He Freed the Kings He Once Chained, They Chose to Bind Him novel · Chapter 14 of 24

Chapter 14: The Charter

The guard captain opened the door himself.

He was the man who had stood beside Ren on the first day, with the order for the evening rite in his hand.

He looked at the gold seal in Ren's palm and went down on one knee.

"My lord, the dowager left at first light for the Lake Palace," he said. "The marshal's rear guard rode with her."

"And the column?"

"North, to the Pass. They carry that order."

Ren held the forged page up to the window.

"It's a good copy," he said. "But the real seal has a nick, and the Western captains know it. Do you have a clerk who can write fast?"

"I have six."

"Then I need six copies of a new order by noon. Stand down at the Pass, by the true seal."

The captain rose, and for the first time, Ren saw him smile.

"I tore up my own copy of the evening rite last winter, my lord," he said. "Nobody saw me do it. I'm glad somebody finally did it in front of me."

Ryu was already dressed.

He stood in the doorway of the wing with his chain swinging at his wrist, and a good horse waited in the yard below.

"I'll hold the Pass," he said. "My wolves are three days from the border. I'll meet your column before they do."

"Ryu."

"Bring me paper that means something. I'll bring them to a halt."

Ren took his face in both hands and kissed him hard in front of the captain and the grooms and half the kitchen.

Ryu kissed him back, and when he stepped away he did not seem to know where to look.

"Your key," Ren said.

"I have it." Ryu touched the pocket over his heart. "I'll keep it there."

He rode out through the north gate at a gallop, and did not look back.

Ren did not watch him go for long.

"The South," Su Ming said at his shoulder. "My council sits at noon tomorrow in the border town. A day by carriage. If they are going to trust a Western crown, it will be today or never."

"Will they?"

"They will if I tell them to."

Su Ming smiled, and it was the real one, the one that reached his eyes.

← Chapter 13 · All chapters · Chapter 15 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend