The Truth-Teller Of Estrella

Chapter 46. The Empress' Guard

Aleta unshielded her broadsword as they inched towards the garden entrance. The night she had scurried down the stairs and walked with Orius under the moonlight felt like a lifetime ago. She gripped the hilt tighter as they approached, no guard in sight.

Samir entered through the doorway first.

As Aleta walked through the doorway she caught sight of Samir, his sword interlocked with a guard. Another guard to his right approached, his mouth forming to spill out the words, "They've breached the palace." But the words were just a thought, they never escaped his lips. Aleta charged, swinging her sword into the air, accompanied with a cry of anger. She had gone through too much to have this ended now. She would kill every last guard that stood between her and Drika.

"Impressive." Samir muttered behind her as she sliced the man down.

And in their brief moment of silence he reached up, wiping a stray splatter of blood from her cheek.

"I can hear them." Aleta muttered as she pointed. "I can hear them down that hallway." More palace guards were approaching.

Samir nodded. "Go on, up the stairs. I can handle them."

"Are you sure?"

"Go on, sorceress. I'll meet you up there."

"Will you?" She asked, wondering if he had seen how this played out.

But he only shrugged his shoulders.

"I-I don't want to leave you."

Samir shook his head. "You are not leaving me. I'll meet you in the throne room." He paused, "I promise."

Aleta repeated, "You will meet me in the throne room." She wasn't convinced.

Aleta counted the seconds as she ran up the stairs and down the main palace hallway. She counted the seconds until she knew Samir would collide with the guards. And when she spotted the doors of the throne room she stopped, clearing her mind and her thoughts from all else but Drika — and the ring.

She was just a hallway across when she heard the sound of him — not just any guardsman but...

"Zion-" Aleta announced, her voice painted in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

But the man only shook his head. "What am I doing here? I'm a personal guardsman to The Empress. But you, Aleta, you have no reason to be here... not now."

The last time she had spoken to Zion he was accompanying her to the palace — accompanying her to her hell. Did he know? Had he known the entire time... what Drika had planned for her that day? Despite her anger, Aleta paused. Zion had looked out for her that night in Saypool. He had warned her not to skip out — and shared that he was instructed to spy on her.

"Is she in there?" Aleta shouted, loud enough for a cowering Empress to hear from her throne. "Tell me, Zion, is she in there?"

But Zion only shook his head, his face heavy and features drawn.

"You would not hurt me." She muttered, moving forward. She could hear the conflict within him.

"Why did you warn me?" Questioned Aleta. "Why did you warn me that night on the street?"

"Because you reminded me of someone." Zion answered. He was telling the truth.

"Of who?" Aleta asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Of a woman who used to live here — within the palace walls."

Aleta sighed. "My mother. You knew my mother — Panthea. I remind you of her." She paused. "Did you know her well?"

But Zion only shook his head.

"So what? You took pity on me because I reminded you of a woman who you watched get locked up in this palace? Who lived her entire life within these walls? Did you feel guilty? Did you watch as Drika's mother abused her? As Drika locked her up for wanting freedom?" She asked. "Is that why? Did it do good to your conscience to treat me differently, to warn me what would happen if I did not adhere to Drika's wishes?"

Zion's eyes narrowed.

"If you truly care, if you truly wish to do the right thing, stand aside." Aleta's voice was nothing short of commanding. "Stand aside and let me get to Drika. You do not understand what she possess. You do not know what she hopes to unlock and the power she wants to wield against-"

"I can't." His words caught her by surprise. Aleta watched Zion's grip tightened on his sword.

"I cannot let you in."

Aleta huffed, "So what? You'll kill me?"

While he didn't voice his response Aleta could hear it — he would. Aleta didn't want to believe it. The man was not her friend, certainly not, but... she did not think him her enemy?

But war and politics could turn enemies out of friends. They could sharpen even the dullest swords.

Aleta flexed her fingers on her own blade.

"She is a liar." She muttered. "Anything Drika has told you cannot be trusted. You cannot believe it to be true." Aleta paused. "Have you ever journeyed out of Estrella? Beyond the wall?"

Zion shook his head.

"It is not as she says. Drika says the world beyond our Kingdom is dangerous, corrupt, and filled with devastation. But it is not true..." Aleta paused. "It is Saypool, it is Estrella, that is destroyed. She has been-"

Zion blinked, his sword cutting forward wildly. He did not want to do this. She could feel it, she could hear it. And yet, as much as he didn't, he was.

Aleta fought back, the clashes of their swords vibrating with each impact.

"Stop!" She screamed as he swung again, her body dodging the destruction of his blade. "You don't want to do this."

He knocked into her, tossing Aleta's body to the ground.

"It is a lie!" She cried. "The stars are alive and well — they thrive just north of the wall!"

Zion only shook his head. He did not believe her. He could not believe her.

When he swung once again, Aleta knew she had no choice. He wouldn't let out. He wouldn't stop — not when his head was so filled with the venom straight from Drika's mouth.

Aleta swung as she jolted herself up, her blade cutting across the man's head in one quick and clean motion. She stifled her emotions as she watched the blood flow, as she watched his body spasm without its head. And when his eyes looked up at her she grimaced. She had once been like him. She had once believed the lies. Only she had learned the truth, and Zion had died for it.