So the stage is set. Fiona and Alex will try to kill the King and Henry's men will try to take them down before they can. One question remains...What will happen at the House of Lords???? This section of the book is kinda meant to be read all at once, so I will be posting with minimal author's note, fast updates. I want this section of the book to be exciting so if any parts lag or are unclear let me know. Hope you enjoy:-) 

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Teren

The night was colder than it had any right to be. Small clouds of white surrounded the faces of Teren and his men as their breath hung in the air. Their heavy wool coats impotent in providing any level of protection from the bitter wind that picked up every so often, burning their faces and every inch of exposed skin it could find. The men shifted on their feet, stamping on the ground periodically, to revitalize their frozen toes.

Stationed just outside the garden bordering the House of Lords, Teren anxiously surveyed the perimeter of the building for signs of anything out of the ordinary. Most of the members of the Privy Council and the rest of the invited representatives of parliament had arrived at least forty minutes before the scheduled start of the assembly. Henry was known for his punctuality.

 Teren rubbed his gloved hands together from anxiousness as much as for warmth, before checking his pocket watch. Henry had been scheduled to begin at seven o'clock and it was now seven o' six. The meeting was likely already underway.

If Seleb's information was correct, Alexander Harrison and the Vox Populi would make their move at the conclusion of the assembly, ensuring the King's presence as well as that of every nobleman in the Henry's upper ranks of government. The meeting was scheduled to run for at least two hours and by seven thirty, the rebels would be in place to make their move. By eight o' clock, the traitors to the crown would be arrested before the meeting's end without the men of parliament being any the wiser.

According to his informant, The Vox Populi had secreted at least ten large kegs of gun powered beneath the podium at the House of Lords the night before, paying off a steward, and disguising them among barrels of wine the King stored in the basement of the building.  When Henry banged his gavel to signify the conclusion of the meeting, the bomb would be ignited, and the Vox Populi would make their escape through the secret passages that had been made to shelter members of Parliament in case of an emergency. Of course their plan would never get so far.

Teren looked into the growing darkness surrounding the House of lords. He knew his men would have already assumed their stations, blocking the exits of all known passages from the building. After they were certain the rebels had moved into place to make their attack, his soldiers would follow behind, ensuring the fiends never made it back out of the building.

The stroke of luck had come with the news that Seleb himself had been assigned as key lookout. The boy would be stationed with the gunpowder, charged to guard it with his life. This would ensure that the fuse would not be lit without Teren's knowledge. Seleb had even heard Harrison announce his intentions to ignite the weapon himself and thus take the glory of bringing down the monarchy as his own. The moment the rebel leader was in position, the boy would alert the guards. Harrison would be entirely surprised. Teren smiled at the thought. The young protégé the rebels had taken in would betray them and the Empire would finally be safe.

Yet in spite of his certainty the mission would be a success, Teren had not slept in days. If all went according to plan the reward would be great, but should anything go wrong...the King was not a forgiving man. Teren had seen the man kill with a coldness that bordered on inhuman and, though he admired Henry's tenacity as a leader, he hoped to never give the man cause for offense. Teren knew well that if his plan were to fall short of bringing about the promised result, his own head could be forfeit.

As he stood there shifting on his feet in the bitter cold, Teren wished desperately for something to calm his nerves. He picked up his watch again, staring as the seconds tick by, moving at a painstakingly slow clip across the face of the timepiece, anxious for the moment when they might make their move. The unnatural quiet of the abandon streets around him was unnerving. Too little to distract him from the whispers of doubt and fear that would not quit his mind. Soon, he consoled himself. Soon.

A large BANG! snapped up Teren's attention. He dropped his watch instantly, heart thudding out of beat. Gun shots.

BANG! BANG!

The sound of screams the smell of smoke.

The King! Henry! The words pounded in his head with the reverberating echo of the shots. Shots from the House of Lords

Looking frantically in the direction of the building Teren saw the soldiers standing guard by the door grasping their rifles tightly as they turned towards the sound. There was no question it had come from the assembly hall. He could see their hesitation as one went to open the large heavy doors.

In mere seconds, the scene erupted into a mélange of fear on confusion. The doors of the building flung wide open and his soldiers were pushed aside, trampled by the men attempting to flee. Teren watched his men's futile attempts to force one of the doors closed again and control the chaos flowing from the building. There were cries of terror from the crowds on the street that began to gather, Men and women drawn from their homes by the dissonant sound of gun fire and the acrid cloud of smoke that followed behind the escaping dignitaries.

A moment later another explosion sounded through the air, the impact traveling up his legs as it reverberated along the cobble stone street. The building across the road burst into bright orange flames. More screams, and heat, and smoke poured into the night air.

