"No, Leona. Over the years, I've learned that faith in Mideia is misplaced, and I've used my position to its fullest advantage. Faith in Mideia is bought and paid for through ignorance, fear, money, and power. Lots of it, to be precise, and I have no issues wiping away the culmination of evils spawned within these walls, of which you are counted among them," he sneered, gesturing for his men to resume closing in around her.
Leona scoffed and shook her head in disbelief. "You've become nothing more than a pawn; a fraud who has lived a bountiful life taking people's money and pleas for help when you don't even believe in it yourself," she spat.
"A special artifact here, a baseless blessing or compliment there, and the people will lose all self-respect over it, believing they've been blessed to have encountered, felt, or heard such a thing that gives them only a temporary relief from their reality. After what you've done with the Harutian prince, can you truly say you're any different?" his malicious smile returned, making her blanche for a moment.
You bastard, she thought with clenched fists.
"From what children learn in schools to the reasons behind outbreaks in war, we have fed this Continent controlled information to ensure they stay in line. People are incredibly gullible and will pay any price to feel even an iota of the relief you felt when you murdered your husband. Unfortunately, enough is enough. I've done my part in trying to help fix this rotten world, but over the years, I've grown tired of trying," he sighed as he shook his head.
Leona was stunned, entirely unable to find any words to say, but did her best to keep stalling for time in hopes more guards would arrive.
"So, what now? You're just going to kill me and parade my body throughout the city in proclamation of ridding this world of someone you view as evil?" she asked with a feigned lack of fear.
Get ready to run, she motioned to Meliss with a hand behind her back.
"Ah, I've always loved how people fear the unknown. The Masked One has commanded that we eradicate all who could potentially stand against him. This, according to his will, includes you," Mourtis sneered.
"The Masked One? Your doing all this while putting your faith in a fucking children's story? You're just a sick, evil bastard," she scoffed, carefully gauging the others who were now just a few meters from her position.
"Oh, no, no, no, Leona. He's very much real, and he is coming. Evil is also just a matter of perspective, after all. What I may deem evil, you could deem worthy of praise, and vice versa," he shrugged.
"We all have our perspectives in life, and while that doesn't mean that all perspectives are correct, or can coexist in the same space, the one with the most power wins. Killing your subjects is but a means to an end in the grand scheme of things," he began to chuckle, eventually throwing his head back hysterically.
"Says the dog who's dug himself into a hole he can't crawl out of. I hope you die a horrible death, priest," she spat, immediately turning to take Meliss' hand and sprint up the stairs back to her bedroom. "Get them! Bring me their heads!" Mourtis shouted with hysterical laughter.
Three of the hooded figures chased after them as Leona's and Meliss' hearts were beating louder and harder than a battle drum. "In here," Leona said, pulling the girl with her as she entered the royal chambers. Just as one of the hooded figures reached for her, she turned and slammed the wooden door, crushing the hand caught between it and the doorframe.
Noticing the door was still ajar, she forcefully kicked it with all her might and severed the hand in two, spraying blood and bits of broken bone into the air between them as she immediately reached to bolt the door shut.
Meliss stood by and blankly stared at the half of the hand still inside the room gathering blood beneath it. Leona went to her easel and grabbed a thin paintbrush, sticking it into a small hole in the wall behind the curtains near the window. "Meliss, come quickly," she whispered, knocking her out of her daze. "What's that for?" Meliss asked, doing as she was told. "Shh, they're still outside," Leona put a finger to her lips and silently gestured to the door.
Meliss nodded and watched with curious eyes as Leona pushed on the stone wall near the window where she'd inserted the paintbrush into the hole. "What the…? I never would have guessed that was there," she whispered with genuine surprise.
"That's because only the royal family is ever told about it. Now, come on. We need to find help," Leona whispered with a wry grin before grabbing the young girl's wrist and leading her down the passage.
They moved as quickly as they could in the pitch black of the passage, and they used more of their sense of touch than their eyesight to find their way, coming to a solid wall a few moments later. "This is it," Leona said quietly. "Once we leave here, we must find Thorsen, do you remember him?" she asked. Meliss nodded in the dark, and then realized it was pointless. "Got it," Meliss said quietly. Leona patted her shoulder and pushed against the solid wall.
