KGWrites

Alyx

The Winter District, Kingdom of Aldiron

Alyx’s boot splashed in a puddle in the churned mud of the street, sending it splattering up her leg. She ground her teeth in frustration as she felt the cold water begin seeping through her clothes but kept her head down and kept moving forwards. Ahead of her and somewhere off to the left, James was also moving through the crowd, Lillian by his side.

They were moving towards the edge of the Autumn District, towards an inn that, according to some sailors who James had loosened the lips of with a few drinks, had some rich merchant staying in it. Apparently, they’d come in on the ship, boasting about the wealth they had. And even better, the man apparently only had one guard, and a fat, lazy guard with a love of wine at that. To the Cobalts and their new ward, the opportunity couldn’t be ignored.

It had been a hard month since Lillian had joined Alyx and James. For the first few days, the three of them had laid low, at least until Spyder’s immediate response was tempered. But after that, they’d only managed to get a couple of days of bartering and nights of sneaking into warehouses on the dockside before the Winter District had been filled with the city guard.

They’d arrived late one night as Alyx had been helping Lillian with climbing, teaching her to find handholds and trust her grip. What seemed like an army of armoured soldiers sweeping down into the streets of the Winter District and flooding through it. They accosted people in the streets, getting names and business and seemed unafraid to turn people home if they didn’t trust their word. Or worse, arrest them when they resisted. And those they arrested were dragged up the hill, up to the palace dungeons, far from Winter and any hope of rescue.

It had taken Alyx and Lillian nearly two hours to get home, dodging the patrols and sticking to the shadows. They’d had it easy compared to James though. James had been outside the city walls, stealing from a trader’s wagon in one of the stables along the north road. He hadn’t made it home until halfway through the next day, hiding in the back of a cart of manure to get through the gates. Even these new zealous guards weren’t keen to poke through the stinking piles, though once he’d gotten home Alyx had turned him straight around to the bathhouse.

But between tensions of Spyder Xeros’ men now roaming the district more openly and the growing number of guards on the streets willing to arrest anyone if given any opportunity, the Winter District stood upon a knife edge. Already there’d been plenty of clashes between the various criminals and the guards. Now the whole district seemed to be holding its breath, watching and waiting. Waiting for someone to die.

Alyx snapped her head up, pulled from her thoughts, as she heard the metal clank of armour moving out of a junction behind her. The crowd was big enough that singling her out would be almost impossible, but still, she didn’t want to give them a chance to stop her. She kept moving, weaving through the people around her until finally, the muddy streets started to feel more like solid stone beneath her boots as the Winter District finally let her leave, out into the Autumn.

She followed the wide street of uneven cobbles until the Spring Stairs came into view, rising up above the buildings around to the inner gates to the upper districts. Alyx turned towards them, heading a short way through the streets until she reached a small inn, rested up against the foot of the inner wall. Light spilled onto the street from the open door, blending with the bright orange of the setting sun. But despite the open door, it was clear the inn was anything but busy. No voices or laughter came from within, and only a few silhouetted figures could be seen through the windows.

Alyx stood and looked at the building a moment, scanning each window, trying to work out which one their merchant was staying in. From outside it was hard to tell, but soon there’d be a chance to sneak in with drinking sailors and find the room directly. Alyx turned and walked away from the inn, ducking into an alley and weaving backwards to a small yard between buildings. The yard held a well, likely the source of water for any homes or businesses in the area but judging by the amount of ivy and other plants wrapped around the stones, as well as the fact that the rope that once held the bucket for drawing water had rotted and snapped, it likely wasn’t used by anyone anymore.

“Thought the guard had grabbed you on the way through Winter.” James’ voice came from the corner of the yard. Alyx turned to face her brother, finding him sat in the shadows of the buildings around him, Lillian standing next to him, kicking at the dirt.

“I had to move around some people, stay out of their way, but I didn’t have any problems.” Alyx told him, moving over to sit next to him, sliding her back down the wall and resting her arms on her knees. With the two of them in dark clothing, the shadows blended around them, and they disappeared from the yard.

James let out a hum next to her, pulling at the fingers of the glove on his right hand. Two of them sat strangely, rigid compared to the others. Inside his glove, James had small sticks, designed to look like fingers. They didn’t help him with movement or gripping, in fact they were often more hindrance than help. But people remembered a man missing two fingers, and there weren’t so many of those in the Winter District. So, if he did get caught, better to look like everyone else. Alyx knew that it was uncomfortable though, that the sticks caught on the scar tissue on the stumps of his missing fingers. So, she didn’t envy her brother having to wear the gloves.

