Chapter 89: You'll Never Be a Good Leader

While his usual training sessions with the knight cadets were relegated to drills and conditioning, the weekend-long training exercise in the mountains east of the city left Fabian feeling energized. He often grew bored with drills, and thus he found his training with Master Pete much more useful.

However, that weekend with the knight cadets was meant to stage a specific scenario. They were required to trek through the mountains, build a camp, and survive for the weekend on their own rations and abilities. At the same time, they also had to plan a ‘rescue’ of a hostage from an old fortress in the mountains.

It was his first time experiencing a mock mission, and it drew on everything he had learned thus far and more. He had much to learn watching and taking part in the mission, but felt that he now had an edge on Connor’s experience.

Fabian walked from the knight quarters to the palace. Usually, he and Gideon were dropped off at Lycée in the morning on the first weekday, so they could spend as much time in the safety of the palace as possible.

As he reached the imperial palace gates, he showed his crystal token to the guard and was let in. He then walked across the massive lawns and walkways to get to the palace itself.

While it was relatively late, he knew Gideon would still be awake and went to report his arrival to him. Fabian didn’t go directly to his room. He slung his bag over his shoulder and went straight to Gideon’s. He knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, I’ve returned,” he said, just loud enough for his voice to get through the door.

A moment later, it opened, and Gideon peeked out before opening the door wide and smiling. “Welcome back! How did the training exercise go?”

He stepped to the side and Fabian automatically stepped into the room.

“It went far better than I thought,” Fabian told him. “I knew it was going to be a mock mission, but I didn’t know what it entailed until we were dropped off at the base of the mountain.” He took a seat in the antechamber of Gideon’s massive room. There was a notebook on the table with Gideon’s handwriting and Fabian assumed he must’ve been laying on the sofa, writing earlier.

“Tell me about it,” Gideon returned to the sofa and sat down. “Oh, do you want water? Have you eaten?”

Fabian nodded and smiled with thanks. Gideon was always making sure he was eating and drinking well. “I have, with the cadets.”

Gideon nodded, satisfied. “What was the mock mission?”

“Hostage rescue,” Fabian said. His heart quickened just thinking about it. “The hostage was kept in one of the rooms of an old fortress. It was guarded by knights on a specific rotation, and we had to survey the area, strategize, and then execute a plan with as little casualties and notification of the enemy as possible.”

Gideon smiled, looking excited for him. “Were you able to?”

Fabian chuckled. “Not as much as we’d like. We were able to get the hostage, but the enemy was alerted sooner than we thought, and we had to alter our plans.”

“How did you communicate if you were already in position?” Gideon cocked his head to the side.

“We have altered comcry devices to communicate. They’re quieter, but not that much quieter,” Fabian said. “The mission leader had us move in squads. It required the change of three of us.”

Gideon nodded. “That sounds intense. I’m excited just thinking of it.”

“I know my education is still lacking compared to the knight cadets, but this experience has shown me much. I have a better idea of how everything comes together,” Fabian told him.

Gideon let out a low relieved breath and nodded. “Do you think the training commander leading the trip will be able to submit a report of your participation to my parents?”

Fabian nodded. Gideon had been doing what he could to try to keep track of his improvement and show it to the Emperor and Empress. Gideon had his training schedule, asked Master McDouglass and the training commanders at the knight cadets to submit periodic assessments, and would gather Fabian’s strategy and conduct books. The only assessments he couldn’t get were from Master Pete.

Fabian’s liege held him in high regard and trusted him; Fabian knew he couldn’t undermine that trust and was determined to remain as Gideon’s knight.

“I believe they will be submitted within the week,” Fabian replied. “I feel more confident about La Garda.”

“I have no doubt that you will be accepted under your own merit,” Gideon told him, almost as determined. “Your technique has always been excellent, and you are improving every day. I was concerned about your master, as we don’t know much about him, but it seems he’s very skilled, as well. It puts me at ease.”

Fabian nodded. “I want you to be confident with my ability to protect you.”

Gideon’s face seemed to soften, and he reached out and put his hand on Fabian’s shoulder. “I never doubted your ability, Fabian. I never will. There may be others who are better than you now, but that is temporary. You will improve and be as good as Sir Nassaun.”

Fabian felt both relief and joy at his friend’s reassurance. “The next time I have a match with Lady Guevera, I will be sure to win.”

Gideon drew his hand back and seemed to avoid his eyes. “Speaking of Lady Guevera, I have to tell you something.”

