Queen of Fire (A Light-Bringer Prequel)

Nine

Marilyn threw her arms around Miles and he staggered back. After a minute, Miles held her at arms' length.

"We don't have much time," he said. "Go up to your room, and grab only what you can touch. I will go to the armory and saddle up Starlight. Also, stick to the servants' stairwells. Go, Marilyn, go!"

Marilyn ran. She ran through the corridors to the nearest servants' stairwell that would lead to her room. She pushed through the door at the top and found herself in her room.

Moonlight spilled through the grand windows, giving the room a similar abandoned feel as her sister's. 

Marilyn threw open one of the wardrobes and pulled out a leather bag. She ran around her room, throwing random pants and tunics in her bag, tossing her hair brush, a pair of scissors, and a few random coins in.

Marilyn ran back to the servants' stairwell, but paused and took one last look at her room before she ran down the stairs—bag over her shoulders. She ran down, down, down. She ran through the narrow servants' corridors until she reached another staircase to run down.

Once she was close enough to the stables, she left the servants' corridors and ran into the stables where she found Miles and Starlight waiting—the stable doors open to the night beyond.

Marilyn ran out to them, panting when she stopped. Miles held a sword in his hands, the ruby glowing in the night. Her eyes widened.

"Did you steal Azar?" she said in bewilderment.

"It doesn't belong to her," said Miles.

"Wait, you knew that Ashlynn was a witch?" she asked.

"I've known since the mourning period," he said. "Almost every Royal Guard is under her influence."

Shouts arose from inside the castle. 

"They know you're gone," he said. "There's armor in your saddlebags as well as some food. And—" he looked down at Azar and then held it out to her "—I believe that this belongs to you, Queen of Fire."

Marilyn took Azar and noticed the pouch of money tied around the hilt. She looked up at her friend. "Thank you, Miles," she said, her voice cracking.

She turned to mount her horse when Miles said, "One more thing, Marilyn."

Marilyn faced Miles, and her eyes went wide when he pressed his lips against hers.

When he pulled back, his cheeks flushed, he said, "I had to do that at least once. Now run, my Queen."

Marilyn blinked several times before she mounted her horse. She kicked Starlight into a gallop right when the stable doors flew open, and soldiers poured out. Marilyn ran through the open courtyard gates when she heard the twang of bowstrings. She turned in time to throw her hand out to the falling arrows, fire bursting from her palm—the arrows turning to ash as they hit the flames.

Marilyn turned around and rode off into the night—never to be seen again.

___

Miles walked through the empty corridors, his comrades' hands firmly on his arms.

He'd committed treason, and now he was going to pay for it. He'd gladly go to the gallows if it meant that Marilyn would come back and rain hell down on Ashlynn.

As they stopped outside the throne room, waiting for the large doors to open, Miles could only see the fire Marilyn had wielded to turn the arrows into ash.

His comrades were acting almost robotically—their eyes cold and distant. A chill went up his spine.

My name is Miles Gomez, and I won't be afraid.

He repeated it in his head over and over again, the fire playing behind his eyes, until he caught sight of the witch on the throne.

Miles held his head high, determined to keep his best friend safe, as he walked into the throne room to meet his fate.

My name is Miles Gomez, and I will not be broken.