Avril loved the Royal Gardens.

They reminded her of home, with the abundance of fresh greenery, the scent of fresh dirt, and the delightfully fragrant perfume of the delicate flower petals.

Of Dumas.

Two years of living in Voy and she still could not grow comfortable in the castle. In Dumas her family had not been important enough to live in the castle. She had grown up in a manor on the outskirts of the capital, free to roam the countryside as she pleased.

But no longer.

Now she was here, confined in this castle of steel and stone. But the gardens, at least, the gardens allowed her to feel alive and at home.

Though she knew her mother would give her no end of grief for ruining her dress, Avril quickly found herself lying on the ground, head resting on a thick nest of ivy that had begun to coil around the base of an ancient tree. Her eyes had just begun to close when she heard the sound of approaching feet and an annoying jumble of loud voices. She sat up just as three boys appeared on the path. She recognized the largest of the trio. Furrowing her brow, she picked herself up and started to slink away when he called out to her.

"Where ya going Avril!" Jacob said. He held a long stick in his hands that he slapped against a nearby tree with a sharp crack. "I heard it's your birthday. You didn't invite us to your party?"

Avril slowly shook her head. "I didn't have a party."

Jacob stopped in front of her. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense. Hard to have a party when you don't have any friends."

"I have friends," Avril said softly.

Jacob leaned forward. "What was that, Dum-ass. And speak clearly. I can never understand what you're saying with that accent."

Avril's tiny hands curled into fists and she turned away from Jacob. "I have friends."

"Hey!" Jacob swept his stick forward and caught Avril on the side, drawing a quick cry.

Avril hunched her shoulders. "What?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Jacob hit her again. "You're not a citizen of Voy. If you want to visit the Royal Gardens you need an invitation. Let me see yours?"

"I don't need an invitation. I have a right to be here."

A right?" Jacob looked at the two boys behind him. "She thinks she has rights here? You're just a bargaining chip, you know. It's to keep Dumas from doing anything stupid. If they get too uppity, we might go ahead and execute you. Maybe send them one of your hands or something."

Avril reminded silent, her fingers reaching out and lightly gliding over the petals of a nearby bush. She had heard all of this before. From Jacob, from the other children… even their parents. They talked in hushed whispers around her family. A lasting reminder that they were not welcome here and they never would be.

"Don't touch that!" Jacob whipped the stick down. Avril was barely able to pull her hand back before the stick struck the flower, crushing the delicate petals and breaking the stem off at an awkward angle.

Avril's head whipped around sharply to face Jacob. "Don't."

Jacob hit the bush again. "I'm a true noble of Voy. I can do whatever I want here."

"I said don't.”

"Or what?" Jacob brought the stick high over his head. Avril reacted faster, whipping the broken stem from the bush and lashing it towards Jacob's face. The thorny stem caught him just under the lip, scratching across his flesh and cutting a bright red line.

"Ah!" Jacob reared back, dropping the stick and grabbing his face in shock. "You… get her!"

Avril had no time to run as the other two boys pounced on her, easily knocking her smaller frame to the ground. Fists and feet rained down on her and Avril did her best to curl into a ball, her arms coming up to cover hear head.

"Stop this right now!"

A voice like thunder echoed through the gardens and the attack on Avril immediately stopped as the boys jumped back. Avril remained where she was, eyes screwed tight even as tears continued to leak free.

"Are you alright, dear?"

Avril felt a hand gently stroke her hair and soft voice whisper out. With effort she managed to open her eyes and look up. The Masked Queen, Cassandra the Fourth of Voy, was knelt before her. To her left was a tall, willowy woman with severe brown eyes. On her right was an imposing man in military dress, chest heavy with medals. Avril could not yet find her voice and dropped her eyes back down to the ground, watching as her tears dropped down to the dirt.

"Leanne?" Cassandra addressed the woman as she casually reached out and plucked a flower from its stem. "Could you tell me their names?"

