The Fallen Throne

Chapter 17.1 ✦ Strategy

It doesn't take very long before Kai is up to his feet again. Except for the gauze still plastered on his right forehead, he is all healthy. Yet the question still lingers for him and the others – why and how was he injured? Because that part of his memory is still missing, and Kai has no clue where to start if he wants the answers.

It is just gone; that missing piece is nowhere to be found, like it never existed.

Kai joins Alaina and the others, who are already comfortably chatting away in the centre room before he arrived. They were informed of to meet Trajan and two other people who are leading the rebellion.

"All good?" Lancaster asks when he spots Kai.

"Yeah. Only sleepy," he replies, rubbing his eyes.

"You've already slept for more than twelve hours," Alaina says.

But he doesn't say anything against her statement, or make a snappy remark about it like he usually does. Instead, he only frowns.

Lloyd catches his detached mind. "Still trying to remember?"

Shrugging, Kai opens his mouth to answer, but a voice nearby snatches their attention.

"I'm glad to see you're doing just fine." Trajan stands in front of them, with another two men following him from behind. "You gave us quite a scare, fainting so suddenly in the middle of the night," he adds, eyeing Kai with stern eyes – something Kai makes out to be more than just a firm, holding gaze, unlike Lancaster's usual glare. He tenses.

Meanwhile, Lancaster steps forward, looking very eager and glad – something Alaina is pleased to see after a long time. He approaches one of the men behind Trajan, shaking his hand as they both exchange smiles, and immediately Alaina recognises the fact that they know each other.

"Your highness, this is Clyde," Lancaster introduces, "Clyde, the Princess of Theia."

"Unbelievable," Clyde says, shaking Alaina's hand. "It is a pleasure, your highness."

But they are very surprised when they recognise the other man – Trevor the informant, back from the Lion's Den.

"Trevor?" Lloyd questions.

Still wearing the hood, he simply nods, grinning. "Glad y'all made it all the way here."

"You are a big part of this?" Rose wonders, circling him.

"Obviously."

Kai, who doesn't know Trevor like the others, raises an eyebrow in the corner, finding him shady. A very short moment later, his eyes draw back really quickly to the towering figure approaching him.

"You all right, kid? Get a little bit more iron in your diet, you might have anaemia," Trajan says, putting a hand on his shoulder.

However reassuring and gentle Trajan might think that gesture is, Kai finds it threatening. He flings the tight grip off his shoulder, taking a few steps back with furrowed brows and a death glare. "I'm fine; don't touch me."

Trajan's expression doesn't change, and there is a moment of silence as they both just glare at each other – until Lloyd breaks it.

"Wait. General Trajan, you're the one who found him and brought him into the medical wing?" he asks, noticing Trajan's statement immediately.

"Indeed. Just what were you doing out of your room so late in the night?"

"I –"

"What do you mean 'so late in the night'? You wouldn't know if he actually fainted before dinner or something," Lloyd interjects Kai, narrowing his eyes in suspicion at Trajan. Something about his statement is fishy, but Lloyd isn't sure if he is simply too cautious and suspicious. Then again, Kai's mystery still isn't solved, so he can't – and shouldn't – take anything for granted.