KEEFE SENCEN knew one thing was very clear.

He only had his friends in his life. Or, perhaps, they should only professionally be called his conroi. Though it was true that he didn't know where the others' hearts lay, he knew he cared for them more than any normal knight would care for any of his fellow brothers. Sure, they used that word left and right - brothers - but he'd seen so many other knights on the royal guard leave another for dead when they had a very clear chance at saving a life all while keeping their own.

Keefe was aware that emotion was not a tool necessary for the battlefield and it was definitely something that could end up getting him killed - but he couldn't exactly turn off his feelings. Not like the way he'd turned off the ones for his parents.

Or, maybe they'd just never been there.

Walking into the throne room of the royal palace, sword gleaming in the halter at his waist, metal armor clanking as he walked in perfect sync with his four faithful friends at his sides, he knew that this was a momentous time in their lives. And also nerve-wracking. His heart was pounding in his chest as he got down on one knee, dipped his head in the mandatory bow, showing his respect as he faced the king. He didn't have any clue as to why they had all been called there, but it was a meeting they were obligated by law to attend.

Fintan sat on his jewel-encrusted thrown as always, the thin line of his lips tugged into some sort of smirk. He always wore the same face, no matter where he went or what he attended to. It was as if he had a permanent mask sewn over his literal flesh.

Fintan, never one for formalities, did not properly address the knights. Keefe and the rest stood up, almost in perfect unison, waiting for Fintan to explain why they had been called. It was the same odd ritual anytime they were called to the throne room. Fintan, for all his brains and good attention he paid to his allies and people, was known for his theatrics. Many found it odd that a king would ever act in such a manner, but others believed it intruiged other realms. And some believed that it made them think of the kingdom as a fool.

Dramatically, with a flourish of his hands which were covered in rings with thick gems,mFintan tugged his smile into something more bright. "You must be wondering why I sent for you."

It wasn't clear why he acted the way he did. Most said it was the power getting to his head, whereas others spread rumours that he was, in some way, mentally unwell. Doctors had examined the man, though, and nothing was diagnosed. He was a perfectly healthy man with perfectly unhealthy behaviors.

"Yes, sire," Keefe answered respectably. Fitzroy, who was to his left, made the risky decision to flicker his gaze over to Keefe. They were supposed to keep their eyes forward, but Fitz had obviously needed to lock eyes with Keefe, just to ensure he knew that he wasn't the only one getting uneasy. There was tension in the room, but they couldn't tell why. Having only been there for a minute or two, it didn't seem right for it to feel as if they were walking on eggshells.

Fitz's eyes were filled with something that made Keefe's stomach twist sour, and they both turned their eyes forward quickly, silently agreeing that the feeling was mutual.

Fintan rose off his throne, his robes swishing at his feet, as he folded his hands in front of him. He began stepping off the dial, walking down the stairs and approaching the four knights. Dex, Keefe, Tam, and Fitz stayed unmoving, their feet stanced shoulder-width apart, hands crossed in front of them.

Fintan looked each one of them up and down, walking around them in a circle leizurely. He looked calm as he did so, as if he did this everyday like an animal stalking his prey. Keefe knew Fintan wasn't one to be afraid of - the kind had, in fact, been rather lenient all his life. Some had said he was too lenient, letting the other rulers push him around. So, Keefe was not at all afraid of the king's power. Whatever this man had in mind, as long as he didn't push too far, nothing was going to happen. But it was still terrifying to have to sit there as he paced around them.

Keefe had only ever been called near the king's presence once before this and that was for when he was earning his knighthood. After that, it was daily patrolling out in the courtyard - he'd never really interacted with the king.

Fitzroy had done so many times. He was one of the few who got to work within the walls of the king's castle and Keefe was, by far, immensely jealous of the position his friend held. He'd wanted it for himself, wanted so hard to proe to his parents what he could really do. So he'd put himself to great use, trying to work his way up in the ranks. Progress had been slow.

Until now. Whatever this was.

"I've been studying you," the king finally announced, retreating back to his throne casually, evidently done with inspecting them. Relieved, Keefe let out the air he'd been holding in his lungs, his chest de-puffing out. Tam had the audacity to shoot a smirk sideways at him. "And I've seen the way you all work well with another. I believe, if placed in the same environment, you could achieve wondrous feats."

Keefe's heart dropped at the sentence. He felt like he knew where this was headed. There had been talk of a war, floating around the city limits like the morning fog, and it had never really occured to him that he'd have to fight in such a thing.

Yes, he was a knight. Yes, he wanted to protect and serve his king and his people. But up until now, he had practically been a townsfolk with shiny, metal clothes. All he did was walk around the market place and ensure that no fights broke out. He'd dealt with a few brawls here and there, but his only real combat had ever really been during Training, with his mentor and his three friends.

"I have a mission for you," Fintan concluded, "and it is mandatory. Fail to succeed, and you shall pay me with your lives." He smiled ruefully, enjoying the way they knights shifted uncomfortably. "You must prioritize to keeping this classified. No one must know what is happening. Your absences with be dealt with according - no one will notice, I can assure. You have been selected for that specific reason, so do not make me regret sending you four."

They all squirmed internally, barely unsure whether or not they were hearing the words correctly. The way he phrased everything and gave his orders was so obscure and odd that it made no sense. He delivered things in such an out-of-order formality, as if to confuse the listener.

Why not tell us what we're doing before threatening us with our lives?

Fintan turned his back to them, staring up at the tapestry hanging on the wall. "There is a queen in the distant east. I believe she is hiding somewhere in the Forbidden Isles, off in the Eastern Sea." He turned back to them again, his smile still held perfectly on his face. "I need you to assasinate her."

Keefe's eyebrow twitched up and he quickly put it back down, trying not to let his face falter. He was being sent to assassinate someone? With a team of people he never really worked with? And how had Fintan found out they were friends? Perhaps he had seen them training with one another? Talking?

"She governs a group of horrifying people, just as cruel as herself. She is threatening war upon our kingdom and I cannot draft our children out to the battlefield. If you fail, you will not only be failing yourselves, but our entire realm." Fintan's smile had dropped during that, sombering. It was the only time Keefe had seen him without it, and it made his heart fall at his feet.

Fintan flicked his gaze to the huge doors behind them, dipping his chin. "We will discuss further morrow. For now, you are dismissed."