Chapter Eight

The man called out, and Sébastien knocked again before he yelled. "My horse went down. I'm just hoping for shelter."

It took several seconds before Remus heard the lock being undone and the door opening. Sam mumbled.

"I'm sorry, but I was heading to Redwin, and my horse went down," said Sébastien. "I had to put him out of his misery, and Redwin is hours away on foot. I knew the Ten Knights farm was around here, so I came and saw the light."

"I'm sorry," came the voice of the older man. "Er, why were you riding at night?"

"My cousin in Redwin is sick. I was trying to get there as soon as possible."

"These roads around here aren't terrible, but there are a few holes and nasty spots that'll trip a horse at night. You're lucky you're not out there with your neck twisted."

"If I paid you, could I sleep on the floor? I don't feel comfortable continuing on foot at night. I'll leave by dawn."

"Er, where's your saddle and bags?"

"It was too heavy to carry, so I tucked it in some bushes. Hopefully, it'll be there later."

"We rarely have thieves or problems around here, so it should be. You can come in."

"Your brothers won't mind?"

"I'm not related, and they're not here right now. They wouldn't mind anyway. Redwin's quite a haul on foot in the dark. Come on. You can have a spare bedroom."

"Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I could pay you a couple of dins."

"Nah, that's all right."

Sébastien strolled right in just like he'd planned. The door shut, and the bolt was thrown.

Remus turned and peeked through the window. Sam, who appeared to be in his late thirties, didn't hide the open look up and down he gave Sébastien who was chattering away.

The men probably made good use of whores, and if a traveler happened to want to fuck, how lucky. Even though they had no desire to marry and distract themselves from their life goal of constantly improving in the art of fighting, it didn't mean they lacked the desire of a normal man.

The man blew out some smoke and smiled when Sébastien touched his arm and tilted his head in a way that seemed flirty to Remus. Whatever was being said, the man reached for his waist. Sébastien hastily walked toward a suit of armor on the side.

The inside was rather like the old hall styles often used centuries ago before the current style of Castles and Palaces became the norm. A fireplace in the center gave light. Two on the sides were out since it wasn't cold. Two long tables ran the length of the hall, and there was plenty of room in case they had others over to eat.

They had no High Table. On the back wall, a massive flag hung. The Knights weren't wrong to have a high opinion of themselves and create their own crest. The one Remus fought had proven his skill despite dying in the end. Ten swords with their points meeting in the center were fanned out in an arc on a pale grey background.

Two other suits of armor stood by the first that Sébastien was interested in. Remus was pretty sure the Knight he'd fought had been wearing the middle set. It was perfectly repaired and polished, so the other two must have also belonged to the other fallen two as a sort of private memorial.

Two entrances led elsewhere by the back wall. Around the edges of the hall, a wooden walkway ran around the second floor, and he could see doors to the bedrooms. One was surely an office. Sébastien politely covered his mouth with the crook of his arm to cough. Remus tensed, but no Paltua came out to attack Sam so they could get him tied up and dealt with.

Was he having trouble getting in? Were the windows all latched or stuck?

Sam must have still been interested since he finally got ahold of the tight waist he wanted, and his hand slid along Sébastien's corseted back. He was probably hoping to suck and fuck since he had a pretty stranger all to himself. Or so he thought. The Prince let out another cough that shook his body, and Sam stepped back as if he had something contagious.

Still no Paltua. Shit. Remus remained hunched as he tried to contemplate what to do.

Sam went back to his end spot at the table where he'd set his pipe. Remus wished he could hear what they were saying. The Prince followed and was still talking to him. Sam suddenly took him by the upper arms. Sébastien's smile seemed rather coy as he tried to step back, and the slight stiffening in his body said he didn't like that.

Sam suddenly shoved him back hard enough to make Sébastien stumble. A second later, Paltua appeared as if out of nowhere from above, landed on the Prince, and knocked him to the floor.

Remus had two thoughts in quick succession. Paltua had betrayed them. He needed to get in.

He already had his sword out of its scabbard and was about to slug the glass to break it when he decided against that. If he tried to climb in, Sam would immediately rush to attack him, and he'd be vulnerable while attempting to get through.

Fuck that.

