“I see that satisfied expression on your face, and while it pleases me, it also makes me curious, Prince. Let me guess—did they bring a new skirt to the brothel? Or has your father finally decided to rid himself of Yorik?”

  “Neither, Garvin.”

  Bromir passed by the unlit candles that Garvin had neglected, lighting them one by one. The underground chamber took on a different character in the newfound light. Garvin, who had been sitting in Bromir’s chair, now stood, leaving his map and knife on the table—two things he was rarely without. Garvin, tall and lean, bore a striking resemblance to Sir Uther, though he was not lame and was certainly more capable in a fight, with broader shoulders that could easily wield a large sword. However, he disliked swords, preferring instead his knife and fine clothes. He wasn’t made for war, something he often reminded Bromir.

  “Are you going to spill the secret, or should I guess?”

  “You’ll never guess. It’s nothing significant, really. I was at the arena this morning for Tristan’s training.”

  “Did Tristan get hurt? Or has something happened with Yorik? I see no other reason for your amusement.”

  “You know I’m required to attend the arena often. My father insists, and besides, I enjoy watching from above while they sweat below.”

  “Tristan enjoys it too. He already sees the gold your father will shower him with. I’ve heard he’s been telling the garrison how he plans to buy land with it.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that, Garvin. But will he even make it to the battle?”

  “So, he’s injured after all?”

  “No. This morning, just before we sent the Jars off with my beloved, Tiberis put on a little show for Tristan.”

  “That’s an honor.”

  “Yes, Tiberis was insistent.”

  “So, he’s agreed to escort them?”

  “Did he have a choice? It was my father’s idea.”

  “I’ve heard they plan to cross the border into Chernoval and take a ship from there. Is that true?”

  “Yes. We have no eastern port, and Uther has been dreaming of ships. As if my brother Borin’s foolishness wasn’t enough, now I have to deal with my wife’s father too. Tiberis will escort them there and then return.”

  “Interesting. They’ll need a place to stay, I suppose.”

  “What are you scheming, Garvin?”

  “Nothing. Please, continue, Prince. What has put you in such a good mood? Don’t keep me in the dark; I’ll soon be the kingdom’s advisor, after all. I need to know everything.”

  “Yorik finds out on his own, without my father needing to tell him.”

  “Yorik has an entire network of spies. When we remove him, all those who work for him will work for me. They care about money, not him.”

  “Tiberis set two of my father’s guards on Tristan,” Bromir quickly recounted.

  “Guards? Are we that short on common soldiers?”

  “No. They deserved it. It was their punishment. When I brought Drevan to see my father’s weapons, there were two bastards—Ethan and Liv. Names only their mothers remember. They refused to let me pass.”

  “They stopped you?”

  “They even drew weapons. But Tiberis saw them.”

  “The old bastard is a cruel one, even if he is your father’s man. I suppose he set them against Tristan.”

  “Anyone would have. But first, he told everyone what they had done.”

  “Did your father hear?”

  “Yes, though I didn’t want him to. For a moment, it seemed I couldn’t handle two stupid guards on my own. But then Tiberis explained that he intervened before I killed them.”

  “And did you?”

  “Of course, Garvin.” Garvin often provoked him and was doing so now. “Do you think I couldn’t handle such creatures?”

  “If you could, then Tristan must have crushed them quickly.”

  “And quite quickly indeed. Sir Uther and his sons hadn’t even settled in when one of the heads flew nearly to them. Some woman nearby screamed and fell to her knees. Tristan saved the other guard for later. He toyed with him, even setting aside his sword to fight with his bare hands and a shield.”

  “How did the wretch die?”

  “Tristan dug his fingers into his throat and tore out everything he could. No one cried for him.”

  “It must have been an unpleasant sight.”

  “Not in the least. You should have been there.”

  “No. I don’t want to draw too much attention from your father.”

  “But he’s planning to have you govern alongside Yorik. You need to be there. Otherwise, you make me look bad.”

