Fredrick's words rang across the training ground, every single chatter dying for a couple of seconds before every soldier started whispering among themselves. A hundred gold coins was a lord's sum. No ordinary man would see so much money in a single lifetime.

  In response, Rayne simply looked down at his person, raising his hands as if showing that he had no coin on him. “Do you see anything on me other than my sword and shield? If I had that much coin on me, the whole fort would have heard the clinking.”

  “Even insolent bastards like you aren't idiots. Why would you have it on your person when you could hide it away?” Fredrick's voice dripped with venom. He again jabbed a finger at him.

  Rayne's expression hardened. “Stop speaking nonsense. I have no reason to steal from you or anyone.”

  Gasps and murmurs rippled through the gathered crowd at his tone. No one dared to speak to a noble blood like this, but Rayne knew giving respect to someone like Fredrick was an insult to the word itself, and would simply make him more courageous. A few soldiers exchanged uneasy looks, others smirked, eager for drama to unfold.

  He briefly glanced at Dean, who had a large smirk on his face.

  Fredrick stepped closer, shoulders shaking from rage. He sneered. “Nonsense? How dare you speak to me like that. If there's anyone in the entire fort who would dare do such a crime against the lords of the kingdom themselves, it's you.”

  “You are no lord,” he replied. “And I have no reason to do anything against you.”

  “Stop lying!” Fredrick scoffed. “Everyone knows who you are. What blood flows through your veins. Your whole bloodline is a crime against nobility. Why wouldn’t you do it? You are from the family that hates the crown as much as they hate the nobility, filthborn.”

  Rayne's jaw clenched. Even an idiot could see Fredrick had done something to incriminate him in a crime he'd not done. He seemed far too confident for it to be a random accusation. Rayne had really believed the man had moved on since he hadn't seen him since the night he had crossed him.

  But it seemed like he was simply waiting for a moment to strike.

  Rayne couldn't back down here. Even a shred of hesitation and people would think he'd actually done it. “You are basing your allegation on my house. Even if dishonored, I'm still from ancestral blood. If you have lost your pouch, look at the men who follow you. I have never needed the money from the likes of you.”

  A few men in the crowd widened their eyes, especially at the last part.

  Fredrick's eyes flashed with killing intent. “You fucking dare, bastard?!”

  Those words were enough for one of his men to step forward. A brooding giant with fists as big as Rayne's head cracked his knuckles and matched eyes with him.

  The man sneered. “I will teach you how to talk to your superiors.”

  He lunged, arms outstretched, aiming to tackle Rayne to the ground before he could react.

  But Rayne was already moving. His fist shot out like a piston, slamming straight into the man’s jaw with a sharp crack.

  He reared back and let out a rageful scream before diving again. Rayne sidestepped and kicked at his legs. The man stumbled, collapsing into the dirt with a heavy thud.

  He turned to grab at him, but Rayne already had his sword out. He stomped a foot on his chest and pressed the tip on the soldier's neck, eyes challenging him to move again.

  The crowd erupted in shouts and laughter, some jeering, some whistling.

  Rayne kept his sword on the man's neck, eyes turning to lock on Fredrick. His voice came out calm with an edge of steel. “Send the next one if you like. I’ll put him down too. Stop wasting your and my time in these games.”

  Fredrick’s face twisted in fury, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “You think this proves anything? You’re nothing but a thug! You’ll pay for this, traitor—”

  “Enough!”

  A commanding voice cut through the tension. The crowd parted to their left and Rayne saw Hobbs and Bran making their way to the center of the dueling circle. Kesh tailed behind them, having brought them here just in time.

  Bran looked between them with a frown while Hobbs' jovial expression was nowhere to be seen. His eyes looked at the soldier pinned down at Rayne's foot, then at Fredrick who stood with a sneer.

  “Bloody explain to me what the hell in nine realms is going on here?” Hobbs' voice boomed across the circle.

  Fredrick took a step towards him. “That traitor stole a hundred gold coins from my room, and even hurt a fellow soldier who tried to have him confess. He's wild and crazy, just like the blood running through him. I wish to have him on the noose, Hobbs.”

  “Is that true, Rayne?” The giant asked, looking down at the man groaning on the ground.

  Rayne removed his sword, stepped away from him, and shook his head. “No, I haven't stolen. This man tried to tackle me, and I simply protected myself. Fredrick's claims are baseless.”

  “Again a lie. All you know is to use your mouth to lie—”

  “Stop!”

  Hobbs silenced Fredrick, then swept his gaze across the gathered soldiers. Rayne saw something flash by his eyes, then he turned around.

  “Rayne, Fredrick. Both of you follow me. We are going to solve this like civilized men, not wildsmen.”

  He nodded and sheathed his sword back. Murmurs erupted around him as he moved to follow Hobbs, Bran, and Kesh who were already walking. Fredrick kept distance from him, occasionally sneering in his direction.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  He again wondered why he looked so confident.

  The other soldiers kept following them with their eyes until they were well out of the training grounds. Rayne knew he had just given them something to talk about at supper.

  “How much time have you been in the army now?” Hobbs asked, bringing his attention back to him.

  Rayne blinked, then replied. “A couple of months, sir.”

  Fredrick replied the same, and Hobbs turned towards both of them. Anger flashed through his eyes, more at Fredrick than him.

  The noble shirked under his glare.

  “Months, and you have no idea how to conduct yourself in public. All the other squads are going to use it as gossip. Do you have any idea what you have done? Captain Edran is probably going to hear of it.”

