Attempted Assassantion

[Autumn 1845, Eshan city, Eusvame]

Celebrations of Zampar thrived within the city of Eshan. Zampar was the memorial day for the Zhenrai Crusades over the Boathrin Kingdom. The Zhenrai Order rallied multiple nations against the Vullanese in a series of religious wars. Boathrin Kingdom was where mages practiced their sorcery. The Zhenrai fought to protect the Lovely kingdom from the claws of the Vullanese temples who wanted these sorcerers under their skills and power. The Zhenrai Order was victorious over Vullan numerous times. Crowds in the streets cheered, laughed and played on this glorious day of peace.

            On one side of the great palace were the leaders of the Vestriisian Union. The leaders were King-Aedile Orion of Naatidra, Councilor Koras of Ezonel, King Taran III of Zedarkand who was just arriving with his five sons. There was Ephor- Consulate Alon of Geverine, Chief Mowan of Nochania, Grand-Duke Drasta of Boathria, Chancellor of Lheobethe, Sheikh Villa of Gaskouth Ladai, Minister-Consul Qallin of Castaria, King-Doge Bardouth of New Valorum and in the center was Furd Antalace Greymir, leader of the entire Vestrisian Army. Leaders of other nations were also present. Taran Kyshar III ascended the stairs followed by his five sons Tanar, Tidrith, Tioban, Tidus, and Trubin. Two scores of armored soldiers trailed at their heels. The old monarch greeted each fellow leader and walked up to Antalace.

            "I feel that this is some sort of diversion to get rid of Queen Lizan." he murmured to the other leaders.

            "So do we all Taran!" replied Chancellor Tilla. "So do we all!"

            Taran raised his eyebrows, smiling slightly. He was happy to know he wasn't the only one to feel the ceasefire was just part of a conspiracy to murder the queen.

            "I wonder. Who called for a ceasefire on this day?" asked Bardouth.

"Who else?" growled Antalace, he pointed at the opposite side of the palace court yard. On the other side of the palace were the Maesters and Praetors of Vullan. The Vullanese looked to see the Union leaders talking and looking their way.

            "They're on to us! They know what we're planning!" Praetor Miske whispered to Silos. Silos gave him a strange look.

            "Are you sure they know? We have none our allies with us. So they shouldn't suspect anything rash against us." The Maester said. Silos turned to the Union leaders, smiled and waved.

             "May peace be with us all for we do not wish to do any harm or battle in front of the Queen!" he yelled to them and waved again. He received the middle finger from all Union leaders. Only Taran’s sons laughed at this. They then drew their attention to watch a parade of troops marching down the streets. The elf Chancellor Tilla sighed as she watched the parade.

            "It's too bad Arctice was unable to come. Since his father was assassinated." The Chancellor said as she shed one tear.

            "Yes it is a pity. The poor lad must be devastated by his father, Argrithe being murdered!" Antalace muttered, calming the female elf.

            "Where is he anyway?" asked Drasta.

            "He's safely getting out of Vrec Ren Vieth." replied Antalace.

Trubin tapped Antalace on the shoulder. "Yes. What is it Trubin?"

            "I was wondering. Why-?" Trumpets blew and the crowd cheered even more and louder.

            "Another time boy!" Antalace yelled above the trumpets. They drew their attention to the Palace. Queen Lizan exited the palace with her eight maidens. She was escorted by her husband Lord General Mysdran Arden Omas, in his Vestrisian uniform. The group was guarded by 16 Zhenrai Knights, encircled by four dozen armored guards, surrounded by a hundred and twenty Vestrisian soldiers. In her arms she carried her two year old daughter, Cerinne. Clinging to her violet dress was her four year old son, Kozen. The large group descended the steps, then stopped when little Kozen had fallen. Arden picked him up with one arm and held him. Lizan kissed her son's forehead to calm him down. The group resumed down the steps. Once the group was at the  bottom of the steps Lizan handed her daughter a maiden on her right. The thick line of guards and soldiers broke off creating a path for the Queen. She walked through this path to greet her people, the excited crowds.

            "She is such as beautiful woman." Ilara declared.

             "Indeed she is." said Antalace taking swig of champagne. She turned with a smile which changed to a disgusted look.

            "Oh dear Gaivos! You're drunk again!" she spat scowling over Antalace having a bottle of alcohol in his possession.