“Lil,” James started, turning his attention from his gloves to Lillian. “What did you see when you looked at that inn? What problems might we have?”

The girl thought for a while, twisting a lock of her hair around her fingers. It was still long and messy, Alyx and James had quickly learned taming it would require more skill, and equipment, than they had on hand. So, they’d cut away the worst tangles and dirt matting and taught her to keep it tied up. Even then though it still managed to look wild around her face. Eventually she seemed to settle on an answer.

“I don’t like it. It’s a very quiet inn.” She told them, a nod of her head indicating she was confident in her answer. James gestured for her to continue.

“So, what problems might that cause us?” He asked.

“It’s easier to notice us if there’s less people there. More people will be able to see us plan and move.” She said, still sounding certain. Alyx nodded her head, impressed. They were only a month into training Lillian, but she’d taken a lot of her lessons to heart. Before long the little pickpocket would become a capable thief.

“Good. So how would you approach getting in, getting what we need and getting out again then?” James asked her and Lillian looked up to the sky, thinking. Alyx briefly glanced to her brother, who gave her a smile, before watching Lillian, waiting for her response. They hadn’t gotten to teach her this part yet. This was by far the most ambitious theft they’d planned since taking her in, so she hadn’t learned all of the tricks needed to plan it. Alyx was curious to see what she said.

“I would… wait for night? Use the darkness to find a room and climb in from outside. Then I’d find the room I need and get in, steal the money and head out the door from inside, like I’d been there all along.” Lillian said after a while. At first, she’d sounded unsure, but had seen her plan taking shape and talked herself into believing it. And it was a good plan, Alyx could see that. But it had some holes that snuck by Lillian in her planning.

“Be careful Lillian,” She warned. “Talking yourself into believing one plan is completely foolproof and the only way to do things without thinking about what might go wrong is how we end up in shackles.”

Lillian sagged, her blue eyes, which had been waiting from approval from her mentors, turned to the floor in defeat. Alyx sighed and clicked her tongue.

“It’s not the worst plan.” She began, causing Lillian to look back up at her with renewed hope. “But the problem with sneaking into an inn like that is that without being inside, or looking in through every window, finding an empty room to sneak into is much harder than doing the same with a trader or warehouse.”

“And in an inn, everyone goes to bed in those rooms, but it’s not like home where you’re more relaxed. A shadow passing by the window might be more noticed by people away from their own beds.” She continued. Lillian sat down against the well in the centre of the yard, listening carefully to the lesson.

“Now let’s say you make it in, that you find your mark and that you get back out of their room without waking them. You could go back to the room you snuck in and sneak out. But out is often harder than in. You don’t see as much, so there could be people outside that could spot you. And if you try the door, with things as quiet as they are in there right now? I’ll bet tomorrows supper on the fact that the innkeeper knows the faces of every guest they’ve had. They’ll know you don’t fit.” Alyx finished, her words causing Lillian to deflate further, disheartened by getting her plan wrong.

“Your plan might work if the inn was bigger or busier.” James reassured her. “But with this one, we’re going to take a much simpler approach.”

“What?” Lillian asked, her voice keen and excited, ready to get to work.

“Go in through the front door.” James told her simply, standing and brushing down his front. “Grab a drink in the inn like anyone walking the roads at night, find the merchant and then one of us will slip off and grab the money.”

“But, won’t the innkeeper notice when one of us goes missing? Just like with my plan?” Lillian asked and James grinned.

“If the rest of us time asking him for drinks right and keep his eyes on us with a conversation, then no. But that’s the real trick here. We need to keep him focussed on us.”

Lillian nodded, taking in the plan while Alyx stood next to her brother, rolling her shoulders and stretching out her muscles. Even with a plan as well practiced as theirs was, it paid to be ready to run.

They waited a half hour more or so, letting the sun dip further and the last fishing boats arrive in the harbour. The sailors often found taverns and inns to drink or eat at after arriving, and more than a few seemed to have a preference for this particular inn. A number of men trailed into the inn, not enough to make it busy, but enough that three more would be harder to notice.

Seeing their chance, the three quickly emerged from the alley, moving in sync with one another as they crossed the street and entered into the inn.

