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Chapter 30: The Riot

Seuthu knew that the best place to cause trouble was right under Besegrare's nose. Unfortunately for her, not even her rank would matter if the king was present. The guards would listen to their king before they'd listen to their captain. Maybe there were a few who'd follow her... Byra, maybe, and perhaps Weihl. It was hard to predict if Weihl would listen to her. Even if he didn't there would be a few others. But it wouldn't be many, and certainly not enough.

Here in the People's Keep, out of the eyes of the king, she could be almost as effective.

"I don't get it," Thiall had said. "How is this going to work? Why don't we make a scene in the Main Keep?"

"It's just an early incident," Seuthu had reminded her. "If we want to take Besegrare down, we'll need something bigger. This has hardly been planned, so it's not going to remembered as any sort of inciting incident. First we sow the seeds of discontent."

"Consider this the seeding," Thybion had added. Thiall had seemed to understand then, nodding along blindly. "Much of it's happened of its own accord, in these recent months, but we're just helping it along. Like the pamphlet I had you print."

Seuthu frowned. She thought distributing anonymous pamphlets a waste of time. What kind of power did text hold anyways? Real power came from speaking, from acting. The beasts that saw it would know.

"Oh, the pamphlets," Thiall looked embarrassed. "Right. They're doing well, you know."

"Are they now?" Thybion's smile twitched -- Seuthu caught the flicker of motion, but couldn't read it. Is that annoyance? Frustration? What do you know that I don't?

"They're making their way around, that is," Thiall added.

"They're doing what they were meant to, then. They're just helping things along."

"And this, what we're doing today?"

"Giving things a little shove," Seuthu responded.

Well, she was certainly about to give things a shove. Poor Thiall had no idea what was in store for her -- was incapable of imagining that the plan might not include her at all. Under her orders she'd gone into the public square of the People's Keep and constructed a platform, gathering a crowd, before mounting it and denouncing the king publicly.

Seuthu had to admit, the girl was good at speaking. A shame, really, that she couldn't stick around and help preach the good word against the king, but she'd be contributing much more to the cause this way than any amount of speaking ever could.

The crowd, which had been whispering and speaking excitedly while Thiall spoke, fell to a hush when the crowd of guards arrived. Plated in maji armor, wielding long spears, the guards stood at all the square's exits. A half-circle of guards marched in and surrounded the crowd. The nervous beasts parted as Seuthu approached; nobeast wanted to stand in the way of her pointed gaze, her sharp sword.

"This ends now!" Seuthu called. Thiall dropped her arms and swung to look at the captain.

"What is this?" Thiall asked, quietly. "We didn't plan this."

"Quiet," Seuthu growled.

"W-Where's Thybion?"

The captain ignored her. She faced the crowd and spread her hands down in front of everybeast in the crowd.

"You speak against the king?" Seuthu asked. She took a few steps to the right and spread her hands again. "You feel discontent? Fear? And what do you hope to gain by gathering together and gossipping? You think your words mean nothing, but I warn you, treason does not go unpunished."

"Ashes, Seuthu, what's going on?"

"Silence your tongue, traitor!" Seuthu's hand flexed, fingers curled around the hilt of her weapon. The sword flashed once, twice, and Thiall's body froze, clenched, then fell screaming. A spray of blood had burst into the air, ragged flesh hanging around the edges of the girl's split eyes. She clutched at her face and writhed in agony.

"Pitiful," Seuthu said, spitting on the girl's torn face. The captain raised her bloodied sword above the crowd and swung it left and right for all to see. "This is what traitors deserve, is it not?"

The captain knelt and struck once more, arm and blade lashing out like a viper. The curve of Thiall's throat flapped open and a fresh gout of blood decorated the platform. Seuthu stayed kneeling until the girl's body stilled, then rose and wiped the blade on the edge of her robe.

"Well?" she said, facing the crowd once more. "And what am I to make of you, traitors all?"

