Setia read Bentor's report with satisfaction. At, the mercenary she had saved, has fulfilled his agreement. Brandis had died in a robbery. The legist had paid him the money he was owed and the mercenary had disappeared. Aktis was left alone.
Sadly Setia has learned little from Jefre. From what she had read between the lines, Aktis and Jefre, her former lover, had been together for a longer period of time, and she trusted him. Now he wanted to pull the same trick here.
For a month now, he has been a regular guest in her chambers and Setia had allowed him to do so. It was some kind of wild fascination. She kept telling herself that she did not love Jefre, he only excited and fascinated her, but that was all. She had been in love once in her life, or so it seemed to her, but that had been many years ago and her father's death had torn her from her love of infatuation with the young Equerd. Today, they were enemies.
Setia, clad in a black dress with an amulet around her neck, a mask on her face and a smile of satisfaction, went to Tendred's chambers. On the way, she noticed Jefre hanging around the hallway, and that's when she remembered. She had been practicing sword fighting with him for two weeks. Jefre liked the exercises and she was getting better. This was their usual time to practice.
"I'll be there in a moment, - she threw at him in passing- I have something to take care of first."
Jefre bowed and without a word withdrew to the audience hall, which was the only one suitable for fencing exercises due to its size.
Setia quickly climbed the spiral staircase, crossed the bridge straight to Tendred's chamber, knocked and went inside. In the chamber she found Moros talking to an ecstatic Tendred.
"I have important news - said Setia without beating around the bush - Brandis is dead."
"Brandis is dead?" - Tendred repeated like an echo
"Well, that's probably good for your plans." - added Moros, feigning surprise.
"And how did it happen?" Tendred asked, sensing that something was wrong here.
"Robbery. Well - Setia sighed and sat down opposite her brother and husband - we have Aktis left, you can try legal means to get rid of her."
"The legal route, as you nicely put it, will take a lot of time and money." - Tendred rubbed his beard and added after a moment - "Its outcome is also not certain, various dirt and old cases will be dug up."
"I understand." - Setia expected such a reaction from her husband - "So we have only one option left." - she looked at her husband significantly.
"Do you want to get rid of her like you did with Brandis?" - Tendred answered with a question.
"Politics and power are not for everyone." - Setia spoke slowly, weighing each word. In order to fully realize her plan, Tendred must agree to a certain dangerous solution. - "Power is for those who are not afraid to reach for it and are ready to do a lot to achieve their goal. Do you finally want to be the king of Fenigrid, or are you satisfied with being the prince of Emfer?"
Tendred looked at Setia with eyes darkened with anger, stood up, went to the window and then turned towards Setia and her brother.
"You don't have to tell me what power and politics are, because I know it all too well. For years I've been sitting here, sentenced to banishment, hiding behind a mask that is more complicated than the one you are wearing. Yours only hides the scar from your eye, mine covers my entire soul, desires and true face. I will wear it for the rest of my life and that is a very high price for power. I am a king by birth, but I will have to fight for the throne. And so I will." - Tendred clenched his hands into fists.
Setia was momentarily frozen by this sudden revelation of her husband.
"So let's start." - for the first time she noticed Tendred's true will to fight - "For our plan to succeed, we need a few things from Katamir." - she turned towards Moros - "That will be your task, brother. You will set off tomorrow morning."
Moros nodded in agreement, they had agreed on that earlier. He needed time away from Tendred.
"Can't you send someone else?" - Tendred interrupted dissatisfied - "It's a long way and the weather is bad." - There was genuine concern in his voice.
"I don't trust anyone that much. The fewer people who know, the fewer who can betray us. Besides, Moros and I come from Katamir. You can do it, brother, right?"
"No problem - Moros stood up - I'll do anything that might help you. I'm going to get ready." He looked at Tendred and smiled.
"Yes, I also have something to do. Let's go Moros." - Setia stood up and together with her brother left the sour Tendred. After closing the door, they walked across the bridge towards the stairs. The bridge was bitterly cold. Winter had been fully in its grip for two months and was slowly coming to an end. Moros took a deep breath and looked meaningfully at Setia.
"I've had enough of pretending - he admitted to his companion - I really don't feel like it anymore. I feel bad about Tendred."
"I know, this trip will do you good. Do you want an escort?"
"No, I'll go alone. I know it's far. I'll be at the border in five days, one day to take care of the matter - he looked meaningfully at his step-sister - and then another five to return."
"You can take your time, rest in some city and come back in exactly two weeks. Then I'll send you to Hiron for a week. When you get back, we'll start preparing for the spring equinox festival ending the winter period. If all goes well and we manage to bring Aktis to us, in a month's time we will be free, brother, and we will set off for Fenigrid."
"For Fenigrid. - Moros pondered - So far everything is going according to your plan, I hope we will succeed in this risky move."
"I have no intention of retreating. - Setia put her hand on his shoulder - We only have one direction, forward."
Moros nodded in agreement and went to get ready. Setia changed into trousers and a loose blouse, prepared her sword and set off for fencing exercises.