He caught a glimpse of a blade, although he wasn't sure which of the two rolling on the floor had the advantage. Remus took off, and his boots pounded the dirt as he ran down the length of the house and toward the back. Paltua had gone there earlier and sold them out. Or Madam Diamond had. Sébastien had said he didn't trust anyone, but he'd surely been hoping they'd do this small thing.

Madam Diamond owed Sébastien, and she had her kid because of him. Perhaps it was all Paltua.

The window by the back door was big enough for him to crawl through. It wouldn't open, so he busted the glass with the hilt of his sword, reached in to undo the latch, and opened it. Sam had surely heard that, so time was of the essence. Remus grabbed the sill, and a stray sliver pierced his palm. He ignored it as he pulled himself in. All he could think of was Sébastien not being quite fast enough and already dead on the floor.

He landed ungracefully on the floor and jumped up as boots pounded the floor. Sam flew in a second later with his sword drawn and flames crackling along the blade.

Remus was already swinging. Metal struck and deflected the attack. Remus aimed for the man's unprotected wrist with the flat of his blade.

Sam shouted as bone snapped, and he dropped his sword. With a roar, Remus grabbed him by the back of his hair and shoved his head down. Sam's face had a painful introduction to Remus's knee, and blood gushed from his nose.

Someone shouted from the hall, and he kneed Sam in the gut before decking him in the face. He fell backward on the floor with a thud and lay completely stunned. That worked, but it would only last for seconds, and he'd be up. They weren't supposed to kill him either.

Sam blinked and screamed a second later when a cast iron fry pan smashed into his knee.

"Fuck! You bastard!"

"You'll live."

Remus grabbed him by the broken wrist which made Sam scream again as he was dragged across the floor.

He didn't quiet down once he'd been roughly flung into the pantry. Remus slammed the door, grabbed a chair, and shoved it under the knob at an angle. Sam wouldn't be crawling through the back door and escaping anytime soon. With both swords, he hurried into the hall. Blood streaked the floor, and a smear marked the Prince's face. He was on Paltua with a hand around his throat, and his dagger gripped in the other.

"Tell me!"

"She's not-" Paltua struggled to reach his dagger on the floor. His sword was too far. Most fairy fire won't directly harm humans so he had no burns from Sébastien's magic. The blood on his clothes showed the Prince had gotten a few stabs in.

Sébastien's dagger flashed. Blood spurted from Paltua's throat, and the Prince twisted the dagger before he practically threw himself up and off the body.

"Fucking traitors. Everyone." His sleeves had been torn, and the gold of one filigree cuff gleamed as he lifted his arm and hurled his dagger across the room. It skidded on the floor and stopped near the wall.

"Sébastien. Are you okay?" Remus tore his eyes from Paltua's body. A puddle of blood was spreading under him. "Sam's-"

The Prince whirled to face Remus. He hadn't even drawn his sword and didn't appear hurt. Paltua had multiple bloody spots and must have fought like a beast despite being a human. "Don't Sébastien me. Do you want to fucking stab me in the back too?"

Remus stopped several feet away with both swords as he stared at the Prince's face. There was no way…he blinked, expecting it to go away.

"Well?!" screamed Sébastien.

"I could have killed you two dozen times by now. You know the answer is no."

"But you think about it." Sébastien tapped his temple. His cap had come off, and his hair was in disarray. "I know you do because anger makes a man want to kill. Something needs to feel the wrath. How much do you hate me?"

It wasn't the disheveled sight of him, the blood on the floor, or even the words that had made Remus stop.

The silver of the Prince's eyes had been replaced by crimson. It wasn't a trick of the light or a reflection from the fire. They were as red as the blood clotting on the floor and as real as the Prince's rage.

"I know what you think, and you'll save yourself in the end," Sébastien snarled. "You'll leave me in the fucking mud with my throat slit if it suits you."

"Séb-"

"Or are you going to dig a grave and put me in it?"

Maxime had said he'd seen something that wasn't the Prince. Remus hadn't known what to make of that even though he was sure he'd seen the red eyes before too.

The Prince narrowed his eyes which remained red, and his fangs flashed as he spoke and pointed at Remus. "You better make that grave fucking deep so I don't claw my way back out again."

