The King's Guard

Chapter 69

Lanterns swayed above the archway in the courtyard, throwing thin gold shapes across the flagstones. The air carried that kind of stillness that only came after long training days.

Kael sat alone on the stone ledge beneath one of the tall trees, cloak folded beside him. His wrists still ached from drills. Every sound of the night felt louder than usual: the hiss of wind through the branches, the hum of distant torches, the muffled rhythm of boots crossing gravel somewhere far off.

“Couldn’t sleep either?”

Reyna’s voice came from behind him. He didn’t turn immediately; her tone made it sound more like a statement than a question.

Kael sighed quietly. “You have that effect on people. Always showing up when I’ve just convinced myself I’m fine.”

She stepped into the light. “You’re not fine.”

“Neither are you.”

Reyna gave a soft snort. “Touché.” She sat beside him, not too close, resting her arms on her knees. For a moment, neither spoke.

The silence wasn’t awkward, just filled with things neither of them was ready to say.

Finally, Reyna asked, “You’ve been quieter since the debrief. What’s going on?”

Kael’s jaw flexed. “You ever think about what we’re doing here?”

“Define here,” she said.

“This place. The Academy. All of it. We train to fight shadows. Half the time we don’t even know who the real enemy is.”

Reyna gave a low hum. “That’s the Corps. Darius says we learn by not knowing.”

“He also said knowledge is a weapon. We’re unarmed, then.”

She turned toward him. “What happened today?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Kael rubbed his temple. “Archon’s been around too much lately. Every time I turn, he’s there: watching, listening. He was with Velreth again. I heard things that…” He stopped, meeting her eyes. “It’s nothing good.”

Reyna frowned. “You overheard something?”

“Yes. I can’t prove it. And if I tell anyone, it’ll circle back to me.”

“So tell me.”

He hesitated. “I think there’s a plan… something involving the King. Archon and someone else were talking. They called it a correction. Said the throne’s gotten ‘soft’.”

Reyna’s brows drew tight. “You’ve mentioned that before. That’s treason talk.”

“I know.”

“Did Darius hear?”

“No.”

“Then you have to tell him.”

Kael shook his head. “Not yet. He’s already under scrutiny. Archon’s looking for a reason to cut him down again. I won’t be the one to hand it over.”

Reyna leaned back against the trunk, exhaling. “You really think Archon would risk it? Going after the throne?”

“I think he’d risk anything if he thought it would make him indispensable.”

Reyna’s voice lowered. “That’s not paranoia talking?”

He gave a small, humourless smile. “I’ve learned to trust paranoia more than orders.”

She studied him for a moment, then said softly, “You’re starting to sound like Darius.”

“Good,” he said. “Maybe I’ll live as long as him.”

“Or die the same way,” she murmured.

Kael glanced at her. “That’s a grim thing to say.”

“It’s a grim life,” she said simply. “And you’re not the only one watching Archon. Darius is too. You think he doesn’t notice how command shifts every time Velreth visits?”

Kael nodded slowly. “He notices. He just doesn’t act.”

Reyna tilted her head. “Maybe he’s waiting for the right moment.”

“Or waiting for someone else to make the mistake first.”

Reyna gave a short laugh. “You’re really not going to sleep tonight, are you?”

“Not unless I forget everything I heard.”

“Then talk to me about something else.”

He blinked. “Like what?”

“Anything that’s not treason or politics.”

Kael thought for a moment. “You ever miss who you were before all this?”

Her lips quirked faintly. “Before the Corps? Before learning how to slit throats quietly?”

“Yeah.”

She shrugged. “You know that story already, Kael.”

“And if you weren’t here?”

Reyna smiled faintly. “Probably running a trade caravan. Maybe running from one.”

Kael looked at her. “You’d hate it.”

“I would,” she admitted. “But it’s nice to imagine sometimes.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“Before this?”

“Yeah. What would you have been?”

Kael gave a dry laugh. “Anything but this. Maybe a builder. Maybe a wine seller taking over Sir Fred’s shop. Maybe a drunk..”

“Definitely the third.”

He looked at her, pretending offence. “That’s rude.”

“It’s accurate.”

They both chuckled.

After a moment, Reyna’s tone shifted. “You said you overheard Archon. You trust me enough to tell me that. So tell me this, what are you actually afraid of?”

Kael looked down at his hands. “Losing control. Not just of the Rift… of myself. Every time I use it, I feel less... human.”

“You are human,” she said quietly.

“Tell that to the air when it folds around me.”

“Then maybe you’re something more.”

He shook his head. “Or something less.”

Reyna’s voice softened. “You’ve held this squad together since Darius started pulling double duties. You’re not falling apart, Kael. You’re changing. We all are.”

He glanced at her again. “You really think that’s a good thing?”

“I think it’s the only thing.”

Wind stirred the tree branches, scattering a few leaves onto the stones. Reyna brushed one from her lap.

Kael watched her in silence. The flicker of lamplight caught the line of her jaw, the shadow beneath her lashes. He realised then how rare it was to see her unguarded.

“Reyna.”

She looked at him. “Hm?”

He hesitated, eyes lingering on hers. “Forget it.”

“No, go on.”

“It’s nothing. Just…thanks. For not letting me drown in my head.”

She smiled faintly. “You’re welcome. Though I didn’t do much.”

“You stayed. That’s something.”

“Don’t make it sound sentimental.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were,” she said, smiling.

He couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped, but it faded into quiet.

Then, almost without thought, he reached for her hand. She didn’t pull away; her fingers were warm, rough from the hilt, and still.

For a long moment, neither moved.

The world outside the courtyard felt miles away. No Archon, no Darius, no whispered plots, only the hush of breath between them.

Reyna’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Kael...”

He looked at her and for once there wasn’t any armour in her expression. No command, no guarded deflection. Just her.

“Tell me to stop,” he said quietly.

She didn’t.

So he leaned in, slow, uncertain, close enough to feel her breath catch before their lips met. The kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t risk.

It lasted only a heartbeat, maybe two, before Reyna drew back slightly.

“That was reckless,” she murmured.

“Everything worth doing is,” Kael replied, voice low.

She exhaled, a faint, almost rueful smile curving her lips. “Don’t make a habit of it.”

“No promises.”

Reyna shook her head, but her gaze lingered… softer now, steadier. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re predictable,” he said.

“In what way?”

“You always walk away before I can think too much.”

She stood, brushing off her trousers. “If Archon’s planning something, we’ll find out. Just… don’t carry it alone.”

Kael looked up at her. “You saying that as a friend or a teammate?”

She met his eyes. “Both…or even more.”

He nodded once. “Even more, hmmm? Then I’ll try.”

Reyna turned to leave, then stopped. “Kael.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Next time you can’t sleep, don’t wait for me to find you.”

“Then how will I know you’ll show up?”

“You won’t,” she said, smirking faintly. “That’s the point.”

She walked away, boots tapping lightly against the stone. Kael watched until she disappeared through the archway.

When she was gone, he leaned back against the tree and exhaled. The night felt colder suddenly, quieter. He looked up at the stars and whispered to himself.

> “If the world’s about to break, I just hope I see it coming.”