The guards exchanged nervous glances. Shi’chen found one of his former Honor Garrison guards amongst them and pegged him with a stern look. “Second Lieutenant Hin-Schaa’ven, go find Captain An-Hila’ra and bring them to us. Go.”
The young palace guard bowed hesitantly. “Yes, Captain,” he said before backing to The Keep door that was barred. Two guards opened it for him, and the young goblin disappeared outside into the late afternoon sunlight. The guards all shuffled nervously, watching him and the half-elf behind him, but Shi’chen held his ground for the time it took the young guard to find Captain An-Hila’ra. When they appeared, the guards all snapped to attention.
Captain Ra’shii stepped inside The Keep, eyeing En’shea and Shi’chen warily. Shi’chen sheathed his dagger and pulled the Commander pin from his pocket and tossed it to them. Ra’shii caught it and examined it. “Commander Hi’jan Hin-Ve’ssa is dead, and the former Emperor is under our control,” Shi’chen said. En’shea gave a jerk in his arms, but Shi’chen yanked him back. “As the eldest son of the Regent Bel’kir Er-Ha’sen, we assume the temporary role of Regent of Hanenea’a.” A rustle went through the guards, but a look from Captain Ra’shii silenced them again. “Captain An-Hila’ra, we must know where your loyalties lie.”
Ra’shii knelt and placed a hand on their chest, bowing their head. “Our loyalty lies with the realm, Your Highness. As you are acting Regent, we are your servant.”
Shi’chen nodded, letting out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding. “For now, we want all of Commander Hin-Ve’ssa’s former Courage Garrison placed in custody and guarded at all times. But there shall not be any bloodshed or mistreatment without just cause.”
“Yes, Your Highness. And the… former Emperor?” Ra’shii asked, casting an uncertain glance at En’shea.
“Stays with me,” Shi’chen replied.
Ra’shii stood and bowed their head. “Yes, Your Highness. Do you wish to speak to the crowd?”
“We do,” Shi’chen replied. “But first we must see to our brother’s injuries.”
A’bbni shook his head. “I will be all right, i-sha. Please reassure the crowd so no one gets hurt.”
Shi’chen turned to Lai, who was cradling A’bbni against his chest. His twin was a color he had never seen a goblin turn before, and his heart ached knowing A’bbni must be in absolute agony. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” The word came out through gritted teeth, but Shi’chen could see the determination in his brother’s eyes.
“Come,” he said, dragging En’shea as he went, and Lai followed at his heels. Shi’chen strode across the courtyard, hauling En’shea along with him by the collar, Captain Ra’shii a step behind him. The guards that spanned the walls and clustered at the bolted gates turned to watch him, and he recognized a large number of them from Honor and Allegiance. “Stand down,” Captain Ra’shii said. “Commander Hin-Ve’ssa is dead, and Captain Er-Ha’sen is the acting Regent. Any guard who does not stand down immediately will be arrested for insubordination and treason.”
Looks were exchanged amongst the guards, but they all quickly lowered or dropped their weapons, many of them pressing their hands to their hearts as they gazed back at Shi’chen, a few of them hiding relieved smiles. He felt a surge of pride at his former troops as he surveyed them all obeying him so readily. “Open the gates,” he ordered. The guards scrambled to follow his command. Shi’chen expected the crowd to come flooding in when the gates opened, but surprisingly, it did not. Those gathered there were standing back and watching anxiously, and Shi’chen felt another moment of pride as he realized that Captain Ra’shii must have been coordinating with and controlling the crowd to keep the situation from becoming violent.
As he moved over to the gates, he saw Zea’dda, Gii’han, and Kella break through the front of the assembly, and he let out a silent sigh of relief to see his friends unharmed. He glanced over at Lai and A’bbni, who still looked absolutely miserable but was holding himself together with much more dignity than Shi’chen was sure he could have mustered in the same circumstances.
Shi’chen grabbed En’shea by the back of his neck and shoved him to his knees on the cobbled courtyard, keeping his dagger to the Emperor’s throat. A roar went up from the crowd, dozens becoming hundreds becoming several thousand voices, cheering and yelling. Shi’chen glanced over at Kella, who gave him a small, encouraging nod. Shi’chen raised his free hand, and the crowd slowly quieted again. “The former Emperor, En’shea Er-Ha’sen is under our control. By the laws of succession, we claim the right to the throne and assume the role of temporary Regent of Hanenea’a. We ask you to please return to your homes. Select your witnesses and have them come to the palace at mid-day tomorrow. Until then, please, let us not shed any more blood this night,” he said firmly, directing the words both to the crowd and to the guards behind him.
Another cheer went up from the crowd, but Shi’chen did not care. He saw Zea’dda, Gii’han, and Captain Ra’shii step forward to direct and disperse the crowd, and Kella moved to his side. Shi’chen gave the dark-haired elf a small smile. “I am glad to see you are all right, Lord Kella.”
“The same to you, Your Highness,” Kella said. “I will beg your forgiveness later. Let us see your brother’s injuries tended to first.”
Shi’chen nodded, hauling En’shea up again. He glanced around at the guards, finding two of his former Honor Garrison members. “Lieutenant Hin-Re’nna, Second Lieutenant An-Fer’haaj, with me,” he ordered, shoving En’shea in between them. And he was suddenly so exhausted he could barely stand. The next moment, Kella had slid his arm under his shoulders to help support him, and Shi’chen could not even lift his head to thank him, just letting the nobleman and the two guards lead the way into the palace.
“Please drink this, Your Highness,” Reverence Sa’ben said, holding out a cup of steaming liquid to A’bbni who was sitting on the examination table in the physician’s rooms.
“What is it?” Shi’chen asked, eyeing the cup suspiciously from where he sat in a nearby chair.
“Hargren root tea. It will help with the pain and put him to sleep,” the physician said. “I will test it first if you wish it, Your Highness.”
A’bbni shook his head before Shi’chen could answer. “That… will not be n… necessary,” he said, his breathing still uneven and shaky. He took the cup in trembling hands. Lai reached up to gently help him steady it. A’bbni drank the entire cup of tea in a few swallows. Then his fingers tangled into Lai’s shirt to hold onto him. Lai pressed a kiss to the top of his head before helping him lie down.
“Once you are asleep, Your Highness, I will examine your leg,” Sa’ben said, setting the cup aside. “I will likely have to immobilize it for it to heal.”
“Will it heal?” Shi’chen asked softly.
“I am afraid I do not know that yet,” the physician said.
A’bbni groaned and buried his face in Lai’s shoulder. “I trust your expertise, Your Reverence,” he said softly.
“Thank you, Your Highness, I will do my best. Please, lie down. It should not take long for the root to help with the pain. The dose is enough that you should sleep through the night.”
Lai helped ease A’bbni down on the bed. A’bbni gripped his hand, and Shi’chen noted the wince that briefly crossed Lai’s face. “You won’t leave me, will you?”
“Never,” Lai replied, pressing a kiss to the back of A’bbni’s fingers.
