Chapter 65: Betrayal coming…

The note had lain on the table-a dagger deep in Reika's heart. "Trust no one, not even the king," she kept hearing in her mind as she sat solitary inside her chambers, the fire dancers of candlelight etching in strange rhythms upon her features so taut. The soft sound of the door broke her reverie, and Daisy entered silently, conscious of the weight this moment carried. "Still staring at that note?" Daisy asked, her tone teasing but laced with real concern. "You're going to burn a hole through it." Reika let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Whoever wrote this is playing a dangerous game. First, the Dawns, and now this… They want me to doubt Ileus." "And are you?" Daisy asked with caution. Reika straightened, her eyes narrowing. "Of course not! Ileus may not be perfect, but he's not part of this. Still." "Still?" Daisy pressed, seating herself opposite her, crossing her legs as if they were gossiping over tea rather than discussing treachery. Reika hesitated, her muttering low: "I cannot ignore the possibility that someone close to him might be feeding the Dawns information." Daisy leaned back in her chair, her face screwed up in a wry smile. "That's a rabbit hole you don't want to go down, Reika. The paranoia will eat you alive." Before Reika could say anything more, a sharp knock buckled against their hushed tones. "Enter," Reika called out. Captain Harren entered, his face unreadable. "My queen, we have found from where the ships set off last night. They came from the eastern border." The eastern border? Reika straightened her back, heart racing. "They don't," Harren agreed. "But someone powerful must be backing them. I've stationed a few of my men to keep watch, but it's only a matter of time before the Dawns realize we're on to them." "Let them believe it," Reika said with dark intent. "It will make them careless." "Perhaps," Harren said cautiously. "But there's more." Reika's eyes sharpened. "What?" "One of our spies overheard a name-'Riftan.'" That name came onto Reika like a heavy, wet slap. Reika could feel her chest go rigid, the images and all of her past just swarming forward. Riftan, her brother-the one she had sworn on innumerable occasions she would never forgive. "Impossible," Reika whispered low, her words barely heard. "Riftan is in rot within prison. Harren nodded. "And yet, his name was mentioned. We have to entertain the possibility somebody wants to use him as leverage against you-or worse, free him." Reika's fingers curled into fists as she stood abruptly and paced the room. "If they think Riftan is a weakness, they're wrong. He means nothing to me now." "Does he?" Daisy chimed softly, her eyes searching Reika's. "Because you don't sound so sure. Reika shot her a glare but said nothing. Facing Ileus It was well into the night that Reika sat with Ileus in the grand dining hall. The fireplace was crackling warmly; golden light danced across the table laden with roasted meats and fine wines. Despite the delectable meal, Reika barely touched her food. Her mind was elsewhere. I don't even know why I bother with these dinners if you aren't going to eat," Ileus said finally, the silence broken. Teasing, yet frustrated all at once. "I've got a lot on my mind," Reika said shortly, swirling her wine. Ileus looked hard at her, his sharp gaze not missing a beat. "What is it this time? She was hedging, choosing her words with care. "There's movement on the eastern border. The Dawns are building alliances faster than we thought." "I know," Ileus said calmly, spearing a piece of meat. "And I'm handling it." Reika blinked. "You knew?" "Of course. I'm not blind, Reika. I've had scouts tracking them for weeks." Her surprise turned to irritation. "And you didn't think to tell me? "I didn't want you to worry," Ileus said smoothly. "Besides, you have had enough on your plate with Riftan and… " His voice cut off as his face hardened. Her heart skipped a beat; she froze. "What of Riftan?" Ileus hesitated, for one moment his mask slipping. "There's talk of freeing him. He's been imprisoned for so very long, and some within the council believe it reflects ill on the crown. Reika's blood went cold. "You're thinking it?" "No," Ileus said forcefully, his regard flickered-just a heartbeat of time. Reika looked icily at him, warning from the note echoing through her brain : "Trust no one - not even the king". "Yeah, understood," she murmured and camouflaged her angst with placidity in her words. Ileus leaned forward, his voice softer. "You're too tense, Reika. This constant scheming, this plotting-it's eating you alive. I need you to trust me. Let me handle this war." "I'll trust you when I see results," Reika said coldly. Ileus let out a sigh, leaning back in his chair. "So stubborn. You'll drive yourself mad before this is over. Reika had said nothing. She couldn't. For one, the seeds of doubt had been sowed and she wasn't even sure who she could still trust anymore-not even her husband. With dinner over, Reika called Daisy and Captain Harren into her study. Maps covered the table, bathed in candlelight. We need to gain the upper hand," Reika instructed her in a matter-of-fact voice, low and even. "I want you to spread the word amongst the guards-if anyone even suggests releasing Riftan, I want their name." "And what of Riftan himself?" Harren ventured cautiously. "If the Dawns are using him as leverage, we have got to take out that threat." Daisy's frown deepened. "You aren't seriously considering… Reika's eyes were cold and unforgiving. "I have thought about it for a long time. Riftan was the cause of my death in the past, and now he is a weapon which the Dawns can use against me. I won't let that happen again." Daisy looked ill at ease. "Killing your own brother won't solve all your problems, Reika." Reika's voice broke, just for a moment. "Maybe not. But it will make sure he never hurts me again. He nodded and stepped back. "I'll ready the men, if you give the order, we'll be waiting." Harren was dismissed and Daisy hung back. "Reika," she whispered, "this is something that will sort of-like cross the line of no return. Reika said nothing. She turned towards the window slowly, looking into the darkening horizon. Deep inside her, she knew Daisy did have a point, though: killing Riftan would change everything. What was she to do instead? That night, Reika sat in her chambers by herself, staring at the small dagger resting on the table in front of her. The silver edge gleamed sharply in the moonlight before her. Suddenly, her door came with a knock. "Who is it?" she called. "It's me, my queen," a voice—a guard's voice—came. "You need to come quickly. There's been an incident." Reika's heart sank, and instinctively she clutched the dagger, moving out of her chambers with Daisy close behind her. The guards were in some sort of awkward stance, their eyes shying away from hers as she approached the prison. "What happened?" Reika insisted on knowing. One of them came forward, quivering. "I-it's Riftan, Y-your Majesty. H-he's g-gone." Reika went cold right to the core. "What precisely do you mean, he is gone?" "The cell had been found to be empty when checked-no signs of forced entry whatsoever. He vanished. Reika felt the blood run cold as Daisy's tiny voice whispered behind her back, "This is terrible." Reika swallowed hard, her mind racing with a thousand scenarios. Riftan was free-and she knew little about who had let him out. One thing she knew for sure, however, was. War had just begun.