Hello again!

So I decided to do a bit of a double update for you guys, partially to make up for the wait you guys have undergone in the past and partially to tease at upcoming events. I really hope you all enjoy this little snippet that looks a bit at what great change is to come for Avyanna...even if she doesn't know it yet.

Rebellion

On Mœshchnóst:

Prince Rashnu ran through the halls of the palace which he had once called home, his loyal friend and supporter Náthán at his side. The palace guards were nowhere to be seen, all available forces down below fighting the rebel army that had finally breached the defences in a surprise attack from underground.

It was so familiar, this had been the place where Baron Van'Holden had finally achieved his goal of seizing the throne. As he moved through the halls he could almost hear the dying screams of those who fought, he could almost see the bodies of his siblings where they had fallen as they were struck down by Rashnu and his solders.

Each memory of that day only flamed the fire inside.

"My prince! This palace is bigger then any other building in the realm, how can we possibly find him?" The once-guard to the Baron asked as they rounded yet another corner.

Rashnu gritted his teeth. This would be so easy, all one had to do was use magic to trace the Baron. It should be easy, someone who radiated the level of power he did.

But in order to do so, he had to know how to use magic so much more powerful then the necessary basics. All those years of avoiding the craft, of hating it and resenting both magic and it's users after the pain it had caused him so many centuries ago. Now he finally needed it, and the one time it was truly life or death he was alone with someone as incompetent in magic as he was.

"I am trying to figure that out even as we speak. Clearly magic is not an option, we must stop and think!" Rashnu halted, back against the wall as he wracked his brain.

"The Baron is nothing if he is not cunning. Would he not seek out the craftiest of hiding places to seclude himself to? Where in the palace would one hide if they truly wished to be never found?" Náthán questioned.

If one did not wish to be found... Rashnu was silent as he pondered that. Náthán was correct, the Baron was cunning. But he was also a proud and arrogant man. Rashnu was his last barrier between him and a undefied rule, would he really hide away.

"No...The Baron would not hide. He would be waiting for us, for a final confrontation in which he can strike me down in the same way he did my father the previous king. This is a game to him, a stage in which he can demonstrate his superior strength."

Realization dawned on him, and from the widening eyes of friend beside him Rashnu knew that they had both understood at the same time.

"He will be waiting in the tower, where my parents final moments were. All know that that is where he cornered and killed them, he bragged as much himself. That is where he waits." He murmured, meeting Náthán's eyes and turning to sprint down the left hall.

Then reached the stairs to the tower quickly, mounting them as quickly as possible. They came to a stop outside the closed door and with a snarl Rashnu shoved it in with all his might. The wood slammed against the stone wall but neither male acknowledged it as they stared across the tower instead at a much more important sight.

Baron Van'Holden.

The males amber eyes glittered with malicious amusement as he stood with the Kings sceptre braced in front of him. His robes rippled in the breeze coming in from the tower windows, only adding to the foreboding appearance of the Baron.

"Rashnu."

"Daron." Rashnu spat out, disgust and hatered in his tone.

"Even after everything, you're still fool enough to think you have a chance?" The Baron laughed. "You may be a warrior, but you could ever hope to stop me. I am not just a warrior, I am a Mage. I need nothing but my own willpower to end you."

He was well aware, but Śożdátœl will it he might get enough of an advantage to provide an opening to another. No matter what, the Baron had to die so that his people were freed. It didn't matter if it meant his own death, the cost was worth.

So he readied his two blades, then he attacked.

Magic blast after magic blast flew towards him, Rashnu doing his best to block the strikes. He never moved much further then where he had entered the room, the magic holding him at bay. Daron was playing with him, toying with Rashnu until he got sick of humiliating the prince and killed him. Náthán lunged for Daron, the traitor merely slamming the Solder away with his staff. He crumpled to the floor, unconscious but still breathing. His chest twisted but he forced it aside and kept fighting forward, Náthán had come prepared to die, he just prayed desperately that it would not come to that.

"It's truly interesting, your parents did the exact same thing you're doing now and in the very same place. Fighting a battle they could never hope to win. I'll never forget the looks on their face in their last moments as they collapsed in front of me, knowing that in their death I would take the throne they protected with their worthless lives."

"My parents spit is worth more then the heart beating in your chest. I bet it burns to know that these people hate you, would celebrate your death. They mourned my family, but when you die they'll dance on your grave. That you'll never be as important, as respected, as famous as my parents. You're name will die out, you'll become the nameless tyrant in time. But my parents names will live on, as their parents did and all those that came before." Rashnu snarled.

No sooner had those words left his lips a ball of magic just missed his blade, instead slamming into him and knocking him backwards onto the floor. Rashnu wheezed as the air was knocked out of him by the magic that seeped over his chest and Daron took a step forward.

"Would you like to know a secret before you die prince Rashnu? I'm sure you'll find this little tidbit most fascinating." The traitor asked, leering down at the fallen prince. "Your parents died, but regrettably it was not at my hand. As you know, your darling little sister Avyanna in all her loyalty stayed at your parents side to fight and protect them. She was willing to die for them, and she very nearly did. I had all three of them cornered, your parents and sister in this tower and just as I was thinking I would finally get what I wanted out of all this your parents revealed the will for just one last action of defiance."

Rashnu forced himself upright on one elbow, clawing at the shimmering weight on his chest that pushed so, so hard. This was how he died, overcome by magic as a man he had once regarded as his closest friend stood over him in victory.

"They took the remainder of their life force, and teleported their dying daughter far from here. I never did find her, not that I searched very hard. She was pledged to the Mág Gíl'dįí and thus had no claim over the throne. Your sister is still alive Rashnu, the plants and magic relics that her essence sustains still pulse with life."

Rashnu coughed, but a small smile passed over his lips.

"I knew, there were traitors in your midst and upon escaping I learned all of this. My sister isn't dead, she was saved even despite your actions. If I survive this, I will still have family to stand at my side, you are alone. Family dead or having abandoned you, no woman at your side as queen. You are worthless to them."

The Baron spit on Rashnu, landing on his armour as he sneered.

"You know, I always thought your sister was a beauty. Soft curves and that fire in her that just begged to be snuffed out. I put off finding her until your execution, then the rebellion rose and I had to focus my attention on more pressing matters. But now, once you're dead and I've crushed this puny rebellion for good I think I'll start searching. It'll be my greatest achievement to finally break her will."

Rashnu snarled, fingers grasping for the blade closest to him as he fought the magic holding him down. Avyanna was alive, in all the years that had passed if those plants were still thriving she had no doubt found herself a new life. If she could not be with her family at home, then he'd be damned if he'd let Daron Von'Holden take that away from her.

After everything she had been through for breaking that engagement and stepping out to become the person she had been meant to be all along, he owed her that much.

"You...will...not...TOUCH HER!"

Cruel laughter echoed through the tower chamber and the Baron lifted one hand high over his head, amber magic gathering in his palm.

"Who will stop me? Certainly not you, your time is finally spent. Goodbye prince Rashnu."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Náthán struggle to sit up, finally awake. His eyes fell on the scene in front of him and Rashnu saw horror fill his friends eyes as he closed his own, accepting his fate.

"NOOOOOOO!"