Shackles (2)

Justine’s talent for cooking was the only positive aspect I had found in my new life. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t eat everything she had prepared for me. This reluctant attitude led my host to believe she had failed with her recipe. In a gloomy mood, I participated very little in their conversation and had even forgotten the topic barely after leaving the table.

A quarter of an hour after lunch, we were back in the place they called "the workshop." Exploring new places was a good thing, as until then, I had spent most of my free time to isolate myself in my room. With a bit of perspective, it was easy to see that, in the end, nothing had really changed: I was still stuck in the palace, kept away from anything of real interest... I needed to find a pastime before I lost my footing, even if it meant deluding myself.

"This is our main workroom. We review client requests here, plan our interventions, and store equipment, as you can see," she explained.

As long as it occupied my mind, I was ready to listen to Aurora’s chatter. As she explained the purpose of this curious room to me, I examined its every nook and cranny with fascination.

No syringes in sight. Where do they keep them?

Unlike my last visit, the central island, as large as a pool table, had been cleared of its clutter, and no papers protruded from the message slots. I admired the impressive collection of various weapons that was still hung on perforated panels. Noticing me scrutinizing the weapons up close, my guide added, "You’re probably wondering why we have so many different weapons, right?"

I nodded in silence.

"Not all mercenary guilds are like this, but we take on all sorts of missions. Often, we’re asked to retrieve stolen goods or gather evidence of abuse..."

As her stream of explanations faded into the background, I mentally cataloged the room's furniture one by one. My attention stopped on the drawers of the table where she mentioned she tinkered with her gadgets. The table was against the wall, covered with a green, gridded desk pad.

It looked like an ideal spot for concocting tranquilizer poisons. Of course, the mercenary had positioned herself right in front of it, and there was no way to avoid her watchful eye. In that case, I had no other choice but to abandon. I just noted this spot in the back of my mind and hoped to revisit it another time.

That detail aside, the atmosphere reminded me of the armories at the Royal Army Headquarters. I had visited them a few weeks before I was kidnapped. The place had been particularly busy: Father was sending entire battalions to the Northeast. Apparently, magical creatures from the continent's largest forest, the Ancestral Forest, were destroying our border cities by mysteriously bypassing the great barrier of magical crystals that had been keeping them at bay for centuries. It had been set up by our ancestors, the Asrins, nearly a millennium ago. Unfortunately, their vast knowledge of magic had been lost, and no one was now capable of maintaining this protective barrier. I didn't know the exact nature of Father's military strategy, but I trusted in our striking power. The problem would be solved before it even made the news. As proof, only criminal organizations like the Revolutionaries and the Wind Killer were making headlines.

The mercenary suddenly stopped her speech and picked a map from a pile of rolls stored in a large container. When she unrolled it, I recognized the white layout on a dark blue background.

"How is the Hiven Palace plan supposed to help me orient myself?"

"Damn it, I can’t even start teaching you anything before you start questioning my methods! Why don’t you let me explain?"

My teacher provided me with a worn wooden stool. We both sat on either side of the table, ready to begin a lesson whose purpose I failed to see.

“This map, I know it like the back of my hand. If our primary approach to our objective is blocked, we know exactly how to get there via an alternative route. To give you an idea of how we prepare for a mission, I’ll explain how we organized your kidnapping.”

“Wait, how long had you been planning to ruin my life?”

“Oh, well… a few months, when we learned the king was dying. Actually, when the Revolutionaries contacted–”

“Don’t act as if he’s already...!” I barked.

I immediately regretted my words. My first instinct was to protect Father's honor like a loyal dog to its master. A bitter taste filled my mouth.

At the palace, my opinion was never asked for, to the point where I had forgotten what I truly thought of the world. But deep down, deep inside... it was crystal clear. Father was an obstacle I needed to be rid of. I couldn't deny it; assassins exist for a good reason: death was sometimes the only solution.

Sometimes, death is a release.

Aurora remained speechless for a few seconds following my outburst of aggression. She had struck a sensitive nerve and would not let this weakness pass for anything in the world.

“Already what?”

Clearing my throat, I decided I wouldn’t take back my words. I wouldn’t back down. Not this time. Aurora had heard what she had heard. Even if I was ashamed, I had to own my words.

“Don’t act like he’s already dead.”

We both knew I didn’t mean it. I said it out of principle, because children are supposed to love their parents. The silence grew even more persistent. Her piercing gaze softened. I realized in that moment that she understood this inner conflict well, the struggle of not wanting to be an unworthy child.

“You don’t have to be afraid of him leaving, Edwoyn. No matter what anyone’s told you, you don’t need him to be someone. Look at you, here you’re doing just fine on your own.”