Inside, the building wasn’t as warm as Alyx had expected, no fire burned in the hearth and the only lights were braziers hanging from the high ceiling of the main room and a small lantern sat upon the bar itself. And it appeared the sailors that had entered had somehow managed to quickly leave again. Only about fifteen or so men sat around the room, scattered across tables. Some little piece of Alyx’s mind awoke, sending shivers across her body and making the hairs on her arms stand on end. Something didn’t quite feel right.

The atmosphere of the inn was exactly what was expected, jovial laughter and voices raised in the way only alcohol can raise them. The people around the tables paid no attention whatsoever to the three as they entered and crossed to the bar. And yet, Alyx thought as she leaned on the countertop, maintaining her casual look as best she could, it doesn’t seem right.

Exchanging a glance with her companions confirmed they felt the same way. Lillian’s blue eyes darted around the room, making her seem a skittish little animal looking for an escape route. James’ expression was harder to read, but Alyx knew it well enough that she knew he was worried. His eyes were wide, like he was trying to take in the whole room, and his mouth flattened into a grimace.

Alyx was about to quietly suggest to her brother that they just leave when the barman, a short fat man with grey beginning to take over his red beard, all but confirmed her fears.

“Be right with you for drinks folks, just need to open a new cask.” He said, a little too hurriedly, before he opened the cellar hatch and all but leapt into it. No self-respecting innkeep leaves his taphouse unwatched, not unless he knows it’s more trouble to stay put.

She and James turned from the bar in unison as the door to the inn was closed with a thud. Now the people here were paying attention. Every single one of them. A woman from the group at the nearest table, who had apparently been halfway through a game of cards, stood and began laughing. It was a low, rumbling sound, like the beginnings of an avalanche.  

“You actually thought a rich merchant was going to come stay in this shitehole of a bar?” She asked, her tone mocking and harsh. James shrugged, stepping in front of Lillian and rolling his neck around on his shoulders, stretching out.

“Stranger things have happened, this is Aldiron.” He replied, his voice calm. Alyx looked from her brother to the room. He must have been planning something, there was no way they could win a fight like this. She turned her gaze to the room at large, taking in their enemy.

Seventeen people stood around the room, in long sailors’ leather coats and thick wool. Disguises, Alyx now realised. Most stood before them in the room itself, barring a squat, wide man at the bottom of the stairs to the upper floor and a wiry, snake looking woman by the door. Many of them held wooden clubs, reinforced with metal plates running up their length.

Too many to fight. She thought, when she suddenly became aware of a light scratching sound, drawing her gaze down to the bar. James was resting his three fingered hand behind him on the wood and moving his fingers across it. They were moving away from each other in a simple, curving motion, before pointing towards the back of the inn and repeating the motion.

The message was clear. Door, in the back.

So James did have a way out after all.

Alyx turned back to the room, all the disguised patrons were on their feet now and advancing forwards, a pack of dogs that had cornered three cats.

“You’ve got a debt of coin owed to Mr Xeros little lady.” The woman that had spoken earlier said to Lillian, who ducked further behind her two guardians. Then the woman turned her gaze to Alyx. “You, he says we’re to fuck up. Then take you to see him, so he can break you worse.”

“Figures he wouldn’t have the balls to come himself.” Alyx growled, making James snort out a laugh next to her, though one without happiness to it.

“And you three-fingers. Mr Trident says he wants a catch-up word after so long apart.” The woman continued, pointing her club at James.

Alyx’s blood froze in her veins, and she looked to James, who had also stopped moving. His eyes were wide, his mouth hanging open slightly and his right hand was shaking rapidly. Quickly, Alyx dropped one hand down, brushing her knuckles against her brothers. I’m still here James, he’s not got us yet.

“He’ll have to wait. We’ve got very busy schedules.” Alyx replied, taking over speaking for her brother, who clearly didn’t seem up to it at that moment. “Starting with sending you back to Spyder in boxes.”

The woman across from them sighed, turning her head slightly to look back to her men. Then she tilted her head towards the three of them in a simple gesture.

“Fuck ‘em up.” She said, and hell broke loose.

The men surged forwards and Alyx hooked her foot between the legs of a barstool next to her, kicking out and sending it tumbling across the floor towards the oncoming attackers. It hit one man in the shins, and he tumbled forwards over it, his face hitting the wooden planks of the floor with a crunch that didn’t bode well for his nose. The next man behind him dodged over the chair but landed atop his compatriot, slamming him back down to the floor and causing the second man to stumble and falter.

