Aloy and Talanah quickly made their way through the city, jumping into alleyways and behind marketstands any time they spotted the guards. Once the Lodge came into view, both women stopped.
"There are guards here," Talanah said, pointing at the front entrance, "that could be a good sign."
"Because why post guards if there's nothing to guard," Aloy said. "But we can't take out the guards; there are too many people here."
"We can go around the back and climb in via the balcony," Talanah said. "But we won't know if the balcony or the top floor is guarded until we reach it."
Aloy nodded and started moving around to the back of the building. On the ground level there were no guards at least. Looking up at the balcony, Aloy couldn't spot anyone there either. That gave Aloy hope that the place wasn't as heavily guarded as the front door suggested. Of course the Shadow Carja had little reason to expect anyone to try and enter the Lodge, especially from the back balcony, and judging by how few guards they had seen in Meridian village, the Shadow Carja didn't have enough guards on their side in the city to heavily guard every single building.
"So how do we get up there?" Talanah looked from the balcony to Aloy.
"I have an idea," Aloy said as she took out her ropecaster. "This weapon wasn't made for this; I can't promise it'll work," Aloy said as she aimed her weapon, "and it'll make a lot of noise."
"I guess that's one way of figuring out if this side of the top floor is guarded," Talanah said, shrugging.
Aloy shot off the ropecaster bolt and with a loud thunk it dug deep into the wooden railing of the balcony, leaving a rope dangling from it. Aloy now aimed at the ground and hooked the other end of the rope into the grass. Aloy put her weapon away and pulled hard on the rope, she pulled again, harder this time, then she let it carry her weight for a moment. The rope didn't budge.
"Seems sturdy enough," Aloy said and she hopped on the rope and started climbing.
"Just so you know, if you fall and break your neck, I won't be held responsible," Talanah said.
Aloy reached the balcony without the rope breaking or dislodging. "Likewise," Aloy said as she signalled for Talanah to follow her. Talanah was a much faster climber and Aloy helped her over the railing.
Aloy peeked inside, she wasn't surprised to see the Lodge's upper level was deserted, otherwise someone would have responded to their noisey climb.
Aloy and Talanah crept inside, quickly moving out of the view of the stairs. They hid behind one of the decorative screens. Aloy leaned a little out of cover to see what was going on downstairs. There were just a few people lounging around the room. It was difficult to tell whether there was something sinister going on or if these were just people relaxing.
"We need to get one of them alone," Aloy said.
Talanah peeked from behind the screen. "I wonder if they're all Shadow Carja or if some citizens have been let in as well?"
"I don't think they would have been," Aloy said, "I suspect this is a place where the Shadow Carja can openly be themselves, not having to hide their motivations or allegiances. Maybe they even hope to sway people's opinion using the Lodge's standing in Meridian."
"So how do we get one of them alone?" Talanah asked.
"We wait until one of them comes up the stairs, then we drag them into one of the side rooms."
"Hmm."
"What?"
"I don't like plans that require me to wait passively," Talanah, said but she clearly settled in for a long wait anyway.
Outside the morning passed, and slowly more and more people entered the Lodge, the sounds of people talking growing louder and louder until it was a constant buzz. Aloy and Talanah were still behind the screen, both lying down on the sofas there, both trying to stay alert despite the boredom.
"We should go hunting together when this is over," Talanah said, "it's been years."
"Well it's hard to top a hunt like Redmaw," Aloy said.
Talanah laughed, "Yes and since you saved us all the machines have become quite docile, it's become a challenge to find a challenging machine to hunt. For the new sparrows as well."
"In that case, I apologize," Aloy said, snickering, "I really should have considered the effect of my actions more."
They both laughed then fell quiet again.
"I was serious," Talanah said after a short silence, "we should go hunting together again."
"Absolutely," Aloy said. She wanted to say more, but was distracted by the sound of footsteps.
