The Caged Kingdom

by M A Price

  “The feeling is entirely mutual.” He looked at their hands. “There is something between us, isn’t there Katanya?”

  She pulled her hand away and wouldn’t meet his eyes.

  “Ask me some other moon.”

  “I will, I swear it and I always keep my word.”

  ***

  Ivloch had done his own packing whilst they were gone. The place they had planned this rebellion, called home for so long, stood vacant.

  Ivloch was next to the table, staring into its now empty surface. It still stood but its contents were gone. She didn’t wait for him to greet her or think of Reyn as she flew across the space between them and embraced him.

  She had wanted to be the best soldier as she came in. Hide her feelings for later; hide them from her father. In a way she wasn't used to, they flew out of her of their own will and bridged the gap. Much like when she used her power; her body made the choice.

  He was awkward at first, his giant body not responding to her hug, but slowly he moved his arm to encompass her, giving her the smallest of squeezes back.

  She made herself pull away before it made him uncomfortable; as she knew it would. Reyn was here and these emotions, much like her power, had a place.

  That place was not for somewhere you planned a war. Even if it was empty.

  There was a wetness in his eyes as he looked down at her, but she didn't comment. Perhaps he had needed the daughter and not the soldier. Even for a moment. She straightened the collar of the green tunic he now wore and had clearly changed into in a rush.

  “What would I do without you?”

  “Be lost and far more messily dressed,” she smiled. If anything ever happened to him…

  “Ignore us Prince…Mr Landress. What would you prefer?” Ivloch bellowed, his attention now on Reyn.

  There was a reason they were here, and she knew it was time to face it.

  Time to tell him the news they hadn’t had a chance to. It mattered so much.

  Reyn walked away from the door now towards them, he hadn’t wanted to disturb the moment. He would know that time between them was precious; there was no promise of more. The moons ahead were dangerous, and nobody was certain to come out the other side.

  “Honestly, and I know it’s a stupid name but I’d rather you just called me Reyn. I haven’t done anything to deserve a title yet, and I’d rather we didn’t pretend I had.”

  “Reyn it is then.”

  She thought Ivloch might be impressed with Reyn, but he gave nothing away. He waved his hand around the empty tent. It seemed to highlight the mess on the floor she'd noticed earlier. Even Dexter had gone somewhere; she didn’t know where and there wasn’t time to ask, but she hoped he was well.

  He was a good soldier. A good man and most importantly a good friend.

  “Normally I would say we should sit down and talk but it appears neither furniture nor time is on our side.”

  “I’ve never been much of one for sitting still anyway.”

  “Well we are more alike than I thought,” Ivloch responded. An air of respect had found its way into the conversation. An ease that hadn't existed earlier.

  “Before we talk about the mission, there is something we need to tell you,” Katanya interjected. Jaxon could change things. He did change things; despite what he wanted.

  “I’m listening.”

  “In the palace, there is another Marked…a Guardian,” words were failing her. For days she had wanted to give him the knowledge, had imagined delivering it. Envisioned seeing hope on Ivloch's face. Finally, some good news. The attack and their return had thrown everything into chaos.

  His eyes did widen, an almost humorous look in a man of his size.

  “A Guardian? Are they…?”

  Reyn took a step forward, a slight relaxation in his muscles evident to only Katanya.

  “He has, ironically enough, been in my father’s employment for some years. One of his guards actually.” Ivloch’s face paled, “…he has kept himself hidden well enough over that time. It was only recently I began to suspect him myself and that was because I’ve been suspicious of everyone. I believe he is safe currently, but he is... unwell.”

  “Unwell?”

  “He isn’t only a Guardian,” Katanya added again, a quick look of apology in Reyn’s direction for the interruption. Him handling this would be better; for him and for Ivloch, but the things they hadn’t said yet…

  Reyn cleared his throat before continuing, ignoring her. “He is a Guardian, but he is also a User…Katanya has informed me that is a rare occurrence amongst…your kind.”