Leanne adjusted her glasses as she gave each child a quick once over. Lifting a hand, she pointed at each boy in turn. "Philip Acton, thirteen. His younger brother, Tristan Acton, twelve. Jacob Brown, thirteen. Both of the families are merchants." She pointed to Avril. "And the girl is Avril Ena, Dumas nobility. Her family is part of the usual exchange."

"I see." Cassandra dropped the flower and turned to look at Jacob. "Now tell me, Jacob, what exactly were you children doing?"

Wide-eyed, Jacob turned to the brothers, but Philip simply stared ahead blankly as Tristan began to tear up, his tiny shoulders shaking. Slowly he turned back to Cassandra. "We were…"

"Yes?" Cassandra tilted her head. "You were just doing what?"

"We just… We…" Jacob stammered.

"You were just attempting to show her where she stands. Is that it?"

Jacob nodded quickly, his body relaxing slightly. "Yes, my Queen."

"There is something I don't understand, however. Explain to me why it takes three of my robust Voy boys to take on a single..." She glanced down at Avril. "How old are you dear?"

Avril stared at the ground. "Ten."

"I see." She turned back to the trio of boys. "Now, which one of you would like to explain to me why it takes three of you to fight a single ten-year-old from Dumas. Are you so pathetic that you do not believe you could stand against her in a fair battle? How brave you must be to show the true value of a noble of Voy. Your parents must be so proud."

Jacob took a step back as though he had been slapped and Phillip began to cry.

"But…" Jacob's hands balled into fists. "This is Voy. She's from Dumas. She doesn't belong here!"

"Let's see just who belongs and who doesn't then, shall we?" Cassandra rested her hand on Avril's shoulder. "Avril?"

Avril looked up. "Yes?"

"Would you like to fight one of them?" Cassandra asked.

Avril stared back at her. "What?"

Cassandra's head tilted. "I believe it was a very simply question. Would you like to fight one of them? A fair fight, of course."

"Fair?"

"Yes. There will be no interference, I swear it."

Avril slowly wiped the blood from her lip and turned her red-rimmed eyes on Jacob. "Him."

"Wonderful." Cassandra squeezed Avril's shoulder. "You may begin."

Jacob's hands were still at his side, his mouth opening in confusion when Avril crashed into him. The top of her head knocked against his chin and sent the larger boy toppling off balance. Avril screamed as they crashed to the ground and she struggled her way to Jacob's face.

Acting completely on instinct Avril clawed at his face with her nails, drawing thin lines of blood before he managed to knock her away. Coming up on all fours she launched herself back into him, slamming her elbow against Jacob's face just as he began to sit up.

Jacob cried out as blood burst from his broken nose. Not satisfied, Avril grabbed him by the hair and threw him back down the ground. Rearing back her foot she gave Jacob a hard kick to the face before he was able to bring his hands up to defend. Avril continued to kick the battered boy as he curled into a ball, her teeth bared and her breath coming out in short, broken bursts.

"I believe that's enough," Cassandra said softly. She angled her head to the man and he quickly pulled Avril away from Jacob, ignoring the girl's struggles as he easily held her aloft with a single hand.

"You two." Cassandra glanced at Acton boys. "Take him home.

"Y-yes, my Queen!" the elder Acton said hastily. He pushed his brother into action and together they half-carried, half-dragged Jacob away.

"So, what do you think, Markus?" Cassandra asked. "Do you believe me now?"

Markus slowly lowered Avril to the ground. "May I speak honestly, my Queen?"

"Always"

Markus stared down at Avril. The girl was still as a statue, her eyes unseeing as she stared ahead blankly. "While I respect your ability as a Seer, winning a single fight against a pampered noble brat is a far cry from being an effective military asset."

"True, but it is a beginning, is it not?" Cassandra dropped down to one knee beside Avril and put a hand on her shoulder. The girl's head snapped to look at her. Cassandra tiled her head. "Hello, Avril."

Avril's mouth opened but no words came out, only a small noise from somewhere in the back of her throat.

"Don't worry, you won't get into trouble for this." Cassandra said softly "There is something I would like to ask you though. Would that be alright?"

Avril nodded.