"Follow me!" Teren shouted to the soldiers in his retinue, fighting down the panic as he hurried towards the entrance of the House of Lords, pushing against the wave of people fleeing the site.

"Make way, make way, " he cried, though it had little effect on the panicked mob. Armed with only a pistol and his voice, Teren could not make a dent in the terror around him. His soldiers had more luck. Bayonets in hand, they shoved a path to the doorway to give Teren passage.

The scene inside the House of Lords was pure chaos. The guards who had been stationed within the building had managed to block the exits and those who had not left fast enough now hovered around the blockade of armed men, no doubt wishing they could push through, only stopped by the sharp points of the guard's weapons. The panic was painted across each of their faces and it was clear they were only moments away from trying their luck and ignoring the potential of being shot or stabbed

"Make way for the Lord, High Commissioner General," Teren said. The guards gave him passage.

Ignoring the protestations that followed Teren managed to make his way through the crowd into the now nearly empty hall. The smell of gunpowder was strong in the enclosed space. Looking towards the raised daises at the front of the room, where the King would have stood, Teren was horrified to see the unmistakable stain of blood. He walked towards the spot in a trance, heart beating unsteadily in his chest. Henry. Where was Henry?

"My lord."

Teren nearly jumped from his skin at the sound of the voice that forced his attention. He watched as a guardsman emerged from a door beside the stage. He recognized him as one of the men he'd assigned to stand by the King's side.

"Thank the God you have come," he man said. "The rebels have attacked. Two dignitaries were fired upon from the balcony. It is believed that the shots were in fact intended for the King."

"His Majesty?" Teren asked desperately. "The King. Is he?" He hesitated to complete the thought aloud. The idea that Henry might have been injured or worse...

"The murders missed their mark," the man answered. "Hi Majesty was secreted out through the back chambers."

Thank the God, Teren thought to himself.

"The villains, the assassins. Please tell me they were apprehended!" he demanded.

"Unfortunately my Lord, in the commotion, we fear they have fled. It seems that they managed to slip into the assembly disguised as members of parliament. We believe they escaped the same way, blending in with the first rush towards the doors. Witnesses say they were wearing broad brimmed hats. No one was able to see their faces."

"God Damn it," Teren cursed under his breath. "Come with me soldier," he ordered, turning back towards the main entry to the hall. The man followed close as his heels as they crossed the room.

"I am placing you in charge," Teren said. Make sure no one else leaves this building without inspection. Order the others to seal off the area and search for any more explosives they might have hidden."

"Yes, my Lord," the guardsmen answered, hurrying forward to the nearest of his college and whispering in his ear.

"Form a single file line!" Teren heard one of his men shout. "No one in or out without inspection."

The announcement sent up a swell of dissent from the terrified councilmen, but it was clear they were nonetheless maintaining their distance from the rifles now aimed in their general direction. Teren pushed again through the crowd of angry nobles, ignoring their complaint and panic. With his gun unholstered and cocked, they gave him way.

Finding the sergeant of his retinue just outside the front door Teren charged him to lead the men in a search of the perimeter.

"Stop anyone you deem as suspicious," he said. "Look for the mark of the Vox Populi on their left arm." As the man began to bark orders to the rest of the guards, Teren ignored the commotion that seemed to have permeated the area, and heat from the raging fire that had now spread along the row of storefronts opposite the assembly hall. He could hear the bells of the fire brigade already rising out in the distance and there was nothing he could do to stop the blaze. Instead he hurried behind the building to a hidden alleyway that contained the back entrance to the hall. It was here that Henry was likely to emerge from the underground chambers.

As he walked Teren's mind raced. Though he'd told his men to search the perimeter he knew instinctively it was too late. Tonight was an unmitigated disaster.

At the rear entrance of the building Teren found more soldiers. They saluted at his approach.

"The King." he shouted, walking to the highest-ranking man present. "Where is the King?"

"His Majesty remains beneath the hall." The man replied. "We were told to stay and guard the alleyway."

"Who gave the order?"

"The High Chancellor, my Lord. He emerged from the underground and commanded that we remain here and await the King."

Teren felt a cold shock run through his body at the mention of the Chancellor. Rearder had been against the plan from the first, and now...

"I must find his Majesty," Teren said. He had to see Henry with his own eyes. He had to protect him, to control the damage already done. "Take me to him immediately."

"No need." The creak of a trapdoor opening, the presence of another figure in the alleyway, looming in the dark. Teren's heart thudded to a halt as he turned to see the King standing directly behind him.

"Your Majesty," Teren said, removing his hat and bowing his head low. He heard the men behind him follow in kind.

"What happened?" Henry asked. Although his voice was calm, the danger carried within was undeniable. Teren avoided Henry's eyes as he straightened to face him.