Was I dreaming, or was that a compliment?

I let my anger go. It was foolish to blame someone for being right. The royal hospital was a tomb, and Father wouldn’t be coming out, just like Grandfather before him. Unable to ascend to the throne, the government, peace, and prosperity… Everything the illustrious Robert Gasencourt had built was on the brink of collapse. Honestly, the future of Asyria didn’t concern me. This country was completely foreign to me, and I had no idea how to manage it.

Geopolitics had never been my problem. It was Father’s. I had no grand plans for the kingdom, and I wasn’t going to sacrifice myself to please him. It was time to face the truth, but fear kept me from looking up. Because when I did, all I saw was that without Father, our family could have known happiness.

“I’m mostly doing well thanks to your help… But don’t think for a second that I approve of your methods! There’s nothing more despicable than cashing in on someone's death!”

“In the underbelly of society, no one cares about keeping up appearances. What matters is that the distraction your father created saved us from having to kill any guards. Sorry to break it to you, but life is unfair, and for money, mercenaries will do anything.”

“Why did you choose to become one by the way? There are plenty of more honest jobs to make a living, you know…”

My teacher burst into laughter, and I had no idea why.

“You’re so far off the mark, my poor Edwoyn... Let’s just say this kingdom is infested with vile cockroaches that make our lives miserable. I’m sick of seeing them crawling everywhere, so I decided to clean up before it becomes unlivable.”

“You mean the nobles? What have they done to deserve such a comparison?”

“They opened my eyes. If you want justice, you have to make it yourself.”

Her tone was so cold that I lost my train of thought, cut off from any retort. The mercenary took advantage of my hesitation to smoothly transition back to our strategy lesson.

“For that, we follow a code of honor, but it varies from one organization to another. In ours, there are three rules: never betray your partners, don’t harm innocents, and no mercy for the targets.”

By sparing me, I believe Aurora had broken all the rules of her code of honor.

Am I really that valuable to her, just a mediocre puppet?

“I was a target, but you didn’t kill me. I- I don’t understand.

“Sometimes, there are exceptions. We realized our clients had deceived us since you were innocent. This conflicted with our second rule. Two million fifs for an innocent—Justine couldn’t resist, you have to forgive her... But all’s well that ends well; we found a compromise to satisfy everyone.”

“Everyone, except me!” I protested. “If you really respect your principles, you would have released me or sent me abroad long ago if you’re so keen on keeping my existence a secret. I’m not naive: you need me. Is it for my royal blood or my magical malfunction?”

I could understand her making me pay a debt for saving my life; the deal we had made was perfectly legitimate... But there was something else behind her charade. I could feel it.

She could offer me all the excuses in the world to justify my forced conversion to the mercenary trade, but her actions told a different story. It wasn’t her choice. Aurora would never have recruited me; she hated me too much to deliberately bind herself to a noble for life.

If this selfish woman hadn’t thrown me out of her home the first chance she got, it was because she needed me. I couldn’t see any other explanations. So before bending to their will, I needed to know why Aurora needed me so much. I had to find out what fate this witch had in store for me before it was too late.

The killer shot me a dark look. The atmosphere shifted completely, just as it had when she suspected me of being an impostor. It was a warning: stay in your place.

“Targets don’t have a say. Just be grateful that I’m giving you a second chance. You already know the terms of our deal; there’s nothing more to add.”

I swallowed hard, afraid to breathe. Her stern expression usually indicated a lack of interest in the insignificant being that I was. However, at that moment, she was looking at me as if I were one of the greatest wonders of the world. Even though it was faint, I could perceive that passion in her blood-red eyes.

A terrifying passion.

This girl was completely off her rocker. Maybe the voices in my head weren’t as delusional as I thought. Indeed, their warnings seemed more valid than ever: staying close to someone as unstable as Aurora would be harmful. She was constantly shifting between two radically different temperaments. She could show tender empathy one moment and then lash out at me with sudden aggression the next.

No matter how many mood swings you have, I see through your game. You’re holding me back because I’m getting closer to the truth.

Her sudden display of intimidation only confirmed that understanding what was going on in her head would be impossible. Even though her logic eluded me, I could identify her goal. And to get answers from this viper, there was only one way: I would have to play along with her dirty tricks and beat her at her own game.

Despite my instincts screaming at me to keep quiet, I forced myself to think of a way to make her spill the beans while the topic was still on the table.

“I was indeed a target…” I began in a dragging voice. “You did everything you could to change my fate, and I’m well aware that I’ll be eternally grateful to you for that… but this status is no longer relevant since you’ve recruited me, right?”