Behind her, Lillian jumped upwards, kicking off a barstool and rolling over the bar. Once on the ground again, she found a bottle of something behind the bar, lifted it by the neck and threw it as hard as she could. It spun through the air and smashed directly into the face of the woman that had spoken, sending her sprawling onto her back and showering those around her in alcohol and broken glass. Alyx heard her start screaming in a way that told Alyx some of that broken glass had found a mark on something vital on the woman’s face.

James also vaulted the bar, coming to his feet on the other side and sprinting to the lifted partition of the bar. Using his leg, he slammed the lower section into place and then he slammed down the raised bar top piece, hitting a charging man in the temple and driving him to his knees. The man kept one hand gripping the corner of the bar where the partition met though and began hauling himself back up. Until James slammed the partition down again. Once, twice, three times. With a solid crunch that could only mean his opponent now possessed a thoroughly broken hand, James locked it into place, efficiently locking off pursuit.

Alyx now faced the problem of being alone on the enemy side of the bar. And unlike the others who had dived over while their attackers had been further away, she had stupidly attacked before getting clear.

And now the snake looking woman from the door was in her face, swinging one of those brutal looking clubs.

Alyx threw her upper body backwards, hearing the air above her head whoosh as the club passed just a hair’s breadth from her nose.

But doing so overbalanced her and her back hit the bar, causing her to stumble, catching herself with her elbows on the bar. Which left her no room to dodge the woman’s follow up punch.

The woman’s fist hit Alyx just below her right eye, rocketing her head around and making her eyes stream with tears. Quickly though, she adjusted, throwing her entire body around after her head, following it in a graceless tumble over the bar top.

As she rolled, Alyx lashed out with her leg in a kick which connected with… something. Alyx didn’t know exactly what it was, but guessing from the grunt of pain it resulted in, she’d at least landed a good blow.

Then her momentum carried her over the bar and brought her crashing down onto the floor on the other side, knocking the wind from her.

She lay there a second, gasping in air and blinking her vision clear. Until she felt something tugging at her shoulder. Shaking her head, Alyx looked up to see Lillian pulling her to her feet. Get up Cobalt, the little girl’s still going, you’ve no excuses.

Groaning, she pushed herself upwards, turning her head to look at what was happening with the fight.

James currently had one of the attackers by the collar of his woollen tunic and was slamming his forehead into the man’s nose, bursting it open in a bright flower of scarlet. Then he threw the man backwards, sending him stumbling into his allies behind him and leaving three of them sprawling onto the ground.

But already others were beginning to reach the bar and climb over. And as Alyx watched, the woman that had spoken appeared at the partition, her face streaming tears of red and her left eye hidden beneath a crimson patch and a large shard of dark brown glass. Snarling in rage she reached down and fumbled at the partition’s lock, trying to undo it but struggling with her newly lost depth perception.

They’ll be on us before we get anywhere near the back door. Alyx realised, looking around desperately for anything she could use to even the odds.

Which is when she saw the small casks, sat upon the bar at one end. Somewhere where patrons normally would be able to refill their own tankards rather than waiting for the innkeeper.

Her body seeming to move and react to the plan before her mind had even fully formed it, Alyx threw herself forwards at a big man halfway through hauling himself over the bar.

With one hand she grabbed the club in his hand just above where he held it. Her other hand gripped the side of his head, her thumb finding his eye and pressing down. She wasn’t positioned enough to do damage, but still, it made him panic.

His hand flailed at her wrist, trying to push her off. Which caused him to lose his balance and allowed Alyx to smack his head down onto the bar.

His grip slackened on the club and Alyx quickly pulled it from his hand, letting his head go and letting him slide backwards off the bar and down to the floor again.

Then she quickly tossed the club into her other hand and brought it down in a blow that shattered the side of the cask, causing ale to spill out across the bar top.

Next to Alyx, Lillian had worked out what the plan was and as soon as Alyx had stepped back from the now alcohol soaked bar, she’d lifted and thrown the lantern from the bar onto the wood. It shattered and with a roaring whoosh that seemed to suck the very breath from Alyx’s lungs, the bar became a wall of blazing orange.

Most of the fighters in the bar had been far enough away to avoid the flames and simply stood dumbstruck as the fire burst up along the bar. A few who had been climbing on the bar threw themselves backwards onto the floor in panic, rolling and flailing at their clothes to put out lingering flames.

