Godwin and Zishang sat a golden-rimmed rounded table, empty wine glasses at each chair. The council room was more of a library, bookshelves and large windows on every wall.

  “Did you send for everyone like I asked for,” Godwin said. “You should let them know their king is waiting.”

  “Yes, my king,” Zishang said. “All except one, my king, I was unable to find your little brother in his chambers.”

  “Have you tried his usual hiding spots?”

  “Of course, my king, he is nowhere to be found. I gave word to the other guards to pass your message to him if they see him.”

  “Initiative, I like it. This is why I made you a part of this council, I see great potential in you, perhaps one day you shall ascend out from Bianca’s Bastards and serve me directly just as Bianca does.”

  “I would be honoured, my king.”

  The door to the council made a harsh squeak as it scraped open and was closed by the outside guards. Bianca was first to enter, tired, annoyed that King Godwin had summoned her from her chamber at such an ungodly hour.

  Bianca Lython was often underestimated, her only scar of battle being a tiny nick on her chin which she never revealed the origin of. She favoured comfort over armour, always wearing snug clothing in red to show her allegiance. She had hair like orange hair, triple braids, claiming she chose three over one to bring fortune to the three Valan brothers she considered here own blood.

  “This could’ve waited until morning,” she said. “But your rude summoning lead to me reading a report I wouldn’t have read until the sun rose. There is terrible news from Lakevalor.”

  “You may say it when the table is full,” Godwin said. “And we have discussed this, Bianca, you refer to me as ‘my king’ in public and in private.”

  “Eat my ass, Godwin,” she said with a yawn, sitting down in the cushioned chair. “I shall happily be formal to you in front of others and peasants, but in the privacy of this council or any other place I will give you no special treatment.”

  “You mock me in front of Zishang.”

  Bianca reached for a bowl of sweet green grapes and ate them as she spoke. “We can settle it over an arm wrestle if you’d like. My arm is a bit sore today, you’d have the advantage.”

  “There will be no need, mocking has always been your way to show loyalty since, must’ve learned it from my father.”

  Bianca hummed in agreement and kept eating.

  Harren was the next to enter. He was a year younger than Godwin but they shared faces like twins that entered the world together.

  He was painted in a different palette to the king, blue instead of gold, the colour of his mother rather than his father. He too wielded a mighty God Arm, constantly swapping it from his full side to the other, which had a nasty amputation just below his elbow, given by his own father gave to him as an extreme punishment for stabbing his little brother Stroke in the thigh when they were both teens. He refused to display the lost arm, forging a gauntlet and sickle that slotted onto his stump, made from black steel and godsteel.

  Godwin rose and greeted his brother with a hug, seating him next to Bianca. “You look tired,” Godwin said. “Is Mara awake?”

  Harren gestured to the door as she walking in. Mara Valan was his ‘unofficial’ wife. They had been engaged for years, never having the ceremony. She had a slightly deeper complexion than most, each strand of hair brought into one of dozens of braids. She had striking brown eyes, covered in freckles from head to toe, and never wore anything other than white silk dresses. She was often referred to by both Harren and the peasants as the most beautiful woman to walk in Vatanil, however it was likely the commonfolk only agreed out of fear of Harren’s wrath.

  She sat between Godwin and Zishang, stretching her arms in the sky and practically revealing her entire chest to Zishang.

  Harren glared at Zishang’s eyes with a smirk, resting his sickle threateningly on the table.

  When her stretch was finished, she fixed her dress and settled into the chair, running a teasing hand up Zishang’s arm. “You look handsome today, Captain Zishang,” she said.

  Zishang kept his eyes locked with Harren’s. “Thank you dearly, princess, Harren is a lucky man to have you.”

  Harren gave a firm nod, removing his sickle from the table and keeping it beneath the table.

  The last enter was Killian. You already know enough about the brute to know he’s seen as a lapdog and nothing more. He saw the empty chair and went to sit in it.

