Crown of Blood

14.1.|| Border Barons

To say that the Border Barons were not pleased with the latest royal decree was an understatement. Unfortunately for them, Cage didn't give a shit about their feelings or what they wanted. They'd been lazing around for three decades, building their influence, and now it was time to give some of it back.

As General Harkiss had anticipated, most of the soldiers in the border armies enrolled in the king's army and were already marching towards the training camp which General Harkiss had prepared near the border. Cage was aware that this did not look good in case peace talks materialized, but it seemed pointless to march the troops to Valona just to march them back again in case diplomacy failed.

The Port Barons had been less vocal, even if Trix's growing spy network reported that they too would join a coup as long as it was organized by someone else. As it was, the only real potential threat was General Harkiss, in case he changed his mind, but Cage believed that the man had the best interest of the kingdom at heart.

He also wished he would stop sending Madeline to the Grand Palace under different pretenses just to get them in the same room.

"Lady Harkiss to see you, your Majesty," Humphrey announced.

Cage groaned. He'd been in the middle of a strategic debate with Joey and William regarding the potential use of the Endirian refugees.

"Again? Did she at least mention what it is about this time?"

Humphrey was well aware of Cage's annoyance, but somehow managed to keep a straight face and not chide him for being so childish.

"She claims to be delivering a message from her father."

The fact that Humphrey didn't believe it either was shown in his word use. Her father had runners, so if he wanted to get any message to the king, those were a lot better equipped to do so than his daughter. It just seemed that despite their conversation, Harkiss thought he still had a chance to miraculously change Cage's mind. But his antics were backing him into a corner, because he couldn't outright refuse to see her.

"You should bring her here," Joey said, a devious smile on his face.

Cage raised his eyebrows. "Are you out of your mind? I can't receive her in my private chambers. That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid."

"Maybe you should shock her into backing off." Joey shrugged. "I want to see her for myself, whether she's truly trying to seduce you."

It was so hard not to roll his eyes and Joey's preposterous idea, but he managed. "I'm not going to get her in here just to quench your curiosity."

"It could be useful. Maybe you've got this all wrong."

Cage gave him a blank look. "How could I have gotten it wrong when Harkiss specifically said I should marry his daughter before the war?"

"Maybe she doesn't want to."

"And since when does that matter?" As much as Cage hated the very notion of arranged marriage, he wasn't a fool. It was done more than half the time everywhere in their kingdom.

"She could be an ally against it if she doesn't want it," Joey said.

Cage had hoped so, too, until she started looking him up and down at her father's dinner party. But Joey did make a good point about one thing. He was so far in this mess that maybe he'd lost his objectivity. Joey could see things he had missed. And who cared about potential rumors and what Madeline and Harkiss wanted? He had made up his mind and there was no changing that.

"Okay, fine. Humphrey, have her come here."

The man nodded, though his eyes were still on Joey. Even after over a week, it seemed as if he couldn't get used to the idea that someone dead was speaking to them through a magical portrait.