Simultaneously Talanah and Aloy got to their feet. Aloy gestured for Talanah to follow her. Looking from behind the screen Aloy could see a scrawny looking young man climb the stairs. He was wearing light armour, not of Carja design, but beneath the armour Aloy could see a torn old shirt that had a familiar pattern. The young man was carrying a small sword on his belt. He was dragging his feet as he made his way from the top of the stairs to the other side of the room.
Aloy quietly followed him. If he'd cared to look behind him he would have spotted her. But why would he?
Aloy signalled for Talanah to be ready to open the door to one of the side rooms. Aloy quickened her step to catch up. Just as the man started to turn in response to her footsteps, Aloy leapt forward. Jumping on his back. Wrapping her legs around him. Covering his mouth with her hand, and firmly pressing her other arm against his throat.
Talanah opened the door to the side room and pushed the man (and with him Aloy) inside before shutting the door behind them. The push left the man off balance and he and Aloy both crashed to the floor. Aloy scrambled to her feet and before the man could think to call out for help, she had her spear pressed against his neck.
"Jiraman?" Talanah suddenly exclaimed.
The man's terrified eyes focused on Talanah. "Sun Hawk!" he squeaked.
"You're part of the Shadow Carja?" Talanah's voice filled with anger and Jiraman could see it. He scrabbled a little further away from her, but she grabbed his arm to stop him. "I... err..." the man squirmed in her grip.
"Jiraman is one of our newest sparrows," Talanah told Aloy as she let go of Jiraman's arm. "I've hunted with him," Talanah said, her voice quivering with anger or maybe even sadness. "Did they recruit you?" Talanah turned to Jiraman again. "Or were you always art of the Shadow Carja? Did you join the Hunter's Lodge to help them infiltrate it?"
The man looked at Aloy and the tip of the spear still at his throat. Aloy lowered her spear and Jiraman visibly relaxed.
" Did they recruit you ?" Talanah asked, emphasizing every word as she tried to control her voice.
Jiraman shook his head. "Not exactly. I... or rather my father , was already part of the Shadow Carja."
"And you joined him?" Talanah said.
"No," Jiraman said angrily. "He was killed a few years ago," he added, his voice softer now. "A year after Sun-King Avad offered amnesty to all Shadow Carja."
"He was killed because he was former Shadow Carja?" Aloy asked.
Jiraman shook his head. "Not exactly. He was killed while hunting snapjaws."
"He was a hunter too?" Talanah asked.
"Not a trained one, he just took any job offered to him, and taking hunting jobs the members of the Lodge turned down was one of the few jobs he could always get. The hunting jobs were usually those other hunters turned down because of the risks, or the low rewards. Someone hired him to kill a snapjaw near one a place of prayer. My father had never taken on a snapjaw before, and I remember him and my mother arguing about it..." Jiraman fell quiet.
"Why was he taking work fighting hostile machines without training?," Talanah asked. "Training with the Lodge is free and everyone who has a talent for it is accepted."
"It's free, but how could he spend time training while he needed to make money to support us? My mother worked as a washer but that wasn't enough to support the whole family. And the Lodge wasn't open to everyone back then. Even if it had been, I'm not sure my father would have been allowed in, a lot of places were, and are suspicious of anyone who's was Shadow Carja," Jiraman said.
"And rightfully so!" Talanah exclaimed as she gestured around the room. "The entire Lodge has been taken over by you and soon the city!"
"What do you expect when you drive people to desperation?" Jiraman said, anger seeping into his voice. "The Sun-King might have invited us back into the city, but the rest of the Carja only met us with hostility and suspicion."
"Your entire faction still supported the ideas of the old Sun-King, ideas that cost us all a lot," Talanah said.
"The only work anyone would let us do was low pay or dangerous. The only places that would let us rent were old, falling apart. Once your neighbours realised you or any one of your family had been part of the Shadow Carja sanctioned harassment would start. You talk about the Lodge being taken away from you, but this is the first time since joining I've been able to just sit in here without someone glaring at me or making some remark behind my back."
