“Well, you did it.”

Fin turned to grin at Jiho, though it was hard to tear his eyes off of Annika who was in the process of laughing with the Queen as the rest of the wedding party were in the midst of dancing and celebrating. The redhead had come over to join his friend after getting his ribs cracked by Hannah and the Knights who were liberal with their congratulatory hugs and back slaps. They sat further back from the group, sipping wine and sharing an amicable silence, until the Zinferan noble had fixed his old friend with a studious gaze.

“How you managed to convince the King to not only ennoble you but to make you a Viscount is beyond me,” Jiho announced while shaking his head and sipping from his glass thoughtfully.

“He probably thinks I’m going to die on that ship like I do. The nobles won’t really care about a dead man inheriting a title for a few days.” Fin shrugged, and tilted his head as he watched Annika glance over at him and smile. The redhead raised his wine glass in a silent salute.

“I don’t know about that… your King is a surprising man. He could have some other trick up his sleeve.” Jiho’s gaze roved over to the monarch who was speaking with Katelyn Ashowan.

“He might, but it depends how determined my father is to burn me to a crisp,” the redhead explained, his tone turning somewhat bleak.

“I did not create a rift between a Zinferan noble and myself just for you to die pitifully like this.” The Zinferan’s annoyed tone drew Fin’s gaze back to him.

“Pitifully? Jiho, I was knighted and ennobled twice in one night. I got to marry the most beautiful woman on the continent, who also happens to love me. What part of this makes you feel sorry for me?”

Jiho managed a brief laugh before it once again faded to a more serious expression.

“Meeting your end because of a man who you bested as a child is the part I’m thinking of…” The Zinferan’s dark eyes moved over to the aides and the Viscountess’ maid who were all still enjoying the music and free alcohol.

“Are you honestly upset to no longer be on friendly terms with Lord Nam?” Fin asked with a grin.

“One thing you are going to have to learn very quickly if you do survive, is that half of being successful in politics is getting along with some of the most atrocious people. You’re in for a rough few years in my estimation.” Jiho swirled the ruby liquid in his cup before taking a healthy drink.

“I’ll just have to learn to shut up more often I guess… luckily Annika is the smart one.”

“Lucky for you, very unfortunate for her.” Both men laughed to themselves before settling back into an amicable quiet. It was a few moments later that Jiho spoke again, his expression far more somber than before.

“Did your King discover who the spy was?”

“How did you know about there being a spy?” Fin turned to face the Zinferan with a frown.

“My dear friend, even I was questioned. Anyone who knew about the two of you had to be, remember?” Jiho reminded with a raised eyebrow.

“Right… sorry about that. No, his highness hasn’t told me about what he’s learned… but everyone is here aside from people at Annika’s estate, so perhaps there wasn’t a spy at all.”

The Zinferan noble didn’t say anything to the redhead’s speculation, but there was something in his eyes that indicated he disagreed with the notion.

“How did your mother take the news of your hasty wedding?”

Fin smiled somewhat sadly then. “Asked me over and over if I was certain I wanted to go through with it. Then said that I better come back alive and not leave my bride a widow again. After that she cried a good deal. It’s amazing that she isn’t still sobbing…”

“That sounds like Kate…” Jiho looked at his friend again, a playful glint in his eyes. “Then again if you die and leave the Viscountess a widow I might have a proper chance with her…”

A thorny vine from the hedge behind them shot out and jabbed the Zinferan brutally.

“I was making a jest!” he cried out, clutching the back of his head defensively.

“The King will take care of Annika if anything happens to me, but… if things don’t work out with the Captain and my mother… would you be able to check in on her?” Fin’s serious stare was direct, and more than a little mournful.

The Zinferan nodded gravely. “You have my word.”

“Well, I best go see why my wife hasn’t had a proper glass of moonshine- odds are high that she doesn’t want to make a bad impression in front of my mother.”

“I have heard from Hannah that the two of them are having… trouble bonding.”

“When have you been spending time with Hannah?” Fin asked with renewed interest as he stood up to rejoin the party.

Jiho gave a single shoulder shrug. “Unlike some people I can keep a secret.”

Fin cursed the man out with a laugh before he turned and strode over to his bride whom had just turned her beautiful smile to him, making him a little weak at the knees.

*

Fin clutched his head the morning after his wedding grimly. Why Annika had insisted that he keep drinking moonshine to compete with Jiho he hadn’t a clue.

All he knew was his wedding night was incredibly hazy in his memory, a fact that he thought Annika would’ve been upset about, but she had been awake before he had been, fully dressed and glowing with happiness.

“We can’t really leave this room until this evening so that no one might see us, but perhaps we could discuss what will happen once you return? Where our primary residence will be after the war, a new wardrobe for you, if you want anything changed in the estates...” Annika explained while sitting at the small table near the empty fireplace.

Fin looked up at his wife and smiled deviously despite the pain in his temples. “I’d prefer to discuss more immediate plans for the day. Why are you all the way over there?”

“Well, there is a lot that I will have to organize while you are away. I’d prefer hearing your opinion as much as possible. Besides, aren’t you in a bit of pain after last night?” Annika gave him a sympathetic smile.

Instead of him acquiescing to her like the Viscountess had hoped, the redhead swiftly climbed out of the bed, crossed the room and picked his wife up.

As she spluttered and squirmed in astonishment, he then dropped her back on the bed and placed his hands on his hips authoritatively as she hastily fixed her dress and sat up.

