The trigger started pulling back slow.
I watched that finger on the crossbow tense up.
Everything dragged like time was mocking me or something.
My mind yelled and finally my body moved.
I lunged right at him.
Nothing graceful about it.
No real plan.
Just slammed my shoulder into his full force.
We crashed onto the stone floor hard.
The crossbow twisted away.
Then the bolt shot out.
It hit the wall with this thud.
Dust kicked up close to my face.
My ears were ringing from how near it came.
The guy swore loud and tried shoving me off.
I grabbed his arm scratching like crazy.
Get off he yelled.
Im not my voice broke there.
He hit my ribs hard.
Pain just burst everywhere white hot.
I let out some noise that wasnt even words.
But I held on tight.
Behind us shouts exploded from everyone.
Hest yelling kill her.
Soren saying dont let them.
Kael choking on the ground.
Cassians sword scraping against stone.
And boots pounding too many coming in.
The crossbowman yanked my hair bad.
My head hurt so much.
He got his knee up and pushed me away.
I rolled off gasping holding my side.
He got up quick grabbing another bolt.
Not even glancing my way anymore.
His focus went straight to the cot.
To the Emperor there.
I saw that and felt sick drop in my gut.
No no no.
I snatched the baton again hands shaking bad and swung at his arm.
Hit bone solid.
He screamed out.
The bolt fell from his hand.
That was good at least.
Then something hit me from the side hard.
Another guard not him.
He pinned my arms and shoved me back toward the cot.
The Emperor flinched weak like.
His eyes barely open.
I wanted to yell at them all to stop handling him like some thing.
Hests voice cracked wild now.
Enough shoot him now.
Soren hissed not.
Hest yelled over him NOW.
The crossbowman still holding his hurt arm reached down for that bolt again with the other hand.
I fought against the guard on me.
Bit his wrist.
He yelped pulling back.
I twisted free in that second and pushed him off.
My boots slipped in blood.
Everything slick now great.
Cassian moved fast like a blur.
One moment by the cot.
Next he had the chain guy.
Yanked him close and wrapped the cuff chain around his neck.
The man started gagging.
Drop it Cassian said calm.
The guy flailed choking more.
Cassian pulled tighter.
He went down to his knees.
Cassian dragged him over like a shield between the crossbowman and the cot.
Crossbowman stopped cold.
Because shooting now would hit his own.
Hest screamed like crazy.
Fire anyway.
Crossbowman paused there.
Soren snapped idiot dont.
Hest roared do it.
His hands shook lifting the thing.
Cassians eyes met mine quick.
Like stay down.
I didnt listen.
Pushed up ribs hurting bad shaking.
And I just decided something without thinking.
Im done running I shouted.
My words echoed off the stone.
Everyone turned to look.
I didnt care anymore.
IM DONE I screamed throat burning. You want a story fine here look at your Emperor on that cot like a prisoner.
Hests face twisted ugly.
Gag her.
Soren moved quick.
Grabbed that old cloth gag and came at me.
Cassian saw too late.
Still busy with the shield guy.
I got ready to bite again.
But Soren never reached.
Kael came up from the floor like pain didnt matter grabbed Sorens ankle yanked hard.
Soren fell swearing.
Gag flew away.
Kael coughed blood face all twisted but he said not her.
Soren kicked his face.
Kaels head hit stone crack.
My stomach turned over.
Kael I yelled.
Cassians voice sharp dangerous. Soren.
Soren looked up smiling as he got to his feet.
You cant touch me he said. Not in front of.
Cassian threw the chain guy right at the crossbowman.
Knocked him off balance.
Crossbow hit the ground.
Cassian stepped in.
Guards pulled his chain trying to yank him back.
He didnt resist.
Used the pull spun and dragged that guard down slammed him to wall.
Chain went loose quick.
He grabbed the guys belt.
Keys there.
My eyes went wide.
Cassian took them fast.
Hest saw yelling stop him shrill.
Guards rushed.
Cassian kept low blade ready.
Short moves not big swings.
Not killing everyone.
Just getting free.
He jammed a key in his cuffs.
Click one off.
Then the other.
Hands free now.
My chest hurt tight.
Free Cassian changed things.
Guards hesitated I could see it.
Hests face pale not mad pale.
Scared.
Cassian stepped full in front of the cot sword up.