But there were a couple that were very unlucky, having been soaked in whatever spirit Lillian had thrown at the fight’s beginning. When the fire’s hungry spread found them, it found a ready and easy meal, leaping across their bodies with eager abandon. Quickly, the two men became bright dancing lights, consumed entirely in the flames as they screamed and thrashed, trying in vain to escape.

Alyx didn’t see what became of them, but she knew the sounds they made would be hard to forget. And the smell would be even harder.

Nodding a quick thanks to Lillian, Alyx looked around to her brother, in time to see James stumble backwards and crash against the wall as the blood soaked leader slammed her club into his chest.

Everything stopped. Even the flames rushing across the bar seemed to hold in place as Alyx stared.

James gasped for air, his chest rising and falling rapidly, never seeming to find the breath to catch. Blood trickled out the side of his mouth. His hands scrambled across the floor, his feet trying to get under him. Panic was clear in his wide hazel eyes as he tried anything to get away from his attacker.

There were no thoughts. No words or plans. Alyx wasn’t even sure she was in control of her body as she felt herself hurl forwards with a scream of primal rage.

Ahead of her, the woman looked up in surprise, preparing to meet her new attacker.

Too late.

Alyx Cobalt collided with the woman, driving her knee into her stomach and bringing the club she held around in a wide arc that caught the woman’s elbow. The joint shattered and the woman stumbled backwards, away from James and smacked into the bar, her alcohol-soaked clothing already beginning to flare and light.

But she didn’t burn, she wasn’t going to get the time.

Still screaming in rage, Alyx brought her left hand up and threw it palm first onto the piece of broken glass jammed in her eye, driving it deep, though equally Alyx embedded it into her own palm.

She didn’t feel the pain. Not yet.

As the woman screamed in agony, her arm hanging limp, her eye destroyed and flames beginning to lick up her body, Alyx swung the club one final time in a wide, overhead swing that brought it down onto the crown of the woman’s head. With a dull, wet thud, the ridged metal plates broke bone and stuck, leaving the club strangely embedded in the woman’s head.

Her remaining brown eye looked at Alyx with a look of confusion, before it faded to a glassy blank look and she dropped backwards through the partition, disappearing through the wall of orange.

It took a second before Alyx’s mind caught up with all that had just happened. Blinking, she looked down at her left hand, slick with her own crimson blood. She ran through what she’d done, understanding it.

Alyx had never killed someone else before. But that wasn’t something she could afford to think about now.

Clenching her bloody hand into a fist with a moan of pain, Alyx reached down and hauled her brother to his feet, looping one of his arms over her shoulders. Then she began to run, dragging James with her.

Ahead of her, the evening light suddenly spilled into the smoke choked inn as Lillian dived through the back door. A second later, Alyx and James followed, spluttering and choking as they stumbled into the inn’s back yard.

Looking back inside, Alyx saw nothing but orange flames and black smoke, at least no one would be following this way. And hopefully in the chaos it would take them a while to unlock the doors again.

Next to her James’ chest convulsed as he took ragged, coughing breaths, steadying himself. Then he spat and the glob that hit the ground was thick and red. Alyx grimaced and made ready to carry him again. They couldn’t stay here.

“Lil. Go. Get home. Move!” James croaked out, his voice harsh and coming between deep breaths. Lillian shook her head firmly.

“No. You’re hurt. I won’t leave you.” She said. Alyx’s temper flared.

“Damn it Lillian just fucking listen! You can move fast, we can’t. But I can’t watch James in a fight and protect you as well.” Alyx yelled, hooking James’ arm around her shoulder again and dragging him towards a gate at the side of the yard that led into the alley next to the inn.

“You’ve helped plenty. Help us now by keeping yourself safe.” She continued, pushing her tone to be softer and more reassuring. Lillian stiffened, her blue eyes brimming with tears. But she nodded. Then she hurried forwards, moving through the alleyway at a sprint and disappearing into the street.

“See you at home.” Alyx said softly. She wasn’t sure if she was saying that for Lillian or herself, considering the girl couldn’t hear her. Pulling James with her at a jog, Alyx emerged onto the street as well. Looking ahead, she saw Lillian had already become a distant speck, getting lost amongst the warren of the Winter District. The girl could move really fast when she needed to.

“I suppose telling you to listen to your own advice wouldn’t help?” James asked next her with a chuckle that quickly devolved into a coughing fit.

