Flames of Liberation

Chapter 13

The plan was working perfectly. With the help of Kael's Middle Circle connections, the three of them were able to pass through the marketplace and Noble residential areas with ease. Anya scowled at the spacious homes of the nobles. The green expanses and palace-like builds were a stark contrast to the small, squeezed-together hovels of her hometown. She distracted herself from the thought by reminding herself that, if things go well, she and her friends will be able to complete the Heart's mission of reforming the Queendom into a better, more equal society.Kael snapped Anya out of her thoughts with a nudge to the shoulder. "Anya, we're here."Indeed, just ahead was the heavily guarded, imposing Upper Wall. Unlike its outer counterpart, this wall was well-kept and sturdy. The nearest sign of aging was the deteriorating statue of the First Mage.

Closer to the gate, guards adorned with the finest armor in the Queendom stood at attention, swords sheathed at their sides. Atop the wall stood rangers and crossbowmen, aimed at anything that moved. It was well known that the guards closest to the Queen and the Royal Family were the most well-trained in the country. This fact alone would make infiltrating the Castle a suicide mission. Thankfully, Anya wasn't planning on risking her life today.

Hiro looked at their cousin. "Now what? If we walk up to the guards, they'll arrest us and take us to Elara!"

"Exactly! Elara probably has Silas. She's not the type of person to hide something. She flaunted the Grimoire without second thought. If we go to her, she'll most likely rub it in that she has him," Anya explained. "While she's busy ranting about whatever plan she has, I can send Rekka to burn whatever restraints she has him in."

The firefox beside Anya, who had doused its own flames so that the guards would think it's a common unbonded firefox, looks up at her. Hiro and Kael look down at him.

"Rekka? Where did that name come from?" Kael asked.

Anya smiled. "I'm not sure. It just... came to me."

Hiro's eyes lit up. "I read somewhere that Familiars have a special bond with their Mages. No one knows how it works, but Fujikita legend says that a Familiar's name is written on the Mage's heart soon after the bond is forged."

Anya and Kael smiled at this. Before either could say anything, a deep voice broke the silence of the night. A long sword rested in front of Anya's neck threateningly.

"Stop right there, rebel scum," the mysterious man commanded. Rekka's fur flickered, and he growled at the stranger. Anya calmed him with a simple motion and turned to face her attacker.

"Hello again, Marcus." She looked the man in the eyes. Marcus' own eyes widened as the familiar face of the armory arsonist came into focus.

"Anya Duskheart. I should've expected this. The High Advisor is waiting for you." He looked around at the rest of them. "All of you."

Another guard appeared beside Kael. His bright green eyes dug into the Ember's Heart leader like daggers. "Don't think of trying to escape. We've got you trapped," he warned. He then turned to Marcus and smiled. "Let's take them to Elara."

"Already on it, Grayson," Marcus nodded. He and Grayson then walked the three rebels to the gate of the Inner Wall. They crossed the bridge over the river and to the tall palace ahead. Marcus signaled to guards at the door to the Castle, who nodded and let the five of them in.

After a long walk through the main entryway, dining hall, and guard's quarters, during which the two guards spoke to each other in hushed tones, the group ended up in front of two large doors decorated with dark violet, gold, and black embellishments. Marcus and Grayson turned to Anya, Hiro, and Kael.

"The High Advisor has been anticipating your presence for an hour now. She is growing impatient." Marcus looked directly at Anya, who met his gaze with determination despite the whirlwind of emotions within her.

With that, Marcus and Grayson opened the doors to the room. The decor within was unlike anything Anya had imagined. She had expected an expanse as dark and foreboding as the Advisor herself. Instead, the bright, natural lighting and cool blue walls gave a sense of calmness. Anya wanted to slap herself. Of course, someone who had kept her true intentions under wraps for so long wouldn't make their quarters dark and dreary.

The High Advisor sat on a makeshift throne on the opposite end of the room. The shadow that always seemed to follow her stood next to her, and a chill ran down Anya's spine as she realized that Anaris was hiding within it. She scanned the room for Silas, only for panic to set in as she realized he was nowhere in sight.

Anya had expected Elara to have him chained up next to her like a prize. His absence was as disappointing and nerve-wracking as it was worrisome. She looked at her friends, who frowned and looked down in defeat.

To make matters worse, Anaris had made its presence known. It stepped out of the shadow, its signature grin sending a chill through the air.

"Ah, there you are." Elara's voice broke the chilling silence as she stood and walked to the three rebellious adults. "I was starting to worry that you wouldn't come! I had considered the idea that you didn't care enough about the young mister Brightheart to come rescue him, and that my plan was for nothing."

"Where is Silas?!" Hiro demanded. Their eyes held a fury unlike anything Anya had seen from her cousin before.

"Right here," Anaris purred, pulling its arm from the shadow at its back. Anya and her friends gasped as the familiar blonde hair and freckled face of their friend appeared and the shadow vanished.

"Silas!" Kael shouted. He stood and ran to his friend, throwing his arms around the blonde in a warm embrace. When Silas didn't return the hug, he pulled away and looked into his friend's eyes.

Anya joined Kael at his side. Something about Silas' blank stare confused her. At her feet, Rekka growled, and his fur prickled. Flames danced along his back. Familiars are famously attuned to the energy of others, so Anya's eyes widened at the warning. "Kael, something's wrong."

The two of them stepped back before looking the blonde up and down. His once bright, joyful eyes were dark and emotionless. His eyes held no light as he looked between the two of them. Worst of all, his once constant smile had vanished completely.

Silas closed his eyes and looked down. It didn't take long for Anya to realize he was mirroring Anaris' own actions. He smiled and opened his eyes, revealing empty black pools.

"Oh, no." Kael stepped farther away from his friend and covered his mouth. It was at that moment that the three friends realized that their friend was under Anaris' control.