(Jack's POV)
The city was in upheaval. Bodies lined the streets and those still alive were either locked in combat or cowering in whatever holes could fit them. It was gratifying to see that at least a few of the dismembered corpses in the drains wore the insignia of the empire, but it was obvious that the fight fared badly for the rebels. From our left a group of rebels charged forward all being led by a shirtless man that seemed two parts bear, one part human. He swung a mace with a single hand that I probably wouldn't even be able to lift, and laughed cheerfully as, with each swing, a soldier met his end.
A small teenage girl by his side was in battle with a burly looking soldier. He swung down with his sword and I knew what was going to happen, I averted my gaze but when I looked back, she was still standing. The large man was just pulling his mace out of the soldier's head, and he shouted out. "I did not give you permission to die today soldier! Now onward! The city is not free yet!"
I watched as he tore through an entire squadron of soldiers, his mace acting as both a weapon and shield for the rest of his makeshift army. When the fight was done, dozens of imperial soldiers were scattered amongst the ground, while not a single rebel had sustained even a scratch.
He looked over at us, and noticeably lit up. He swung the mace over to rest on his shoulder, and gleefully strutted over to us. He stopped a few feet from us, and locked eyes with Alice. To her credit she didn't turn away despite his overwhelming form.
"Ah" He exclaimed. "You must be the demon everyone in town is talking about. I must say it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He held out a massive hand, and Alice reached over to shake it. His hand closed over hers and completely surrounded it. A smile spread across the man's face.
"Captain Xavier at your service." He said with an elaborate bow. I recognized the name. He used to be a soldier in the imperial army, I was told that he was executed for treasonous acts against the state, but I later found out that he deserted after he was ordered to burn a village to make a point. He and his men vanished off of the face of the earth,
"Jack Sentan, at yours." I bowed to meet him. I thought that he had stretched his smile to its limits but he managed to smile even wider.
"Today is a joyous day for the rebellion. That must make you, Aliendra, but I hear you prefer Alice. Yes I knew your mother Alice, and she warned me that you two might be coming. Yes yes, come I'd like to introduce you to the other leaders of the rebellion. Alice you may recognize a few faces, they used to be part of your mother's court. Still are in some ways."
We followed him through the absolute terror that the city endured. The fights seemed to be dying down, occasionally Captain Xavier had to quickly dispatch a group of surviving soldiers, but overall the combat seemed to be coming to a close. Fires were starting to be put out, by hardened faces. People weeped over the bodies of their loved ones. I felt like I was spying on their grief and averted my eyes. Those with no one and nothing left to lose just curled up in some desolate corner of the city and stared off into oblivion.
We turned right down a large street and Alice suddenly paled. I looked ahead and could see why, the great white castle loomed over us, somehow more frightening than the entire imperial army. It was easy to fight, it was hard to face what you were fighting for.
Xavier threw open the large white doors and strutted inside, completely oblivious to Alice who seemed to be quite close to hyperventilating. The great hall loomed ahead of us, pillars stretched out marking a path to the back of the castle. Oak doors were placed at intervals on both our left and right sides. The strangest part of the room was twofold, instead of thrones, at the end of the hall was a large table. The second strangest part was in the center of the table an ivy plant was just beginning to grow. Noticing my staring, Xavier began to explain.
"We have a tradition here in Spera, anytime a new king and queen are crowned a throne is constructed. They then take a torch and set fire to the throne. We like to believe that placing yourself physically above your subjects leads the kings and queens to think that they are above them. The table is for discussion, any decision the king or queen make is always discussed with the court first. The ivy is just because we like the way it looks. The ivy used to spread over every surface in the castle and over the city's walls, but it was the first thing burned when Spera fell."
"Oh" was all I said. We reached the table at the end of the hall, and several strained faces looked up at me, several seats were empty.
"Ashryver is the only one missing that is still alive. It's good that he managed to find the old queen. With such a large target on her head I don't want her to be alone for a second."
