Snarling with fury, the vankrai redirected its attention from Ashwin to Ruban. Doubling the ferocity of its assault.

As if summoned by its wail, two other Aeriels swooped down into the fray.

It took every ounce of strength Ruban could muster to withstand the relentless onslaught, while also keeping an eye on the injured feather-born. He’d learned early in his career not to underestimate his winged opponents, even when they were down.

Ashwin, apparently, subscribed to the same school of thought. Their backs pressed together, they moved as one, seamlessly predicting and complementing each other’s every move. Ashwin ducked low as Ruban rose to brandish his blade. Moments later, Ruban dipped into a crouch, allowing Ashwin to fling another energy-shell at their opponents.

“They keep showing up,” Ruban panted, sweat blurring his vision. “We won’t last much longer if this persists. Where the fuck is backup?”

Ashwin leapt back, narrowly dodging a blow from one of the newly-arrived Aeriels. “This attack was pre-planned. You realize that, don’t you?” His voice strained, he continued. “Whoever planned this probably also thought of a way to block any reinforcements. Or at least delay them.”

Ruban lunged forward, trying to drive his sifblade into an Aeriel’s chest. “And who might that be?” he grunted. “The Exiles?”

“They certainly had a part in it. But they couldn’t have orchestrated this without insider information.” Ashwin paused, pressing a hand to the chest of one of his opponents. With a surge of energy, he sent the Aeriel crashing into the stage. “The final venue for the meeting wasn’t announced until last night.” He exhaled heavily. “We both know it was kept under wraps for this exact reason. To prevent something like this from happening. There’s no way this attack was planned and coordinated in a single night. So, whoever planned it knew about the venue beforehand. Long before the official announcement.”

“You think somebody in the government would risk so many innocent lives to sabotage the alliance?” Ruban asked, ducking deftly to evade another blow.

Ashwin let out a breathy laugh, laced with surprise. “Look around you, Ruban. Look who these Aeriels are targeting. They’re not interested in the prime minister. Or even in the spectators. This is not a terrorist attack. It’s a very public assassination attempt. Openly targeting one man – the defence minister. Any other casualties are simply collateral damage.”

“And Rifaq is the only person at this meeting openly hostile to the alliance.” Ruban seamlessly followed Ashwin’s line of thought. “The only person of any consequence, at least.”

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“Exactly! In the context of this meeting, Rifaq isn’t just the defence minister. He’s a representative for the entire anti-Vaan faction in this country.” Ashwin arched back to evade an energy-shell, before shooting one of his own. “If he’s killed by a bunch of Aeriels, right before the meeting meant to publicly hash out his differences with the Aeriel queen—” He ducked, allowing Ruban to fling a sifkren at one of their assailants. “Suspicion will inevitably fall on Safaa. Right now, Rifaq is one of the only people standing between her and the alliance, which she obviously desires. He’s certainly the most influential voice speaking against it. Safaa has everything to gain by removing him from the equation.”

“And what makes you so sure she isn’t doing exactly that? Something she believes to be necessary, for the wellbeing of her people?” Ruban grunted, swiping unsuccessfully at the vankrai. “Safaa never struck me as the squeamish type.”

“Oh, she’s not. She’ll kill if she thinks she has to.” Ashwin blocked a shell aimed at Ruban. “But you know something else my sister is not?” He pivoted, prepared to retaliate with a shell of his own. “An idiot. That’s what.” He released the shell. “If Safaa wanted to kill the defence minister, he’d die in his sleep from a sedative overdose. He wouldn’t be killed by an energy-shell in broad daylight, in front of hundreds of spectators. Minutes before he’s scheduled to meet her in person for the first time.”

Ruban couldn’t argue with that. From the little he’d seen of Safaa, she hadn’t struck him as either reckless or foolhardy. And she’d have to be both, to orchestrate an attack so brazen, at a time like this.

“Somebody who had access to classified information about the meeting venue,” Ruban murmured softly, as he parried another attack. “But also had the means to convey this information to the Exiles.”

“Collude with them to plan and execute this attack,” Ashwin added. “Which couldn’t have been an easy task. Vankrai are volatile, unpredictable. And feather-borns aren’t the best at following orders. Luring them into this would require some pretty substantial inducements. Not to mention, prior experience working with Aeriels. Like I said, this isn’t the type of operation you can pull off overnight.”

“Those rumors about Tej Enterprises and its connection to the Qawirsin…” Ruban trailed off, lunging forward to bury his sifblade into an outstretched wing. “If those rumors are true. And if Kushal Mayiti still has connections to the feather mafia. Well, that might explain how Dhriti was able to recruit the Exiles. The ones who’d joined forces with the mafia last year.”

“Through her stepfather,” Ashwin nodded, dispatching the vankrai with a series of swift, efficient maneuvers. “Rifaq’s death at this stadium…it’d elevate her position in the Department of Defence. At least until the next election. And publicly discredit both me and my sister. Quashing all hopes for the alliance, in a single stroke.” He tossed the dying vankrai to the ground. “If her plans weren’t predicated on my downfall, I might just applaud.”

Ruban jerked back, evading a final, sweeping assault from the Aeriel he’d injured. “And I suppose it doesn’t hurt that there are cameras everywhere. That this damn disaster of a meeting’s being broadcast globally, in real-time.”

As he spoke, four more Aeriels appeared, their lithe frames silhouetted against the sunlit sky. Ruban froze, watching them swoop down towards the stage, their wings slicing the muggy afternoon air.

“We’re so dead,” he hissed, the words barely audible. “This’ll never end. They’ll keep coming until—”

Ashwin placed a hand on his shoulder, a tiny shell crackling to life in the palm of his other hand. “Let them come.”