"I never planned on-"

"Fucking traitors. That's all any of you are."

For a moment, Remus wasn't sure if he should run, attack, or try to ride things out. That something hadn't lasted before, but what about now? What the fuck was he dealing with? He couldn't fix something if he didn't know the root of the problem.

His eyes fell on the one cuff he could see. South Sea magic. How often did he wear those, trapped in a home with an Uncle who wanted him dead and didn't care if it was swift or slow and painful?

"Take off the cuffs," he said.

"Or what?" The Prince lifted his blood-streaked hands.

"Can you please just do it?" Remus had a feeling the answer was no. "Take off both of them. I think they-"

"Come get them. Prince. Pry them off my cold, dead body. If you're going to bury me, no point in leaving anything on my corpse."

Remus set Sam's sword down on the table and took a few steps forward. Sébastien was already tensed, and his feet shifted while his crimson eyes watched, waiting to see what would happen first. The Prince knew how to block with the jewelry, so if he was attacked first in a physical manner, he'd block to avoid taking a slice, and Remus could actually do what he intended. If he was fast enough, he could manage it before the Prince drew his sword or used his fire.

Remus jumped forward and swung as if intending to strike the Prince's upper arm with the flat. Sébastien didn't hesitate to block, and metal clanged as the cuff took the brunt. Remus dropped his sword just as the Prince reached to draw his.

In the split second the Prince was open, he lunged again and wrapped his arms around the Prince's upper body.

They hit the floor. Sébastien managed to partly roll them and get an arm free as fire blossomed in his hand.

Elira forgive him.

Remus grabbed his wrist to keep from having fire thrown in his face, drew up a knee, and managed to roll them so the Prince was on his back. Sébastien stiffened, and his red eyes flashed as the bigger man's knee shoved into his gut hard enough to knock out his air and force him to stop moving. Remus grabbed his hair as he shifted.

"Get off!" screamed Sébastien.

Remus managed to move his head just in time as the Prince tried to throw fire at him. His panic had made him sloppy. Remus wrestled him onto his stomach. Sébastien tried to get a knee up to plant on the floor as he fought like a cat and struggled to push himself up. Remus's little extra strength helped as he held him down and grabbed a wrist.

"Stop fighting me. I'm only taking off the-"

"Fuck you!" Facing away, he'd be blind if he tried to throw fire again, and he pushed on the floor with one hand, still trying to give himself leverage. "I'll feed you to the hogs outside so they can shit you out-"

Remus yanked on the cuff, and it slid down. Getting it over the Prince's hand was a lot harder when he wouldn't stay still, and he had to be careful not to touch the fire. Some of the skin on Sébastien's wrist reddened from the scraping, and it suddenly loosened. Remus flung it away as the Prince made a sound like a wounded animal.

He went rigid as the metal thunked on wood and rolled away.

"Give me your other arm," demanded Remus. "Now!"

Sébastien didn't move or answer. His fire went out, although Remus wasn't sure if it was because Sébastien didn't want to truly hurt him, or if he'd panicked so much, he couldn't fight anymore. Perhaps it was both. Remus could only see the back of his head and had no idea if his eyes had returned to normal.

How he hated that damn stiffening. He was hurting the Prince again, and he'd never wanted to do that or make him feel trapped and helpless. Remus got off and hastily grabbed him just in case he tried to bolt for his dagger or draw his sword.

"Sit up." The scabbards hanging from their belts clacked on the floor as he pulled the Prince between his legs and got his arms around him just in time since he jerked and tried to yank his arm away one last time. "No." Remus tugged the torn sleeve up. "It's almost off. You don't have to touch them again, and it'll be over."

He pulled on the remaining cuff. Sébastien didn't ease or fight as Remus tried to be swift and gentle with it. Once it was free, he tossed it away and rubbed at the red spots on the Prince's wrist where it had scraped.

Something was seriously wrong with both pieces even though they looked so innocent where they lay on the floor. Most of the South Sea fairy magic had been something only they could do, and they'd been secretive with certain rituals. Magic that had gone wrong or was set to work under certain terms could be made into something harmful. That was considered a curse.

Hadn't Sébastien said the Regent had given them to him?

