The King's Guard

Chapter 59

The forest trail curved down toward the ruins of an old watchtower, its stones scattered like teeth in the earth. That was where the trail of the mercenaries ended.

Kyna crouched, fingers brushing a scrap of cloth snagged on broken masonry. The seal stitched into the corner made her freeze.

Reyna noticed. “What is it?”

Kyna held it up to the firelight. A black and silver crest, the sigil of a rising sun over a tower.

Kael’s stomach turned. He knew it.

House Varion.

Reyna stepped closer, brows knitting. “You’re certain?”

Kyna’s voice was low but steady. “Beyond. My mother warned me of this symbol, it’s Varion, the same they press into ledgers and contracts.”

Kael stared at the cloth, jaw working. “This isn’t just mercenaries. It’s tied to Jared’s house.”

Reyna’s head snapped toward him. “Kael…”

He didn’t stop. “You’ve seen his signet ring. Same metal. Same engraving.”

Reyna frowned. “That’s a dangerous assumption.”

“It’s not an assumption if the crest matches,” Kael said tightly. “You think coincidence brought those men here?”

Kyna rose slowly, watching the both of them. “If Varion’s behind this, then the Archon’s silence makes sense. He’s covering something bigger.”

Reyna shook her head. “Or this is exactly what they want us to think. Maybe it’s planted and used to frame his House.”

Kael muttered, “Or Jared’s playing both sides.”

Reyna gave him a warning look. “You’re letting anger talk.”

“Maybe anger’s overdue,” he said, voice low. “He’s been one step ahead since Stormhaven arrived. Every lead twists toward him.”

Kyna said quietly, “We can’t accuse him without proof. You know what that would cost.”

Kael’s eyes flicked to the ruined tower. “Proof might be buried here.”

Reyna exhaled sharply. “Or buried with us if we dig too far.”

A long silence hung between them, the forest murmuring around the crumbling stones.

Then a voice cut through the stillness from behind.

“What did you just say?”

Jared stepped into the circle of firelight, eyes sharp, jaw tight. He’d been listening.

Kael met his stare without flinching. “We found a Varion crest.”

Jared’s lips curled. “No. You think you found one.”

Kyna held out the cloth. “See for yourself.”

He snatched it, glaring at the emblem. For a moment, something sharp and unsettled flickered across his face. Then a forced smirk returned.

“Forgery,” he said. “Easy to stitch a sigil onto a scrap. You think my family’s foolish enough to brand mercenaries with their name?”

Reyna’s voice was low. “The mark was real.”

Jared threw the cloth back into the fire. It curled, blackening to ash.

“You see?” he said. “Nothing left but smoke. Just like your theory.”

Kael’s fists clenched. “You destroyed evidence.”

“No,” Jared replied smoothly. “I burned trash. Don’t insult me with your paranoia.”

Reyna took a step closer, her cloak brushing the dirt. “Why so defensive?”

Jared laughed bitterly. “Because I’m tired of this. Every slip, every shadow… you all circle back to me. To Varion. As if I’m the snake in your bed.”

Kyna folded her arms. “Funny, considering you always show up where the snake’s trail ends.”

His jaw twitched. “Careful.”

“Why?” she asked coldly. “You’ll have me silenced like the others?”

He took a half-step forward, the flames throwing sharp light over his features. “You know nothing of the things I’ve buried for this group.”

Kael’s voice was steady but edged. “Then enlighten us.”

Jared’s glare moved between them. “You want truths? My house funds half of Veridale’s borders. My father’s influence keeps you fed, armed, and un-hunted. If mercenaries carry our sigil, it’s because someone wants to point the blade my way.”

Reyna’s tone was sceptical. “Or because the blade was yours to begin with.”

A muscle in Jared’s cheek jumped. “You think I hired killers to raid a village that bore my own seal? That I’d risk the Varion name for what… coin? Chaos?”

Kael muttered, “You’ve done worse for pride.”

Jared’s eyes snapped to him. “Say that again.”

Kael didn’t flinch. “You heard me.”

The air thickened. Rain hissed faintly against the dying fire.

Reyna stepped between them. “Enough. This isn’t helping.”

