All The King's-Men (The Yellow Hoods, #3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

town, Marcus turned to Nikolas. “Do you know why Falson did it? The real reason behind it all? I only learned it a couple of years ago.”
    Nikolas shook his head. “No. This, I don’t know,” he said in his classical, awkward fashion. He smiled to himself. It was rare that he stumbled on his words with Marcus, for some reason. Maybe it had to do with them switching in and out of languages, using whatever words came to mind, rather than sticking to one language throughout.
    “It wasn’t actually the Fare’s grand failing,” said Marcus. “That was a convenient excuse for Falson, having happened only a month before and killing hundreds of people in a neighboring kingdom. No, Falson had a very simple reason—a deeply personal one.
    “When he was fifteen, he applied to the Institute for Unconventional Minds without the knowledge of his father or anyone else.”
    Nikolas’ eyes went wide as he remembered the tales of that special school. “That was the highest of the age, of many things.”
    Marcus nodded. “Falson used a cousin’s name to create a sense of distance from the royal family, and to give his application more legitimacy. 
    “He fancied himself an inventor, though what he had was a good mind for planning and execution. Genuine creation? No. As well as being gifted, the institution required you to demonstrate that you were humble, thoughtful, and interested in the greater good.” Marcus paused for a moment. “What fantastic, old-world ideals those were.
    “When Falson was declined for the third time, he burst into the chancellor’s office surrounded by his personal guards and demanded to be accepted. The chancellor died on the spot of a heart attack. When the king learned of all of this, he banned his son from the school, preserving the sanctity of that venerable institution. The prince unleashed a tantrum that was only quelled by his father giving him the designation of First Conventioneer. It was a made-up title; just something to make his son quiet down. Even before being crowned, Falson burned the institute to the ground.”
    Nikolas absorbed the story and stroked his salt-and-pepper beard. “Your father and grandfather suffered similar fates, then?” he said, trying to remember the details.
    Marcus tapped the window absentmindedly. “I think of it almost like history was re-staging a moment, and each time the actor had their chance. My grandfather died as a King’s-Men because he missed the signs that things were changing. My father was a better King’s-Men, aware of the changes needed, but he was horrible at politics and seizing the opportunities before him.”
    “But you—you didn’t die a King’s-Men,” said Nikolas.
     “No, no, I didn’t,” said Marcus, turning to his old friend. “I’m changing history entirely.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Making Cracks
     
    Five hooded figures quickly entered a small, octagonal room below the grand theater of the capital city of Relna. Each one identified the symbol on the edge of the round table that told them where to stand.
    Taking their places, they put their lanterns on the table and pulled down their beige hoods. Once they were all ready, a red-hooded figure entered and stood opposite the door.
    “Do you all understand what is expected of you?” asked the Red Hood. He turned to the man immediately to his left, and looked from man to man as they each nodded.
    The Red Hood waited until music from upstairs could be heard. He knocked on the table, and the thick, wooden door was sealed from the outside. He pulled out a pocket watch and notebook, and marked down the time. “We have ten minutes. Report on the proxy war,” he said in a gravelly voice.
    The old man to his left glanced about nervously. Unbeknownst to him, none of the others had been to any such meetings before either. Like him, they’d only been recruited several weeks ago to serve as cryptic messengers. 
    He scratched his very short, blond-gray hair and straightened up. His voice