Eyes cold.
No one touches him.
Hests voice shook angry. Youre a traitor.
Cassian said so are you.
Soren came forward smoother.
Duke he said calm youre making this hard.
Cassian ignored him looked at Hest.
You forged orders Cassian said. Kept the Emperor chained. Advanced executions.
Hest snapped lies.
Cassian glanced at me quick.
Then back.
Tell them what you saw he said to me.
My throat closed up.
Neck still burned from the cut blood sticky down.
I swallowed and stepped forward shaky.
I opened his cell I said loud. He had the key on a chain around his neck like a dog.
Some guards flinched.
Not every one.
Others looked like they knew already.
That hit my stomach again.
How many knew and said nothing.
How many just quiet.
Hest barked shes insane.
I shot back then why try to smother him.
Hests mouth opened then shut.
Soren slid in shes twisting it she broke in attacked His Majesty we caught her.
Stop Cassian said quiet but it cut through.
Soren paused real.
Cassian went to the cot knelt quick.
Leaned to the Emperor.
Not soft not mean.
Like careful with something breakable he wouldnt say was.
Your Majesty speak.
Emperors eyes moved.
Lips parted weak breath.
Hests face tight.
He lifted hand subtle to a guard.
Signal I saw it.
Cassian saw too.
Dont he warned.
Guard stopped.
Hest mouthed something.
Guard stepped once.
Cassians sword up.
Stopped him.
Everyone froze that bad half second.
Then Emperor coughed harder.
Eyes focused a bit.
Lips moved slow.
Word came out rough.
Hest.
Silence total.
Dungeon like holding breath.
Hest white.
Soren still.
Some guards stared at Emperor like ghost.
He whispered clearer shaking.
Traitor.
My gut dropped.
Not that I didnt want it.
I did too much.
Felt unreal kind of.
Like finally cutting right for once.
Hest snapped back roaring hes drugged delirious.
Soren stepped up loud performing.
His Majesty poisoned thats why nonsense.
Blood went cold.
Poisoned.
Flipping it again.
Always do that.
Hest pointed at me.
Its her she forced him.
I stared shaking.
What I choked.
Soren nodded eyes bright.
Yes she threatened.
Cassians voice low deadly.
Try it.
Soren smiled.
Cant fight words with sword Duke you taught that.
Cassians jaw tight.
Kael moved on floor coughing pushing up.
Witnesses get he snarled.
Guard booted his side.
Kael folded noise that turned my stomach.
No I shouted.
Cassians sword flicked knocked the boot away.
Guard stumbled.
Cassian stayed by cot.
Real fight keeping Emperor alive for others to see.
Footsteps outside corridor thundering.
Lots organized.
Not just rush.
Unit.
Hest heard head snapped to door.
Confidence cracked first time.
Soren eyes narrow.
Who did you call he hissed at Kael.
Kael grinned bloody.
Not you.
Door slammed open.
More gold red uniforms.
But black trim crest I didnt know.
Captain stepped up older hard face clean eyes.
Swept the room blood stone Cassian sword me blood throat Kael floor cot Emperor.
His face shifted shock then control.
Captain Rehn Hest called relieved like saved. Arrest Duke Nocten Lady Seraphina Vale regicide kidnapping His Majesty.
Regicide again.
Rehn didnt move.
Eyes on cot Emperors face.
Eyes half open breathing weak but there.
Rehn swallowed.
Looked to Hest then Cassian.
Lord Chamberlain why is His Majesty here.
Hest tight. Emergency security moved for safety.
Cassian laughed cold.
Safety.
Rehns jaw moved.
Soren smooth. Captain traitor Seraphina infiltrated attacked assisted by Duke.
Enough Rehn cut.
Oh.
Not Sorens guy.
Good it seemed.
Rehn to Cassian direct.
Duke why sword drawn in Emperors dungeon.
Because they tried to kill him Cassian flat.
Rehns eyes sharp.
Hest lies.
Cassian kept on like no Hest.
Forged seals advanced executions framed Seraphina silenced witnesses ordered kill her then him.
Rehn to Emperor again then Hest.
Hests face tight.
Listening to traitor executioner understand risk.
Rehn no flinch.
Stepped to cot careful leaned.
Your Majesty confirm.
Emperors eyes flutter lips move.