“Fin I know we just got married, but we don’t have to-”

“Maybe it’s because this was your second wedding that you seem to forget how these things are supposed to go, but it was my first, and I don’t intend on letting you forget that until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”

Annika’s jaw clamped shut as Fin slowly leaned down to kiss her to prove he meant what he said, when a knock on the door interrupted him.

Letting out an annoyed grunt, Fin began looking for his trousers while Annika leapt out of the bed and opened the door a small crack.

With a quick sigh that sounded suspiciously as though she were relieved, the Viscountess found herself staring at Mr. Howard who looked more than a little embarrassed to be there.

“I need to speak with…” Mr. Howard cleared his throat and looked up and down the corridor before dropping his voice. “I need to speak with the cook. It should be fine for him to be the one to come out.”

Annika quickly closed the door and retreated out of view as Fin strode over and wrenched it open. It was clear he was not pleased to be bothered so soon after forming his own plans for the day.

Shooting his wife one final smile, the redhead stepped outside into the corridor and quietly closed the door behind himself.

“Don’t look at me like that, you’ve been given plenty of time this morning.” Mr. Howard scowled as the two men began to walk away from the room.

“What is it you want?” Fin asked while keeping his voice low and reaching out with his magic to soundproof the doors they passed in case there were any curious ears that could overhear.

“You have to go to the kitchen and make arrangements for your time away. His majesty says we can’t be too suspicious.”

Fin’s shoulders slumped forward as he dropped his chin to his chest.

“Yes, yes, no rest for the wicked I’m afraid. We will let you and… her share the room again tonight, but you will need to leave early tomorrow morning with Mr. Helmer. He sent a letter to his highness this morning stating that they’ve ‘found Charles Piereva and his family’ coincidentally stowed aboard their ship.”

“They aren’t trying very hard to be subtle are they?” Fin asked darkly.

“They are not citizens of Daxaria and they are aboard a Troivackian ship… sadly there is very little we can do.”

Fin shook his head while gritting his teeth. He only hoped Annika wasn’t too distressed by the news.

“So… what are you making us for lunch?”

Fin shot Mr. Howard a flat sardonic stare.

The assistant held up his hands in defeat. “Sorry, sorry… What are you making for lunch, my Lord?”

“You’re awfully casual about my wife’s family being held as hostages,” Fin observed as the duo began descending the servant stairwell.

“They were ‘discovered’ quickly and the entire process wasn’t dragged along. I would count this as a good thing. What is there to be upset about?”

“There is the small matter of whether or not they’ve been hurt.”

The assistant stopped and turned to face the cook, his face once again serious. “There is nothing we can do about it right now, Ashowan. Sometimes we have to accept that we can’t protect everyone. Otherwise the guilt and worry will eat you alive.”

Fin wanted to argue with the man some more, but the distant murmur of voices stopped him. He sent a silent prayer to the Goddess for his brother-in-law and his family, then girded himself for the very long day ahead of him. At least he was able to console himself with the knowledge that his bride would be waiting for him at the end of it all...

*

Norman’s cold stare only worsened the bitter silence in the room as he regarded the three bowed heads before him.

Captain Antonio’s blue eye was hardened, his arms crossed and his legs braced as he regarded the three people in front of him.

“You realize the type of man you have betrayed?” the monarch asked quietly.

“Yes.”

Two out of three people answered him.

“I will not tell him before he has to leave, but I hope you know how disappointed he will be. He counts you as his friends. Except for you of course Karter Dawson," the King remarked without even bothering to look at the Troivackian Knight.

One of the other two responsible for the information leak began silently crying.

“Mr. Ashowan will be in charge of deciding your fates when he returns. Regardless of what intentions you might or might not have had, you have betrayed the confidence of your superior. We will hear your full statements once Mr. Ashowan is back with us, and until then you will be isolated in the cells below the castle. I will instruct Ruby to find suitable replacements while you are absent.”

The crying one trembled, while Karter Dawn kept his head bowed, and the third individual nodded while swallowing with great difficulty before trying to speak.

“I can only speak for him and I Your Majesty, but we… are truly sorry. I swear I did not say the name of the woman Mr. Ashowan was interested in.”

“That is enough for now. Unless there is any useful information you have for his majesty,” Captain Antonio growled menacingly.

The three fell silent yet again.

“Captain, please escort them to the cells. Baron Gauva has already been moved, correct?”

“Yes, Sire.”

With a wave of his hand, Norman dismissed the trio from his sights as he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again he sat staring at the table in front of him, his finger gently tapping its surface as he mulled over the new discovery. The smiling faces of the aides and Knights as they cheered for the cook flashed in his mind from the night before. Norman remembered how Fin had spoken and jested with them…

‘I am sorry, Finlay… Even good people make mistakes.’

After a few silent moments, a knock echoed out.

“Your Highness! I have lunch prepared for you.” One of the King’s stewards called out before opening the door and bringing forward the platter filled with two different kinds of cooled salads and chilled meats with cheese.

Norman waited as his steward set up the meal and filled his goblet with water before bowing and heading back to the door.

“Oh, and, Sire, Mr. Ashowan was wondering when his aides Heather and Peter might be returning. He said something about them needing to learn about oil fires?”

Norman’s stomach twisted as he turned to face his steward.

“Please tell Mr. Ashowan that I had to reassign their duties today due to the castle being short staffed.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Idly picking up his fork, Norman immediately went to dig into the salad, only to find that his hand was lowering on its own accord. Strangely, he wasn’t feeling particularly hungry that moment...