The Rebel & The Throne

The Rebellion

Ezra was in the tent, sitting behind her desk, submerged under piles of opened letters that littered her desk. She had sent out a letter to every kingdom, every rogue group, and every band of outlaws, asking for help. None had returned her call for aid. Every letter she went through replied with their wish to help but lacking the resources necessary to lend a hand. Some kingdoms didn't even bother returning a response. Ezra's eyes were skimming through another letter when a sealed one fell onto the pile of opened letters. She reached for it, suppressing the hope that this time they might get lucky. Ezra unsheathed her dagger and broke the seal, pulling out the letter as her eyes eagerly scanned the cursive letters of one of the queens ruling a faraway kingdom. Frustrated, Ezra crumbled the letter in her hand and tossed it aside.

"We are on our own yet again," Ezra said reclining back into her chair as she looked up at the woman who had brought her the sealed letter. "No one is willing to help, Bano."

"Ezra, we have no time to waste. The queen is capturing rebels by the second. Our men are growing thinner and thinner every passing breath." Concern filled Bano's voice. Ezra did not blame her. If they needed to overthrow the queen and her corrupt kingdom, they had to act fast.

"If there is something, your beautiful brain is planning we have to hatch it now." Bano urged. Ezra's eyes narrowed as she studied the pattern on the carpet laid across the tent's floor. They had camped on the outskirts of the kingdom after Ezra had collected enough rebels and publicly proclaimed her act of treason. In return, she and everyone that followed her were branded as tyrants and traitors to the crown. Now the queen was hunting them like animals, killing her men on sight.

Ezra shook her head. For the first time, the leader of the rebels came up empty-handed.

"Ezra-" Bano began to say when screaming ensued from outside. The two women hurriedly left the tent, their eyes sweeping over the surroundings before their gaze lifted to the sky where they were met by a shower of burning arrows.

Men and women fell as they were hit by the arrows that rained down on them. Luckily, neither of them was hit by any. Once the horror of that was over, men armed to the teeth broke out from behind the trees. Ezra recognized their embroidered uniform, immediately. The crossed swords covered by a shield was the symbol of the state and those men were part of the royal guard.

Ezra drew her sword as she turned to Bano.

"Take a horse," She ordered as her men raced for the queen's men and swords began clashing against each other. "Ride to Helioch."

"The Qaeca Kingdom?" Bano asked, interrupting Ezra. Ezra replied with a nod as she swallowed.

"It is ruled by a wise and powerful king. Find him and plead him for help, do whatever it takes. He is our only hope." Ezra explained. She didn't send him a letter because she had wanted to personally visit him. Bano was the only one she trusted to complete the job now.

"But I need to stay here and help you." Bano argued.

"I will be fine." Ezra said, glancing over her shoulder quickly. Her men were falling, one by one. She wasn't going to win this battle. She faced Bano again.

"B-But..." Bano struggled.

"Bano, you can do it. You can save this kingdom," She saw Bano's face go pale like she was about to collapse. Ezra firmly held her shoulders. "I believe in you." She said softer and watched some color and confidence return to Bano's face.

Bano gave her a sharp nod before turning away from her.

"Good luck." Ezra said as she watched Bano mount a horse and dig her heels into its sides before the horse took off. Ezra gripped the hilt of her sword tighter as she turned around just in time to see men rushing for her. She charged with a battle cry before bringing down her sword on one of the guards. He blocked her attack with his own sword. Another guard approached from behind. Ezra waited for him to get close enough before she kicks him in the gut, sending him falling on his bottom.

Ezra returned her attention to the first guard but found two instead. She gritted her teeth as she pushed down her sword on the first and forced him to get down on his knees.

"Tell your queen," She grunted. "If she wants my head, she should come get it herself." Ezra lifted her sword and brought down her sword at an angle that slipped past the guard's defense and went right through his neck. Blood splattered onto her clothes as she whirled around preparing herself for the third guard but found no one there.

"Where did he go?" She muttered to herself as she lowered her sword and scanned the hills that Bano was now racing across on her horse. She watched Bano's eyes widen before she was hit in the back of the head. Her vision got blurry as she fell onto the ground. The last thing she saw was Bano disappearing behind a hill and then the world went dark.

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Panic filled Bano as she approached the castle. The scene of Ezra's capture did not leave her thoughts the entire ride to here. The sun was sinking by the time she got off her horse and raced through the entrance of the castle, aiming for the throne room. Two guards caught her slipping into the castle and yelled before chasing after her.

"You are not allowed to be in here without the king's knowledge." One of them shouted as they ran after her. Bano, the spy of the rebels, was running way ahead. She was an expert at slipping past guards and sneaking around heavily watched places. Because of her extreme stealth, she was known as the shadow amongst the rebels and the outside world.

Bano's only mistake today was charging into the castle headfirst, not thinking clearly due to recent events. Not that it mattered as she planned to shake the guards off her trail. She ducked into a hallway and began scaling its walls as fast as a spider. A few moments later, the guards barged into the same hallway and were confused not to find her. Thankfully, neither decided to look up, or else she was finished.

Once they gave up, they left the corridor, and their footsteps began fading. Only when the spy was sure that they were gone, did she drop to the ground. Her hand went for her dagger as she remained vigilant for a few seconds before she went in pursuit of the throne room.

Bano burst into the throne room and lifted her hand. Surprisingly, neither of the people in the room seemed startled as she slowly approached the throne room. Her eyes remained fixed on the king who was lounging on his throne, his head propped on the hand of the arm resting on the armchair. He merely shifted on his seat. At the foot of the dais stood a man who had his hand casually rested on the hilt of his sword. He must be the Captain of the Royal Guard.

"King Alexander," Bano said, giving the man a deep bow before she straightened. "I require your assistance, Your Majesty."