Weak but voice.
Nocten.
Cassian still.
Rehn to Cassian quick.
Then Emperor whisper.
Protect.
My chest tight.
Protect who me Cassian throne.
Didnt matter Hest heard.
Face twisted shouted Captain Rehn delirious poisoned arrest now.
Rehn slow up.
Looked Cassian me Hest.
Not sure that worst.
Hesitation kills.
Soren to Rehn soft.
Captain hesitate story you joined them.
Rehns eyes narrow.
Cassians sword up bit.
Touch her warned.
Rehn hand up.
Duke stand down.
Cassian no.
One word like before.
Stomach flip.
Rehns men shift weapons ready.
Hests smile small ugly.
Yes split fight then Hest says necessary.
Soren smile rat like.
I couldnt stand it.
Stepped forward shaking raised voice.
I have proof blurted.
Eyes all on me.
Hests smile gone.
Sorens narrow.
Rehns sharp.
Cassians flick dont.
Too late.
Proof not here theyd steal I said fast words mess. Swallowed part Captain Kael has part seal log shows Chamberlains orders forged.
Hest roared admits poisoning.
No I snapped.
Soren she swallowed poison evidence.
Its paper I screamed. SWALLOWED PAPER.
Room quiet beat.
Rehn to Kael floor.
Kael coughed head up slight.
Half in my coat.
Hest sharp kill him.
Two guards move.
Rehns faster block.
Steel half out.
Rehns face hard.
Lord Chamberlain ordered killing His Majestys guard captain.
Hests mouth open shut.
He traitor.
Rehn you named traitor by Majesty.
Hests rage blank.
Sorens smile dead.
Hests eyes to Soren signal.
Soren fast pulled vial sleeve flung to cot.
Blood ice.
Poison.
Cassian slashed it air.
Glass broke liquid spray.
On his sleeve not Emperor.
Cassian looked at Soren not sleeve.
Soren stepped back annoyed.
Rehn seize him.
Chaos guards on guards shouts.
Hest this treason.
Rehn detain Chamberlain.
Hest no authority.
Rehn I HAVE HIS MAJESTY.
Emperor coughed hard body shake eyes flutter.
Looked like stopping.
Throat tight.
No not now not after one word.
Cassian to me low sharp.
Stay with him.
Me I choked.
He didnt say more.
Lunged at Hest to stop not kill.
Hest back guards around.
Soren slipped into mess trying gone.
Rehns chase.
Dungeon bodies orders all mess.
I stayed cot because Cassian said and legs wouldnt move.
Leaned over Emperor hands shake.
Your Majesty stay awake please.
No answer.
Eyes drift breathing thin.
Looked neck chain key still.
Hands tremble touch like wrong.
Throat burn neck burn all burn.
Whispered dont die stupid.
If he did Hest wins Adrian wins I die quiet no stage.
Footsteps close.
Looked up Rehn there face tight blood glove.
To Emperor me Cassian half surrounded Hest shouting.
Rehns eyes narrow.
Lady Seraphina Vale coming with me hard voice.
Stomach drop.
With you.
For protection but sounded arrest.
Hands cold.
Backed step.
Rehns men in chains out.
Not need but like them.
No dont chain I snapped.
Rehns flat.
Accused regicide restrained.
Accused again always.
Looked Cassian.
He turned sharp saw chains eyes ice.
Dont.
Rehn no flinch.
Duke stand down barked.
Cassian forward.
Two block.
Sword up.
Rehns up.
Hest yes fight show Nocten.
Sorens voice laugh monster.
Chest tight.
Trap again Cassian beast me poisoner Emperor delirious.
Swallowed hard.
Decided shaky furious.
Accused anyway be loud forever.
Raised bloody hand shouted Rehn everyone.
Chain me if want I screamed. But say again again till empire hears Emperor imprisoned here.
Rehns face tight.
Nodded men.
Grabbed wrists.
Cold metal snap.
Click click.
Stomach drop familiar.
Turned head to Cassian as yanked from cot.
His eyes locked mine.
Not calm now.
Sharp like blade choosing.
Rehn pulled me corridor.
Behind Hests voice triumph echo.
Take her take regicide traitor.
Then Cassians cut through cold absolute.
Seraphina.
Just name.
Dungeon doors slammed us apart.