ArchadianRose this chapter is for you! Hope you like it!

Chapter Sixteen

Ashelynn was on her way to Bhujerba to visit her father. Judge Gabranth was escorting her. As the airship flew over Dorstonis, Ashelynn tried to engage the Judge in conversation. "You do not say much, Gabranth." She stated.

"Is there something you wish to discuss, My Lady?" He asked.

"I was curious about what led you to becoming a Judge Magister? You seem younger than the other five." She replied. He had removed his helmet on her request as she preferred not to talk to a "face of armor" as she put it.

"I was born in Landis, to an Archadian mother and a Landisian father." Gabranth said, a faraway look in his eyes. "My father was one of the Landisian King's most trusted knights. Basch, my twin, and I were trained from an early age to become knights. When we were seventeen, Archadia invaded Landis."

For years, there had been skirmishes along the borders of Landis but they had never amounted to much. Recently though, the skirmishes along the Landisian/ Archadian border had escalated and there were rumors of an impending Archadian invasion. Suddenly, out of the blue, Archadia declared war on Landis. The Landisian King was given the opportunity to travel to Bhujerba, being a neutral city, to meet with Emperor Gramis of Archadia to work out a peace treaty instead of going to war. The King was to leave in a few days time to travel there. Noah fon Ronsenburg was sitting with some of the other knights, eating a meal and discussing the current situation. Some of the knights felt the peace treaty was good for Landis and would keep Archadia from invading, while others felt it was detrimental to the small republic and would force an alliance with the Empire that would benefit Archadia while destroying Landis.

Their discussions were cut short when a guard came stumbling into the room holding his side. "We are under attack!" The guard warned before he collapsed. One of the knights, a captain, started issuing orders. He divided the knights up into groups, sending some to protect the Queen and Princess and others to protect the King, Noah included. As Noah rushed down the hallways, he wondered where Basch was. Worried for his twin, he said a silent prayer for his brother's safety before coming upon the room where the King was. The knights entered the room and started helping the guards who were already engaged in battle. As he cut down one of the intruders, Noah's father noticed he was there.

"Noah! We can handle this, go protect your mother!" He ordered.

"I have to find Basch!" Noah replied, as his sword impaled an intruder.

"Do not worry about Basch, I have already sent him on another task." The elder Ronsenburg replied. Noah glanced at him, then nodded and fought his way out of the room. He raced to the living quarters that his father and mother shared. He pounded on the door and was relieved when she opened it.

"Forgive me, Mother, but we are under attack. Please come with me, and we can go to the Ronsenburg Estate."

"Where is your father and your brother?" She asked.

"They are fighting. Father asked me to protect you. Please Mother, we have to leave now." He pleaded. She turned around and grabbed a few things, then the two of them raced out of the palace. Noah was surprised how easy it was to leave, there was no one there to stop them. They ran down the street, toward the Ronsenburg residence. As they reached the front door, Noah pounded on it. The maid who opened it, had to quickly step out of the way so she didn't get barreled over. After informing his grandparents of the situation, Noah and his mother sat in the front sitting room as they tried to patiently wait for news.

Noah's stomach was in knots. He kept silently saying the same prayers over and over. Praying for his father's safety and that he would return soon. Praying for Landis. But mostly he prayed for Basch. Through their connection as twins, he was sure his brother was still alive, but he knew he would not stop worrying until he could see him with his own eyes. As the evening wore on, with no news, Noah started getting frantically worried. He started pacing, not able to sit still. Basch, where are you? He tried to telepathically send his thoughts to his twin, hoping for an answer in return. After a little while, he could sense his pacing was upsetting his mother more, so instead he walked over and sat down next to her.

The next day, after a very long restless night, they finally heard the news. The entire royal family had been assassinated. Most of the knights had died trying to defend them, including Noah's father. The ones responsible turned out to be a pro-Archadia group of Landisian dissidents. Any chance at a treaty had died with the royal family. Landis had become the property of the Empire. Over the next few days, Archadia sent soldiers and guards to Landis to help keep the peace. Basch never showed back up, but sent a letter saying he had moved to Dalmasca and was going to find a way to get Landis back from the Imperials. Noah's mother, grieving the loss of her husband, decided she didn't want to stay in Landis anymore, but wished to move back to Archadia to be with her family. Noah, though greatly despising the idea, was not about to desert his mother, especially in her time of grief, so he moved with her. He would be the good son, the one who did not abandon his family. It was at this time, that Noah first felt the anger and hatred toward the one he had loved as a brother, a twin, a best friend.

Please review. Sorry this chapter took longer than expected. I will be putting out new chapters every week or so now. Enjoy!