"This man is Markus Cussin. He is in charge of a new project for the Voy military, one I would very much like you to be a part of." Cassandra stroked Avril's hair smooth, picking free twigs and leaves as she spoke. "I want to take all of your anger and your strength and I want to turn it on those who would ever wish to harm Voy or Dumas. I want you to uphold this precarious peace that we fight so hard to keep. Of course, it would be a very long and very difficult path, but you would be able to do so much good for both our kingdoms. You could be the difference between life and death."

"Me?" Avril's voice was raw.

"Yes, you. Only you." Cassandra voice grew so quiet only Avril could hear. "I have seen your future, Avril Ena, but only you can make it so. Can you become a legend?”

Avril did not hesitate. "Yes, my Queen."

xXx

The bruise on Avril's shoulder had long ago turned a nasty greenish-black color but she barely felt the pain as she lifted the rifle up to her shoulder and fired. Her entire body shook as she absorbed the recoil before reloading the rifle and firing again.

"Time!" Markus shouted.

Avril placed the rifle on the table in front of her and took a step back, clasping her arms behind her back. On either side of her the handful of other cadets did the same, more than a few letting out sighs of relief as they resisted the urge to rub their sore shoulders.

Avril stared ahead blankly as Markus went to each of their targets, quietly evaluating the shot placement and groupings. It was a silence that did not last long.

"Ena!"

Avril stepped forward. "Sir!"

Markus rested his hand on the target. "How many shots did you fire?"

"Sixty-eight shots, Sir!"

"How in the fuck?" Someone to Avril's left breathed out.

"Sixty-eight shots," Markus said as he ripped the dummy from the ground with ease and carried it towards the group. "So, if I were to count, I would find sixty-eight holes in this target?"

"No Sir." Avril shook her head. "After about thirty shots the holes in the target became large enough for my shots to pass through clean, Sir."

Markus glanced at the dummy. Avril wasn't wrong. Two large gaps had indeed formed in both the head and the chest, along with a handful of much smaller holes in the shoulders and neck.

"Did anyone else manage to get to Sixty-eight?" Markus called out. When he received no answer a rather unfortunate smile crossed over his face. "Strange, that a little girl is outpacing all of you. I'd keep that in mind if you don't want to have a twelve-year-old running your training regiments in the near future. Now grab your rifles. It's only an hour until nightfall and it's at least a three-hour march back to the barracks. Move out!"

"Sir, yes Sir!"

"And Ena!" Markus stopped her as the cadets began to march out.

Avril paused, her rifle on her shoulder. "Sir?"

"Don't get cocky. You've still got a long way to go before you can even begin to consider yourself useful." Markus winked at her. Avril suppressed a grin and nodded before she followed after the rest of the cadets.

xXx

Avril fidgeted slightly in her uniform as she waited at the small wrought iron table that had been set up in the gardens. Across from her Cassandra sat ever patiently, the pinpricks of light from the setting sun glancing off the elegant mask she wore as she stared out over the gardens. Avril froze when Cassandra finally turned her head to look at her.

"I hope you are enjoying your birthday. I apologize for calling you out so late."

"Please, think nothing of it, my Queen. Thank you for taking the time to think of me." Avril bowed her head.

"It's strange to think that six years have passed since we first met. Time flows so rapidly and waits for no one, it seems." Cassandra's hand reached out and landed lightly on a leather case that had been placed on the table. "You've grown up quite a bit since then. Markus speaks only the upmost praise for you. He is already suggesting that you be considered for officer training. I was told you were able to kill a Dethbear?"

"It was distracted, my Queen."

"Oh, as I was told it was charging directly at you." Cassandra laughed lightly as Avril blushed. "Modesty is a virtue, but do not let it keep you from valuing yourself fairly."

“Yes, Ma’am. Thank you."

Cassandra's nails rapped lightly on the case. "As this is your birthday, and in light of your recent graduation from ranger training and acceptance into the First Powder Regiment, I had something made for you."

