Matthew Wild
Throne's grip on my arm tightened as he dragged me further away from the tavern, the cobblestones cold and unyielding underfoot. My heart pounded in my chest, frustration and fear mingling in a chaotic swirl. I could barely comprehend what was happeningâone moment I was reconnecting with people I thought I'd lost forever, and the next, I was being torn away from them by someone I trusted.
"Throne, stop! You don't understand!" I shouted, trying to wrench my arm free. But he was too strong, his determination driving him forward with a relentless force.
"They're lying to you, Winston! It's a trap. The Kingdom doesn't send people like them to helpâthey send them to finish the job," Throne insisted, his voice harsh, as if he was convinced he was protecting me.
"They're not from the Kingdom! They're my friendsâpeople who've been looking for me for years!" I protested, panic rising as we moved farther from the safety of the tavern.
But Throne wasn't listening. His face was set in stone, his mind made up. "I can't let them take you, Winston. You're too important to fall into their hands."
My pulse raced as I realized I had to do something, anything, to break free. I twisted my body, trying to slip out of his grip, but he held me firm, like a vice. The frustration boiled over, and with a surge of adrenaline, I lashed out, swinging at him with all the strength I could muster.
Throne staggered back slightly, surprised by the force of the blow, but it wasn't enough to break his hold. He retaliated, pulling me closer, his eyes flashing with determination. "I'm doing this for your own good, Winston. You'll thank me later."
"No, Throne, you're wrong! Let me go!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the narrow alley he had dragged me into.
But Throne was relentless. He began to pull me deeper into the darkness, away from the light and warmth of the tavern, away from Alice and Elizabeth, away from any chance I had to make things right.
Desperation clawed at me as I struggled with everything I had, but it was no use. Throne was stronger, and his grip only tightened the more I fought. I could feel the panic rising in my chest, suffocating me as I realised I might not be able to get back to the tavern, back to my friends, back to my only hope of saving Sebastian and Arney.
"Throne, please! You have to trust me!" I pleaded, my voice breaking.
But Throne shook his head, resolute. "I'm sorry, Winston. I can't let you go back. It's too dangerous."
As Throne continued to drag me deeper into the alley, my heart pounded with fear and frustration. The narrow passageway seemed to close in around us, the dim light from the street fading into darkness. My mind raced, searching for any way to make him understand, to stop this madness.
Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps behind us, and a voice called out, sharp and urgent. "Matthew! Hey, stop!"
I twisted in Throne's grip, craning my neck to see Alice and Elizabeth rushing toward us, their faces pale with worry. Throne froze, his grip still firm on my arm, but I could feel his hesitation as they approached.
"What do you think you're doing?" Alice demanded, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger. "Let him go!"
Throne's eyes darted between them and me, uncertainty flickering in his expression. "Stay back, you fucking royals."
Elizabeth stepped forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "We're not here to hurt him. We've been looking for Matthewâfor years. We're friends, not enemies."
"Who the fuck is Matthew?" Throne called, out.
"I am, Throne" I pleaded, "Please, just listen, let me go."
Throne's eyes narrowed as he looked at me, confusion and suspicion clouding his expression. "What are you talking about? Your name is Winston. Clive told me that himself."
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. "Throne, I haven't been entirely honest with you. My real name is Matthew. Winston is just the name I've been using to stay hidden."
Throne's grip tightened again, his eyes flickering between me and the two women. "Why didn't you tell me? Why the hell would you lie about something like that?"
"I had to," I said, desperation creeping into my voice. "If the Kingdom found out I was alive, they'd hunt me down. I didn't want to drag anyone else into my mess."
Elizabeth stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "He's been on the run for years, Throne. We were sent by Prince Sebastian to find him and bring him back to safety. The Kingdom doesn't know he's still alive, and if they did, it would put everyone he's been with in dangerâincluding you."
Throne's gaze shifted to Elizabeth, still full of doubt. "And what about Clive? Does he know about this?"
I spoke up, my voice steady but tinged with urgency. "My real name yes, the reason, no, Alice and Elizabeth don't even know who Clive is."
Throne's eyes narrowed, weighing my words. "So, you've been keeping this from him too? And you think that's going to keep everyone safe?"
"The Kingdom thinks I'm dead anyway" I pleaded, "So everyone is safe."
Throne glared at me, his skepticism etched deep in the lines of his face. "But you've got the fucking prince looking for you, Winston! How does that make anyone safe?" he echoed, disbelief heavy in his voice.
I swallowed hard, my voice pleading. "He won't harm anyone. Sebastian is my friend."
Throne let out a bitter laugh. "And you trust those royal fucking arses? After everything they've done to people like us?"
"Yes, I do, Throne," I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady. "Sebastian isn't like the others. He's different."
Alice stepped forward, her expression calm but determined. "The prince won't do anything to harm anyone who's helped Matthew. He means too much to him. Sebastian isn't like the rest of them, Throne."
