“What is the current status of the issue, Sir?”
“You’re not a Warrior, Ten. This isn’t your concern.”
“With all due respect, I don’t buy that. Calix and Crimson are with you. I’m as effective as they are.”
“Maybe. But that isn’t my call. Warriors only. The directive has come from the Orders specifically.”
“Is the attack real, and do we know who initiated it?” I ask the two pertinent questions.
“Yes, it’s real. But beyond that, I won’t share key information with you. I offer the confirmation only out of respect for you and our history.”
Because for most of my life, we lived under the assumption I’d be one of his soldiers to command one day. If not more.
“You’ve pulled all Warriors on duty.” It wasn’t a question, but I need to know this for the next step of the plan to work.
We set our stares, and I refuse to give. He knows I’m aware that would be the move to make. “Curse your father.” He shakes his head. “Do I want to know what happened to the officer watching the training residence?”
“No.”
“Very well. Do I need to find someone to escort you back there?”
“No. I’ll go directly to the Ciro apartments in The Chamber. You seem to be exiting The Court, leaving a minimal defence, so it would be the logical place now.”
His blue eyes narrow again, but I keep my shoulders squared and stand up to him as any other Warrior would. He nods before peeling off and joining the rest of the Warriors under his command, heading out to reinforce the west.
“Whoa, that was intense,” Micah breaks his silence.
“Not really. And he did give up some useful information.” Ever won’t be heavily guarded in the cells. If I can’t get answers from my father, I will be able to get to her.
“Okay. I’m guessing by the fact that I’m nearly running that you have amended your plan.”
I don’t stop the jog I’ve broken into. “Ever.”
“Ever, what?”
“I’m going to get Ever.”
I lead us over the bridge, nobody daring to stand in our way following the conversation with General Aster. The closer we get to The Court, the more chaos seems to fill the air.
Logically, it makes sense. Kirrasia is peaceful, so the breach of the perimeter by an unknown enemy will cause panic. And, while there are Warriors stationed here, it’s not the main force of my father’s army.
By the looks of people rushing about with panic on their faces, many don’t like the idea of our way of life being put in jeopardy and the Warriors taking over. Every Warrior I see is now dressed in black, in a uniform that I’ve worn on numerous occasions for training prior to my Transference.
They are stationed in groups at the gate to The Court and at strategic positions, and we make our way further inside, spiralling up towards the centre and The Tower, where there’ll be more heavily armed and experienced Warriors.
“I need to check on my family.” For once, Micah’s voice is solemn and serious, and I can’t blame him. There is no direct threat I can see. Nobody has breached the walls—no fighting in the streets—yet, there’s fear in the air.
“Sure. I’ll be at the cells.”
“I’ll meet you… where?”
“We’ll find you. Go check on your family,” I order.
Hardly anyone here has witnessed our Court under attack, as it’s not happened since I was old enough to remember. And it takes everything in me to keep moving through the people I know and recognise and not change direction and insist Aster takes me into his ranks.
A yearly drill of the very civilised plan of what to do in the event of the alarm sounding has clearly gone to shit. Maybe we’ve grown complacent over time, with no belief that this could happen. I can’t think about that now, though—I have to get to The Tower.
Those stationed at the entrance give me pause as I approach, but I raise my hands and give them my name, which seems to solve many of my problems. Officers line the corridor and the main stairwell up to the offices, but that’s not where I’m heading.
