"Alvin, are you sure you can control this thing?"

Jude's voice was just barely audible over the roar of the wind and snow that pelted them as they flew over the mountains surrounding Kanbalar. He clung close, arms wrapped firmly around Alvin's waist as they soared through the clouds on the back of the wyvern.

"Why? You wanna try?" Alvin called back with a laugh. He seemed to be handling the beast with only minor trouble, which Yurgen had told them to expect. Unless you were part of their tribe, the wyverns were likely to misbehave out of defiance. Thankfully this was not Alvin's first flight, and much to Jude's relief they had not been tossed off the saddle and sent tumbling towards the jagged mountains below.

Not yet, anyway.

The wyvern bucked in mid-air and took a sudden dive through the grey storm clouds. Jude yelped and gripped Alvin's waist even tighter, squeezing his eyes shut as he awaited the inevitable impact with the ground. Yet the wyvern leveled out moments later, the snow-capped mountains now whizzing by beneath their feet.

Alvin took one hand from the reigns and placed it over Jude's, giving him a comforting pat. "Look, you can see Kanbalar."

Jude leaned to the left, spotting the capital city in the distance. Admittedly, Jude knew very little of the area, and in relation, the new king. He had grown up in what was formerly the Kingdom of Rashugal, ruled by King Nachtigal. The late king was the primary supporter of the open-border treaty, insisting that it was high-time for Rieze Maxia to move forward into the technological age. "For the greater good of all in this world", he had said in a rousing speech to his subjects. It was almost entirely thanks to him that the treaty was passed, and the process of building new relations with their neighbor country truly began.

Sadly, he did not live to see his work come to fruition, passing suddenly a mere months before the border was officially open. Rumors attributed his death to those against the merging of the worlds, some even pointing the finger to the ruler of the neighboring kingdom. With Nachtigal gone and no clear heir named, the council announced that the two kingdoms would merge into one, acting as the United Kingdom of Rieze Maxia under the rule of Kanbalar's king, Gaius.

The ruler of Kanbalar had repeatedly voiced his disdain for assisting the Elympion "degenerates", stating that their continued isolation was the only thing saving them from meeting the same fate as the dying country. But it would seem that the people's opinions far outweighed his own, and being a man purportedly of his people, King Gaius ultimately continued with the treaty.

Knowing this, Jude felt a wave of anxiety at the idea of presenting his findings to the king. The information he had to offer would only paint the Elympion people in the very light that almost undid the treaty before it began. Would the king use his findings as justification to nullify the treaty, closing the border once again? If that were to happen, they really would have no hope of stopping Exodus or helping Elympios. The fate of both worlds fell squarely onto his shoulders and Jude wasn't sure if he could handle the pressure.

The pressure, and the cold. It was unreasonably cold. He really wished Alvin had given him a coat to go with his new attire. Goosebumps rose on his exposed arms, his body wracked with shivers as the frigid air rushed around them. It was a wonder he hadn't developed frostbite from exposure alone. Alvin wasn't dressed much more conservatively than he was; wasn't he freezing as well?

Jude would receive no reprieve from the cold as they came in for a landing before the castle gates, snow sent flying by the flapping of the wyvern's powerful wings. The guards posted at the entry stepped back, allowing the beast the wide girth it required to properly land. The beast gave a non-committal growl before lowering its head, allowing its passengers to dismount. Alvin first, then Jude stiffly behind him.

Within seconds the guards approached, putting Jude on edge. "State your business." They ordered, pikes at the ready, only serving to rile him up more. Jude had had just about enough of hostile guards threatening him.

Thankfully, Alvin was there to step between them. "Whoa, easy there. We're expected."

"And whom is expecting you, Elympion?" The pike was turned on Alvin, the man throwing his hands up in defense. Were the people of Kanbalar just as distrustful of Elympions as their king?

Alvin looked over his shoulder at Jude, casting him an apologetic smile before returning his attentions to the guard. "I'm here to see King Gaius. This kid is requesting an audience."

"The king does not accept audiences unless a request is formally submitted in writing to the Prime Minister. No exceptions!"

"Of course…" Alvin grit his teeth, briefly glancing around before fixating on one corner of the stone wall surrounding the city. He frowned, hands still raised as he called out. "Are you just gonna watch me flounder or are you gonna help me out here?"

A blur of blue and black flicked across Jude's vision, a figure darting from above and landing before them, further startling the guard. Blonde hair, skin-tight attire, definitively female in form. She pushed up her glasses as she silently regarded Alvin before addressing the guards with a wave of her hand. "Let them pass." Her voice was decadent, sultry in her command. The guards obeyed without a single vote of protest, signaling to open the gate for the three to enter.

The three were escorted into the city proper, the gates clattering closed behind them. At the head of their group, the woman said nothing as she lead them further into the snow-covered streets, Alvin sticking close to Jude's side. He appeared tense, yet contemplative as he watched the woman almost saunter along the path, silently leading them further into the city.

All the while Jude observed his surroundings, taking in the architecture of the capital city. It was strange to think that this place was now considered one of the most important areas of Rieze Maxia. Until recently, Fennmont had held that title, with a majority of Rashugal's trade being funneled through the military base, making it the first stop for anyone wishing to make their mark within the country. But with the passing of King Nachtigal and the uniting of the two kingdoms, the capital city shifted to this remote, mountainous region.

Strategically it made sense; Fennmont was near the coast and easily accessible to allies and enemies alike. Kanbalar, on the other hand, was surrounded on three sides with treacherous mountains, and one with a monster-infested marsh. It was clear why the trade mecca remained in Xian Du when you considered how difficult it was to actually reach the castled city.

They came upon a secluded courtyard outside what appeared to be an old chapel. No townspeople were around, all presumably hiding within their homes to avoid the bitter cold that befell the city nearly year round. Alone, or at least as alone as they could be in the open, Presa finally turned on Alvin, wasting no time in laying into him.

"Four years, Al." She seethed, grabbing ahold of the man's prized scarf as if threatening to hang him by it. "Four years, and the first time you call me is for a favor?"

Alvin grimaced, hands coming up to grab ahold of the scarf knot out of self-preservation. "Easy, Presa! No need to take my head off!"

"You're fortunate if that is all that is done to you within these walls. Do you have any idea what hell you put us through when you left? The fact that you'd have the audacity to call on me for help is so completely beyond me that I have half a mind to throw you into the dungeon to see how youlike it."

"Can you throw us somewhere warminstead? Jude's freezing out here." Both looked to Jude, who had been watching with a mixture of fear and intrigue while the woman chewed Alvin out. So this is Presa…

Presa huffed, smirking Jude's way. "Oh, so this is the one?" She hummed, letting go of Alvin's scarf and ambling over to Jude, grinning. "The studious researcher gone rogue for the sake of his mission, is that it, Jude Mathis?" She spoke softly like a secret, the air of familiarity completely bewildering Jude. Did she know him? Had he met her?

A single finger brushed along the underside of Jude's chin, Presa leaning closer, expression almost predatory. "You came all this way thinking you could simply walk in and plead your case with the King, is that what Alvin told you?"

Jude nodded, feeling the woman's eyes on him. It felt as if she were seeing right through, completely exposing his innermost fears to the world. It was unnerving, yet strangely familiar. "Yes, it's imperative that I speak with the king right away and-"

"He isn't here." She cut him short, pulling back and meandering over to Alvin like a defiant cat. "Stepped out to take care of business. Urgent, he said."

"What?" They had come all this way and the king wasn't there? Hadn't Alvin made arrangements for a meeting as soon as they arrived? "When will he return?"

Presa took an express interest in her nails, hips canted to one side. "By the morrow, I imagine. It's not like you can expect him to clear his schedule for a simple researcher and a spy."

"I… I didn't expect him to, but…" Jude looked to Alvin for guidance, but the man only shrugged, shaking his head. It would seem even his connections only went so far, and they were reaching the extent of his abilities.

The woman adjusted her glasses with a soft hum and once again Jude felt like he was being dissected by those eyes. Such a peculiar woman, and yet he felt as if he had seen her before at one point. But where?

"So, this is your new toy, Al? Your tastes certainly havechanged…"

Jude took a half-step back, face lighting up with a heavy blush. "T-toy? I-I'm not…"

"Oh? Is that not the case?" Presa cooed, only serving to make Jude blush more.

"Presa." Alvin warned, a firm hand on her shoulder. "Give it a rest. You're giving him ideas."

The woman chuckled, brushing Alvin's hand off before crossing her arms over her voluptuous chest. "Ideas he says…" She observed Jude a moment longer, seemingly amused by the heavy blush that was creeping down his neck. Instead of pushing the teasing further, she simply smiled. "I am Presa of the Chimeriad employed by King Gaius."

The Chimeriad… Jude had only heard of them in passing. They were said to be an unstoppable elite group of fighters that served as the king's personal guard. If this woman was part of such a group, then perhaps Alvin's connections went further than he originally thought.

Remembering his etiquette, Jude quickly bowed his head. "I'm Jude Mathis, a researcher from Leronde currently working in Trigleph. Thank you for allowing us into Kanbalar."

Presa all but giggled at his posture, bringing a hand up to cover her lips. "My, where did you find this one, Al? I didn't think cradle-robbing was part of your ledger."