Cassandra pushed the case towards her and gave a single nod when Avril reached slowly reached out and hesitated. Giving Cassandra one final look Avril pushed open the box.

Twin pistols, set in a lush velvet lining, sat inside. Long barreled and with elegant filigree set into the handle, Avril couldn't help but pick one up.

"I trust the weight is to your liking?"

"It's perfect," Avril said softly as she picked the other one up. "But… My Queen, I cannot accept them."

"You can, and you will." Cassandra said and that was the end of the discussion. "There is another gift, though he is a bit too big to bring into the gardens. You will find him in the stables. I have no doubt he will prove to be useful to you in the future."

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"He?"

"His name is Moon and I have had him specifically kept for you. Bred for both speed and stamina you will not find a better horse in the entire kingdom." Cassandra went silent for a long time. "There you will also find orders."

Avril put the weapons down. "My Queen?"

Cassandra sighed deeply. "There are forces at work in this world, Avril. Forces that work from the shadows, completely free from law and regulation."

"I'm afraid I don't understand." Avril frowned. "What exactly do you mean by forces?"

"Evil," Cassandra whispered. "Evil that spreads like a plague, infecting everything that it touches. Evil that must be eradicated from this world lest we be swallowed by it whole."

Avril's hands tightened around the weapons. "Then I will destroy it."

Cassandra reached out and took her hand. "It is not so simple. These people… though they operate in the darkness they walk free in the public light. They twist those around them to do their bidding, letting their hands remain clean even as the blood pools at their feet. If you choose to become part of this this… Avril if you choose to accept this, there will be no going back to the life you have lived up to the point. A darkness will forever live in your heart, as it lives in mine. Do not make this decision lightly."

Avril did not hesitate. "Your will shall be done, my Queen. All you must do is ask."

xXx

By this point in her life the recoil of the pistol felt more like a natural reaction, an extension of her body than anything else. The woman before her dropped to the ground clutching her stomach. The purple robes that clad her body looked almost black as her blood spread across the cloth.

"This is a holy place!" She hissed through clenched teeth. "You have no right to come here with your blasphemy!"

"No right?" Avril drew her second pistol. "The land you walk. The air you breathe. Everything belongs to the Queen. It is you who has no right."

"Fuck the Queen."

Avril cocked back the hammer. "Your words are as foul as your existence."

She bared her teeth. "If my death is Jerrah's will then let it be done. He is the light in the dark, and the dark in the light. Your Queen is nothing but-"

Avril pulled the trigger. Her hands did not shake as she returned the weapons to the holsters across her lower back. Nor did she feel anything more than mild disgust as removed the priest's journal from her robe before grabbing a nearby lantern and smashing it against the wall of the room.

She pocketed the journal as she walked out of the burning building, leaving the many dead behind her without a second glance. Pulling herself into Moon's saddle she quickly spurred him into a steady run. As the minutes dragged by into hours, the smell of the burning building quickly faded from her senses and she was left with just the soft noise of the night and the ever present 'click-clack' of Moon's hooves against the road.

They rode until the sun began to break over the horizon and she reached the next town over. Leaving Moon in the stable with fresh feed and water she slowly made her way into the Inn. On the second floor the first room at the top of the stairs was unlocked, just as she knew it would be. Markus barely looked up as she entered. Silently she dropped the journal on the table in front of him before taking the seat across from him at the small cigar-burned table.

"How many?" Markus asked after a long minute of silence.

"Seventeen, including the Jer."

"Witnesses?"

"None."

"Bodies?"

"Taken care of."

"I see." Markus picked up the journal and flipped through the pages. It was written entirely in code. "Good work."

"Thank you, Sir."

Markus nodded and lifted up his eyes to stare at her. Avril met his eye, noting the wrinkles that had begun to form just at the corners of his eyes and the creases that were becoming more prominent in his forehead.