The crowd began to fidget, looking around. Their eyes flashed with fear and their feet tensed. The guards remained still, their weapons out. The exits were all blocked. The captain waved her arm over the crowd.

"I, Captain Seuthu, acting in defense of my king and his command, sentence these beasts to death."

Now the beasts began to panic, immediately pushing outwards. The guards hesitated, slow to react. The crowd began trying to push past the guards who tried to hold them back without hurting them.

"What are you waiting for?" Seuthu demanded. "These are traitors against your king -- Think no more! Strike!"

One of the wolves broke away from the crowd and made a mad dash to push past the guards. The guards pressed closer together and raised their spears, the bladed tips piercing the beast in two separate places. Now frenzied, the other wolves surged together. Some of them ran for storefronts, began pounding on the doors. The shopkeepers had all already locked their doors at the first sign of commotion. The crowding beasts turned their concentrated efforts towards pushing past the East Exit. It was the weakest defended point, the walls there low enough to scale. Only two guards had been posted there, and it wouldn't be hard for the beasts to get through, given enough time. New bodies began to fell as the guards finally began to swing on the crowd.

"Byra!" Seuthu shouted. "Go for backup! East Exit!"

"Yes, captain!" Bayra ran off without a bow, a salute, or any kind of goodbye. Seuthu watched her go, watched the riot beginning to boil over. Soon the rage would be sweeping through the lower levels of the People's Keep. It was time once more to let things run their course. Seuthu sheathed her blade and stepped off the back of the platform, disappearing behind a line of guards.

The news reached Besegrare quickly. He was busy storming angrily out of the Main Keep and heading towards its smaller companion, where he'd heard the guards were already gathering. Surely they'd be expecting his arrival and advice. But on his way he bumped into his Captain of the Guard. She looked like she always did -- expressionless, humorless, without passion at all. Aloof. He furrowed his brow and flicked his tail in frustration.

"Ashes, Seuthu! What's going on? What did you do?"

She looked at him and put one hand on her hip.

"I didn't do anything, sire. All I did was quell an uprising. There were beasts plotting your downfall."

"I heard there was only one wolf speaking out... And she was a refugee! Flame take us, she was an immigrant. What does it say about us that we kill immigrants? Besides, the others expect dissent from outlanders anyways. I'm sure it was hardly worth killing her."

"There's one less wolf here who wants you dead. I don't see that what I did was wrong."

"And how about ordering the execution of the onlookers?"

"They were all participants in a treasonous gathering. Such humble gatherings as those always come before a bigger storm. They lead to splinter groups and factions who will stop at nothing to plot your deposition. Surely you're aware that such splinter groups have already been forming? What seems harsh is only the proper protocol in this sort of situation."

"We do not kill our own, Seuthu!"

"Don't we? Didn't you?"

"It's time we were past that," Besegrare growled.

"Yes, perhaps you're right."

Seuthu drew her sword, smirking. Flame save me, Besegrare thought. What is she doing?

"I'd consider your next moves very carefully," the king said, his voice suddenly very soft.

"I'd be thinking the same thing if I were you, right about now," Seuthu kept the sword level. "Don't believe me? I've called the guards out of the Main Keep. Some of them on individual posts, some as a personal detail to help with the executions. The rest are heading as backup to the riot. That's right, this keep is empty. There's nobeast here who can help you."

"Do you realize how stupid this is?" Despite what he was saying, the king had taken a step backwards.

"I only realize how stupid it is that I didn't try this earlier. Why was I wasting so much time? Now don't speak. You're to go back to your chambers and wait."

"And if I don't?"

"What, you'll suddenly fight back? If I recall, that's quite unlike you. Not such a talented swordsman these days, are you?"

His reluctance only stayed him until the captain was again within reach with her sword. He backed up all the way to his chambers in the Royal Tower, the captain locking him in with Nashil.

