part of Jayden nearly thought he was going to wobble and accidentally slice him in half. He was drunk after all.

"I, King Garland Moore, of the Bounds," the King placed the sword on both of his shoulders, "Hereby declares Jayden Cartensen, of Coranius, as the Seventh Guard of the Royal Army."

He took away the sword as the boy stood up. The King took a golden star from his pocket and pinned it on his left side, that marked him as a Guard.

He wobbled back to his throne, as Jayden gave a bow, "It is an honor, Your Majesty."

"Actions speak louder than words, Cartensen." Garland said, "Kill Eros Falecith tonight to prove that it is really an honor,"

"Yes, Your Majesty. There will be no worries,"

~~~

Kayla went to her room of simplicity, with coffee-colored drapes and maroon-colored covers. A fireplace was placed in front of her bed, and vases of flowers decorated the tables she put her private collection in.

She took out the jewelry and the Guard's star that she had respectfully taken and opened her drawers. They were all there: the little pearls and diamonds she had taken from House Kareliv, the necklaces and the bracelets she had taken from the merchants, and the four Guards' stars she had killed.

She placed the new luxury of House Scyaeth and the Sixth Guard inside it and closed it.

She went to another room afterwards, and placed her dagger and her little knives on her boots in the closet that stood at the end of the room.

Going back to the other end, she took off her blood-stained armory, from top to bottom. Going to her closet, she took out a simple plain, white, tulle dress, that was a former dress of her great-grandmother, or the 8th daughter of House Allensilf.

The dress went below her ankles, with lace that covered the V-neck. She wore lace-up black boots, while some of her scars of being strangled and beaten were visible on her back and on her neck where her necklace lay. Adrian and Alex had similar scars too.

They were 10 when they got to Pendagline and met Alex. And as orphans, no one respected them.

Kayla practiced her powers daily, only between them both, and after 10 years of self-taught sorcery, she could say she had mastered it. But she still couldn't master the spell of invisibility and channeling power from one to another.

She brushed her hair and placed a hairpin she stole from the duchess of House Kareliv in the half-up-half-down style.

A former noble one of vengeance and anger.

She heard the door of her house open and stumps of feet on the wooden floor.

Kayla went downstairs, finding Adrian and Alex arguing about the thing she least expected them to argue. Horses. But it was fine; they were both mad.

She leaned on the stairway and stared at them as they talked about horse hair care. They didn't realize she was there until Alex faced the kitchen and found her standing there.

"Hi," he said.

"Oh," Adrian desperately said.

"You both look like shit," she remarked as dust collected on their faces and blood was on their fists and hands and faces. She stepped down, "Let's go to the office to talk about whatever you found,"

The two boys still glared and exchanged looks of disgust with each other as they followed Kayla to the office in the second door of the left corridor, on the ground floor.

It was just a simple office, with a mahogany table at the end and a big chair. There were shelves of books all around, but Adrian's eyes only stared at one thing: the glass cabinet of drinks.

"I need a drink," he muttered and opened the cabinet.

Alex glared at him, with widened eyes, and Kayla flicked her hands, snatching the bottle of wine from his hands. "You literally have to stop drinking. You're 19, for goodness sake," she groaned and walked over to the table, placing the bottle there.

"I'm 20 in like three months," Adrian whined back.

"Well, at least when I drink, I don't turn into a walking barf-gun," she scowled, jerking her hand. The bottle lifted to the air and went back to the glass cabinet as she locked it with the key only she had.

"Then what gives you the right to tell me whether I can drink or not?" he complained back, crossing his arms like a child as he sat down and Alex snorted at the corner.

"I'm older than you," she replied.

"Yeah, by like six months," he argued back.

Kayla clicked her tongue and glared at him, folding her arms on her chest as well, "I'm your older sister,"

Adrian knitted his brows, "You're adopted,"

"I'm aware," she furrowed, "Anyways, what did you find?"

Adrian stuck a tongue at her and went outside to get water.

"Before that, just know that we're probably going to be in the wanted list across the kingdom," Alex interrupted.

"It's fine. They'll never enter the North to catch you both. I'll make sure that never happens." she replied, "So, what did you find?"

~~~

"Santelle, under attack? By the North again?" Jayden couldn't believe the words of the soldier in front of him.

"Yes, Guard Cartensen," the soldier lowered his eyes, and took out two pieces of paper from his side. "These are the suspects,"

Jayden took the two papers and observed the two sketches very well. One was a boy with light-colored hair and a sharp chin, with light-colored eyes. The other was a boy with darker-colored hair and a round face, with round spectacles and freckles.

"They broke into House Tulaine and followed Eros Falecith around," the soldier said, "There is no better explanation than the North's doing,"

"Eros Falecith will be dead tonight anyways," he muttered, "Try to find these two. And I don't want to hear reason but try to enter the walls of the North. An ambush would be acceptable as well, understood?"

