Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

SIXTY-TWO

'A Briggs is blood-bound to prevail.'

-An unseen extract from scholar and journalist Aksel Briggs' first work, now widely banned across the Walls for inspiring a violent vigilante movement.

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SIXTY-TWO

Wall Sina, Interior, Mitras, Royal Palace

"Hear ye! Hear ye! Public figures Aksel and Adette Briggs escape Military Police custody! Whereabouts currently unknown and investigation ongoing!" The town crier yelled the news down every street and back alley in Mitras. Heads popped out of every window; the entire capital strained to hear the news.

From street urchin to aristocrat, this news was sure to revolutionise the atmosphere in the Walls. Now that Aksel Briggs was back, now that he had escaped from the Military Police's clutches, it was a matter of hours until he found out about Havas' presence. A matter of hours until his first article was published.

Until then, all the people could do was wait.

There was a storm brewing.

<>

Levi awoke to the palace in chaos.

The news had swarmed him the second he had awoken. From palace corridor to back alley, all of Mitras seemed alive with chatter. He could hear the excited shouts of the public in the streets below. He could hear the frightened whispers of the nobility. Briggs is back, Briggs is back, Briggs is back, the city chanted.

But Levi cared not for nobles or hopefuls, all straining to catch an earful of a rumour, for it seemed Lorelai's worst nightmare had materialised.

He had to find her. If Levi knew anything about Lorelai at all, it was that she was scared to death of Aksel Briggs. The mention of his name, his supporters, his family. No man nor monster could terrify Lorelai like Briggs could.

She wasn't in her rooms. Freshly stationed guards had said Lorelai had been one of the first to receive the news. Midnight. Not long after they had bid goodnight to each other. After that, she'd left the palace and not returned.

All Levi could do was wait.

It was another agonising hour of pacing and worrying before he spied Lorelai stepping out of a carriage in the courtyard below. She was being tailed by at least fifty people, all shoving notepads in her face and shouting at her. Journalists.

The second Levi saw her blonde head of hair, he was racing down the stairs and to the courtyard. The sun blinded him momentarily as he stepped out into the chaos-

"Lady Bervik! What exactly is your response to this morning's news?"

"Lady Bervik! What measures can we expect to guarantee Havas' protection?"

"Lady Bervik! Lady Bervik! Lady Bervik!"

"Alright, all of you listen! Lady Bervik doesn't have to answer shit," a familiar voice, firm over the commotion. Thomsen. "Get the hell out of the way, or we will be compelled to use force!"

Thomsen manoeuvred Lorelai through the crowd, shielding her from the most persistent journalists. Levi followed them. Eventually, the three crossed the palace threshold, and the guards shut the heavy doors. This was the first time the palace doors had been shut for years.