  She hoped Ivloch wouldn't be annoyed she had confirmed his secret to Reyn; it had seemed importance for their alliance.

  He turned around now, his back the only thing she or Reyn could see of him. He was hiding something. Anger? Hope? An emotion he didn’t want either her or Reyn to see.

  “Has he been using his power? Surely if he is a User in the palace?”

  “He had been before,” Reyn pressed on, not missing a beat this time. “Since the Facility, there has been a stronger presence of Unforgiven…it’s been harder for him.” Reyn released a long breath, the other things also had to be said. “He removed the Mark itself when he was younger…”

  “A Guardian can’t remove their Mark unless they die,” Ivloch whirled around. It was confusion she could see playing across his features. The Marks were constant. A gift or a curse for life. No one had ever removed a Mark from Kara before, although many had tried over the years. Some had paid with their lives for it.

  “He burned them off…” her voice was quiet, “…but they’re returning."

  A silence followed, one that she thought she felt more awkward in than either of the men in the room. Ivloch was stroking his mighty beard, its strands sticking out in every direction. Reyn just stood, strong and without fear, every part of his attention on her and her leader’s reaction.

  “Dangerous. Foolish even, but brave too, in an odd way,” Ivloch finally exclaimed. He started to pace; his body somehow needing to move to process this information as he did with a battle plan. In some way Jaxon would be part of that plan. A reluctant arsenal or prize to protect.

  “There is something else you should also know Ivloch,” Reyn’s voice took a softer tone. The same one he had used to discuss Denara. The reverence he was giving Ivloch made her respect him more.

  Ivloch stopped his pacing, Katanya only imagined the well walked floor felt some relief.

  “Jaxon, that is his name, he… he knew your wife whilst she was detained at the palace.” Shame, that was all she could see on Reyn’s face and a small part of her wanted to tell him it wasn't his fault. He hadn't locked Becca away and nor had he been the one to kill her. She didn't though. One day, if he still needed to hear it, she would say it, but Reyn needed this moment for his own conscience. Only he could decide if it should hold guilt.

  Had that been why he hated her blaming him for Becca's death? Because all along Reyn had blamed himself?

  “He…Becca?” Ivloch stammered.

  It wasn’t the hero that asked the question or the man who was feared across Brodanna standing in front of his arch enemies’ son, it was a man who adored a woman and missed his wife. One that grieved but couldn’t show it.

  “He was tasked with looking after her, guarding her. It turns out that despite my father, The Unforgiven or even Xave, your wife managed to befriend him. She taught him a tonic which we believe has helped keep his symptoms at bay and he…did everything he could for her.” Reyn’s voice stayed kind but strong. “He attempted to release her, before… her execution. She refused to leave, or he would be hunted and, she thought, caught. She told him there were more important things than her survival. She is probably the only thing that kept him safe this long.”

  Katanya looked towards Ivloch. He was crying. The man she had found digging in the mud was before her. She handed him the letter Jala had been kind enough to give her. Becca’s goodbyes.


  A last surprise that he never could have anticipated.

  She went to him, her arm on his back. She couldn’t have reached his shoulders if she tried and hugging him now didn’t feel like the correct thing to do but she needed him to know she was there, that she understood. The revelation from Jaxon and the letter had given her the same reaction. Becca, despite it all, had believed until the very end. Protected what was important more than they had been able to.

  “Thank you.” Ivloch swallowed the lump in his throat. “I…didn’t expect...Becca's death is not something I have learnt to cope with yet and I apologise for my reaction. I’m not usually an emotional man. She was my world. A weakness and a strength.”

  Reyn inclined his head, “I’d worry more if you had reacted any other way sir. It certainly doesn’t make me respect you any less. It actually makes me hope that perhaps one day I’ll care about someone... as much as you and your wife obviously cared for each other.” He raised his head again and Katanya swore his look lingered with intent on her.

  Ivloch moved away from her hand, not unkindly, but as a way to once again compose himself.