"They're gone," said Remus. "You're free."

Sébastien made a faint noise almost as if he were about to cry, and Remus clutched him tight.

"It's fine. I promise. I'm not stabbing you in the back or leaving you here at the farm. See? I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

Sébastien was about as yielding as wood, and Remus swore inside. Holding him wasn't helping, and what if those cuffs had done something to truly fuck him up that time? Remus released him and shifted to his knees while the Prince remained sitting. Remus heaved him up, but only to plant on him a bench which was crooked.

Remus crouched and raised his hands. "It's over, okay?"

The silver was back, and no red remained. It should have been a relief, except Sébastien had never looked so terrified before. He hunched over on the bench with his hair askew and the laces trailing from his sleeves like he was about to come apart at the seams. The sight tore at Remus because while he'd had a good reason at the moment and meant no real harm, he'd still been rough. Being wrestled and held down had surely brought back memories that Sébastien didn't want to deal with.

Remus was used to seeing the Prince use anger to deal with everything, not threatening to crumble under the weight.

"I'm sorry-" started Remus.

"I'm fine," Sébastien mumbled as if saying so made it true. He focused on the floor between his boots.

"The cuffs did something," said Remus. "How often do you wear them?"

Sébastien glanced up and didn't quite meet his eyes. "What?"

"How often do you wear those?"

Sébastien gave a vague shrug. The real answer was likely a lot. Remus wouldn't know since the slim metal would have been hidden under his shirt and coat sleeves. With everything laced and done with precision to smooth his lines and hide his body, no one had guessed. He likely hadn't worn them every single day, and when he did, it was another layer and a way of seeking protection.

If they somehow were fueled by his anger, or if they fed his, he might have been wearing them the night he stabbed Remus. He'd thought Remus had basically whored him out to the demon, Meph. The cuffs could have increased his rage to homicidal proportions.

They had done so again when they went to arrest Commander Martin. It had likely been easier since Sébastien had intended to get rid of the man anyway. Martin had seen his eyes, but with Sébastien's positioning, nobody else had.

"I've seen your eyes turn red before," Remus said, trying to keep his voice soft. "Maxime saw it too after the fit. I thought it was shadows or-I don't know. A trick of the light or whatever. It was the jewelry. Whoever made them did something bad or they accidentally fucked up, or…There's something wrong with them."

Sébastien blinked at the fire. "They never did anything before."

"You were beyond enraged that night-"

"Rage is nothing new to me."

"They're from South Sea, so you don't know who made them or why. Are you sure the Regent didn't give them to you to hurt you?"

Sébastien shook his head. "Father and Remere were alive then. The war wouldn't start for quite a bit. Nothing happened. I wore them many times, and nobody said anything about my eyes either."

"Okay, but they were red now, and you were livid, so I think they do something with a person's anger. Maybe if you reach a certain level…You were ready to kill me a few minutes ago. I know Paltua pissed you off, but you started accusing me too."

Sébastien shifted to put his legs up on the bench and laid back. "When I realized Sam and Paltua were in on this together I thought you'd haul ass and leave me here. Then, you came in with two swords, so I thought you were going to get revenge before running."

"I broke a window in the kitchen. If I wanted to kill you, I could have done it last night or any other number of times. I think that's obvious."

Sébastien didn't reply to that.

"What did you feel?" asked Remus.

"Furious. What else?"

"You didn't feel anything else from them?"

"What did you expect me to feel? I came here with someone to help me for money, and it was no paltry amount either. I aided Diamond when she came crying to me at the Palace because her winged husband flew off with their toddler after giving her a black eye. I sent a half-dozen winged guards to chase him down and bring her boy back. Even after that, I still can't trust anyone for five fucking minutes."

Sébastien certainly had a point there. Remus rubbed his forehead as he tried to think. When South Sea had been invaded, they tried to fight back. They'd been outnumbered, and it became clear they'd lose. Remus's great-grandfather had been King during that time, and he'd been too slow to get off his arse and do something. Nobody had thought things would actually get that far. During that whole shitshow, it was possible a South Sea fairy had made the cuffs, purposely cursed them, and hoped they'd be looted as a sort of a "fuck you" to the unlucky person to steal them, which would have been an invader.

