23

So clearly Sober Pip did not know what Drunk Pip was doing, hence the drunken tirade followed by the sober one like she had never confessed. Ianto knew the arguments would roll around until they decide she has some mental issue and instead of being a spoilt bitch who simply 'dumbed' her way out of things. Ianto knew he would not see the beheading he would have personally preferred… Pip will get pampered in a padded cell. Yeah. How it is sometimes done… and Ianto now knew he had to let that go… not his monkey… not his circus.

Besides… he knew that was an act and she was about to get caught in her own web.

Ianto walked from the room with his blades on show, the crown glinting and his hair loosely swinging about his shoulders. No warrior's tail here… oh no. He would fucking shine.

Those taking a knee did so with awe as they saw the old blood sweeping through the palace. Doors were flung open, windows too. Dust was cast out and people rushed to open all the living chambers that were usually closed this time of year. Ianto was here… their king was here… and he was demanding his comfort.

By the time Jack and his advisors arrived the place was a hum of activity and the guards swept to one side respectfully as he walked with his security detail through the gates, looking up at the building he had not even noticed before.

"Sire… his majesty is in the War Room" Rhys said loudly as he walked towards Jack and motioned for him to follow before lowering his voice "This place is a bit of a rabbit warren until you get your bearings Sire. See the cute little tiles on the floor? See some are different colours and seem to move in a line… every fourth one if blue. Blue is your quarters. Blue blood. Red is for anger… the War Room. Follow them in this direction and you will find it."

Jack was interested as he watched their feet "Purple?"

"The children's quarters and nanny."

"Yellow? No. don't tell me. Food."

"Yes" Rhys grinned "Yellow is for the gut. The dining area and kitchens beyond. Yes. Bladesingers love colour."

"I have noticed" Jack smiled as he felt some comfort in the way Rhys was acting like this was any other day, not one of the hardest of Jack's life. They entered the War Rom to find Ianto standing there at the screen talking to Gray.

"GRAY!" Jack cried with relief, rushing to reassure himself that his brother was safe.

"Jack, you should have seen it. The Royal guards swept in and covered the entire place with bluster and steel… some of Ianto's people too. His parentals sent representatives to guard us, some are at your place too so the kids are protected against whatever the hell this is. Thank god I did not come like I was supposed to… the rains came early and cut off the pass."

"It is contained, I think" Ianto agreed "Mop up will be the thing. I need to seek others here this end of the string who are involved so I might yank hard enough hot catch me a few fish."

"What do you need?" Jack asked.

"For you to be front and centre, you need to make public announcements, you need to be the face and the voice of this tragedy. The Mighty King… let me be soft, gentle and sweet. Let them think you are the one in charge and I am your simpering sweet mate. Let them think of me as no threat. It will make the taste of their blood on my blades all the sweeter. They will learn why I am called the Sweet King… oh yes. My revenge shall be sweet indeed. I cannot touch HER but I can get to her minions still loose and able to strike at any time."

"My… you talk with such venom" Jack said softly "are you OK?"

"No. I am pissed as hell … but I shall be fine Cariad. I have you. My handsome, strong and capable partner." Ianto assured him, patting his chest.

"So... who is the fish you want to reel in?" Jack asked, dread now as he felt that Ianto knew the entire cast of this play even if he did not.

"Pip's handler."

"your sister… surely not. I mean… there are children…. God. If so… it is the highest crime of her bloodline isn't it? To kill other Bladesingers?" Jack asked with horror.

"No… to kill her own flesh and blood is. Two of our cousins, my mother's sister's children, were there. She killed direct family. Someone put this in her head, someone carried out her random orders with a vicious cunning… no… there is someone still in play" Ianto frowned, then turned to look at something on the screen once more "And the bond is in flux. Something else is happening, I don't know what."

"Yes. I feel it too" a voice said and they turned to find an elderly lady sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, her hands in her lap were crippled and clutched tighter.

Ianto started for a moment then said softly "Old Mother."

Jack watched Ianto move to crouch down, reaching for those hands to pick them up and kiss them gently. Old Mother. Jack racked his brain. Shit. That is what Ianto calls the old Nanny he talks of. This as his old nanny? Jack stepped forward and leaned into a bow to be polite.

"What is it Old Mother?" Ianto asked gently.

"When our Pip got too big for me and they got the other one in… the one who coddles her… I went to Rhiannon and her children coming." The Nanny said softly "I also helped when Gareth's first born came… I …"

"Old Mother… why are you here?" Ianto asked with dread in his voice.

"I came with your sister's child… David." She finally sobbed "He came to represent."

Ianto sat heavily as he stared at her and knew it was true. The thing not right in the bond, the weirdness to it. Someone was missing from the hum. David. The oldest of Rhiannon's children, now a young man … no. No. "No"

"I had hoped he would be back by now" she started to weep and Ianto rose to sat something, only to watch the doors open and the man in question stagger in.

David was covered in ask and debris, blood on one side of his face a she stood there staring at Ianto with open shock "Uncle? What… what are you doing here?"

"Came for a picnic lunch" Ianto said softly, then he looked the young man up and down "Tell me David… why are YOU here?"

David seemed confused with the question and he turned to motion the man behind him "We are here at the behest of Aunt Penny… Sean and me… we are here to represent."

"Sean. Gareth's boy" Ianto said softly as he rose and approached the young man that looked to be more his own age, older than David by a long shot even tough David was the elder of the two. David was fifteen and Sean was a mere eleven, but he looked so much older. Gods, where does the time go.

Both boys were shielding from the bond… now he knew why as he looked at the both of them. They had helped, tried to help. Good boys. Their despair raw. Innocent and horrified.

"Sean… who told you to do this? Does your Da know where you are?"

Sean looked around furtively and said softly "Aunty Pippy said it was a surprise. We were to come, bring the men she assigned to us and we would get our own horse drawn carriages, like the ones Grandmamma has in the big palace. Even said we could choose the horses. We would then be revealed as the spokesmen at the meeting and have our coming of age early."

"Yeah" David agreed with his cousin, nodding enthusiastically "She said we were old enough to represent the blood."

"And you are the only two males in the youngest generation apart from mine… holy shit. I know why now" Ianto gasped to Jack with open anger now "She was taking out all the males in this generation so her first child might be the only grandson!"

"What?" Jack spluttered.

"We know this is a boy… they all know this is a boy… she wanted to be first to have a son, made no bones of it and the way Mama and Da fuss on the grandkids… oh god. Mica" Ianto rushed to check on his sister and beloved only niece.

Finally he knew why… not that it helped.

IT was never about a crown.

It was not about bragging rights.

She wanted the bloodline.