70: Revolution

There was an unease that lingered in the air that many refused to acknowledge. Chaos was drawing nearer and nearer, with each wave of new rebels and the news of protests rocking Kreatier's towns and cities. Kreatier's foundation was worn and wobbly. At any moment it would collapse.

As peaceful as life beneath the earth was, some nights I'd stay up staring up at the stars past the glass ceiling. Waiting for the cracks. For knights to come raiding. For the king's wrath. That night was just like this.

Philip was by me that night. Side by side we sat, on my balcony awaiting the first star to twinkle through the evening gloom.

Tsiho was fast asleep in our bedroom. As each day passed my love for her only grew. But like peace, I feared the day I'd lose her.

"What if Hoku comes back?" I said.

"It'd be foolish optimism to believe he survived in the hands of those men. They're cold hearted killers Mo, they know no mercy."

"Don't you think he wouldn't have wanted me to take care of Tsiho?"

Philip averted his gaze to me. "If anything he'd be thankful. I know the way you love." He grinned, touched his forehead to mine. "Not many can love like you. And that's one of the reasons I love you."

My eyes fell close. Fear sparked in the back of my mind. If my love was any different, then no one could ever replace him. "Live Philip. Live."

I felt him pull away. When I opened my eyes, he was on a knee before me. A silver ring in his hand.

"If I live, will you marry me?" He said, a lopsided grin almost nervously placed on his face.

A stray tear escaped me. "I'd marry you right now, if I could."

He laughed, leaned over, kissed my cheek and fit the ring over my finger.

Delight danced in his eyes as his smile filled me with warmth. But an  undeniable fear brewed beneath. "I don't want you to lose me as a husband. If I live after tomorrow, marry me then."

"Whatever you are to me I'll love you even when you're gone." I took his hands in mine. "I don't know what the gods saw in me to give me you."

He laced his fingers through mine, seated himself beside me. "The gods must've planned this, having me meet you. But it's up to us to make it work. Do you promise to love me even when I hurt you?"

I nodded.

"Do you promise to love me even when my looks fade and I lose my sexy body?" He wiggled his brows.

I laughed. "Even when you lose all your teeth, I'll still love your smile. Even when you're annoying and insufferable. Do you promise to love me even when I'm being selfish? Even when I'm angry?"

"Even when you push me away." He circled an arm round my back and pulled me close. "Even when your warmth fades. And you forget my name. Even to the end of time."

"Thank you, Philip." My head dropped onto his shoulder. "For choosing to fight for us."

The first stars came out to play. Even in infinite darkness they danced. I wished I could be as hopeful.

~~~

Men and women stood shoulder to shoulder in the streets, their full attention on the man who donned the skull of a vuruk. Many more flooded through the tunnels, like moths to a flame they surged forward to hear at least a word out of their leader. Eyes ablaze with admiration, fists clenched in courage and hearts aligned with the spirit of revolution.

"The time has come for Kreatier to be renewed. No longer shall we bow to a ruthless king. No longer shall we hide our true selves. No longer will we live in fear of war. No longer shall we starve nights on end. No more!"

The crowd exploded in cheer and applause. Fists rose into the air. Change was happening. Or rather change had already occured in their hearts. And nothing could reverse it.

Cyr relished in the excitement, taking in the result of his words. Words spoken with humility and courage, with a yearning for equality. One would be excused for believing his breath was laced with magic of the mind but that couldn't be any less true. Every soul gathered in this place was drawn not by magic but by genuine love.

~~~

"At dawn we shall strike," Cyr said, seated at the head of a long table occupied by two dozen men and women which included Philip, Brise, Neritha and several other rebel leaders. "Our only intent is to have the king abdicate the throne. And if he still refuses then we shall use other more offensive methods. But, and I'd like this to be held in the highest regard, the people will not be harmed."

"What of the King's knights?" Said a troll men seated opposite Neritha. "Should we be concerned for them?"

"We'd be foolish not to perceive them as anything but a threat," Cyr replied. "But their degradation, has long been in the works. Spies have revealed that distrust runs rampant among their crumbling ranks. Leaders chosen in a haste to fill their missing leaders have caused soldiers to question authority and their fellow soldiers loyalty to the crown."

