Chapter Thirty: The Battle for the Palace of Voices
Aaron while injured fights off all the enemy soldiers. Using his massive sword to slice any enemy that comes near him. Lexi shouts to Aaron as people jump out of the window as the guards are fought off. Leaving an opening to escape. Mass amounts of people squeeze through the large windows, as the grand staircase is still blocked by Chasseur soldiers waving their spears.
The noise is overwhelming it is sure that everyone in the city can hear it. The once nice smell of food is now covered by urine and blood. The buffet tables are destroyed as people use them as a platform for higher ground to fight. As some dragons managed to mag humans to the second story. But it came at a price as it left the dragon vulnerable to back attacks. Many of them were killed with backstabs.
Lei and his countrymen are overwhelmed as Lei orders them to move in the opposite direction. Avoiding as best as they can from getting trampled. Dragons doing run-ups to try and bash through the wall. However, it is ancient materials that are not easily broken through. Leaving some guest bull class dragons bleeding head injuries.
Murray and Marina use their draconium skills to protect themselves. Marina seems to have an amazing time as her smile is very excitable. Murray rolls his eyes as his younger sister loves to have a good fight. Always finding balls boring, she is usually the one who creates mischief.
Queen Avery rips her massive dress skirt off so she can now move freely without her maids. Pushing Gauthier off the platform with both of her hands, she pulls out a dagger and tries to stab him. He holds her off as the dagger tip slowly closes in on his face. His personal butler attempts to tackle the queen and one of her maids takes the hit. The butler's dagger pierces into her torso the woman collapses in pain. Dying from blood loss as Avery screams with anger.
Her other handmaidens stab the butler to death. The servants in complete frenzy kept stabbing him even after he is dead.
"What have you done Gauthier?" Avery questions with her heavy accent. Tears swelled in her eyes as her husband lies underneath her.
"I want to stay King!" Gauthier laughs as he looks into his wife's eyes. "I will not be a victim to our silly games. Especially yours!" He then Kicks Avery back. The queen falls backward as he tries to stab her.
"Come on my beloved wife!" He screams. "You are still playing the game!" With a quick grasp, he gets Avery's ankle and drags her. She screams as she tries to shake him off. He slashes her leg as she screams in pain.
Her handmaidens try to grab the King but Black Empire soldiers slit their throats. Avery wails with sadness as they all group up on her.
Mali looks up he notices the queen in danger. Without a moment of thought he rushes in to save her. Never skilled with physical combat, he grabs a nearby blocking staff sneaks up to the King and hits him behind the legs. The king falls down in pain. Mali hits him over and over again. Leaving the King bleeding on his head.
"Little man?" The queen asks surprised. "You saved me?" As she tries her hardest not to laugh from embarrassment. Then breaking she laughs as Mali rolls his eyes. Wanting to say he could have just left her to be killed.
"Yes..." Mali replied. He does not like her. But they need her... He tends to her leg wound as Stein stands to protect them both. Stein having a hard time as many people mistake him for one of the King's men. People and dragons attacked him left and right. He had no choice but to remove his helmet. The old priest prayed to Gaia that Iolene managed to get away safely. Seeing Aaron use his abilities to lift her above the second-floor balcony. She should be well on her way back to Mercer Mansion.
The fighting continued on as Aaron decided to go against the Chasseur soldiers. Counting thirty of them. To Aaron's relief, they do not have the extra strength edge Iqosha soldiers have. Lexi and other red priests arrive to help him as they use their fire powers to burn them alive. The black Empire soldiers flee the palace from the window.
It is becoming obvious that the king's men are slowly becoming outnumbered. To Lei's relief as he stabs another soldier with his spear.
The Queen's personal guards surround the King. Gauthier raises his hands in surrender as he laughs.
The ballroom is covered with blood and corpses. As it looks like a complete massacre. There are at least a hundred humans and dragons dead.
The palace becomes quiet as everyone settles. Aaron sits on the floor due to exhaustion. Breathing heavily, he rubs his hair as it is coated in blood.
Stiletto enters the room as she finds Aaron. "Hello, good thing you are still alive..." Herself covered in blood. "I managed to get to Evelyn. The dumb dragon refused until she heard the screaming next door. Chasseur soldiers arrived and managed to kill quite a few dragons. But they were quickly outmatched. Evelyn then led all the dragons out of the building."