Fabian looked a bit confused and furrowed his brows. “Is something wrong?” He knew that the two often clashed. If Lady Guevera hadn’t mentioned Prince Piers when she called about the Prime Minister’s party, Gideon never would’ve called her back.

“No, nothing is wrong,” Gideon told him. He took a deep breath. “My parents gave the imperial order to keep this information secret, so I could not tell you ahead of time. Over the weekend, I went to the delta with my brother.”

Fabian sat up straight and looked concerned. “Did they abduct you again?” Last time, he found out that Gideon had been abducted when he returned to the palace and was forbidden from following him, as Gideon was being punished.

“No, no.” Gideon shook his head, cringing a bit. “This time I went willingly. My brother was celebrating his birthday at the delta.”

Fabian’s eyes widened. No wonder Gideon went willingly. Prince Piers never had birthday celebrations due to his situation. At most, they were family dinners. Prince Piers didn’t hold any balls for his birthday. He didn’t even have a coming-of-age sixteenth birthday ball, as was tradition.

It was a pity, but Fabian knew there wasn’t much he could do about it. The first prince didn’t seem to care either way.

“It’s surprising that His Highness Prince Piers would celebrate at the delta....” Fabian’s voice trailed off, a bit confused.

Gideon let out a low breath. “Lady Guevera and her friends were throwing a birthday celebration over the weekend for Connor. By extension, since Piers’ birthday is a few days earlier, they included him in the celebration.”

Fabian frowned. “Why did you not tell me? I would’ve gone with you.”

“You had a scheduled training session and that’s important,” Gideon told him. “Imperial knights heavily guarded the entire delta. Guevera and O’Tuagh knights were also present, as Mother was in attendance.”

Fabian relaxed a bit, knowing that security was at its peak. “Next time, tell me. I’ll go with you.”

Gideon nodded. “I want to bring you the next time we go; however, I am concerned about your conduct with Connor and Guevera.”

Fabian tensed. He looked down at the table between them. He knew that he had been extremely aggressive with the two, but he couldn’t help it. Their existence made him feel competitive and he wanted to show them his skill. Fabian took a deep breath and clenched his hands on his lap.

“If I go in the capacity of your knight, I will not engage in any arguments or aggression towards either Connor or Lady Guevera,” Fabian told him. He could control himself that much.

Gideon smiled wryly and had some hope in his eyes. “I hope so, because I think you would enjoy it there. We went whale watching, up and down the river and shore, and we had a boat race. There were games and food...everyone was enjoying their time.” Gideon paused and looked down. “I wished you were there with me.”

Gideon was popular and had many acquaintances, but as far as real friends, Fabian could count them on one hand. In a way, Gideon always seemed to keep from getting too close to others. Only recently had he gotten close to Alessa and Mr. Guthry, though there had been some tension between them recently.

Fabian drew his lips inward. “Do you not want to bring Alessa or Mr. Guthry?”

Gideon looked up for a moment. He seemed to think as he took a deep breath. “I’d like to bring them, too. It’s an enjoyable place, but Guevera doesn’t have a good relationship with them, and the delta is under her authority. And if I had to choose, I’d rather bring you. I’m willing to talk to Guevera about this.”

Fabian’s eyes widened once more, and he nodded. “Thank you....”

“Fabian, after watching Guevera and her friends...they’re not that bad.” Gideon seemed to hesitate to say that, and Fabian drew his head back. He tried to find words to say, and Gideon lifted his hands. “Let me finish. I only noticed that as long as we’re not arguing, they don’t have reason to start trouble. They also seem to really care about each other....” His voice tightened. “And my brother.”

Fabian felt his stomach twist. Everyone knew how much Gideon idolized the first prince. One word from Prince Piers could dictate the way Gideon acted and behaved for weeks. It had always bothered him that Gideon’s admiration of Prince Piers was not reciprocated. The first prince was not close to Gideon.

Gideon smiled with some bitterness. “They made him cake and had a light show for him. Lady Guevera was careful to mitigate the sounds for him. You know they share food with each other?” A small, bittersweet laugh came from Gideon. “He took it directly from her plate.”

Fabian clenched his hands. He knew how much Gideon just wanted to make his brother happy and be close to him. “I didn’t know that.”

Gideon nodded. “I think...I think that if I get along with Guevera, my brother will be satisfied with me.”

Fabian snapped his head up. Considering how close Prince Piers seemed to be with Lady Guevera, Gideon’s prediction was certain. But it didn’t sit well with Fabian. “What about Alessa?” Gideon couldn’t have forgotten that Lady Guevera did not like Alessa.

