They found the nearest guard post twenty minutes later—a small outbuilding manned by two bored-looking soldiers who nearly fell over themselves when Alex identified himself.
"Lord Ashford? But the reports said you were missing!" The senior guard, a grizzled sergeant, immediately sent his junior running for reinforcements.
"We escaped," Alex said simply. "Send word to Captain Aldric immediately. We're alive, Lord Erick is dead, and our captor had spatial manipulation abilities."
And now the real game begins. Let's see how desperate they are to keep their new weapons safe.
Within an hour, they were back at the palace under heavy escort. Sarah sat quietly in the carriage, staring at her hands. The shock was starting to wear off, replaced by a numb exhaustion that made everything feel distant.
"They'll want to know everything," Alex warned her as they approached the gates.
"I know," she said quietly. "But first... weren't we supposed to meet the King? Before all this happened?"
Alex nodded grimly. "The royal audience. That's probably still going to happen, just under very different circumstances."
Perfect. Nothing like a fresh demonstration of Sarah's lethality to improve our negotiating position.
The throne room felt different than Sarah had imagined. Less grand somehow, more functional. King Kendrick sat not on the massive ceremonial throne, but in a smaller chair at the base of the dais, making the space feel more like a meeting room than a court.
The moment they entered, Alex felt it—a subtle but unmistakable pressure in the air. Not threatening, but undeniably present. The King's essence radiated outward like heat from a forge, controlled but immense.
Alex discreetly activated his Adept Eye skill, trying to gauge the King's power level. The familiar sensation of the skill engaging washed over him, but instead of the usual clarity, he got... nothing. Just a blank void where information should have been.
[Kendrick Bolton]
[Rank: ???????]
[Ability: ??????]
Interesting. Either he's using some kind of blocking ability, or his power level is so far beyond mine that the skill can't process it. Either way, he's dangerous. Good to know.
Captain Aldric stood to the King's right, while Queen Cassandra occupied a seat nearby. Several other officials Sarah didn't recognize lined the walls—advisors, mages, and what looked like military commanders.
"Lord Ashford. Lady Millbrook." The King's voice carried easily across the chamber. "Under normal circumstances, this audience would be a celebration of your awakenings and a discussion of your futures in service to the Crown."
He paused, studying their disheveled appearance and the haunted look in Sarah's eyes.
"However, the events of this afternoon have changed the nature of our conversation considerably."
Sarah felt a flutter of nerves. She was still wearing her torn and stained dress, her hair was a mess, and she probably looked nothing like the composed noblewoman she was supposed to be.
Let her feel vulnerable. It makes her more dependent on whatever protection is offered.
"Your Majesty," Alex said formally, "we're honored by this audience, despite the circumstances."
"The circumstances," the King repeated, "being that you've both just survived a professional kidnapping attempt, killed your captor, and escaped through your own resourcefulness."
The directness of his words made Sarah flinch slightly.
"Tell me," the King continued, leaning forward slightly, "what did you learn about yourselves today?"
The question hung in the air. Sarah glanced at Alex, unsure how to respond.
Perfect opening. Time to establish the narrative.
"I learned that SS-rank classification might not tell the whole story," Alex said carefully. "And that our enemies already know more about our capabilities than we do."
True enough. But more importantly, it positions us as valuable assets under threat rather than potential problems to be managed.
"And you, Lady Millbrook?"
Sarah took a shaky breath. "I learned that my power isn't what I thought it was, Your Majesty. It's not just time manipulation. It's... biological temporal acceleration. I can age living things."
Good girl. Honest but not overly detailed. Let them draw their own conclusions about the implications.
"By how much?"
"The man who killed Lord Erick... I aged him to death in about two minutes. Maybe sixty years of aging."
A murmur went through the assembled officials. The King remained impassive.
And there it is. The moment they realize what they're dealing with. Fear mixed with greed. Now they have to decide whether to control us or eliminate us.
"And this happened while you were in emotional distress?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I was... I was terrified and grieving, and I had no control over it. I didn't even realize I was doing it until it was over."
Emphasizing the lack of control. Smart. Makes her seem less threatening while highlighting how dangerous uncontrolled power can be.
The King was quiet for a long moment, clearly considering the implications.
"Under normal circumstances," he said finally, "this audience would have been about offering you both positions in my personal guard after your Academy training was complete. The Crown always has need of exceptional talents."
Sarah felt her heart skip. The King's Guard was the highest honor available to awakened individuals.
Of course they want us in the Guard. Keep the weapons close where they can watch them. Predictable.
"However," the King continued, "today's events have demonstrated that you're both far more valuable—and far more vulnerable—than we initially understood."
He stood, moving closer to where they waited.
"Lady Millbrook, your ability to accelerate biological time makes you potentially the most dangerous person in this kingdom. In the right circumstances, you could kill anyone, regardless of their power level or defenses."
Sarah felt the weight of that statement settle on her shoulders.
Let that sink in, Sarah. You're not just powerful - you're apocalyptic. And that means everyone will either try to use you or kill you. There is no middle ground.