"Majesty," he said, working hard to stop his voice from trembling. "It seems my informant was given false information. Or perhaps he was betrayed. As of yet I have not determined the extent of..." Teren stopped, feeling Henry's eyes upon him like burning coals.

"Sire I will get to the bottom of this." he concluded, bowing his head once more for good measure.

"Yes," Henry said. "You will."

 The sound of clicking boots running in their direction pulled the men's attention as they raised their weapons. Instinctively Teren put himself between Henry and the entrance to the alleyway, aiming his pistol in the direction of the approaching footsteps.

At the sight of the red uniform that rounded the corner, he eased the tension on his the trigger, but only slightly as, what appeared to be two men of the armed guard, came towards them and stopped, standing at attention.

"Name and rank." Teren barked. It was dark, and the night had already brought too many surprises. He kept his eyes trained on their weapons and his pistol aimed squarely at the chest of one of the men, fully prepared to shoot at the first hint of danger. Teren felt Henry's hand on his shoulder as the King stepped forward from the shadows.

"Hold your weapon Commissioner," he said. "I recognize them. These are Dresden's men." Upon seeing Henry's face, both soldiers lowered their heads.

"Your Majesty," they said in unison.

"There is no time for formalities," Henry snapped."Rise and give your report."

The two men looked at each other and Teren could sense their fear.

"The High Chancellor has sent us to find you Sire. The perpetrators of tonight's attack have indeed escaped."

"And how exactly is that possible?" Henry asked. His tone was lethal.

"As ordered, we had stationed ourselves near the entrance to the basement of the hall," one of the men volunteered. "We had been told the rebels planned to place kegs of gunpowder beneath the stage where your majesty would have stood, with the intention of igniting the explosives towards the end of the assembly. Our orders were to move into place when given the signal, but after we heard the gunshots we went to our positions immediately hoping to find whatever members of the Vox populi might have already been set for the attack."

"And?"

"All we found were empty barrels. There was no sign the rebels beyond that.

Teren felt an uncomfortable tingle run through his body as the King shot him a pointed glare.

"Is that so?" Henry asked, before turning back to the soldiers. "How unfortunate that we were so misinformed. Please, continue."

"As we had stationed the majority of our troupes in position to capture of the rebel leader beneath the hall, we were caught unawares. The two shots taken at your Majesty came from the balcony, but unfortunately, no one seems to have seen the assassins clearly. In the confusion, they were able to escape."

"I see."

"Lord Cranmar is dead. Lord Fisher is gravely injured and the doctors are uncertain they will be able to do anything more for him."

Teren could see the expression on Henry's face. The barely contained rage beneath his blank expression as he received the news that the rebels had caught them completely unawares.

"Tell me that we managed to apprehend at least one of these fiends," Henry said.

"Indeed Sire," the man answered quickly, likely desperate to give some semblance of good news to the agitated monarch. "While there is no way of knowing how many might have run, there was one who remained behind. A youth. But he was clearly marked upon his left arm."

Teren's stomach dropped.

"Excellent," Henry said. "Perhaps we can still manage to salvage something from this fiasco. Have the prisoner taken to Portenbrough and send word to the executioner to prepare the questioning chamber. We will follow shortly. That filthy scum will give us answers."

"Lord Rearder has already given the command," the man answered. "I am certain Master Gerrick will be prepared when you arrive. There are horses awaiting you and the Commissioner General."

The King nodded again.

Teren breathed a guarded sigh of relief at the fact that he had been sent a horse and not armed guards for his immediate arrest. Of course, the repercussions of this evening's disaster were likely still to come. Once the King had decided exactly how culpable he believed Teren to be in this assassination attempt.

"There is one more thing Majesty," the man said. He cast an uncertain glance in Teren's direction.

"Yes?"

"The man we apprehended, he claimed to be one of our own. We believe that he may be the informant arranged by Commissioner General Mather."

"Is that so? Well, if he is that same man, there is little question of his treachery." Henry turned to Teren. "It seems you were deceived my friend."

Teren tried to remain calm. "Indeed Sire," he said, keeping his voice as steady as possible. Teren's mind and heart raced. He did not believe for a moment that Seleb had betrayed them and was was certain he would have seen the signs if the boy had defected to the rebels. But in the end, it hardly mattered. Teren could hear the truth beneath Henry's measured tone. The King was furious. Henry wanted someone to hold accountable, and there was no question that he must be careful lest the man take out his rage on Teren himself, or worse, his family. Still he could not help but feel the nagging fear creeping in along with his instinct of self-preservation.

As they mounted their horses and turned towards the prison complex, Teren uttered a silent prayer to the God above for a miracle, not just for himself, but for his informant. He prayed that it was not in fact Seleb who had been captured, as futile as he knew that prayer might be. That it would not be a loyal man from whom Henry would extract his revenge. Teren was certain the King would show no mercy.