"Don't even think about leaving," she'd said, just before closing the door. "You keep this locked and you wait. I'll have a guard posted outside this door with strict instructions not to open it. Not for anything, understand? They'll think they're keeping you safe. I'll have told them it's under your orders."

"What's to stop me from explaining to them what you've done?"

"I know how to tie a rope," Seuthu said, grinning. She walked to the curtains and yanked the rope binding them together, pulling it from the wall. Nashil, who was cowering quietly in the back, saw an opportunity and took it. She leapt forward and ran for the captain while her back was turned. Seuthu noticed just in time to spin around. Nashil brandished her dirk, which she'd worn concealed under her robes, lunging forward and plunging the weapon down. Seuthu drew back, but the weapon caught her in the arm and bit deep. She howled, staggering backwards, the weapon pulling out of the queen's grip and falling to the ground. Seuthu's wound dripped blood. The captain clutched her arm and bared her teeth.

"You'll pay for that, bitch," she whispered. The captain lashed out with her boot, kicking Nashil in the belly and driving the wind from her lungs. The queen fell soundlessly.

Seuthu leapt on top of her and spun her around, tying her hands roughly together. Besegrare stood to the side and turned his eyes away, his head bowed. Nashil regained her breath and began to cry out.

"Help! Help me, Bes, what are you doing? Help!"

The king bent and retrieved Nashil's dirk, but he quivered while he held it, remembering the last deed of violence he'd committed. He could not strike. Seuthu finished tying Nashil then spun her around and slapped her on the face.

"That's for shouting so much," the captain said. She picked up the queen and lobbed her roughly into the corner, where she gasped with the pain of hitting the floor, doubling over. "But I'll get you back for flamin' stabbing me. I won't soon forget."

The captain whirled on Besegrare. He dropped the dirk.

"Good. At least one of you can listen to reason."

He was tied up and thrown into the corner with his queen. Their muzzles were bound shut and their eyes blindfolded.

"Now wait here," Seuthu said. "I'll be back for you, soon enough."

They heard the door close, the latch lock behind her.

Tehlina felt compelled. She could no longer deny the golden figure she'd been seeing. It was featureless and shining like the sun, like every living thing fighting for dominion over some vaguely definite form. Sometimes she could see it in the corner of her eye. Sometimes she saw it atop the buildings in Gryning, and other times she thought she saw it in the mirror standing behind her.

When she was able to accept it as truth, she felt a strange sense of comfort. No longer could she deny that something had selected her, some aspect of Flame or some divine presence. As if on schedule with her thoughts, the fox Sujji had arrived, bringing his caravan of pilgrims and explaining their arrival following the path of Iloshi and Elesh. The big, animated fox took a sweeping bow in earnest, like a caricature of one of the wolves.

"We've come to serve the new aventh," Sujji said. "And we have heard, oh Holy Flame, that it is you."

"You have heard true," Tehlina said, feeling a weight flying off her chest. She half expected to see the glow of that golden figure behind her, but nothing changed. Still, it felt wonderful to acknowledge what she'd grown to accept. "I have not announced it publicly, yet. My own chapter does not even know."

"But why? If I may ask, of Holy Flame, why would you hide such a tremendous secret? We have been waiting for a new leader!"

"What about Shelath?"

"The old villain? He's only an interim-aventh. There is no holiness in a beast that other beasts selected. We need the one chosen by the Flame, and if this is all true..."

She revealed to him her newest manifestation, pulling back the fold of her hood. Between her ears, above her brow, a patch of fur was missing, as if burned. The patch was shaped like a tongue of fire, and in the low light of the room he could see it faintly glowing.

"By ashes... It is you! Flame bless you! It's al-Valar!"

Sujji fell prostrate and bowed, then rose.

"I must inform the caravan. Accept our humble number, oh Holy Flame! We want only to serve your chapter and your will."

