31. Aldrin #3
My eyes flick down to the regiments of human soldiers from the Appleshield Protectorate army bolstering the ranks of my fae troops.
I wonder, not for the first time, if it was selfish of me to bring them here when humans are so despised under Titania’s rule, but from all indications, it is only her inner political circle and the Truth Templars who persecute their kind.
“Good luck,” Edmund growls, looking absolutely feral, like a god of fire. “And Aldrin—you better fucking keep my daughter safe.”
Caitlin scowls behind her father, but her expression softens when it falls on me. “Whatever happens, Aldrin, we are with you.”
We fly across the city, surrounded by a small guard of scales, wings and fae. We repeat our show and speeches at each point of the city we pass, moving between the prongs of our army led by Cyprien, Klara and Cedar, each on the back of a dragon.
I am itching for a battle by the time we near the palace.
There is a reason why the people who voted me off my throne now weep at my return.
Why so many look at me with such desperation.
Titania has abused my people in my absence, and the fact that I wasn’t here to help them makes me sick to my stomach.
I shoot Keira a glance. It is on her face too: the grim determination to make this right.
The army marches on toward the palace and the people follow on their tail to witness a tyrant fall.
If only it were that simple.
Thousands of fae climb the many staircases and spiraling balconies that hug the immense buildings reaching up into the sky. My golden palace is perched at the highest point of the city, adorned with arches, columned porticos and rooftop gardens.
I clutch the spikes that bracket Ezekiel’s spine and brace myself against the assaulting torrent of air as he pumps his powerful wings and we climb to reach that height.
Keira pulls in at my side as we crest its peak, standing upon Bartholomew’s back, and we circle around the palace, watching as our soldiers funnel in around its base, filing in from many directions.
They left the musicians, dancers and food wagons behind for the second part of our attack.
The first rank of troops craft shields of smooth wood as they approach, slotting them in against each other as they come to a stop in a ring around the foot of the palace, creating a shield wall in the human fashion.
More soldiers fall into place behind them, forming a siege of bodies, carrying spears and nocked arrows, a second shield wall protecting their backs.
The others arrive on dragonback, circling menacingly through the air as streaks of red, purple and blue scales against the sky.
“Ezekiel. Allow your dragons to put on a display of their might.” A wicked smile curls my lips as I brace myself.
He snickers. It will be my pleasure to make these fae soil themselves with fear.
Ezekiel swoops low over the palace grounds, then pulls sharply up, spraying clouds of his venom, the green mist hanging heavily in the air.
Others release great fiery jets or blue beams of plasma from their throats, illuminating the cloudy sky.
One even freezes the air with the blue channels of its breath, making ice rain down over the city.
Titania’s guards on watch scream and flee their posts.
I wait, heart in my throat, as we circle and circle, waiting for Titania’s move.
I am counting on her being far too arrogant to hide within the palace walls.
There is no way she could allow me such a show without trying to stop it or take the upper hand.
I need her to react, and react badly, to reveal her true colors to the people.
All of this is to justify my eventual assassination of her.
A flurry of activity erupts from the palace.
The doors of the great entrance fly open and thousands of soldiers stream out.
They appear on every balcony and in each tower, spewing into the street and creating a barrier of bodies between the shield wall of my soldiers and the palace, leaving a dozen feet between the forces.
Neither side breaks or engages in a fight as they stand off.
I fly low over the palace and link my magic into every jade plinth surrounding it, activating a network that runs throughout the city, carrying my royal announcement across the entire City of Vertical Gardens.
“Come out of hiding and face me, Titania!” I roar. “Answer for your crimes. The people see your corruption and call for justice.”
An eerie peal of laughter reaches me first.
She is using the same plinths to amplify her voice.
The ornate doors on the main balcony swing open and hundreds of guards hurry out, taking defensive positions along the railing, pointing arrows above and below. I’m not sure what they think those could do against dragons.
Titania strides out in those ridiculous heels, Torin in armor beside her and an entire halo of senators and nobility behind.
I let out a relieved breath—Drake is not among them.
Their position puts them on a stage before the entire city, as this immense balcony is located above levels of viewing platforms where the people amass to witness royal ceremonies and announcements.
“Crimes? What crimes have I committed?” her musical voice rings out. “You are no longer king here. You forfeited the right to rule when you lost the election.”
“That is for the courts to decide during your trial,” I throw back. “Let this be a peaceful arrest, Titania. I will place you under siege if I have to. I have blocked your access to food and you cannot escape from the palace. It is over for you.”
“You cannot cage me!” she snarls. “This is a military coup! You are afraid you will lose another election because the people want me as their High Chancellor, so you use violence and force instead!”
“Only a ruler who has something to hide is afraid of a trial,” I reply.
“Submit to it, Titania. If you are innocent of atrocities, then it will be over quickly. I do not bring an army here to fight you in a bloody battle to take my throne back, or we would not have stopped before the steps of the palace. This is not a coup. These forces are here to ensure you cooperate.”
“We brought them here to feed the people you starved and to hand out the food you hoarded in your warehouses,” Keira snipes, threading her magic through mine and sending her voice through the plinths. “Did you really think we wouldn’t discover your little ploys?”
Titania’s head whips around to my queen, her black lips curling. “Little mouse, what are you doing out of your cage?”
Keira’s entire body stiffens. “Do I look like a mouse to you?”
Titania throws back her head and laughs. “You are a fool, that’s what you are. Tell me , how did the bargain let you out of my clutches and allow you to march an army to my doorstep when you cannot harm me?”
Keira shrugs. “Like Aldrin said, I am not here to cut you down or hurt you, unfortunately. Not even to unleash these forces upon you in any way other than a siege. Only to call for you to answer for your crimes. To step down from the throne to which you have no right.”
“You have no idea of the extent I will go to in order to keep this throne!” the High Chancellor screeches. “You do not deserve it.”
“You are outnumbered, Titania, at least twenty to one. A fraud and a terrible ruler. You have no recourse but to submit. Are you truly that afraid of our judges digging into your affairs?” I prod, knowing damned well that she is terrified of her secrets being discovered.
She drags her eyes away from me and stalks toward the edge of the balcony, gripping the railing tightly as she leans over it.
“Aldrin, the failure king, is here to violently overthrow your elected ruler! I call on all my people to fight for me now! Rise up alongside your Truth Templars! Grab your swords, kitchen knives and broomsticks and rise up! Attack the exiled king’s forces, who have committed mutiny against the Spring Court.
Kill the king and queen who would spill your blood so they can take my throne. Fight for your High Chancellor!”
Well, fuck.
I expected her be insane enough to unleash her troops on us. I banked on her giving me the excuse I needed to attack her. But I wasn’t planning on her calling upon the mob of the citizens. Pulling so many people into danger.
Screaming breaks out within the bowels of the capital.
It sounds like the entire City of Vertical Gardens has been possessed by vicious wild beasts.
Those roars intensify in volume as voices bounce off the skyscraping buildings, pierced with the shrieks of those caught in the middle, merely wanting to enjoy the festivities.
Far below, great torrents of fae run out of their homes with weapons in hand and stream up the streets. They blacken the boulevards, balconies and staircases with their sheer numbers. All race toward the palace.
These fae are Titania’s personal cult.
They fight not for Spring, but for her.