The Flight of the Eagle (Editing)

War

I climbed up the steps of GoldenGale with more confidence than I felt. The letter in my hand. There would be a doubt about my claim. They were all still at the dinner table, smiling and laughing, but I could see how fake my family was. I would not let something so pure be tainted.

I knew there was blood on my dress, even on my hands, and now the letter that had sealed my fate. Brynjor saw me first, eyes wide. He skidded out of his seat as I reached the table. "Sapphire?" He was by my side, holding my arm. "What happened? You okay?"

"The blood's not mine," I whispered, and his hands stopped their search.

"Then what are you doing here? Eria is waiting for you!" He hid me from the view of the rest of the table. "Sapphire." He caressed my cheek. "I didn't want you to do this."

My whole body was shivering, but I held it together. "It had to be done, Bryn. Not only for the country, but for you."

"Sapphire, turn around and leave out that door right now." He said, but his arms came around my waist, pulling me into his chest, "Please." He took the letter from my hand. The letter that would prove everything I said was true.

"No," I whispered, but he was already opening it. "Bryn." I reached out for the letter but stopped myself. This was what I wanted. For them all to see the truth.

Eria rushed into the room, terror on her face. "We have a problem. An army is here."

The High Lord stood up. "How many fighters do we have here?"

"Just over a hundred thousand." Bryn said, "Massey's army?"

Eria nodded. "Yes, they carry his banner."

"Clan Massey has an army here?" My father shook his head. "No, that can't be."

I swallowed hard. "How many?"

Eria held out her hands in defeat. "I don't know, and it will take two days for our army to arrive."

My father could have his people here on the border in less than twelve hours. I knew what I had to do next.

"We need every soldier ready to intercept. Sound the alarm now!" The High Lord shouted. "Get Asea to safety." He told his wife, "Then join me."

Bryn shook his head. "Father, no, stay here. I'll lead the warriors. We need you alive."

"They need you more son, you're the future." He held up his hand to stop any sounds from his son's throat. "No more. Get ready."

Everyone jumped into action. My father followed Bryn's mother, went to hide in safety with a young Asea. I drug Lyanna out of the room, "They will expect you to fight."

"I can't!" She shook. "What is Jaser planning? This wasn't something he told me."

"Just find somewhere to hide. I got the rest." I made it to the tent with no one paying attention. They were getting ready for the army. I was now wishing I'd kept him alive. Maybe I could've talked him down from all this.

I washed the blood before slipping into red pants and a shirt that I could move in. I'd wanted to stop the war, but it seemed fate had decided it was for the best. "Amannah. You should go to the castle and hide. You'll be safer there." I hugged her, then sent her running.

"What are you doing here?" Father asked, "Where's your sister?" A dark look in his eyes, "Where is Jaser?"

"Lyanna is hiding in the castle. Safe and sound. I've not seen Jaser since I left him." Wasn't a lie.

"I saw Amannah running for the castle. So we are alone?" He put out the fire in the middle of the tent. It got darker, but the sun shone through enough that I could see him. He was pulling his sword from his scabbard.

It took me a moment to register that my father was going to kill me. "Yes. We are alone."

"You've played your part Sapphire, but now overstayed your welcome. I can't have you telling anyone what you did." He swung his sword at my head, the limp he usually had nowhere in sight. Was his whole life a ploy for power? Sad.

I jumped out of his way, passed him, then ran outside of the tent. If he was going to try this, let it be in front of everyone. He came out swinging, no doubt counting on the people preparing for war.

But there was no one out here. They must have all ran for the south side where Eria had seen the army. It was then I noticed blood on my father's sword. "No."

"Yes, the High Lord is dead. Soon his little son shall be as well." He sneered, "Lyanna wasn't as good at getting the bastard as we hoped. But you were. He seemed to like you."

He swung, but I rolled out of the way. "I don't know what you're talking about. I never told him." I blocked his next blow, kicking out at his bad leg. To save my life, I was going to kill my father.

"You think we didn't always have eyes on you?" He grabbed me by the hair. "We even had you followed that night that you thought you were alone. Amannah gave you up when I promised her more money."

I head-butted him, not believing it. I was sure that Jaser wouldn't have told him. Jaser wouldn't have cared enough to tell. This whole time Amannah was spying on me? My first and only friend for so long? The whole time, I thought she was on my side.

"I won't let you take the crown, ever." I spat with a quick move. One landed on my father, cutting into his thigh.

He grunted. His sword barely missed my head. I could feel the wind from the power behind it. "You will be dead like you should've been at birth."

He kept pushing me back. He didn't get a mark, but I couldn't gain the upper hand. I knew I would tire, and he'd have an opening. I wouldn't give up, not till my final breath.

"It would have been smarter to wait till the war was over before you killed me. You know I'm fierce in battle." I blocked his swing, shoving as hard as I could. He took two steps back.

"That is my army." He grinned, "You think I don't know what you did?" He tsked, "Sapphire, I raised you, watched you grow up. I saw you fall for that bastard, knew you would do anything for him, hoping he would love you. Hoping someone would love. I knew when I saw you covered in Jaser's blood."

He knocked me to the ground, one of my daggers flying from my hand, his sword at my throat. "Jaser loved you. I knew you'd get close and kill him, just like Brynjor would want. With Jaser gone and no other heir to Clan Massey. It's gone. I'm the highest-ranking Clan. They will follow me because of our hatred for the Sullivans. You made me the High Lord."

He swung at me before flinching, eyes going to the arrow sticking out of his chest. I looked around to see Bryn holding a bow. "You killed my father and now you turn on your daughter!"

I knew he hadn't heard our conversation, but had put together what I had. My father was last seen with his father. Another arrow went into my father's leg, which made him hit the ground. The dagger was in my hand. "I told you, you'd never get power." I held his head back, then ran my dagger across his throat, blood squirting from the wound.

He fell to the side, dead. I caught Bryn's eyes. Anger and pain in the dark depths. "I'm so sorry."

He threw the bow to the ground, dust flying up at the action. It hadn't rained since I'd been here. He said nothing, just held out his hand for me to take. I ran towards him, throwing myself into his arms. "I'm so sorry Bryn."

He buried his face in my neck, arms holding me tight. "Fuck. Me too. I never wanted to take the crown this way."

That was right. He was High Lord now, but I had no time to speak as battle cries filled the air. Pulling apart, we ran hard towards the battle that was in full swing. Maybe they would give up if they knew their leaders were dead. I doubted it, for giving up meant death. Might as well go out swinging.

"Archers!" Eria yelled, her ax slamming down arrows flew into the other side. She looked ready to tear someone apart. People were dying left and right. I wasted no more time. A man tried to grab me, but I stabbed him. I'd show no mercy.

I thought I heard someone scream my name, but the sound was lost in the thick of moving bodies. Thrusts and blocking were all my mind knew. I lost myself in the battle. All thoughts but killing as many as I could claimed my mind.