Jularra stepped over and grabbed his shoulder, steadying herself.
“It’s good to see you, Latham. Where are the others? What news do you have?”
“Well, it was a fairly rough showing, my queen,” he replied. “We were able to repel the attack, but Morganon suffered quite a blow to its defenses. We’re trying to estimate right now how many of the Torgurians survived.”
“Estimate?” Jularra said abruptly.
“We aren’t in a shape to pursue, Your Majesty,” Latham replied. “Once we can make repairs…”
As Latham continued to speak, the light reflected off something on Latham’s hand and caught Jularra’s eye. She tuned out his words and focused in on his hand; then, without a moment’s hesitation, she drew her sword, spun the blade up and sliced off Latham’s hand.
He fell to the ground, shrieking in agony, holding the stump of his wrist.
“Jularra!” Abranni said, breathless.
Jularra brought the sword to just under Latham’s chin and looked down at his lonely hand. On one of the fingers was a silver ring; a round black stone sat on top, with the image of two goats’ heads carved out and inset with rubies.
Melcayro came running up, drawn by the man's screams. Jularra turned to Abranni and tilted her head at Latham as she sheathed her sword. Abranni nodded, drew her own sword and took over guarding Latham.
Jularra bent down and picked up Latham’s severed hand. She slipped the ring off and tossed the hand away.
“This is identical to the doppelcharm the assassin was wearing,” she informed the others.
“You do realize, don’t you,” she said to Latham, “that once separated from its wearer, a doppelcharm’s magic is extinguished?
“Not that it would really matter,” she continued, drawing her sword once more, “with all of us here.”
Jularra surveyed her surroundings with something resembling satisfaction. Apparently, there was still some peace to be found in solving this mystery. She shook her head at the would-be assassin.
“You almost got away with it! First the assassination attempt, and now this. How long has this been going on, hmm? Traitor?”
Latham looked up in silence. His chin quivered with pain and hate. Instead of replying, he lurched forward and spat up at Jularra.
Jularra raised her blade above Latham, who was still on his knees.
“Keleah! Get out! She kno—”
Jularra thrust her sword down through his chest, then froze.
“Keleah?” she muttered. Shock hollowed her heart, and again she found herself gasping for air. She stared down at the slumped form at her feet.
Wait! Don’t die yet!
“Keleah? What about Keleah? Tell me!" she pleaded. But it was too late. Latham’s eyes drifted past Jularra as he gargled and choked into death.
Jularra stared at him as the life left his eyes, lost in confusion, and then fury.
She twisted her blade; it crunched through organs, bone, and cartilage. Then she stepped back again and pulled her sword from the dead man's chest.
“Keleah?” Jularra managed again, her mind blank. She felt only unfiltered fury in the face of this unanticipated treachery. After turning to face her residence tower, she screamed with all her might.
“Keleah!”
She turned to a nearby Bedrock and addressed him through clenched teeth.
“You.”
The Bedrock flinched sharply at the quiet command.
“Send infantry to search the roads,” she continued, “and have people guard the gates and any breaches in the wall.”
Then Jularra’s restraint ran out and she screeched at the remaining soldiers, “Get in the residence tower and look for Keleah! If she is not there, move to the next tower, and then the next. Search every corridor, courtyard, cupboard, and bush until she is found.” When they hesitated, she pointed at the nearest Spire and screamed again. "Find Keleah!"
As they leaped into action, Jularra beckoned toward Vischuno.
“You, follow me. We’re going to check the residence tower from top to bottom. Melcayro, Abranni—come along if you want.”
She marched quickly, arms swinging. Melcayro and Abranni fell in behind.
“Queen Jularra!” a voice shouted from behind. Jularra flung up a dismissive hand without looking back, then suddenly stopped and spun towards the voice when she realized she recognized it.
“Wona! What have you found?”
“Majesty,” Wona began. “Initial reports suggest that very few citizens left before the siege began. Most that survived should still be here.”
Jularra smiled, relishing the thought of finding Keleah soon, but immediately stifled her excitement. She looked around at the charred bodies to consider the situation and circumstances. Her mind unleashed a thousand thoughts and possibilities.
She could be dead.
She could be alive.
She may not be in the tower.
She may be trying to escape.
She may be wounded.
She may be hiding.
Where might she hide?
“Right,” she said in a rush to Wona. “Tell everyone that she still might be here and could be trying to leave the city as we speak. Be unapologetic in your interrogation of anyone and their movements. I’ve already sent a few groups to watch the roads and castle entrances. Don’t let anything move without asking about Keleah. If any of you find her, bring her back here and send for me.”
Jularra had already turned to resume her path to the residence tower, her face tight with violent hope.
The bulk of the city within the walls was largely untouched, and the infrastructure was mostly intact. The defending Acorilinians had prevented most of the siege equipment from doing their worst. Most signs of battle inside the walls were confined to small fires, and stiff corpses resting where they fell after close combat. The march from the main courtyard to the residence tower was an easy one.
Through mostly clear corridors under intact arches, followed by gates and doors, Jularra and her complement of guards reached the residence tower. The lifts, while operational, would be too slow. Without saying a word, the queen headed for the stairs with her guards in tow. There were no additional orders, and no new commands, nor were any attempts made to ascend quietly. Plate, leather, and weapons clanged and rattled. The group bounced loudly but swiftly up the stairs. Once at the first landing, Jularra gave directions.
“Split up and tear apart every room. Once we’ve cleared them all, we’ll go
