Chapter 171: Regicide

Ann’s face hit the stage hard. Wood bruised her cheek as something heavy and metal landed on her. She got knocked down, so she was facing her previous right.

A flash of light.

A concussive blast so mighty it pushed her and the person on top of her back a foot.

Orlana had a rifle in her hands.

An explosion an instant later. Somewhere above her. In the crowd? No, no, no, no.

The weapon was gone. Ann caught Orlana’s twisted face as she turned away. To her right.

Something wet was dripping onto her. She needed to get up.

Her hearing came back.

Screams.

Agonizing wails, screams of pain.

Ann looked at what she’d pushed off herself.

Kat lay there, clutching her face.

“Fuck. Kat! Kat! What’s wrong?” Ann yelled. Frantically, she grabbed at her girlfriend, who was clutching her face. The woman was screaming in pain. Ann had never heard that sound before and it shook her to the core.

Trembling hands touched the woman, and she tensed. Then Ann saw the crimson red flowing from under Kat’s hands.

“Katlyn, move your hands. I need to see what I’m healing,” Bren shouted into those pointy ears.

Ann hadn’t noticed him arrive.

“Gods damnit Kat, move your damn hands or I’ll have Ann do it for you.”

“Can’t,” Kat groaned through grit teeth. “Hurts so much!’

Rosalyn fell to her knees next to Ann.

“Ann, move them.”

“Don’t fight me. Please. I’m sorry,” Ann said, panic scraping her voice. She pulled at Kat’s arms. They didn’t move. Muscles were locked. She was going to have to pull harder. Remmi’s lessons pierced the panic, and she moved as quickly as she could. Targeting specific points in Kat’s shoulders, she deadened the limbs, then moved them aside.

She felt her breakfast coming up and had to turn away to vomit.

Kat’s right eye was gone. More than that, a good chunk of her face with it. Bone shone through brilliant white in the mess of red gore.

“Fuck,” Bren cursed. He was already healing her, but it was going slow. Too slow. This should be happening faster.

Rosalyn clutched Ann’s arm, shaking. Quiet whispers of denial fell from the Druid’s lips as she stared at their girlfriend’s ruined face. As Ann focused, she could see that it had missed the woman’s brain, thank Orenous. Still, most of her cheek and the eye socket were missing. A burnt tunnel. It looked like the shot had been at the wrong angle to actually kill her.

Ann cursed, holding Kat’s hand she turned her head, and felt like the world stopped.

Kremdol lay on the ground. Rowena was already there. He wasn’t moving.

Orlana was pacing nearby, cursing in a language Ann didn’t know. She woman looked terrified and furious. A paladin approached the Queen. She screamed orders at the man, who balked, then ran off.

Ann stood, stumbling, she walked over to the High Priests.

Just like Kat, there was a hole where the side of Kremdol’s head should have been. This one looked worse. Ann saw brain.

“Fix him! A shagartan gun fheum! Fix my husband!”

Rowena didn’t even look up from her task. Ann saw her healing at work, but it was slowed just like Bren’s.

“I’ll kill them all. Bidh fios aig sgrìob mallaichte Bortislav air mo phian. Cuiridh mi às leth an teaghlaichean aca.”

Ann didn’t catch any of the last stream of words except one. Bortislav. They’d done this? This was their fault? She stumbled again, then found Lucia at her side.

“Steady. Keep safe. Back to Katlyn.”

Ann nodded numbly. She leaned on Lucia as they returned to the princess. As they did, she checked, but Junia and the children were nowhere to be found. Maybe they’d fled?

Lucia lowered Ann next to Rosalyn. Bren’s healing was working. Somewhat.

“Is it gone?” Ann’s voice sounded weak even to her ears.

“Yes,” Bren growled. Ann had never seen him legitimately angry, and he looked furious. “I can’t regrow that. Hells, I’m halfway through my Mind pool and it’s barely stopped the bleeding. What in the Gods names did this?”

“Orlana was saying things I didn’t understand. She said Bortislav, though.”

“I do not have words for the curse I wish to bestow,” Bren said.

Rosalyn was weeping, her head on Kat’s chest. Tears streamed down the polished snail shell breastplate. “Don’t die.” She muttered the words over and over like a mantra.

“He’s stable,” Ann heard Rowena call. “We need to get to safety. Now! Paladins, to us! Stretchers for the wounded! Return the royals to the palace. We continue our work there.”

A wall was pulled open at the side of the stage, and the four armoured carriages rolled in.

It was only now that Ann noticed the crowd was already almost gone. The last few only held up because the press of people running held them back. There was also a smoking ruin where a building used to be.

Paladins surrounded them as priests slipped Kat onto a stretcher, and into one of the carriages. Bren joined them, but there was no room for Ann or Rosalyn.

Kremdol was ushered into another, still not moving. Orlana couldn’t join him either, so she leapt atop the vehicle. The same rifle appeared in her hands as she stood there, scanning the world for threats.

Ann, Rosalyn and Lucia were quickly pushed into one carriage with a few priests, while Ann caught sight of Junia and the children being escorted into the last unoccupied vehicle. Then they were moving and moving fast. The ride was rough, and no one was talking.

