Chapter 36 - Y

"Zael!" I ran as fast as I could to the cell door. "Zael, are you alright?" he wove his fingers in with mine on the bars.

"Yurick, thank god you're alright. I was worried sick," he kissed my fingers.

I shook my head. "Don't mind that. What happened?"

His face fell and sadness consumed his eyes. "The General… General Asthar… he…" I could almost feel his tears.

"Yeah, I heard," I tried to catch his gaze again, but he kept looking at the ground. "You don't have to talk about it now," I unlaced our fingers and pulled some bread out of my belt pocket. "Here, I brought you something to eat. You must be starving." He tried to smile as he took it, but he just stared at it in his hand. I'd wondered if he'd even be able to eat if he tried. So much had happened and his mental status was unstable. "Please, Zael, you have to eat something." He nodded silently and took a bite. I smiled at him and reached my hand through the gate to hold his. He was cold as ice.

"I didn't do it," he mumbled between bites.

"I know, Zael. I know better than anyone. You couldn't even if you'd wanted to," I tried to give a sympathetic smile. "It's not your fault. So stop blaming yourself, 'cuz I know you are."

"I just… I just wish I could have done something," his sad eyes met mine. "I was right there and I couldn't do anything to help him." I was trying to think of something to say, but he shook his head and squeezed my hand. "But how are you doing? Where were you when all of this started?"

I recalled everything.

"Mirania!" my head jerked in her direction. She put her book down and ran over to me and the door to the library. "Are we under attack?" I peeked out of the door and saw one of the pillars fall to pieces.

"We don't have time to speculate. We'll be trapped in here if we don't go now," she pulled my wrist and led me out to the stairs just in time. The ceiling behind us collapsed and blocked the way to the library.

"We need to get out of here," I started, but then thought of Zael and stopped. "Wait! What about Zael and Dagran? Weren't they-," but I was cut off by Mirania pushing me out of the way as the wall under the stained glass in front of us crumbled and a small Gurak vessel took its place.

"They can take care of themselves. We need to leave before we find any more trouble," she pulled me down the stairs and out towards the main doors. "We should try to meet up with Syrenne and Lowell." I nodded and pushed the door open, which was harder to do when the entryway was partially destroyed.

Castle Gate Plaza was a disaster. The fountain had been demolished and the water was spraying everywhere, the people were panicked and running around like mad men, and most of the buildings were on fire.

We made it to Central Plaza with little problem other than dodging the wild heard of people, but making it to the tavern would prove difficult, since it was engulfed in flames. I ran in front of it and found Ariella and her little brother.

"Our father's still in there!" she cried. I extended my hand to the building and concentrated as hard as I could amid the chaos. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before commanding the fire to die down all around us. Soon Horace's shop, the tavern, and the surrounding area were flame free. Doing that takes a lot out of me, so when it was done I almost fell, but Mirania caught me. I was only off balance for a moment before I could stand on my own. Just then Lowell ran out of the building with the old man and Syrenne on his shoulder.

Ariella and her brother ran to their father, thankful that he was alright, and Lowell ran over to us and placed Syrenne delicately on the ground against the wall.

"What happened?" Mirania knelt down to her and placed a hand on her forehead.

"The room caught fire and the barrels exploded in the back," he said very seriously. I was expecting him to joke, but I was glad that he didn't. Mirania nodded and her hand shined white. The colour slowly returned to Syrenne's face. "Great timing, by the way," he smiled up at me.

"We just got here. Have you seen Zael?" I looked around, even though I was sure he was in the castle still.

He shook his head. "It was just us," he gestured over at Ariella and her family.

"Bloody hell. My head is killing me," Syrenne rubbed the back of her neck and sat up slowly. "How much did I drink?"

Lowell's face lit up, but he tried not to show it. "Too much, if you ask me."

"I'm just glad you two are alright," Mirania said softly. "I was worried."

I looked back towards the castle and all of the Gurak beasts flying around it. "We should go back and find them," I said quietly, but loud enough for them to hear me. They nodded and, as soon as Syrenne could stand, we ran back through the crowd to the castle.

"We should start near his room," Syrenne suggested. We ran up the first set of stairs and found some warn out knights and a lot of dead Gurak. Mirania healed them before we darted up the second flight and around the corner towards the bed chambers. Luckily, the bridge was still intact.

"Oh thank god!" I heard a voice and dodged out of the way quick enough to avoid Calista jumping onto Mirania. "I was the only one over here and I didn't know where anyone was!" she let her go and took a few steps back. "Have you seen Zael?" she looked at me.

I shook my head. "We're looking for them now."

"Would you like to accompany us?" Mirania invited her. I glared at her over my shoulder, but I was overruled. Calista nodded eagerly.

"You said you were the only one over here, so where did he go?" I spun back around towards the bridge and started running. I swear, if he's hurt again… I turned the corner almost too fast and ran into a knight that was freaking out. "Move!" I shouted and ran passed him.

"Yurick, wait!" I heard Calista shout behind me. I slowed down, but I didn't stop. She caught up faster than I'd thought. "He probably found my uncle, which means they would be headed for the cannon. That's all he cares about," she frowned, but her eyes were determined. I nodded in agreement, not really caring who helped me find him as long as I found him.

We ran through the courtyard. It was a disaster; bodies and rubble everywhere. It almost made me want to throw up. The smell was horrid. The military wing looked worse, though. There were holes in the ground and massive piles of stone from the walls and pillars. All around us people screamed for help.

"You go on ahead," Mirania fell behind. "These men need medical assistance." Most of the fighting was over at this point, but the casualty list kept growing with the damage.

"Be safe," I called back to her before running to the end of the hallway. The stairway had been blocked. There was no way I'd get up there in time. We needed to find another way.

"Yurick," I heard a faint call from Calista, who had found Count Arganan and Therius on the other side of the round room near a newly fallen pile of rock. The Count had his arm around Therius' shoulders. It was the only thing keeping him standing. Calista began to heal him, but didn't seem to care too much about his wellbeing.

"Was Zael with you?" I asked as soon as I was close enough. I didn't have a single thought other than finding him.

He nodded. "He went to find the General with Dagran," his face fell to an agitated scowl, "but the way was blocked and we were separated." The anxiety welled up in my throat. I couldn't think straight. What if something happened to him? What if there was an ambush? Surely he and Dagran could protect themselves, but… What if…

Shortly after, the news came to us that he was back in the dungeon.

"You think he what? Killed the General?" I couldn't believe it. How could anyone be so stupid as to think my Zael would kill anyone? Especially someone he looked up to…

After that, I ran to the dungeon to find him.

"I can't even imagine what you're feeling right now," I just wanted to hold him and let him rant. His face was twisted in agony like he was burning from the inside out, but couldn't find the will to stop it.

"Jiral," he mumbled angrily, "I'll kill him." His fist was clenched tightly around the bread, breaking it in the middle.

"Trust me, I'll help you," I agreed, watching his hands shake.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and spun around quickly. Dagran had a sullen look on his face. "If I could have a moment alone with him," he looked down at me and I nodded, not wanting to mess with him when he looked that way. It was like he was furious but couldn't think of the right words or emotions so he was sad, but it was scary.

I reached out my hand to Zael through the bars one more time, barely grazing his fingers with mine, before leaving.