Gideon took a deep breath. “I don’t know,” he said in a solemn voice. “I understand Alessa’s frustration with her project, but we’re willing to help her.” He lifted his head and met Fabian’s eyes, confused. “Why did Alessa say what the baking club said she did?”

“It’s a misunderstanding.” Fabian’s response was automatic. “The baking club doesn’t want to take responsibility for the rumors. They misconstrued Alessa’s words and then blamed her.”

“I hope that’s the case. I don’t think Alessa is that type of person.”

“She’s not,” Fabian replied quickly.

Gideon took a deep breath. “It’s getting late and I’m sure you’re tired after your mission, and we have to wake early tomorrow. I was just waiting for you to return.”

He rose from his seat and Fabian followed. He gave Gideon a small bow of his head before Gideon let him out of his room.

Once in his own room, Fabian stood by the door. The room was smaller than Gideon’s, but the palace servants had prepared it well for him, and there was fire going in the hearth to keep him warm on the chilly spring night.

Fabian closed the door behind him, and his eyes drifted to his bed. He swallowed hard and looked away. He was uncomfortable with Gideon prospectively growing closer to Lady Guevera. If he did, then that would mean Fabian also would need to get closer to her and he wasn’t sure he could stand it.

There was something Fabian hadn’t told Gideon; something Fabian hadn’t told anyone.

After the match with Lady Guevera, there was that moment when she was on top of him. His heart was racing as she loomed over, her mask against his, and her wooden rondel in his face. He had been able to see her cold blue eyes through the mask and heard her faint voice address only him.

He had not been able to get that moment out of his head, which was why he’d been trying to avoid her. Every time he saw Lady Guevera, he felt something strange and became uncomfortable. He thought, at first, that it was the antagonistic feeling of wanting to fight her and prove himself better. To show that he was a superior swordsman.

That was what he was used to whenever he saw her. He didn’t like her. He wanted to fight her. Her existence irritated him constantly.

But after that match, he’d been in a daze. All he could think about was her lithe body on top of him, and his heart pounding, amongst another physical reaction. He began to dream of doing things to her. Things he’d never even dreamed of doing with Alessa, who was kind and beautiful and perfect. He knew he was attracted to Alessa. Who wouldn’t be?

He thought of spending time with her constantly and missed seeing her while he was practicing.

What he felt towards Lady Guevera was rivalry. Some sort of twisted rivalry and that’s why he wanted to pin her down and do things he normally wouldn’t.

Fabian couldn’t tell anyone about what he felt or his dreams or his heart palpitations when he saw her. She was his rival. His enemy, no matter how good it felt with her against him.

Tori shuddered. There was a current in the air that made her uncomfortable. At first, she thought it had to do with her dropping to ninth; the lowest rank she’d had since her first exam. However, considering what she had to deal with during that time, it wasn’t as bad of a drop as she’d feared.

She was fairly certain the discomfort in the air had to do with Gideon’s upcoming birthday. As the second prince of the empire, Gideon’s sixteenth birthday was well known. This was not just any birthday. He would officially become an adult in the eyes of the empire.

Rumors abounded all over the school regarding who was attending, who wasn’t, what was necessary to be invited, and what to expect at the ball. It was going to be a large celebration. There were going to be fireworks. Preparing for those had taken up a good portion of her time recently, as Tori had to remind the Empress that notification should be sent out warning the city of not only the lights, but the sound.

Posters had been prepared and put around the city warning the residents of the loud sounds that accompanied the fireworks.

Tori had prepared noise-canceling charms for JP, Sonia, and everyone in the equestrian association because the explosions would spook the horses. Sonia then asked her to prepare some for the imperial stables at her father’s request. More people needed charms, and Tori’s hand still hurt from making them for distribution.

She had been more focused on that lately than the ball itself.

Axton told them that every young noble around Gideon’s age present in Horizon, especially those attending Lycée, would be present for the birthday ball. And, while Tori and the others knew it was happening and even had a hand in planning the festivities, Tori had yet to receive an official invitation.

In truth, she was hoping that she wouldn’t receive one. If she didn’t, she could claim that she didn’t officially get an invitation and therefore, it wasn’t her fault that she ‘forgot’ and didn’t go. There were only a few days left and Tori was trying to avoid Gideon for fear of getting an invitation. She’d also quietly avoided Piers and Axton, worried that they’d deliver the invitation in Gideon’s stead.

Tori was resigned to eating at the commons with Ilyana because of her attempts at avoiding the ball. The food wasn’t as good, but the Empress had mentioned that Ilyana would be invited, too, as a baron’s daughter and schoolmate, so Ilyana was also trying to avoid contact with anyone imperial or related to them.

As soon as the homeroom class was over, Tori and Ilyana shoved their things into their bags and prepared to run. They were almost done stuffing their books into their satchels, when a shadow fell over their desks. Tori felt her heart sink.

“Lady Guevera, Miss Agafonova,” Gideon said as he appeared in the aisle beside their desks. Tori wondered how he got there so quickly when the class just ended. “Here.”

Gideon held out two royal purple envelopes with gold foil embossing.

She knew what those were, and Tori stared at the invitations with horror and disgust.

“What are you doing?” Dimitri frowned as he stopped with his bag over one shoulder. He stood beside her desk and gave her an annoyed look. “Lady Guevera, he’s giving you an invitation. You should take it.”

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Tori snapped out of her horror and shot him a glare. “Don’t tell me what to do, Guthry.” I went out of my way to help you and you yelled at me, you little shit. Dimitri drew his head back, appearing surprised she’d snapped at him. Since they returned from break, they’d hardly had any contact, and both seemed to prefer it that way. Tori didn’t see the need to try to be polite with him after he grabbed her wrist before the break. She even told his mother what happened.

Dimitri shifted uncomfortably and looked away.

Tori took a deep breath and reached her hand forward. She pinched the corner of the invitation and pulled it towards her with a curled lip. Ilyana’s face dropped. She lowered her head and looked at the invitation. She reached out her hand and took the remaining one.

“Solidarity....” she muttered under her breath.

“It is an honor to be invited to the second prince’s Coming-of-Age ball.” Fabian was behind Gideon.

Tori shot him an annoyed look and as soon as their eyes met, his face seemed to redden, and he turned away. Tori looked back at Gideon. She gave him a curt nod.

“Ilyana and I will be in attendance,” she said in an even voice. She knew she had social obligations. Gideon seemed satisfied with this and left with Fabian and Dimitri.

Ilyana looked at Tori with a disappointed face. “Do we really have to go?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Tori said with a resigned breath. “We can’t avoid it without affronting the imperial family.” She shook her head. “At the very least, we don’t have to buy him a gift.”

Ilyana sighed, as well, and the two of them left their classroom. Ilyana opened the invitation and read the card. “It says we can bring an escort of a similar age. Maybe Henrik or Albert?” She paused. “Henrik is too lazy when it comes to these things. Albert may go.”

“Go where?” They looked up and saw Albert crossing paths with them. He gave them a quizzical look. “Where are we going?”

Ilyana lifted up the invitation and handed it to him. “Want to be my escort for Prince Gideon’s ball?”

Albert reached forward and took the invitation. He read over it and nodded. “How long do we have to stay?”

“I’m not sure. Tori?”

“I asked Mama,” Tori said. “Since she had gone to the Emperor’s Coming-of-Age ball when they were young. She said that we should at least stay until the Emperor’s speech about Gideon, a presentation of a sash and pin showing that he’s now an adult member of the imperial family, and then a prayer or something. After that, I think we can leave.”

Albert looked back at her as he handed Ilyana the invitation. “Are you going with Prince Piers?”

Tori shook her head. “I’m going alone. I’ll likely end up with Piers and Axton, anyway. Piers will only be there for a short while to show that he was at his brother’s party. With the amount of people invited, it feels like there will be quite a crowd. I don’t think he’ll want to stay the whole evening.”

“I’ll go and get my suit prepared then,” Albert said before waving towards them and heading towards his dorm.

Ilyana puffed out her cheeks. “I have to find something to wear now, too. It’s too late to get a custom gown.”

“I have plenty of dresses that can work. Come and take a look,” Tori said. “We can take it to Madam Midstrom to get it tailored. You’re taller than me, but the dresses are a bit bigger to accommodate for any tailoring, anyway.”

“Thanks, Tori.” They headed back to their dorm room and immediately began pulling dresses from Tori’s trunk. After six, Ilyana settled on one she thought would be nice and that she had jewelry and shoes for. They gathered up the dress in a garment bag and headed out to the twelfth district to get it in as soon as possible.

Tori called Nanny Rey on the way out to accompany them. The old woman met them at the front of the school with a carriage and then went with them to the twelfth district.

“What about your dress, my angel?” Nanny Rey looked at Tori with a confused look.

