Chapter 84: Coz We’re Useless.

’Does he suspect something?’

Ezra watched Perrin’s back as the man rode away. Perrin never looked at him again, not even once, yet the way he kept inserting himself into Ezra’s business made Ezra uneasy.

Something about it felt… off.

Like Perrin knew something.

Or at least suspected it.

Ezra’s thoughts were cut short.

“It’s a good morning to save lives, men!”

Helios’ voice rang across the field.

Ezra looked up just as Helios rode in on his horse, the prince’s presence slicing through the low chatter around them.

The effect was immediate.

Knights straightened.

Conversations stopped.

Everyone stood a little taller.

Because if Helios was here, it meant one thing.

They were about to leave.

“Be ready,” Helios called out. “We’re about to move.”

His horse stepped forward slowly as he spoke.

“All the healers and strategists are already inside the carriages, along with a few chefs to cook food for us, and delivery men for supplies.”

Then Helios’ gaze shifted.

Directly toward Ezra.

“I also want to address something.”

The air grew quieter.

“I know many of you saw the child arriving with us today.”

From the corner of Ezra’s eye, he saw the carriage window move.

Lior was peeking out.

Whispers started again.

Low.

Curious.

Ezra ignored them. His attention stayed on Helios.

He wanted to know how the prince planned to explain this.

“That child’s name is Lior,” Helios continued calmly. “He is an orphan that I have decided to take under my wing.”

Ezra froze.

“He is currently unable to be left alone,” Helios went on, “which is why he will be traveling with us.”

“He will remain safely at headquarters with Fizzy and Captain Aamon. You do not need to concern yourselves with him.”

Helios’ tone remained steady.

“You may treat him as though he is not there if you prefer. However, you should still make him feel welcome.”

A faint smile tugged at Helios’ lips.

“After all, he dreams of becoming a knight one day.”

Ezra’s eyes widened slightly.

’Helios is making it sound like he’s… adopting Lior.’

The whispers quieted.

But the looks did not disappear.

Of course they wouldn’t.

Some of the knights had already seen Lior with Ezra days ago.

They knew the child had arrived with him.

They knew the boy was close to him.

Now Helios was claiming responsibility for him.

It would be strange if no one questioned it.

’Aurethys… Helios… what are you doing?’

Helios was complicating things.

And worse, he was doing it for Ezra.

Ezra could not react.

He simply lowered his gaze and remained still.

“A child his Highness is sponsoring, eh?”

Perrin’s voice carried easily across the space.

“Isn’t that something.”

Ezra resisted the urge to turn and glare at him.

’So he really is suspicious.’

“Now that that’s settled,” Helios continued, pulling lightly on his reins.

“Let’s move!”

His horse turned forward and began walking.

The formation started shifting immediately.

Horses stepped into place.

Carriages creaked as the wheels began to roll.

Ezra tightened his grip on the reins.

He did not have time to dwell on Helios’ announcement.

Or Perrin’s curiosity.

Because now the column was moving.

And Ezra had to move with it.

· ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

’It seems Prince Aurien’s order is out first.’

Ezra kept his gaze forward as the column moved. At the very front, he could see the knights of Dawnward Bloom leading the way, their armor catching the early light.

Just behind them rode Helios, easily recognizable even from a distance, sitting tall on his horse as he guided the Sunward Sentinels forward.

Ezra didn’t need to turn around to know what was behind them.

Kaelis’ order would be following.

The three knight orders were moving together now, a long line of steel, horses, and creaking carriages slowly leaving the Sunspire Palace complex.

They passed through the towering gates and continued down the road beyond the palace walls.

The village outside should have been busy at this hour.

But it wasn’t.

The streets were quiet.

Too quiet.

Ezra noticed it, but his attention was pulled elsewhere.

Two things were bothering him.

The first was obvious.

Lior.

From the carriage window, the boy had his face pressed against the glass, staring straight at him. Even as the column moved, Lior’s eyes followed Ezra like he was afraid to blink.

’Did he hear Helios’ announcement and understand what it meant… or is he just watching me to make sure I won’t disappear?’

Ezra glanced back at the carriage again.

Lior was still staring.

Ezra almost lifted his hand to give the boy a small wave. No one from the Sunward Sentinels seemed to be paying attention to him right now.

But he stopped himself.

Because the second thing bothering him had not gone away.

’Why is that guy also staring at my back?’

Ezra could practically feel it.

Like someone was burning holes through him with their eyes.

Kaelis De Luxaelian Sunthyr.

The prince was behind him somewhere in the formation.

Ezra hadn’t turned around to confirm it, but he didn’t need to. Earlier, for the briefest moment, he had caught Kaelis’ reflection in the polished metal of one of the carriage frames.

And the prince had been looking directly at him.

’Does he want to fight or something?’

The thought irritated Ezra immediately.

His annoyance only deepened when he heard a familiar voice beside him.

“Hey, Captain.”

Ezra resisted the urge to sigh.

He glanced sideways.

Guy had moved his horse up beside him, looking far too comfortable for someone who was supposed to be in formation.

“Yes, Guy?” Ezra said flatly. “Why are you not in position?”

Guy shrugged.

“’Cause we’re still far from battle. And I need to talk to ya.”

Ezra frowned slightly.

“What is it?”

Guy leaned a little closer, lowering his voice.

“Don’t you notice it?”

Ezra tensed.

’Does he mean Kaelis?’

“No,” Ezra said calmly, pretending not to understand. “Notice what?”

“The stares.”

’Oh fuck, he notices—wait… stares?’

Plural.

Ezra frowned.

“Look around,” Guy muttered.

Ezra did.

They were still riding through the quiet village.

At first glance, the streets looked empty.

But when Ezra narrowed his eyes and looked more carefully, he realized something.

There were people.

They just weren’t outside.

They were watching from inside their homes.

Behind windows.

Behind cracked doors.

And they weren’t simply observing.

They were glaring.

’Glaring…?’

Ezra felt a knot of confusion twist in his chest.

“Why are they glaring at us?” he asked quietly.

And strangely enough, their anger seemed focused on only one group.

The Sunward Sentinels.

Guy looked ahead as he spoke.

Then he sighed.

“It’s ’cause we’re useless.”

Ezra turned sharply toward him.

“Huh?”

His brows furrowed.

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

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