Killian seemed unsurprised to see Gray there.

Gray paused at the sight of him and the three children, and then swiftly turned on his heel and started pacing, ignoring the youngest boy’s relentless staring.

The office was beautiful and cluttered, following the curve of the tower. Gray’s eyes were drawn to the huge bookcase behind the handsome desk and a large portrait of a beautiful woman with fiery red hair.

'I'm getting the silent treatment, hm?' said Killian.

'No,' muttered Gray. 'I'm ...'

'Trying to eavesdrop?'

'Right, and it's taking all my attention,' Gray said, attempting a joking tone, but it fell flat with the force of a boulder dropped from one hundred floors high.

‘Sit down, Gray,’ Killian said.

Gray paused.

‘I’m fine, thank you,’ said Gray, awkwardly.

There was a drawn-out silence, made more stark by the ticking of an antique clock by the desk.

’Suit yourself,’ said Killian.

Gray took up pacing again, too anxious to even think of sitting down.

From what Gray could see from the corner of his eye, Killian was dressed in normal clothing.

No uniform.

No fur collar.

No stars.

No gold or black details.

And no fancy sword.

Just a plain brown top with dozens of buttons and laces in the southern style, and a simple dagger stuck into the top of his polished boot.

In the two weeks that had passed, Killian had completely healed and moved on from the imprisonment with the poachers. His shoulders were squared and there was high colour in his cheeks. And judging by the guarded glance he gave Gray and the edge in his voice, he’d not moved on from the argument they’d had right before he’d dropped Gray off at the Dierne prison.

Then, Killian averted his gaze as he watched the entry points of the office with his dark hair hanging in his eyes - the side door, the windows, the ceiling vent, and the door to the boardroom.

He must’ve been on guard for threats to the king’s kids.

‘Hi,’ said the smallest boy brightly to Gray, completely unaware of the thick atmosphere.

‘Uh,’ replied Gray, ‘hi.’

‘Bye,’ said the boy, even more brightly.

‘Bye,’ said Gray, pretending to hide behind his hands. He dropped them. ‘Oh, hi,’ he said, in exaggerated surprise.

The boy let out a delighted laugh. He had to be two or three, with the same silvery hair as Baldwin, only as wispy as dandelion fluff.

His sister sat beside him, a couple years older, and pale as chalk. She swung her legs back and forth, her eyes a bright brown. She laced her pale hands underneath her face and leant forward to study Gray.

The other kid was a stony-looking boy, a few years shy of ten, with the same pointed face as Baldwin, the same silvery hair, only his was short and slicked back from his face, emphasising a stark window’s peak.

Gray paced the office, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, and fixed his gaze on the door that led to the boardroom full of mages and officers.

He strained to hear what was going on, but couldn’t distinguish any words properly through the door.

After several minutes, Killian broke the ticking silence. ‘Gods, kid, will you stop pacing?’

Gray halted, as close to the door as he dared, listening hard and ignoring the sharp sigh coming from Killian.

‘You’re really going to eavesdrop on a confidential meeting, right in front of me?’ said Killian. ’You're high-strung as all hell. Sit down.’

When Gray stayed rigidly standing Killian said, ‘You met Kester and Laoise? You seem to already be friends with Torryn.’

Gray let out a long breath and faced the three kids. ‘Nice to meet you.’

‘You should bow,’ said the stony-looking kid.

‘This is Kester,’ Killian said, patting the stony kid on the shoulder. ‘And you should bow.’

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Gray wasn’t in the mood to let anyone order him around, but he wanted them to be quiet so he could listen, so he gave a quick bow, before turning back to the door.

‘You bow like a peasant,’ said Kester.

‘King in, king out,’ said the girl - Laoise. ‘He’ll emerge with a pout.’

Gray glanced at Laoise. ‘A riddlespeaker?’

‘Looks like,’ said Killian shortly. ‘You going to sit or what?’

Gray shook his head, and before he was aware of what he was doing, began pacing again.

‘You need to do what Killian tells you,’ said Kester.

‘The peasant is a present,’ said Laoise. ‘The king knows his fated foes, and the peasant present will strengthen his throws.’

’Well, peasant?’ said Kester.

Gray slowed his pacing. ‘It’s a little past their bedtime, isn’t it?’ he said to Killian.

‘It’s past yours, too, isn’t it?’ said Killian, leaning back casually. ‘How old are you again? Twelve?’

Gray let out a disbelieving breath. ‘I think that’s your emotional maturity age, actually.’

‘Ten years older than yours, then,’ said Killian. ‘That’s why you get along so well with Torryn, hm?’ He leant forward, his voice lowered, using his hands to gesture a balanced scale. ’Same level.’

Gray pressed a hand over his eyes. ‘OK.’

‘Kid, last time I’ll tell you, stop listening at the door. Sit down.’

Stiflly, Gray obeyed.

‘You’re a mess,’ said Killian. ‘You let yourself be seen in front of those people, like that?’

Gray hesitated and then shoved his hands back into his pockets.

‘Those people have the power to grant you some clemency if you impress them,’ said Killian. ‘You would’ve done better to tidy yourself up.’

‘I thought you were fired,’ Gray said.

‘I am fired,’ said Killian. ‘Why do you think I’m babysitting at one in the morning and being shut out of that meeting?’

’Sounds like your normal work day to me,’ said Gray.