“I have one that fits well. It’ll do for the ball,” Tori said. She didn’t feel the need to dress up extravagantly for Gideon’s birthday. She’d just go with the dress she had been planning to wear to the Prime Minister’s new year’s party, but didn’t since she and Ewan were stuck in a snowstorm.

Nanny Rey sighed. They reached the twelfth district and climbed out. Ilyana clutched the large garment bag against her as she hopped out. They crossed the street to get to Madam Midstrom’s with Nanny Rey behind them. They didn’t make it far before seeing a familiar face, causing both young women to frown.

Alessa saw them, too. Her face paled and she instantly seemed to look towards the other side of the street to avoid them. Tori and Ilyana pretended they didn’t see her and were fine to avoid her, as well, until a man scoffed.

“What are you doing here? Come to steal more carpenters and masons?” Adrien lifted his chin and looked down at them as they walked.

Tori didn’t spare him a glance. She continued to walk as if she didn’t see him, and Ilyana stuck with her without a word.

“Hey!” Adrien frowned. He quickened his speed to cut her off. “What’s the matter? Too good to talk to a commoner?” He blocked their path and Tori grabbed Ilyana’s arm and stepped around him. Adrien moved to block them once more and froze before he finished.

A dagger was up against his neck and Nanny Rey carefully pressed it closer.

“Adrien!” Alessa looked panicked as she rushed forward, but stopped before she could get too close.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Adrien said as he slowly raised his arms. “She’s not going to hurt me out in the open like this.” He let out a mocking laugh and his eyes darted towards Tori as they reached the alley entrance to Madam Midstrom’s. “Or is she? Perhaps Lady Guevera thinks she can do anything because she’s a noble.”

Tori paused. She released Ilyana’s arm and slowly turned around.

She looked at Adrien and smiled. “If I did, do you think anyone here would come forward to admit it?” She watched the corner of Adrien’s smug smile twitch a bit. “Daybreak Garden is right there. It has the largest network of mercenaries, hunters, and soldiers in the city. And I belong to it. Who do you think they’d side with?”

“That’s not entirely true,” another voice interrupted, and Tori looked across the street. A wagon had parked just outside Daybreak Garden and Armando was walking towards them from it. “This is Daybreak Garden, my lady. You do not belong to it,” Armando said, grinning. “We belong to you.”

Tori raised a brow. She was fairly certain that Armando was just giving her support, but she took it. She looked back at Adrien.

“I don’t know what you have against me, Mr. Cow, but I haven’t started any problems for you or Miss Hart. It was you who started them with me. If you continue to do so, I will gladly finish them,” Tori said in a solemn voice. “If you stay out of our way then we will stay out of yours. We don’t have to keep meeting like this.” Her eyes flickered to Alessa. “No offense, but if I were you, Miss Hart, I would find better friends that don’t keep trying to cause problems for me.”

She gave Armando a small nod of gratitude before taking Ilyana and leading her to Madam Midstrom’s. As soon as they entered the alley, Ilyana leaned forward. “What is his problem?” she hissed in a low voice as her face reddened.

Tori shook her head. “That’s the big question, isn’t it? He must really hate me for getting in his way.”

As Ilyana spoke to Madam Midstrom and got her measurements and adjustments settled, Tori mentally calculated when she last had a run-in with Alessa and if it was likely that there were going to be some problems soon because it had been so long. Not counting her boat race with Gideon and the Empress, the last big conflict she had was with Fabian.

Technically, that had nothing to do with Alessa. That involved her losing her patience because Fabian was being a dick. Tori didn’t think that counted. Therefore, her last conflict was before winter break, months ago.

I guess we’re due for some conflict. Tori wrinkled her nose.

When they left the workshop, Nanny Rey was standing outside, guarding. Alessa and Adrien were long gone, and Tori doubted that Adrien would be the love interest who confronted her this time considering that Nanny Rey threatened to slit his throat.

“Thank you for coming today, Nanny,” Tori said as their carriage stopped in the plaza outside of Lycée to let them out.

“Not at all, my angel. We cannot let people like him say whatever they want.” Nanny Rey told her before giving them both a hug and sending them on their way.

“What do you think Hart was doing there?” Ilyana asked. “I thought the guilds wouldn’t work with her.”

“They won’t work with that cow-bastard.” Tori let out a low huff. “The twelfth district does have a lot of craftsmen. It’s possible that she was there looking for some. Not all of them are connected to the guilds.”

“Maybe she was getting a dress done for Prince Gideon’s ball,” Ilyana said. “There are many seamstresses and tailors there, too.” She looked at Tori curiously. “Do you think she’ll escort him?”

