by M. D. Laird
The queen glanced her way but said nothing. Eleanor removed her hand from the sword and sat down to wait. She would listen for anything useful, but when the king was arrested by Queen Genevieve’s men, Eleanor was going to execute him. When she was done with her father, she was going to kill Victor.
But not before making him suffer.
Jack was preparing to move the rebels out of the base to take their positions. The Crown’s armies would be arriving soon, and the rebels wanted to be ready to attack the guild when they arrived.
“Is everyone ready?” Jack asked his third. “Where’s Hannah?”
“She’s still asleep,” replied Harris.
“That girl sleeps enough for two men,” grumbled Jack, heading to Hannah’s quarters.
Jack had told the rebels to make the most of the night before the battle as it might be their last. They seem to have done so by breaking open the absinthe and sleeping throughout the day. He hammered on Hannah’s door and received a muffled reply that she was up. He made his way to their supply bay. Most of the rebels were in there loading themselves with armour, weapons and rations.
Hannah appeared moments later looking surprisingly fresh.
“Let’s move out,” said Jack.
They left to join the other rebels and surround the guild to prepare to attack as soon as the Crown’s armies hit the beach. Reinforcements would be sent from the king’s guild once the army attacked the fortifications and once the king learned the army included of angels and demons. Then angels and demons would arrive to assist the rebels. Jack swallowed the nervous excitement rising in his stomach.
We can do this. We just have to survive.
Maol watched the king’s ships coming in behind Rya’s ships to corner them on the beach. They were preparing their cannons to fire. He saw the king’s armies on the beach also ready to fire on the ships. They wouldn’t stand a chance but for the angels and demons hiding in the midspace waiting for the signal.
Maol had asked Rya to ask an angel or a demon to fly her to the shore and keep her safe until the battle was won. She stubbornly refused. Their ship was leading the fleet to the coast and a prime target for the king’s cannons. Maol stood by her side ready to defend his baby, though he doubted he could do much against explosives.
“Can you at least shield yourself?” he asked.
“That wouldn’t be fair, I can’t shield everyone.”
“You are the Crown, you should protect yourself, but you need to protect the baby.”
“Maol, quit going on about the baby. You’re obsessed. I wish I’d never told you.”
“I have a right to keep my child safe.”
She brushed him aside and walked towards her commanders as the red army’s cannons began to fire on the king’s ships.
They were still out of range of the beach, and Maol stood uselessly as the skies filled with angels and demons attacking the ships and the armies on the beach. The king’s soldiers stared in horror as they were surrounded. The angels and demons moved to disable the cannons and take out the archers as Rya’s ships came into range and began to fire on the fortifications. The boats were lowered, and Rya’s armies began to row towards the shore.
Maol jumped into a boat, relieved to see Rya waiting on board the ship. He picked up an oar and started rowing with the other thorian towards the battle.
Thomas grinned as he slashed the throats of the king’s soldiers taking out two at once. He rarely had the chance to fight and enjoyed the thrill of the battle—even if the prey were no match. He brought his head back to his task and finished destroying the cannons before turning the last one on the Rexalis gates.
It took several shots, but the king’s cannons finally obliterated his own gates clearing the way for Lord Amarya’s armies to take the city.
I had hoped this would be more of a challenge.
He laughed as he stuck his claws through the heart of a thorian who had stupidly approached to confront him.
“They’re not sending reinforcements to the beach,” said Jack, gritting his teeth. “They’re pulling back to protect the guild.”
“We should have anticipated this,” said Hannah. “The angels and demons are too intimidating.”
“Well, we have our own. We’ll stick with the plan. Just be careful out there. Get ready to move. Myron, have your men ready to take out the roof guards, then we move on the ground.”
Calab joined Nathaniel’s men to attack the king’s ships.
“Isn’t this the most fun,” said Nathaniel as he swooped in to kill several archers firing on the Lord Amarya’s ships.
There was a time when Calab experienced the same bloodlust and would have enjoyed a good fight, but he was past that now. The battle was a means to an end. He was doing what needed to be done to protect Arkazatinia and protect Genevieve.
The king’s men had little chance to fire back at Amarya’s ships as the cannon masters were slaughtered leaving Amarya’s ships free to fire and sink the remaining crew members.
It was messy, the loss of life was immense, but the king’s men showed no sign of retreating. Calab ignored his guilt and continued to fight at the gleeful Nathaniel’s side.
Eleanor sat patiently listening to the distant explosions of the ongoing battle. She was itching to take out her father, but the queen insisted they wait. Her father had said nothing useful. He had barely spoken as he nervously paced the room. Her brother sat polishing an adamantine blade with a piece of balverine hide. The metal did not tarnish, and its lustre was not improved with polishing. She expected her brother just liked holding the blade and longed for the opportunity to gut someone with it.
Victor was sat reading through some papers and sipping at a brandy. He seemed unfazed by the battle heading to their doors.
Some of the king’s guard entered the throne room and were allowed into the Cloak by the king’s alchemist.