“Fuck off.” Alyx replied sternly, doubling her grip on her brother as she led them down the street past the now smoking inn.

They were only a short ways past the building when the door burst open and the snake like woman and two of the other thugs emerged. They were blackened with ash and coughing, but they quickly locked onto the fleeing siblings like hunting dogs catching a scent.

“Ready to run again big brother?” Alyx asked as more of their attackers began emerging from the inn. James groaned next to her and straightened up, one hand clutching his side and his eyes hardening to steel.

Then the chase began. Dodging and weaving through the crowds of the Autumn District, Alyx led them along the foot of the inner wall, taking the quickest route towards Winter and the network of streets and alleys she could find.

Luckily, it seemed that being caught in the fire had taken a toll on their pursuers too, as they never seemed to be gaining ground. But there was only so long this could go on, Alyx knew. Eventually they’d hit a crowd, or a dead end, or James’ injuries would slow him down enough and they’d be on them again. She needed a plan for when that happened.

It was in that haze of trying to figure a plan that the Cobalt siblings rounded a corner and ran full tilt into a team of armoured city guards.

With cries of surprise, Alyx, James and one of the guards tumbled into the dirt. Alyx lost her grip on her brother and rolled, miraculously managing to get her feet under herself again and coming back to a standing position.

And face to face with the dark-skinned guard commander that she’d encountered with Iona some weeks before. Haster, she remembered Iona had called him.

His eyes narrowed in confusion and Alyx could see that he had half drawn his longsword from his sheath, but he’d stopped himself with the confusion of recognising the woman that had collided with him and his men. Then his eyes widened again in recognition, and he took a half step back.

“You. You’re the one that helped the Princess before.” He said in realisation before taking her in fully. Blood and ash covered, stinking of smoke and alcohol and dashing with abandon through the streets, Alyx found it hard to think of a more suspicious image. Gods, she hoped Iona had put in a very good word.

“Yes, yes I am. And we really need to get moving. Sorry for running into you like this.” She said, forcing her most charming smile despite her heart hammering so hard it felt like it was between her ears. But Haster shook his head in disbelief.

“Now hang on a moment. You both seem in a hurry, and badly injured. Why not tell us what’s going on?” He asked, his tone reasonable and almost concerned sounding. But no matter what, he was still a city guard, and they didn’t help Winter rats. Alyx looked back to the corner, but there was no sign of their pursuers yet. Still…

“I don’t have time for this.” She said firmly, trying to push against Haster’s chest and get to James who was just coming to his feet, breathing heavily. But Haster didn’t budge, and one gauntleted hand closed like a firm vice around Alyx’s wrist. He pulled her hand away, leaving a bloody handprint on the breastplate of his armour and looked down at her, drawing himself up to his full height.

“You’ll make time for us.” He replied, his voice making it clear he would not be questioned. His eyes had hardened, and his expression had become unreadable.

Alyx’s mind raced. Any moment now, their assailants would come around the corner, and stuck here with the guards, they were sitting ducks. There would be no fleeing to a safe refuge. Unless…

She looked down at James and caught his gaze, shrugging slightly in apology for what she was about to do. James’ brow furrowed as he looked back at her, confusion clear on his face. But she turned back to Haster, smiling sadly at him.

“Sorry.” She said simply.

And then she punched Lord Captain Haster in the face as hard as she could.

Even as Haster stumbled back from her, Alyx felt her wrists seized and was driven forwards, smacking down into the mud face first. A second later, James joined her there. His eyes searched hers in panicked confusion and, when they found a resolved confidence in hers, he seemed to relax somewhat. Alyx was glad he trusted her that much. She wasn’t sure she did.

There was a click and suddenly heavy weights tightened around Alyx’s wrists as shackles were snapped into place. Then she and James were hauled back to their feet in time to hear Haster bark orders to his soldiers.

“Get them to the dungeons, now!”

As the guards fell into formation around them, Alyx found herself separated from James by an armoured figure, leaving her unable to see her brother. Looking around though as they were dragged forwards through the streets though, she did catch sight of the snake looking woman and her thugs watching from an alley, rage plain on her face. But they were certainly not equipped, nor willing, to take on a unit of guards. Which is what Alyx had been counting on.

Yes, they were battered and bleeding. They didn’t know if Lillian was at home safe, or even if she’d gotten away at all. And they were being dragged towards an uncertain fate in the palace dungeons in chains.

But for another day at least, the Cobalts were still alive.

And for now, that would do.