Disclaimer: The usual – I don't own the story or characters apart from Kaide and Blaire (because I made them up ).
Chapter 2 – Hatred Boils Over
Blaire was relieved to finally cross the Estill/Monsea border and set foot on her native homeland of Monsea. Just seeing the tall, looming ice-covered peaks were enough to set her spirits on a high, the cold but refreshing blast of wind increasing her spirits. It was a welcome distraction to the surly figure that rode on the neighbouring chestnut horse as Kaide maintained the silence that began earlier in their journey, right after their confrontation when they had arrived in a Sundean port.
"You really are serious about leaving, aren't you? Just say something, will you? We're home!" Blaire sang, excited and rejuvenated by the frosty Monsean wind that blew constantly in her face.
"Excited about this blasted wind and those damn white mountains?" Kaide snorted heavily, hastily tying her hair back in an attempt to stop the wind tangling it. "Seeing those mountains means that we are in the so-called sweet home of Monsea. Yay!" Kaide's sarcasm made Blaire frown with annoyance, as Kaide stared bitterly at the mountains.
"What is with you?" Blaire demanded abruptly, abruptly turning her black horse to block Kaide's as she approached. "You've never been this surly before as we've approached Leck's City. Sure, you were cranky, but this black mood is something new."
"Does kidnapping the defenceless father of the Queen make you feel bad at all? Gee, do you even have a heart or desire for caring, Blaire? Or are you just another Leck?" Kaide spat out mutinously, as Blaire's face turned from annoyance to anger. She bypassed the stationery figure of Blaire's horse by angrily drawing out her glittering blade, and cleanly slicing through the trees that stood in her way. She did not wait for Blaire to catch up as she travelled down the road towards Leck City, fury in her eyes. A single tear dripped down her left cheek.
The loud trumpets that announced the arrival of Blaire and Kaide at the doorstep of Leck's Castle made Kaide cover her ears in annoyance. Those trumpets were so loud and relentless, and Kaide was thankful that most people had no idea how sensitive her hearing was, or they would think up of more inventive ways to muck around with her hearing. If it was sensitive enough for Kaide to hear conversations through thick stone walls in a noisy palace, it was more than sensitive enough for the trumpeting to sound like the grating of stones that felt as if it were tearing her ears apart. And that was a possibility. Several times, when Leck had really pushed his Grace in an attempt to make Kaide fall under it, her eardrums had burst.
Blaire sighed as the trumpeting continued. "For whatever you are angry for, I apologise in advance. I bet this trumpeting is driving you nuts."
"It is," Kaide replied, her earlier black mood fading marginally as she distracted herself in conversation with Blaire. "No one understands that part about me more than you. Let's meet Leck so we can get those damn trumpets to shut up." No sooner had Kaide snapped that than the trumpeting stopped. While Blaire was known to be kind, warm and approachable in the castle, Kaide was the opposite, her hatred towards Leck and her cold attitude making workers in the castle afraid of her. The first time that someone annoyed her by playing with a trumpet, Kaide had nearly killed him. It was from that moment that Leck made sure to have trumpeters announce any arrival of Kaide and Blaire from a mission. When Leck wasn't hiding and doing his plotting in his bedroom, his did his best to annoy and harass Kaide, probably in an attempt to get her to leave from his service.
The slow entrance into the main dining hall of Leck's Castle made Blaire more agitated than she had been earlier when Kaide had refused to speak to her. Leck was sitting on one of the two ornately carved chairs that rested in the middle of the long, but narrow dining hall. This seat was marginally higher than the one that rested on his right hand side – the empty seat that was meant for the absent Queen Ashen. However, as Blaire and Kaide approached, Leck completely ignored the fact that Kaide was now standing right in front of him, Blaire on her left. It was as if she didn't exist, as his remaining eye was fixed towards Blaire in a way that clearly stated that he knew Kaide was there but he was ignoring her. The Graced guards that stood around Leck's throne tensed at their entry.
This is bad, Blaire thought. Their hatred for each other has gotten to the stage that they ignore each other in public.
"Blaire!" Leck snapped suddenly, voice echoing loudly around the dining room. While the blank-eyed servants and guards of Leck remained still, Kaide let out a shudder at his voice, heavily laced with the power of his Grace. For some reason, both Kaide and Blaire were unable to fall under Leck's Grace, something that Kaide believed was the reason why he hated her so much. Blaire didn't agree. She could resist Leck's Grace but he had never shown her any open hostility, had he?