Alena didn't tell Xavier about the band of Spera, there were more with her than seats at the table. Alice seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"So everyone not at this table is certainly dead?" Alice asked.
"Unfortunately so." Xavier's face darkened. " I was so scared after Spera fell that I was desperate to join the emperor's army. He told me that if I wanted to prove myself I would have to track down and eliminate a member of the Sperian court. It was my darkest day, I found where they were hiding and cut them down where they stood. I killed three before I just couldn't lift my blade anymore, I let the rest escape and started making plans to overthrow the emperor. Nine years later and we still haven't won."
The table fell silent the daunting prospect of what we had yet to do hanging over all of us like the teetering axe of an executioner threatening to fall. Xavier's face darkened considerably and he gazed deep into the shadows, begging them for some forgiveness for the crimes he had committed. Finally he cleared his throat loudly, and the cheerful unbreakable spirit we met at the gates returned to us.
"Well we now have a considerable advantage, Alice Springhaven and her lackey have come to help us extinguish this imperial scourge from the city. With their help we'll have the Spera free by the end of tomorrow afternoon." I'm sorry, her what?
"I'm not her-" Alice pressed her hand to my face silencing me.
"Shh shh lackey. Now be quiet while the adults discuss the war." I shot her the dirtiest look I could manage, and she laughed. Although something was off in it, the smile didn't reach her eyes. When the smile faded all that remained was a deep sadness that I couldn't quite understand, I tried to reach out mentally but she wouldn't allow even a sliver of thought. I attributed it to being home again, I made a mental note to talk to her about it later.
A deep booming sound came from within Xavier and it took a minute to realize that he was laughing. He slapped a hand on my back and my knees buckled from the weight.
"I like you two. It's a nice change from the normal bickering mob of depression that wanders through her everyday telling me that we have no real advantage in the war. I'd say we have a great advantage. The imperials are fighting for the coins in their pockets, we're fighting for the ground we walk on and the air we breathe. We're fighting for the freedom to not only survive but to live, under a king and queen we would be happy to serve."
A tired old man at the table stopped scribbling at a piece of parchment and spoke softly. "Is everything a reason to go on a pro-revolutionary tangent to you? We are all quite devoted to the cause, we do not need reminding."
"Everyone could use a taste of revolutionary fervor!" Xavier shouted gleefully as he swung his mace in the air cutting down imaginary imperials.
The old man sighed. "Then please annoy our queen with your revolutionary spirit." He said with a wave of his hand. Suddenly a bell boomed across the city, and everyone at the table shot to attention.
"Wait what's going on, what does that bell mean?" I asked. The bell was ear splitting it took all of my effort not to throw my hands up to try and block out the sound.
The court started hastily grabbing scrolls and loose papers and stuffing them halfheartedly into bags.
"It means we're under attack." The same old man, whom I decided to call the mouthpiece of the court. "The imperial army has been here for weeks, they've been primed to invade, so why only attack now?"
Alice said softly. "Because we're here. They knew we were coming so they laid a trap. I bet that they have blocked off every exit to the city, nobody is leaving here alive." I saw something worrisome in her eyes when she said that, instead of solemn resignation that was subtle anticipation. She was excited for what was coming.
Xavier decided now was the right time to give us a hearty pre-battle speech. "Your majesty I would consider it a compliment that the tyrant deems you worthy of his entire military, even if every hundred of his soldiers isn't' worth one of ours. So I'd suggest you let that demon out one more time and give them what-for. You've got the entirety of the Sperian army behind your back waiting on your command, what say you your majesty?"
"I'd say find someone more qualified to lead your troops. I will fight but I'm no leader." Alice said with a dull nothingness to her voice. I had trouble pinning what she was feeling, it was as if every second her position on the upcoming battle shifter.
To our surprise Xavier laughed. "And that is why I believe that you may be the best Queen Spera has ever had. Now we have a plague at the heart of our city and it is time to root it out, Alice, I want you on the eastern gate. Jack, I want you at the northern gate. I will take the western gate. We must just position more troops at the southern gate, and hope that they succeed. I wish Ashryver were here, I'd feel much safer with him in command. Anyway no use time left debating, we have a city to save." He roared a battle cry and sprinted out the door and took a quick right.
