Coalesce: The Escape
Chapter 7

I had fallen into such a deep sleep I had forgotten that I was going to make my escape after the wedding. I wake startled by shouting and the smell of burning wood. I quickly jump up and hastily pull a traveling cloak around myself and grab the satchel that I had packed before the council meeting. Despite my dislike for him, I wake Luciack.

“What’s going on?” He asks as we run through the hall toward the stairs, then down to the throne room. His question was forgotten but answered. The castle was on fire and under attack by soldiers from Scholar’s Keep. I could see Geoffrey and Isaac fighting alongside Phillip near the doors.

“Edward...” I gasp and whirl around then race toward my brother’s room. I wasn’t going to leave him here to be burned. I throw open the door to his bedroom and replace it empty. By now I was almost panicking. Luciack grabs my arm and tries to drag me away toward safety.

“Morgan, we have to leave!” He shouts to be heard over the roaring of the fight and crackle of flames. Reluctantly I turn and allow him to lead me back to the throne room. The scene had changed dramatically in the few minutes we had been gone. Geoffrey was on the ground and Isaac was severely wounded. I couldn’t see Phillip at all. The Scholar’s Keep soldiers were advancing on us now.

“Take them as prisoners! Kill the rest of them!” The captain shouts and points at Lucaick and I with his curved scimitar blade.

“Time to run,” I murmur and we swing around once again and make for the balcony. Too late, the balcony doors were guarded by several soldiers. More were coming up behind us, trapping us there. My thoughts instantly went to what was going to happen to us now.

“Your room, get in there and I’ll distract them as long as I can. Go out through the window and run. I’ll come as soon as I can,” Luciack says in a whisper so the soldiers wouldn’t hear and he slowly pushes me behind him putting me closer to the door of my bedchambers.

“Be careful,” I whisper and put my hand on the door and slowly start to push it open enough to slip through. I can only hope that they don’t notice my movements.

“Nowhere to run now is there? Don’t try to be brave, little princess. You and your Prince will be dead by morning!” The captain’s cold voice and evil sneer were just what I needed.

“Sad thing is, you don’t know this Kingdom half as well as I do,” I smirk and quickly slip through the door and slam it shut behind myself and run to the window. I glance back then throw it open and jump down. I didn’t have time to hesitate. It would mean my death now.

Dallek was in flames, civilians ran through the streets calling loved ones names and trying to save themselves and their families. It was chaos. By the look of it a whole army of soldiers had come to invade our little kingdom. I had no idea what they intended to do, it’s not like Dallek has any important relations to Shadow Mountain.... Oh no... That’s exactly why. Dallek is the kingdom that borders Shadow Mountain the closest to the White City. That’s what their plan is, take over Dallek and storm the White City. That’s the only plausible reason for taking Dallek at all. It’s much worse than I thought...

I have to tell the Brotherhood. They can help, hopefully. Or at least escape alive.

Trying to navigate the burning streets was nearly impossible and required a lot of concentration. There was a constant danger of being seen or shot by a soldier, crushed by falling beams from burning houses, or tripping over charred corpses of the unfortunate souls that couldn’t make it out of their homes before being burned alive. It was horrible to see the city like this, no one had seen it coming. Who would expect to be ambushed in the dead of night by an army of foreign soldiers? And right after a royal wedding no less… Could they have known somehow? You don’t have time to think about that right now… I tell myself and keep running.

Several pairs of feet pounded on the road behind me. I spared a glance back and saw Luciack running toward me trailed by at least ten soldiers. They shouted at the archers to stop us, their cries were lost among the wails of children without their mothers, and parents searching for the ones they lost.

“Follow me,” I shout at Luciack. Even if I was possibly putting the whole Brotherhood at risk, it had to be done. I had no other choice now. It was either abandoning him, or taking both of us to safety within the sanctuary. Surely they would understand, given the circumstances.

Above my head a flaming board creaks and snaps, about to fall, I dive out of the way just in time. My husband follows suit, barely making it. The soldiers were trapped behind it now, giving us more time to get away from them. We got up and continued to run, the smoke was growing thicker and it got harder and harder to see and breathe. My throat burned, my breaths came painfully from being so dry. Now we were both coughing and trying our best to stay on the road and out of the flames. Half-way to the sanctuary now, I close my eyes and grab Luciack’s hand and drag him along behind me. I knew this part of Dallek by heart and could get there with my eyes closed, or in my sleep.