  “I did not say you could sit,” Godwin growled. “That chair is for my little brother, should he show. You are not here to discuss, you are here to answer my demands—fetch wine, pour us glasses, stand in the corner and don’t bark unless I throw you a stick.”

  “Yes, my king,” Killian forced. “At your service.”

  He poured them all glasses and then guard the door.

  Godwin took a sip then slammed a fist down onto the table after a moment of silence.

  “Having a tantrum?” Bianca joked. “Perhaps I should withhold my news then.”

  “Make it fast, I need to know everything before I make a single decision on what to do.”

  Bianca explained the contents of the report she had received. Godwin’s face soured with each word. She told him of Lakevalor, how the castle at the centre of the city had been torched by a fire that could’ve only came from Hell; she told him that the peasant’s homes were obliterated in a fierce battle and claimed the lives of some that dared to stay above ground during the storm.

  The one that struck him the most was the death of Finnso. He didn’t care much for the fat oaf, but he was tasked with protecting one of several hoards of wealth that belonged to the Valan family, deliberately placing it in the city with no crime to keep it secure.

  “How horrible,” Mara moaned. “A dragon attack and a burned city all in a few days.”

  Godwin was furious. “Those dirty cambions,” he snarled. “This is a declaration of war, we must find a portal to Hell and slaughter all of those dirty pigs and finish the job from when Naveen failed to rip them out at their roots.”

  Bianca took a sip of wine. “That’s a rash decision. A whole race of demons is not responsible for the actions of one.”

  “They hit one of our hoards!” he yelled. “Left in the safety of a man under your control, Killian, what do you have to say?”

  “Nothing, my king,” Killian said low. “I thought he would be able to keep it safe.”

  “You thought? YOU THOUGHT? Look at where thinking has gotten us—our largest stash, gone! The cambions kidnapped one of our own!”

  “They have her?” Bianca said in disbelief. “Killian failed? I was under the impression that he succeeded and she was returned safely to Stroke this morning? I thought that was the reason for his sudden absence, busy with her.”

  “My little brother was always busy with that whore,” Harren snarled. “This city has been cleaner without her spreading her legs for every man that looks her way.”

  “Those are just rumours,” Bianca said. “You of all should know that rumours damage and hurt when there’s no proof. Remember when some claimed your wife was a whore?”

  “You dare remind me of such a lie?” Harren growled. “I killed any that spoke those filthy words.”

  “Does it not speak for itself that Stroke never put any to death for spreading the vile claim? In my experience, the innocent won’t silence those that repeat the words… they have nothing to prove if they didn’t do it.”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  “Are you calling me a harlot?” Mara asked. “That is bold to say while my husband sits next to you.”

  “I would rather have words put in my mouth instead of what you were rumoured to swallow. I didn’t call you a whore, and now you see my point—regardless, one of our own has been taken hostage by the cambions and Killian failed.”

  “Yes, you failed, didn’t you Killian?” Harren gave him a stern and demanding stare. “Such a pity you were unable to rescue the damsel in time, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, my prince,” he said. “I did everything I could, she was gone before I even arrived in Caron. They could be doing a second death ritual as we speak, we must find the cambions.”

  Zishang knew that either Killian or his cousin must’ve been lying about the events. He saw in Godwin that he didn’t care a single bit, a smile shown in his eyes instead of his lips.

  “This must be punished,” Godwin said. “All of it.”

  “We could summon the Vaelirian Bloods back from the north, my kind,” Zishang suggested. “Or at minimum, half of the forces, there has been no movement from the Kan family of Naveen for quite some time.”

  “And then they would attack,” Harren snarled. “You think you get to decide where our armies go, little boy?”

  “It was an idea, my prince.”

  “Ideas are for me and my brother… you think you have a voice at this table just because you were given a seat?”

  “Zishang has done well as of lately,” Godwin said. “I find his voice to have weight to it, Harren, let him speak—what would you have us do if you were in our seats?”