"You know, my daughter is turning the same age as you this year." Markus leaned back in his chair. "She'll be eighteen at the end of the week. Sharp as a whip and lovely as her mother, thank the gods. Just think, she could have ended up with this face instead?" Markus cracked a smile that quickly lost its joy. "Sometimes when I look at her…. When I look at her, I can't help but hope that everything I've done…. That it will lead to a better world for her. No one should have to do what we do, Ena. No one deserves to live this life. And now, when I look at you and I see her and… And I wonder if I made a mistake allowing you to get involved in all this."

"I don't regret my choices, Sir."

"I know you don't, and that doesn't make me feel much better. You're a damn good soldier, Ena. maybe the best I have ever met, but at the end of the day I'm still left wondering… Wondering why you're willing to go so far for a country that isn't yours. For a Queen that isn't yours."

The room grew quiet with that question hanging heavy between them.

"I was abandoned." Avril said after a long time. "More accurately, my family was abandoned. A noble family of little importance to the Dumas monarchy. I didn't understand it then, but I do now. Our presence in Voy was nothing more than a symbolic sign of peace. If war were to truly break out between our two kingdoms, the loss of our lives wouldn't even be an afterthought.

"When I came to this country, I was not treated… well. I wrote to my friends back home, but very quickly their response became shorter and shorter until they ceased to come at all. I was left alone and I felt as though I were fading away here. My parents, as much as I love them, did not expect much from me. I would become a wife, or perhaps a mistress to a Lord higher above my station. I can't say I wasn’t satisfied with that. It wasn't a life I wanted, but I lacked any other ambition so I did not resist that path of least resistance… At least, until I met her.”

Avril sucked in a soft breath and let it out through her nose.

"The Queen offered me a purpose. She saw greatness in me as no one else had ever seen. She gave me the chance to become part of something so much larger than myself… and I came to love her for it." Avril reached up and wiped away the mist that had begun to form on her eyes before she looked at Markus. "You are right when you say that this country is not be mine and it will never be mine. But Cassandra is my Queen, and until the day I die my life belongs only to her."

"I see," Markus ran his large hand over his face and chuckled softly. "Thank you for humoring the sentiments of an old man. I apologize for saying such strange things."

Please, think nothing of it… " Avril fidgeted ever so slightly "And thank you… For worrying about me, that is."

"It's a rare thing to see you blush, Ena." Markus laughed as Avril's blush grew deeper and she looked away. "A good leader always worries about his subordinates. That's something I don't think you are going to have much trouble with, though."

Avril looked up. "Sir?"

Markus slid something across the table towards her. Avril caught it just before it slid off the table and held it up to the light.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant," Markus said as Avril stared at the metal pin, her thumb lightly running over the cross-pistol emblem. "You'll be in charge of your own platoon starting tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sir!" Avril stood up and snapped a sharp salute. "I will not let you down!"

"I know you won't." Markus stood up and made his way towards to the door. "I'll be taking my leave them."

"Safe travels, Sir."

"You too…" Markus paused at the door. "One last thing, Ena."

"Sir?"

"Your platoon, there is a solider in it that my daughter has become rather fond of. You know him, actually."

"Oh?"

"Jacob Brown."

The shocked laugh was past Avril's lips before she could catch herself. "Really?"

"Really," Markus sighed heavily. "If it's going to be a problem…"

"That was a long time ago," Avril shook her head. "Children make foolish mistakes. We've all changed since then."

"I'm glad to hear that." Markus relaxed somewhat. "He's grown into a fine young man since… Well, since then. Do me a favor and make sure he doesn't die. I couldn't bear to listen to my Lanna cry.”

"Of course."

Markus gave her one more nod before leaving the room.

xXx

"How have you been, Avril?" Cassandra asked as she stared out from the balcony and over her Kingdom. A soft wind blew through window and ruffled her long, dark hair.

"Very well, your Grace. My new accommodations are more than I could have ever asked for."

"You have earned them. Though it is somewhat belated, congratulations on your promotion. I wanted to tell you in person, but I have been somewhat busy."

"Please, my Queen." Avril shook her head. "You do not need to think of me so much."

"But I do." Cassandra sighed and the noise rattled behind her mask. "You have done so much for this country, for the entire world, yet so few will ever truly know… At least not until long after we have been faded into dust and memory"

"I do not mind, so long as I can be of use." Avril said. There was no trace of dishonesty in her voice.

