Noelle watched the retreat back off of the balcony with growing interest. Mygel grabbed the first vase in her path and hurled it across the room, Aundreya crumpled to the floor in a fit of maniacal giggles, and Helena, pale as a ghost, sucked in a deep breath.

"This can't be," she whispered, shaking her head.

"You saw him, plain as day," Mygel growled, reaching for another vase. Roman plucked it out of her hands at the last second. "His face is all over this castle. It was Tremaine. Did you see who was with him? It was Samson Steele--the Army Second."

"But--but--" Helena shook her head. "He's dead. Everyone knows. He's--"

"Standing in the middle of the town square WITH THE ARMY." Mygel folded her scarred arms. "And judging by the look on your face, he's not the Ancient you've been working with."

Noelle listened to all of it, but her eyes were on her sister. Aundreya lay flat on her back, grinning up at the hand-painted murals on the ceiling. Noelle could hear her humming under her breath, but couldn't make out the words under Mygel's tirade. She stepped closer.

"I'm going to have an Aaaaancient. I'm going to rule the wooooorld." Aundreya's eyes flicked up, seeing Noelle. Her grin twisted. "I'm going to be an only chiiiilld."

Cold fear flooded Noelle, and she backed away, bumping into Roman.

"It's starting," he whispered low in her ear. "They're here. Be ready."

"What?" Noelle turned, but Roman was already on the other side of the room as if he'd been there all along. Suddenly his words hit her, and the strange vision she'd had in the meeting the day before no longer felt like a dream.

They were coming. They were coming for Roman, for her.

"Would someone please explain what's going on?" Roman asked, his face the perfect mask of confusion with his dark brows scrunched low on his forehead.

Helena seemed to have steeled herself, her jaw set even as Mygel raged on.

"Tremaine--the dead king from one hundred years ago? He was out in the town square. Unless-" she turned to Helena. "Could Tarvril's heir have looked that much like him?"

"No." Helena's voice had a hard edge Noelle hadn't heard before. "Gwen is Tarvril's daughter. He didn't have a son." She turned toward the balcony. "But they like to play, don't they?"

"What are you talking about?" Roman asked, and this time Noelle could see true concern in his eyes.

"They thought they could unhinge us--break into the castle and put us on edge. Now this nonsense stirring up the city. They think they can get rid of me. Of us. Castor and his little games."

"Who?" Mygel asked.

"Castor's the Ancient. That was him. Risky to come so close, but then, I knew who he was the moment he saved Eric Lee."

Aundreya, who had stopped her little song, stared at Helena upside down. "What about Tremaine?"

"It's Canya. The shapeshifter." Helena glared at Mygel. "This is all your fault."

"My fault? This is Yoro's fault. He's the one who never killed the baby. If that boy's out there--"

"Of COURSE he's out there! Look at that sky!" Helena pointed at the closed balcony doors. "He's here, and if you don't get rid of him, we're all sunk." She whirled around to the now disappointed Aundreya. "Get out there and find that boy. Bring him back to me."

"You want me to go out there into that?" Aundreya sat up, nose scrunched. "They'll tear me apart. No thank you."

"Take Noelle. Guards!" The door to the room opened and a man in Militia garb stepped in, but Noelle almost choked. She recognized him from the dungeons--Corporal Ruter, an Army soldier whose wounds she'd tended to.

"Lady Helena?" Ruter said, not showing any sign of malice or aggression.

"Have the men search the castle--be on the lookout for Commander Lee and Maverick Knight."

"Yes ma'am," Ruter said, dipping into a bow before leaving.

Helena turned back to Aundreya and Noelle. "What are you waiting for? Go find me that boy!"

#

Phoenix and Eric stood in the middle of the square next to Audra, who had shifted back to her usual form. The villagers they'd sent for had arrived and more from Osha spilled into the center of the city. Those who had heard from Maverick and Gwen were telling those in Osha what they'd heard. The city gates might be closed at night, but an attack in the middle of the day? Helena wasn't protected against that.

Gwen found them, Bainon at her side, and together with Maverick they went to the front of the crowd. Maverick pulled off his cloak, earning many shouts of triumph from those who recognized him. Bainon and Gwen uncloaked themselves as well, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

"My people!" Bainon called, raising his hands for silence. "Please hear me. Over six months ago, I was forced from my palace to flee for my life, Queen Narissa murdered, and my niece and nephew hunted."

A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd. Eric and Phoenix held their ground, waiting.

"These are my heirs--Gwen Tremaine, daughter of Tarvril Tremaine, and Maverick Knight, son of Clarice Tremaine. I name them as my successors, but Lady Helena--a woman who helped slaughter the Guardians over twenty years ago--refuses to accept my decision. She demands the throne for her own right, and for the right of a traitor."

