Bianca’s absence at the council table had been noted by King Godwin. He stared at the empty chair with a scornful glare, striking it with the power of the God Arm and smashing another window.

  Harren chuckled at the cries of Keep Blacksteel’s staff, crying out to fetch brooms and towels to clear up the mess.

  The king made a point to walk to the shattered glass and see what he had done. The chair had fell into a fountain, destroying the edge of it and flooding a garden of flowers.

  “I want it all fixed!” Godwin shouted at them. “Fetch a skilled stonemason, have it fixed by the morning!”

  “Yes, my king!” the voices said as one.

  “The servants will grow tired of repairing windows, my king,” Zishang said. “Perhaps we should talk out the issues rather than be destructive with our council chamber.”

  Harren smacked a palm down onto the table and stood in rage. “You dare make a suggestion to my brother, the king? You don’t belong on this council, Zishang, not after your assist in justice being mishandled.”

  “Apologies, my prince, but you weren’t serving justice with the method you chose,” Zishang said with unfaltering boldness. “Our people, our friends do not deserve to be stripped half-bare and whipped to tears with an audience!”

  “Don’t you dare speak back to me! I am the prince of Vatanil. Get yourself over to my chair this instant, stick your tongue on the edge of the table. You’ve lost the privilege to speak.”

  “I think he’s too cute to lose his tongue,” Mara purred. “Should let him keep it.” She put her hand onto his knuckles and got close to his ear. “What do you think, Captain Zishanng, can we find a better use for that tongue?”

  He shoved Mara away, making her fall from her chair. Harren moved his god arm to the side of his sickle. “You strike the princess of Vatanil, traitor? You’ll die for that!”

  Zishang met Harren’s sickle with the tip of his naginata. They duelled for only two seconds before Godwin grabbed his brother by the scruff of his neck and dragged him back to his seat.

  “I am the king!” Godwin smacked Harren across the mouth. “I decide who lives and who dies!” He marched to Mara to do the same action. She got in her seat quick, giving the king an innocent grin. He smacked her regardless, then did the same to Zishang.

  “Sorry, my king,” Zishang mumbled, feeling ashamed. “My honour wouldn’t allow the princess to make such rude suggestions. I also couldn’t allow the prince to threaten me in such ways.”

  “You are a plague to this council,” Harren hissed. “You’re lucky my brother is here to stop me. Killian, dog, should you see this twat put a finger on my wife outside of this council room, kill him.”

  “Yes, my prince,” Killian said, guarding the door as usual. “I would make quick work of him.”

  “Is this the council we’ve become?” Godwin asked. “Bickering like a bunch of toddlers over a toy? Bianca is gone. Not a single one of you can tell me where she is?”

  “Good riddance,” Harren scoffed, leaning back and putting his legs onto her portion of the table. “She didn’t belong here.”

  Godwin seized Mara by the throat and dragged her to the edge of the room.

  “What are you doing?” Harren said in worry. “Unhand her.”

  The king held her out the window. She screamed, her feet dangling over the long drop to the courtyard below. It began to rain, the storm finally arriving over Vatanil.

  “Who is the king?” Godwin asked. “Who?”

  Harren was dumbfounded.

  “Say it!” Mara pleaded. “Fuck! He’s loosening! Say it! Fucking say it!”

  “You’re the king,” Harren forced. “Let her go.”

  “No,” Godwin boomed. “You will listen. Bianca slipped unseen because you were busy fighting Stroke! You nearly destroyed one of the Sentinels, they cannot be replaced!”

  Harren took a step closer. “Killian,” Godwin snarled. “Harren seems to think he’s your owner alone. You will not harm Zishang in any form… and if my brother takes a step closer, cut him in half.”

  Harren gave a chuckle, taking it as a jest. His smile flattened as the Blood Swordsman nodded and wielding his giant sword.

  “You’re the king!” Harren yelled. “Just bring her back inside!”

  The door opened. Stroke Valan sauntered in and gave Killian a wink. “Don’t mind me. Weather outside is terrible, thought I’d take the opportunity so sit inside today.” He took his seat next to Harren and pointed at Mara’s seat. “Let’s all be seated. There’s much to talk about.”

  Godwin tossed Mara into her seat and took his own. “Finally, you decided to come to a meeting.”

  “I’m always at these gatherings,” Stroke corrected. “You just never look for me. First, Bianca, I sent her in search of the prisoner. Second, the discussion of this meeting should be about Lakevalor. We need to make up for the gold that was stolen from us.”

  “Does that really matter?” Mara moaned. “The economy is so boring. We don’t trade with nations, who cares? People will give us anything we ask for because we are Valans. If you’re so concerned about riches, why don’t you be an ambassador to one of the other nations, integrate us, bring the coins of the other nations into our lands.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “It matters,” Stroke sighed. “Just because right now the people listen to us out of fear doesn’t mean they’ll listen to us forever. I doubt the people will snap their spines on command for the prince’s children… you do plan to have children, don’t you?”

  “One day I will give him plenty of children,” Mara smirked. “I’ll give him dozens.”

  “What a terrible thought. You have the maternal instincts of a sea turtle. But still, my point, we need gold for them.”

  “And what do you propose we do?” Godwin asked.

  Stroke shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not voting on a course of action for anything unless Bianca is present. Also, is anyone else having their letters stolen during the night? Maybe a gnome is loose in the halls.”

  “Get out,” Godwin ordered. “Now.”

  “You heard him,” Mara said smugly. “Get—”

  “I was talking to the rest of you,” Godwin added. “Zishang. I apologise for my brother’s behaviour, especially with the barbarity of the whipping. I wanted it to be in the courtyard with servants, not a public display. Send my well wishes to Fiasco, if it means anything to her, and tell her she is forgiven.”

