Chapter 42 - Wandering peace

It took Arthur a while to find the entrance leading back out again. It took a lot of asking for help and turning back around before the sun finally graced his skin once more. He ran his hand through his dyed black hair. He was travel weary, and perhaps the smarter thing to do was to have a shower first.

But he couldn't hold off on exploring the capital city.

 To him, it was a wonder. A miracle, and he wanted to explore it. There was nothing for him to do here anyway. Even as Arthur, he had never had the chance to walk freely among people. He was either at a function, or trapped within the family grounds. It had been suffocating…until it wasn't. Until he had grown used to it, and stopped wondering, what was outside, beyond the silver spoons and political meetings.

He allowed himself to become immersed in the throng of people. Children ran and played. Children. That seemed so bizarre. Less than a mile away, there was a mountain filled with soldiers and weapons. Yet, children were here laughing. It was heartwarming.

For the first time in a while, he smiled genuinely, walking past the shops. It felt like a taste of the life he'd have once he was strong enough to be free. This is what it was all for. He saw the ice cream parlour he had passed on the way in.

He decided to go in at a spur of the moment decision. A bell tinkled as he entered, drawing the shopkeepers attention on the other side of the till.

"Good morning soldier" he greeted brightly, noticing Arthur's uniform. He was a middle aged man, with dark gentle eyes, and thinning dark hair.

"Morning, sir"

"Well, what do you fancy?"

"Can I have chocolate ice cream please."

"Certainly. That'll be 1 fredet."

Arthur froze. 'Fredet? What's that.' "Uhh, do you not take credit?" He asked hesitantly.

The shopkeeper looked shocked. "Of course not, we got our own currency in the capital, don't you know that?"

Arthur gave an apologetic smile, "I just arrived today you see. Well, I'll leave it then."

The man gave a knowing smile, "Ahh I see. Well, you wouldn't know then. But here, we only use Fredets, it's our own currency you see. Don't worry about paying, it's your first day here after all. The Capital of Freedom!" He gestured grandly, making Arthur smile again.

"Thank you sir."

A moment later, he was back on the street, a cup of ice cream and a plastic spoon in hand. It was nice. Cold, rich and sweet. Arthur savoured each mouthful with a soft smile. It had been so long since he had ice cream…

'This is what life is all about' he grinned as he finished it off, savouring the last mouthful as it melted in his mouth.

He decided to walk into another shop. 'Let's see how far I can push my luck.'

As soon as he walked in, the old lady in the café saw him and gave him a warm smile. She had white hair tied in a bun and a warm, motherly smile.

"Sit down dear, I'll bring you your food."

"Uhh, ma'am, I think you got me confused with someone else."

She frowned slightly, and withdrew her phone. "Isn't this you?"

Arthur leaned in to see that it was indeed him. It was a picture in a huge group chat called Capital shopkeepers. It was a picture of him leaving with a cup of chocolate ice cream. That caption read. [He's new to the city. It's his first day.] There were a range of messages below all promising free meals and all sorts for his first day.

Arthur was stunned. The people in this place were unbelievably kind.

The old lady laughed when she saw his shocked face. "You might want to close your mouth dear. Don't be so surprised, this is the capital of Freedom right here."

"What's the name of this capital?" Arthur asked.

The lady smiled gently. "Amne' dear."

Arthur smiled, "I'll take my seat, uhhh"

"You can call me Grandma, everyone does."

"I'll take my seat Grandma."

She nodded briskly, hurrying to the back to start making his food..

Arthur took a seat by the window, his feeling lighter than it had in ages. 'Amne' huh. The elvish word for peace, and freedom.' And truly, it seemed like a city well named. But at the same time, he didn't allow himself to feel too happy, or too at peace.

After all, his plans were to destroy this place, and bring it back under the Empire. There were no two ways about it. 'No point getting attached to such a momentary thing.'

Shaking his head, he turned to see the lady walk out with a plate of waffles. She sat it down in front of him, along with some more ice cream and a mojito.

Arthur smiled his appreciation before turning his attention back to the food. 'For so long I've been having that slop in the mess hall or the army rations.'

He attacked the food with a lethal precision.

Hours later, after wandering to his heart's desire and experiencing the hospitality of the entire city of Amne', Arthur finally returned to base, with a warm heart, and a full stomach. Today had been nice, it had been a break.

But tomorrow, it would be day 1 of really being a spy. He'd need to do something to make a name for himself. To become well liked. 'Oh well, I'm not going to rush it. The most important thing he needed to do was to find out who was the military commander. If it was any of the leaders of the rebellion, or even William of Orange, it meant he'd be in a vital position. After that, he needed to discover the real location of Amne'. He had arrived here blindfolded by teleport. He needed to know where it really was in the rebel territory. Then establish an unfettered access to General Thanason's private communication line.

'All in a day's work.'