Boos and hisses--instigated by Eric and a few carefully placed members of the Army--ran rampant. Bainon held his hands up, closing his eyes as he nodded in agreement.

"I know, I know. She forced me from my own bed in the middle of the night in a coup, and murdered my wife in an act of cowardice."

"Helena threw Narissa out a window," Gwen shouted, glaring out at the crowd. "Now she hides behind another, a young man she forces to play the part. Roman Treck has no desire to be king, and is kept here against his will."

"We don't want violence," Maverick said. "But we do want justice--justice for those who died at Helena's hand, those who died because of her ideals. We want peace for Braskey, as it hasn't been since before Travril's time."

"My people, I have failed you in many ways." Bainon spread his arms. "I am not the king I should have been. I know that much of what happened has been my own fault, but one thing I cannot allow is for my people to be under the control of another. What Helena has done through Aundreya is unforgivable, and I'm sure many of you still feel the pull of her lies.

"I promise you that I will do better by you from this point forward, my first act being to step down from the throne to act as an advisor to my heir."

Gasps echoed all around, and a voice called out, "Which one is the heir?"

Gwen shot a grin at Maverick, who gestured for her to step forward. She lifted a hand. "I am the eldest heir and the only child of King Tarvril, but I choose to abdicate my throne in favor of the title of Grand Duchess. My cousin, if you are willing to accept him, will ascend to the throne."

"Maverick Knight is the son of my sister Clarice and her husband Norman Knight, and I know many of you were fonder of them than of any the royal family has produced. Maverick is strong, kind, and just. If you will have him, there could be no one better." Bainon ushered Maverick forward.

"What about Aundreya and Lady Helena?" someone shouted, true fear in her voice. A chorus of agreement rose up to join her. Maverick waited until the cries died down before answering.

"We didn't come to you expecting you to take us in without proving our worth. We've already laid siege to the castle, peacefully removing the military force of the usurpers and replacing them with the members of the Army they once fought so hard to kill. But I'm sure you know that won't be enough against Aundreya, Helena, and the powerful beings they've brought into their service. For them, we have a little demonstration we hope will put your minds at ease."

Eric nodded to Phoenix and the two of them threw off their cloaks and stood back to back. In their best synchronized movements, they each brought their arms up into the air. Eric shot a blast of ice and Phoenix one of fire. They then brought both arms down to the ground where ice and fire spread before them, creating a half circle for each of them, connecting ice to fire.

The crowd backed away, shrieking in surprise and fear. Thunder roiled ahead, and though she tried with all her might, Phoenix couldn't bring the lightning.

"We are the Guardians of Braskey," Phoenix and Eric said together in tandem--they'd rehearsed for hours in the alcoves of their secret passageways to get it right. "We protect and defend the people and the royal family against those who would do harm."

As they finished speaking, the half circle disappeared, the fire circling around to melt the ice before dissipating. The crowd actually applauded, and Phoenix felt as though she should bow.

"We'll storm the castle!" a man called, stepping forward. "We'll join you!"

"Yes!"

"We'll fight for you!"

"No, please." Maverick raised his hands to quiet them. "Whatever happens to us is our burden to bear. We won't risk your lives in the process. There are only a few people left to deal with now, but they are powerful and dangerous." He walked out toward Eric and Phoenix at the center of the crowd. "If any of you were hurt because of me, I could never forgive myself. Please, remain safe--hold tight to the truth we've told you, and stay clear of the castle."

"And what if you lose?" a woman asked, eyes darting from Maverick to Gwen and then Bainon. "What if you all die?"

"If we die," Bainon said, joining Maverick. "You had better well bet we're taking them with us."

"It's our job to protect them," Eric said, stepping in front of Maverick and Bainon as Phoenix stepped behind. "We won't let them come to harm."

"What can we do to help?" the woman asked, wringing her hands. "We can't do nothing. Not anymore."

"Don't let them leave," Phoenix said. "Don't let anyone leave the castle until you see one of these three again--especially not Lady Aundreya, she's too dangerous. Those of you with beeswax, share with your neighbors. Please--everyone, put this in your ears to protect yourself from her, and if you see her sister, don't be afraid. Noelle is under her sister's power, but she won't hurt you."

"We're going in there for you," Bainon said, pointing at the castle. "Send prayers after us. We're going to need them."

The crowd cheered as the lot of them crossed toward the castle. They hadn't been confronted yet, but Phoenix knew that the traitor would be inside, and their survival--the survival of all of Braskey--would hinge on finishing what Tremaine started all those years before.

THEY'RE GOING IN! Also, Maverick is the official future ruler of Braskey! I mean, he's been unofficial this whole time, but Gwen has renounced her right to the crown and Bainon is also abdicating--who is totally on board with Bainon being an advisor and Gwen being Grand Duchess IF they survive this?

But wait! Aundreya and Noelle are on their way out! Dun dun duuuun.