Chapter Text
It had been weeks since Kaiden moved in when the council called for Caelum.
“Your Highness?” called a man from outside his door.
“Unlocked,” Caelum answered from his desk. He had only a few signatures to complete that day, and finally convinced Kaiden to join him and Augusta.
Truthfully, the knight acted much older than his age. Kaiden made twenty-one seem like an age one had to earn.
Caelum couldn’t miss the forced grin that the servant held—or the unease that followed in the pits of his stomach.
“Has something happened?” Caelum stood from the mahogany desk.
The servant shook his head helplessly. “I… don’t know, Your Highness,” he sighed, “From what they told me, the council is asking for your presence.”
“My presence,” Caelum echoed.
“And your royal knight.”
Kaiden.
The council had never invited both of them simultaneously.
Caelum doubted that surprise meant anything good.
“Thank you for delivering this,” Caelum held his hand out for the note.
The servant grasped his hand and shook it once before remembering the note.
Caelum covered his laugh by clearing his throat. That had not been his intent.
“You are dismissed,” he nodded once.
The servant slipped out of Caelum’s chambers just as someone came.
“Caelum,” Kaiden sat on an armchair, “You’ve been summoned.”
Caelum rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Correct.”
“With me.”
“Also correct.”
“…Why?” Kaiden asked.
Caelum forgot about his papers and went to sit across from Kaiden in a blue arm chair. “I do not know,” he admitted.
As Kaiden turned to look at him, his silver piercings shimmered under the light. “Are we going, Caelum?”
Caelum spluttered a laugh, “Not as if we have much choice in the matter, Marr.”
Kaiden nodded once, “True.”
“Now this is the true predicament,” Caelum frowned. “Breakfast before meeting… or after?”
Kaiden hesitated, pondering. “After,” he decreed, “That way it is celebrating if it is good news, and a pick-me-up if it’s bad news.”
Caelum grinned. “At this point, you could become King!”
“I’m happy where I am,” Kaiden answered dryly.
“Let’s see if that remains fact,” Caelum stood, watching Kaiden’s attention sharpen once again.
They leave the chamber and head towards the council.
“Are you ready to aid me in our greatest defeat yet?” Caelum asked.
“Yes, My Lord,” Kaiden nodded, “Although, I’ve never met Miss Augusta before.”
Caelum blinked. He thought they were past titles.
There was no reason to worry—a title is simply a title.
“You’ll enjoy her company,” Caelum promised, “She doesn’t get cocky when she wins.”
“I assume that has something to do with pity.”
Caelum sighed, “You’re not wrong.”
They arrived at the towering doors.
Despite the air of unease that settled between the two men, Caelum couldn’t help but be intrigued. After all, what could be so important that both Caelum and Kaiden had to be present for?
Kaiden pulled open the right door, ignoring the left one for some reason.
Just as always, the royal council was engulfed in shadow, the cloth of their hoods barely recognizable.
A baritone voice called out, “Your Highness. Ser Kaiden Marr. Please take a seat.”
Caelum swallowed, “We’re here.”
He stepped forwards and pulled out two chairs, sitting on the left one.
Kaiden sat at his right-hand-side.
“What was the reason for your summoning?” Caelum inquired.
“Due to proximity concerns, Ser Kaiden Marr will be reassigned,” the same voice intoned. “Fret not, Your Highness, there will be a replacement soon.”
Caelum’s throat tightened. Replacement.
They didn’t act like they’re watching a King lose his knight.
But a person being optional.
Kaiden glanced at Caelum for a second, “My Lord.”
Caelum exhaled. “Don’t.”
The council watched, not bothering to speak. They had full confidence in their decision.
“…Caelum,” Kaiden said again.
Caelum breathed. It sounded incorrect to use first names in such a place.
“This attachment will blindside the both of you,” a woman’s voice said. Her voice lilted as if she hailed from Roial, not Shauhauna. “Additionally, it is unsuitable for command structure.”
Caelum’s eyes hardened, but he forced his voice to remain level. “He is not a structural issue.”
“Caelum. Don’t,” Kaiden murmured. Not quiet enough.
He blinked. Kaiden opened his mouth as if trying to swallow the two words and replace them into something more correct.
“Ser Kaiden Marr,” the baritone snapped, “State your position.” He pronounced each syllable, leaving no room for objections.
