“You are becoming tiresome,” it hissed, gold sword pointed directly at her. “Next time, this will end differently. We will have what we hunt.”
Then it was gone, sinking into the floor as if the ground itself had swallowed it whole.
The flames and darkness vanished, and Razik doubled over, hands braced on his knees.
“Razik!” Wren cried, scrambling up from the ground and climbing over people, Bram right behind her.
When she reached him, she took his shoulders, urging him to sit, but he shook his head. “Not here,” he muttered.
“Razik, don’t be stupid. If they come back, we’ll need you. We’ll all need you,” Wren insisted, gaze darting around. “I need a knife or a dagger or?—”
Bram handed her one, but Razik pulled away. “I said not now.”
“They won’t come back,” Kailia offered, her bow still in hand at her side. “At least, that has been our experience in the past. They won’t attack again the same day.” She paused, thinking it over. “Then again, I wasn’t here the last time they attacked at the castle, so I guess?—”
“That is not helpful right now, Lia,” Razik growled, straightening. Or trying to.
“You look pitiful,” she said, looking him up and down.
“Bram,” Tybalt growled, coming up beside his nephew. “Help the others escort guests out or to their rooms. Everyone gets searched before they leave or retire for the night.”
“Yes, Commander,” the male replied. He turned to go, but not before asking Wren, “You are fine?”
“Yes, yes. Go on,” she said, waving him off without even looking at him.
“Your Majesty,” Tybalt said, face solemn. “Cethin asked me to bring you to him.”
“But Razik?—”
“Go with Tybalt, Lia,” Razik said, Wren still fretting and trying to get him to let her refill his powers here. “He’ll watch over you for now.”
“She’s sorted. Can we please go now?” Wren pleaded, worry written all over her face.
“Yes, go,” Tybalt ordered.
“Thank you,” Wren said, gripping Razik’s arm, and the two of them disappearing in the next breath.
“This way, your Majesty,” Tybalt said, motioning with his arm.
He stayed by her side, and while Razik had needed to keep people back, everyone seemed to naturally part for the Commander. They reached Cethin in a matter of minutes. He was speaking with Zayan, but the moment she was within reach, he turned away from his Hand.
He looked her over from head to toe before he took her hand and gently tugged her forward.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice low.
“Why would I be hurt?” she asked, watching the guests being led from the room. Tear-stained faces and haunted gazes. Seeing those that wouldn’t get up and watching various members of the forces attempt to discreetly remove the bodies or cover them. There was no doing that unobtrusively with hundreds of people in the room.
“Now that I’ve retrieved her, will the king and queen please go to their quarters until we can secure the castle?” Tybalt asked, sounding more than a little annoyed.
“I think if the creatures wanted to enter our quarters, there wouldn’t be any stopping them,” Kailia replied, noticing the quick glances at her as people passed.
“That is not the point,” Tybalt replied tightly with a pointed look at Cethin.
“It’s for appearances’ sake,” Cethin said, leaning in to speak into her ear. “People want to know their king and queen are protected.”
“Wouldn’t they rather know we care by seeing us down here? You know, doing the caring?” she asked.
“By the Fates, there’s two of you now,” Tybalt muttered. “Just until we can secure the area and see if we can find any information about how any of this happened.”