"Lord Ashford, you showed remarkable composure under pressure and managed to help orchestrate your escape. Well done."
Alex nodded, keeping his expression neutral while internally noting that the King wasn't probing deeper into his abilities.
Interesting. Either he's being polite, or he already knows more about me than he's letting on. I'll assume the latter until proven otherwise.
"Which brings us to the question of your immediate futures," the King said, returning to his seat.
"Lady Millbrook, someone tried to kidnap you today because of what you represent as a weapon. That will not be the last attempt. You can either learn to defend yourself properly, or you can spend the rest of your life as a target."
The throne room fell silent except for the soft sound of Sarah's breathing.
Perfect. Frame it as protection rather than control. Make her grateful for the cage they're about to put her in.
"What are you proposing, Your Majesty?" Alex asked.
The King gestured to an aide, who stepped forward with an ornate document. "Lady Millbrook, this is your immediate enrollment authorization for the Royal Academy. Lord Ashford is already enrolled, but given today's circumstances, you'll be starting your studies under special provisions."
He signed the document with a flourish, the royal seal glowing briefly as it was applied.
"Complete your Academy training first. When you graduate, you'll begin specialized training within the King's Guard itself."
Academy first, then the Guard. Standard recruitment pipeline, but accelerated. They want us trained and loyal before we become too independent.
The King leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a more personal tone. "And if you both prove yourselves in the King's Guard, I give you my word—your families will be elevated permanently. The Millbrooks will hold their barony in perpetuity, not just as a courtesy title. Your children and their children will have places at court, lands of their own, and the full protection of the Crown."
Sarah's eyes widened. A permanent noble title for her family line was beyond anything she could have imagined.
Generational bribery. Clever. Not just buying Sarah's loyalty, but her descendants' as well. They really do understand what they're dealing with.
"How long would this training take?" Sarah asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For most students? Years. For you two?" The King's expression was grim. "We may not have years. The kidnapping attempt suggests our enemies are moving faster than we anticipated."
Translation: we need you combat-ready as soon as possible because something big is coming. The question is whether they're preparing us to face an external threat, or whether we ARE the threat they're preparing for.
Captain Aldric stepped forward. "Your Majesty, if I may?"
The King nodded.
"The investigation is ongoing, but initial intelligence suggests this was a targeted operation with significant resources behind it. Professional spatial manipulator, detailed intelligence about your route and timing, backup teams in position. This wasn't opportunistic—it was planned."
Planned, yes. But by whom? And for what purpose? Someone wanted Sarah specifically, which means word of her true capabilities has already leaked. Interesting.
"Planned by whom?" Alex asked.
"That's what we intend to find out," the Captain replied. "But in the meantime, your safety is our primary concern."
Safety. Right. More like asset protection. But that works in our favor as long as our interests align with theirs.
Sarah looked between the assembled officials, feeling increasingly overwhelmed. "Your Majesty, yesterday I was a carpenter's daughter. Today I killed someone and I'm being offered a position in the King's Guard. I'm not sure I'm ready for any of this."
The King's expression softened slightly. "Lady Millbrook, readiness is a luxury we may not be able to afford. But you won't be facing this alone."
He gestured to Alex. "You'll train together, learn together, and serve together when the time comes. The Crown takes care of its own."
Perfect. They want us as a team, which means they recognize that I have some kind of stabilizing influence on Sarah. That gives me leverage.
Sarah nodded slowly, still looking somewhat dazed by the rapid changes in her life. "Yes, Your Majesty. It's... it's an incredible honor. I accept."
Of course you do. You're overwhelmed, grateful, and terrified. This looks like salvation to you. Which is exactly what they were counting on.
The King's gaze shifted to Alex, waiting for his response.
Alex remained silent for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. The silence stretched just long enough to suggest he was seriously considering all angles, weighing options that others might not even see.
Let them think I'm being careful rather than calculating. The appearance of deliberation rather than manipulation.
"Your Majesty," he said finally, "the offer is extraordinary, and I'm deeply honored. However, given the apparent complexity of the situation we find ourselves in, I'd like some time to consider all the implications properly."
The King smiled, seemingly unsurprised by the different responses. "Of course, Lord Ashford. Take the time you need."
He expected that. Which means he's read me correctly as someone who doesn't make hasty decisions. Good. That suggests he'll respect careful negotiation rather than trying to force immediate compliance.
Alex bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll have an answer for you soon."
Soon, but not immediately. Time enough to understand exactly what game we're all playing, and what my position in it should be.
As they prepared to leave, Alex allowed himself one final assessment of the room. The King, unreadable and immensely powerful. The officials, some calculating, others worried. Captain Aldric, professional and competent. And Sarah, overwhelmed but committed.
Sarah just agreed to become the Crown's weapon. The question now is whether I become her handler, her partner, or something else entirely.
But one thing is certain - they need us more than they're letting on. And that means we have more power in this negotiation than Sarah realizes.
Time to figure out exactly how to use it.
Behind them, the King watched their departure with the expression of someone who had just committed two teenagers to a war they were barely old enough to understand.
If only he knew that one of those teenagers had already fought that war once before.