"Presa," Again with that warning tone. "Leave it alone."

"You're Rieze Maxian, are you not? How did you get mixed up with this man of all people?"

Jude lifted his head slightly, still feeling unsettled by the woman's devouring gaze. "He is…" He caught himself. "…wasmy bodyguard."

The woman seemed intrigued by that. Had she not known? Or was it Jude's reaction that piqued her interest? "You've a demon's luck to be stuck with this man as a bodyguard…" She quipped, each word accentuated with a little sway of her hips, as if mocking the man that stood behind her. It was clear that Presa held an almost unhealthy amount of disdain for Alvin, but for what reason, Jude did not know.

But if she was close to Alvin once, he wanted to know. In a brief flicker of courage, he stood up fully, putting on a brave face as he spoke. "Did you two work together before, Presa?"

Her expression darkened considerably, but the smug grin remained. Presa glanced over her shoulder, one hand on her hip as she regarded the man in question. "Oh, you didn't tell him?" She purred, earning a glare from Alvin. The man opened his mouth as if to cut her off, but Presa beat him to it. "We were engaged."

Oh.

The proverbial can of worms opened and more questions began spilling out. This woman was Alvin's fiancé? But she had used past tense, so they were not engaged any longer? What could have happened between them that caused such tension that they did not speak for four years?

Many questions arose, but Jude knew he would be denied answers for now. Alvin stepped between them in what Jude assumed was an attempt to reroute the conversation to something less damaging. "Presa, get down to business already."

"Oh? Don't want him to know our history, Al?"

What was she implying? Jude wasn't sure he wanted to know. In fact, he wasn't sure he wanted to know much about this woman at all. She seemed close to Alvin, or at least close at one time. What happened between them Jude wasn't sure, and it appeared Alvin wasn't keen on him finding out.

All he knew was that she was dangerous, probably just as dangerous as Alvin, if not more.

Seemingly having had her fill of Jude blushing, Presa turned to face Alvin, expression becoming serious. "You'll be barred access to the castle until Rowen or Gaius returns. Until then, you'll stay at the inn."

"As long as it has a fireplace, I don't really care." Alvin quipped, rounding the woman to stand by Jude's side, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A protective gesture, or simply an attempt at keeping Jude warm? He'd opt for either at that point.

Presa said little as she led them down the streets of Kanbalar again, heading towards the solitary inn within the city's walls. Alvin kept him close, providing a welcome reprieve from the biting cold that seeped into his skin, making him hyperaware of each and every inch of exposed flesh. What he wouldn't give for the wool coat he had left behind in Trigleph.

The group came to a halt before the stone walls of the inn, Presa turning on heel to address the two. "I will report of your arrival. Once the king has agreed to the audience, you will be sent for."

Once he agrees to it? "But I thought that king was expecting us?" Jude queried, suddenly concerned that they had gone all that way for nothing. Hadn't Alvin made these arrangements already?

Presa crossed her arms with a sardonic grin, as if to comment on how naïve Jude was. "My, aren't we idealistic? With what little information Alvin was able to provide over the phone, it's a wonder that he's even considering hearing your case at all." Her gaze turned to Alvin, who only grimaced in response. She was teasing him, and they both knew it. "He will see you in due time. Until then, you will have to wait like a good boy." Presa cast a suggesting wink Jude's way, only serving to fluster the boy further. Really, what was she getting at?

"Don't heckle the kid." Alvin groused, voice stern. "He's been through a lot recently."

Presa rolled her eyes in response, canting her hips to one side. "I imagine much of that is because of you, Al."

Alvin didn't deny it.

A brief pause, then Presa's attention was on Jude again. She leaned close, voice low, but there was no play in her tone. "I'd do yourself a favor, boy. Part ways with that man as soon as you can. He'll only hurt you in the end."

The woman disappeared into the shadows as quickly as she had appeared, leaving Jude feeling vulnerable, bewildered. He couldn't shake the feeling that Presa knew him in some way, and not just from what little she had gained from the brief conversation with Alvin just a few days prior. Moreover, she seemed to know Alvin far better than he did, and held secrets that the man dare not share himself. Just how close was this woman to Alvin, and how much of his dark past would she be willing to divulge?

Jude made a mental note to ask later, but for now, he just wanted to get warm.

The room was about as cozy as one would expect of a rustic mountain town. Two beds lined with furs, thick curtains covering the windows as another round of snow began to fall just outside. A hearth nestled into the interior wall, a fire already crackling merrily within, warming the room. The door was closed behind them, finally affording some semblance of safety and privacy for Jude. They were out of the woods for now, safe within Kanbalar's walls, for however long that would be.