  “I’m glad you didn’t get a chance to tell me that before our meeting today. I don't think I would have dealt with it well...” he said with a smile, a sad one, but a smile for Becca. For everything she’d done, right up until the end. “One heck of a woman she was. I was a lucky man Kat.”

  “You were the luckiest.”

  He didn’t reply, instead turning his attention back to the plan.

  Idyn's funeral would be soon. None of them should miss it; for Idyn or Mara's sake.

  Becca's last words to Idyn, ones he would never hear, lingered in her mind.

  Ivloch planned for them to leave after. She’d expected that. She hadn’t expected to leave Ballaca behind.

  “She’s recognisable and it’s dangerous. Leave her to Mara; they’ll keep each other safe in the moons to come.”

  The thought of leaving either tugged at her heart. How simpler life had been not being part of this, not caring. Her and Ballaca; their little house.

  It would have found them though, eventually. This ruddy war.

  She could recognise that now. Sitting out of it whilst the world burned isn't something she could have ever truly done.

  Being apart from Ballaca, the one comfort of the last few years would be difficult; but in an odd way worth it.

  Mara would take care of Ballaca and Ballaca, Mara. If she couldn’t be with either of them then her two best friends could be there for each other.

  He told them about his plan for Camrin. Katanya couldn’t hide her surprise as the details came out; at the plan itself or that he was sending Camrin. Despite all his problems it was something she believed he could do. If anyone believed in the cause as much as Ivloch did; it was her brother. The news of Dexter going with him meant that wherever he was currently, he was alive.

  Ivloch talked of his trip to the Black Lands. The bargain he had made which may cause trouble for them all in the moons to come.

  They would fight by his side, under his command, in the meantime, and that was worth the price.

  He talked about The Guild last.

  She thought he would stop at telling them where he was going to take the children and the others they protected. If their plan did not go well then it would be the only chance they had at survival.

  At some point Ivloch had clearly decided that he trusted Reyn and he told them. She hadn’t guessed the location and the shock from Reyn suggested he hadn’t either. That was a good thing. Hopefully The Unforgiven would think similarly.

  Ivloch was aware he would have to stop Xave from finding out. What that would mean for Mara.

  “A moon turn, and we will come to Tonkara.” Ivloch’s seriousness was infectious as he took them both in. “You’ll have to be ready to help us and not get ruddy caught before.”

  The joke was there but Katanya knew he meant what he said; he loved her, more than most, but their mission mattered. It was everything.

  Kara’s Guild’s future and that of Brodanna, perhaps even of the Seven Worlds of The Transmitted, were on her shoulders.

  She couldn’t fail them.

  Or Becca.

  Or Idyn.

  Never Kyllian.

  None of the people left alive.

  “We’re soldiers and I took a vow.”

  She was defiant to any gods she did or did not believe in and even to every doubt she’d ever had. “We’ll get the job done…imagine what a state you’d look otherwise.”

  Ivloch chuckled, an act which shook every part of his big body. Even Reyn joined in. It was a moment she wanted to remember, to seal away and never let go. Yet it couldn’t last…

  Mara stood in the doorway, none of them had noticed her enter. Her face looked drained and Katanya knew she had used her power recently...

  “We should burn him,” were her only words and a sobriety took over all of them.

  It was time to say goodbye.

  Seventy-Two - Jaxon

  He was already in the throne room when Xave returned.

  Moons of worrying had passed, but they were nothing to seeing the dark-skinned warrior prowl through the doors and straight to the King.

  Jefferson hadn’t held court in at least three moon turns so the space was overflowing with questioning nobles. The Queen’s absence had been commented on by each and every petition to Jefferson. Three men had already been dragged away to the dungeons for calling The Unforgiven that lined the edge of the room a monstrosity.

  Jax could only keep his agreement silent and hope Flern enjoyed the company.

