The Arcane Rebellion- The Arcane Series #1

Chapter 45

Layla

I lunged at him before anyone could stop me. I pushed him down onto the floor and started punching him in the face, screaming profanities at him just as the orchestra started playing lively music in the background.

Two pairs of hands pulled me back from him and I tried kicking out of their grips, but without any success. "I thought you were dead!", I yelled at him, jerking out of Xavi and Amir's grips, pointing a finger at his chest. "We all thought you were dead, Andy!", I yelled at him again, poking him in the chest. He just stared down at me for a moment. "Say something, you lying bastard!", I screamed, starting to lunge at him again, but Xavi caught my arm.

"It's so good to see you again.", he whispered, a small smile playing at his bleeding lips. "All of you.", he looked at the gentlemen.

It seemed we had a lot to talk about. I was going to scream some more profanities at him, but the Queen approached us.

"What is going on here?", she asked, a concerned look on her face.

"I apologize for all the yelling, your Majesty.", I said sincerely, curtsying and bowing my head.

"It's quite alright.", she said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I flinched, but she thankfully didn't notice. "I would like you to make a speech. Tell the people who you are. They all want to know who saved them.", she softly said and I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

She led me up towards the thrones and I stood on the platform, looking down at everyone. I immediately gestured for Xavi, Amir and Uriah to come up with me and they did as told. They stood beside me and I cleared my throat.

The music stopped playing. "My name is Layla Lavellan.", politicians and other guests, those who are not from the Sanctuary, gasped at my last name. "I am the leader of the Four Horsemen and a descendant of the founder of the Horsemen! The gentlemen beside me are also the leaders. We are the ones that caused all the commotion these past few years like many generations of Horsemen before us.", I said, looking at the crowd and then at Andy, who was glaring up at me.

I turned to the men behind me, gesturing them to introduce themselves. Xavi was the first to step forward. "My name is Xavi Blanc."

Amir followed. "My name is Amir Mansur."

So did Uriah. "And my name is Uriah Coste."

"We are the Four Horsemen.", I said.

***

We mingled a bit with everyone present in the ballroom, or at least those who wanted to talk to us, which was mostly just mages. Two people did come see me as I was finishing talking to some politician, one who was also secretly a mage. He was thanking me for making sure that the kingdom would be safe for those like us now.

After I finished talking to him, I turned to the two women who approached me with smiles on their faces. 

"Duchess Cordelia, Martha.", I said, bowing to the both of them. The duchess scoffed.

"What did I tell you, Layla. No formalities.", she scolded and I nodded.

"So, this was what you kids were planning?", Martha asked proudly and I nodded with a smile. "I knew you kids were crazy, but I guess I didn't know how crazy.", she chuckled and I joined.

"Well, someone does have to be on the crazier side, no?", I asked with a chuckle.

"True, true.", the women mumbled. Duchess Cordelia's gaze lingered on my body for a while and I looked down in question. "It suits you. Just like it did Morticia. She would have been proud.", she told me and I nodded with a sad smile.