Talanah was clearly taken aback, and looked like she wanted to protest, but kept quiet.
Aloy wanted to say something to comfort her friend, but the truth was Jiraman's story had stirred old resentments in her. Jiraman's story sounded too similar to the stories of the Outcasts among the Nora. Those who were finally allowed back into the tribe faced similar issues as the ones Jiraman described. Aloy was the exception, but even she still got the nasty remarks and the suspicious eyes trained on her.
"How many are there of you in the Lodge?" Talanah asked. "Where are you leaders?"
Jiraman let out a small bitter laugh. "You think they tell me that?" All I know is that this is a sanctuary for us someplace where we can speak freely; they've asked us to not reveal anything until they tell us we're all safe."
"Until the Shadow Carja take over the city," Aloy said.
"That's all you know?" Talanah pressed.
"They plan to take over the leadership of the city," Jiraman said, "without spilling blood. Even Sun-King Avad couldn't manage that."
"No, they just tried to kidnap a boy and his mother, much better," Aloy said.
Jiraman seemed a little rattled by that.
"You joined them because you want them to take over the city?" Talanah asked.
"I joined them because I want to live in a city where I have as much freedom as anyone else does."
"No matter the cost? Avad was already changing things for the better!" Aloy said.
"Not for me," Jiraman said. "Who knows, the new leadership might be better for everyone."
"Unlikely," Aloy snapped back.
"I suspect supporters of the previous Sun-King thought much the same," Jiraman said.
"If you believe that the Shadow Carja's take-over will be any smoother than what happened when Avad took the throne, you're incredibly naïve."
"And if you condone the violence it took then , what makes this time any different? Isn't it hypocritical to condemn us?"
"No. The costs were high, but not as high as doing nothing. Not as high as letting the mad King continue his reign. What happened to you and your family, what's happening to the other former Shadow Carja, is terrible, but we can change that without imposing an entirely new regime. Not to mention that the Shadow carja still hold to the old Sun-King's ideas, so life in this new city will never be as idealistic as you believe. If we bring this to Avad he will wok to make it better. Without all the blood this takeover will spill."
Jiraman didn't respond, but Aloy suspected that had more to do with him being tired of the discussion, rather than him agreeing with her.
"Who is leading this rebellion?" Talanah asked.
"I don't know, like I said!"
"Someone must have recruited you, tell us their name at least," Aloy said.
Jiraman hesitated but then answered. "Ilad"
"Ilad has been a Hawk for years, even before I joined," Talanah said, "I don't believe he's part of the Shadow Carja. Jiraman has to be lying."
"You think only the Shadow Carja want a new regime?" Jiraman scoffed.
"What do you mean?" Aloy asked.
"The Sun-King has made a lot of changes during the years that he's ruled. Of course there are going to be people who want the old way of doing things back."
"All Avad has done is to improve the lives of his people," Aloy said defensively.
"That's a matter of perspective," Jiraman said. "Some people's lives got worse."
"During Sun-King Jiran's rule nobles did have more power I suppose," Talanah said. "And many of them made a lot of money off the red Raids. Avad changed all that."
"Your Hawk told you that's why he joined?" Aloy asked Jiraman.
"He was from a noble family, but I don't think that was his motivation, or well… not his only motivation," Jiraman said. He briefly glanced at Talanah and for a second his nervous energy returned. "He thought... well he didn't like the way the Lodge was changing, he thought it brought down the standing of the Lodge."
"You mean opening the Lodge to everyone?" Talanah asked. "It's not an uncommon sentiment unfortunately."
Clearly this wasn't the first time Talanah had heard the complaint, and Aloy still remembered the issues around her own initiation into the Lodge.
"Do you know where Ilad lives?" Aloy asked Talanah.
"Yes, you think he might know who's in charge?"
"If he's recruiting people he's at least closer to the top than Jiraman is. He might even know where to find the leaders."