  “He appointed Yorik to govern. He included me so you wouldn’t be upset. I’m aware of that, and it’s good that you know it too.”

  “The important thing is that you’ll have access to everything Yorik has.”

  “I plan to make his so-called reign very interesting. But for now, we have other matters to attend to.”

  “The invitations.” Bromir guessed. “Why did you insist we handle them?”

  “First, to check on our people in the northern lands.”

  “Our people?”

  “There are people loyal to us around the kings. They may not be great warriors or advisors. They may not even be from the royal family, but they’re close to the king in one way or another.”

  “Which king?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Garvin raised his voice, stopping him. “We have singers, knights, common guards. Everywhere and ready.”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Ready for a signal. Imagine the people of the order as a sacred beast, sleeping and waiting to be awakened. And it’s not just one; there are hundreds, even thousands, like it.”

  “And we’ll give the signal?”

  “You will.”

  “I’m not even the head of the order.”

  “The head is already on the move. At least, that’s what I hear from my sources. These sleeping points won’t awaken for someone like me. But if it’s for the son of a king, you can be sure they’ll find strength even in their last breath.”

  “What do you suggest, Garvin?”

  “Riven and Sylvia.”

  “Riven and Sylvia?”

  “Yes, I think they’re suitable.”

  Bromir tried to recall them. He knew very well who Riven and Sylvia were—Garvin’s loyal dogs. If Bromir trusted anyone, it was Garvin, and Garvin trusted them the most. They hovered around, doing his dirty work, and for that, they were paid and given special attention. Garvin even secured them a special room in the kingdom. It wasn’t anything grand, not much different from the servants’ quarters, but few people could boast such privileges. Bromir didn’t mind as long as they stayed out of sight. And they did. He hadn’t seen them in a long time. Over the years, he had learned that there was nothing the two couldn’t accomplish, whether it was murder, theft, or, as now, delivering a few messages.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “I used to see them, even though they disguised themselves, but I thought you had sent them elsewhere. I haven’t seen them around lately.”

  “They’re here, Prince. Eager to earn some coin. They’re always hungry for more. And they can’t stay idle. They need to do something.”

  “I’m sure of that. People like them live for money and wouldn’t stay here for anything less. Can I see them?”

  Garvin didn’t answer immediately. He thought for a moment, leaned back in the chair, then straightened and leaned over the table, intertwining his fingers.

  “You know I hate to contradict you, but I don’t think it’s wise. Now that you’re about to become king of these lands, the less you’re seen with such people, the better. Understand, these are two people who are particularly known for not doing very good things. You shouldn’t speak with them.” Garvin paused and then continued, sometimes speaking to Bromir with a respectful tone, other times as a friend. “Which reminds me, you should also limit your visits to the brothels.”

  “The brothels? You insult me, Garvin. As if that’s the only place I go.”

  “You don’t only go there, but lately, it’s been quite frequent. No matter how well we pay the whores, one of them is bound to talk. And that’s bad for you. You don’t want to sit on the throne with that reputation. It doesn’t mean the kingdom’s whores won’t enjoy you anymore, but we’ll limit them.”

  “Limit? By how much?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He agreed. “If you think it’s for the best, so be it. It’s not that important to me right now.”

  “I’m glad you realize that. I thought this conversation would be more difficult.”

  “Let’s get back to Riven and Sylvia… Are they still in the same room? In the servants’ wing?”

  “You’ve probably seen them, but it’s likely you didn’t recognize them. But yes, they’re still there. They’re very concerned about their safety, though there’s no one here who could harm them. But it’s good that they’re cautious. And if you trust me, I trust them twice as much. So, don’t worry about them.”

  “Still, they work for money, Garvin. While you and I share a cause that binds us together.”

  “Well, to be honest, a little coin wouldn’t hurt me either.”