He departed. The patch on her head, which had appeared this morning, felt warm. It itched and burned, and she frowned. Was it ever going to stop? She wasn't sure. Tehlina drew the hood back over it, then tried to ignore the divine presence she could suddenly feel behind her. As always it said nothing, but she knew that it was the one responsible for the visions and dreams she'd been experiencing. Its presence had been unnerving to say the least, but now she could hardly stand it. The patch on her brow flared in pain, and she drew a short panicked breath. She shut her eyes, lost track of time, and then, eventually, she was alone.

When Sujji and his pilgrims had finished setting up, the riot had been well underway. Tehlina became aware of it just in time to make her decision. If Besegrare wouldn't stop, wouldn't intervene -- and where was he, anyways? -- she would assert her own authority. If divinity had chosen her, how could she deny it?

This, she thought bravely, never having felt brave before, Is my charge. This, she thought, stepping up in front of the riot, and never having stepped up before, This is my destiny.

The chaos did not stop, even for a moment. She tried raising her hands, demanded attention.

Then, remarkably, something happend.

Blessed, Ashen Flame... Lead me! Show me al-Valar! Show them all!

She felt a light like fire emerge from within her, and she began to glow. The fighting stopped, and warring beasts forgot their anger in place of fear. Weapons fell to the ground, for in the presence of divinity they could not kill. Only stare. Their faces were dominated by expressions of something akin to shock, or terror.

"Humble beasts," Tehlina began, bolstered by a new confidence. "I implore you to put away your quarrels! No matter how this began, we must forget it and go on living in harmony. My word is the will and the way of Flame, for I have been chosen! Look upon me and know, I am the new messenger of Flame. I am Tehlina of the Ash, First Aventh of the Order of the True Flame, the voice of that which binds us all. Hear my words, and heed them!"

Sujji and his followers fell to their knees behind her. A crowd of devotees had followed her out to the crowd, to see what their high priestess would do. Many of them covered their eyes, and those who remembered themselves fell fully prostrate. Elesh and Iloshi bowed their heads and held their hands together.

There was a moment of stillness, a heavy blanket descending on the world, and the bright sky overhead felt like a painted temple roof, the world stretching on forever.

Then the Lady Thybion approached, standing beside Captain Seuthu. She had a particularly nasty smile today. Tehlina saw her and felt herself drooping, her tail hanging low. She even felt the glow from beneath her fur dim a little.

"Who is this?" Thybion demanded, pointing up. "Who are you to trick us? Who are we to fall for it?"

She hopped down into the still crowd, her simple peasant's robes trailing behind her. The wolves moved backwards and afforded her a wide berth. She finally stopped right in front of the high priestess.

"We've seen nothing but a parlor trick. Cheap, too, if I know anything. Blastpowder, and embers, perhaps some mirrors. Am I right? Simple trickery. This girl is nothing but a blasphemous miscreant!"

"No," Tehlina said, but her surge of confidence plummeted. Her moment was over as soon as it had begun. She knew without looking that she had stopped glowing. Whatever divinity was there had left her. The people would not believe her anymore. "No! I speak the truth! There is no trickery!"

"No trickery?" Thybion spun dramatically. "No trick, she says! I know of nobeast who is capable of such power, divine or otherwise. Have you ever seen a priest glowing? No. I think not. Something that unnatural could not come from the divine. Either this is simple trickery, or sorcery!"

"It's not!" Tehlina urged, but the unease of the wolves had been triggered. Their eyes were fearful and full of worry. She began to retreat. "It's not..." She mumbled, staggering backwards. The wolves had their arms outstretched, their muscles tensed, their claws sharp.

The riot had ended. The lynching had begun.

Elesh watched the priests following Tehlina. He felt his bones ache beneath his red robes, their dye an ever-present reminder of the difference between himself and the others. Shaid. That wouldn't matter anymore, would it? Tehlina was a good beast, it seemed. She would treat them well, Shaid or not. His shoulders were tight, his body feeling aged beyond its years. Elesh groaned.

