The Fallen Queen

Chapter Four: The Escape

Cries filled the room once more as the Queen was struck from behind by the hilt of Hellino's sword. Her body felt heavy now that he was holding dead weight. To think this was the woman from his dream. Why had he not noticed sooner? That damn dream had terrorized him for years, but two weeks ago it changed. She had appeared in it; dressed in a white shift and utterly terrified by him. The look in her eyes. That look had haunted him more than the gory scene before him. It had been burned onto his very soul, appearing whenever he closed his eyes. And yet; when she had stood before him in the flesh he had not recognized her. That is, of course, until she was bathed in the blood of her Count, staring up at him with that same terrified expression.

Hellino looked down at her. He had thought that the dark spots on the dream woman's face were specks of blood. War was a bloody affair after all and it was a reasonable assumption. Now he realized they had been freckles. Their pattern reminded him of the constellations he had seen illustrated in scrolls. He had never seen people as fair skinned as those in Greythorn, and their Queen was no exception. Her skin was a pale ivory, cream; missing only the splotchy red undertones many of her subjects had. Her hair was the palest gold. Soft shiny curls coiled around his fingers as he hefted the unconscious woman up. Features all so different from the red skinned, dark haired people for Soria; so different from his own.

"Take her away," Ional commanded, his voice cutting through Hellino's thoughts, "And, you, get these people out of here. The mines are waiting for them."

The nobles gathered started to cry out and scream as soldiers began to close in on them. A servant's door burst open to the left of the room and a Sorian soldier rushed in. Breathing heavily, the man leaned forward placing both his hands on his knees.

"The ships," He paused to catch his breath, "The ships are burning," He gasped out. He had obviously ran all the way from the port.

"What?" Ional asked sharply, his eyes narrowing in anger as he stepped down from the diaz. Hellino glanced from the Ambassador to the winded soldier. If the ships were under attack getting the Queen out through the port, like they had planned, would be too dangerous. They would need a new plan and fast. Whoever was attacking the ships could make getting out of the city unseen difficult. Hellino did not know how many there were, or where they might be, but clearly someone still had their wits about them after the night's festivities. If most of the fighting was happening at the port, Hellino's best bet was to head in the opposite direction.

"The ships are compromised. Take the girl-"

"I know," Hellion interjected bluntly as he hefted Felicity over his shoulder. He used the hem of her shift to wipe the maid's blood from his sword then sheathed it. He turned from Ional, leaving the Governor to his own tasks.

Hellino began addressing his men.

"Rashor, send word to the rest of your unit. 'Meet at the Mountain Pass on the Travelose side '. Then get Thomazo and head to the stables. Ready four horses," He commanded.

Rashor, a young man of average height and typical Sorian features, stood off to one side. His red eyes gleamed with excitement. A quick glance at Rashor's long hair, red dye crawling about a fourth of the way up his braid, would declare his position as a Ledsol. A Ledsol commanded a group of ten soldiers called a Solis. Given Rashor's youthful appearances the rank was a credit to his efficiency and leadership qualities. He did not wear the black and red plated armor of the other soldiers. Instead, he dressed lightly in a studded dark leather vest, dusty brown trousers and leather boots. A dark traveling cloak would help keep him dry on what promised to be a rainy day. Hellino wore a similar outfit. Their party was in need of discrete haste.

"Yes General," Rashor said with a crooked grin. He turned on his heels and slipped from the courtroom, weaving between hysteric nobles being ushered out.