45. The City of Arkan
The City of Arkan
Aradia
It was chaos.
Kaiden held her steady as people shoved at the guards, demanding safety.
“Let them out!” Kaiden bellowed up to the guards who stood like statues, cold and unmoving. “I am your crown prince!”
One guard side-eyed them, taking one step back in surprise. Aradia pulled Kaiden. He looked to where she pointed. The guard had stepped through a stone, leading into the wall.
“Follow me.” Kaiden grasped her hand tightly. He used his body to shield her as people clamored closer to the walls, drawing weapons. Fights broke out and she lost sight of Cahira and Fintan behind her.
Eos, keep them safe!
She followed as closely as she could without stepping on the back of Kaiden’s heels.
“Open the gates,” Kaiden growled at the guard through a small window in the wall.
“I cannot, your highness. King’s orders,” the guard argued but stepped back in fear of the anger darkening Kaiden’s face.
Aradia’s right hand warmed and she yelped, drawing it quickly out of Kaiden’s. Fire shot from his fingers, wrapping around his left hand and arm. A whip of pure fire formed, burning the grass where it laid.
Kaiden twisted his arm, slinging the whip through the small window and around the guards neck and pulled.
“Open the door,” He screamed. “NOW!”
Aradia closed her eyes at the sound of impact as the man slammed into the door — dead.
Her heart thumped wildly, this was only the beginning.
As they made their way to the palace Kaiden had warned her of the person he had to become when behind Arkan’s walls.
The heavy latch clicked and the door swung open by guards who pulled the door as quickly as they could.
Aradia stepped in behind Kaiden. Men swarmed them, waiting for what their prince would do next.
The flames of his whip rose higher and she tried to take a step back. His right hand reached out, pulling her to stand next to him. By his side, she looked out amongst the guards of Arkan. Was this what Kaiden felt? This power?
She felt lightheaded but raised her chin and pushed her shoulders back, daring anyone to step out of line.
She stole a glance at Kaiden and found his eyes had deepened to midnight blue.
His chest rose and fell as the magic of his potent ring swirled inside the ruby.
He held her hand like an anchor, and her own power warmed within her at his touch.
“Today,” he shouted, “and this day forward.” He slung his arm in a circle, the whip following his every move. With a deafening crack he slammed the whip against the stone, leaving a deep charred line. Aradia squeezed his hand to keep from jumping in alarm. “I AM YOUR KING!”
Every knee bent toward him and heads lowered in allegiance.
No one dared challenge him. She wanted to cry and jump for joy at the same time.
Quick shuffles were heard at the back as Fintan and Cahira rushed into the square clearing, faces flushed.
They looked around in shock and watched as Kaiden stepped forward and Aradia swore she saw a tear stream down Cahira’s face before she wiped it away.
Blood smeared where the back of her palm touched her face.
The people were getting more violent at the gates.
“Ukoron has been unleashed from his prison.” Kaiden stepped onto the steps of a small dais in the center of the square.
“Your previous king has unleashed the very monster we have fought to keep imprisoned for centuries. He has betrayed us all!” His voice shook with rage barely contained.
“The city must be evacuated. Every elder, child, wounded or sick, will be helped out of the city. Lowborn and highborn alike. We all bleed the same, we all are what makes up Arkan and everyone will be needed to rebuild it. Fintan,” Kaiden pointed toward him.
Then, he turned to look at Aradia. She gulped but stood, looking up at him.
“And Aradia will monitor the streets until every citizen is safe outside the walls.”
The soldiers rose from their crouched positions. Some stared at her in confusion for the first time.
“Who the depths is she?” one soldier whispered beside her.
Aradia ignored him.
“Long live the king!” A shout came from the back.
She was fairly certain it had come from a muffled Fintan.
“Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!” the soldiers shouted again and again.
Aradia marveled at how easily men could be swayed. Where power bloomed, their allegiance would follow.
Strong fingers pulled her chin upward and her eyes locked onto Kaiden.
He leaned down gently, placing his forehead onto hers.
Gone was his whip of fire, replaced with his warm hand which pulled her close.
He planted a firm kiss onto her forehead and for all the gods she wished he would claim her lips, her whole body.