"Yes, Guard, understood."

~~~

Summer and Ed were eating in the dining room of the mansion, chatting as friends.

The Wrightons were a poor family until they moved to Joalarkin, and Angela Wrighton, got a job at the castle in Coranius as a maid, while being pregnant with Ed. His father, Keith Wrighton, worked as a farmer in the Harrivandik lands.

When Ed was just a few months old, his mother was executed by the King for releasing a felon. Years passed, and they still stayed in Joalarkin, working for the Harrivandiks and he formed a close bond with Summer.

When he was 7, his father died due to overworking, by the order of the former Duchess of Harrivandik: Lillith Harrivandik. Ed, who was now homeless, was invited by Summer to live together.

The Duke of Harrivandik, Clark Harrivandik, first opposed to his daughter's request, but then his mistress, Adelaide Harrivandik, told him to agree.

One year later, Clark and Adelaide got married, with the approval of Lillith. But then two years later, now with two mothers and two wives in the house, Lillith committed suicide. She hung herself in her room, with the reason of not being able to continue a household with a second wife in it. And it was one of the gloomiest days in House Harrivandik's history.

Summer felt extremely washed out by the happening, but Ed was always there for her. It wasn't only Ed who cheered her up, it was also Adelaide, her stepmother.

Adelaide was perfect. She was smart, beautiful, loyal, kind and warm-hearted. She was the most perfect woman Summer had ever seen.

She became the mother Summer had lost, and cherished Ed a lot. And by the age of 18, she recommended Ed to the King, to be a spy.

She had seen him with his intelligence and wit and speed. He'd be perfect for the Bounty Hunter the King had hired as well.

And now it's been two years, and all had been going well. Until the Assassin of the North showed up and brought terror upon the King and the nobles.

"You two seem to be having some fun," a woman approached the two in the dining room.

She had long, black hair, with red lips and green eyes. She had tan skin, and some sort of glow that Summer always saw. It was a glow of perfection. Her features were all perfect, from head to toe, and not only that, her attitude also was.

"Yes, Duchess," Summer always respected her, and although she was her stepmother, she never felt that she had the right to call her mother.

But Adelaide didn't push her to call her mother. She was considerate of her losing Lillith.

"Where's father?" Summer asked.

She pursed her lips, "Gambling,"

A frown was visible on Summer's face, she looked down.

"How are you, Duchess?" Ed asked, changing the topic.

"Very well, Ed. Thank you for your concern," she said, with two rolls of paper in her hand, "Although I do have a request for you,"

"A request?" Summer asked.

Adelaide sat at one of the chairs of the table, "I've began to have a thought, about the North,"

"And what's your thought?"

"There were two people who attacked Santelle this evening," she put the scrolls on the table and opened them, "They look like these. They've stalked Secretary Eros Falecith to the vault in House Tulaine's residence,"

"Are they from the North?" Summer asked, worried.

"There's a large chance they are, but we don't know the motive of the North and what they've done to Emitha and Glandithe these past few months. This is also what happened to Emitha and Glandithe right before they were attacked. They reported it and then a few days later, they were ambushed." Adelaide concluded, "But it is only this time that the faces of these two are seen."

"So are you saying Santelle is next?" Ed asked.

Although he had never gone to his hometown, Santelle was a people's city. It was a city of life and kids and youth and passion, at least what he's heard of.

"That is what we're thinking right now, yes," she continued. "I'm here to request you, Ed, if you would want to go to Santelle as a normal citizen and then join the North, but you will be spying on them and sending the news back to us."

Summer clenched her jaw, "Duche-"

Ed didn't take time to think, "Yes, Duchess, I'd very much be honored to." he gave an uncertain smile as Summer glared at him.

Adelaide smiled, "I will inform the King, so the Bounty Hunter can help you in this as well. The Royal Army will provide armies to Santelle. This is a classified mission, so please do not tell anyone. And if it is not possible for you to leave the North to report back to us, I'll send my eagle to send letters."

"Yes, Duchess." he said and stood up, bowing, "Thank you for entrusting me,"

"I will only wish you the best," Adelaide stood up and walked away and Summer as well.

She was about to follow the duchess until Ed grabbed her hand, "Don't." was all he could say to her.

"Are you crazy?" she asked, "Why couldn't you say no?"

"Why would I say no? It is for the sake of the kingdom. For the sake of your family. For the sake of you." he stated.

"I don't know what the North is doing but you and I both know that the King of the kingdom you're trying to save isn't so good either." she argued back.

"That's why I'm doing this, Summer." Ed stated, "The King listens to Joalarkin, especially Duchess Adelaide, very well. And as long as we can keep his trust, Duchess Adelaide will try and try to make the kingdom a better place. I'm doing this to earn the trust so we can use Garland as our puppet to make sure all is fair."

All was vengeant.

Summer gritted her teeth, "I'm worried about you. What if something happens to you?"

He sighed and took the plain metal ring he always wore on his finger. He took her hand and placed it on her palm.

"What's this?" she asked, anxiety heard in her voice.

"It's the ring my mother made for my father," he explained. "That means I'll always come back for it. Keep it, that's my promise that I'll come back and all will be well."

~~~

As soon as the two boys left to their house just in front of her residence, and the moon was rising, Kayla didn't think anymore but to change her clothes and leave off to Santelle.

