Chapter 450: Punishment

Within Brookhaven, a single road existed that was flooded with stores. Anyone who wished to start a business would desperately try to buy any of the lands on the road that became available. Nathan carefully checked over his shoulder as he walked down the street. Seeing he wasn’t being tailed, he turned into the store that acted as their safehouse.

While the store mainly served as a means to raise funds and provide a cover for their identities, James, after a year of experience, gained insight into high society through conversations with his contacts. Opening a tea house in such a prime location, he created another source of information for himself via his clientele.

Walking into the back office, Nathan took his bag off and threw it towards James. "Something big has happened in the academy." Taking the papers that slid out, James passed his own documents to Nathan.

"I’ve heard about this. This confirms it." With a wide smile, Jame grabbed his coat. Before he left, he picked up the few stacks of paper and chucked them into the fireplace. Making sure all evidence of the information he had collected was gone, he had Nathan follow behind and quickly left.

Nathan watched their small tea house as he left. The servants always stayed close to the customers. It wasn’t uncomfortable close, but just there so they could overhear even the quietest conversation. They had hired Ammary’s to work in the tea house, because tasks such as listening to customers weren’t unusual for servers within Brookhaven.

Climbing into the carriage waiting for them, James took his hat off and smiled. "It’s time to act against the Emperor."

"So soon?" To say he was shocked was an understatement. It had been less than half a year since he arrived in Ammar and even shorter since he joined with James. In other places, he was used to waiting a year before he could act.

"I’ve been here a year now, this isn’t strange. However, this isn’t because of me. We got lucky." James leaned forward with a wide, satisfied smile, "I wasn’t sure before, but after reading the report from David you brought, I know something bad happened to the Crown Prince."

"He was attacked? In school." Nathan grabbed this mouth in shock, "Who would dare..."

"It wasn’t with malicious intent. Just a thing between children, but something went wrong." Jame smiled, "It’s a good and bad thing. My source, although unconfirmed, says the Emperor is going to have the prince learn under Count Underwell. We can’t reach him anymore. But the other two will be free. It’s a short window, but we may have a chance."

Nathan nodded and leaned back, "So what. We’re hiring criminals to help us, or mercenaries."

"Are you insane. Listen, a big thing you must know. Any major city in the Empire does not work with the criminals on any major project. The majority of them, in exchange for a blind eye being turned to some crimes, will sell information to the crown and pay a small tax. We lost a few men to find this out." Nathan opened his mouth and waited for James to carry on.

Looking out the window, James watched as they left the street with their tea house. Riding calmly, they soon passed the Brookhaven cathedral, making his eyes harden slightly. Scoffing, he looked back at Nathan, "We have a few Templars who will help us. They are out of uniform, but getting some light armour will be easy."

"Right, so what’s the plan?" Nathan asked, getting a sly smile in return.

"Let the crown act first. Then when they do..."

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The door opened, and stepping inside the room, Isra saw Horace standing with his back facing the door. He spun around and, in a quick motion, placed his hand on his chest, lowering his head. "Empress."

"Enough." Horace rose and walked over. "Walk with me." Putting her arm out for Horace to grab as if leading her to a ball, the two quietly walked through the palace. Isra took a deep breath and grabbed the hand holding her. There was no affection in her movements.

"Alfred has made his decision final. I begged him not to send Edward to you, but nothing will change the choice unless I leave with him." Grabbing a single finger on his hand, Isra took a deep breath. "My son is the most precious thing to me, Horace. If you hurt him, I swear to God, I will kill you." Horace looked down at his hand. The finger Isra was holding jerked back, nearly breaking. He felt a wave of pain from it, but not letting it show, he flashed a fake friendly smile.

"I wouldn’t dare treat the Prince poorly." Sighing, he grabbed his cheek. "But his Majesty has ordered me to act as I see fit, if it means making the Crown Prince forget his trauma."

"Helping him is fine." Isra smiled, "But don’t push it. Any unnecessary pain you put him through, I will return tenfold." Stopping, Isra loosened Horace’s hold. "But you don’t need to be told." The two smile at one another. Neither of them was friendly or real, but both understood one another. "Now then, it appears my warning previously wasn’t clear. Did you get the names?"

Horace reached into his pocket and pulled a small sheet of paper out. Holding it out, Isra snatched it and opened it. "Based on what Samuel said, along with Violet’s list of Balder’s friends, it should be those four. Whether the rest of his friends knew or not, I don’t know."

The paper crumpled under Isra’s clenched fist as she took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. "Arrest them all and have the children sent to Charles. As for the parents..." Isra paused and stared at the names, "When you have them, leave them." Horace nodded and bowed, taking the list back and pocketing it. Watching him with cold eyes, only when he had left, Isra turned and headed for Edward’s room.

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Alfred sat with a cold stare, looking at his son. He had made Balder crouch for two hours, whilst holding his hands straight out. The boy had sweat coming from his forehead, as his entire body shook.

Looking out the window, he turned to the servant who had been left in charge of watching, "Did he complete it?" The butler nodded, and with that, Alfred turned to Balder. "Stand up." The words were like music to Balder, who couldn’t even muster the energy to cry. As he rose, his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor. When he tried to push himself up, his body weight was too much for his arms, making him fall on them.

"Get up." Hearing Alfred’s orders, Balder desperately tried to, but his arms and legs refused to do as he wanted. He was about to cry in frustration and fear at what Alfred would do. Only when he heard Alfred walk close and stand over him did he stop. Bending over, Alfred looked into Balder’s eyes. There was no love in his gaze, just disappointment and dislike.

"How is it?" Alfred’s voice was cruel, "To be unable to move. Even when you desperately want to, you can’t because your body is unable." Poking his finger into Balder’s forehead, Alfred applied pressure, "Imagine this, every day of your life, whilst in constant pain. A prisoner in your own body, unable to live as freely as you wish."

With one final, hard tap on his forehead, Alfred pulled back, "There will be no next time if you don’t listen to me again. Lucky for you, Balder, you were born my son." Balder didn’t take his eyes off Alfred, even as he lay on his back, unmoving.

Just as Alfred reached the door, he stopped and turned around. "You will never see those boys again, Balder. You will go to school, and they won’t be there. They are gone forever, and it is completely your fault that they are gone. Your choices have consequences, and this is it. Those boys, their mothers and fathers. All of them are gone now."

Balder didn’t truly understand what Alfred was saying, but his heart froze, able to hear the terrible meaning in his words. He desperately wanted to ask what had happened, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Something stopped him from asking, and only when he heard the door close did he know he had lost that chance.