Chapter Ten: The Betrayer's Crown
The fire cracked quietly between them as night fell over the Vale of Echoes. The sky above was a bruised violet, thick with drifting ash and memory. Kael sat across from Andrew, his mind heavy with revelations—his father, the empire, the erased crown.
But Andrew wasn't done.
His eyes were fixed on the flames as he said, almost gently:
"You've heard of the Six Swordmasters. I was one. Andreas could've been one—he chose not to. But another… another was."
He took a slow breath.
"His name was Mihai."
Kael shifted. "The ruler of Mihai Land?"
Andrew's jaw tightened. "Ruler. Warlord. Betrayer. All true."
He leaned forward.
"Mihai was… shadow given form. He wore darkness like a second skin. Cold in his logic. Ruthless in his ambition. And yet—around those he trusted, he was warmth itself. He laughed louder than anyone at council, drank harder than all of us, and remembered birthdays."
A bitter smile touched Andrew's lips.
"He once made Andreas a sword forged from moon-iron just because he thought it would look good on him. Called it 'Starlance.'"
Kael frowned. "So what went wrong?"
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"A horse."
Kael blinked. "…what?"
Andrew chuckled once—sharp and sad.
"The first war between Dream Land and Mihai Land began over the most absurd cause. Mihai visited the capital. There was a feast. Andreas brought his prize warhorse—named it 'Endsong,' the only creature he ever truly coddled."
He exhaled through his nose.
"Mihai, drunk and arrogant, challenged him to a race. The race turned to banter. Banter to insult. Mihai, thinking it a joke, summoned voidflame and burned Endsong to ash in front of a crowd."
Kael's eyes widened. "He killed the horse?"
Andrew nodded.
"In front of generals. Nobles. Andreas said nothing. Not that night. Not the next. Then, on the third morning, he declared war."
Kael whispered, "All because of a horse."
Andrew's voice was iron.
"Not the horse. The disrespect. Mihai didn't just kill the beast. He humiliated Andreas. Challenged his authority before every eye that mattered. And Andreas… didn't forget."
He shifted.
"That was the First War. I stood beside Andreas through it. We shattered Mihai's western wall, took his capital in six weeks. Mihai fled. Andreas never smiled in victory. He didn't want revenge. He wanted order."
Kael asked softly, "So how did the Second War happen?"
Andrew's face darkened.
"Because I betrayed him."
Kael froze.
Andrew didn't look away.
"Mihai returned three years later. Different. Wounded, but sharper. He spoke of unity. Of peace. Said he regretted what had happened. I—" he hesitated, "—I believed him."
A breath.
"I joined his banner. Thought I could bring balance. That we could form a triad—Andreas, Mihai, and I—ruling the continent through equal strength. Mihai promised me that."
Kael said nothing. Andrew continued.
"Instead, he used me. Played me like a dulcimer. We turned on Andreas in the dark. Our forces marched into the Dreamlands by night."
His voice cracked slightly.
"That was the Second War. A civil war. And Andreas fought it alone."
Kael clenched his fists. "And he won."
Andrew looked up.
"Of course he did. He out-thought us. Out-fought us. His soldiers believed in him like fire believes in fuel. And when I stood in front of him—blade shaking, ashamed—he didn't kill me."
He swallowed.
"He forgave me. Just said, 'That's twice now, Andrew. One more and I'll stop writing your name in songs.'"
He smiled faintly.
"Then he made me his right hand again."
Kael stared at the fire, stunned.
"Why would he forgive that?"
Andrew's voice was quiet.
"Because Andreas never saw war as personal. He saw the world as the game. And I was a piece he needed back on the board."
He looked Kael dead in the eyes.
"Now you understand. Your father didn't just win wars. He chose who could hurt him, and he turned pain into power. And Mihai—"
He paused.
"Mihai is not gone."
Kael stiffened. "What?"
Andrew's voice dropped.
"Last I heard… Mihai serves the Pale Eye now. Or worse—she serves him."