Alastair Von Vexx's Arc

Chapter 1 of 13

Alastair Von Vexx watched the faces around the wedding table and cataloged each smile for the lie it was. Someone here knew what he didn't — the weakness his enemies whispered about in cellars while he sat blind above them. His new wife laughed at something a guest said, unaware. He'd kept it that way on purpose. The fountain behind the table spilled red down its dark stone tiers, casting crimson light across the guests. A bottle moved from hand to hand along the far side. Wine changed hands at every feast, but this bottle paused too long at the ornate chair where his oldest rival sat. The cork came free. A scrap of paper no larger than a fingernail slipped from inside and vanished into a pale hand. Alastair kept his expression steady and raised his own glass. The guest beside him toasted. Others joined. The bottle continued its circuit as though nothing had happened. But he'd seen it — the signal passed in plain sight, hidden only by its boldness. They thought him too distracted by the wedding to notice. He leaned toward Wisteria and kissed her temple, playing the devoted husband while his mind already mapped the next three moves. The enemy had just confirmed they were ready to act. Whatever weakness they'd found, whatever secret predated his throne, they believed the time had come to use it. He would let them think he remained blind. And when they moved, he would finally see what they'd been hiding.