His breath was warm against her skin and she nuzzled the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent.
“Whatever happens —”
“Please,” she whispered back, closing her eyes. She didn’t want to hear any goodbyes. “Just make it out alive.”
Kaiden’s thumb rubbed her jawline in response, sending shivers down her spine.
“Is that concern I hear?”
They shared a smile at the memory of when Aradia first asked the question so long ago.
“Caution.” Aradia repeated what he had said. She closed her eyes with a smile.
“I’ll find you,” he whispered in her ear.
She felt his presence leave before she opened her eyes.
“With me!” Fintan’s voice cracked through the air, bringing her back to reality.
Soldiers filed toward the gates and into town, ordering citizens where to go.
The creaking groan of chains lowering the gates filled the square.
Aradia ran into the city. She had no clue where to even begin.
People screamed and ran, terrified of what was coming.
Carts tilted and rolled through the streets.
It’s as if the god of chaos had already touched each individual.
They ran to and from their homes, eyes bloodshot and appearances unkempt.
“This way. Take only what you can carry.” She ran through the streets shouting orders. “Hurry!”
A man shoved into her, sending her flying into the cobblestone. The rocks scraped her palms as she caught herself. She swung around, a curse ready on her lips as she saw him holding a young child in his arms.
“I’m sorry, miss!” he quivered, stepping back. Fear shone in his eyes when he glanced behind her.
Aradia turned swiftly as a shadow encompassed her. Light formed in her outstretched hands, ready to incinerate.
“Easy, lass.” Rhydar smiled down at her.
“Rhydar.” Aradia threw her arms around the burly man’s neck. “You are a sight for sore eyes.” Relief flooded through her. “When did you get here?
Rhydar chuckled, hugging her gently. “Just as the gates came down.”
“Where’s Jasper?” Aradia frowned. “I’ve lost Fintan.”
“They should be evacuating the upper city by now. We need to move. Kaiden and Cahira will need all the help they can get.”
Her heart thumped in her chest at the thought of what the two siblings were facing. An earth-cracking shake split the ground. She clung to Rhydar as buildings shook and crumbled.
He pulled her away from house shingles crashing to the ground.
She winced at his tight grip and followed him to the palace.
She tried to marvel at the beauty Arkan would normally be if it wasn’t crumbling to dust. Statues were set high into the sky and in their hands and across the backs they held up the ceiling entrance into the great palace.
“Hurry!” Rhydar pulled her hand, quickening their pace.
Aradia’s feet hardly touched the ground as she was half-carried, half-running into the palace. Shouts from servants and highborns alike came from the halls and rooms beyond.
“Aradia, Rhydar.” Fintan ran down a hall with a group of people. They were draped in diamonds and silks, rich fabrics with elaborate coats. Highborns. “He’s destroying it from the inside out.”
“Where’s Kaiden and Cahira?” she asked.
Fintan shook his head. “I’ll find them. Right now, you need to focus on getting every person out of the palace.”
Aradia nodded but shrieked as the windows shattered around them. Dark mist crept into the room.
Ukoron.
Rhydar stepped back. “Quick with it lass. We’re running out of time”
“Stay safe brother.” Fintan clasped arms with Rhydar before squeezing Aradia’s shoulder. “Whatever you do, don’t look back. You get everyone out and you leave this palace. Get out to the outer walls.”
Aradia heard the screams coming from the lower floors. “You focus on the highborn. I’ll get the lowborns out.” She turned to go but Rhydar stepped forward.
“Aradia,” he called. “If you get stuck. The catacombs will be the only way out.” The dread dripping from his lips made her pause.
What was in the catacombs?
“Only use it as the last resort.”
“Why?”
Rhydar grimaced. “No one has ever made it out of the catacombs. But there is one path which leads deep underneath the city and into the northern fields outside the walls.”
“Got it.”
Another scream pierced the air. The ceiling cracked and a glass chandelier crashed behind her. She dove toward the stairs leading to the servants’ quarters. The black mist roamed through the hallway. As if feeling her presence, it spread toward the door.
She reached out, slamming the door shut and locking it. She didn’t look back to see if it followed as she fled deeper into the heart of Arkan.