In the silence, Ann tried to gather her thoughts. It didn’t feel real. None of this did. She’d just had her big moment. Everything was set up. She was good! This had to be a dream.

Not a dream, pup, the dark voice in her mind laughed. Ah, it does this ancient one good to see an enemy so clearly defined. Such a great hunt we will have. Blood! Death! Terror!

I will fucking throttle you the next time I’m in there, Ann growled back.

What? What do you expect of me? Pity? Pity is weakness. Pity gets you devoured. Learn from this, pup. Your rage is mighty. Set it free. Set me free.

I will never, Ann snarled back. You will stay in your cage until the end of time. I will never set you free after what you just said.

“Is she talking to you?” Rosalyn asked in a sniffling whisper. “You look so angry.”

“She is, and is making me even worse,” Ann choked out.

Do you not wish to kill those who did this to your mate? To see their entrails spilled on the ground. Eyes gouged out? Wails of fear in your wake as you take your revenge? It will feel so good. I can sense the snake still lives. She will be at your side. Mighty and victorious!

Shut up! That is not how I’m going to be!

Don’t lie to me! Waheela barked. I can see your soul! I see your fear, your hurt, your rage. Your darkest thoughts are plain to me. You like that idea.

Ann fumed. She was right. Ann was furious. Looking down, she noticed her claws were out and digging into her knees. Purple fur spotted with blood before she released her grip.

“Ann,” Rosalyn gasped. “Don’t. Here. Hold my hand. Please?”

Ann unclenched her fists and took the timid woman’s hand.

“Enough hurt for today. Don’t need you hurt, too.”

“Yes. Is not good,” Lucia nodded curtly. Ann saw the worry in her eyes, though. Those eyes spoke volumes. Lucia was on high alert. She was watching everything she could. She watched every priest and priestess in the carriage, watched Ann and Rosalyn most of all. Ann saw her grip a knife she’d hidden in her belt. “Keep head. Will need it.”

“It’s full of a very tempting voice,” Ann groaned as Waheela started another tirade, preying on her fears. The thing was calling her weak for refusing to take her revenge. Pathetic for letting her girlfriend get hurt like this. What good is a pack leader who can’t protect her pack? The list went on.

Ann bore it. She listened to it all and desperately tried to deny what she knew were her own feelings. She was weak. Someone stronger would have stopped this, right? Yeah. If Polaris were here, she would’ve seen it coming. Polaris. The one who admitted Orlana was her better… fuck. Why? Why did shit have to go this way?

Rosalyn squeezed her hand tightly and leaned her horn against Ann’s shoulder. She didn’t say anything, but the action was enough. Ann sighed. The Druid was hurting too. She hadn’t stopped trembling, but she was still trying to comfort Ann.

Tears welled in Ann’s eyes, but she bit back the sob. She’d have time to cry later. Rosalyn needed her. Kat needed her.

The carriage lurched to a stop, and Ann threw open the door. She didn’t give a shit about the safe word. She needed to get to Kat. Now! Scooping Rosalyn up in her arms, she located the closest guard. “Where is Kat?” she almost yelled at the man.

“Follow me, ma’am,” the soldier said. He didn’t even salute but just turned and ran. Ann appreciated that as she bolted after him. As always, it calmed her to move. Running helped her brain calm down. Wind in her hair and fur. Kat needed her first. She was the top priority. After that, she was going to war.

“Gods above,” Rosalyn whispered. “This doesn’t feel real.”

“I know,” Ann said. “I want this to be a nightmare so bad.”

“Just, it was going so well. The crowd was cheering, we were all happy, and there and then the green and it was all gone. Everything was gone. Everything we worked on.”

“Not everything. Our message might get overshadowed a little, but it’s still there. Might just need to delay saving the world for a bit.”

“Can you do that? Orenous said it was getting more urgent last time. Ann. We might need to leave this one be. We might have to, and I’m terrified about that. What happens? What do we do? I… I can’t think straight. I’m so scared.”

“I know,” Ann whispered. “Me too. I’m barely holding on.”

Rosalyn nodded. No more words were needed. She wrapped her arms tighter around Ann.

“Here!” the guard shouted, tapping a door as he ran past. Ann was already inside before he skidded to a stop.

Kat was laid out on the table in the centre of an octagonal room lit only by white crystals. She wasn’t screaming. That was good. Bren and a couple priests were examining her ruined eye socket. As they spoke, Bren downed a Mind potion and resumed healing.

“He’s scared,” Lucia said, making Ann jump. “Angry. Sick. Curious. So complicated.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Ann said, setting Rosalyn down. The woman immediately returned to clinging to Ann’s dress. “How is she?”

Bren looked up, noticing them for the first time. “The eye is gone. She’s got sedatives in her.” Bren was contracting his words. He really was shaken. Ann couldn’t blame him. “Whatever hit her is inhibiting healing. I’ve never seen anything like this. We might get the missing parts of her skull back, and the skin, but there’s going to be scarring. The eye was completely incinerated.”