Throne shook his head, his distrust palpable. "Nah, I don't buy it. I don't trust the fucking royals. They're all hypocrites. All they do is take from people like us. They make promises and then break them, leaving us to pick up the pieces."
"Not Sebastian," I said firmly, my gaze locked with Throne's. "He's fought for the people, tried to make things better. He's not just another royalâhe's been through hell, just like the rest of us."
Throne looked at me for a long moment, the tension between us thick. Finally, he exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. "I don't like this, Matthew. But if you're willing to vouch for him, I'll give you the benefit of the doubtâfor now."
I nodded, relief washing over me. "Thank you, Throne"
Throne didn't look convinced, but he finally stepped back, the tension easing slightly. "Fine. But if things go south, don't expect me to play nice with your royal friend and you fucking tell me everything"
"Of course," I replied, the words carrying a promise I intended to keep.
...
Inside the hideaway, the air was thick with the scent of old wood and the faintest trace of smoke. The lanterns flickered softly, casting a warm glow around the room. We settled around the large, worn table at the centre, the same one where so many plans had been hatched, lives changed. Alice and Elizabeth sat on either side of me, their presence a comforting reminder of a past I had long tried to bury. Throne sat across from me with his eyes sharp.
Throne let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. "So, you're telling me that all this time, you've been a fucking royal"
I met his gaze squarely, shaking my head. "I'm not a royal, Throne."
He scoffed, crossing his arms. "Well, your fucking sister is."
I sighed, the weight of the conversation bearing down on me like a heavy cloak. My shoulders sagged under the invisible burden I carriedâthe years of hiding, the constant fear of discovery, and now, the confrontation with the truth I'd been running from.
"I just don't get it, though," Throne said, leaning forward, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Why were you sentenced to death? Just because you're good friends with the Prince?"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, the weight of his question settling heavily on my chest. I could feel Alice and Elizabeth's eyes on me, their silence urging me to respond, but the words caught in my throat. The truth was complicated, tangled up in emotions I wasn't ready to unravel, and maybe, deep down, I was a little embarrassed to admit it. The real reason felt too personal, too raw to share with someone who couldn't possibly understand.
"It's more complicated than that," I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alice sighed, rolling her eyes. "They were fucking, his sister got pissed, then the bitch sold him out."
"Alice!" I called out, my face flushing with embarrassment.
"Well, fuck me!" Throne exclaimed, leaning back in his chair, disbelief etched across his face. "You're a fucking ladyboy!"
"What?!" I exclaimed, incredulity washing over me. "No, I'm not!"
Alice stifled a laugh, clearly amused by Throne's reaction. "You're telling me you had a romantic entanglement with a royal, and you're not at least a little proud of it?"
I shot her a glare, but it was hard to maintain my anger. The absurdity of the situation was overwhelming. "It wasn't like that! We were friends who... cared for each other, okay? It was complicated!"
Throne leaned in, a smirk on his lips. "Complicated how? Sounds like a classic case of star-crossed lovers to me."
I felt my cheeks heat up, the tension in the room shifting from serious to teasing. "It's not like that at all! We were caught up in something way bigger than us, and it got us both into trouble."
Alice shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face. "Look, whatever it was, you can't deny there's a story there, and a juicy one at that."
"Well, if my sister was fucking my wife, I would be pretty pissed too," Throne said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
His words made my heart drop. The pain I caused Katharina was something I would carry as a heavy burden for the rest of my life. The memory of her face twisted in anger haunted me, and I couldn't shake the guilt that came with it. I had never intended for any of this to happen.
"But I wouldn't sell her out and try to get her killed," Throne added, his tone softening slightly. "That's a whole different level of betrayal."
I looked up, meeting his gaze. "I never meant for any of this to spiral out of control. I thought we were just trying to navigate a complicated situation together, but I never imagined it would end up like this."
"Well, I thinkâ" Elizabeth began, but her words were abruptly cut off.
The heavy door swung open, and Clive burst in, flanked by a group of men, their faces grim and taut with urgency. As they entered, my heart sank at the sight behind them. Arney was being carried in, slumped between two burly soldiers, his body limp and blood-soaked. The crimson stains blossomed against the white fabric of his shirt, stark and alarming under the dim light of the tavern.
His face was pale, almost ghostly, with a sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. I could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest, but it looked labored, as if each breath was a struggle. Panic surged through me as I took a step forward, desperate to reach him.
"Arney!" I shouted, my voice breaking with fear.
"Fuck!" Throne exclaimed, his expression shifting from surprise to immediate concern as he rushed to help support Arney's weight. The soldiers lowered him to the floor, and I dropped to my knees beside him, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over me.
"What happened?" I demanded, urgency fueling my words as I looked up at Clive, who stood watching with a mixture of frustration and concern.
"I don't have time for this," Clive replied, his voice sharp, eyes darting between the women and Arney's unconscious form. "Who the fuck are they?"
Arney's eyelids fluttered, but he didn't respond, and my stomach twisted in dread. "What happened to him?" I demanded, looking up at Clive.