Killian leant back in his chair. ‘How about we talk about normal work days when you don’t need fake stat papers to buy a beer.’

‘You’re still working for him,’ said Gray, side-eyeing Killian again, and keeping his tone very careful, because Kester, Laoise, and Torryn were listening raptly. ‘You’re minding his kids.’

‘And I’m this close to being re-instated back to Major,’ said Killian. ‘Anything else you’d like to add?’

Gray shifted uneasily. ‘No.’

Time crawled by.

Then, ‘You couldn’t have tidied your hair or something?’ said Killian.

‘I didn’t have a lot of warning,’ Gray muttered, irritation rising within him. ‘I didn’t know what I was walking into.’

‘You need to always be ready, regular hours mean nothing right now,’ said Killian. ‘Presentation is important here. It's important to him.’

Gray was retying his hair back under Killian’s unimpressed stare when the door opened, and the king stood in the doorway.

The room beyond him was empty, save for Cyril pouring over a stack of scrolls at the large table.

Everyone else had left.

Gray bolted upright from the chair and waited for the king to say the verdict of the meeting.

‘Escort Gray back to the prison, Killian,’ said the king. He gestured for his three kids to go into the room, and they jostled with each other as they pushed past the king with zero regard for how volatile the king’s temper could be. Perhaps the king reserved the worst of his actions for those not related to him.

‘Return immediately, Killian,’ said the king. ‘I wish you to escort Kester, Laoise, and Torryn back to the consort palace once we’re done here.’

The king began to retreat.

Gray stepped forward, his heart hammering, because he knew he wasn’t supposed to go running after the king, he wasn’t supposed to talk to him without some kind of invitation, he wasn’t supposed to look even him in the damn eye.

But, Gray had to know.

’Sir,’ said Gray, folding into a low bow as the king paused. He could feel Killian’s stunned stare on the back of his neck. ’Sire. What did you decide?’

‘Not now, Gray,’ said the king coldly.

The king shut the door, and it clicked into place with a heavy finality.

‘What does he mean, not now?’ said Gray.

Killian stared at him, aghast. ‘Don’t ever do that.’

'Why wouldn't he just tell me yes or no?'

There was no confusion in Killian. Nothing in his expression except shock. He knew, he knew what the king was talking about, and he knew what the meeting was about and why Gray was there. It confirmed to Gray that Codder had spoken to Killian and that Killian had pulled the strings.

Killian slowly raised his eyebrows. 'Why wouldn't the king of a very powerful kingdom tell a gremlin-child-felon the outcome of a confidential meeting? Gods, let's ponder this one long and hard, huh?'

'It involves me,' muttered Gray.

'Well, maybe it doesn't,' said Killian. 'Maybe that's your answer.'

Gray's heart dropped as disappointment filled him. 'He - said I was the perfect candidate.'

'Kid, being the perfect candidate doesn't always get you the job. Welcome to the real world.'

Gray kept his mouth pressed shut, staring at the carved oak door.

'They probably haven't decided yet,' said Killian. 'Look, you need to take a breath-'

The door swung open.

The king poked his head back over the door and waved Killian close.

He whispered something to Killian and Killian stiffened, before nodding.

The king gently clicked the door closed, and Killian glared at the oak panel of the shut door. Then, he swiftly turned his glare onto Gray.

‘All right, kid, who was it? Who came to your cell?’

Gray’s stomach plummeted down to his toes. Out of all the curve balls he’d been anticipating, this was not on his list. Nowhere even near.

Gray hunched his shoulders, trying to get his brain to switch gears.

‘Was it Longwark, hm?’

Killian’s mouth was set in a hard line.

‘No,’ said Gray, offended, and beyond confused that he had no answer about going to Krydon. The king was the king. Feared. All powerful. If he wanted Gray as the one who went up to Krydon, then why wouldn't he just order it?

He shouldered through a side door and started down a set of spiralling stairs, not knowing where he was going, but he had to start moving otherwise he'd do or say something very stupid.

Killian's footsteps followed him, pad, pad, pad.

‘You didn’t manage to catch Longwark, then?’ said Gray, straining to keep his voice steady.

Killian forced Gray to come to a halt.

‘Baldwin certainly thinks someone’s been paying you visits,' said Killian.

‘I’m allowed visitors-‘

‘You most certainly are not,’ said Killian.

Gray glanced over Killian's shoulder, down the spiralling stairs. This was news to him. Codder must’ve bribed some of the guards to be allowed in. Bob must’ve been bribed. A lot of people were about to get into trouble.

Gray did not want Bob to get the heat. And he absolutely did not want Codder to know he’d been found out. Harriette and Barin were in enough danger as it was without a vengeful and pissed-off Codder being thrown into the mix.

Well, more vengeful and pissed-off.

'Who was it, Gray?’

‘He - misinterpreted the situation.’

Killian’s eyes grew huge. ‘The situation?’

Gray clamped his mouth shut.

‘What the hell is the situation, then?’ said Killian, his voice low. His muscles were locked. ‘You up to something, kid? You planning something?’

‘No,’ said Gray.

Every battle scar on Killian’s face was edged in steely anger.

He tapped Gray’s clammy forehead with his finger. ‘But, you’re fucking smart, aren’t you? Those prison guards won’t know what hit them. Let’s look at your cell. Check it for smoking bowls or firework fire or lions in the sky.’