The high priestess -- Aventh, he reminded himself -- fled towards the hill where she could find sanctuary in her chapel. The riot was thundering behind her, their course driven by violence. The Captain Seuthu stood at their helm.

"Seize her!" she commanded, brandishing a sword and pointing its blade at Tehlina as she fled. "Don't let her reach the hill!"

Just who are you commanding? Elesh thought, as he skirted the edge of the alleys. The guards? The riot? These beasts have lost all sense of decorum, any semblance of command is gone. But you meant to do that to them, didn't you? The Captain was crafty, at least. She knew how to take charge. Elesh glanced back to make sure his brother Iloshi walked behind him. He was there, only a few paces behind, despite his blind eyes. Iloshi held his thin firetree like a cane to tap the way before him, but Elesh knew his brother didn't need it. He was a sensitive beast, claimed he could make his way about without any trouble. Elesh had doubted him at first. Now, he was sure the beast could walk more clearly than anybeast with both their eyes.

Tehlina and her priests reached the hill, and began pouring into the chapel's open doors. The riot hadn't yet reached the base of the hill. The fox who'd just arrived -- Sujji, was it? -- was rounding about at the base, falling into a defensive stance. He means to fight! Elesh stared in shock. And he means to fight for this woman who he has only just met. Foolishness or dedication?

Iloshi seemed to read his thoughts.

"Wouldn't you?" he whispered, his lips barely moving. "Fight for her, I mean? If she really were the aventh. You'd give your life for her, wouldn't you?"

You know I would. Elesh thought. But he didn't say it. He set his firetree down on the flat end of the stave so that it stood. Resting it against the side of his leg for balance, he began to unscrew the bramble headed tangle of iron branches at its top. Needs to be greased, he thought, straining, but then with a final effort it came loose. He set the ironwork down on the ground and admired the sharp spear point underneath. An unusual decision, disguising a weapon as an implement of prayer. It wasn't much use if he was caught off guard, but if he had time to unscrew it... He knew how to use it. The life of a Shaid was often difficult, the road paved with treachery. Few beasts care for their ways, feeling they had somehow betrayed their own species. Both Elesh and Iloshi knew how to defend themselves.

Which meant both of them knew how to defend their aventh. They hiked up their robes and tied them tight, exposing their bootless black feet and skinny legs. Elesh looked at his blind brother, who nodded.

"Now?" Iloshi asked.

"Now," Elesh agreed.

They sprinted out towards the hill, reaching Sujji and a few other pilgrims who had stayed behind just as the rioters reached the base of the hill. The fox wielded a length of rope tied to his arm, a notched blade knotted to the other end. He swung the weapon around him in a deadly arc.

"So!" he called, not bothering to look back at the skunks. "More Shaid! Proving your worth to defend the holy Flame?"

"You could say as much," Elesh answered, swinging his pointed stave. He caught a wolf just as the beast leapt, the blunt length catching him in the chest and bowling him over. The momentum kept the stave swinging and its pointed edge cut the throat of a young wolf who had hesitated within the pilgrim's reach. Her blood flowed, her breath fell, and she collapsed gagging. Elesh winced. Flame watch you, he thought, wishing he didn't have to fight. Always there's too much of this. Too damned much.

The time for worrying about it was over. He thrust the stave forward again, felling another beast, looking back to watch his brother. Iloshi was fending off three wolves at once, spinning with ease and delicacy. His small round ears were perked and swivelling at each sound he heard. On your left, brother! But before he could shout his warning, Iloshi had swung to the right and punched a clean hole through the charging wolf's gut. He spun again just in time to block a backwards blow, then called to the brother who'd briefly stopped in awe.

"I'm okay on my own, brother! Keep your eyes ahead of you!"

