the city of Khamearra. They wore ordinary brown cloaks, which for the most part concealed their weapons. Sarah scanned the skyline of the city and noticed the lack of a tower at the Citadel of the Elite. One still remained, but the blow to the Elitesmen and the lack of one of their towers was a constant reminder that their power was not absolute. Airships dotted the skyline over the city, their hulking masses moving lazily. She had gotten used to the FNA airships that were quicker and more agile.
Her gaze drifted over to the palace, which towered above the city, casting long shadows around it.
“Braden, at some point I will need to go to the palace,” Sarah said.
Braden nodded, “Okay.”
“Alone.”
Braden reared up, “My Lady, I cannot protect you if I’m not there with you.”
“I’ve been looking after myself since I was a child. I know the palace and how to get in and out unseen,” Sarah said.
“Then you can get us both in unseen, my Lady.”
Sarah sighed, “Very well,” she said, deciding not to push the issue, at least not yet.
Braden brought out the comms device and read the small screen, “Tanneth says they are putting together a plan to rescue any of the Resistance we can get out of the city.”
“Where will they take them?” Sarah asked.
“Shandara,” Braden said, frowning as he read the message again. “Rexel is bursting at the seams, and Shandara is the one place they are least likely to be found.”
Sarah nodded, “I see. When can they be ready?”
“In about six hours, but I’m not sure if it’s enough time for us. We need to find out what’s been done to the Resistance and where they are being held,” Braden said.
“First things first then. Why don’t we have a look around and then try and make contact?” Sarah said.
“We should find Captain Nolan. He runs one of the interior districts. He gave us aid when we were in the city last. They were starting to lock down the place when we left a few weeks ago.”
Sarah nodded and tried to ignore the pang of guilt she felt whenever she was reminded of what Aaron had done for her. If only she hadn’t allowed the Drake to capture her...
“My Lady, are you not well?” Braden asked.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s have a look around.”
Sarah drew up her cloak, and the cloudy skies began to drizzle. At least they would have a reason to keep their hoods up. She kept her head down, thinking about the last time she had been home. The Elitesmen Council had sent men to capture Aaron in Rexel. It seemed so long ago, and so much had changed since then.
Braden gasped, snatching her attention. Lining the main streets leading into the city were crudely constructed frameworks where men and women hung suspended by glowing shackles. The dead people were being collected and thrown into a large wagon that took them away from the city. The rank smell mixed with that of a cheap perfume almost caused her to gag as the cart passed by them.
Sarah and Braden looked back up at the people still hanging helplessly, secured by the glowing shackles used by Elitesmen.
“Pay them no mind. They're traitors,” a gruff voice barked.
Sarah glared at the guard from under her hood.
“You there, you’ve the look of a warrior. Volunteers for the High King’s army report in at the west gate,” the guard said, eyeing Braden.
Braden nodded, “Thank you. I’m certainly here to fight, but can you tell me what these people have done to deserve...” Braden said, gesturing up.
If the guard caught on to Braden’s double edged comment, he didn’t let on but narrowed his gaze and said, “They were part of some sort of rebellion in the city. Mind you there is a curfew in effect. If you’re out after dark, up you go,” the guard grinned.
Braden nodded, and Sarah didn’t trust herself to speak, because if she did they would be fighting for their lives.
They entered the city proper and left the smell of rotting corpses behind. She couldn’t
Her gaze drifted over to the palace, which towered above the city, casting long shadows around it.
“Braden, at some point I will need to go to the palace,” Sarah said.
Braden nodded, “Okay.”
“Alone.”
Braden reared up, “My Lady, I cannot protect you if I’m not there with you.”
“I’ve been looking after myself since I was a child. I know the palace and how to get in and out unseen,” Sarah said.
“Then you can get us both in unseen, my Lady.”
Sarah sighed, “Very well,” she said, deciding not to push the issue, at least not yet.
Braden brought out the comms device and read the small screen, “Tanneth says they are putting together a plan to rescue any of the Resistance we can get out of the city.”
“Where will they take them?” Sarah asked.
“Shandara,” Braden said, frowning as he read the message again. “Rexel is bursting at the seams, and Shandara is the one place they are least likely to be found.”
Sarah nodded, “I see. When can they be ready?”
“In about six hours, but I’m not sure if it’s enough time for us. We need to find out what’s been done to the Resistance and where they are being held,” Braden said.
“First things first then. Why don’t we have a look around and then try and make contact?” Sarah said.
“We should find Captain Nolan. He runs one of the interior districts. He gave us aid when we were in the city last. They were starting to lock down the place when we left a few weeks ago.”
Sarah nodded and tried to ignore the pang of guilt she felt whenever she was reminded of what Aaron had done for her. If only she hadn’t allowed the Drake to capture her...
“My Lady, are you not well?” Braden asked.
“I’ll be fine. Let’s have a look around.”
Sarah drew up her cloak, and the cloudy skies began to drizzle. At least they would have a reason to keep their hoods up. She kept her head down, thinking about the last time she had been home. The Elitesmen Council had sent men to capture Aaron in Rexel. It seemed so long ago, and so much had changed since then.
Braden gasped, snatching her attention. Lining the main streets leading into the city were crudely constructed frameworks where men and women hung suspended by glowing shackles. The dead people were being collected and thrown into a large wagon that took them away from the city. The rank smell mixed with that of a cheap perfume almost caused her to gag as the cart passed by them.
Sarah and Braden looked back up at the people still hanging helplessly, secured by the glowing shackles used by Elitesmen.
“Pay them no mind. They're traitors,” a gruff voice barked.
Sarah glared at the guard from under her hood.
“You there, you’ve the look of a warrior. Volunteers for the High King’s army report in at the west gate,” the guard said, eyeing Braden.
Braden nodded, “Thank you. I’m certainly here to fight, but can you tell me what these people have done to deserve...” Braden said, gesturing up.
If the guard caught on to Braden’s double edged comment, he didn’t let on but narrowed his gaze and said, “They were part of some sort of rebellion in the city. Mind you there is a curfew in effect. If you’re out after dark, up you go,” the guard grinned.
Braden nodded, and Sarah didn’t trust herself to speak, because if she did they would be fighting for their lives.
They entered the city proper and left the smell of rotting corpses behind. She couldn’t
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