"I guess you have no idea who made them?"

"No. Uncle bought them from a collector along with a couple of other trinkets which were harmless."

It was possible the Regent had gifted them with absolutely no harmful intentions. At fifteen, no one knew what exactly would happen, and Sébastien hadn't gone with Remere to Finkin to ask for an alliance until he was seventeen. "He only bought you and himself something?" Sébastien gave a slight hum.

"I guess you were his favorite back then?"

"You could say that."

So much for that. Remus's betrayer grew in the womb with him, and that bond had been forgotten once the crown was within easy reach.

"I won't wear them again," said Sébastien.

"Damn right, you're not wearing that dangerous shit. I'll drop them in the ocean before I let you touch them again."

Sébastien glanced at him before shutting his eyes again. "Even if Uncle didn't plan on them doing something to me, it figures I can't even have a present without it coming back to bite me in the ass. Everything comes with a price."

Remus glanced along the Prince's body lying on the bench with one knee up. If he put himself in such a vulnerable position so close to Remus and even shut his eyes, was that some kind of trust now since Remus had only attempted to help and not harm? Or was he just too fucking tired at that point to give a shit?

"I guess we won't know what's wrong with them," said Remus.

"It's not like they came with instructions on how to properly use and care for your cursed item."

Remus stood and tried to think of what to do with the cuffs. If they were that dangerous, they couldn't be left lying around. He contemplated using his sleeve to pick them up. He'd already touched them, and wearing them was likely needed.

It seemed that they intended to appear safe for a while at least, so touching them once more probably wouldn't do anything. Still, why take the risk? He could drop them in the fire, and the Prince intended to set the home ablaze later. But what if the melted gold was found? Would the curse remain?

What if the fire wasn't hot enough?

He realized the Prince had opened his eyes to watch him. Without thinking, Remus reached down and used the edge of his sleeve to wipe at the blood marking his cheek. Fortunately, it wasn't his. Still, Remus didn't want to see red on Sébastien's face ever again whether it was blood on his skin or crimson eyes.

Too late, his conscience whispered to not touch as his sleeve tried to take away the evidence of the betrayal and death. Sébastien didn't even twitch.

"Where's Sam?" he suddenly asked.

Remus pulled his hand away. Shit. "I broke his wrist and knee and trapped him in the pantry so he couldn't crawl away. He's not in good shape, but he's not about to croak."

"Good." Sébastien sat up and started trying to fix his sleeves. The laces were too torn to properly do up, so he settled for tying some of the remains together.

"Are you sure weren't cut anywhere, and nothing feels fractured or seriously hurt? Paltua jumped on you."

"Bruises never killed me before."

"I still don't think you're…in your best shape. I'll tie him up and search upstairs first. You can sit and rest for a-"

"We still have to question him," Sébastien said as some of his hardness returned. "I don't have time to stop when the Regent won't stop."

"I meant for a few minutes."

"Nothing is going to stop until one of us is dead." Sébastien swung his legs off the bench.

"Okay. When we go, we'll put the cuffs in a sack or something. Don't touch them again."

"I won't. They did save my life since Paltua fought like a beast, and I had to block a few hits. I wish he hadn't betrayed us."

The slightest flicker of guilt showed in his eyes before he started straightening his clothes and slamming the layers back into place.

"Did he say anything important?"

"I held off from killing him right away to ask if his sister was involved. He said no. He could have been lying or speaking the truth."

Sam wasn't ready to come out. Remus had to duck a jar of nuts that came flying at his head when he opened the pantry door.

"Get away from me! I'll kill you! I'll-"

"Save the threats. We've got some questions for you."

"Fuck you! I'll-"

"You'll behave or I'll break something else. I should since you and Paltua were working together."

Remus ignored his threats and dragged him into the hall. The curses turned into shouts and pleas for mercy as his busted knee was jiggled along the way.

"You better listen and do what we say, or I'll bust your other knee." Remus dropped him near the fire and caught the coil of rope the Prince had taken from Paltua's belt. "You've got other joints, and don't forget that. Would you like it if I made your good wrist match the other one?"

Sam threatened death as his hands were tied behind his back, and he was left on the floor by the hearth. It had to have been particularly painful with one wrist broken, and sweat blossomed on his face as Sébastien stood over him.