He made his way back to his barracks for a shower and a fresh change of clothes. As he walked in however, he was surprised to see someone sitting on his bed.

The figure had purposefully chosen his bed, the only one with clear signs of someone living on it. Ignoring every other empty bed that lay before it. It was none other than Lieutenant Frost, his light eyes twinkling as Arthur entered.

"Ahh" he gasped, clutching his chest. "That look my dear Arthur, you're breaking my heart."

Arthur rolled his eyes, too tired to hide his emotions. "Anything you need, Lieutenant."

Frost tilted his head. "No…I don't believe so."

"Then why are you sitting in my bed" he asked through gritted teeth.

Frost grinned. "Your bed? No, no, no my dear boy. This is my bed, after all, I sleep here."

"But Ram said these were the murder squad's barracks, and none of them are here."

Frost smiled, "The murder squad. Well, we're more like Murder Captains who sleep in the same room when we're stationed."

"Your part of them?"

For a moment Frost's eyes became as sharp as Iron, but it softened immediately. "Why?" He drawled. "Do you think I'm too nice to be a killer" he purred, coyly shooing Arthur with his hands.

Arthur closed his eyes, taking a long deep breath. Then he shook his head, taking a spare change of clothes and walking into the bathroom without a second look.

It ruined his mood again, that after leaving the shower, Lieutenant Frost was still curled up in his bed.

"Can't you choose another bed, that one is mine."

Lieutenant Frost grinned, "Not to worry Arthur." He shifted a bit, patting the bed. "You can sleep right here."

Arthur froze. "Are you, well. Do you…uhh lik-. Well you see, I uhh don-"

Frost burst into laughter, kicking his legs childishly. "Please Arthur, if I was, I'd be out of your league."

Arthur shook his head, growling. 'This fucker makes me want to commit murder.'

He ripped his blanket from Frost's grip, turning to set up another bed.

'It's always me stuck with the weirdos' he lamented inwardly as Frost's eyes followed him with a glint of mirth.

Arthur dragged a hand down his face, willing himself to stay patient. After an entire day of navigating the lively chaos of Amne', all he wanted was a hot shower, fresh clothes, and a quiet moment to himself.

Instead, he had Lieutenant Frost sprawled across his bed, grinning like a cat that had just claimed its favorite spot in the sun.

The moment Arthur stepped into the barracks, Frost's light blue eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Ahh!" Frost clutched his chest dramatically, gasping like a dying man. "That look, my dear Arthur—you're breaking my heart."

Arthur rolled his eyes. He was too tired to even bother masking his irritation. "Anything you need, Lieutenant?"

Frost tilted his head, the picture of innocence. "No… I don't believe so."

Arthur's jaw clenched. "Then why are you sitting in my bed?"

Frost's grin widened. "Your bed? Oh, no, no, no, my dear boy. This is my bed. After all, I sleep here."

Arthur frowned. "But Ram said this was the Murder Squad's barracks, and none of them are here."

Frost chuckled, shaking his head like Arthur was a particularly amusing child. "The Murder Squad? Well, we're more like Murder Captains who sleep in the same room when we're stationed."

Arthur stared at him, trying to process the words. "You're part of them?"

For a brief second, Frost's entire demeanor shifted.

His eyes sharpened, cutting like iron blades, the usual mirth in them replaced by something dangerous. An almost sociopathic coldness.

But just as fast as it came, it was gone.

Frost sighed theatrically, the sharpness melting into playful coyness.

"Why?" he purred, waving his hands dismissively. "Do you think I'm too nice to be a killer?"

Arthur exhaled slowly, inhaling patience.

Then, without a word, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes and walked straight into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him without a second glance.

The shower helped a little.

The scalding water worked its way into his sore muscles, washing away the tension in his shoulders, but not the lingering annoyance at the fact that Frost was still there when he came out.

Arthur froze, his mood instantly soured again.

Frost had curled up comfortably in his bed, arms tucked beneath his head like he was settling in for the night.

"Can't you pick another bed? That one is mine."

Frost smiled lazily, his voice light with amusement. "Not to worry, Arthur." He patted the space beside him. "You can sleep right here."

Arthur stared at him, brain momentarily short-circuiting.

"Are you…? Well, do you… uhh… like—" Arthur coughed, his voice catching. "Well, you see, I uhh don't—"

Frost burst into laughter, his legs kicking the air like a delighted child.

"Please, Arthur." He wiped a fake tear from the corner of his eye. "If I was, I'd be out of your league."

Arthur's eye twitched.

'This fucker makes me want to commit murder.'

With a scowl, he ripped the blanket from Frost's grip, grabbed a pillow, and stormed toward one of the empty beds, throwing his things down with an irritated huff.

Behind him, Frost watched with barely concealed amusement, his eyes glinting with mischief.

Arthur ignored him, muttering under his breath as he set up his new bed.

'It's always me stuck with the weirdos…'