Chapter 60: Act of Betrayal (Alex)

‘I heard the fishing industry is going well,’ Simon says to me, starting some small talk as we walk down the hall to the throne room to discuss with Thorgan about agricultural plans during the spring.
Damn if I say it, that is some good news. I know that the fleet we have just constructed, after all this time, is now being put to good use. I should thank the fishermen soon. This will call for celebration, but I think we will hold that off. This will avoid a wider famine, yes, but at the same time, I know the group that suffered during this winter is the Cinari. Celebrating will only make the whole thing tone death.
As we continue making our way down the hall, some of the guards I posted seem different. They keep glancing at Simon and I as we walk past them, watching us while we talk about our plans and move around the palace. Thorgan must’ve changed guards around, or maybe the head guard just did a rotation. Makes sense, I suppose.
Nah, I am just overthinking it. This is a really quiet day, and they almost never see any action. I suppose watching their regent talk to the representative of the Cinari is the only interesting thing happening to them.
‘Yes, I am aware.’ I respond to Simon in a tired tone. ‘The snow is melting away, at least. Do you think we have everything ready to get the farms up and running again during the months of Magaria?’
Simon bites his lip before he responds to me with a concerned tone. ‘I’m not sure. I don’t have any idea how agriculture works. The best I can say is I hope we have enough to start them up again.’
‘Hope is good for now, but it won’t prevent a future famine if we don’t do something.’ I respond before opening the door to the throne room.
My heart sinks to see Max sitting on the throne wearing her black and silver armour while Throgan lies tied up, acting as her footrest. Smirking at me. Thorgan yelps and grunts as Max kicks his side.
Before I can raise my voice, two Dogs flank Simon and me, aiming their crossbows at us to silence me. Simon rapidly pants, dropping his files to raise his hands to indicate his surrender. I glare at Max, my jaw clenching down so that I can almost feel my teeth shatter. What is that bitch doing? Orchestrating this coup d’état against me!
‘What’s wrong? Cat caught your tongue?’ Max jokes, pushing Throgan out of her way with her foot before hopping off the throne.
‘What are you doing!?’ I sneer, demanding an answer for what she is planning.
‘I am placing you, the Cinari, and the old man under arrest for betraying Marak and our people.’
I march towards Max. ‘I’ve done…’
A Dog grabs me from behind and turns me around to smack me in the stomach with the butt of his crossbow. I wheeze, coughing on my knees like a wounded animal.
Max waves a finger at me. ‘Darling, you have done everything to prove you are against the interests of our people. You are nothing but scum! And I will take pleasure in watching you die once the trial is over.’
I huff. If that bitch is going to kill me, she might as well do it now. Nor will I let her have the satisfaction of lecturing to me about how I failed my duty when I have done everything correctly. Max will not see reason; she will not give me a fair trial. Might as well go down on my own terms. She is deranged. Fucking mad with power!
‘Do me a favour and kill yourself,’ I growl. ‘Or for the love of all things good. Shut the fuck up!’
Furious with my response, Max knocks my head to the hard ground with a swift punch. My vision blurs, my ears ringing, while I struggle to lift myself off the ground.
With a pained chuckle, I turn to face her with a bloodied nose. ‘Glad you chose to shut the fuck up.’
‘You’re insufferable!’ Max growls, clicking her fingers to get the Dogs to escort Thorgan and Simon out of the room and to the cells. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll find the whore you like sooner than later.’
Syndy? You really think you will find Syndy. Max frowns as I laugh at her face. There is no way she can find her because if she didn’t arrest her already, I doubt she will find her.
I laugh at her. ‘Good luck.’
Not taking my response lightly, she raises her foot and kicks me in the head.