"You truly are remarkable, Avril." Cassandra sighed again and her hand came up to her face. After a moment of hesitation, she removed her mask.

Avril sucked in a sharp breath and stood up. "My Queen!"

Cassandra waved her hand. "Sit. Please."

Avril did, her eyes wide as she stared at the Queen's unmasked face, silently running over and memorizing her every feature. She nearly gasped again when she realized she knew the woman before her. Not in name and only in passing. She had seen her, walking in the castle or pruning in the garden.

Hiding in plain sight.

"The peace between Voy and Dumas has allowed both countries to flourish, and our alliance, unsteady as it may be, has been a deciding factor in keeping the other kingdoms of the continent from engaging in unnecessary conflict. However, that alliance is shaky at best" Cassandra's painted fingernails drummed against the mask. "There are very few people who know this, but the peace between Dumas and Voy is entirely conditional and there are many, on both sides, that would very much like to see war return between our two countries. I cannot allow that to happen. We cannot allow this to happen, do you understand?"

Avril did not understand, but she found herself nodding all the same.

"For what I am about to ask you, Avril, there is no place that I may hide. Not even behind this mask." Cassandra's hands began to shake. "This is a secret that must never leave this room. You must not speak of it ever again, even to Markus. Do you understand?"

Avril nodded slowly.

"There is someone… Someone that I need you to find. And then…" Cassandra's hands squeezed the mask until her knuckles turned white. "And then I need you to correct my mistake, Avril. I need you to kill them."

xXx

Avril stared down at the maps, her brow knotted as she traced her finger along the paper. "How many have moved to his position?"

Jacob checked the report. "At least fifty. It is likely there are more that are staying hidden so we can't fully assess their numbers. There is also a group of at least thirty hiding somewhere to the south, but they haven't revealed themselves yet. It's possible they are setting up for a flanking maneuver.

Avril nodded. "How long until our reinforcements arrive?"

"Three days at most, but they could be here as early as tomorrow. It all depends on how badly the roads were damaged by the rains. If the Caspians are smart they will likely attack us tonight."

"Then we will simply have to hold. We cannot allow them to pass and combine with the main force back at Redden."

Lewis stood up, his eyes wide. "Hold them? Are you insane? We've already lost three of our men! They outnumber us at least four to one now. We should fall back and rendezvous with the reinforcements."

Avril slowly lifted her head up. "Fall back?"

Lewis nodded hastily. "There weren't supposed to be this many of them. We barely have twenty men left. It would be suicide to-" He went silent as Avril drew her pistol and trained it on his chest.

"Fall back?" Avril said again. Her thumb cocked back the hammer with a loud 'click'. "We have our orders from the Queen. Would you dare to question her?"

Lewis' hands trembled as he shook his head. "No, of course not."

Avril lifted the pistol to his head. "Our lives mean nothing of consequence in this world. You will hold this position, life or death, and bring honor and glory to Queen and Country, or you will die right now as a coward and deserter. Decide."

"I…" Lewis swallowed hard and dropped his eyes. "I will go and tell the others to prepare."

Avril returned the pistol to its holster and briskly walked across the tent. Stopping in front of Lewis she reached out and clapped him hard on the shoulder. He flinched and took a step back, but brought his eyes up to look at Avril.

"Better," Avril said as she hit him again, lightly on the chest. "Hold your head high and proud. I picked you for a reason. You are a soldier of Voy. You are part of the First Powder Regiment. We do not run. We do not surrender. We are the first line of defense between this dark cruel world and the prosperity that is Voy. Survive tonight, soldier, and become a legend!"

Lewis stared at her for a long time before giving a short nod. Straightening his back, he gave her a crisp salute. "Yes Lieutenant!"

Jacob let out a long sigh as Lewis exited the tent and Avril returned to the map. Avril paid him no mind as she picked up a pencil and began to make notes. "We need to add a second line of barricades here."