“We need to move you to a more secure location, Your Majesty,” said the first guard who Eleanor vaguely remembered was named Paul. “The Crown is aided by angels and demons, and they have broken through the fortifications and are heading this way. Our men are pulling back to protect the guild. We can hold it for a short while, but we must move.”
The king looked furious. “Angels and demons!” he bellowed. “Those traitorous wretches. Use the adamantine arrows. Have the archers shoot as many as they can.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Paul. “We need to move out now. I have summoned the other alchemists. We need to leave.”
“Nonsense,” said the king arrogantly. “They won’t find me in here.”
“Lord Amarya is a powerful alchemist, Your Majesty. We have not managed to locate her. She is still at large.”
“Fine,” said the king. “We’ll make for the tunnels.”
The queen’s guards voxed the guards outside to warn them to remain in the midspace and retrieve the arrows before they could be fired. Then they barred the door as the queen dropped the Cloak. She stood before the king, poised and ready to fire her magic.
“I’m afraid we cannot let you leave, Your Majesty,” said Queen Genevieve calmly. “You must come with us. You are to be held prisoner for your crimes, which include torture and murder of your subjects. You are also to be held for treason as you have obstructed the rule of the rightful Crown.”
“What are you doing here?” spat the king. “My throne is none of your concern.”
“I made it my concern when you declared war on my lands.”
“And you!” The king snarled towards Eleanor. “You traitorous little bitch. How dare you conspire against me.”
Eleanor had unsheathed her sword as the queen dropped her Cloak. She didn't intend to let the queen arrest her father. “You are not the rightful ruler,” she seethed. “You have abused your power. You have abused your people. You cannot be allowed to continue to rule.”
“Foolish girl. You betray me for revenge for that pathetic farm boy and because I married
you to a demon. From what I hear, you and that hellish filth are getting along splendidly. You even wanted to stay with him when I offered to buy you back. You should be grateful.”
“Grateful!” she shouted. “Why would I be grateful? You tried to have Prince Thomas kill me. You even tried to have him sire my child. Yes, I found your moonstone, Father.” Her father glowered at her, which enraged her further.
How dare he be angry with me?
“I despise you,” she continued, “but I’ve always despised you. I was planning to remove you long before you murdered James. You have been a contemptible father and an even worse king.”
The king chuckled. “So you came here to kill me, Eleanor? You came to kill your own father. Perhaps we are not so unalike after all.”
I’m nothing like you.
She took a breath and returned the blade to its scabbard and took a deep breath. “Yes, I did come to kill you. But, you’re right, that would make me no better than you. Revenge is not good for the soul. I shall be content with seeing you removed from power and seeing the rightful rule returned. If you come quietly, Lord Amarya may grant you freedom to live in her land. Your armies are outmatched, Father. You cannot win.”
“Don’t listen to her, Father,” spat Henry.
Victor was up and had removed an adamantine blade from his jacket. Victor and Henry stood before the king both brandishing the lethal blades.
“If any of you come near us, we will gut you.” Henry snarled. “You know what these blades are capable of.”
The blades melted into a pool on the ground under the queen’s magic. The prince stared in horror at the viscous metal at his feet.
“Arrest them,” said the queen calmly.
Henry screamed and rushed towards Eleanor as the guards took hold of the king and Victor. The guards reached Henry but not before he pulled another blade from his boot and plunged it into Eleanor’s stomach.
Eleanor screamed as fire burned through her body. The queen rushed to her side and tried desperately to heal her. It was no use. The blade was adamantine. The queen turned angrily to Henry, and he began to howl as she used her magic on him.
“No,” whispered Eleanor with her last breath. “Don’t.”
The fire continued to burn, and Eleanor could see nothing but blackness. She could feel nothing but heat and pain.
I’m going to Hell.
You are not destined for Hell, Princess, said a voice in her head that sounded like her own thoughts. This world is not through with you yet.
Ice seared her stomach where the fire had been, and light burned her eyes where it had been dark. Eleanor screamed again as her consciousness faded.
The angels and demons had taken out the roof guards and archers as Jack and his men began to move on the ground. The king’s guard surrounded the guild ready to engage them. They were armed with blades Jack had never seen before. It wasn’t liquid like Anaxagorean steel.
Adamantine. They still have some!
Jack took in his surroundings. The general soldiers were not armed with the blades—just the king’s personal guard. “They have adamantine. Watch yourselves. Move.”
They charged, the better fighters, angels and demons engaged the king’s guard whilst the lesser experienced took on the soldiers. Jack's nostrils were filled with the scent of burning flesh as his friends were killed instantly by the adamantine blades. Jack cursed Hell for allowing the blades to be forged.
He parried a blow from the metal and felt its heat on his own blade. Forcing back the guard, he thrust his own blade into his opponent’s chest before retrieving the hell blade.
“No,” said an angel. “You mustn’t use that.”
“Whatever helps us win,” said Jack gruffly before taking out the legs of another guard who died as soon as he hit the ground.
