“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” — Emily Bront?, Wuthering Heights

  ???

  It wasn’t everyday when Hamilton Nightray called for a full House meeting. Every single member of House Nightray had been summoned—from the active assassins to the maids and servants, and even the stewards and stablehands. Even the children.

  All of them now gathered in the main hall of Nightray Manor, where the House members were all seated in neat rows facing Hamilton Nightray, who sat at the head of the room, solemn, with his retainer seated on one side, and with the heiress on his other side.

  Dressed in the House’s colours of black and silver, the men and women of House Nightray sat in silence. Even the children of the House were wide-eyed and solemn beside their elders, their hands at their sides. For even the children of House Nightray were raised and trained to be the shadows and the blades of the kingdom.

  Rumours have been running rampant throughout Alathia for weeks now: whispers and rumours about an impending war with the Nuvelle Empire.

  And while nothing is confirmed yet, tension and fear have gripped the country like a vice. It shows in the way noble families were stockpiling weapons and provisions, and even the way soldiers were sharpening their weapons, and polishing their armour with renewed urgency.

  Even without a formal announcement from the Imperial Palace, the people of the kingdom knew the truth.

  War was coming.

  At the front of the hall, beneath the silver wolf banners of House Nightray, Hamilton cleared his throat. Then he spoke, his voice cutting through the stillness. “It’s been decided,” he said.

  One of the older House members spoke then, his tone resigned. “I believe the entire kingdom has been hearing the rumours for weeks,” he murmured. “It’s all true?”

  Hamilton’s gaze did not waver, and he nodded grimly. “Nuvelle has declared war on Alathia,” he announced. “The declaration of war arrived three days ago. The Imperial Palace had only just approved the formal mobilisation, and sent out the official notice to all towns and villages. So as of three days ago…” He let his words settle. “Alathia and Nuvelle are at war.”

  A ripple of unease moved through the hall and amongst the gathered House members. Several mouthed silent prayers beneath their breaths, and the air suddenly felt a lot colder.

  “So it has begun,” One of the older House members spoke grimly. “We knew that this was coming for nearly a year now. Nuvelle had finally been forced into a corner.”

  Hamilton nodded grimly. “All noble houses have begun preparing their lands and households for the campaign,” he said. “Most of the lords and ladies will be departing for the front within the week, as will I. Drafts have already begun for all able-bodied men and women, calling for them to answer the call of their kingdom. House Nightray would not shirk its duty. Anyone above the age of twenty-five will be joining the campaign. As the kingdom’s blades in the shadows, we will do our part to protect Alathia.”

  There were grim nods throughout the hall. One teenager, probably about the age of sixteen, raised his hand. Yulia recognised him vaguely as one of those who had regularly spent time with her and Luca whenever he was over at Nightray Manor.

  “My lord, what of those of us under twenty-five?” The teenager wanted to know. “We can fight, too!” There were nods from the other teenagers in the House.

  “I cannot send every able-bodied man and woman of House Nightray to the battlefield,” Hamilton said with a shake of his head. “Someone needs to remain behind to protect our lands and our people. I do not doubt your ability.” He looked from face to face. “That’s why I’m entrusting the protection of our lands and the people that look to House Nightray for protection to you.”

  There were murmurs of understanding.

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  “We won’t disappoint you, my lord,” The same teenager vowed, one fist over his heart.

  “Gareth will be overseeing the household affairs in my steed whilst I’m gone,” Hamilton announced, and there were nods from around the hall. By the side, Yulia’s fingers curled into the hem of her shirt. Gareth nodded solemnly. “You will take instructions and directives from him, as you would from me. And if the worst should come to pass…” Hamilton hesitated. “If the worst happens, and I don’t make it back… Protect my daughter.”

  The silence is almost eerie in the wake of Hamilton’s proclamation. Yulia’s eyes found her father’s immediately. “Father…” she almost whispered.

  Then, one of the women spoke. She was the head maid in Nightray Manor, but is as skilled and lethal as any assassin in the House, though she had since retired from active duty as an assassin for reasons known only to Hamilton. Despite that, however, no one in the House doubts her abilities.

  Even the maids and servants of House Nightray are lethal assassins in their own right, all of them sworn to the protection of their lord and his family.

  “We’ll protect the young miss with our lives, my lord,” she spoke, her voice clear and determined. There were nods from all around. “As we all swore the day she was born.”

  Hamilton’s expression did not soften, but he nodded before turning his attention towards Yulia. His daughter was staring at him with wide eyes like seeing him for the first time. “I’ve prepared you as much as I could, and ensured that you can manage the household and our lands if the time comes,” he said, his voice low but resolute. “You’re as ready as I can make you. If fate turns its back on me… If the Goddess decides to call me to Her side, you will carry House Nightray forward. You will carry our legacy. You’re ready.” He exhaled. “Just remember, Yulia… In silence, we endure. In shadow, we prevail.” Hamilton spoke the motto of House Nightray.