Tori shook her head. “No, Mama says they attend alone.”

Ilyana snorted. “Well, I won’t be surprised when I see her on his arm that evening.”

“Same.”

They reached the front of Lycée and could make out the open gates up ahead. There were two people standing just to the side of it. Before Tori could react, Ilyana let out a low grumble.

“I knew we wouldn’t be rid of her so soon.”

Alessa was standing with Montan. Her face was red, and she looked distraught. Montan seemed to be trying to comfort her. This could mean only one thing.

“Brace yourself,” Tori told Ilyana as they approached the gates. “We’re about to have another incident.”

“Should we just pretend we don’t see them?”

“We can only be so lucky. I’ll try to get us away from them as soon as possible,” Tori said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you.”

“Thank you.” She gave Ilyana’s arm a firm squeeze.

They didn’t make it to the front gates before Montan turned around and saw them. His face, which had been looking at Alessa gently, twisted with anger and reddened. They kept walking as he stormed forward.

“You-”

“Number one, I didn’t do anything to Miss Hart. Number two, whatever she told you. Prove it. Number three,” Tori said as she held out her fingers in front of them as they walked past without stopping. “If you can’t and are going only by her word alone, then shut up and leave me alone with your willful ignorance.”

Montan took in a sharp breath and stumbled back a step as they swept past. He looked almost stunned that she’d spoken to him that way. “You...you can’t just throw your weight around as a noble!”

Tori stopped and turned to look at him as if he were an idiot. “Do you not understand that Miss Hart is a noble, too?”

He scoffed. “You and Alessa are different!”

“Yes, we are, but that’s not my fault,” Tori said. She motioned one hand towards Alessa. “What is she crying about this time?”

“She said you ran into her in the twelfth district and threatened her friend!” Montan glowered.

Tori and Ilyana both stared at him. “Did she tell you why?”

“What does it matter-”

“It matters because she said I threatened her friend and I want to know why she thinks I would,” Tori said. “Did she tell you he was harassing us? That he tried to block us from going to our tailor? Did she tell you that at his sign of aggression, my nanny, who is an elite training commander, stepped in to stop him because she was worried for our safety?”

“From your face, that’s a no,” Ilyana frowned. “Tori and I were just going to our tailor and didn’t acknowledge Miss Hart.”

“Honestly, is Miss Hart going to cry every time she sees us?” Tori said with an exasperated sigh. “Is she going to blame me every time one of her friends causes trouble?”

“Lady Guevera, please don’t blame me....” Alessa said with a pained expression.

“If it’s not your fault that Mr. Alvere is trying to confront me, then whose fault, is it?” Tori asked. “Is it his fault for blaming me because you cried? Is that it? Is it his fault?” She looked at Montan, demanding. “Is that what happened? She looked sad and you decided it was my fault? Come on. Tell me your reason. What made you believe that I am at fault for her being distraught?”

Montan didn’t seem to know what to say. He looked at Alessa, who became even more upset. Her face incensed him further, but Tori stopped looking at him and her eyes were fixed on Alessa.

“Please stop blaming me for the slightest inconvenience to you.”

“Lady Guevera!”

Ilyana turned towards the voice and tugged on Tori’s sleeve. “Another one has arrived.”

Tori followed her gaze and rolled her eyes at the sight of Dimitri frowning as he approached them. He opened his mouth and she cut him off.

“Don’t even say anything. Whenever I talk to you, it’s like talking to a wall. You know what, Guthry? You’ll never be a good leader if you don’t even try to listen to people you don’t like. You don’t think nearly as well as you think you do. And while we’re at it: if it weren’t for the fact that I like your parents, I wouldn’t have called the guild masters to lift the ban on you. To be honest, I regret doing so.”

He took a step back and lifted his hand to his head. “I only wanted to ask what was happening.” He grit his teeth and he pressed against his head.

“I’m sure you did,” Tori sneered. She shook her head at him and Montan. “You two don’t even realize she’s using you to try to suppress me.”

“She’s not using us!” Montan shouted and rushed forward, getting between her and Dimitri. A furious look was on his face. “She is our friend! We’re defending her of our own will!”

“And I will defend Tori out of my own will,” a cold voice said behind them. Tori turned around and saw two men on horseback. Axton was closest to them with Blue River’s reins wrapped around his hand as his cold gray eyes bore into Montan. Piers was silent on his other side, observing. Axton narrowed his eyes. “Tori, Lady Agafonova,” he said. “What’s going on?”

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