Disclaimer: This is the only disclaimer I'm gonna write for all twenty chapters (or however many I write). I do not own these characters, Tamora Pierce does, I do not own this world, Tamora Pierce does. Got it?
"Fall back!" Neal shouted as explosives went off everywhere. "I said fall back!"
He grasped Roald by the arm and yanked him up. "Are you out of your mind? You'll die out here!"
"I have to help them," Roald argued, yanking his arm back. "If I can't help them on the battlefield then what good will I be as king?"
Neal threw him to the ground and managed to get out of the way just as another explosive blew up near them.
"If you stay here much longer you won't be king at all," Neal said furiously.
"Neal I-" Roald looked at battlefield from the ground helplessly. "I have to help them."
"You'll be of no help if you're dead," Neal shouted as he rolled on top of Roald as another set of explosives went off.
"Alright, let's go," Roald agreed.
"Keep running! Fall back!" Neal shouted as he got up and dragged Roald with him.
They dodged through the masses of bodies and explosives, ducking and dropping and rolling and running as they went. At one point Roald grabbed Neal by the shirt and pulled him off into a side alley just before an explosive blew up.
"Thanks," Neal managed to pant.
"No problem," Roald said, catching his breath.
Everyone was screaming around them but blue eyes met green and they leaned in. It was frowned upon for royalty and pretty much everyone else but as their lips met they couldn't bring themselves to care. It wasn't a soft and caring kiss, they were surrounded by death and pain and it reflected that in that it was rough and demanding. When they parted they didn't say anything, they just grabbed hands and ran.