"How did your mission with Tealiff go?" Leck asked, resting one of his arms on the gold armrest of his chair.
"Perfectly," Blaire smiled. "Tealiff is already resting in Murgon's hands. He's all yours when you're ready."
"Excellent," Leck hissed, an evil glint flashing over his only grey eye, the other eye obscured by an eye patch. "Bitterblue and Ashen are mine. I'll...personally give Ashen the tragic news that her father disappeared. And here." Leck threw a small sack of precious jewels in Blaire's direction, as she caught it reflexively.
"Payment. But not that you need it. With the missions that you do for me, you are more than rich, aren't you, Blaire?" Leck smiled, looking the perfect image of a charming king. Kaide wasn't fooled, noting the message that lay behind that statement. 'I won't need to pay you once I control you with my Grace' was what Leck was trying to convey to Kaide. She averted her eyes just as Leck began to acknowledge her presence.
"That is disrespectful, Kaide," Leck snapped, clearly showing his dislike for Kaide. Kaide rubbed her ears to ease her discomfort.
"This meeting is over, anyway," Kaide sneered in response. "You got your joyous news and we got our payment."
"I am the king!" Leck roared. "I am the one telling you when or when not meetings are over. Is that clear, or I'll throw you to the dungeons!"
Kaide remained defiantly silent, as Blaire felt her heart rate increase. She tugged at Kaide's sleeve and gave her a pleading expression.
"She understands," Blaire said desperately, trying to placate Leck.
"I will only understand if she says it to me, dear Blaire, or we are not getting out of here. Kaide needs to learn a lesson in obedience," Leck replied, glaring at Kaide, as if he were hoping that the sheer power of his angry gaze would made Kaide crack.
"I don't serve you. I'm here for Blaire. Is that understood?" Kaide snapped angrily, before turning around angrily and walking out, her boots making no noise as Kaide swiftly excited the room.
"You-"Leck's anger was barely contained as he struggled to come up with insults for Kaide. Then he looked down at Blaire, anger fading. "You are always welcome here, Blaire."
Blaire nodded and took this statement as a dismissal. She left the room as quickly as she could without running, bumping into Kaide at the very entrance of the dining hall as she stood waiting for Blaire.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, Kaide? Leck hates you because you are so defiant, so disrespectful, and you don't even try to be nice! It's unreasonable!" Blaire shouted at Kaide, as she began walking away.
"You mean...you're afraid! I've told you so many times – once you aren't useful to Leck, he'll just dispose of you. He likes subjects that he can control, and you follow him like a young puppy, devoted. I can see, and hear him for what he is. A control freak. A bastard. He likes torturing people, physically and mentally. You still want to work for him? I can barely stand it!" Kaide shouted back, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she continued walking away.
Blaire let out a strangled screech, speechless. "They, why are you still here?" she replied softly, looking deep into Kaide's eyes.
"For you. For our friendship. You are like my sister...I can't leave you to Leck, defenceless. With my sensitive hearing, I can hear Leck's Grace for what it is, stopping me from falling for it. But you? You don't fall for it because of sheer willpower," Kaide replied, just as softly.
As Kaide and Blaire began walking through a corridor lined with portraits, Blaire stopped and pointed to one of them in an attempt to change the topic. It was the portrait of the last Monsean Queen, who died mysteriously after naming Leck heir to the throne only several days earlier.
"You look like her," Blaire stated. Kaide looked furious.
"I do not!" she exploded. "Just the mere fact that you are comparing me to a royal is an insult!"
"Sorry!" Blaire replied hastily. It was hard not to forget Kaide's deep sated hatred of nobles and members of the royal family. This hatred had been intensified by Kaide's interaction with Leck, but Blaire knew it stemmed mainly from Kaide's childhood, a story that Kaide still hadn't, after fifteen years, told her about. "You do know that I was a noble, right?"
"Yeah, but you don't count. There are exceptions to every rule... and you were disowned anyway. You don't fit the cannon, being a rebel," Kaide smirked.
Kaide walked away, smirking as she walked towards her room. Blaire looked at the portrait of the Monsean Queen and realised, deep down, that she genuinely believed that Kaide did look similar to them.
"A mystery..." Blaire murmured, as she turned to follow Kaide to her room.