"The stables...on fire! They're trying to trap us!"
Liora jolted upright. She had barely slept. She grabbed her cloak, the journal, and the ring, stuffing them into a small pack with shaking hands.
Outside her window, an orange glow flickered, and by the time she ran down the hall, smoke was seeping under the doors.
Lucien was already there, with his sword drawn while he was shouting orders.
"Get the guards to the east wing! Edgar, lock the inner gates; if they're inside already, we contain them!"
He turned to Liora, eyes flashing. "You have the journal?"
She nodded. "And the ring."
He exhaled. "Good. Then stay behind me and don't stop running unless I fall."
"Don't say that," she snapped.
He didn't answer...but he didn't smile either.
Outside, the night was filled with sparks and panic.
The stables were engulfed. Two guards were down. A third staggered from the flames, screaming something incoherent before collapsing in the mud.