"Could have been better without the mass killings..." Aaron said with sadness. He hated killing people and dragons, but when it came to it he will do it to survive.
"Yes... Well... I'm looking at the scene. Many Mordecai members are dead." Stiletto says with a hint of sadness. "Should have sided with the Queen stupid fools." She grabs a nearby plate and smashes it on the ancient marble floor.
Lei, Lexi, Mali, and Stein see Aaron and look down on him as he sat. Worn out as they all notice the Black Empire members have fled. Including the gold, purple and green citizens.
Constant and Eidith tend to the queen. Eidith is shy of words as this is her queen. Becoming shy all she can say is "my queen..." Sounding so worried Avery holds her hand. Constant helped fix up the Queen's appearance. Avery looks down at her deceased handmaidens, shedding a few tears for them as they lie dead on the floor.
The queen's faithful servants come to apprehend the king. Tying him up and making him stand. The king still looked proud as he felt he did no wrong.
Nuria is with Prince Elias as they all look cut and bruised. Lexi hugs Nuria as she is happy she is safe. The Red Prince and his followers leave the ballroom. Wanting to leave Mille Voix as quickly as possible.
"Something doesn't seem right..." Lei spurts out.
"The King lost the fight..." Stiletto points out.
Lexi raises an eyebrow as she doesn't know who this woman is. Aaron doesn't even introduce her to them. Not knowing her name made her on edge. Suspecting she is a Mordecai agent.
"Well yes, he lost..." Lei continues on. "There were Black Empire soldiers at the start of the fight. When the King was beaten they all left without a thought... Where did they go? Even the other lords and ladies who are affiliated with the Black Empire are gone."
Everyone turns their heads as Beau and Iymp enter the ballroom. Both gasping in shock, it is a massive murder scene. Iymp almost Slipped on someone's blood. Iolene reawakening on Beau's back. Her eyes open as she sees the ballroom.
"IOLENE!" Aaron gets up quickly and runs to her. "What happened!?" He asks urgently to her. Her dress is ripped as she is filthy and looks as if she ran several kilometers in the wilderness.
"Seriously Beau..." Aaron says annoyed. "You brought her back here? She should be in Mercer Mansion." Aaron pats Iolenes' back as she is waking up. She groans as she finally awakes.
"We saved her!" Iymp tells Aaron. "We returned because it went quiet and... We wanted to make sure you lot are okay." Iymp says softly in the last part as if he didn't want them to hear it.
"Aaron you okay?" Iolene asks. "You had a big fall..." She says tiredly.
"Sore but I'll be alright," Aaron says cheerily. Iolene smiles as she sits up with her back cracking. She felt so stiff she could be a doll.
Stiletto walks up and gives Iolene a good look, giving Aaron a little nod. As he gives Stiletto a little nod back.
Beau lowers himself so Iolene could get off him. "Thank you... Both of you." Iolene tells the dragons gratefully while smiling sweetly. Dragons chuff in reply. She notices Fred has not joined them. He is waiting outside the main entrance with Duryss.
"Aaron!" The queen demands. Aaron abidingly approaches the queen, kneeling to her as she demanded to reveal any other information. Stiletto follows Aaron and begins the information. Gauthiers love affair with a slave. As Stiletto spoke of her Gauthiers face changed into seriousness, but to Gauthier and Aaron's relief, she does not mention the mistress's name.
The Queen tries her best to remain calm. Her white face make-up hid her reddened face. She instead slaps Gauthier's head, leaving a massive red handprint on his cheek. "Kill me all you want... But fucking a slave is too much." Avery said seething. Aaron then reveals the dealings of the Black Empire. She laughs hard as she wondered how he afforded the new massive wing in his mansion.
"Stein, there is something you need to know," Iolene says desperately as she holds onto his sleeve. Now remembering what happened with the Black Empire soldier. Iolene is curious as to what happened to him. Only overhearing from Iymp that the soldier fled. The attack overwhelmed him as Beau and Iymp focused on getting Iolene away from the scene. There is now a nice crater where her mag explosion happened.
The Queen stands as she shouts that the King will be executed in the square. Interrupting Iolene as she looks up at Stein. Everyone then begins to follow the Queen and King.