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Melvian sighed, stood up, and pulled Maris into a tight hug. “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

“I will be fine…”

“Things will get worse before they get better. The kingdom is on the brink of a civil war. I am petrified that this won’t be a balanced conflict, and now that I know that guards from the same castle we live in are against Valda, who can we trust?”

“You know more than I do Melvian. You got ears on the outside,” Maris said, wrapping her arms around Melvian and squeezing her.

Melvian’s upper lip twitched. “Yes, I do. But I need you to keep it a secret, Maris.”

Maris smiled and rested her head on Melvian’s chest before sighing and nodding. “You can count on it.”

She hoped Arwin was inside his study. When he wasn’t in the training yard, instructing new and upcoming soldiers or guards, he was there. Although he overlooked the entirety of the army and the castle’s personnel, Valda ultimately would’ve been the one to give the final say to whatever decision Arwin took.

With trembling hands, Valda opened the door and stepped inside the study. Arwin announced himself with an angered grunt the second she walked in.

“What can I help you with, my Queen?”

Valda didn’t speak. She made her way to where she knew the desk was, placed her hand inside her pocket, and retrieved the two badges she had removed from the corpses. Movements uncharacteristically elegant, she put them on the desk and sat down unaided.

After a shuffling of papers, Arwin spoke. “Are you all right? What happened? You are hurt.” If he was being facetious, Valda couldn’t tell. Not without seeing his face.

“I am fine,” Valda answered, leaning back and crossing legs. “My assistant could say otherwise.”

“Oh?”

“She was beaten around on our outing. Another maid is having a look at her as we speak.”

“And how does this pertain me?” His voice did not hide his annoyance.

“According to Maris, two castle guards attacked her. If it wasn’t for me, they would’ve killed her, probably worse. You know our code against that kind of attack.”

“Death.”

“Exactly. I took off their badges and I was wondering if you could read their names out loud for me.”

Arwin sniffed in irritation. The badges scrapped against the wood of the desk as Arwin picked them up. He read the names out loud. “Acton and Karlec.”

Valda nodded. “Young boys. I knew them.”

“Stupid ones. Not so bright,”Arwin added.

“But they knew to follow orders,” Valda said, opening her white eyes. “Or at least that’s what I thought.”

“They were young boys, Valda. Driven by hormones. You know how it is. Boys will be—”

“If you finish that sentence, I swear upon Ouranos…” Valda growled before taking a deep breath. Arwin always had the ability to get her riled up. Today was no different. “These guards, I am sure, were following orders.”

“Not mine.”

“I never said they followed your orders. But I am noticing a pattern here. The people you bring to work here are either leaving or not really that good at what they do. Or, you don’t know everything about them, like Melvian. Who knew that we had a fine healer among our servitude?” Valda’s laughter was shaky. “Not me.”

“What are you trying to say, Valda?”

“You remember Lasmeer?”

Arwin chuckled. “The soldier who quit to become a cook?”

Valda nodded.