Chapter Fourteen

"What's wrong?" Remus had been sitting under a half-ruined arch at a table and planning the route. Scouts would have to run around the edges and ensure no travelers got close to the main group.

A group of werewolves heading to mourn a loved one's passing was one thing. A group with two men matching the Prince's description would be odd.

Sébastien sat at the table and stared at the map blankly. "The shaman. You met her?"

"Yeah." Remus swiped his thumb across Sébastien's cheek to remove a bit of paint. It was too dry to wipe off.

"One of the werewolves said I raped her."

"Wait-what?"

Sébastien explained what happened, and Remus damn near seethed. Others with more sense had squashed the situation and kept it from growing violent. It still made him boil that anyone would say such a thing just because the shaman and her wife decided to leave. The bastard who'd accused him must have been friends with Pietro or he simply saw the Prince as rubbish.

"It's Pietro," said Remus. "He has friends, and I wouldn't be surprised if one thought accusing you of something would make him look good to Pietro and turn others away. Stay close to me while we're here, just in case. I'll tell Enrico too."

Sébastien glanced at the map. "What did you decide?"

"Just some basics."

"Tell me."

"Do you want to relax first? I mean, you just dealt with a dickhead-"

"No. Distract me."

Remus suppressed a sigh and showed him the route they'd take to avoid civilization as much as possible.

"There's a ruin near here in the woods." He pointed at a spot not too far from Norraco. "It used to be a village, and a fever ran through one winter and killed a good deal. Er, that was before I was born. The rest started leaving, so the place collapsed, and no one wanted to move in. It's not much, but it'll be a good spot for us to hide since it's out of the way. When we get near, some werewolves need to go ahead. Others can stay with us when we reach the ruined village, and they'll head out in shifts. It'll look more natural as if some heard the news and started their journey a bit before others. For this, there's no need for them to stick together in a tight group."

"Okay. What is that? Six hours away?"

"Roughly five or six on horseback depending on how fast you go. We'd leave at dawn and be there in time for lunch."

"When we get to Leraph, we need a horse for ourselves." Sébastien leaned back in his chair. "We can bring Whisper for the main journey, but I don't want to take him into the city. If anything happens to us, Quintus better not get his hands on him. I'd rather he go free or even back to South Sea with a werewolf. Wherever he's safe."

"I agree." If they died, and their new army was defeated, he didn't want Whisper being killed or kept. Whisper would fight back if a new man tried to steal him. If they caught him, they might try to break him. The unicorn had been through enough before he met the Prince.

"He can come to the Palace afterward as long as things are alright," said Sébastien.

"I'm sure they will," said Remus.

"In the meantime, we should talk to the werewolf with the fancy clothes and ask him what he's got. Maybe he can adjust things to fit us."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want to talk about earlier?"

"No."

***

The massive group made its way over the bridge a little over a week later. As soon as they crossed, those on patrol left to go ahead. They'd scout for any travelers and make sure the route was clear.

The group had doubled in size once others had joined, and a few thousand werewolves were definitely enough to get Norraco under control. Remus and Sébastien would be vulnerable inside for a while, and something happening to the Soleilian Prince worried Remus even more.

Sébastien still seemed a bit off to Remus. Nobody had brought up the wild accusation again since that had clearly been a crazy conclusion to jump to, and Sébastien said he wasn't bothered by it after a couple of days. He hadn't seemed to want any sexual contact, but he'd taken to sleeping right against Remus's side at night. With such a major event approaching, he was likely afraid and simply refusing to say it while trying to offer comfort without words.

Remus also didn't want to say it. No plan is entirely foolproof, and Remus couldn't pretend to be eager to see his twin.

When they arrived in Leraph, it was nearly evening, and Remus was looking forward to a decent bed after camping outside. Leraph had no walls, and the scouts circled it to ensure nobody snuck out.

Remus had no idea if the lord who lived there was loyal to Quintus. The werewolves didn't know either since none of them had even met Lord Lombardo. He had fought in the war for King Giorgio. That didn't mean much.

When they entered the city, several citizens fled or hurried indoors even if the nearest building wasn't their home. So many entering as a group meant there was a problem.

The Earl owned a modest home with a wall around it, and the guards hastily shut the gate and waited by it. Remus and Sébastien were more toward the middle, and the group stopped a few feet from the gate. The entirety bled into the streets, and Remus noticed more than one face peering through a window.