Elesh swung his gaze back around but the beasts were wary now. Too many had been struck down for them to charge mindlessly at the pilgrims. It had turned into a careful attack, something more calculated; but the calculations had not yet been made.

Sujji still kept his opponents at length with the swings of his bladed rope. A semicircle of advancing foes snarled just beyond its length. A wolf finally ran at him and he threw the knife out to the side; Sujji caught the rope around his arm and brought it swinging tightly around, the knife lightly whistling as it arced around and cut a line right through the wolf's throat. Then the fox caught the rope around his fingers and slowed it in a long lazy loop. The other beasts in the half-circle hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Sujji glanced back at the two skunks, his gaze lingering on the blind brother fighting so many opponents.

"Fire and flame!" the fox breathed. "That's a rare talent."

"Don't know how he does it," Elesh agreed. He remembered how long it had taken him to learn how to fight -- How much longer had it taken his brother?

Elesh realized just in time that another wolf had pushed its way up towards him, and he deflected the attack just barely. The force of the blow knocked him back. Damn! Get up, get up! He scrabbled out of the way, clawing into the ground to pull himself up, but the wolf's short sword came down on his heel and bit deep into the leg. He gasped, feeling the whole limb go numb. The muscle pulled tight against the metal of the blade, which had lodged briefly in the bone, before pulling free. Then the muscle pulled against nothing at all. Elesh thought he should feel agony but he could feel nothing.

"Brother!" Iloshi called. He jumped back, running to the place where Elesh had fallen. Fool!

"Leave me!" Elesh shouted back, but his brother had already made his way over. The wolf raised his short sword to deal a surely fatal blow, then his eyes stared down at the point that had blossomed between his ribs. He clutched at the point but found no purchase on its bloodslick point; then Iloshi yanked the point out and the wolf fell gurgling on top of Elesh. The blind pilgrim helped his brother out from under the corpse.

"Are you hurt?" Iloshi asked.

"I... I can't move. It's my leg."

Iloshi probed with his fingers and found the wound. Elesh felt a surge of pain ripple up the sides of his legs at the touch of his brother -- the first wash of it, he realized. It's only going to get worse before it gets better, he mused, gritting his teeth. Was this how it felt, brother, when you lost your eyes.

Iloshi helped Elesh to stand. "Hop on," he said, offering his back. "We're getting out of here."

The wounded skunk wrapped his arms around his brother's neck and hoisted himself up. Again he marveled at the younger beast's strength, for he lifted him with ease and could still manage to wield the stave. He just hoped he wouldn't have to use it again.

Sujji's opponents were still circling him, growing anxious for the opportunity to attack. It was a dangerous game; if one of them could manage to sever the thin rope cord he twirled so expertly, the fox would be finished. He could still hear it whistling around. Sensing the skunk's concern, Sujji called out:

"Go! I can hold them, for now. Get him out of here! I'm right behind you!"

Iloshi didn't answer, merely ran. At the top of the hill, Tehlina had made it inside the chapel. The doors were closed tight, both to the main building and the chapterhouse. He hoisted Elesh higher up on his shoulders and bore on till he reached the top. He pounded on the door, almost expecting to be left outside. The priests within heard his knocking and opened, just a sliver. Iloshi slipped inside; true to his word, Sujji came rushing in through the open door but moments later. Despite his size, the big fox could run fast if he was able to make it up before the priests shut the door again.

Iloshi lowered Elesh to the floor. Easy, Elesh thought, wincing as his sliced leg touched the cool wood of the floor. Throbbing pain rolled through him. He thought he might throw up.

"We need medicine," Iloshi said, "His leg's been cut."

"How badly?" the one who answered was Grehn, the old valent rolling up in his wheelchair.

"Hard to say," Iloshi gestured at his eyeless face, smiling weakly. "The tendon might be cut."

"Can you move your leg?" Grehn directed his question at Elesh. The wounded pilgrim just shook his head, his vision swimming.

