Arc 6: Chapter 21: Battle of the Fulgurkeep (2)
As I stood and let Hendry tend to Emma, Vander saw me and marched closer. He was covered in blood, some of it his own from a shallow wound above his brow.
“Where have you been?” He demanded with barely controlled anger. “I expected you at court before…”
He bit off his words, glaring around at the scene. His gaze shifted to the figure at my side, still bagged and silent. His eyes narrowed. “Is that…”
“It’s a long story,” I interrupted him. “And there’s no time for it now. Who else is with you?”
Vander shook his head, his brow furrowing. “Ser Moonbrand from the Empress’s household, some members of Lord Oswald’s retinue, and about twenty palace guard. I’ve also got a handful of tourney knights and more than thirty non-combatants, including dignitaries and castle staff. Most of those we rescued on our way here. People are scattered around the whole fortress.”
“I saw auratic banners on the Empress’s Bastion,” I told him.
He nodded. “We came from there. The Emperor is alive. He sent me back into the main castle to gather as many survivors as I could and bring them to him. He’s directing a resistance, but we took losses when this all started.”
His voice darkened. “Heavy losses.”
“And the Empress? Her sons?”
“Unaccounted for. If she’s alive, I believe Her Grace is probably in the upper levels. They’re easier to defend, and this fog seems less thick up there for whatever damned reason. That’s where I ended up when we were all scattered.”
He fixed his attention on me. “Explain where you’ve been, Ser Alken.”