Nocturne

☼ Chapter Thirty-Seven ~ Aurora ☼

This was not good.

Aurora was torn between helping the fleeing citizens or intervening for her King, who in recent weeks she'd begun to consider something of a friend. Fortunately, Aelius seemed capable on his own, breaking away and striking back on his own, the exchange of blows moving lightning fast between the two. Unfortunately, Aurora had her own problems to deal with.

Four warriors converged on her side of their defensive triangle. She managed to block the blows from two, and one was unable to reach her, but the last's blade came ever closer, sweeping inwards in a downwards in a sweeping movement that would have smashed straight through her unprotected skull had another glint of metal not flashed in between them.

"Thanks, Noct," Aurora grunted, reaching forwards to impale Nocturne's own foe, as the saving motion had left Nocturne's chest entirely undefended. "Thank you," Nocturne said, turning to slash towards Arun, a move that distracted him enough for Aelius to graze the other man's side. "But really, you should thank Asimi. I have no more than the last week's training, remember? It's all to its credit."

Aurora smiled as she blocked another blow, Chrysos buzzing in her hand. "I admit, Chrysos is doing more than its fair share as well."

"We're going to need to do more than stand here, you know," she added, casting a wary eye over the battleground.

"I need a weapon," Asa spoke up from behind them, where she was sheltering from the fight, occasionally tripping attackers that came too close. Aurora grunted. "Yes. But where are we going to get the chance to grab one? The best thing we can do is try and get you safely out of here. Your Highness."

"No one's coming too close to King Aelius and Arun," Noted Nocturne. "Perhaps we could use that to our advantage."

"They'll separate us," Asa pointed out.

"We only need to make it to the nearest fallen soldier. Aurora and I will keep the path clear for you. You just have to be fast."

"Alright. Are you sure?"

"Do you see any other options?"

"...No."

"Okay. Do you see the body?"

"Short sword, blue eyes?"

"Yes. Ready?"

Aurora sighed and glanced over her shoulder at the loudly planning Lunars. "You know they can hear us, right?"

"Oh. Yeah." Nocturne was so flustered she almost forgot to defend herself.

"And Aelius and Arun have already fought their way away from us." Aurora spun to avoid getting hit and nodded her head towards the far wall of the stage when Aelius was on his guard. This time, Aurora noticed worriedly, Arun had a proper sword and who knew how long to prepare. The greatsword he bore could easily bat away Aelius' thinner longsword like it was nothing more than a feather if he wasn't careful.

Asa nodded. "OK," Her tone sounded contemplative. Aurora could tell a plan was forming and braced herself to spring forwards. "So, we need to... GO!" she shouted, her voice not betraying the last word until she was already on the move, dashing through legs and blades towards the fallen warrior. Aurora cursed and tore away from her opponent, sprinting along with Nocturne to protect the newly crowned Queen of Artemis.

A sword came stabbing down just as Asa's fingers began to close around the hilt. It sliced through the silk easily and let off a screech as the metal skidded against the stone. The wielder, expecting the soft resistance of flesh, staggered sideways, allowing Asa to roll into a more fight-friendly stance. She twisted around and smacked the warrior with the blunt edge of the blade, sending him to the ground.

Aurora smiled grimly and turned back to the battle. Scanning the field, they were all alive. But they weren't in much better a position then they'd started in. Asa had a sword of her own now, but they had all been separated by a significant amount. They'd manage to bring down a number of Arun's troops, but the Sanctimonia had done their best to balance the books as well.

They had known the Sactimonia existed. An underground hate group against the revival and alliance of Artemis and the Lunar people? Of course they'd expected it. But they hadn't expected them to ever do something as brazen and stupid as attacking the coronation!

In retrospect, they should have known. Even if they hadn't expected it, they should have posted more guards, taken more care. This should never have happened.

Aurora shook her head and plunged back into the fight.

There would be time for blame and regret later. And if there wasn't, they wouldn't be alive to fret about it.

It was already too late.