Talanah nodded. "What do we do with Jiraman?"
"There's a waterway close by," Aloy said, "I suggest we tie him up there for now and come back for him later or have Vanasha or Marad get him."
"I'm not letting you tie me up and leave me there!" Jiraman said. "What if you forget about me and I starve down there?"
"What if we make it easy on ourselves and deal with you here?" Talanah asked, mocking Jiraman's tone.
Jiraman shut up and let them get him to his feet.
"You really want things back to the way they were?" Jiraman asked.
"I want things to change," Aloy said, "just not in the direction the Shadow Carja are taking it. And neither should you. Do you really think that if they take power your life will somehow be better? Even if they somehow get the majority of people on their side and that'll stop the prejudice against you, do you think they will not give themselves the riches and you the scraps? That they won't change the Lodge back to being only for the elite?
"Or do you think they will make you rich or even a noble by virtue of your family name? Was your father rich under the Shadow Carja? Was he a noble man? Or was he just a soldier who got paid so little his family ended up in poverty? A man who couldn't afford a house for his family? And where were the Shadow Carja when your father died? They clearly still had enough men and financial resources to orchestrate this coup, so why did they not help you and your mother, after your father serving them for years?
"Don't count on the Shadow Carja helping you now if they didn't before. The only thing that will change for you if they succeed, is you'll be off a little worse with a new king to blame and no hope for change for the better," Aloy shook her head and, not waiting to see if a response was forthcoming, she grabbed Jiraman by the arm and dragged him to the balcony..
Talanah went down the rope first, Jiraman needed some coaxing before going second. As soon as he reached the ground, Talanah's hand was on his arm. Aloy went last. She looked around the Lodge, from here she could just see the people near the front door. She wondered whether one of them might be part of the leadership, and whether she was leaving without reaching her real target.
"I'll take Jiraman," Talanah said as Aloy slid down the rope. "You head back to Avad, I'll join you there." Aloy nodded, eager to not leave Avad on his own in the city any longer than she had to.
Talanah held on tight to Jiraman as she pushed him along with her. Aloy watch them disappear behind some rocks at the very edge of the city before she turned around and left the Lodge behind her.
As Aloy made her way back to the Sun-Ring, she couldn't stop thinking about what Jiraman had said. Did Avad know how the former Shadow Carja were treated in his city? If he did, why had he not tried to change it? Aloy remembered what Avad had once told her, that there were many things he wanted to change about Meridian, but that it would all take a very long time. For people like Jiraman's father, it had taken too long.
"Aloy!"
Aloy turned around to spot Talanah running up to her. When she reached Aloy, Talanah put her hand on her shoulder. "After we pick up the Sun-King we're headed for Ilad's house, right?"
Aloy nodded.
"Do you think Ilad will have information for us?"
"Yes. Even if it's only another name."
"And eventually we'll find the right name," Talanah said.
Aloy was about to respond, but froze when she saw the Sun-Ring's entrance. It was much more busy than it had been. The place was absolutely crowded. Apparently there was some kind of event planned for the day, why else would there be this many people? But that was not the worst of it, Aloy realised as she scanned the space for Avad's face. No. There were guards there now . Some were at the edge of the square, but others were moving among the crowd. Those guards were randomly picking people, seemingly questioning them. Whether this was because of the event or if it was just the way the city worked now didn't matter.
Aloy frantically looked for Avad's face in the crowd. "Aloy—" Talanah started to say, but Aloy finally spotted Avad, and started towards him.
Avad spotted Aloy as well and their eyes met. He started making his way towards her. Unfortunately that seemed to draw the attention of one of the guards who signalled two others and the three guards started closing in on Avad. Aloy slowed her pace but didn't stop; she didn't want to add suspicion, but wanted to be close enough to do something if the guards tried anything.
