Of Kings and Pawns

Chapter 20 - Breaking Point

News of Otto Eigermann's sudden coronation spread like wildfire throughout the Old World. The fact that Otto had survived the assassination attempt at the Great Council was shocking enough, but his hasty coronation at Prossenberg left many reeling. They had expected him to be crowned at Brus under the formal eye of the council, not in defiance of the fragile peace established by the treaties after the war. Prossenberg was a symbol of resistance... a statement that the time for treaties and compromise was over.

In Varislow, the city was buzzing with unease. Fear gripped the streets, as whispers about Otto's rise to power and the Elvish assassin who had failed to end him flooded every corner. Varislow, once under Eigermann's control for centuries, was now under threat again. Worse still, the assassin who had attempted to kill Otto hailed from Varislow, casting an even darker shadow over the city's large Elvish population.

Albert Varsaw made his way through the crowded streets, his heart pounding. He was on his way to the library, hoping to lose himself in his studies, but the sudden news had set the city ablaze with tension. As he passed by, he felt the eyes of the human townsfolk on him... cold, accusing stares that seemed to burn into his skin.

"Traitor!" someone shouted.

"Filthy Elvish!" another one followed.

Albert flinched, his pace quickening as he kept his head low. More voices joined in, cursing and spitting at him. Men and women who once paid him no mind now looked at him with disgust, and even children threw stones in his direction. One hit his leg, and he stumbled, feeling the sharp sting of anger and fear surge through him.

Suddenly, Albert found himself cornered, backed into a narrow alley. A mob of humans surrounded him, their faces twisted with rage.

"Your kind brought this upon us!" one man shouted. "The Elvish are why Otto is going to come for us now!"

Albert opened his mouth to defend himself, but the crowd's jeers drowned out his voice. A group of Elvish men, seeing the commotion, rushed to his side, trying to shield him from the mob.

"Leave him be!" one of the Elvish men said. "He has nothing to do with the assassin!"

"Your kind has brought this upon us!" one of the men said. "Eigermann will be marching to Varislow because of you!"

With that, a roar of cheers of agreement followed. The mob was beyond reason. The humans shouted about the Elvish traitor from Varislow, demanding justice for the central kingdoms. The tension escalated as verbal abuse turned into shoving, and the Elvish and human groups collided in a storm of fury.

Then it happened. A blade flashed in the crowd. A human man drew a dagger and, without warning, stabbed one of the Elvish men in the stomach. The world seemed to pause for a heartbeat, and then chaos erupted.

Screams filled the air as the two sides descended into violence. Houses were set ablaze, windows shattered, and blood spilled onto the cobblestone streets. The fragile peace that had once held Varislow together crumbled in an instant.

Albert took the chance to escape, squeezing his way out of the mob as panic spread through the streets. Everywhere he turned, there was chaos... people attacking each other, buildings burning, and the sound of steel clashing as the Knights of Varislow arrived to quell the riot.

He ran, his breath ragged, his heart pounding in his chest. But in the confusion, he found himself lost, stumbling into unfamiliar parts of the city. As he rounded a corner, a group of angry men spotted him. Their eyes gleamed with hate as they charged, eager to spill his blood.

Albert tripped and fell hard to the ground, fear gripping him as the men closed in. He was about to be beaten when, out of nowhere, a mounted knight swept through the crowd, cutting down one of the attackers. The others fled in terror.

The knight dismounted, lifting his visor to reveal none other than Lord Pavel, his father.

"Albert, get on!" Pavel commanded, offering his hand.

Without hesitation, Albert climbed onto the horse, and they galloped through the chaos of the city. As they rode, Albert couldn't shake the dread that had settled in his gut. They passed the familiar streets that led to his home, but Pavel didn't stop.

"Where are you taking me?" Albert asked, his voice trembling with fear. "My home is back there! My mother and my siblings—"

Pavel's face remained tense as he urged the horse forward. "I'm taking you to Varsaw Castle. You'll be safe there."

Albert shook his head in panic. "No! I don't want to go to the castle! I need to go back to my family!"

Pavel tightened his grip on the reins, his voice hard. "It's too dangerous, Albert. I'll send guards to check on them, but you need to stay safe. The castle is the best place for you."

Albert's anger flared. "Why just me? Why can't my mother and my siblings come too? Why are you only taking me?"

Pavel remained silent, his jaw clenched. Albert began pounding his fists against his father's armor, frustration and fear boiling over. "Why won't you protect them too? Why can't we all stay in the castle? Why?! Why?! Father, answer me!"

Finally, Pavel pulled the horse to a stop. He dismounted, turning to face his son, his expression weary and pained. "Albert," he said quietly, "I can't bring them to the castle. If I do, they'll be mistaken for nobility. Otto will target Varislow first, and I won't risk their lives like that."

Albert's eyes filled with tears. He couldn't understand. It felt like his world was unraveling, and nothing made sense anymore.

"I'm sorry," Pavel continued, his voice softening. "I know this is hard. But the world is changing, Albert, faster than we can keep up with. You have to trust me."

Pavel reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small item, tossing it to Albert. It was an eyepatch. "Wear this. It will help you blend in. You're lucky, Albert. You only have one purple eye, unlike the others. This way, no one will know."

Albert caught the eyepatch, staring at it for a long moment. His father mounted the horse again and looked down at him. "Take care of your family. I'll handle what I can."

Without another word, Pavel turned and rode off, leaving Albert standing alone in the chaos. The eyepatch felt heavy in his hand, a symbol of everything he had to hide, of the world he could never fully be a part of.

Slowly, he placed it over his left eye, concealing his Elvish heritage. Then, with a deep breath, he ran back toward his home, praying that his family was still safe.