            "It's only my first one!" Antalace replied. He leaned towards Tidrith asking. "Why didn't you marry her? You had about eight years or so! But you blew it!"

            "I would, but I am already in love with another." Tidrith muttered aloud. They watched as Lizan embraced her people, holding hands in hers, kissing in the head and cheeks.

            "She's a fabulous wonder, don't you think?"  a familiar voice asked out of nowhere. They turned around to see who it was.

            "ARCTICE!" Each of them greeted the fifteen year old Forsythan with great praise and embraced him. Silos watched Queen Lizan then looked up at a tall building in the shadows of its second level and nodded. He received a blinking red dot in return.

            "There's our sniper." he whispered in Miske's ear.

            In the shadows of a tall building sat a Nazdar sniper setting up to assassinate the young Queen. He took aim at her through the scope and followed her movement. He grinned. He was unaware of a Union soldier coming up the stairs for a better view. The Nazdar took perfect aim when she stopped and started to squeeze the trigger. Coming up the stairs to the roof was Corporal Jorel Ascin. He walked over to where the sniper was. He didn't see him the shadows until he came closer to the spot. Jorel was aghast to see the sniper up here on the roof aiming at Queen Lizen squeezing the trigger. Jorel had to act fast, desperately he draws out a dagger running after him. Jorel jumps the sniper. He shoves him against the pillar. The shot was fired, 'Oh no!' he thought wresting the Nazdar. 'I'm too late!' He grew angry and stabbed the Nazdar in the shoulder with the dagger.

            "You bastard!" Jorel growled at him as he heard screaming from the crowd bellow. He looked over the edge and let out a sigh of relief. The bullet had only skimmed the Queen's shoulder leaving a bloody scratch on her bare shoulder.

            Seeing the assassin had just failed to kill Lizan, Silos took this opportunity to spring plan B into action. Since she was unprotected, her bodyguard struggling to get to her through the swarming, panicked crowd.

             "Hurry before those soldiers get to her first!" Silos yelled. The group of Maesters and Praetors made their way through the tight crowd like mice through a crack in the wall. When they got to her she was holding a piece of cloth over her bleeding shoulder. Lizan looked frightened and confused.

            "No fear my queen, we will escort you to safety!" Silos said taking her hand.

            "What about my husband, my children?" she cried eagerly.

            "They are fine. If you allow it, please let us take you to safety." They slipped away down an alley way. Other Maesters and Praetors surrounded them, knives drawn as if to protect the queen.

            It took some time for the crowd to calm down. When General Omas saw his wife shot he drew his sword and ran to her. To prevent anyone else from getting to her, he was followed by his troops and guardsmen. The Union leaders watched in alarm. Ilara covered her mouth and gasped in terror.

            "Oh my!" when she saw Lizan get shot by some unseen assassin. Arctice looked up and saw two men wrestling.

             "Up there!" he yelled pointing up to where Jorel and the Nazdar were fighting. The leaders looked up and saw this brawl. Antalace whistled and twenty soldiers came forward. He ordered them to fire at the men who were fighting.

            "Wait!" yelled Qallin."One of them could be the one who saved Lizan!"

            "You may be right! MEN! Go up there and help the man who saved the queen!"

            "SIR, YES, SIR!" The troops went forth to the building where the two men fought. Villas spotted the Vullanese Leaders taking Lizan away. "Look! Those Vullanese bastards have the Queen!"

            "What! Where?" replied Taran looking around with his hand over his brow.

            "Over there father!" Tanar cried, pointing where the Maesters were sneaking off with Queen Lizan.

            "My sons, quickly assemble your men and any other soldiers you come across and muster. Hurry now, go!" The five Kyshar brothers rushed to assemble their troops. Antalace sent troops to the top of the building where the fight between Jorel and the assassin raged on. The Nazdar shoved him back, but Jorel had his sniper rifle. Jorel tried to shoot but this one was a single shot load.

             "What a useless piece of crap this is!" growled Jorel tossing it aside. The Nazdar yanked Jorel's dagger from his shoulder. He looks at the blade covered in blood. He licks it clean and chunks it at Jorel. He luckily dodges the blade and draws his short sword. The Nazdar reached from behind his back and draws out his own sword in response.

