Paladin - the path begins

Chapter 8

Luna dragged Tar'vid's beaten body over to her father's guards, hopefully before anyone had gotten a good look at him.

"Throw him into segregation, let no one in!" she ordered them calmly, though her heart was pounding madly.

The guards took her orders immediately, hauling Tar'vid off to the dungeons on the far side of town in a covered waggon. Luna was concerned a riot would break out, but the crowds were dispersed quickly by her father's guards and the square was being secured. Her sister sat on the stage edge as still as a statue, her make-up ruined by tears. Deadra picked her up gently, carrying Fiora away from the puddle of what had been Jaike, tears coming to Luna's eyes as she realised the visions had all come to pass, with such suddenness and brutality. She never wished to see the future again, all it had brought was death and sorrow. Her father was circled by guards and healers, a green glow flashing sporadically from within the grouping and Luna wondered what magics were being worked to save her father's life. The stage was still awash in blood and Jaike's remains. The smell was making her feel sick, like burnt pig fat. Deadra came to her, the beautiful dress soaked in blood and her usually serene face shaking. Luna had never seen Deadra like this before, not even her father's spymaster had seen this coming and that scared her.

"Deadra?" she asked, though it elicited no reaction, as though the woman was somewhere else.

She spoke her name again, this time Deadra turned to her as if in a dream.

"Luna, what are you still doing here... you should be at the palace, with Fiora" she stated, their roles seemingly reversed now.

"Deadra, I think it's you that should go back to the palace, you're clearly not taking this well," she said calmly.

"But the king!" Deadra replied in protest, tears in her eyes.

"The healers will do their best, there's nothing more you can do here. You there, guardsman, take her back to the palace!" Luna shouted, waving over a passing guard and then watching them leave.

Arguments were breaking out around her father now as his advisers and the healers screamed at each other. She tried pressing forward to see her father but Faolin intercepted her, keeping her at bay long enough to calm her down.

"Please princess, tensions are already high. Your father doesn't need any more stress put on him" he said calmly, barring her way.

"Why are they arguing... by the gods Faolin, why aren't they helping him... is my father going to die Faolin?" she cried, her fears growing unbearably.

"He isn't going to die... but the council want to bring in Paladins to heal your father properly, the healers are feeling affronted at the very thought, who knows what your father would say" Faolin replied, finally releasing her as she stopped struggling.

"Bring them in Faolin, if it will save my father. I can't lose him!" Luna demanded, she was considering trying to break past him again.

Faolin only shook his head, he wouldn't let her pass. Certainly not in her current state, Luna backed up a little.

"It's not that simple princess, the king must make the choice once he regains consciousness. And even then... allowing Paladins into the city could cause riots, the war wounds are still raw to many here princess".

Luna stood off, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Fine, my sister will need me Faolin. Just keep my father safe... and let no one see the prisoner until I come back" she told the head guard sternly.

"Princess you don't have the authori...".

"Just do it Faolin, damn it all. I don't have time for this!" she growled angrily, resisting the urge to punch him.