"Can't feel much at all," Elesh said. "Just... Pain. It hurts..."

Then Elesh felt his whole world spin, the ceiling rushing up towards him, a tunnel closing in on all sides. He thought once, Is this dying? The pain swallowed him up and the cold took him, and he collapsed onto the floor.

The wolves had been somewhat successful at first, having killed a handful of acolytes, but the pilgrims' defense had been stronger than expected. Seuthu truthfully hadn't anticipated any sort of defense at all. She fumed by herself now, having lost the high priestess. She was possessed by a rage and a blinding need for violence. She could take this damned fortress for herself anytime she wanted. Why were others still stepping up, causing trouble? If nothing else, at least they wouldn't cause any more trouble while they were locked away in the chapel. Seuthu set up a contingent of guards around the chapel's perimeter, but ordered no strike.

"Can't break in?" Thybion asked. "Why not force your way inside and take her?"

"Unnecessary damage," Seuthu said, breathing deeply. "Best to keep it contained. Believe me, nobeast wants to tear it down more than me.. But we risk too many lives that way. They can't wait inside forever. Either she'll turn herself in or they'll turn against her, before long. She'll come out without any of our prodding, though. All we have to do is wait."

"And the king?"

"In his chambers, with his queen."

"That's it then, isn't it? Once the riot's contained, and the high priestess is dealt with."

"I don't think so," Seuthu said. "There's still something that's standing in my way."

"Your way?" Thybion took a step backwards. The Captain had unsheathed her sword and was slowly raising it.

"The way I see it," Seuthu continued, "I've got Gryning under my thumb. Besegrare's locked up, the guards are following my orders, and I don't see that you have much to say about my dispatching you right this moment. With you out of the picture, it seems to me I can do whatever I flaming well please."

"I would reconsider that," Thybion hissed. Seuthu grew tense -- Was that a smile on the girl's lips? What is your game?

"You carry no weapon," Seuthu said.

"Oh, but I don't need to. I'm well protected, you see. You may think me cornered, but I assure you that if you struck me down you'd have a knife in the back before you could even finish your swing."

"Bluffing," Seuthu said, but she lowered her sword. How can she possibly have someone trained on me? I detected no one else. She's bluffing! "Show me this so-called bodyguard of yours."

Then, quite suddenly, a voice in the back of her ear. Somebeast standing just behind her.

"You called?" he whispered. Seuthu flinched, the point of something distinctly sharp poking through her clothes, a light pinch where it just barely pierced her flesh. A tiny spot of blood welled and ran down her back. The slightest push of that blade, and... No more. One push and it's all over. Seuthu dropped her sword.

"Many thanks, Tanda," Thybion said.

"Of course."

"The fox?" Seuthu growled.

"One and the same," Tanda replied. "Woah there, try not to move so much! I might accidentally hurt you." Seuthu tensed again as the blade dug into her flesh once more, reminding her that it was sharp, ready to run her through. She froze.

"You see," Thybion said, "It isn't that surprising. I'm quite frankly a little upset you didn't realize anything, but I guess that means we were doing our job well. And you doing yours quite badly. I've been looking out for Besegrare for some time now. You could say I owe him a debt. My whole family died at his father's hands, but our king took that bastard out himself. Since then I've been keeping watch."

"But..." Seuthu's mind worked. She thought back to all the petty denunciations, the bickering with Khiifa, the leading of the splinter group. "What about... About Khiifa? About the dissent? About all of it?"

"Khiifa? Yes, a marriage arranged to get me closer to the king's circles. It would help me keep my eyes open for plots against the king. We always knew something like this could happen -- not could, but would. It was really a matter of when a plot would arise. They always do. Imagine my surprise that my own husband would be on the leading voices! When that happened, I had no choice but to immerse myself. Turning in Khiifa immediately wouldn't have solved anything. The splinter groups would have reformed under a new head."

"Like me," Seuthu realized.