  Fredrick looked offended, opening his mouth to speak, but Hobbs' glare made him shut his trap. He simply glared at Rayne as if all of this was his fault.

  They walked in silence to the northern tower. Kesh occasionally nodded at him in support while Bran walked with a neutral expression on his face as if he knew something like this was bound to happen. That was true since he had indeed warned him.

  Rayne just hadn't expected it to be an accusation of thievery.

  Once they reached the gates, Hobbs stopped, looking at both him and Fredrick.

  He spoke in a low voice. “We are going to solve this here now. Fredrick, do you have any claims for your accusation? Without proof, what you are saying will get you additional duty around the fort.”

  Fredrick didn't flinch. “We can simply search his room. I'm sure he has kept the gold coins there. I will recognize the pouch when I see it.”

  That confirmed it for Rayne. Fredrick had planned things and looked wholly confident. Alarms rang through his mind. His heartbeat quickened and he exchanged a glance with Bran who seemed to have realized the same thing.

  “Is that okay with you, Rayne?” Hobbs asked, planting a hand on his shoulder.

  Rayne knew there was only one reply. Anything else would just get him more scrutiny. “Yes, that's fine by me.”

  “It's decided then. Let's go!”

  They entered the tower, a few soldiers loitering around on the ground floor, and swiftly moved towards his room. Each step of the stairs made Rayne's heart sink a little bit more.

  Fredrick shot him a smirk as they got closer, as if he already knew what was going to happen.

  Once they reached his door, Rayne moved forward, taking out the key and opening it for everyone to get inside. And just one cursory glance at the room made all his fears come alive.

  On the bed, a pouch lay nestled in the center, making a dent on the bed with its weight. As soon as Fredrick saw it, he lunged for it, grabbing it and opening it to look inside.

  When he raised his head, he had a smile on his face. “This is it! The stolen coins I have been looking for a few days. I knew the bastard had stolen them!”

  He passed the pouch to Hobbs who looked inside, then matched eyes with Rayne.

  “Explain yourself, Rayne.”

  Rayne forced himself to meet Hobbs' heavy stare. Questions rang in his mind. How had they managed to open his room and put the coins there? Had they searched for anything else? But he couldn't keep thinking.

  He needed to reply. Every second he wasted would simply make them more suspicious.

  “I don't know who put it on my bed. It wasn't me,” he replied finally. “If I actually stole, why would I put it in plain sight? Think a little.”

  Fredrick scoffed. “Of course you would say that. Trying to wiggle your way out of the crime that you were caught for. Do you think we are idiots who can't see what's going on here? You are caught red-handed, and yet you try to disperse blame. Just like your house.”

  “We really don't know if Rayne actually did it. He was with me the whole day,” Kesh said from the side, looking uneasy.

  Fredrick took a step towards him, making Kesh flinch. “Oh really? Are you really going to defend a traitor as a soldier of the nation? Do you understand the implications of it?”

  Kesh opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. His expression contorted with nervousness, and finally Bran stepped between the both of them.

  “Stop it!” He looked at Fredrick. “Kesh is just giving his own account. You have no right to threaten him like that.”

  “I have all the right when someone defends a snake. Snakes need to be crushed and buried. Not defended.”

  The atmosphere felt like it was reaching boiling point. Fredrick moved his smug eyes everywhere, looking like he wanted to see his execution before dawn. Hobbs looked down at the pouch of gold coins with hardened eyes, and Rayne kept thinking of some way to get out of the mess that had fallen upon him.

  Finally, Hobbs spoke. “Rayne, you say you haven't done the crime. If you have, tell me right now. It will be your last chance.”

  Rayne shook his head. “I haven't done it.”

  Fredrick sneered, but a glare from Hobbs kept him quiet. “You accuse Rayne of the crime, right? If it's found out the accusation is wrong, you need to pay reparations.”

  Fredrick’s face contorted with rage. “No man in my house ever lies. The traitor has done it, and I want his head. There's no other justice I'm looking for.”

  Hobbs sighed as if he knew the man would say that, then he shot a look at Bran who nodded in what Rayne guessed was a silent conversation.

  While they did that, he weighed his options, which to be honest weren't a lot. The Valerian army didn't execute soldiers on charges of theft, but he was the worst kind of forsaken, so he couldn't be sure. Fredrick's noble status also put him at a major disadvantage.

  If there was a way out of it, it would probably be—

  “We are going to take it to Captain Edran. Axel has been busy, so I will be presenting everything to the captain.” Hobbs interrupted his thoughts. “You two will come with me. Present the facts, and follow what the captain has to say. Is that understood?”

  Fredrick grunted, looking up at him in displeasure. “Why? Why can't you end it? Rayne was caught with my gold coins. That's enough proof!”

  “No, it's not,” Bran replied. “And any punishment for major crimes could only be given by the warband captain. If you wish to drop the charges, you can do it now.”

  Rayne almost hoped he would, just for the risk of the truth coming out. Even if Fredrick was a noble, it wouldn't go right and he would suffer. But he also had a feeling the man had already envisioned the judgment.

  “That's okay with me,” he said as Rayne expected.

  “What about you, Rayne?” Hobbs looked at him.

  “That's fine by me too. I'm innocent and Captain Edran will know it.”

  Fredrick chuckled at his words, but no one gave him any attention. Hobbs put the pouch by his side before taking a step out of the room.

  The others followed him, and as they made their way towards the captain's office, Rayne simply hoped the man was in a good mood.

  ***

  A/N - Recovered. But still have weakness. You all should take care too. Bad flu going around.