"The knights are one problem but the people are another. Those who still support the king without question. What are we to do with them?" A fairy women said.

"They're being mobilized by members of the Council of the Tribes, if we can bring them down then we can subdue their resistance," a red-eyed cyclops man added.

"Their voices are few," Cyr mused. "But they are enough to be present a problem. If we must take them down then we shall."

Murmurs travelled around the table. Neritha raised a hand signaling silence. "Let's put this to a vote, shall we?" All agreed in nods and murmured agreement. "All in favor of the take down of the Council of the Tribes, raise your hand." All hands shot up. Except Brise's.

"Define take down," she said, countenance steely. "Do we kill, kidnap or maim?"

"We're not monsters," Neritha shot across the table. "We simply wish to subdue them for the time being. If they display resistance to the new order they have to be put away."

Brise mulled this over, her jaw locked the entire time. "Not a scratch on Lady Adela, then I will agree."

"What does it matter if they die anyway!" Grunted a vuruk man, with human and sprite features.

Brise slammed her fist into the table and sprang to her feet. "I can kill just fine with one hand."

"Brise," I hissed. Her shoulders tensed before me. With what looked like great effort she sat back down.

"The Council of the Tribes may not be our friends but they are certainly not our enemy." With each word Brise suppressed a tear. "They served the people when the king didn't. If any of them are harmed then I refuse to support this movement any longer."

~~~

I stood before Cyr's quarters, contemplating my decision in coming here. Brise didn't mean what she said, I know she didn't. She was only concerned for Lady Adela who she had been a guard for, for a long time. I only wanted to clear her name.

Just when I decided to knock, footsteps came from round the corner. I turned away, pretending to be walking by towards the opposite direction. When the footsteps became louder and Cyr's door screeched open I turned back to return the way I came.

That was then that I heard his voice. I stopped dead in my tracks.

"I told you not to harm her," Cyr said. "She was never a threat."

"Sir you must understand, she wasn't a knight nor was she a rebel. She stood between boundaries, I couldn't simply let her go." I'd never forget his voice.

"Well now she has taken our side. I may not have trusted her at first but since that night in the forest I can say with certainty she is nothing like him."

"How can you be sure?" He chided. "What then when she discovers who she truly is? Surely she'd feel sympathy for her own blood."

"Why did you spare her life then?"

Silence filled the moment.

"She's a fool," he said just above a whisper. "When I first saw her she stood up for a scullery maid. Then she saved strangers from a fire who then turned on her. And even when she had the chance to take my life, she chose not to."

"I understand your anger. We've all lost loved ones and to make him feel the pain we felt would seem to fill the hole in our hearts. But it never will. She isn't like him. She will choose good."

"Do you truly believe she can save Kreatier?"

"I know she will."

Chair scraped against floor. I was down the corridor in a heartbeat. I fell against the wall, willing my heart to ease its pace. Door screeched open. I peered around the wall and without a doubt it was Leofwin who stepped out of Cyr's quarters and returned the way he came.

They had spoke of me. Or of someone very similar to me. But if the former were true then Cyr had sent Leofwin after me. And that also meant Leofwin was the spy. But who was the him they spoke of?

They hadn't spoken of me. But it sounded awfully similar to me. My thoughts bounced back and forth, between two realities. But I trusted Cyr. This could have all been a misunderstanding. I only needed to speak to him myself.

I returned to Cyr's quarters. This time I didn't hesitate.

"Come in," Cyr said. He watched wide-eyed as I entered. But his lips soon lifted into a smile. "I was just about to send for you. I'll need your help tomorrow. Can you be there?"

I was flabbergasted for a moment. "I apologize. I can't participate in the seige. I can't do that Tsiho."

"No, no, not to fight. I need you to be somewhere when I need you to be. It's crucial you're there at that exact moment. Without you there it would all be for nothing."

"Do you promise I will live?"

"At all costs."

I nodded. Cyr wasn't my enemy. He might've sent Leofwin after me at first, but he trusted me now. And any question I might've had I silenced till a later date.

A/n: get ready for a crazy next chapter🥲