Thybion nodded.

"So this was all fake?" Seuthu asked. She tried not to move, still aware of the fox's weapon pressed firm against her back.

"I had to be ahead of the others. If they were disgruntled, I would have to give them some reason to be disgruntled. But I always knew what would happen before it did."

"So then... The assassination plot..."

"Oh yes," Thybion said. "The assassination plot. It was supposed to be you carrying that out, wasn't it? Before Khiifa derailed that plan. Yes, you were the one chosen for that."

"I volunteered."

"And good for us, too! But if you hadn't, you still would have been chosen. It was part of the plan. That you're still around today is not part of anything we had accounted for."

Then it wasmeant to be me. And I was meant to be killed. I wonder who would have done it, and how? She remembered the plan to hide in the king's chambers. What would they have done? Marched guards in and have them find her hiding, knife in her hands? Or would they have sent an assassin of their own? She could feel the pointed knife against her back and thought, Maybe the fox would have done it.

Thybion seemed to recognize the train of her thoughts and answered.

"We're lucky Tanda here happened to be with Besegrare when Khiifa attacked. Oh yes, we know for sure it was him. Besegrare himself all but told me. A shame he had to die, really... I had grown quite fond of him. I won't feel as bad if we have to kill you."

"And you, fox?" Seuthu ground her teeth together, turning her head a few degrees to the left.

"I'll feel no remorse," Tanda replied. Seuthu groaned inwardly.

"Does Besegrare know about all of this?" she asked.

"You ask a lot of questions, for someone who's in no position to be asking." Thybion raised her arched eyebrows and folded her arms. "But no, he doesn't know. Royals always have a circle of protection around them. He knows that much, but not who. If he knew any more he'd try to get involved, and we couldn't manage to get anything done ourselves. Dissent would just spring up elsewhere, but without my involvement. Where I wouldn't be able to keep a handle on it."

It was hard for Seuthu to accept that this was the end. It had all come crumbling down... So quickly! Moments ago she had been about to claim rule of the fortress. And now?

"Give me your best, then," Seuthu breathed, lowering her head. Make it swift, make it just. I don't deserve to bear this life anymore. Remarkably, she felt the knife withdraw from her back.

"You think this is it for you?" Thybion asked. "No no, girl. You do not die today."

"What? What is this?"

"The people are going to want to see the face of their villain! The girl who caused so much trouble, so much stress... And the Captain of the Guard, no less. It will all make sense to them. The people are wary of the guards already, as it is. I expect such an execution they'll want to be public. Only then will the beasts turn back to Besegrare, to live in harmony again."

"Fools! Harmony is an illusion. It cannot last!"

"Not forever," Thybion agreed. "But for a while." The lady looked over at the advisor, who had stepped aside. "Go to the royal chambers. Besegrare and Nashil are bound, locked away. Untie them and set them loose, and alert him that he may come out of hiding."

Before the fox could leave, a guard had run up to their group. He was out of breath, didn't even have the energy to bow before his superiors as he explained.

"The shelters!" he cried. "Get to the shelters -- There's an army of monsters out there!"

Then he noticed Seuthu, and he paused.

"Captain," he said, "You'll want to see this..."

"She's not your captain anymore," Thybion said, snapping. "From now on you report to me, or to the king."

"Besegrare's orders," Tanda added. "As his advisor, I bear the order straight from him."

"Is this true?" the guard looked incredulous. Seuthu didn't say a word.

"You can go ask him yourself, if you want," Thybion said. "Do you really want to waste that time?"

"N-No, your ladyship."

"Good. Run to the barracks, make sure our soldiers are upon the wall with the guards. Do we know the banner of our attacker?"

"No banner," the guard said. "And there's something else. The army... They're not regular beasts. Monsters, or something. They're -- They're not alive, you see..."

"What do you mean? They're not alive?"

"That's just it, my lady. They're dead. Living dead."