"Are they with the fucking Prince?" Clive exclaimed, his voice rising as he glared at Alice and Elizabeth.
"So what if we are?" Alice shot back defiantly, her eyes narrowing. The tension in the room thickened, and I could feel the anxiety crackling in the air.
"Get them out of here!" Clive barked, his expression hardening as he stepped closer, trying to assert his authority.
"Clive!" I shouted, desperation fueling my words. "No, they are with me! They're here to help. They've been searching for me!"
"You don't know the shit you've caused, Winston!" Clive shouted, his face flushed with anger. "You've got the fucking Kingdom going through our arses, and now you want to bring their people here?"
"Clive, man," Throne added, stepping in to support me, "They're good people. They don't mean harm. They've been looking for Winston for years. If they wanted to hurt us, they would have done it already."
"Exactly!" Alice shouted back, her eyes flashing with determination.
"Clive, we're at an advantage. He's with the prince; we can use him," Throne said, his voice steady and persuasive.
"Fuck the prince! He won't do shit for our people!" Clive shot back, his frustration boiling over.
"No, Clive," Throne insisted, his tone firm. "Winston's a fucking ladyboy."
"Throne!" I exclaimed, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and anger.
"That's how much Winston means to the prince," Throne added, his voice lowering as he tried to reason with Clive. "We have Winston; we can bargain a good price."
"What the fuck is this!" I cried out, feeling a mix of betrayal and confusion. "Is this what we are? These types of people? Then that makes us just as bad as them!"
The room fell silent, tension crackling in the air as everyone processed my words. Clive's expression hardened, and I could see the gears turning in his mind. "You're being naïve, Winston. This is survival, not charity."
"Survival doesn't have to mean sacrificing our morals!" I shot back, my voice rising. "We can't stoop to their level. If we start playing their games, we'll lose ourselves in the process."
Alice stepped forward, her gaze intense. "Winston's right, Clive. We're better than that. We can't compromise who we are just to get what we want."
Clive opened his mouth to argue but paused, considering our words. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by uncertainty. "I just don't want to see us get hurt because we trust the wrong people."
"Neither do we," Elizabeth said, her voice calm yet insistent. "But we can't fight this war by becoming the monsters we despise. We need to hold on to our humanity, even in the darkest times."
Everyone froze, the weight of her words hanging in the air like a dense fog. The tension was palpable, a fragile balance between distrust and a shared longing for a better path. I glanced at Arney, still unconscious and pale, blood seeping through the makeshift bandages wrapped around his torso. The sight of him, vulnerable and hurt, ignited a fierce determination within me.
Clive's jaw tightened, the lines on his forehead deepening as he absorbed her message. "Once Arney's well, both you and him are fucking out, don't come back here!"
"Clive, come on!" I pleaded, urgency rising in my voice. "There's nothing to be scared about."
His eyes narrowed, the flickering light casting sharp shadows on his face. "And what if this blows up in our faces?"
"It won't," I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. "The prince is a good man."
"Why don't you meet him?" Alice stated, her tone steady. "You can then judge him yourself."
"I've already fucking met him," Clive said, irritation lacing his words. "Helped Arney kill that fucking general."
"What! He was there?" I exclaimed, disbelief flooding my veins.
"Begged to know where you were," Clive replied, his tone now more serious. "He wanted to protect you. Spewing all that shit."
I couldn't believe it was him who Arney met. The realisation washed over me like a tidal wave, a mix of shock and disbelief flooding my mind. I had been so close to Sebastian, yet so far. It felt surrealâan almost cruel twist of fate.
"You both are clearly ladyboys," Clive spat, his voice dripping with disdain.
The insult stung more than I expected, cutting through the tension like a knife. I felt heat rise in my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and anger. "This isn't about that!" I shot back, my voice rising. "This is about saving our lands from the Valorians. We're on the same side as the Kingdom."
"Right," Clive scoffed, crossing his arms. "And how do you plan on doing that? With your precious prince's help? You're dreaming if you think he'll risk his neck for you."
"I don't need him to risk his neck for me," I replied, forcing my voice to steady. "All I wanted was to just find him, and for this bloody war to end."
Throne stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Clive, it's not just about Winston and the Prince. If they really are allies, then maybe we can use that to our advantage. We need all the help we can get."
Clive ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident on his face. "And what if it backfires? What if the prince turns out to be just like the rest of them?"
"Then we deal with it then," I insisted. "But first, we need to make sure Arney is okay and find a way to get him the help he needs."
The room fell silent, tension hanging thick in the air as we all considered our next move. Clive's expression softened slightly, the anger in his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
"Fine," he finally relented, albeit begrudgingly. "But if this goes south, I won't hesitate to cut ties. We need to protect our own first."
I nodded, determination surging within me. "We will. Together."
As I glanced at Alice and Elizabeth, their faces reflected hope and resolve, ready to fight for our friend. Whatever it took, we would save Arney and find a way to reach Sebastian.