In the Meantime - A Fade Retelling of Red Queen

Chapter 6

Whitefire

"Captain."

The insistence of the word drew her out of her thoughts. They were focused on the way ahead, through the tunnels of Archeon leading under the Caesar Square and into the Whitefire Palace. Already her soldiers had parted into groups, some keeping watch just outside of Archeon, while others were preparing the detonations of the bridge. Farley, of course, was going right into Whitefire with her team, to where Mare Barrow and Maven Calore were expecting her and where Shade was waiting to reunite.

"Captain," the call was repeated – by Grace Winters – and Farley finally glanced over her shoulder at Grace and her sullen face.

"We can't afford to have loud and long discussions here," Farley said sharply.

"We haven't covered this yet," Grace insisted. "Do we kill the little Tibe if he says no to Barrow?"

Farley sighed. "No," she snapped, quietly. "No."

Grace frowned. "But – "

"I know the idea's tempting, but it wouldn't help us at all. We'd only take the blame so Maven can wash his hands clean to become the new heir. He'd have to blame the Guard for an assassination, he has no other option to save himself." Farley turned her gaze ahead again, no need to ascertain Grace's probably still gloomy expression. She had considered this scenario before, and calculated the risks. They were legion, and every one of them needled her. This whole operation was incredibly rash, yet she, the other officers, and even the Colonel at Tuck, had decided it was worth it. Now her mind always went back to eventual escape plans. It was what she was used to do after all. Hit and run. Take what you can get and bring everyone – as many as you can – away to safety.

Yet in this moment, they walked straight toward a confrontation that could cost them everything, but that was the point: If Tiberias Calore VII agreed to the coup, the Scarlet Guard would stay and become his equal partner. Farley would shake his hand and start to sign treaties; she'd be the representative and the face of the Scarlet Guard in Norta – or the one to lose her head in the attempt.

She didn't know if she was elated or frightened to her bones.

"Does the same apply to the king and queen?" Grace asked in addition.

"Yes." Farley paused. "We run if Calore objects, you know which way. If he agrees and all goes to plan, the king and queen will be arrested, and awaiting trial if they don't comply. The same goes for every noble Silver." She clicked her tongue. "We've talked about that." Grace bit her lip. "Opposing Silvers will be fought," she went on, "and hopefully Calore will do that for us. So they do have the choice to follow his new orders."

Her soldiers nodded readily although their doubts and fears were visible beneath the expectant concentration. As long as they maintained the latter, Farley couldn't blame them. Was siding with the royal house and their would-be Red Queen the right option? Even if this coup succeeded, the arrangement had something tenuous. But which kind of diplomacy and negotiating wasn't like that?

Tiberias was an ally, a shining hope for change, Mare had insisted, and so had Maven. Although Tiberias had looked on as Farley had been tortured. But Farley had also witnessed the Maven's love and awe for his brother when he'd proposed the scheme, and they were another reason why she didn't intent to kill Tiberias: Maven didn't want him dead, and keeping him alive became a condition for their cooperation. That was acceptable, but she chewed on it too, that they had to rely on keeping Maven, his brother, and who knew how many other Silvers happy to get this started. Diplomacy is a bitch, she cursed inwardly. But at least negotiating was less life-threatening than fighting.