The guards were very close to Avad now. Aloy's heart was pounding in her chest. She quickened her pace just a little, ready to rush forward if the guards reached Avad. What would they do to Avad? Take him? And then what? And how could she stop them from taking Avad in this crowd, outnumbered?
Just as the guards reached Avad, Talanah caught up to Aloy. Talanah grabbed Aloy's arm and held on a little too tightly, probably realising what Aloy was planning.. The guards were questioning Avad it seemed. For a moment Aloy thought that maybe they'd just move on; that they hadn't recognised Avad. But then Aloy say a change on the faces of the guards. One of the guards seemed agitated, as he started arguing with the other two. The agitated guard put his hand on Avad's arm and started to pull him along.
Aloy broke free from Talanah's grip and rushed forward.
The other guards now grabbed Avad as well and all three of them began pulling him to the exit. Aloy rushed forward, pushing people out of the way, her spear ready in her hand.
Avad struggled against the guards but they only seemed to get more aggressive as they pushed and pulled him along with them.
Aloy pushed and shoved her way through the crowd. But she still wasn't closing in on Avad and the three guards, as they made their way through the crowd faster. Avad's eyes met hers and there was a determined look on his face. Avad pulled one of his arms free and used it to push the other guard off him. The third guard was about to lunge forward to grab him again, but Avad did something unexpected. Avad ducked to avoid the guards meaty hands, and then Avad threw off the cloak that hid his face.
"People of the Sundom," Avad announced his presence.
His voice was loud enough to draw the attention of everyone directly around him. While most of the common people might not recognise Avad's face, it was clear they knew his voice by heart. People whispered to each other, pointing at Avad, and soon Avad commanded the entire crowd's attention. As the people in the square turned to look at him, the guards were visibly shaken. All three of them took a step back and looked at each other, unsure of what to do now.
The crowd started closing in on Avad, all trying to get closer to the Sun-King. The crowd started getting louder, some calling out to Avad, others yelling at people in their way.
The initial relief Aloy had felt was now replaced by a new fear. She had no idea what the crowd could do, but their nervous energy, their eagerness, their demanding cheers were terrifying in a different but no less threatening way than the guards' aggression had been.
Aloy started for Avad again, but the crowd wasn't letting her through; no one wanted to lose their place close to the Sun-King.
Aloy looked behind her for Talanah, but she seemed to have been absorbed by the crowd.
"Avad!" Aloy called out in desperation, but she was far from the only one calling his name. "Avad!" she yelled again, helplessly watching as those people closest to him started reaching out for him.
Avad seemed calm and serene, but Aloy knew it was just a facade. He was just good at playing his role as Sun-King.
"Avad!" Aloy yelled again, forcefully shoving people out of the way to get to Avad.
Suddenly a loud bell rang across the open space of the Sun-Ring. There was mild confusion among the crowd, but not much else. Another bell. And another. The last one was enough to make the crowd stop their push towards Avad; all their faces turned to the small podium where the sound was coming from. A priest was standing on the podium. He rang the bell once more. It was enough to make the crowd fall quiet.
Aloy took advantage while the crowd was momentarily mesmerized, and pushed forward. "Avad!" Aloy yelled again, this time the crowd was quiet enough that Avad could hear her voice. He reached out his hand to her, the people between them parting to let her through when they saw the Sun-King reach for her. Aloy rushed forward and without thinking threw her arms around Avad's neck, hugging him tight as relief washed over her.
"Aloy," Avad said, his voice soft as he rubbed her back.
Aloy slowly let go of Avad, but he took her hands in his. "I'm sorry, I couldn't think of what else to do," he said, almost apologetically.
"It worked," Aloy said, even though she was perfectly aware that they were not safe yet. She looked around them. Now aware of the crowd again, Aloy pulled her hands back. "Aloy, I—" Avad started to say before being interrupted.
"Today we are blessed by a visit by our Sun-King," the priest's voice bellowed across the open space. "Let him through," he said to the crowd.
