I thought for a moment on how best to respond to the King's guard that blocked my way. Clearly he thought himself more powerful than me.
For some reason Benate's words to me after our first match flashed through my mind. 'You have great instincts for openings, but make sure you know your next move when things fail.' Demanding access to Alina failed. What was my next move?
"Caismir, dear fellow," I added in my most condescending tone. "You say that Princess Alina is not accepting company, but you were just in her parlor." I blinked knowingly at him, wanting him to take my bait.
"Yes, Sir Jacobson. I was guarding her," He slowly formed the words as if talking to a misunderstanding child.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but these gentlemen are guarding her as well if I'm not mistaken but from outside her parlor," I added, needing him to loosen his tongue a little.
"Yes. They are," his tone matched mine in condescension.
"So you too could watch from outside, but instead you're inside Princess Alina's parlor where she receives company. Did she invite you there?" I was playing with some flawed logic hoping to baffle him into a corner.
The question caught him off guard. He was doing his duty but if I could frame things in a different light, he would look like a villain.
"What does that have to do with anything? Sir Jacobson, you need to leave," Caismir demanded, pointing his slender index finger back toward the way I came.
I raised my voice, hoping Alina could hear me. She was the only one who could help if my plan went poorly. "What does it have to do with anything? Let me tell you!"
"You are either in there against the will of my future wife or you were invited to her parlor. If the former, then tread carefully with your next words. I think the petitioners court would look for criminal charges for a man forcing himself into our future queen's private rooms. Don't you think so?" I turned to Alejo, hoping my shadow was as loyal as I assumed.
"I think the court would want to hear about that, Sir Jacobson." Alejo did not miss a beat.
I tried to read Caismir's expression. He seemed unmoved with the threat of twisting the truth in that manner. He still thought the King would back him. I guess I needed to pull out my second bluff.
"Or were you invited into Princess Alina's parlor? Would not that make you company? That would be in direct violation of the king's orders by your own account," my voice was still loud.
I needed Caismir to give me some word or a phrase to twist. Semantics and confusion was the only tactic I could imagine when I started my attack. I knew the power of presenting facts in the wrong light from many books, but never tried to wield the power myself.
"Sir Jacobson, I was told to be in the Princess' parlor by a member of the royal family," Caismir spoke slower than he had before trying to make me look like an imbecile. He also cleverly put himself outside the two categories I laid out. I needed another angle.
"Was I not also asked to be here by a member of the royal family?" My voice grew to the loudest it has been in this entire interaction. At least Alina would know I tried to see her.
"Yes, but the King's authority supersedes that of the Princess," Caismir rolled his eyes. He was not one to hide his disdain. Guess he does not mind losing his position once I'm king.
I played the final card I had for this match of wills. "And whose power supersedes the King's?" We all knew the answer. The queen did not send me here and I was playing with fire if asked directly.
"The queen," Caismir answered again as if he were instructing a student in a question below their level.
"Who do you think sent me?" I inquired, leaving only a breath for Caismir to think. I needed him to doubt himself. "Who assigned you to guard me?" I asked Finley.
"Queen Valerie assigned us to guard you, Sir Jacobson," Finley responded truthfully. I hated that I used him to imply a closer relationship with the queen, but at least I didn't force him to choose between lying to another officer and loyalty to me.
The stubborn guard ran his hand through his stringy black hair. "Why would the queen send you here? Cannot she conduct whatever business she has for you somewhere else?" Caismir called my bluff.
I paused. I tried to look annoyed. I could not lie about the queen. I played out my entire hand and lost to this guard. I made my final remark.
"That is none of your concern," I was about to turn to leave when the door that was so heavily guarded creaked open.
"Ah. There you are Sir Jacobson. My mother will be pleased you came to see the Prince's chambers. It is so much easier to redecorate before anyone is living in a space," Alina spouted off, giving me an actual reason to have been called this part of the castle.
"Oh yes, there you are Princess Alina," my mouth sputtered back. My brain power was mostly spent weaving together my last conversation. "I hope my tardiness can be excused." I eyed Caismir to emphasize the point.
Caismir glared in my direction, but moved to the side to let me pass. The tension between us escalated as Alejo nudged the taller guard with his shoulder while passing him.
"A thousand apologies, good fellow," Alejo antagonized. I turned my head to catch Finley's look of disapproval that bloomed into a smile. Alejo was positioning himself to guard the door from the three men assigned to guard the room.
Finley held the door for me to enter. Alina's face morphed into an expression of pure relief. Finley closed the door behind the three of us, leaving Alejo staring down three disgruntled sentries.
"You have 10 minutes!" Caismir yelled through the door. Well that is 10 minutes more than I had a moment ago.