  Yulia nodded, her voice barely above a whisper, as she spoke the words of her House’s motto back to her father, “In shadow, we prevail,” she echoed.

  Hamilton exhaled through his nose, then turned his attention back towards the rest of his House once more. His jaw tightened, and his eyes hardened. And the members of House Nightray exchanged looks.

  If their normally composed lord looked this angry, then it means something big is about to come.

  “There is, however, another problem,” Hamilton said at last, his tone controlled, but everyone could hear the tinge of fury within his voice. His jaw tightened. “Prince Lucien.”

  Low murmurs spread through the hall as several members exchanged looks with each other.

  “What has the king done now?” One of the House members wanted to know, having a real bad feeling, judging by the look on Hamilton’s face.

  Hamilton gritted his teeth, and a look of fury flashed across his eyes. “Against my advice, and even the advice and warnings of Lord Esmund, and ignoring the pleas from the queen, the king, in all his infinite wisdom, wished to have Prince Lucien executed.”

  There was stunned silence for several moments before the entire hall erupted.

  “What?!”

  “He’s just a child!”

  “Is the king insane?!”

  “It’s official: the king has lost his mind!”

  “The man’s unfit to wear the crown!”

  The members of House Nightray were shouting over each other, fury and horror etched in each of them, concern for the boy that they’ve seen as one of their own visible in their features.

  “Enough!” Hamilton’s voice boomed across the hall like a whip, silencing the uproar and shouts. “I managed to convince the king to exile Prince Lucien instead,” he said when silence finally settled across the hall. “Before King Edric departs for the front with Queen Lysandra, he will be issuing the official decree that will name Prince Rem as Crown Prince.”

  At his side, Yulia’s eyes flashed with fury, and her hands curled into fists. Several of the House members exchanged looks, especially Gareth. This is the first time they saw their heiress truly angry.

  “That was his intention from the beginning, isn’t it?” Yulia’s voice was quiet and tinged with anger, but it carried clearly across the hall. “Strip Luca of his title. And if the king dies, Luca won’t get to inherit the throne.”

  Hamilton didn’t deny it. There is no point when all of House Nightray had known the truth for years. “I believe so,” he murmured.

  One of the younger House members spoke, his fists trembling with rage. “I don’t agree with this. I won’t stand for it!” he snapped. “We’re sworn to protect the royal family! This includes Luca!”

  “That’s right!”

  “Are we going to just sit back and let the king do this to his own flesh and blood?”

  “The king had long lost any right and claim he had to Luca the moment he laid a hand on him!”

  “Luca became one of us the moment he stepped foot into Evershade, duty or not!”

  “He’s seven! He did nothing wrong!”

  “We should do something!”

  “We should sneak him into Evershade and raise him as one of our own! No one knows his face!”

  “He and Prince Rem are identical twins! People will figure it out the moment they see him!”

  “Enough!” Hamilton interrupted the barrage of ridiculous suggestions and righteous fury from his House. “We all want to act. I know you all want to. And I understand how you feel. But we can’t do anything. If we defy the king’s decrees and commands, House Nightray will be declared traitors. All of us. Right down to the youngest child.”

  There were pale faces all around, even as looks were exchanged.

  “I understand your sentiments, I really do,” Hamilton murmured. “But even we can’t defy the king.”

  “I don’t like this,” One House member spoke with gritted teeth.

  “Neither do I,” Hamilton agreed. “So we do what we can. Prince Lucien will be sent to the royal family’s private villa near the northern border. Jonah Mitchell will be going with him as his guard. But I will send one of our own as well. As his guardian. This will be a lifelong and permanent assignment.”

  Yulia turned to her father immediately. “Then let me go,” she said at once. “I’m his guardian—”

  “You can’t, my lady,” Gareth interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. “You’re our heiress. That means your duty lies with the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince. And right now… Right now, as unjust as it is, that is with Prince Rem, not Prince Lucien.”

  Yulia’s jaw clenched, but she said nothing. Hamilton nodded. “He’s right,” he said. “I’m sending one of our branch members instead—someone that people won’t notice is missing, or there’ll be questions.”

  “Who, my lord?”

  There were looks exchanged, wondering which of them would be chosen. Hamilton’s gaze went around the hall before it landed on a quiet teen just a few years older than Yulia.

  “Ewan.” The thirteen-year-old boy blinked as every pair of eyes in the hall landed on him. “You’re to be Prince Lucien’s guardian and escort. It’ll be a lifelong posting. You’ll remain by his side. But your blade must never fail.”

  Ewan Nightray blinked, pointing at himself. “Me?” he echoed, and Hamilton nodded. “But…” His gaze went towards Yulia. “I’m the young miss’s guard.”

  “Precisely why I’m entrusting you with this duty,” Hamilton replied.

  Yulia said nothing for several moments before nodding. “Then I entrust Luca to you,” she said.

  Ewan hesitated before nodding, his voice forged with steel. “I’ll protect him with my life,” he swore.