The crowd took a moment to understand what the priest meant, but then they started to part and a path formed from Avad to the podium. Avad straightened his back and slowly made his way to the podium, but not before looking behind him to make sure Aloy was following him, and taking her hand again.
"Aloy!" Talanah's voice came as she caught up to Aloy and Avad.
"Talanah!" Aloy said relieved and she took Talanah's hand to pull her along with them.
"What are we doing?" Talanah asked.
"Playing the crowd?" Aloy whispered just as Avad took the stage, pulling aloy and Talanah with him.
Avad addressed the crowd with the usual cliches, but Aloy was too focused on the crowd's reaction to really listen to what he was saying; she was looking at their faces, the way they seemed to be hanging on his every word, cheering after every statement, seemingly in ecstacy just to be this close to him. It was clear that no matter how Avad might have tried to change the way he and any past and future rulers of Meridian were viewed, these people still saw him as more than just their king. And Aloy wasn't sure if Avad could ever change that, no matter how he might try.
"I have been absent these past days, and I would not have been able to return to the city if it was not for Aloy," Avad said. Aloy was looked away from the crowd at the mention of her name, she looked up at Avad who now was looking straight at her, a soft smile on his face. "Aloy is a woman I deeply admire," he said before returning his gaze to the crowd. "Someone who is a friend to Meridian," Avad gestured to Aloy and suddenly all eyes locked on her.
Avad took a step back to give Aloy centre stage. She looked at Talanah as if hoping her friend could hide her from the crowd's attention. The crowd was buzzing but Aloy couldn't tell if their attention was a positive or not. Aloy understood what Avad was doing; he was clearing her name while he had the crowd's attention. That way no matter what happened next it would be difficult for the Shadow Carja to blame it on Aloy.
Aloy nervously stood on the stage, fretting with the hem of her shirt. Avad gave her a sweet comforting smile. He leaned in for a moment, "it'll be fine," he whispered soft enough for it to be private.
Avad then addressed the crowd again. "Aloy has once again poven her loyalty to the Sundom and I hope you will all join me in showing her our gratitude," Avad said.
The crowd cheered, though Aloy still wasn't convinced they had even listened to what Avad had said. Even the little relief she had felt when the crowd had forced the guards to back off was gone. Sure, her Talanah and Avad might be safe while they had the crowd's eyes on them, but they still needed to escape the Sun-Ring and get to the house of Ilad to find out what he knew. At the edge of the crowd Aloy could see the guards staring at them. Some of them were already making their way through the crowd; though hindered by the crowd's reluctance to let them through.
Avad closed his address to the crowd and the priest approached him. "We can lead you back to the palace through the back gate to avoid the crowd," the priest said as he put his hand on Avad's shoulder to lead him off the stage. Avad looked at Aloy and without words they agreed on the plan. Avad reached out and took Aloy's hand again to lead her with him. The priest was visibly disturbed by the gesture but if Avad noticed it, he ignored it.
Avad leaned in, "Are you all right?"
"We have to get away from this crowd and the guards," Aloy said.
"We will," Avad said and he squeezed her hand.
Aloy looked behind them to make sure Talanah was following them. She looked even more miserable about the whole situation than Aloy did.
The priest led the three of them to a wooden door that he said led to a stairway. Behind them the crowd was still calling out for Avad, but they kept their distance this time.
As he priest was unlocking the door, Aloy worried about how they'd get away from him without explaining why Avad wasn't heading for the palace. Or dressed as a commoner.
"Thank you for helping," Avad said to the priest as they made their way down the long staircase.
The priest didn't respond.
Avad looked at Aloy and they both felt something was wrong.
The priest, who was still walking out in front of them, quickened his pace.
"What are you doing?" Talanah asked.
The priest didn't respond.
"Aloy," Talanah whispered.
Aloy gently pulled Avad closer to her.
"Something's wrong," Avad half stated, half asked.
Aloy glanced over at the priest then back at Avad and nodded.