The stones moved, and the moonlight shone through the cracks it created. They arrived just outside the palace, where other hooded figures could be seen, scouring the streets for anyone they deemed unworthy of their revolt. Alarm bells could be heard in the distance, and a cacophony of screams and pleas for help ruled the night air.
"Quickly now," Leona said, pulling Meliss along behind her. They hid behind a small shack on a nearly empty street, and waited for one of the hooded figures to pass. They held their breath as he walked past them, only a meter's width away without noticing their presence. He continued down the street, and in the moonlight, Leona saw that their course was clear.
"To Thorsen's house," she said. She led Meliss down the narrow streets from house to house, down to the commoners' part of town, where the giant's house was. They ran to the door, and Leona knocked vigorously. "Hallo?" a strong voice came from behind the door. "Thorsen, it's Leona, I must speak with you," she answered as loudly as she dared.
The bolts were immediately undone, as the giant stood in the tall doorway, nearly matching its breadth. "What are you doing here at this hour of the night, Your Majesty?" Thorsen asked with visible confusion. "They've taken over, and killed most of my staff," Leona said shakily, as the stress of the whole situation began to take its toll.
"Who's done what?" Thorsen asked, his eyes flaring with concern. "The Church killed my people, and I think they're coming through here next. Please, help us," Leona replied desperately, looking over her shoulder to make sure none had followed them.
"You mean the bunch of pious, spineless whoresons, Your Majesty?" he asked almost in disbelief. "Well, if they didn't have spines before, they seem to have grown them quite quickly," Leona replied. "Come in and shut the door. Quickly," he stepped aside before checking for any potential eavesdroppers.
The two women entered the large house, which was decorated with swords and trophies from past hunts. They briefly looked around and found a large stool that accommodated both of them.
They appeared to be only children compared to the size of the stool.
"They would've killed us too, had it not been for her quick thinking," Meliss said with a panicked tone, prompting Thorsen to look at the desperation in their eyes, immediately knowing they wouldn't be lying about a situation like this. "I see. Give me a moment to gather my things. I'll help you get out of here," he nodded to the pair before stepping away.
He returned a few moments later, with a leather jerkin and a greatsword on his belt. "We must hurry if we're to make it out of here before dawn comes. With any luck, we'll slip by unnoticed. I can hear the contingency plan bells, which most likely means that more than a few people have escaped this horror. We should avoid joining them at all costs," he said, making the other two nod simultaneously.
He quickly snuffed the candles and carefully unlatched the bolts to the large door, peering out of the small crack he made when he pulled it open. "It's clear, but not for long, I assume," he said quietly.
He motioned for the two to follow him, and as soon as he did, a hooded figure appeared in front of them. He motioned for them to be silent, as he crept up behind the figure, snapped its neck, and lowered the limp body slowly. Meliss put a hand to her mouth to keep from screaming, while Leona put a hand around her shoulder.
Come, he mouthed, gesturing for them to stay close.
The two followed him to the Western Gate, where there were a few more hooded figures standing guard. He peeked a single eye out from behind the corner of a wall, and counted as many as he could. "It would seem as though some of the guards themselves were allied to the Church," he whispered, turning to face the two.
"By the Graces," Leona whispered, putting a hand to her mouth. Thorsen counted the figures he could see again to confirm his initial number. "We're not getting out of this without a bit of a fight," Thorsen said, handing the two women twin daggers he had strapped to his belt.
Meliss felt the weight of the large, gleaming dagger and looked up at Thorsen. "I've never killed a man before," she said quietly. "Let's hope you don't have to," Thorsen said, squatting down to her height. "If it comes to it, where it's your life or your enemy's, you stick the pointy end of it into their gut or throat, pull it out, and rush to my side, alright?" he asked calmly and concisely as Meliss' eyes filled with tears. She forced herself to nod quickly, regretfully understanding the consequences if she didn't do as he said.
"Let's move," he whispered. The three came out of the shadows, and Thorsen drew his sword. The figures outnumbered them three to one, and he immediately knew they'd put up a bit of a fight.