The Arcane Rebellion- The Arcane Series #1

Chapter 15

Layla

One of my favorite pastimes is messing up political speeches at the city hall. Especially those revolving around the Four Horsemen.

"We have to find them! They are simply menaces to society!", some duchess yelled out, arguing with some count.

"How do you propose we find them? With the help of those knights that they killed? I agree, they are menaces but they're impossible to catch! They're just too deadly!", the count argued. 

"Well, we have to find deadlier knights then! Those that we send out there are just children! They're just too young and too inexperienced! We need those that are older and actually know what they're doing!", the duchess yelled back.

"Send our best men to deal with some punks? That seems a bit excessive.", another duke chimed in.

"Well, at least we'd know we're well protected!", the duchess said. 

"Do you think that the knights would be able to protect you, though?", I asked, just to scare them a bit. All heads snapped to me. "Well, I mean, the knights are decent fighters but the Horsemen are too good for them. They don't stand a chance.", I said and some duke glared at me.

"And who are you, you little witch?", he questioned angrily.

"No one important.", I said with a sarcastic smile.

"Then keep quiet.", he retorted. "As I was saying, putting our best men on the front line is too dangerous. We're already at war with Steallaca and the knights are needed there.", he said.

"But we're at war with the Horsemen, also!", that duchess said.

I snorted. "At war my ass.", they gasped at my crude language. "The Horsemen are not attacking any of you.", I told them. Obviously, I knew we didn't give a flying fuck about the dukes and duchesses and whatnot, but it seems that they didn't.

"Will someone escort her out! She's disrupting!", the duke yelled and two knights came to escort me. I smiled at the men sweetly, letting them lead me out. At least I managed to plant some new fears in the nobility's heads. 

"Don't show up here again or you will be arrested.", one of the knights told me with a sigh. I scoffed, turning away from them and making my way back to the Sanctuary. 

***

It was the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep. Again.

Instead of tossing and turning in my bed, I decided to get up and go sit on the balcony. The common room was, expectantly, empty as I walked through it to the balcony. I opened the door and cold air rushed in, my nightgown flowing around me. I sat down on the bench, looking at the city before me. All the lights were off and the full moon was high up in the sky. There was not a soul outside.

I brought my knees to my chest, my back aching in protest as I did so. The pain was great, almost too great to bear. I wanted to cry and scream at the world, but I couldn't do that. What kind of a leader would I be if I couldn't handle a little pain.

I jumped a little as a voice spoke behind me. "You're bleeding again.", Xavi whispered and I didn't even hear when he had opened the balcony door and came to stand behind me.

"I know.", I whispered back as he sat down beside me.

He sighed. "You couldn't sleep?", I shook my head. He handed me a glass of whiskey which I didn't even see he was holding. I hesitantly took it- I usually don't drink.

"Thanks.", I mumbled, taking a sip of the bitter drink.

He sighed. "What's wrong?", he asked me.

I contemplated whether I should tell him or not. I downed the rest of the bitter drink, groaning and making a face at the aftertaste it left in my mouth. "Just bad dreams. And pain.", I explained.