“I…” Kaiden swallowed, and Caelum’s heart sank.
“Ser Marr,” the woman said testily.
“I remain,” Kaiden said quickly as if it were muscle memory, clutching the fabric of his pants from under the table.
“Kaiden,” Caelum said.
Their eyes aligned. Neither looked away.
Kaiden turned to him. “Caelum.”
Someone within the eight council members wrote something, the metal of their quill scrapping against parchment.
“Decision recorded,” a pause, “Unwise.”
That was the end of the meeting, whether the council agreed or not. “Meeting concluded,” Caelum said in a practiced tone.
Instead of leaving it up to the council, Kaiden rose. “Understood,” he said, not sparing a glance for the council.
– – –
They walked out of the room in silence.
Once the larger-than-life doors slammed shut, they stared.
Not at the chamber now behind them, or at each other—
But at the staff.
They scurried around the corridors as always. As if they were unaware of what happened only rooms away.
That was the most curious—they weren’t.
“So…” Caelum started, “Breakfast?”
“Breakfast,” Kaiden agreed.
– – –
They sat up in their shared chamber, eating eggs.
“Would this be considered a celebration breakfast?” Kaiden asked, watching his eggs as if he believed a chick would pop out of the yolk.
Caelum thought. “You’re still here,” he replied, aiding Kaiden in his mission by staring at his egg as well, “So I consider this a celebration.”
“Ah,” Kaiden nodded, still staring.
“You are aware that the chicken is already dead, yes?” Caelum teased.
Kaiden’s eyes flicked up at Caelum in horror. “Caelum, excuse me?”
“You won’t be able to find any life within the yolk of your fried egg,” Caelum deadpanned.
“Ah,” Kaiden swallowed, smiling in relief.
“Once we’re done,” Caelum segued, “What is the plan?”
“You have no more events that require your presence,” Kaiden reported, “And there are two hours left to burn before we meet with Augusta.”
“Let’s play Assumptions,” Caelum stood.
“Assumptions,” Kaiden echoed slowly.
Caelum led Kaiden out the chamber and into the corridors. “Now, Kaiden,” he said, “What were your assumptions of me when you were first assigned?”
Kaiden blinked. “You seemed strong,” he answered.
Caelum flushed, “Kaiden, I cannot lift for the life of me.”
“I mean the way you rein yourself in. Self control.”
Caelum grinned, “You’re not wrong.”
Kaiden nodded, “I know.”
Caelum rolled his eyes.
“See how you had an idea of who I was despite not knowing me personally?” Caelum said, “You had…”
“…too much time on my hands?” Kaiden finished snarkily.
“Hellfire. No—” Caelum exploded, throwing his hands over his head, “Assumptions. Kaiden, you had Assumptions.”
“And where is this game played?” Kaiden asked.
Caelum dropped his irate expression. “See, my dear knight, that’s the best part of it,” he said, “it could be played anywhere.”
“You seem very intent on being unnecessary,” Kaiden appraised.
“Oh, enough of that," Caelum rolled his eyes, swallowing his grin.
“Shall we start?”
“Oh, simply because it can be played anywhere doesn’t mean it shall be!” Caelum led Kaiden to the courtyard, despite the stares of many staff.
Caelum sat on a stone bench, eyes locking onto a silk-clad man arguing passionately with a taller woman in a gown. “He’s Majaragian.”
Kaiden watched Caelum, “How do you know that?”
“The way his mouth curls over the words,” Caelum shrugs, “What do you… Assume?”
“Why do you say it like that?” Kaiden frowned before focusing on the subject. “He holds himself like he’s edging away from the woman despite his apparent anger.”
“He’s clothed like a noble, though,” Caelum pondered, “Perhaps she’s more powerful than he?”
“No—she definitely is,” Caelum corrected himself, “Her eyes keep travelling towards the carriage in the distance as if it’s hers.”
A green-clad bard with braids ran away from a redheaded man in an overcoat yelling about wine in the distance.
“Don’t all nobles have those?”
Caelum shook his head, “Not with the Majaragian taxes. Did I tell you I also think she’s from there?”
Kaiden observed them. “Man on the right fell on his leg when he was a child,” he said, “he puts weight on his left leg instead of both when he stands.”