"I'll call one of the maids to run a bath." Alvin volunteered. "Why don't you go sit by the hearth and warm up? Your lips are turning blue." He stepped into the hallway, leaving Jude to his own devices.

Jude quickly made himself comfortable in front of the fire, taking a seat upon one of the fur rugs. Never before had he been more thankful for something so simple as a fireplace, relishing the feeling of his limbs slowly coming back online with pinpricks of a thousand tiny needles.

Alvin returned a moment later, taking a seat next to Jude by the fire, pulling off his coat and tossing it upon the bed. "Maid's working on your bath now. Shouldn't be too long."

"Thanks." Jude said quietly, holding his hands close to the flames. Having Alvin next to him again brought his mind back to the questions that had arisen during their short time with Presa. As much as Jude wanted to offer Alvin the luxury of privacy on the matter, too much had happened over the last few days for him to allow such secrets. That, and some of what Presa had said was… troubling.

"You were engaged?" Jude asked, hoping he wouldn't regret his decision to dig further.

Alvin sighed audibly, resting propping his elbow upon his raised knee. "Yeah, we were."

A pause ensued, Jude waiting for him, expecting more than just a frivolous response.

The other seemed to pick up on this and after a moment of silence, continued. "We were going to get married, but her orders conflicted with mine and I had to break it off."

"Orders?" Curious. Orders from the king? Or someone else?

Alvin nodded, staring into the flames, as if unwilling to look at Jude while he confessed. "At the time she was gathering intel working at the hospital. I just happened to be working for the Rashugal military, and… One thing led to another."

"Wait, working at the hospital?" Suddenly the woman's familiarity with him was explained, and Jude realized all at once that he did know Presa. The secretary, the one that always seemed to give him furtive winks whenever he'd drop off files at the nurse's station. What was her name? Mouse? No, Mink. Mink, that was her name. Jude kicked himself for not realizing sooner; it had been a few years, but he should have been able to recognize her even without the typical employee uniform.

"Sounds like you've already figured it out." Alvin chuckled, laying his head against his outstretched arm, expression forlorn. "I ended up turning her in to the military. I'd like to say it was an act of self-preservation; she was feeding info on me and my troops to her employer. But…" He gave a half-hearted shrug. Alvin didn't have to say it out loud; he knew the reason why. It was another job, just like this one. The heads go to the highest bidder, and it just so happened that the sack of coin he received outweighed his feelings for Presa.

"Did you love her?" Jude asked, but did he really want to know? Did he want to hear what Alvin had to say about this woman he had intended to marry and had ultimately left behind?

A beat of silence, then Alvin answered. "Yeah. I loved her. But I had orders."

Jude's stomach tied itself up in knots as he realized how painfully similar Presa's story was to his own. Perhaps the exchange of vows was not involved in their retelling, but the closeness, the emotions, the inevitable betrayal… "So your orders override your personal ties… Is that why you cut her off?"

Another beat of silence, then a nod. Alvin seemed to be struggling with something within himself, but at that point, Jude wasn't entirely sure he wanted that fight explained. "That's right. It was better that way."

The tension was nearly tangible between them, Jude's thoughts almost loud enough for the other to hear. All this, the appearance of the long lost fiancé, the allusions to his own relationship with Alvin, and Presa's words…

"Was she your toy?"

"What?"

Jude felt his face grow hot, and it wasn't because of the fire. "Presa asked if I was your new 'toy'. That would imply that you've had them before, right?"

Alvin audibly groaned and scrubbed at his face. "That's… Damn that Presa, putting ideas in your head…"

"Alvin." Jude tugged at Alvin's wrist, bringing the man's attention back to him. "What did she mean by that?"

Alvin paused, staring sidelong at the young boy for a second before answering in the most deadpan voice he could muster. "She means if we're sleeping together."

Oh.

Oh.

Jude's face lit up a brilliant pink and he was suddenly very sorry he asked. Did they really give off that impression? Yes, he had definitely had a crush on the man, and before all the chaos started he was definitely considering asking him about a relationship. But right now there was so much more going on that needed his full attention. And even if there wasn't, they hadn't even made it past holding hands, let alone actually…

His nose was flicked by Alvin and Jude was abruptly brought from his thoughts and back to reality. "Stop thinking about it so much." Alvin stated curtly before rising to his feet. "When this is all over, you won't have to see me again."

Alvin's words hung in the air as he exited into the hallway, no doubt checking on the status of their baths. Yet Jude wished he had stayed if only to get something of an explanation from the about his last statement.

You won't have to see me again…

"But… What if I don't want that?" Jude asked the empty room, and was grateful for the lack of answer he received.