  Zishang felt hesitant to answer due to Harren’s deathly stare. He found courage, speaking with conviction and finality like he was a general who mattered.

  “I would keep the forces north,” he said. “I would send a skilled fighter after them, someone who always yields results and has never failed to kill those cambions.”

  Bianca laughed and finished her wine. “I wonder who he could be talking about,” she said with a hiccup. “Fine. If Godwin gives me the command to hunt down these idiots, I will have them dead within a fortnight and have her returned to Stroke without a single scratch on her. However, cambions? There’s definitely a few, but not all of them are.”

  “What makes you so sure, hm?” Mara challenged. “Holding out on your king should be punishable by death.”

  “You would be cute if you weren’t such an insufferable cow,” Bianca said. “The day you were shat out into this world was a bad one.”

  “Do not speak to my wife that way,” Harren demanded.

  “How about we travel into the mountains and settle it the way of the common man, hm?” Bianca said. “Your God Arm versus my glorious Dragonhammer, I’m sure that’ll be fun.”

  “You think you compare to the power of a true Valan, you damn fraud? You carrying our name like it’s a title is an insult! Why would anyone dare spar with you, after what happened to your last sparring partner?”

  Godwin hit the table again to regain control. “Enough from the both of you. What do you mean not all cambions?”

  “The report detailed one specific mention of a girl with red hair, one that the lapdog stood by the door has sent out multiple scouting parties to find. What his orders neglect to mention is the red-haired woman he’s searching for has the ears of a fox, sounds familiar to a crime that the Sentinels uncovered a while ago, doesn’t it?”

  Godwin remembered it well. “Vera the Vixen,” he sighed. “The one I sent Stroke to kill, the one he let leave. She’s no cambion at all… she was seen where exactly in your report?”

  “Caron, Lakevalor, a recent report came in from Sekoi by a dove only an hour ago.”

  Godwin bashed his fists a third time.

  “You don’t need to do that to get our attention,” Bianca sighed. “We’re all right here.”

  “This is treason!” he yelled. “These acts are performed by our own people!”

  “Criminals, my king,” Zishang corrected. “Vera the Vixen is a bountied murderer, they cannot be seen as our people.”

  “That doesn’t matter!” he boomed. “The failures of Bianca’s Bastards and Killian Entrail has left us cripple to the idea of our own kind rebelling against us! Imagine the outcry when they learn that it’s not only the dragons and cambions they need to worry about.”

  “Dragons are not a problem, my king,” Zishang assured. “My cousin killed that dragon and the people feel safer, I hear whispers of the commonfolk, they trust in you.”

  “The Sentinels would also ward away a dragon attack,” Harren said. “I could kill those beasts with the God Arm if needed.”

  “Never mind the damned God Arm!” Godwin shouted. “The damned Kan family have more unity than our nation! The freaks that use flesh as their currency, trading newborn babies for shields and sharp steel and they have a stronger bond with their people than we have with ours! Stronger borders, no rebellions, no rampant idiots kidnapping, raping, killing our own! They don’t have giant lizards breathing fire in their gardens, and do you want to know why? They kill their enemies before their name is even known, why can’t a single one of you do the same?”

  “If that fox takes one step into Vatanil the Sentinels will spot her and she will be put to the sword, my king,” Zishang said. “We await your order, my king, is it war with the cambions you want?”

  “Yeah, make up your bloody mind,” Bianca sighed. “Do you want me to chase after the culprits, do you want me to march for the Vaelirian Bloods and wage war against Kan Lumi? Start giving us commands if you’re just gonna complain about incompetence. The savages of Naveen deserve death after what they did to your little brother.”

  “Isn’t it horrendous what they did to Stroke?” Harren said smugly. “Vile behaviour.”

  The brothers shared a laugh. “Yes, appalling,” said Godwin. “I do not wish to discus those ravenous cannibals, divert the topic.”

  “Where is our little Stroke in all of this madness?” Mara said. “Is Stroke having a stroke of his cock in his chambers?”