“…That could mean something else,” Caelum said.
“Seriously?” Kaiden blinks towards Caelum.
“You’re really good at this,” Caelum segued before standing.
“Cae!” a woman yelled, “You’re early?”
Caelum pretended to bristle. “You say that so unbelievingly, I wonder why?”
Augusta tapped her chin in mock-thought, humming.
Caelum rolled his eyes, “Oh, shut your mouth.”
Augusta glanced at Kaiden knowingly, “Profanity and the King… Were you expecting this?”
“Don’t bring him into this,” Caelum argued as Kaiden nodded, “And don’t agree with her either!”
“I’m not a liar,” Kaiden joked dryly.
Augusta chucked the ball at Caelum’s chest. “Shall we?”
Kaiden nodded, fixing Caelum with a determined expression.
“I want Kaiden on my team!” Augusta exclaimed.
“How does she know my name?” Kaiden asked before turning to Caelum, “And I’d rather be on his team.”
Caelum shot Augusta with a cocky expression before she decided to open her mouth. “Sure, but to answer your question, Kaide—”
“You’re quite well known,” Caelum interrupted.
There was no reason for him to know… No reason at all.
“Losers start,” Augusta crouched slightly.
“We aren’t losers yet,” Caelum checked.
Augusta chucked the ball at his ankles and shot herself towards it. Kaiden scooped it away before she reached it.
“Smart!” she exclaimed, surrounding Kaiden.
He froze for one second. Two seconds. Calculating.
“Why do I keep you?” Caelum yelled, tugging the ball from his arms.
“Not helping your case,” Augusta teased, taking Caelum’s attention from the game.
The ball slipped from his fingers to hers as if it spiritually chose her.
Kaiden waved his hands in her face. Caelum tried to help, but he kept getting distracted by the multitude of odd faces his partner was making.
Augusta scored goal after goal, while Caelum gasped for hair between laughs.
The longer they played, the less it felt like a game and more like Augusta watching two disasters work together to destroy a kingdom.
Kaiden wiped a gallon of sweat off his brow—Caelum swears to this day the courtyard is still wet—and gets Caelum to check.
Augusta pulled the same trick she pulled at the start. This time, Caelum was ready.
He gripped the ball and stared Augusta down.
And for five seconds… It was silent.
One.
Caelum stepped backwards.
Two.
Caelum curved his hands over the ball, feeling every groove.
Three.
Augusta blinked. Surely he wasn’t actually doing this… right?
Four.
Kaiden nodded. Augusta glanced at him.
Five.
Caelum threw the ball, yelling in all the sheer terror of it all.
Kaiden froze, watching the ball soar through the air and into the net.
“Hellfire,” Caelum whispered, “I did that.”
Kaiden clasped his shoulder, “Yes!”
Caelum grinned. Kaiden kept his hand there for a while, watching the scene.
“Yes!” Augusta exclaimed, her curled blonde hair flapping around her face, “Thank the Heavens, you’re not hopeless!”
Caelum grinned.
“It is turning night,” Kaiden noted.
“See you tomorrow, winner,” Augusta grinned.
“Farewell!” Caelum said, his voice picking up a teasing lilt.
– – –
“You said you were bad,” Kaiden said once they reached the middle chamber.
“I thought I was!”
“A whole goal,” Kaiden cocked a brow. “In all my twenty-one years…”
“God, twenty-one,” Caelum echoed.
“Like that’s old,” Kaiden rolled his eyes, making Caelum gape.
“Emotion… did I just hear a note of feeling in Ser Kaiden Marr’s voice?” Caelum teased.
“Well, you’ve got too much feeling in there,” Kaiden retorted.
“So much,” Caelum echoed again.
Kaiden frowned, “No wonder why the council hired someone two years older than you.”
Caelum clutched his metaphorical pearls—perhaps he should get some… simply to better paint the picture—“Are you insulting your king?”
“Yes,” Kaiden said, “I absolutely am.”
Caelum swallowed, flushing for no apparent reason.
“That’s it for me,” Caelum stood, “Lots of work.”
“Hm,” Kaiden mused, “If two people work on it, it’ll be done faster.”
“Stick to protecting me from middle-aged ladies on the verge of killing me,” Caelum snorted.
“If I wasn’t there, you’d be dead.”