She went to the stable, and took out Cyl. She saw A1 and A2 as well, in their stalls, with the signs 'BELONGS TO ADRIAN' and 'BELONGS TO ALEX' written on them.

She put the black cloak over her head and placed her dagger and knives in her belt and boots, making sure they weren't quite visible.

To get to Santelle, she had to pass through Emitha and through a range of mountains and part of Everwood Forest. There weren't any rivers in the Bounds. Everyone got their supply of water from the ocean as all the cities are on the coastline and spread out to the middle.

King Garland never allowed the construction of a river. He was scared, like the coward he was, that someone from his kingdom would kill somebody and toss it down the river. He hated betrayers, but he feared them more.

That was also another reason why she would always bury her dead bodies, because dragging or lifting them up with her sorcery to the ocean seemed less efficient.

Also, she would also like to return to the buried sites to remind her of how many filthy people she's eliminated.

It would take at least a couple of hours to get to Santelle, so she had to start now.

Some people were still awake, as torches lit the streets and they waved at her; their savior. She was their savior, and she would take back what was hers at whatever cost.

~~~

Jayden prepared himself for the hunt that day, and the amount of time he needed to get to Santelle wasn't too long but wasn't too short. He just had to cross the thickest part of Everwood Forest.

He went to the stables of the base, and took out his white horse. He'd taken care of the horse, since he was little. It took him time to name it, maybe around a couple of years until he made up his mind. Rennie, that's what he's called. It just seemed about right to describe the horse.

He climbed atop Rennie and pulled on his reins. The horse began to trot and walked out of the base to the forest.

He rarely went to the forest, but his mother always went there. He didn't know what his mother was doing inside the forest, but everytime he asked what she did, she was always picking berries.

He believed her. But some part of him tells him that she's hiding something.

Rennie treaded lightly through the forest, and there was nothing much to be seen; just flora and leaves and trees and flowers and vines.

Nothing. Absolutely nothing but that.

But his instincts definitely said something else.

Jayden shoved it off and tapped his horse to move faster. His concern was only Eros Falecith and money that night. That was it.

~~~

A few hours later, Kayla arrived at Santelle. Lights were hung everywhere, and the city seemed vibrant and happy. It was a people's city after all.

But Kayla knew better. House Tulaine just shaped the image themselves.

She put Cyl in front of the entrance, tied her up to a tree. With her cloak over her head and her dagger in her belt, she walked into the city.

Everyone would be asleep by now. A lot of kids were there so it was quiet by early night.

The girl walked over to a small alleyway near the residence House Tulaine, which everyone would use to go to town hall, which was where Eros Falecith most likely lived at.

She climbed on top of one of the rooftops and laid down, waiting for the man to leave the house.

Jayden, on the other hand, with his cloak that covered his sheathed sword on his belt, waited on the opposite side of the house Kayla was on top of. They both didn't see each other.

After waiting for a while, Eros was seen leaving the house and he turned an intersection to where the alleyway was, away from the soldiers and the residence.

Kayla took out her dagger from her belt at the same time Jayden unsheathed his sword.

She was about to jump from above when from the corner of her eye, someone in a black cloak approached the man with a sword in his hands, and slit his throat in a sway that the blood splattered to the side walls.

She flinched as Eros Falecith dropped to the ground in blood, as his throat bled out. The mysterious figure pulled out his sword and at that moment, Kayla jumped down from the rooftop and grabbed whoever the figure was.

She pushed the figure to the wall, dagger to his cloak and ripped the hoodie open.

There he stood, a boy with messy black hair that went over his forehead, with the darkest pair of brown eyes she'd ever seen. His jawline and features were so sharp that she wasn't sure her dagger could face it. His face would haunt her forever, she didn't even know how. It was just a feeling.

"Who are you?" her teeth gritted, furrowing her brows as her dagger hovered to his neck and held him there.

There was just a small pause before he unsheathed his sword and grabbed her by her hoodie, turning them around that now she was at the wall. Her hoodie ripped, revealing her face and the sword was now on her neck, and her dagger was still on his neck.

The blonde hair that dimly shone in the moonlight, and her amber eyes and freckles that reached down her cheekbone. There was no fear in her eyes, just temper and anger. If she wasn't holding a dagger on his throat at that moment, maybe they could be in other circumstances and not at the verge of death.

"The question is who are you?" he asked back.

He noticed her necklace, with the purple stone at the end. A significant feature of whoever this person was.

Kayla gulped under the blade until she realized. The ripped cloak on him revealed the star on his clothes. A star. A golden star. A Guard.

The Seventh Guard? she pondered, feeling her heart beat quickly as the cool metal of his sword touched her skin.

This wasn't good. Her mind ran to many different possibilities now that her face was seen, to the Guard.

Panic ran through her blood and she needed to escape and nothing more.

"Are you from the North?" he asked again, and they both dug their blades into each other's throats.

"Me?" she scoffed as she answered, "I'm just a thief." she put down her dagger to his abdomen, and stabbed him.