  “Fetch him, Killian,” Harren demanded. “It seems Zishang has forgotten to extend the invite to our pride and joy, heh.”

  “My prince,” said Zishang, “I cannot invite who I cannot find.”

  “He is right, my prince,” Killian added. “The youngest prince’s whereabouts are uncertain. The recent days he has been seen atop the Sentinels, staring into the eye of the magic and welcoming the heart with his arms spread.”

  “Always so mysterious,” Harren scoffed. “I for one think that this council has more weight without his presence.”

  “Stroke has a seat at this council just as much as you do,” Bianca reminded. “I’ve changed my mind. I won’t take any commands and I shan’t vote on any action unless his voice is heard.”

  “I am the king, Bianca,” Godwin growled vehemently. “The boundaries of your games are stretched more than Stroke’s little whore, those lips can only spout so much nonsense before it turns horribly sour rather than tolerable. If I order you to the vote, you shall vote with or without him.”

  “Godwin has humour,” Bianca said. “Surely he does not expect me to undermine the authority of a Valan brother.”

  “Stroke Valan is a plague,” Killian grunted. “I think this council would do well without him, my king.”

  Godwin’s eyes snapped onto Killian with a flat expression. “Do you think so, dog?” he snapped. “And do you think that empty chair would go to you, hm?”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it, my king.”

  Godwin stood calmly and clicked his fingers. “Come here, dog, now. Don’t make me wait, sword by the door.”

  Killian leaned his sword against the wall and slowly walked to his king. Godwin chuckled and gave each sat at the table a glance to make sure they were watching. “Do you think you’re powerful?” he asked Killian. “Are you strong?”

  “I think I am strong, my king.”

  “Ah,” Godwin said softly. “I suppose this shouldn’t do a single thing to you then.”

  Godwin tapped the joint of his middle finger against Killian’s breastplate. The power of the God Arm nearly tore the table out from where it’d been bolted to the floor with magic. Mara was flung into Zishang, Bianca gripped the edge of the table, but her seat and all other chairs smashed through the library windows and crashed down in the courtyards a few floors below.

  Killian collided with a stone wall, pain pulsing through his back and neck. Before he could fall to his knees, a sharp zap ran across the left of his jawline. “You don’t insult a Valan.” Harren had his godsteel sickle pressed against his throat, the pulsing power of the God Arm glowing threateningly on his amputated side. “Go ahead, my little dog, fall to your knees, let the weight cut open your throat.”

  Killian felt pain, his legs wobbling and wishing to collapse from the torture of the dented armour stabbing into his back. Blood leaked from the plates, pooling on the floor at his feet.

  “What the fuck, Godwin!” Bianca yelled. “If you’re going to do something like that you need to give us a warning!”

  Godwin wiped his finger against the cloth of his arm. “I feel I gave ample warning,” he joked. “The brute has healed from worse, he will heal and not complain, won’t you, dog?”

  “Yes, my king,” he muttered. “I beg your forgiveness.”

  “You are not strong,” Godwin said. “But you are a warrior, a fighter, the people call you the Blood Swordsman for a reason. did you delay your rescue of my little brother’s whore to let her get kidnapped?”

  Killian understood what Godwin was hinting at. The king broke into a laughter, ordering Harren to lower the blade.

  “You did a good job for waiting, if you had arrived on time the cambions could’ve cut her throat and killed her,” Godwin continued, winking at Killian. “I will be the one to tell Stroke about his whore, do we all understand?”

  Everyone agreed. Killian feel to one knee with a boom, blood coming from his lips. “Bianca, Zishang, see that this dog is given a bowl of hot chow and healed up by the morning.”

  “Yes, my king,” Zishang said sternly.

  Mara brushed a finger by Zishang’s ear as she thanked him for being her ‘wall’ to fall into during the blast.

  “Harren, find builders to fix this room,” Godwin ordered. “I will take a rest and tomorrow we will discuss the elimination of the cambions, Vera the Vixen, and whoever she travels with.”