Author's Note:

Nuh, seriously some people are gonna have to poke me to make me update. I was flicking through my profile and was like, 'crap, Anarchy needs to be updated.'

Fail author-ness, once again.

Also True Path and possibly Warm My Heart are being updated soon-ish. I have essays due this week, so procrastination on both fanfic and uni work will ensue.

Chapter 6:

|| Growing Distrust ||

20th February, 620 Common Era

xxx

'In a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.'

Michael Jackson.

Princess Cassandra strode down the Great Hall of her castle with dignity and poise.

Closely followed by Horace as her personal guard, the castle folk stopped to bow and admire her as she went about her business.

Outwardly she showed little expression to display her grief, but she was dressed elegantly in black, signifying her mourning period.

She wished she felt as calm as she looked, for inside Cassie was unable to identify the cloud of emotions swirling within her head.

Explaining her reluctance to Lord Anthony hadn't gone as well as she planned, but after all, she was the Crown Princess and he had to obey her, even if her order was refusing the crown.

There were still too many unknowns floating around, and Cassie still didn't feel up to the task of taking Araluen and trying to lead a country in mourning. Besides, if her suspicions were true, and a Ranger had killed her father, then she was less than enthusiastic about becoming Queen.

'Horace?' She said quietly, since he was close enough to hear her.

'Yes?'

'Have you heard anything from Halt or Crowley?'

The knight shook his head.

'Not a word, they do however seem to be seriously thinking this over. I just believe they haven't come to any conclusions, or enough information to tell you.' He told her truthfully.

Cassie frowned. She hoped they were still figuring it out, and not refusing to tell her.

One of her door guards allowed her entry to her work room, (she still wasn't comfortable with taking over her father's office).

With great surprise, she found Will and Alyss pouring over notes she had on her desk.

The Courier looked up, without a hint of shame on her face.

'Hello Cassie, we thought you would come here.' She said smoothly, offering her friend a small smile.

'We have some new ideas, and thought you would want to know as soon as possible.' Will added.

The Princess' expression relaxed instantly and she smiled warmly. 'Wonderful, come in Horace, let's discuss this then, shall we?'

Horace followed obediently, closing the door behind him.

Cassie sat down, eagerly awaiting their news.

The Ranger and Courier shared a quick glance, which the other two didn't miss.

Eventually, Will cleared his throat.

'Uh, first I have to tell you something.' He began, keeping his gaze away from her. 'Alyss and I agreed that Crowley needed to know, well, what we've been saying.'

'The same goes for Pauline, I had to tell her. We can't have the highest people in intelligence unaware of your thoughts.' Alyss put in, trying to remain respectful.

'Very well. Have you gathered anything else from the Corps or Diplomatic Service?' Cassie asked calmly.

For a moment, both Courier and Ranger were startled by her emotionless demeanour.

'The Couriers are still trying to gather information; Pauline couldn't supply me with anything more than what I have told you.' Alyss told her truthfully.

'I didn't have such luck. Crowley and Halt both won't tell me anything.' Will said quietly.

'I'm sure they don't want you telling Cassie half-truths or misleading information, Will.' Horace put in logically.

The Ranger shrugged. Will didn't like being left out of his former mentor's confidence, but he had chosen Cassie over the Corps, which in his heart, felt most right.

Alyss placed her hand on his, offering him a small smile.

She turned to Cassie and Horace.

'Besides what we learnt from the Rangers and my fellow Couriers, Will and I have been doing our own research. Since we know more or less how King Duncan was murdered, we've been comparing it to any other recent incidents.'

Horace nodded.

'You mean someone wasn't just out to get my father?' Cassie asked, her eyes wide. Suddenly a rogue Ranger didn't fit the description for multiple murders.

'No, we think there was a bigger plan.' Will spoke up, an excited glint in his eye.

'You see, there was one other significant death, relatively similar to King Duncan's. Lord Robert's.' Alyss told them, her voice unintentionally dropping to a low whisper.

Horace's gaze flicked to Cassie, who for the moment did not react to the news.

'I see.' She commented, turning her eyes to the floor, deep in thought.

'At first, it looks pretty random.' Will spoke quietly.

'People close to the throne are being assassinated.' Horace told them, frowning.

Both Ranger and Courier gave him admiring glances.

'But, I'm not sure, it just doesn't seem right. Why would a Ranger instigate these murders?' Cassie asked them.

Alyss sat back and fixed them all with an intelligent expression. 'Well, two deaths of noble people may not look like much, but really, there weren't many people standing in the way of the throne. Lord Robert was the only blood relative, excluding you Cassie, since your mother died of natural cause. After no blood relatives survive, the vote for Araluen's monarch goes to the Court of Nobles, who vote between them and elect a new King or Queen. We're still not sure if this was the killer's intention, but we can't see any other reasoning behind it.'

'Do you have any suspects then, perhaps for motivation? Although I don't think it was a noble who killed King Duncan.' Horace voiced, echoing Cassie's thoughts, but she refused to speak.

Alyss suddenly looked uncomfortable, elbowing Will slightly in the side.

'Well,' he began, 'there are always a few nobles at Court who would like to see themselves with more power. So naturally, any of them could be behind this.'

The Princess fixed him with a cold expression.

'Do you have names?' She demanded.

'Uh, well there is Lord Erdell, Lord Cornwall, Lady Caroline...' Will answered meekly.

Cassie stood quickly, startling Will.

'I refuse to believe Caroline would be behind any of this. Besides, her name was cleared of murder by my father, years before.'

'Cassie, please, we're still just trying to sort things out, we know you don't want to suspect her, but you have to.' Alyss urged.

Horace gently pulled the Princess back down.

'Cassie, you have a meeting with Anthony now, remember? We can come back to this later.' He told them all diplomatically.

'Right, you can leave.' She ordered Alyss and Will.

They obeyed quickly, throwing Horace a grateful glance as they passed, sighing with relief when they were out of reach.

Cassie placed her head in her hands, giving a low groan. At a loss, Horace just watched her helplessly, unsure if she wanted his comfort or not.

'They have no right accusing good people, they don't.' She mumbled.

The knight flicked his gaze around the room, taking in the messy papers and parchment that lay about. It was once a clean office, Cassie was organised, albeit a bit less conventional than her late father, and now, he thought, it definitely reflected the thoughts and emotions she was going through.

His gaze turned back to the Princess, whom he reached out and rubbed her back reassuringly.

It was in that moment that he knew more than simply an investigation would ensue, Cassie was rapidly growing in distrust for her friends and advisers, and if she turned her back on them, he was sure he would follow.

'Come on, we have to go, I didn't just make that up, Lord Anthony does want to see you.' He told her, offering a hand to help her up.

She turned her face towards him, frowning for the moment, until she reached out and accepted his hand.

He noted, as they left the room, that Cassie suddenly lacked the grace and confidence she had held that morning.

A/N:

Agh I'm trying to stay away from angst, but it seems for the moment, this story is more angst than drama/adventure. Sorry! It will get better, I promise.

- Mae.