The Remains of Dawn

Chapter Four

Oriel sat at the table back in their house. She leaned her head against her hand as she thought about what the Advisor said about Queen Vega. What if what he said was true? What if she could truly help them both get out of the bond that Queen Krathys put on them. What if they could be free? On the other hand, what if all of that information was false? What if she was dead and there was no way to get out of the bond?

Oriel jumped as she felt Tassian's hand land on her shoulder. "I've never seen you so lost in thought." He pulled the chair out beside her and sat down. "Are you still thinking about what the Advisor said about Queen Vega?"

Oriel nodded. "What if he's right?" She looked at Tassian. "What if she could help us and we'd be free?"

Tassian sighed. "If we start looking into this and someone finds out about it, we'll be killed."

"We can hide it," Oriel told Tassian silently pleading with him to agree with her. "We've been taught to be sneaky, no one would know but you and me."

Tassian looked at her for a while searching her face before he stood up. "Hold on." He walked back into his room before returning with a large scroll rolled up. He placed it down on the table in front of her and unrolled it. Oriel gasped as she noticed that this was the same map that was on the Advisor's table. She placed her hand over the red x.

"Tassian-"

"Yes, I took it," Tassian sighed. "It was an act of impulse. I don't know if this is truly where she's kept, but it was the only map that had a marking on it."

Oriel looked up at him. "Were you rummaging through his papers while I was fighting off those three men?"

"Yes."

Oriel rolled her eyes and looked back at the map. "As you said, we could be killed for this."

Tassian nodded. "Do you want to be free?"

"Yes, I do." She looked up at Tassian. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Tassian smiled at her. "Yes, Eagle."

----

They kept the map hidden in Tassians dresser under his trench coat. Oriel sat on her bed with her knees close to her chest. The sun was starting to set on the kingdom. They had the plan to leave for the mark that the Advisor believes Queen Vega is at.

Oriel wasn't entirely convinced that the Queen was still alive. If they found her, would she even be willing to help them? Was she more afraid of Queen Krathys to not help them? If they found her, they would be killed when found out.

Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought to herself. No. She shook her head. Death was worth the risk to be free. To be free to make their own decisions. Free to be able to marry who they choose. Free to not kill again. The man they killed today didn't do anything morally wrong. He went against the Queen but believed what he was researching was worth being killed over. No one wants to die, but standing up to an evil Queen is worth it.

We need to leave now. Oriel shot from her bed and opened the door to find Tassian already standing there with his fist up ready to knock. "We need to leave now, Tassian."

Tassian nodded in approval. "I was coming to talk to you about that." He motioned over at the table. On top of it were his traveling bag and the rolled-up scroll. "Already packed and ready to go. It'll be wiser to travel at night."

Oriel agreed as she turned around and grabbed her bag. They were both already dressed in their usual black clothing. She shrugged on her trench coat and walked out of her room with her bag in hand. She watched Tassian strap his bag across his chest and she did the same. The scroll was placed in a pocket inside his trench coat.

He turned to face her and outstretched his hand. "Are you ready?"

Oriel took a deep breath before nodding. "Yes, I am." She took his hand and let him lead her out the door and into the night.

----

A figure hid in the shadows watching Oriel and Tassian talk quietly outside their door before spreading their wings and launching themselves in the sky. Once they were out of his view, he ran in the direction of the castle. The guards made him wait outside once he stood in front of the throne room doors. After a couple of minutes of waiting, the doors opened and he walked through them bowed in front of the Queen.

Everything around him was black and gold. The floors were completely black with matching walls. The windows were stained gold and every flower, stem, and leaf was painted the same color. The throne that Queen Krathys sat on was gold while the Queen was wearing a long, tight black dress. Her crown on the top of her head was black with gold throned vines threaded through it.

"What is it you need to tell me at this hour, Dyso?" the Queen asked him in annoyance.

The man, Dyso, lifted his head to speak, "It's about your favorite assassins, my Queen."

The Queen's eyebrows furrowed. "What about them?"

"What you feared is happening. They're finally rebelling. They took the map that located Queen Vega to find her."

The Queen sighed and pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "Very well, Dyso. Summon me the rest of you, we have assassins to kill. I will not tolerate disloyalty from anyone."

Dyso's golden eyes sparkled as he smirked and bowed his head. "Yes, your Majesty."

Author note: Thank you for reading this chapter! If you enjoyed this chapter please leave a comment and a vote!