Scarves

His Reckoning

Fritz's POV

Oh crap. Oh crap, of crap, oh crap, of crap. We were about to start the games when the Warning Alarms went off. Anstid shot out of her seat and ordered her guards to come down and grab Lyrenna and Via to protect them. Me and Dray immediately drew our swords and stood on either side of the girls. They had their weapons drawn as well and we were running towards the stairs. Anstid's guards reached us and surrounded out small group and led us up the stairs. 

Explosions caused the entire city state to shake. We reached the landing and the girls shot off towards the throne room, us and the guards not far behind. Dray was screaming at passing guards to figure out what in all of hell was happening. Octavia threw the doors open and Anstid spun around from her table. All her generals except for Dray were there.

"Anstid, what in Jupiter's name is happening?" Octavia inquired of her sister. Another explosion erupted and a building near the edge of the city collapsed. Dray yelled through the city's sound system that any guard not in the throne room was to go and help the citizens.

"Lyrenna, Octavia. Our city is under attack, the Athras and traitors ambushed us." Lyrenna nodded and turned to Octavia. 

"Find our people and bring them here. Lock the throne room doors behind you. And trust absolutely no one. Got it?" Octavia immediately nodded and took off.

"DRAY! Go with my sister and make sure she isn't killed." Anstid ordered. He nodded quickly and took off behind Octavia. The doors were quickly shut behind them. "Everyone out! Except Lyrenna and Fritz." The sector generals nodded, and ushered all the servants out the door before leaving themselves.

One of the servants lingered and quickly turned to her commander. Her face immediately turned a shade of green and she hissed, pointing a crossbow at Anstid. Lyrenna didn't make it on time, and neither did I. The creature shot an arrow at the commander right before Lyren decapitated it. Anstid fell to the floor and rolled over, Lyrenna moving towards her quicker than lightning. 

She took the end of the arrow that was sticking out and shoved it towards Anstid so the point came out the other side. She broke of the tip and then pulled it out. She ripped of part of the commander's cloak and tied it around the wound.

She was starting to cough up blood, and we both knew we were gonna lose her. She started to say something but she had another coughing fit. She finally stopped, "Lyrenna, listen to me, please. There is a threat out there greater than anything we are. War turns even the brightest faces into monsters, with eyes red like fire, and fangs like that of a snake. We can't run from the dark, but we can light it up and make it succumb to our authority. Never forget that, as you lead my people. I won't let them become the dark."

Lyrenna looked up at me, and I shrugged. Anstid just made it clear that Lyren was going to lead her people. "But, Commander, we didn't complete the games?"

"That doesn't matter. I only had you go through the games because my sister was in the picture. I know she doesn't want to lead them, and I don't want her to lead them either. My sister is a smart girl, but she's a better fighter than leader. You will do so well. Tell my sister goodbye for me." Anstid took a few gasping breaths before finally going limp in Lyrenna's arms. 

The commander was gone, and a new one had risen in her place.