Jack’s men began to advance on the guild with more of the rebels retrieving the blades of the fallen guard. The king’s men set up a front around the perimeter of the guild and more appeared on the rooftops to fire arrows on the rebels. Jack saw the angels and demons disappear into the midspace as the rebels were taken out by adamantine arrows. Jack’s men charged the line as the angels and demons took care of the new company of archers.
“We need to get inside the guild,” said Harris at his side as he ran his new adamantine blade through the chest of a soldier. “The angels and demons can take us to the roof when they’ve finished—” Harris’ words were cut off as he was killed by the enemy soldier who was now coming for Jack.
Damn it.
Jack lunged for the soldier who parried his advance before driving a dagger into Jack’s shoulder.
It’s just steel.
Jack managed to scratch him with his adamantine blade before he could finish him off. The soldier fell and Jack, collecting Harris’ blade, drew back behind the rebels. He pulled the dagger free from his shoulder before quickly applying healing balms to his wound.
He took a breath and surveyed their options. The archers had been removed, and the angels and demons had joined their company.
It was a good idea, Harris.
They couldn’t split the force to take half the rebels into the guild as that would leave the remainder to be slaughtered by the king’s men, but some of the angels and demons could move through the guild and take out those waiting inside. Jack summoned Myron to give the order. He gave one of his comrades Harris’ blade before advancing at the line once more.
With the aid of the angels and demons, the perimeter fell with many of the king’s men beginning to surrender when they realised they could not hold the line.
Jack used his hell blade to strike the handles of the guild’s heavy front door before kicking it wide open. He saw their allies behind the door taking out the last of the guards who had either surrendered or succumbed to angel blade or demon claw. Jack moved over the threshold. The rebels had taken the guild.
Word arrived at the beach that the king and his heir had been taken prisoner and the guild had been secured. Maol began to head for the guild as the angels flew towards the ships to collect Rya. Word had also arrived that Princess Eleanor had been stabbed with an adamantine blade by her own brother. Maol could not see Prince Thomas. He had been fighting with their group and was likely still on the beach. Maol did not have the time to find him. One of the demons would look for him. He ran through the city gates for the guild.
Thomas grinned as he tore through the chest cavity of the last soldier in the group of the king’s men he had been fighting. The battle had been too easy, so he had planted himself amongst an entire company of soldiers to make things a little more entertaining.
“Thomas.”
Thomas turned, wiping his bloodied claws on the shirt of his final victim, and saw Myron who had addressed him. He dropped the dead soldier and tried to remove the bloodlust from his expression.
“Your wife has fallen, Thomas. Her brother killed her with an adamantine blade.”
“Stupid girl,” Thomas hissed. “Thank you, Myron. I will finish up here and then I’ll find her.”
Thomas surveyed the beach. There were still pockets of fights, but the king’s men had been overwhelmed, and most were starting to surrender.
Pity. I was enjoying myself.
The battle was practically finished here. He called to one of his men to find Ramiel and tell him to meet him at the Guild of Rexalis before taking to the air.
“Where is she?” Thomas asked Eve as he landed in front of her.
“We’ve laid the bodies in the rear courtyard,” Eve replied. “I’m sorry, Thomas. I tried to help her.”
He shrugged disinterestedly, though he showed a flicker of disappointment. “I knew this would happen.”
Eve followed Thomas to the rear courtyard. He sniffed the air.
“Is she wearing an arcanus?” he asked, failing to catch her scent.
Eve nodded and led him to the princess’ body.
Thomas pulled
the sheet back slowly to reveal Princess Eleanor’s pale face. She looked like she was sleeping, and even in death, she was every bit the beautiful thorian. Thomas slipped his arm under her shoulders and pulled her towards him. He raised his hand to brush aside the strand of hair the breeze had blown across her face.
“I told you that you would get yourself killed,” he told her softly. “Foolish girl.” He stood, lifting her into his arms. Eve felt her lip tremble at the tenderness he showed. He turned to Eve and said, “I’m taking her home.”
She gave a weak smile. “There is still much to do, Thomas. The country is a mess. You, the sons and princes will need to help rebuild it if you ever want any say in government.”
“I have no interest in politics.”
“You have a great interest, Thomas. Don’t let the opportunity slip away.”
The prince sighed and turned to the princess’ attendant, who had arrived shortly after Thomas. “Take her to the guild,” Thomas told the demon.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Ramiel replied. “Shall I bury her?”
“No,” said Thomas. “I will do it.”
“Shall I clean her up?”
Thomas shook his head. “Just put her in our bed. I will return shortly and tend to her.”
Ramiel nodded and took to the air with the princess’ body in his arms.
“Where is the Crown?” he asked.
“In the throne room,” said Eve. “The rebels are arguing. They still want a republic.”
Thomas bristled. “We can’t let them have a republic. We will have broken our decree if we have removed the king for that.”
“They are trying to persuade the Crown to step aside willingly,” she said. “That shouldn’t affect your decree, but perhaps you can reason with them. Offer up a compromise.”
“Why do I have to do that?” he grumbled.
“It’s not my place to interfere or I would make some suggestions.”
