Hope

King Caderyn laid on the floor with his face turned toward the opposite wall from me. A pool of blood began to form around his head. His crown lay abandoned, slowly being engulfed by the evergrowning crimson spill.

My father's body ended up on his side in front of the king. He seemed to take the brunt of whatever force took down the two men. He faced me. His hands and face seemed burned, as though he faced the torture of being thrown into a furnace. The Sword Caperolinae, that made him our clan's leader, fell next to his body.

The symbols that represented the power of both of these men seemed tossed aside and discarded. I never fully understood just how much of an illusion power was until this moment. Death does not discriminate between those who have authority and those who follow where they are led.

I wanted to scream but I could not seem to move. I felt numb all over. Surely this was not real. Something like this could not happen here, in my country, in my home.

I was startled from my stupor by an almost unearthly scream. Casimir had awoken in the middle of the battle between the monarchs. He fought against his injuries to stand. One of his legs bent in an unnatural angle. Bruises and deep cuts were already appearing, claiming their real estate across his person.

"My king!" He wailed. The loyal guard had used his sword to help him stand upright. With all his might, he tried to balance without it, swinging toward the Autarch and her companion. His swings ricocheted off an invisible dome that kept my countrymen from the Norads.

I could not watch his futile attempts any longer. I mustered my courage and ran toward my father. I heard the echo in the hall of anguish before I realized the sound emanated from my person.

I could find no pulse. No breath remained. My father's determined eyes seemed to challenge me to revive him. Hot tears swelled in my eyes and soon ran down my ice cold cheeks. Somehow they froze before they hit the ground. Marking moment by moment at they hit the marble floors and shattered.

I turned away from my father. The sight was almost too much for me. I looked to see Cali examining King Caderyn. Her eyes twisted in pain. She saw my glance and slowly shook her head. May the king rest in peace.

Carrion stood between myself and his sister. Was he still trying to keep the two of us apart? His face was pale and blank. Was he in shock? He seemed to be torn between comforting me or helping his sister.

In the end, he kneeled beside me and clamped his hand on my shoulder. It was the most compassion I had ever seen from Carrion. Maybe one day we would be the brothers in arms our fathers hoped we would be.

I looked back down toward the two fallen warriors. Both of these strong men did not make it. Was there hope for the kingdom? Was there hope for me? Was there hope for Alina and the throne? For Cali or Liliana and Abrin?

The last thought renewed my strength. Hope, which moments before I felt was lost, finally swelled in my chest. My father was willing to die to protect those who he loved. I could not dishonor his legacy by simply giving up.

I could hear Casimir's futile attempts to get closer to the Autarch and her sister becoming further and further apart. His sword bounced off their barrier with every agonizing strike. The Autarch chuckled at the hopeless display. The man was fading, but his mission was incomplete. My father's mission was incomplete.

My father should not fall in vain. I locked eyes with Cali and fed off her determination. She saw me slowly reach for the Sword Caperolinae, my father's lost weapon. Her jaw tensed. Worry momentarily swept across her face, before hard set perseverance and loyalty gripped her. She nodded ready to follow me into battle.

I stood with sword in hand. Tears still steamed down my face, but my jaw was clenched in an attempt to hold myself together. Hatred and malice for the women before me that I thought might consume me, were instead pushed aside by hope and love. Not even grief could take his final connection I had with my father away from me. What greater honor is there than to fight for those I love?

The Autarch turned her attention toward me. Her giggles did not fade and her smile grew wider. How could I challenge her power?

No one seemed to pay attention to Nyx. Nyx's eyes were on her husband. Longing read across her face, but unlike her sister, she remained silent. Her arms were bent at the elbow and her hands splayed her fingers. Maybe she was the cause of the shield? I tried to reason how I could use this to my advantage when the leader of the Norads spoke to me.

"Give up, child. Lay down and die with the dogs," the vile woman said in a sing-song tone.

I was generally not a man of action before thought, but some force in me took control. Maybe it was my training or courage taking over me. My body felt hot anger, but another feeling took over tempering the anger and calling for action.

I rushed the invisible shield, fully expecting to ricochet off like Casimir's attempts had. Somehow my father's sword sliced through the barrier with ease, bringing myself through after it. I rushed to the Autarch without any plan. My head seemed foggy from whatever force tempered my anger and warmed my chest.

With one strike I sliced at the Autarch, catching her arm before she stepped back. If she had not taken that step, my strike would have sliced open her chest. Blood seeped from the gash left in her armor.

The Autarch's mouth hung open and she touched her wound. She let out a quiet curse before turning toward me bewildered.

"How?" Escaped her lips before she and her sister disappeared leaving two scorch marks on the palace marble.