We ran after him and and the door, I took a right and ran around the castle. Alice took a left, and for some reason I felt nervous letting her go off on her own. There was some plan at work that I wasn't let in on.
I sprinted off to the northern gate, my daggers held at either side.
(Alice's POV)
I suppose my opportunity came a little quicker than I expected. As I ran I took in lungfuls of air and savored the taste, this would be the last time I could feel the wind fly through my hair, feel the stone beneath my feet, hear the beating of my heart as I throw myself through the air.
I hardened my face, I refused to miss it. I ran faster. Looking around I saw people preparing for combat. Men and women old enough to fight fastening makeshift armor to themselves, grabbing whatever weapons they could find. Lovers embracing one final time, armed with the knowledge that they may never see each other again, probably won't see each other again. I ran faster still.
I reached the gates, and was gratified to see that the gates were still holding. Behind the tough iron, the imperial army was using a machine to shove the gate from its fittings. It was holding, but it wouldn't last forever. On my side of the gate, those prepared for the fight stood at the ready. Some bent over in prayer, some with faces so pale it was hard to see them against the sunlight, and some that just stared at the gate nothing left in their life to care about. I related to them the most.
The gate buckled and I rocked with it, my nerves linked to the status of the gate. Somewhere I heard the sound of a large amount of metal hitting the ground, somewhere the gate had fallen and the battle had started.
A boy no more than 10 years old stood with a dagger in his hand, that looked like a sword to his small form. Despite his youth, he wore the face of an old man, eyes hardened with tragedies that no child should ever have to witness.
I walked over to him and pressed my hand to his back, he recoiled slightly. "You don't have to do this." I promised him. "We have it covered, go back to the castle, find your mother."
"My mom is dead, so is my sister and dad. They were killed. I have nobody left to lose, I have to fight."
"No really we can handle this." He was too small, he would be slaughtered by even the weakest soldier.
"I have to fight. I want to fight." He swore.
"Please go back." I pleaded.
"No! I have to. I have to." Tears started streaming down his face, and the boy he was shone through. I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close, allowing to cry into my chainmail. My chainmail.
I gently released him and removed the mail, now all that stood between me and death was just a tunic and my underclothes. I helped the boy pull the chainmail over his head. It was big on him, but covered his chest, arms, and legs.
"Thank you." He said, eyes still glistening with tears.
"I did you a favor so can you do me one?" I asked.
"Yeah anything, but I won't leave."
"Oh no, I wouldn't ask you to do that. I only want you to watch all of our backs. I want you in the back, keep your eyes on the fight and run for help if it looks like we might need help. Can you do that for me?"
"Yeah" His eyes lit up, and he ran to the back of force. The gate gave one final shudder, and it fell to the ground. The imperials swarmed like ants over the wreckage and into the fray. I threw myself forward and was the first blade met. The soldier I locked in combat was obviously untrained. He fought with his entire left side unguarded, I had him dead within seconds. Stepping over his corpse another blade caught mine, and the fight began.
Today I was going to die, but I wasn't going to let my city fall for it. I will die at the end of the fight, after we had the upper hand. I punctured my veil and threw myself forward.
Coming into sharper focus, I noticed that whoever was to my left was faring badly. The soldier above him was continuously swinging down and it wouldn't be long before the rebel's guard broke. I lunged quickly to my side and pierced the man's skull, the rebel nodded his thanks and returned to the fight.
The soldiers were endless, anytime I delivered the killing blow another rose to take their place. I sustained several cuts but was disappointed to see that they weren't life threatening, just annoying.
An arrow flew up from somewhere within the imperials and I raised my hand to guide it to my heart, I tried to forced myself but the arrow refused to budge. It held in it's path until it clanged against the stone wall and fell harmlessly to the ground.
