***
It was strange to find the crescent moon beach so empty, especially with the cacophony of noise Aidon could hear coming from the heart of the Old Town. Even when the temperature dropped below the usual warm, temperate state Rinnians were used to, there was always some sort of crowd scattered across the beach.
Not today.
Aidon’s boots slid across the sand as he took off toward the fighting, his pulse pounding so hard in his throat, he thought it might strangle him.
Was he too late?
He threw himself down the side street, his hand yanking his sword from its sheath as he put on a burst of speed. All the while, the fighting grew louder the further into Old Town he ran.
It almost sounded as if it were coming from the Council building.
Aidon veered right, cutting through a small square. There were people there, their eyes wide and breaths panicked, butthey hardly spared him a glance as they rushed away from the commotion.
Aidon cut another right, then a left, then—
“My gods,” he breathed as he skidded to a halt.
The noise was indeed coming from the Council building. Or rather, the street in front of it. Aidon scanned the chaos, his breath uneven as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing.
It appeared a protest had descended into full on fighting. The chaos raged on either side of him, and Aidon wasn’t sure how anyone could tell who was friend or foe with the way people swarmed the street, their shouts drowned out by the clanging of swords and the screams of the injured.
Aidon’s sword hung limply at his side, utterly useless, as he tried to determine how to help. Because there was the City Guard, and the Bellare, and citizens, and the Royal Army, and who—
A firm grip on his arm had his thoughts screeching to a halt. Aidon reacted instinctively, his elbow jerking out and up to slam into his attacker’s face.
He caught himself just before he broke Clyde’s nose.
“Clyde?!”
His friend dragged him off the street and into a side alley. There was a cut marring his face, but the blood seemed to have mostly dried. “You would show up just as things get exciting,” Clyde panted with a tired smirk. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder.
“What the hells is going on?”
“No time to explain,” Clyde said. “Josie is going after Avis. She’s at the palace. This was supposed to be a diversion, but I think some of the Bellare caught on.”
Aidon glanced at the fighting. “Do you need me here?”
It spoke to years of friendship that Clyde knew exactly what he was truly asking. “Go,” Clyde urged. “We’ve gotthis handled.” Aidon hesitated, but Clyde shoved him gently backward.“Go.”
Aidon took off without a backwards glance. He raced through the streets, his hand tight around his sword, dodging through citizens rushing for safety. No one, it seemed, noticed who exactly was in their midst, and Aidon was grateful for it. Weeks at sea in dirt-covered clothes and without a razor seemed to be benefiting him.
His muscles ached as he raced up the path toward the palace, his legs protesting after weeks of forced rest. But the adrenaline pumping through his veins kept him going, and soon enough, the palace gates were in his sight.
He could make out the Royal Army clearly, their green livery setting them apart from what he assumed were the Bellare rebels. Clyde had been right—the Bellare had clearly caught on, for they were attacking from both sides, pinning the army between the palace gates and the fields that stretched toward the barracks.
Aidon didn’t hesitate as he threw himself forward, his voice rising above the din. “Fall back!” he commanded the army as he brandished his sword toward the palace. “Fall back!”
He saw the moment the first soldier recognized him, their face going slack, but he didn’t stop to judge their reaction. “Fall back toward the gates!” he yelled again and again, until the command had taken up with the army, echoes of his words making their way through the disorganized lines of troops until a small gap between the soldiers and the second wave of Bellare formed.
Aidon reached into his well, his grasp on his power sure and true as he extended his hand.
Fire burst from his palm, a great, roaring line of it stretching across the grass. He tugged at his affinity, his gaze focused on that second contingent of rebels as he pulled and pulled.
He did not stop until a ring of fire surrounded them.
“The king has contained the rebels!” one of the Royal Army commanders shouted. “Re-form your lines! Advance toward the palace!”