“No,” Rosalyn gasped. “My beautiful, pointy-eared girl, no!”

“I’m sorry,” Ann said, giving Bren a sincere look.

“Nothing you could’ve done. She saved you, I think. That second shot was definitely not aimed at the Queen.”

“Have you heard about Kremdol?”

“No, I’ve been here. It’s barely been any time, even with the drivers going full speed.”

“Damnit,” Ann thrust her fingers into her hair, pulling it back against her ears as she started pacing. “Damnit, damnit, fucking shitballs whoreson fuckknuckles.”

“Ann, I’m sorry, but if you’re going to make a racket, I’ll need you to leave,” Bren said. His voice was soft, but firm. “We need to talk.”

“Sorry,” Ann grumbled. She slumped against a wall, back sliding down it until she sat there. Helpless.

Rosalyn backed off too, just as Junia burst into the room. The woman took a moment to read the room, then rushed over to Kat. She held a hushed talk with Bren and the priests. Just checking that Kat would make it. Placing a hand on Kat’s chest, she whispered something even Ann’s ears couldn’t pick up. Once she was done, she walked over to Ann and very uncharacteristically slumped to the floor with them.

“How’s he?” Ann asked, voice deadpan. She just didn’t have the energy anymore.

“No response. He’s alive for now. I…”

“How are you?” Ann asked, pushing the question.

“Not well,” Junia choked. “Not well at all.” Tears welled in the corners of her golden eyes. “I… I do not have the words. I… Gods, could this shaking fucking stop?”

Ann wrapped an arm around Junia’s shoulders and pulled her close. The princess broke down and started sobbing. “Shhh,” Ann said, trying to comfort her. Nothing she could do would make any of this better, and she knew it. “Shh. Let it out.”

Rosalyn stood and circled over to the other side of Junia. She reached out and wrapped her arms around the crying woman, her own tears beginning.

Ann still couldn’t bring herself to cry. She just felt numb. Nothing made sense anymore. Even less sense than what she’d been going through figuring out this world. Her arm worked on autopilot, rubbing Junia’s shoulder gently. Was this what Orenous had been so busy with? Trying to stop this?

Was it? Ann prayed internally. Was this what you were doing?

No, came the faint response. Something else. I am so sorry.

Ann nodded, then rested her cheek on Junia’s head.

They just sat there for a while. Priests came and went. Bren remained. His face looked haggard, and he was covered in sweat from focusing on the healing. Ann lost count of how many potions he’d drank, but he just kept healing.

Eventually, Lucia pushed herself off the wall and walked over to him. “Rest.”

“No. I have to keep going,” Bren said. His voice was rough. Scratchy, and faint.

“Let others heal. Can’t keep going. I know.”

“Just a bit longer. I can do this.”

“No. Done. You, start healing,” Lucia commanded one of the priests, who jumped in immediately. Taking Bren by the shoulders, she wrestled him away. The man resisted her fiercely but lost in the end. As Lucia had said, he was exhausted. Quietly, Lucia set him down next to the rest of the party.

“How’s she looking?” Ann asked, not moving. She didn’t feel like she could anymore.

“It is slow. It is working, but it is so Godsdamned slow. Whatever they hit her with was supremely deadly. I think at best we will be able to restore some of it, but like I said, her eye is gone. Severe scarring. I am praying that the nerve damage heals over time, but she may not be able to feel that side of her face.”

“Ugh,” Ann sighed. Then she giggled. It was weak, but she laughed a little.

“What?” Junia asked. “What is funny?”

“She’s going to be stoked about an eye patch,” Ann continued laughing. “She’s gonna be so smug about how tough she looks.”

“Like the stories of brigands,” Bren chuckled. “Should we get her a ship?”

“With big blue sails,” Junia suggested.

“Never seen a boat, but she’d totally want the biggest weapons you could fit on one.”

“Female crew,” Lucia nodded. “Cause, y’know.”

“Yeaaah, that sounds right,” Ann chuckled.

They fell into silence again, but this time the mood was less oppressive. Ann felt a little better. Kat was going to be fine. They were going to be fine.

“Mother is beside herself,” Junia said in a whisper. “The broken look in her eyes. I’m worried. She hasn’t let go of father’s hand since they got back. She’s threatened to kill anyone who tries to move her. I fear she will.”

“In pain. Greatest loss. Is understandable,” Lucia nodded as she squatted in front of the group. “May do things. Terrible things. Is love.”

“Did you hear what she said on the stage?” Ann asked Junia. “I couldn’t understand her.”

“I… don’t think you want to hear it.”

Ann thought for a moment. “No, I do. I might as well be part of this family. I need to know.”

Junia drew a long breath, then let it out. “It is in the old Bultrong tongue. The bastard scum of Bortislav will know my pain. I will make their families pay.”

The five of them were silent for a moment.

“The only thing I think is holding her back now is that his life remains,” Junia said.

Ann shook at the tone in her voice. Junia was terrified. Not terrified that her father would die, but afraid of her mother.

“And if he passes?” Ann asked what they were all thinking.

“It will be war.”