  Bromir laughed. He knew there was some truth in the joke, and he understood that he had to pay for everything. This was another lesson from Garvin. He had repeated it so many times. You have to pay for everything, even if they don’t ask for money. That way, you’ll be sure the job gets done well. And while he was thinking about money, it was Garvin who brought it up again.

  “We’ll need funds.”

  “I don’t have any, but the kingdom does.”

  “That’s what I was hoping. And your father can’t refuse. Forgive me, but your brother Borin spent a fortune on his ship, and you’re his direct heir. You deserve even more.”

  He had never thought of it that way, but Garvin seemed right.

  “Will Riven and Sylvia be able to get the job done? We can’t afford to fail.”

  “Don’t worry about that, Prince. Their task is straightforward. We’ll send them to Chernoval under the guise of inviting Zoran to the wedding.”

  “Under the guise?”

  “Well, it will actually be for that purpose. They’ll just activate a few dormant points without even realizing it.”

  “I want my father to be pleased.”

  “And he will be. But we need to take care of our business first, then think about yours or your father’s. I doubt you’ll care if the old man from Chernoval or that senile king from Shilan misses the wedding. Yes, your father might take it hard, but it won’t be a problem for you.”

  He was right. He was thinking more about his father than himself. That’s why he enjoyed working with Garvin so much. Garvin was always several steps ahead. He knew Bromir so well by now that he could tell in advance when things would go well and how confident he was. His face would change. His eyes would narrow, and a smile would stretch across his face as his body leaned back, leaving his hand resting on the table, just as it did now. Bromir was sure he would succeed.

  “And Riven and Sylvia,” Bromir leaned in closer to Garvin. “Are they in the order?”

  “No,” Garvin answered quickly. “That’s absurd. They’re so solitary that they wouldn’t inflict such a thing on themselves. Riven only trusts Sylvia, and Sylvia only trusts Garvin. Even when I meet with them and I’m the one promising them all the money, sometimes for simple tasks, they still look at me like I’m unnecessary to them. That’s why I tell you to relax. They do everything for each other and for money.”

  “Promise them whatever they ask. I’ll find the funds.”

  “Music to my ears. Speaking of which,” Garvin smiled, “have you heard of the Three Singers?”

  “The Three Singers?”

  “You’ll hear about them very soon.” Garvin laughed. “You’ll hear their honeyed voices as I do.” Bromir had never seen him so cheerful. “And I have ears too. They’re just not in Volkar yet; they’re coming from elsewhere.”

  “And about Yorik and you,” Bromir returned to the previous topic, “my father is definitely planning something.”

  “He’s not planning anything. He’s using old methods. He thinks if he locks us up in the same place long enough, we’ll eventually start to like each other.”

  “That’s almost impossible.”

  “Not almost, entirely. But trust me.”

  “If I didn’t, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” Bromir stood. He didn’t want to stay in one place. He walked around the damp walls of the underground chamber, where no one would think to look for them. “But you’ll have to work with Yorik. And he’s not likely to let you say or do much. Not to mention that people trust him. They barely know you.”

  “I’m aware of that and looking forward to it. Trust me, I’ll manage. I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” Garvin gestured to the long sleeves that almost covered his hands. “And you, Prince? Are you excited about the adventure your father has roped you into?”

  “My father has completely lost his mind with these barbarians. He constantly thinks about them, talks about them, and is always chasing after them. And from what I hear, they don’t want to go to war. They just want to head north. He’s completely obsessed with them. If it were up to me, I’d just let them pass. And instead of focusing on this stupid battle that’s supposed to happen in two years, he’s dealing with people who don’t even matter if they’re alive or dead.”

  “The battle likely won’t even happen.”

  “In his mind, it will. And sometimes I feel like killing barbarians is more important to him.”

  “The prophecy.”