  Shouts of annoyance came from the waiting courtiers as Xave and the King talked in a hushed manner. Jala stood at the other end of the dais and he sensed the tension in her. She would be as desperate for news as he was. Any idea on whether Reyn and Katanya had been successful or just toys for Xave’s hunt.

  Samiah was next to him, her appreciation firmly aimed at the taut muscles showing through Xave’s chain mail shirt. It was the closest he’d been to his former lover in half a moon turn.

  The King made a huffing noise which caught the attention of the creature inside Nrenna. She moved to join in their whispered frenzy and looked less than thrilled when she pulled herself back up. Another blue gown today. He was starting to really dislike the colour.

  “Wonderful esteemed citizens of Brodanna. My father has received urgent news from his general. We ask you leave silently and quickly. Your woes and questions will be answered when court is next held.” Grumbles of frustration filled the room, mixed with mutterings about Xave, the beings around them, and taking orders from a damned princess.

  None of them had noticed Nrenna was no damned princess anymore.

  They left their seats, although most ignored the first part of the order. He moved along the edges with Samiah and Jala, helping anyone who needed assistance moving or simply to impose their lack of contact with the King. The room finally emptied.

  “We will leave you now and return later to move these chairs,” he declared, aiming the statement at the Nrenna demon. The King and Xave’s attention had not wavered from each other.

  “No, you will stay. The three of you will stay. You are an esteemed commander here are you not?” Jax felt uncomfortable, worried, and relieved all at the same time. He wanted to run, worried about a trap, but the urge to know what had happened on Xave’s mission overrode all else.

  Xave finally turned away from Jefferson as Jax shuffled forward, Jala timid in his wake. Samiah had already arranged herself before Nrenna. He shifted his attention to the man on the throne. He was red faced, clearly irate.

  “You swore not to fail us Xave.” His words were cold as if from the mouth of The Unforgiven and not the crooked nosed leader. “How will we explain this?”

  “There is nothing to explain,” Xave stomped across the marble floor. “We have weakened the pathetic resistance and sent them running. Half of them are dead or dyin
g. The only thing I failed to do was bring you Kara’s chosen, and I explained why that occurred.”

  Nrenna rolled her eyes and stepped between them.

  “Again. What happened with the girl?” Xave glowered but took a step back.

  “As I told our esteemed leader, I had reasserted my control over the girl, but The Guild offered up staunch resistance, and managed to re-secure Kara’s Marked before we could extract her. They have the support of the Black Lands. We made them pay in blood. I, personally, ended one of Ivloch’s chief commanders. I had advised we deal with the Black Lands moon turns ago… advice unheeded. I also requested a larger force to eliminate this stupid Guild for good, this was denied.”

  Jax tried to show no reaction to what he was hearing. This must mean some of The Guild had survived. Xave hadn’t mentioned Reyn or Katanya either.

  “My son. Did you see my son like you suspected?” The King made no move to counter any of Xave’s previous insolence. He wouldn’t even look at the man as he asked his question, his attention rapt on what seemed to be the length of his fingers.

  “I did not.”

  Had they gotten away? Hidden? What if something happened to them on the way or Xave just wasn’t telling the truth? Jax eyed him as much as he dared. He was pacing across the side of the dais, dirt marking the length of his breeches. The usual predatory smile had gone, a frown which unexpectedly seemed more sinister in its place.

  Nrenna wandered to the King’s side, a protective hand at his brow.

  “Clean yourself up Xave. Take some time to do whatever it is that you do for fun. Your next task will be here in only a couple of moons.” He said nothing to her as he swept from their company, barging Jax as he passed.

  “I am sorry for him. He is a very emotional man Captain.” Nrenna continued to pet at Jefferson who was simply shaking his head bitterly. “We have much to plan and discuss here.” Her other wrist raised and pointed at Jala. “Little one. Go to my rooms. You will find many of my kin…relaxing…there. Bring them here.”

  Jala managed to curtsy before bolting, dread written on every hollow of her being. Jax’s heart broke for her but he could do nothing and stayed staring forward. Samiah watched her go, envy rippling through her.