21

Ianto hung back, the stench making his stomach rebel as Jack walked confidently amongst the dead, taking a knee now and then to touch the pristine face of a child, or brush the hair from the face of a woman who was laid next to the baby she had tried to protect in their last moments.

Ianto knew he was going to hurl, knew the bub was horrified at the images he was unable to shield him from completely and the flecked blue hair of the Bladesinger Representatives called to him, making him stager over to take a knee and bow his head in prayer to the gods for mercy. A loving welcome to these people who his parents sent to the meeting and inevitably to their doom and… and… Ianto recognized one. He reached out to take the slack hand and held it, weeping softly as he saw one of his tutors. This woman had been kind to them, all the children and especially …. Pip. Ianto looked closer at her, her clothing barely scorched, she had almost made it out, as if…. Why was her body not as badly damaged as the others were?

Ianto rose and motioned over one of those with a tablet "This one… was she found with the others of her group?"

"No your highness" the man said dismissively "She was here actually …. Almost made it out. Seems at the last minute the guards stopped her to request her pass."

"Majesty" Ianto corrected firmly, his anger showing "I am one of your kings, take a fucking knee and respect me!"

Those working around them halted to swing and see the man standing tall and proud, his eyes flaring with anger. The worker looked a little startled and looked around for guidance. "Well?"

"Ah…. Whatever" the man finally blurted, and took off in the other direction as Ianto stood with shock. What? Oh no… nope. Not here, not was he stood near the dead of his people… that is not… gonna hurl. Fuck.

Ianto rushed to a alleyway to his right and gripped the edge of the building as he vomited, his hand going to his stomach as he tried to soothe the babe who was now angry at the insult the interaction had caused.

"Oh dear… let me look at you sweetie" a voice said as he leaned back to let a woman wipe his face with a cool cloth. "I came looking for my son to wash and burry, instead I find this mess… poor boy. Come… sit over here. Take a moment, the smell is dire."

Ianto sat heavily and without thinking, he pulled off the headdress to relive the heat. The woman's eyes widened as the blue hair came into view and Ianto sighed as he rubbed his face with the cloth, ignoring the chaos around him. Finally he remembered something else and he sat back to eyeball her.

"My king" she whispered softly "Put that back on… and get thee to your palace over to the West of this place. Get guards and get safe. Do you not know the rumours? Is it the Bladesingers that were targeted. Apparently it was the end of the War Room they were seated in that went first."

Ianto did not want to hear that, the place he would have sat out of respect for his elders… nope. Ianto fought the urge to throw up again and he rose, letting her help him with his headdress.

The Bladesinger palace. Of course. His parents had their own embassy here… he had forgotten that.

Jack saw Ianto moving for a Hover and he hastened after him "Tiger you OK?"

"The stench is turning my stomach, I need… I need to go somewhere quiet to regain myself. I do not need you to come if you need to tend here" Ianto said with more calm than he felt "The Bladesinger Embay is intact and I will head there to refresh my lungs and soothe our son."

Ianto could see that Jack was torn so he placed a hand on his arm "You are the mighty king… go… be mighty. Gnash your teeth…. Demand renege and tell them that war was declared this day… this was their declaration. Ours will be louder… and more final. You named me the Sweet King… I am getting sour right now and must retreat, for our chickie."

A kiss and Ianto was on the Hover, Rhys flying it with speed over the edge of the blast while Ianto kept his hands in his lap and his eyes cast to his feet least he look out the window and see more of the horror below.

Who would do this?

Who would target not just all the families like this but specifically his? Had he and Jack been there they would have sat that end out of respect. And the biggest question of all… why was that old woman not with them… why was she …. Escaping?

Huh.

That is the word that had been whispering in the back of his skull.

She had been escaping. Fleeing the blast…. Before it was even a blast.

She knew.

This left him with one final question.

Who ordered her to place that bomb?