Chapter 359: Respect (4)
Henry stormed outside behind Felix to get answers.
"What was that, Felix? You went above me and gave orders to guards who are under my command. I should have you removed from this work," Henry threatened Felix.
Felix carried on walking fast to reach the gates. He was upset, but didn’t want it to show here for the princess or her servants to see that the town guards had conflict amongst themselves.
Henry didn’t like that Felix kept his back to him. He walked faster and grabbed Felix’s shoulder. "I am speaking. When I speak, you have to stop and listen," he said.
Felix turned around and shoved Henry away. "Only a fool would stand here while the lady has ordered guards to attack anyone standing on her land, and I do not blame her. You made a fool of yourself. No, you made a fool of us."
Henry was the captain, so when he made a fool of himself, it affected the others. Henry was placing men who families in danger all because of his emotions.
"I made a fool of myself? I asked to speak to the prince. He was the one at Victor’s brothel, not her. She is hiding him for good reason," Henry argued.
Felix noticed the guard gathering and continued to make his way off the land. Felix didn’t come here to die. He came here following Henry.
The other guards followed Felix since they didn’t want to fight. The Castro knights looked like giants, and alongside the large swords they wielded, they had guns. Surely Henry didn’t think this was a fight they could win.
Henry ran after Felix since he wasn’t done with his talk. "You’ve been waiting for the chance to show me up. I know that you are eyeing becoming captain of the guards. Did someone make you the offer for you to act this way? Did you get close to the Castro family in secret?"
Felix laughed at the story Henry came up with. "I joined the town guards because I wanted to protect the town. I didn’t have any interest in becoming a captain or stealing the position from you, but when you place us in danger for your personal matters, I consider it."
Felix thought now of accepting the offer presented to him. Henry wasn’t suited to be the captain when he let his emotions get the best of him.
Henry was so focused on getting the duke caught in the act that he refused to inform the duke of what more they found tied to the Collins with the recent deaths.
It wasn’t how a town guard should be. No one knew what they felt about someone they had a duty to the townspeople.
"You!’ Henry grabbed Felix’s arms again. "Look at me when I speak to you."
Instead of a response, Henry was met by a punch in the face.
Henry stumbled and fell backwards. He touched his cheek where Felix’s fist collided with his face and stared at Felix in disbelief.
Felix had lost his mind to hit a man who ranked over him.
"Go!" Felix yelled to the guards.
They were so close to the gates to be safe.
Felix looked at Henry, who appeared even more pathetic. "Why are you surprised that I hit you? It has been a long time coming for how you have treated me and the others. We didn’t have any right to come here."
Felix, like everyone else, knew that Tyrion wasn’t going to run. The prince wasn’t going to leave his family or up and leave with the duke’s daughter, all because he killed Victor.
They were to finish questioning those who were present when the death happened before the stories started to twist, but Henry was quick to leave as soon as she heard Tyrion was present.
"I know you hold hatred for the prince because you felt he insulted you with the carriage incident, but you are not to let your feelings get in the way of your work. Instead of focusing on what we are tasked with, you go after those you hate," said Felix.
They were meant to be looking into the deaths around the town. Working with the court to bring the bastard in, but Henry was fishing around for something to have against Edgar and Tyrion.
"You don’t deserve to be the captain. You shouldn’t even be a guard anymore. You had no right to go there and act as you did. It is bad that the princess noticed how dismissive you were of her," Felix said, fearing someone big would come after them.
It could be the duke, the prince, or even worse, the king.
This was all going to be the fault of Henry.
Henry got out of his shock and clenched his fist, ready to strike Felix.
Felix was more than ready for a fight with Henry, but what he wasn’t ready for was a fight with the knights who were getting close.
Felix turned his back on Henry and started to run. He could fight Henry another day, but he couldn’t do so if he got killed right now.
Henry looked back to see what Felix was so worked up about, and when he spotted the man Penelope tasked to count down, he gritted his teeth and started to follow the others to the gates.
It was insulting for the guards to be chased away, running like cowards to get to safety. This was why Henry wanted to stand his ground, and he had the power to do so, but his men didn’t have his back.
Henry relaxed when he made it outside the gates. He hunched over to catch his breath and kept his eyes on Felix.
Felix ordered the guards around like he was already their captain.
Henry wasn’t going to allow this to happen. Felix didn’t have the backbone to stand against the nobles.
"You, you’re not going to take this away from me. You don’t have what it takes," Henry said, standing up straight to continue where he left off.
Felix held onto the reins of his horse, and before mounting it, he looked back at Henry. "You always say that no one is untouchable from the town guards, but you must think. Would the king truly allow you to take his son?"
"If he doesn’t, then it shows what is wrong with this kingdom. The prince killed Victor, and we both know it. Acting like he didn’t, won’t place you in good favour with the king or the prince," Henry said, certain it was what Felix was doing.
"I don’t wish to be close to the king or prince. As for Victor, I am not upset that he is gone. He has caused problems for us in the past and would have continued to do so. This one time, I would thank the prince," Felix said, standing with Tyrion.
Felix mounted his horse, ready to leave Henry behind. He looked down upon Henry, disappointed that Henry wasn’t the man he thought he was.
"Move out!" Felix ordered the guards.
Without a second thought, the guards followed Felix.