"We can't go back," Talanah said. "That crowd might not want Avad dead but we can't get through that crowd without them tagging along."
Aloy held on tight to Avad's hands she helplessly watched the priest open the door at the base of the stairs.
Sunlight fell into the darkened stairwell. And then... a shadow.
A burly man stepped into view. His clothes were nondescript, but half his face was covered by red marks. The man looked at Avad then turned to someone just out of view. He said something inaudible. Then the priest moved past the open doorway, not even bothering to look at the three people he'd trapped.
The marked man gestured to people out of sight, and soon four royal guardsmen entered the stairwell.
Aloy quickly moved between Avad and the men, holding her spear in front of her.
The men hesitated. Maybe because of the electric crackle coming off the spear. Maybe because they recognised her. But they soon got past their fear and advanced on the trio.
Aloy quickly drew her rattler and fired ten metal bolts in quick succession. The bolts hit two men, both yelped in pain. The two men stumbled out of the stairwell, covered in their own blood. Screams rose up as people outside spotted the two bloodied men.
The other two men leaped forward, one of them knocked the rattler right out of Aloy's hands. The man then lunged for her, but Aloy dived out of his reach, rolling back to her feet and hitting him full force with the spear. She quickly hit him again, causing the man's body to freeze, just long enough for Aloy to finish him.
The other man was fighting with Talanah, who deflected his blows with a small blade. The stairwell was too small and crowded for the man to use his halberd, so he swung at Talanah with his own blade. Just as he lifted the sword above his head to deliver another blow, Aloy leaped forward and cut him down.
"We have to get out of here," Aloy shouted.
They rushed for the exit, but not before six more men rushed into the stairwell. Aloy immediately tried to shield Avad, pushing him behind her, but before she could even draw her spear, two of the men had rushed her, grabbing her arms. Aloy struggled, but could not get free.
"Let go!" Avad yelled as he drew his sword and lunged for one of the men holding Aloy. The man shielded his face with his arm, his golden vambrace taking the blow. Avad immediately slashed at him again, and the man let go of Aloy to leap backwards. The man drew his own sword, lunging for Avad. But Aloy kicked the man in the shins and he collapsed to his knees. Avad raised his blade to cut the man down, but hesitated, prompting Talanah to leap forward and do it for him.
The other four men flooded into the cace, one helping the man still holding on to Aloy's arm, the other three pushing past them, going for Avad and Talanah.
"Talanah, don't let them take Avad!" Aloy yelled in desperation as she struggled to free herself.
Avad kicked the man headed for him, the man stumbled and fell down the stairs. Avad evaded the other two men and swung his sword at the men holding Aloy. The men dashed backwards, dragging Aloy with them and off her feet.
"Let her go!" Avad lashed out with his sword again, barely missing the men.
The men dragged Aloy down the stairs as the two other men closed in on Avad. The man he had kicked down the stairs rushed past Aloy. He drew his sword and attacked Talanah.
As Aloy was dragged into the light, she could see Talanah trying to maneuver Avad behind her, but he wouldn't let her. He slashed and lunged at the men surrounding him.
Aloy struggled against the grip of the men dragging her away from the door, the stairwell and Avad and Talanah. Aloy screamed and yelled at the men, but the people watching did nothing. After all, even if they'd heard Avad speak, would they go against the royal guard?
Aloy strained to see what was happening inside the stairwell. She saw how Avad slammed his shoulder into one of the men, knocking him to the ground. He kicked him in the stomach before lifting his sword and... then he hesitated. His sword left hanging in the air. The man already scrambling back onto his feet.
"Watch out!" Aloy screamed, but it was too late and the man kicked Avad's legs out from under him, knocking him to the ground.
The men dragging Aloy hastened their pace suddenly.
"Avad!" Aloy yelled as she watched him struggle with the guard. Talanah busy fighting off the others, not able to help.
"Avad!" Aloy screamed again. As the guards dragged her away, she saw the door slam shut.