Chapter 185: A march on Emberfall
The arrow went past his ear and buried itself in the trunk behind him.
"Stop!" The shout came from behind him.
Alistair froze and slowly raised both hands.
"I am not here to fight." He called out.
"Do not move!"
"I said I am not here to fight!"
he repeated.
Several men stepped out from behind the trees. They were dressed in Northern Territory armor and their weapons were already drawn.
For a moment, Alistair wondered if he had made a mistake.
Maybe he should have kept running like he had originally planned.
His plan had been simple; Get as far away from Emberfall as possible.
He should have taken that opportunity and vanished. Instead, he had somehow found himself heading straight toward the Northern camp.
Why?
Even he did not know.
"I need to see Prince Cassian and Prince Damon" he said quickly.
The soldiers exchanged looks.
"Why?"
"I have information."
"What information?"
Alistair hesitated.
He could not exactly stand in the middle of the forest and explain everything.
"You need to take me to them."
One of the men stepped forward then and peered into his face, recognition flashing across his features.
"It is him." He said. "The prisoner who escaped... we have to take him to the princes now."
Alistair sighed in relief.
"Get on the ground."
"That is really not necessary. I have no plans to flee."
The man who had recognized him smirked, signaling behind him. One of the soldiers grabbed his arms and forced them behind his back.
Metal cuffs closed around his wrists.
"Easy." Alistair winced.
"Shut up and move."
Alistair stumbled forward.
The soldiers pushed him toward the camp and to its center where he was shoved unto his knees.
Then the man who had recognized him turned away, walking toward one of the larger tents.
Alistair watched him disappear through the entrance, his heart beat faster with each passing second.
He had no idea what was going to happen.
Just then the tent flap opened and Cassian stepped out closely followed by Damon.
Damon’s expression hardened as soon as his eyes landed on Alistair. He crossed the distance in four strides grabbed a fistful of Alistair’s tunic, lifting him half off his knees.
"Where is my brother?"
"He’s alive." Alistair said it fast. "But he has been captured."
" Captured?" Cassian echoed, coming up beside Damon. "Explain yourself."
The collar was cutting into his throat.
"The feast." He sputtered. "We had worked out an escape plan... It should have worked. It was a good plan and it should have worked but Lucius found it out and he... captured them."
Damon let go of him and Alistair caught himself before his face hit the ground.
"Lucius has him," Cassian said.
"Yes and he doesn’t have much time." Alistair answered.
"How the hell are you here, then?" Damon shot at him.
"I escaped."
"You escaped" Damon scoffed. "And you just happened to escape?"
Alistair looked at him.
"I don’t know how I escaped." He answered truthfully. "The guards were there one moment and suddenly they were unconscious. My cell door opened and I walked out."
Damon stared at him.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"I do not expect you to believe anything." Alistair’s voice rose. "I am telling you what happened. Lucius was going to execute me by dawn for conspiracy and treason against him. I escaped and now I am here to warn you."
Cassian studied him.
"I do not think you are lying."
Damon glanced at his brother but he said nothing to counter him.
"Thank you" Alistair muttered, lowering his head.
"Take him away."
Alistair’s head shot up, his eyes wide.
"No...You need to understand!"
The guards grabbed him.
"You do not have time."
Cassian slowly turned away from.
"Ares does not have time." Alistair’s voice cracked. "Neither does Ayla."
Damon watched as the guards dragged Alistair from the center of the camp and into a tent before turning to Cassian.
"What do we do now?"
Cassian stood very still while his mind raced.
Ares and Ayla were both in danger.
There was no time left for caution or planning.
"We march on Emberfall." He answered. "Round up the men."
...
"What the fuck did you say to me?"
The guard standing before Lucius trembled.
"My lord..."
"Would you care to repeat that?"
The man swallowed.
His mouth opened but nothing came out. The other guards stood behind the man, their faces pale.
Lucius looked at them one by one.
"You said my brother escaped."
The guard nodded quickly.
"Yes, my lord."
"How?"
"We do not know." The man’s voice shook. "We found the cell empty. We have searched the entire palace and we cannot find him."
Lucius rose to his feet and approached the man from behind his desk.
The guard swallowed again, raising his eyes to meet Lucius’ calm ones.
"He is gone, my lord."
Lucius’ hand moved.
The guard barely had time to react before he slashed his throat.
Blood sprayed across the floor as the man fell to his knees and then hit the ground with a heavy thud.
"Does any one of you want to repeat your failure to me?"
Lucius watched them shake their head vigorously.
"Find my brother." He barked. "Or this will be the rest of you."
"Yes, my lord."
They scrambled toward the door.
Lucius began pacing as soon as the door closed behind them. He felt like a bird kept in a cage with the doors open and people just waiting around to clip its wings should it venture outside.
Alistair could not have escaped on his own.
There had been guards everywhere and the prison had been secured. No attacks had happened nor was there any reports of a breach so how had his brother simply vanished from a well secured prison cell?
Before he could finish the thought, an urgent knock sounded on the door.
"Enter."
The door burst open and guard stumbled inside.
His armor was disheveled and his face pale. His eyes widened at the body on the ground, blood already pooling around it.
"What is it?"
"We have received word from the scouts that the northern army are marching on Emberfall as we speak, my lord. They will reach the palace gates soon."
Lucius cursed under his breath.
Of course...Of fucking course.
Alistair had escaped and now the Northern army was marching toward him.
It was too convenient... too perfectly timed. Someone was moving pieces on the board and Lucius hated not knowing who.
"Ring the alarm bells and ready the men." he said. "I want every man who can hold a spear on the wall, every archer on the towers. I want the gates barred immediately."
The guard hesitated.
"My lord, if I may...."
"What?" Lucius snapped.
"The scouts say that their numbers are many and we may not stand a chance... my lord and the people outside the walls in the lower villages. Do I open the gates for them? There is room inside the walls, my lord, if we... they would be better protected in here than out there when it comes... "
Lucius stared at the man, his eyes hard.
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
Like I give a fuck about the people in the lower villages,
Lucius thought, scoffing.
The guard flinched.
"Follow your damn orders." He barked. "Ready every available soldier to defend this palace and if anyone abandons their position, kill them."
The guard nodded rapidly.
"Yes, my lord." He turned and ran.
Lucius stood still for a moment His breathing had become heavy.
The palace was surrounded by enemies... this was it.
He walked back toward his desk and pulled open the drawer. His fingers searched beneath several papers until he found the hidden compartment.
He pressed against it and it opened up to reveal a sword... his father’s sword.
He slowly pulled it out. The blade gleamed beneath the light.
His fingers tightened around the handle as memories of his father pleading for the life of his family right before he was executed flooded his mind.
He had been powerless then, a weak child who could do nothing but watch. He was that boy anymore.
He raised the sword.
"I will cut off all their heads with this." His voice was barely above a whisper.
But first... Ayla.
He needed her by his side now as his shield. They would never risk hurting their little Omega.
Lucius sheathed the sword and buckled it on.
If the Northern princes wanted to come for him, let them.
They would have to go through her first.