"I guess Paltua came here, told you what was happening, and said to wait. That's why you grabbed me. You were giving him a chance to get in and attack from the walkway. What did he tell you?"

Sam further paled. "He said the Prince and his slave were coming because you had some outlandish suspicion. Paltua wanted you dead because you've got a slave."

"And Madam Diamond?"

"His sister didn't have anything to do with this."

"Hmm. Why wouldn't Diamond be in on this?"

"Paltua says she's too much like the fairies here now and assimilated to everything. They don't do slavery on the Gramoan continent back on Earth, and he'd never help someone like that. She was willing because she owed you, and they'd argued over it before you arrived. He thought you were scum for the slave no matter what you did for her, and she should never aid a slave owner. You are scum. We don't have slaves on the farm or agree with your Father's law in that regard."

"Congratulations. I know not all Soleilians approve of criminal slaves or wish to own one. Is there anything else you'd like to let me know about my own Kingdom? No? Good. I'm assuming Paltua planned to kill me and release him."

"He didn't say that, but I think it's obvious." Sam glanced at Remus. "If I were you, I'd slit his throat right now and run. Are you brainwashed or something?"

"I'm quite capable of thinking for myself," said Remus. "I know what betrayal feels like."

"You don't owe him shit."

"I wish someone had helped me the night I was ripped from my bed," Remus added neutrally. Like he'd tell Sam anything else.

Sébastien looked at Paltua's corpse. "He fought as well as a Palace guard. I would have preferred if he refused to come with us at all if my slave offended him so much."

"Murderer," hissed Sam.

Sébastien brushed back a loose strand of hair. "He betrayed and tried to kill me. It was him or me, and Paltua wasn't offering other choices. I'm not the murderer."

Sam bared his teeth. "I don't know what you're doing here, but you're also shit to plan an attack on a lone man at night. Are you going to steal the weapons? Have you sunk that low? I heard you were a little shit-"

"Like I couldn't get any weapon I wanted." Sébastien let out a dry chuckle as he looked around the hall. "I don't need to rob you. Do you think I couldn't afford whatever I want?"

Weapons had been mounted all over. Remus didn't bother to take a closer look, but he could tell it was an impressive collection. Selling it bit by bit would net a decent profit.

"That's a nice attempt at deflection," continued Sébastien. "You know damn well I didn't come here to rob and murder. The outlaw life isn't for me. I want to know where the brothers went and what they're doing."

"They said they had business and left. I just stick around and help with the horses and run things when they go out. I also pay the farm workers their wages because I can't keep up with everything on my own. I'm not their brother."

"I have a feeling you know something."

Remus stepped out of Sam's sight and pointed up when Sébastien glanced at him. He received a nod.

Remus took the stairs in the corner and emerged on the walkway. He had to admit it was interesting and not a bad place to live, although it would look better if the hall wasn't a mess with a dead body.

He started searching each room. If there wasn't anything and Sam refused to talk, they'd be going to Meche while mostly blind. Some men would hold out forever. They couldn't stay too long either since they had to get back to camp before dawn.

Three rooms were cleared out, so they must have belonged to the dead Knights. The others were mostly neat with the beds made. Nothing of interest was around. Remus searched drawers and closets.

It was in the office that he struck gold. The brothers might have been fearsome fighters, but they hadn't thought to burn their letters from the Regent. Instead, they'd hidden them in the false bottom of a drawer. That was a trick that would deter a common thief looking for easy valuables to snatch, not someone looking for information to save their life.

Then again, they likely never imagined that the Prince would be suspicious enough to write to someone and find out what the Knights were up to.

He scanned the letters and furrowed his brow. Sébastien was right. Two men on the ship were to assassinate the Prince and sink the boat. That was the backup plan. The real plan would take place the night before.

The Regent didn't want Sébastien to make it onto the ship, so they were to ensure he never left the Southern Edge Inn, the largest inn in the Kingdom. It might have been the largest in the realm. Since they'd rest for a night in Meche and leave the next day, it was a good time.

Once told, the five must have left to head to the Palace. The Regent only said training and didn't give details. Remus collected everything and hurried back downstairs.