Coward! Coward! I cursed myself silently. The opportunity was prime and I failed, I failed myself, as if that is anything new.
I finished decapitating another nameless set of armor, when a blade caught the edge of my vision. A sword starting flying at my chest and my breath caught. This was it, it would finally happen and I could be free. Just before freedom caught, the man I saved lunged and knocked the tool of my liberation away. I nodded my thanks, silently cursing him.
My arm grew heavy and the magic in my blood ran thin. It was a monumental effort to lift my blade to swipe at the still flowing stream of the imperial legion. The mound of bodies at my feet grew until it stood several meters high, and the imperials had to crawl up and over the bodies of their fallen comrades. I had to give them credit, despite their fear they never slowed or showed apprehension. Most threw themselves to their deaths with flawless grace, a trait I was jealous of.
Finally the swarm yielded, and the number of soldiers decreased drastically. instead of a constant stream, only squads pulled themselves over the mound that nearly rivaled the size of the gate. When they stepped they stepped not on stone, but on flesh and blood. The scene was too gruesome to behold, so I merely focused on my goal and pretended I was a casual observer.
As the last of the men fell, a new form appeared on the hill. A man with strange lumps in his flesh, and a jagged black blade at his side. He threw himself over the hill with ease, and every rebel that came to face him fell too quickly to even attempt to block. He had magic in him it was obvious, and even with heightened senses it was difficult to see his movements. He was a weapon, the sword at his side was merely a tool to sharpen him.
This was my chance, nobody would blame me for falling to this man. He is obviously powerful, and it would be believable that he could dispatch me. I dragged my sword across the ground, its weight too much to bear, and stopped several dozen meters away from the brute, a distance we both could easily cross in a fraction of a second.
I locked eyes with him, and issued a silent challenge. He met my gaze and nodded his acceptance. I extended a hand, and allowed a tongue of flame to dance across it. He did the same. I was correct he had magic in his blood. He extinguished his spell and I imitated him, this would be a battle of metal it would seem.
I lifted the sword one final time, only able to muster the strength with the knowledge that I would never again have to face any challenge. I said a silent prayer that my death would be quick and the souls I had wronged would be kind when I faced them. I held the dark iron blade, gifted to me by Jack, at the ready, and threw myself at my death. He greeted me eagerly.
(Jack's POV)
Something was wrong, something was very wrong. Alice still wasn't letting me through despite my constant efforts. The battle was faring well, and this gate was mostly clear. Overcome with a cold wrenching fear deep within my stomach. I turned to run to Alice.
"Are you capable of holding this gate for a while longer?" I shouted at no one in particular. I heard someone say yes, and threw myself at the eastern gate. Magic fueling my movements every step was worth ten, as the gate loomed closer.
Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay. I prayed. I was probably just being paranoid she's probably fine. tried to convince myself that i was just being crazy, but the fear never settled away. I threw my last bit of energy into running, and the gate came into view. I was just in time, to see an overly large man I had never seen before, knock aside Alice's sword and shove his sword through her heart.
******************************************************************************************************** (Alice's POV)
It hurt, it hurt like nothing I had ever felt before. I expected a short blast of pain then I would quickly fall away, but my damn body just held on. The pain was unendurable, every second I begged for relief, but death seemed so far off.
My vision blurred and I could barely see as the brute yanked his long… ah the word escapes me, from my body. My red draped across his sword and all over the ground. It became harder and harder to focus, why did it hurt so much? I looked down and was surprised to see a large gash in my flesh, my tunic painted dark. When did that happen, who did this?
The world fell a bit darker, and my feet no longer wanted to support me. Another blinding flash of pain and stone bit into my cheek. Why was I on the ground? I didn't care it was the most comfortable I had ever been, the pain was melting away. All I wanted to do was sleep, just sleep forever. I closed my eyes and begged the darkness to take me, it obliged.
Author's note- I have nothing to say here aside from wait for the next chapter, and thank you for reading up to this point. Hang on for just a little while longer.