He could imagine their thoughts: trouble had arisen, and the werewolves were going to demand that it be made right. If it wasn't, so many could easily wipe out the town.

Remus guided Whisper closer and pushed back the hood of his riding cloak once they were in front of the gate.

"What is the meaning of this?" a guard blustered.

"Are you going to let your rightful King in?"

The guard's mouths dropped as they took in his face and yellow eyes.

"Remus? I saw you back in the war."

"If you remember me, why is the gate still closed?"

One hurried as if to open the gate, but the first snapped at him to stop.

"We can't. If King Quintus finds out-"

"Quintus is not the proper King. He's an usurper." Sébastien slipped off of Whisper's back. "If you don't believe that he's the rightful King, perhaps you'll open the door for the Soleilian Crown Prince. Or are the folks of Leraph so rude as to deny me basic courtesy?"

The first hurried for the gate and started unlocking it. The second looked at him, glanced at Remus, and started to haul ass for the house.

"Fetch him, will you?" Sébastien asked a few nearby werewolves. "He's being bothersome."

The poor man never made it to the house, and the crotch of his padded pants looked quite wet as he was dragged before Remus who led Whisper in on foot.

"I guess I can add you to the list of traitors," said Remus.

"No, no! I'm not a traitor. I promise."

"You wouldn't even open the gate for me."

"My lord-"

"It's not your lord you need to worry about."

Other werewolves moved in to secure the grounds. A face in the downstairs window watched them. Remus guessed it to be a woman who was mostly hidden by the curtain. The front door was likely locked. He let a werewolf take Whisper to the stable since the unicorn seemed to like their furry new friends.

While someone had secured the front door and planned to ignore the knocking, a werewolf found the back kitchen door unlocked. A servant was probably kicking themselves in the ass once werewolves flooded in.

"We got this far, right? No point in trying to keep this many werewolves out." Sébastien leaned against the wall in the recessed doorway.

"Anyone would try."

The front door was finally unlocked and opened. A servant screamed in the back. Remus had told the werewolves to harm no one unless they were attacked, so it was likely terror.

It turned out Lord Lombardo wasn't even there. One of the guards finally admitted the lord had gone on a trip with his adult daughter since she was courting someone. They'd be gone for a while so she could visit, and they'd likely plan a wedding date. When Remus asked who he was loyal to, the guard said Remus.

"He'll be loyal to the real King. You weren't here…and Regent Lupo is…gone."

"I know he's dead," snapped Remus. "My twin stabbed him. Or a lackey did. I'm actually not entirely sure which, not that it matters. Even if Quintus didn't do it himself, he may as well have killed him."

"I know, but King Quintus was our only option, and a Baron had to run because he spoke u-"

"He's not the rightful King," said Remus. "Do not address my brother as King again."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." The guard shifted in front of the desk. "I've never heard him say a word against you or for Quintus. He's gone about his life like normal. He doesn't share his thoughts with me. Nobody has much choice except to obey Quintus unless they want to start a civil war. A man starting one might not find he has many people on his side, or they're simply not willing to fight. A few people have said you might come back if you escaped Soleil."

"Who are you loyal to?"

"You, of course." The guard gave a nervous smile.

There was the problem with returning when a traitor sat on the throne: Anyone could now say they were loyal to Remus because he was right there. Lord Lombardo may think of Quintus as a treasonous sack of shit while remaining quiet so as to not rock the boat. He could wait and see how things go in the future.

A traitorous King better be willing to kill to keep his position. If it remains too precarious, an uprising could rip him down just as fast as he got up.

If Remus didn't appear capable of taking his rightful spot, some might stay with Quintus out of fear since it's better to be on the winning side. It was why he and Sébastien were heading to the root of the problem to start. It would also save lives and keep things short.

"Some people are hoping you return," Sébastien muttered.

"Caution pays. The guard ran earlier. He shouldn't be afraid of me if everyone here was hoping I'd return."

For now, the guards and people of Leraph could be left there. The lord had a blue dove for important mail, and she would be brought along so that no one could send her out with a warning to Quintus. A couple of hundred werewolves would remain behind to ensure no one left the Leraph and tried to beat Remus on horseback.

"How can I trust you?" asked Remus, testing the water. "I have no idea who is truly on Quintus's side."

"Your Majesty, I'm just a guard," said the man. "I don't believe Quintus's tale, and it seems far too simple. But if I spit on the name of the one who wears the crown, I could find myself in a noose. The lord could too. Many of the people whisper in secret, but they're afraid to do anything because we didn't know if you'd return. What if we spoke out, and Quintus sent men here to kill and burn the place? I'm sure Quintus has plenty willing to follow him, and if it came to a civil war..."