            "So, want to fight with blades huh? Well I can show you how difficult it was for the Gantronese to fight us!" Jorel put a smile on his face. The Nazdar charged and a sword fight began. They parried blows going in circles, side to side, backwards, and forwards. The entire crowd watched them in awe. They all wondered who would win. Jorel swiftly swung his sword cutting the Nazdar in the ribs, arms and legs, but they kept fighting until they both grew tired. The fighters paused taking a break. To his surprise Jorel found himself on the edge of the second level. He would have to move to the side dodging the Nazdar's charge or take a defensive stance with his bade pointed at his adversary. 'I hope this guy doesn't have a pistol.' he thought to himself. Then the Nazdar charged him with his sword raised up. Jorel waited until he was close enough and raised his sword pointing it at the enemy. The fool ran straight into the blade. The speed of the attack forced the blade to go through his body. This attack caused Jorel to fall backwards with a corpse on top. He falls the very moment the troops arrive to aid him. Jorel landed in a wagon of wool, soft enough to cushion his landing.

            At a hurried pace the Vullanese leaders got as far away from the palace their feet could take them. They came to a dark alley with the Queen in their possession. Silos looked around hoping to kill the queen somewhere they couldn’t be seen. Unfortunetaly they were running out of time and had to find another location.

                        "Aigul." Silos pointed to a Praetor. "You stay behind in the shadows and let us know if somebody comes!"

             "Yes, Lord Silos." he bowed and hid in the shadows of at thin space on the side of a theatre. He was to whistle when he heard soldiers coming. Little did he know that a Union Elite was sneaking up behind him with his blade out.  When he turned around the Praetor could only let out a surprised gasp before he was struck down.

            In the middle of their getaway the Maesters and Praetors stopped at a town square that was dark and silent. Their stop had brought them over to the entrance of a stadium with a large cover shading the entire town square. Several other towering buildings also contributed to the shading of the town square. To some of the Leaders it looked perfect for a chance to kill Lizan.

            "Let's get this over with already!" A Praetor angrily yelled drawing out a knife, grabbing the Queen by the arm.

            "Hold on! I think I heard footsteps!" Miske said stopping the group. "Psst Aigul is that you?" he whispered into the darkness.

            "Wouldn't you like to know?" said a deep voice in the shadows. They were all aghast at the sound of this voice. Out of the shadows came Prince Tidus Kyshar a Mysdran in the Vestrisian's Army. The scar on the right cheek made him look horrifying as he appeared into the light that seeped through some gaps of the taller buildings. As the young, scar faced prince moved in closer more of the Kyshar brothers arrived with twenty to forty soldiers following them. The incoming warriors drew their swords.

            "Now, now, gentlemen please put down your weapons!" Silos nervously chuckled. "Let's not do anything rash or spill blood before the Queen!"

            "Why not?" replied Tanar drawing his sword and closing in. About two scores of heavily armored riflemen rushed from the shadows and surrounded the abductors.

            "Stop, you might kill the Queen as well!" Tioban ordered breathlessly, worried for Lizan's safety. The soldiers lowered their rifles standing down. Then the Kyshars and their troops in a flash moved in killing Maesters and Praetors alike missing the Queen. The warriors slaughtered all these monsters until only Silos, Miske and Vasce remained. The three Maesters were pinned down by the valiant men, blades pressed against their necks. Tanar walked over to Lizan took off his cloak and placed it over her shoulders.

            "It's alright your highness. You're safe now!" He said wrapping his arms protectively around the beloved Queen. Seconds later the eleven main leaders of the Union arrived along with Arctice.

            "So your own plans backfired once again, Maesters!" Drasta smirked.

            "What....Where....How....What about that sniper we hired to kill this bitch!" Silos stumbled for words until he found them. He was confused and taken aback.

            "Why don't you ask him!" Arctice said, pointing to the soldier next to him. Jorel appeared from the shadows into the light.

            "I thought I could serve Vullan, but now see you're not to be trusted along with the teachings!"

            Speechless, and awestruck, Maester Silos stared at him with a betrayed expression. He stammered the words out.

            "How...How- how ...could you betray the Teachings of Vullan?" The second he finished the sentence Maester Silos was beheaded by Tioban's cold, steel sword. The remaining Maesters were hung in public. It was a display for all to see the ones who attempted to murder Queen Lizan of the Boathrin Kingdom.

            There were no more Maesters left to rule the Vullanese Empire. Their neighboring Nazdar allies took control over the remnants of the Vullanese Empire. To most it seemed as if a whole new war began. To others the Vollante war continued. The Vullanese allies, Nymres, Gontrella, and many others fought on.