The King's Guard

Chapter 66

Jared had already stormed off after drills, Reyna kept pacing, and Kyna sharpened her blades like the sound alone might keep the silence from swallowing them.

Kael finally spoke. “There’s something I didn’t tell you both.”

Reyna looked up immediately. “It’s about Jared, isn’t it?”

Kyna didn’t stop sharpening. “I figured. He’s been walking like he swallowed poison.”

Kael drew in a slow breath. “I overheard him with his father. Lord Eryndor. After the banquet.”

That caught both their attention. Reyna stepped closer. “What did you hear?”

Kael hesitated, then forced the words out. “Eryndor told Jared I was standing where he should. That he needs to undermine me. That if he doesn’t obey, he’ll stop being his son.”

Kyna set her blade down with a soft thud. “So it’s not just pride. It’s blood.”

Reyna’s eyes narrowed. “And Jared didn’t object?”

Kael shook his head. “Not really. He tried to push back, but Eryndor cut him down. Told him one day I’d be discarded… and that’s when Jared would step forward.”

Reyna muttered, “That explains the look he gave you during drills.”

Kyna snorted. “Which one? The ‘I want to strangle you while I bang you’ look or the ‘Father says I’m better than you’ one?”

Reyna shot her a glare. “This isn’t funny.”

“I know it’s not funny,” Kyna said, voice level now. “But if I don’t joke, I’ll start throwing knives.”

Kael rubbed the back of his neck. “He’s been on edge since then. Every order, every correction, it just makes him worse.”

Reyna crossed her arms. “And you said nothing because…?”

“Because I thought it would pass,” Kael admitted. “I thought he’d calm down once he realised I wasn’t trying to replace him.”

Kyna leaned back on her bunk. “But he’s not angry at you, Kael. He’s angry at himself. At being his father’s puppet.”

Reyna gave her a sharp look. “You’re defending him?”

“No,” Kyna said flatly. “I’m explaining him. That’s how you spot where he’ll crack.”

Reyna paced again, jaw tight. “If he cracks, he won’t do it quietly. He’ll drag the rest of us with him.”

Kael stared at the floor. “That’s what worries me.”

Silence stretched for a moment, just the scrape of Kyna’s whetstone slowing to a stop.

Then Reyna said, “What about Archon? If Eryndor’s influencing things beyond the walls, maybe Archon’s involved.”

Kael’s eyes flicked to her. “Don’t start that.”

“I’m serious,” she said. “Archon’s been favouring Eryndor’s son for years. You’ve seen it. The extra assignments, the leniency.”

Kyna hummed. “Wouldn’t be the first time power kept it in the family.”

Kael’s tone hardened. “We don’t accuse a commander without evidence.”

“Then find some,” Reyna shot back. “Because if Jared’s taking orders from his father and Archon’s looking the other way, we’re surrounded.”

Kyna stretched her legs out. “So, to sum up: our squad’s fractured, command’s possibly compromised, and Jared’s a ticking time bomb. Lovely evening.”

Kael gave a faint, humourless smile. “That’s about right.”

Reyna rubbed her temples. “You can’t keep this between us, Kael. Darius should know.”

Kael’s reply was sharp. “No.”

Reyna frowned. “Why not?”

“Because if I take this to Darius without proof, it looks like I’m undermining Jared. Exactly what Eryndor wants.”

Kyna leaned forward. “Then what? Just wait until Jared makes his move?”

Kael clenched his jaw. “No. We watch him. Together. We make sure when he moves, we’re ready.”

Reyna studied him. “You’re suggesting a pact.”

Kael nodded. “Just us three. Quiet. No one else.”

Kyna smirked faintly. “So the boy with the Rift finally wants conspirators.”

Kael gave her a look. “Do you disagree?”

“No,” Kyna said. “I like the idea. Jared’s been a thorn since day one. If he means to betray, better to know before the knife’s in your back.”

Reyna exhaled. “If we do this, we need to be careful. One slip, and he’ll know we’re watching.”

Kael’s eyes met hers. “That’s why we do it together. No secrets between us.”

Kyna tilted her head. “Funny. That’s exactly what Jared’s father would hate most, three against one.”

Reyna extended her hand first. “Then it’s agreed. A pact.”

Kael placed his hand over hers. “For truth.”

Kyna added hers on top, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “And for survival.”

Their hands tightened together, a quiet oath made in the dim barracks.

Later, Reyna found Kael outside near the training fields. The night air carried the faint smell of ash from the torches.

“You looked ready to break earlier,” she said softly.

Kael glanced at her. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” she countered. “But that’s alright. None of us are.”

He almost smiled. “Comforting.”

Reyna shrugged. “It’s the truth. And it means you don’t have to carry this alone anymore.”

Kael looked at her, something softer in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Reyna held his gaze for a moment longer than she meant to. “Don’t get used to me being sentimental.”

He chuckled quietly.

Kyna appeared then, interrupting the moment. She tossed Kael a small roll of parchment. “Found this in the archives. Mentions Archon’s early campaigns. He’s not as clean as he pretends.”

Kael unrolled it, scanning the lines. “Half of this is redacted.”

“Which means the half they left is still useful,” Kyna said. “And it hints at choices that cost lives. Choices he never admitted.”

Reyna frowned. “You’re saying Archon’s in this too?”

“I’m saying,” Kyna replied, “there are more shadows in this Corps than we’ve seen. Jared may not be the only one we need to watch.”

Kael folded the parchment, slipping it into his jacket. “Then we start here. With Jared. With Archon. And with Eryndor.”

Reyna nodded. “We hold the line together. That’s the pact.”

Kyna smirked. “Now we sound like traitors.”

Kael’s voice was steady. “No. We sound like survivors.”

Across the camp, Jared stood in the dark alone, staring toward the barracks where their quiet oath had just been made. His father’s words rang in his ears.

“You will not be my son.”

His fists clenched. His jaw set.

And in the dark, he whispered: “I’ll prove myself. Even if it breaks them.”