The First Queen

24 - Masquerading as a Riot

I awoke at sunrise to the sound of shouting and chanting, I rubbed my eyes and leapt out of bed, hastily pulling a gown over my head and, just in case, snatching up the sword that was mounted on the wall.

I burst through the door and slammed into Sir Wraith who was frantic and nervous.

"What's going on!?" I asked him and he peered over my shoulder before meeting my eyes again.

"There's a riot at the gates. After the meeting with Florian Centyre, he gathered up a mob and stormed the palace but we've pushed them back towards the far eastern side of The Beltane District." He informed me and my eyes widened and I could feel sweat forming on my forehead.

I didn't-- I wasn't-- A riot?!

"Go to safety," Wraith ordered.

He nodded his head to me before dashing down the corridor but I ignored his demand and followed closely on his heels despite my irritating dress.

Once the cool morning breeze hit me and my eyes adjusted to the light, I was shocked to see the large number of people who were participating in the riot and also fending them off.

The demonstrators who weren't wearing the Centyre colours had household items as weapons such as pitchforks and torches whereas those who were had powerful weapons that ranged from daggers to cudgels and the soldiers had tower shields to hold them off but a few itched to reach for their blades.

I scrutinised the crowd of soldiers and spotted a familiar tall, blonde-haired Captain amongst the ranks of troops and she was fighting off the rioters as well as shouting orders to her men.

"Don't attack them!" She demanded through gritted teeth, pushing against the bodies of the commoners.

I was stunned in place until a lone arrow cut through the air and pierced the skull of a soldier whom had collapsed at my feet, dead.

I staggered back as the insurgents pushed through the line of guards and charged forwards, hurling insults at both the court and myself.

My hands shook and I tried desperately to keep a good grip on my sword as I trembled in fear at the enraged commoners who now ploughed through the soldiers like a knife cutting butter.

A Centyre boy who looked no older than sixteen locked eyes with me and readied his sword with a murderous glint in his eyes and a wicked, toothy grin on his lips.

As he approached me two thoughts went through my mind: I don't want to hurt him and I really don't want to have to protect myself.

The boy raised his blade but I parried with my own and shoved him back far enough to get a few words in. I've learnt enough from Athena and my time in Aerilon to defend myself.

"You don't have to do this!" I cried but the boy ignored me and went on the offence again.

I grunted at every time I heard and felt the clashing steel of our swords and I tried my hardest to keep him at bay but I kept getting a fresh, deep cut along my knuckles or even chest every time I got close enough to push him away.

The boy stepped back and raised his blade, putting all of his force into it so when I parried, I didn't have the strength nor the energy to push him back. He let out a guttural growl as he pressed all of his weight down on me and I groaned as my knees started to buckle beneath me.

He huffed in annoyance and released a fist from his blade, instead, raising it behind him and colliding it with my nose.

I let out a shrill screech of pain and dropped the sword as I fell backwards, clutching my nose with both hands.