The naysayers might never say anything again.

"What exactly do the people here say?"

"They don't want to follow Quintus," the guard said in a low voice as if he thought Quintus might be listening with his ear pressed to the door. "We also don't want a civil war because we just got out of one, and if we weaken ourselves with another so soon…" He stopped and glanced at Sébastien.

The Prince waved a hand. "Don't let me stop you."

"He's privy to anything," said Remus.

"Well…he's-" The guard wiped at his forehead. "A lot think Sébastien is going to start another war once he's on the throne because he wants the werewolves wiped out. With civil issues, we could be destroyed in a few years because we'll have thrown our soldiers at ourselves. He could march in and sweep up the rest."

"Ah, that. Weakening yourselves less than three years from my coronation would be a bad idea if I intended to restart everything. But I don't."

The guard frowned. "You hated the treaty."

"People can change their minds about things. Besides, if you knew the Regent, you'd oppose anything he says too."

The guard scratched his head as Remus spoke. "You can go home to your family now. Nobody will be permitted inside the lord's home while we're here, and everyone is to obey the werewolves who are your new guards for the time being. In general, Leraph can continue as usual until you hear the big news."

The guard must have been expected to be locked up at least as a precaution. "I can go home?"

"Yes. In the morning, I'll speak to the people before we leave."

***

It felt good to have a proper bed. It was better with Sébastien asleep beside him. Remus was still awake when the Prince jerked awake.

"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Sébastien's voice was too stiff to be "fine." Maybe he'd slipped into a bad dream. Even though he had Remus, and a couple hundred werewolves were on guard that night, there was plenty to weigh on him.

Sébastien's breathing finally evened out again, and Remus dared to allow himself to imagine the future with them sleeping in the same bed every night. If the Prince still wanted him.

Where were they going to live? It was a bit early to start on those plans. One day…

In the morning, breakfast was quick and basic. Since they'd told the servants to go home, they looked in the kitchen. Remus said he'd make eggs since it couldn't be that hard, right? They didn't need to bring a servant in just for a meal as simple as eggs.

They ended up with toasted bread and burned eggs. At least the bread was only a little scorched.

While they sat at the work counter, Sébastien eyed the pan which had egg burned to the bottom. "That's going to be a job to clean."

"Sorry. It was my first time making eggs."

"At least it's different from stale bread and dried meat."

The werewolves were already up and loading the carts they'd brought with stores of food so they could have basic meals on their trip. A few of them were willing to cook, thankfully. When the citizens were gathered in front of the lord's home so Remus could speak, most seemed in awe of him standing there with Sébastien.

Remus kept it simple since he wanted to get going. Leraph was under his control, and they'd be leaving to deal with the usurper.

A cheer rose at that since most seemed to have gotten over their surprise at seeing him standing there. Closer citizens clamored to know how he'd gotten back and why Sébastien was with him. An idiot dared to ask if Sébastien was Remus's prisoner.

"Do you think he'd be standing next to me?" demanded Remus.

"You were sold to him!"

"The Crown Prince Sébastien freed me. He'd never had a slave before, and he wasn't interested in owning one just because Quintus decided to get rid of me. Quintus is the one who killed my Uncle, and from what I've heard, not many believe it was me. I had nothing to do with the treason that night, and I was a victim too. Once my twin is dealt with, the entirety of Rowland will be under the control of the rightful King, and we'll have peace with Soleil."

The people yelled their approval. Since they could be open with the proper ruler, several came forward and asked to fight with Remus. The open support handed out so readily warmed him, but he said no. They had a plan to get into Norraco with as little bloodshed as possible, and he wasn't risking common men since there would be basic fighting against Palace and city guards.

They could wait there and go about their lives. Werewolves would stay to protect them. He left out the part about making sure no one left or attempted to warn Quintus, just in case someone was loyal to him instead. They were taking food, and when Remus had the throne, he was sure Leraph was taken care of. If the crop failed, their lack of stores wouldn't mean they'd starve.

Since they had to get going and still had days to travel, they left. The people cheered them out.

"They were quite eager with you standing there before them," said Sébastien.

"Thankfully so," said Remus. "It's lucky the Regent didn't work out a more believable plan for Quintus. It'll be interesting to see what he has to say about that."