Morons and Monarchs

Chapter Seventy-Three: Bayou 👕

Ahmya thrashes in Thanatos's arms, but we cannot do anything without risking ourselves.
Bricria is a sacrifice, we all knew we would have to make one. We just didn't expect it to be now.
We can all see Bricria turning and kicking and punching the guard that holds him, and while Ahmya still bristles in Thanatos's hold, I unsheathe my dagger. 

"Ahmya," I try one last time. "Calm down!" Her eyes are frantic as they hold mine, but she does not do as I say. 

"LET ME GO!" She screams, her voice wavering, and I see one of the guards look back at the road. I glare at the mother before me, tearing a strip of my shirt and twisting it. 

"Thanatos," I order. His eyes dart between me and the girl in his arms, hesitating. "Do it." My voice is eerily calm, but I take no heed of it as Thanatos  lets one of his hands that barricaded her chest go, but replaces it under her chin. Holding her still, his fingertips digging into her cheeks.
"NO!" She screams, but I already have my makeshift gag tied around her mouth. 

"You will not jeopardize this mission, Ahmya." I lean in. "This is our one chance. So let. It. Go."
Another muffled scream, maybe a sob. I ignore it, and instead focus on where the guards are taking our ex-member. 

"Bayou," Branwen's voice echos, and my head snaps towards hers. "Maybe we should actually-"

"No." I wave a hand in dismissal. 

She scoffs. "You are not the leader. We never declared you explicitly such. So do not, by any means, try to shush me." 

I take a step towards her. "I got us here," If glares could kill, she would be dying right now.  "I made the plans, and I did all of this." A devoid laugh. "Whether you like it or not, I am the leader. And you will listen to me." 

She smiles, stepping towards me. "No, you will listen to me. Just because you got us here, just because you found a precious hoe of a heir does not mean you can shut us up." 

"Oh," I take another step toward her, prowling forward. "But it does." I signal Brishen, but  he does not move. My gaze slides to him, and his eyes are wide, unfocused. Weak. 

Somebody hits me from the side, and my dagger clatters to the ground as a body hovers over mine. A punch sends my face flying to the side. 

Branwen. 

She grapples at my shirt with the hand not pressing against my throat, holding me still. I seethe up at her, twisting my legs, but she pins those down too. Branwen finally manages to tear my shirt, and I swear as she twists the fabric between us, an amazing feat with only one hand, I must say, but even so...

She is using it against her LEADER.

I push my hand against the ground, trying to push her off me, but she stays. Her hand unclasps my throat but instead thrusts my hair painfully back, making my head hit the road almost painfully hard. I wince as she shoves the fabric between my teeth, tying it at the back of my head, grasping my hair harder so my head arches back in pain. 

Branwen's hands clasp mine as she pulls me up, tying another part of my shirt around them so it brackets my arms behind my back. My glare fixates on her, and I kick my legs out, trying to startle her, but she prances out of the way. 

"Now you will listen to us," Her voice is smug as she says =it, and I roll my eyes. 

"Thanatos," Her order rings, and the signified male lets Ahmya go and undoes her gag. "Now, what do you have to say to Bayou?" She directs her question at the other girl. 

She spits at my feet before starting, "Bricria is a part of our group whether you like it or not, we have saved each other in the past heists we have done, we cannot stop now. We must save him. He is our friend and ally, and he is important." 

I just shake my head. 

"Why not?" Ahmya insists. I raise my eyebrow. 

I have a gag on, I can't really answer, idiot. 

Brishen undoes my gag, yet he keeps it around my neck just in case. 

"It is too much of a risk, we need to leave before the heirs are crowned, so we can kill the Queens." 

Right now, as the Queen's power is dwindling and their life-force is dying, it is the best tim,e to do so. They are at their weakest points, with guards already almost dead and slowly being drained to the point where they are practically ghosts. They are all at their worst, so it only makes sense to strike now before newer, more powerful Queens take their place. 

"Then split us up," Branwen continues. 

I roll my eyes again. "That will only guarantee more people missing." 

"Then let me just go," Ahmya starts, but Thanatos stops her. 

"No, Ahmya. What about Garbhan?" 

"You can take care of him." She pauses. "His Nanny can as well, I paid her enough that she can work for the entire year."

"But we will lose you as well," I insist. 

"You didn't seem to care a minute ago." 

My gaze narrows on her. 

"She has a point," Brishen interjects. "We should save Bricria, and it is important that not all of us can be found. Plus, she has an ally here." I raise my brows at him but he waves me off. "We will tell you on the ship." 

The ship that we are supposed to be taking back at 5:00 AM tomorrow...

"How will you get home?" I ask her. 

She pauses, twirling my makeshift gag I made her in her hand a few times before answering. "The Mannagal at the front desk would help me in a heartbeat."

"you cannot lie," I point out. 

She just looks at me as if I was dumb, "Duh, I have known this since I was born." 

"It is a good idea," Branwen muses. 

"NO!" Thanatos interjects. "It is by no means a 'good idea'! Are you out of your mind, Branwen!" He turns to Ahmya. "And YOU! Why would you even INSINUATE THAT YOU WOULD DO THIS ALONE? I am going with her." 

"No," I shuffle forward, "You will not join her." 

"And why the hell not?" He mimics Ahmya's previous words. 

"Because we cannot lose three." Branwen answers for me. 

"Just let me go, Thanatos." Ahmya touches his cheek, one glistening with tears. "Take care of my son, I will return." 

"Omnia sol caderat." I nod at her, before holding out my hands behind me to Brishen. He undoes the ties and throws them to the murky ground. 

She nods. "Have fun." 

"We always do."