Chapter 55:
Necessary Patricide
“My Prince!” the girl wheezed. She fell to her knees as the tears came. “I thought it was over…”
“Please!” Fulcher called. “Our friend, he needs healing!” He and Vardia pulled Akaj through the muck, letting him rest on one of the prayer benches. The priestess sniffed and slapped her cheeks lightly.
“Right… right!” she stood and hurried over, but stopped at the sight of Akaj. “Oh, your friend is… one of the elementals.”
Fulcher looked at her as she frowned, her eyes showing a level of exhaustion that made masking her disgust difficult. He wasted no time kneeling before her with his head bowed.
“Please, miss. You healed me not long ago. I am begging you, please heal him. He is my friend and … and he swore to help free this city, and I lead him into this,” he said with a shaken voice. “Please, fix him. Please fix him.” He looked up to find the healer’s eyes shining in wonder, a slight red flush to her sunken cheeks.
“I- uh… of course, My Prince,” she muttered softly, brushing her hand against her cheek with embarrassment. “I’ll do my best, but I’ve never healed an elemental before. It will take time.” Vardia rested a hand on Fulcher’s shoulder.
“Sir, we should rejoin the fray. He’ll be safe here,” he said. Fulcher nodded, standing and bowing before the healer.
“Thank you, priestess,” he said. She gasped slightly and moved past him hurriedly, hiding her face against the view of the injured Akaj as her hands lit up with holy energy.
“Y… you mustn’t so readily bow to someone like me! Just let me work on him,” she stammered. Vardia and Fulcher stood and ran from the Cathedral, leaving Arrow to lightly lick her arm before running after them. She looked down at the injured creature before her, the injured invader.
“He came back,” she muttered softly to no one. “And he’ll save us all.”
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Vardia pulled Fulcher from the Cathedral, meeting up with Schon who had stayed to guard the area.
If I don’t keep him focused, he’ll crumble, Vardia thought. We need to focus.
“Come on! To the Castle,” Vardia called. Fulcher nodded and shook his head, running to keep pace with the Custodi until he could reach Ravage.
“Wh- we’re just leaving Akaj in there?” Schon complained as they ran.
“There was a priestess! She can take care of him,” Vardia assured. Schon kept running, her protest diminished to an uncertain look. They passed the destroyed gate to a courtyard buzzing with the sounds of combat as the remaining defenders did their best to hold back the invading forces.
“Push through! They don’t have the manpower to stop us!” Vardia ordered. Schon smiled as Fulcher spurred Ravage forward with Arrow in tow. The party slipped into the melee, using Ravage as a battering ram to push past the defenders and towards the castle gates. Schon and Vardia kept their guard up, but no blades turned against them as they pushed the doors open and slipped inside. Ravage rumbled at the sight of a single armored soldier standing before then, kneeling on the ground with his sword in front of him. The Kingsguard.
“Fulcher, welcome home,” he said slowly, his eyes closed. “I assume of course, that you are not here to surrender?” Fulcher clashed his gauntlets together, eyeing the man over.
“Don’t get in our way. Just give up, and you’ll be treated fairly,” Fulcher declared. Vardia frowned, knowing what the old man would say next.
“I’m afraid, I cannot do that,” the Kingsguard said. “I swore an oath to defend the crown, you know. Whoever the monarch is, I am to be their shield.”
“The King is a tyrant!” Fulcher exclaimed.
“He is,” the man responded. Fulcher blinked and stumbled over a few vowels before finding his words.
“Then why defend him? Join us, and with our victory you’ll be granted a new purpose… whatever you want to do!” Fulcher said, his voice pleading. The man smiled then, chuckling softly as he gently stroked his mustache.
“You aren’t really the young Prince, are you?” he asked. Fulcher was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.
“Whoever you are, I’m certain you’ll be a fine ruler. Vardia always had a good heart, it is why he was trained to be the Princeguard,” the man continued.
“Well, are you going to try and stop us?” Fulcher asked. The man nodded slowly, opening his eyes and looking them over.
“Oh certainly. But if I were to raise my blade against you Prince Fulcher, Vardia would certainly parry. And I’ve no desire to fight the good Lady Schon. I would not even protest if she struck me down this very moment,” he quipped, chuckling softly. “Of course, you could all rush me at once. But I may catch a good hit in here or there against the untrained. I think, your best bet is to distract me with Vardia and slip away while I am thoroughly occupied.”
“What? We won’t just leave him!” Schon declared, surprising Fulcher with the outburst.
“Oh, don’t worry Lady Schon. I’m sure he can take on these old bones just fine,” the Kingsguard said, slowly rising to his feet.
“Go,” Vardia said. “I’ve got this.”
“What??” Schon yelled.
“Are you sure?” Fulcher asked. Vardia nodded, aiming his spear towards the old warrior.
“I’m certain. I’ll catch up soon,” he said. Fulcher nodded and spurred Ravage onward, with Arrow trailing behind. Schon cast a look back to Vardia.
“... I better see you again,” she said, before breaking into a run to follow Fulcher towards Great Hall. The room was silent as the Kingsguard unsheathed his katana.
“Interesting. And how is serving Fulcher, Vardia?” the man asked.
“He is kind. He’ll make a great king,” Vardia said.
“I certainly hope I live long enough to see it,” the man replied, getting into a fighting stance. Vardia narrowed his eyes, crouching into his own stance.
“As do I, Master.”
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