Path Of The Broken

17. Meetings-1

17

Meetings

William tried very hard not to roll his eyes as the Lord Kastler trailed after him, wringing his hands and babbling about his fears regarding the Sundered. He wondered when the man would get to the point. Or if he even had one.

“Lord Kyle’s accusations against the Order were preposterous! You need to convince the king he’s a risk to us all. He should be stripped of the protection of his rank. He’s obviously one of the Sundered now. The Order is right with their concerns.” Lord Kastler halted as he realised William had stopped, a frown creasing his forehead as he looked back.

William's eyes narrow, he closed the distance between him and the lord, whose eyes widened in panic. “Lord Kyle did his duty to the Fourth and the Crown. His loyalty is not in doubt. Be very careful of the accusations you make, Kastler.”

William turned from the lord, making a conscious effort to release his grip on his sword. He signalled the Elite, who interposed themselves between him and Lord Kastler, preventing the man from following him further.

Recognising that his response to the lord had not been not very conducive to the meeting he was about to walk into, William attempted to calm down as he approached the meeting room. The doormen, seeing his approach, opened the doors, and William didn’t fail to notice they exchanged glances as he passed them. They had undoubtedly witnessed the exchange just down the hallway. Thankfully, the personal staff who worked closest to members of the royal family were discrete. While William was sure they gossiped amongst each other, they spread nothing to the wider population of the palace. If they were found spreading gossip of what they saw and heard about the members of the royal family, they would lose their jobs. The fact that all of them received better rooms, pay and conditions than the rest of the staff helped maintain their loyalty.

William walked across the room aware that everyone was watching him; with an effort he tried to contain the irritation Lord Kastler had caused. The only bright side he could think of was that his official day was nearly over. Ignoring the blank looks of those in the room, indicating they had picked up on his anger despite his best efforts, William took his seat. He gathered his exchange with the lord outside in the corridor had been loud enough for those inside the room to hear it.

“Report. Have you found him yet?” Even to his own ears his voice sounded terse. He c****d his head to one side as Marcus grinned.

“Yes, Your Highness. The guard report we’ve found him, or at least a place he keeps going back to.” This grin was Marcus’s first since Alex had gone missing.

William felt relief wash over him. “Where is he? Is he safe?”

Marcus nodded. “He keeps going back to a small inn, The Last Stop. It’s in Amberbreak, a trade town on the tri-border in the east. Reports suggest he appears to be fine but is mostly keeping to himself.”

William felt himself relax. Finally he’d have something positive to report to his father; it had been rather depressing in his daily briefings until now.

“Do the locals know who he is?”

Marcus nodded. “The report suggests that they may, Your Highness. They say the villagers seem awfully protective and reticent. The innkeeper nearly threw them out when they asked after Alex.”

William couldn’t help but smile at the image that provoked. He shook his head. He wasn’t sure how Alex seemed to make himself welcome and accepted in bars amongst the commoners no matter how disreputable the places might be.

“Please tell me the inn isn’t populated with the more unsavoury members of our community.”

“No, Your Highness. I'm told it is quite respectable.” Marcus’s lips twitched, even though his tone was respectful, as always.

William sat back, relaxing in his chair, and thought through the options. He knew Alex. If he tried to put too much pressure on him, Alex would resist and move elsewhere, and the elsewhere may not be as pleasant.

“Send a protection detail. Strictly hands off unless needed or Alex requests help. Get money off the chamberlain, and instruct the Elite you send to make sure the innkeeper is well paid for a room and full board. Get the chest Joshua prepared and make sure it goes into Alex’s room at the inn.” William paused in his rapid-fire instructions, fixing Marcus with his gaze. “You and James will stay put here at the palace, Marcus.”

A fleeting look of disappointment flickered across Marcus’s face but he was too well trained to object.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

William shifted his glance from Marcus to the Captain of the Guard, nodded and stood.

“Thank you for your work, gentlemen. The king appreciates your efforts.” William paused as he walked towards the door, looking back at them. “I appreciate your efforts.”

William left the meeting room, grateful it was at the end of the royal wing so he didn’t have far to go to get back to his own suite. It had been a long, eventful day, but at least he’d had good news that they had found Alex alive and well. That had lifted a weight off his shoulders.

He waved off the household staff and opened his own door. Closing the door behind him, he had stripped his vest off before noticing a rhythmic slapping noise, and he froze. He looked up, his attention drawn to the couch and the spinning knife that slapped into the hand of the person sitting in it.