  “That stupid prophecy. One day, if I become king of these lands, I’ll deliberately lead the barbarians north. It’s my dream to show everyone that nothing will happen if they touch the ice. And then, when nothing happens, I’ll kill the tribes one by one. But first, I’ll ask each of them if they would serve me. These people, though illiterate and poor fighters, have an incredible fire for battle and fear nothing. And those are exactly the kind I like.”

  “Bold plans. The barbarians don’t submit.”

  “Whoever refuses to serve me will be killed. It’s that simple. There will be no one left south of Solis. Only deserts and sand carried by the winds. And maybe we’ll even expand our territory. I’ll keep the best builders among the barbarians to build houses in the sand. And then I’ll kill them too.”

  “That sounds like a good plan, but I think you underestimate the barbarians. Especially their numbers. No one from our lands goes south to know what’s there. We have reports from only the first few hills. Everything south of that is wasteland, and no one has returned.”

  “And no one has returned from the western sea either, but look, my brother wants to go.”

  “You’re right. There are always madmen, but rethink your plan for the barbarians. If they’re always trying to go north, it means things down south aren’t so pleasant. Otherwise, they’d stay there.”

  “One day, we’ll have to send expeditions both north and south. We’ll choose the best-prepared people.”

  “Bold.” Garvin was calm. “But I prefer to live in the present. Nothing has happened yet. You’re a prince who might one day become king, and I’m nobody. I might eventually become the advisor to the future king. So I advise we think about now and, at most, tomorrow. After that, we’ll look another day ahead.”

  “When will you speak to Riven and Sylvia?” Bromir sat down again.

  “As soon as I leave here. Just make sure that when they return, they have clean sheets and a pouch of coins waiting on each of their pillows.”

  “That will be my first task. If I have to, I’ll sell one of my brother’s crew members as a slave.”

  Garvin might not have understood his joke. Instead, he changed the subject:

  “By the way, your brother’s ship is impressive. I passed by recently. I’ve never seen a more beautiful ship. Your father really spent a lot of money on it.”

  “I hope it sails away and never returns. One less problem for me and the kingdom.”

  “Your brother has never shown interest in the throne, Bromir.”

  “Are you defending him, Garvin? I love my brother because I have to. I love my sisters too. And I can’t wait to marry them off to men I choose. From kingdoms I want, where I’ll benefit.”

  “Bold plans. I’ve thought about the same, but as I said, I prefer short-term plans.”

  “Together, we’ll achieve much. You know people I’ve never even touched. And one day, when I sit on the throne and everyone is at my feet, you’ll be right beside me. And you’ll rule when I’m having fun with the whores or killing more of the barbarians.”

  “I’ll be on the throne before you, Prince. You’re leaving soon, and I’ll be in charge, remember?”

  Bromir chuckled quietly. He liked the joke.

  “Just don’t enjoy it too much, Garvin. Then tell me if the seat is comfortable.”

  “It’s certainly not. But a king should never be comfortable. I think I’ll leave Yorik on the throne. And while he’s basking in the glory up there, I’ll be doing my own things in my own way. But now, Prince, excuse me, I have matters waiting.”

  Garvin placed his palms on the table and pushed himself up slightly. Bromir hated when he just decided to leave. He did it all the time. Bromir watched him disappear into the darkness. He saw a true friend and ally in Garvin, but sometimes, even he frightened him. But in his father’s absence and that of his brother, Garvin was the best choice to lead the kingdom. And his closest ally.

  He tightened his belt, checked his sword, waited a moment, and then left the dark underground room as well. The higher he climbed, the noisier it became. And when he emerged, the first thing he saw was Tiberis, leading a small army of about ten men. Behind them was Uther with his people, and in the two wagons pulled by horses were his sons and daughter, Loren. He hadn’t said goodbye to her, but soon she would be his for life. There was no need.

  On the other side, his father, seated on a horse, was preparing to lead the second army. He was mounted and practicing signals with the soldiers. Tristan was in the distance, watching silently. He didn’t seem to be joining them. Only one horse stood alone, unbridled.

  That horse was meant for Bromir.