  “You’re sending me away?” Harren scoffed. “You’re casting me out of this room in favour of Stroke, are you mad?”

  Killian opened the door at Godwin’s command. Harren left, his pride and ego wounded, slamming the door shut.

  Stroke’s chair was directly opposite of his brother’s, making their solo discussion easy to have. The silence lingered long.

  “What do you want me to say?” Stroke said eventually. “You made a point of speaking to just me, what do you want?”

  “I’m sorry,” Godwin forced. “Happy? I’m sorry.”

  Stroke couldn’t believe his ears. His brother, apologising? He didn’t know the king was capable of doing so. He leaned forward, offended, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

  “For what?” Stroke asked. “My battle with Harren? It’s not like you gave him the command to do it.”

  “Not that. Your cambion protector. I just wanted to be a good king for my nation. People wouldn’t have accepted a demon living in Keep Blacksteel.”

  “A good king would defend the honour of this little brother and allow him to marry the girl he loves!” Stroke snapped sharply. “If you think you can manipulate me the same way you do to Bianca and Harren, you’re mistaken. I don’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth.”

  “Then believe this. I only want what’s best for Vatanil.”

  After some thought, Stroke revealed Harren’s secret letter to the Kans. Godwin admitted he knew his brother was doing it under his nose and he was going to use it to start a war against the Kans.

  “We are going to war?” Stroke asked suspiciously.

  “Yes. It will not be like the first time. I plan to march alongside you and Bianca, kill those Kans once and for all.”

  “Why now? Why are you telling me this with Killian Entrail in the same room?”

  “I spill no secrets,” Killian assured. “I only wish to fight and kill all my enemies. The Kans are my enemies.”

  “As the man said,” Godwin chuckled. “He will be fighting with us. It will be a quick war.”

  Stroke held his head down shamefully. “I have to admit that I schemed behind your back. I already sent word to Arrid Ransomell to expect me to join the Vaelirian Bloods. When Runaya is secured and back with me, I intended to fight the war alone and deliver Kan Lumi’s head to you on a platter in return for my freedom.”

  “Your freedom? What do you mean? You did all of that without my permission?”

  “Through all our arguments, all the hatred, I still love you and Harren as my brothers. I know you sent me to Naveen to die. Will you admit it to me?”

  Godwin admitted it.

  “I don’t hate you for it,” Stroke said, relieved from finally getting closure from nightmares of Naveen. “But this is where I want us to stop being brothers. I want peace for me and Runaya. I want a home with her to raise a family, one that isn’t plagued by the power of Vatanil, children that don’t have the last name of Valan, but her last name of Rall. I will be Stroke Rall, you can even fake my death to Vatanil’s people if you think my leaving brings shame to our name… I know the king mustn’t show weakness. You don’t need to fight this war, nor does Bianca, or Killian, or anyone other than me and half the forces of the Vaelirian Bloods. Order Harren to give me temporary usage of the God Arm, and I will march north to flatten their castles, slaughter their armies, bring control of that nation to you. Once done, I will return the God Arm to Harren, and that will be it. I will marry Runaya with you reading our vows. I’ll take her out of the city, build a cottage in a beautiful forest, live out my days with her there. You will never see me again.”

  Godwin was tormented by truth. He knew Runaya was dead. He felt angry. “You will only do this when we find her?”

  “Yes,” Stroke said. “She is all I’ve ever wanted.”

  “Then it is done. I accept this deal. Get your rest, Stroke, I’m sure Bianca will return with Runaya.”

  “I know she will,” Stroke said happily. “Thank you. I know we’ve been at each other’s throat more often than not… but I will remember this honour you have granted me. I will always listen for news of your rule and come to your aid if I’m needed again.” Stroke stood in the doorframe, eyes teary. “I mean it, Godwin. This means everything to me. Thank you.”

  Godwin waited a minute before screaming out in anger. “Sit, dog,” he said to Killian. “Say nothing.”

  Killian almost broke Stroke’s chair from his size and weight.

  “It was you, wasn’t it?” Godwin said. “Quinn brought the news of her death… but it always seemed weird. You killed her. You did it, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, my king.”

  Godwin struck the table.

  “I supposed I shouldn’t be surprised. You did rebel against my own father. Rebelling is in your nature.”

  “It was an order from Harren Valan to kill her if I saw her, my king.”

  “Oh.” Godwin removed a golden ring from his finger, fidgeting with it on the table. “Stroke wishes to marry. He is an excellent warrior… but he is psychotic. I’ve seen it since we were children, always plotting, always knowing everything and pretending to know nothing. If he had a God Arm, he’d be worthier than Harren. Maybe you should kill Harren to make room.”

  “My king?”

  “A joke, dog. I don’t trust anyone in this city. Stroke is always listening to our meetings, but I know with his happiness he wouldn’t think to return and eavesdrop. I’ll tell you something. I don’t want Stroke to marry Runaya, I’m spiteful. I wanted to marry Bianca. When I was a lad, she was all I wanted, and my father condemned it completely. My mother tried to marry me off young to Lumi Kan, prevent a war… then her squire, her bloody squire, asked me if he could marry her, and I said he could.

  I gave away my chance at being happy because I wanted her to be happy… but I never what I did wrong. I never knew why she favoured Stroke and this squire over me. I was the heir, bound to be king, and she didn’t care. She doesn’t notice me when I show no mercy, she doesn’t notice me when I try to rule peacefully. How much power do I need before she sees me as the right path? Perhaps I should’ve killed Fiasco in that throne room. Bianca likes justice.”

  “I have no words, my king.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t. When that prisoner arrives, I want him placed in the godsteel cell. I always want you on duty, Bianca too. Stroke must not speak to him or any of his companions to learn about Runaya. Stroke must die. There is no other way forward now.”