But Kyna wasn’t done. “You talk about loyalty, Jared, but every time the truth touches your family, you hide behind that name. Varion this, Varion that. What about you? What have you done?”

He barked a short laugh. “You think you’re the only one with scars? I grew up in a house that would trade a son for a signature. You have no idea what loyalty costs me.”

Kyna’s expression softened, just for a moment… but she masked it quickly. “Then stop acting like you’re the only one bleeding.”

Jared looked at her, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. “And what if I told you this isn’t the first Varion mark you’ve found?”

Kael frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Jared hesitated, then shook his head. “Forget it. You wouldn’t believe me.”

Reyna stepped forward. “Try us.”

He met her gaze, silent for a long time, then turned away. “You want to hunt ghosts? Fine. But don’t come crying to me when they wear your faces.”

Reyna’s voice tightened. “What do you take us for? Crybabies?”

Jared laughed bitterly. “Don’t try to accuse me blindly, girl.

Kyna’s tone sharpened. “If the shoe fits…”

“Don’t,” Jared cut in, eyes flashing. “Don’t you dare. My family bleeds for Veridale while yours whispers in Stormhaven’s alleys. Don’t pretend you’re clean.”

Kyna stiffened, but Reyna raised a hand. “Enough. Both of you.”

Jared shook his head, voice rising. “You want me to confess? To say I knew? Fine. I didn’t. I don’t. And if you think you can pin a rebellion on me because of one scrap of cloth, then you’re mad.”

Kael’s voice was steady, deliberate. “So prove it.”

Jared’s gaze snapped to him. “What?”

“Prove your loyalty,” Kael said. “Help us dig further. If your family’s not involved, then you’ll have no problem uncovering the truth with us.”

Silence pressed in. Jared’s smirk faltered, just for a heartbeat.

Then he chuckled darkly. “You think truth is something you can dig up like roots? My father sits in the Council. My house shapes treaties. You think a handful of recruits will uncover anything he doesn’t want seen?”

Reyna’s eyes narrowed. “So you admit he could be involved.”

Jared looked at her, then at Kael. “I admit nothing. Except that you’re walking blind into a game you don’t understand.”

The argument hung heavy. Kyna broke it first.

“You’re deflecting.”

Jared barked a laugh. “I’m surviving.”

Kael stepped forward, voice tight. “And if survival means siding with traitors?”

Jared leaned in close, almost nose to nose, his voice low. “Then maybe you should decide what side you’re actually on before asking me.”

For a moment, Kael thought he might draw steel. Reyna’s hand hovered near her hilt.

But then Jared stepped back, expression unreadable.

“Believe what you want,” he said. “Just remember: House Varion built the walls you sleep under. And if they fall, you’ll fall with them.”

He turned and walked into the dark, leaving silence in his wake.

Kyna exhaled sharply. “He knows more than he’ll say.”

Reyna nodded grimly. “And he’ll protect his family, no matter the cost.”

Kael said nothing. He kept staring at the embers where the cloth had burned, the ash twisting upward like smoke into the night.

Finally he muttered, “Then we find proof. With or without him.”

The next day, the squad reported to Darius.

He listened to Reyna’s account, his face unreadable. When she finished, he asked only one question.

“And the crest?”

“Gone,” Reyna admitted.

Darius’s gaze flicked to Kael, then to Kyna. “Convenient.”

Kael said firmly, “It was Varion.”

Darius studied him for a long time, then said quietly, “Careful what enemies you make. Especially without evidence.”

Jared, standing off to the side, smirked. “Wise advice.”

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Later, alone near the training yard, Reyna found Kael brooding against the wall.

“You can’t let him shake you,” she said.

Kael glanced at her. “He destroyed the only proof we had.”

“Then we find more,” Reyna said. “You’re not alone in this.”

Kael looked away. “Feels like it.”

Reyna’s hand brushed his arm lightly. “It isn’t.”

Their eyes met briefly, something unspoken sparking, before Kyna appeared from the shadows.

“There’s more,” she said flatly. “The mercenaries carried coded messages. I copied one before Archon’s men cleared the bodies.”

She handed Kael a slip of parchment, its symbols jagged and strange.

Kael unfolded it slowly. His stomach twisted.

The cipher was Varion.