"You could have started with that instead of the pistol, you know.”

"You learn who a man really is when he is faced with death," Avril replied without looking up. "Lewis was only scared. There is nothing wrong with feeling fear. It is only when you cannot overcome fear that you are lost."

"I suppose so." Jacob glanced at the map. "Markus might not arrive tomorrow, we have to assume it will be three days."

"Then we will have to hold until then."

"It's going to be a long night."

Avril said nothing.

xXx

"Cover!" Avril yelled as the first wave of arrows came raining down. She slammed her shoulder against the barricade and listened as the dozens of arrows thudded against the wooden wall. A strange, sour smell filled the air and the noise stopped. Avril popped up, rifle already at her shoulder. "Do not allow them to advance!"

The crack of a two dozen rifles echoed out through the night quickly followed by the screams of the few Caspians that had been struck. Avril stayed standing as she reloaded, sharp eyes peering out into the darkness. She knew they were out there, but with only the soft starlight illuminating the plains, she couldn't make them out among the tall grass.

"Ignite!"

The night was suddenly awash in flame as the Caspian arches lit their arrows.

"Take them out!" Avril ordered as the arrows were fired high into the sky. She ignored the flaming projectiles as they landed around her, keeping her eyes focused on the nearest archer.

Her rifle bucked and he dropped to the ground. Avril lowered the rifle and started to reload when an explosion lifted her from the ground and sent her rolling across the ground. Scrambling onto hands and knees she looked up just in time to see another barricade explode.

The sour smell…

"Get away from the barricades!" Avril screamed but the words were whipped away as another barricade was engulfed in a ball of flame.

The sound of pounding footsteps drew her attention back to the battlefield. A handful of Caspians had broken rank and charged across the plains with one heading directly towards her.

She reached behind her back to pull her pistol but already knew it was too late. Her fingers had just brushed against the grip of her pistol when he reached her, the spear drawn back to thrust forward.

Avril drew the pistol.

Even if he killed her, she would take him with her!

"Avril!"

A shadow crossed in front of her and something warm splattered across her face.

"No…" Avril's eyes widened as Jacob hunched over before her, the spearhead burst through his chest. She caught him as he fell forward, pushing her arm around him and shooting the Caspian cleanly between the eyes. Dragging Jacob backwards she called for her remaining men to fall back. In the distance she could hear the jeering calls of the Caspians, their bloodlust growing.

"Leave me." Jacob said as Avril pulled him across the ground.

"Shut up!” Avril gasped as she tugged Jacob behind the second line of barricades. Pulling his rifle free from his fingers she popped her head up and fired. Another Caspian dropped. "Listen to me Jacob. If you don't go home, Lanna is going to cry and that will make Markus cry and I won't deal with that. You said you were going to marry her right? You can't do that if you're dead!”

"Your inspirational speaking needs work." Jacob tried to laugh but it came out a wheeze.

Avril finished reloading and fired again. Dropping the empty rifle, she drew the two pistols from across her lower back and took down a charging Caspian before ducking as a hail of arrows came raining down on her position.

"I'm sorry, you know," Jacob said quietly. "When we were kids… I'm so-"

Avril slapped him with the back of her hand. Grabbing the front of his shirt she gave him a rough shake. "You don't get that. You don't get to make your peace and fade away. We aren't done yet. I am ordering you not to die soldier!"

This time Jacob did manage to laugh, even if some blood did spill over his lips. Pushing himself back into a more upright position he held out his hand. "Then what's the plan, Ena?"

"We have to hold. Markus will be here with reinforcements soon." Avril pushed a rifle into his hands and reloaded her pistols. Taking in a deep breath, she stood up. The still burning barricades scattered dancing shadows across the battlefield but still provided more than enough light for Avril to take in the scene.

She needed to regain order.

Her men were too scattered. If the Caspians charged as one, it would mean certain death.

"Regroup!" Avril shouted. When no one moved she fired off both pistols towards the Caspian line and sucked in a large breath. "I said regroup on me. Now!"

She caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. Her arm came up on reaction to block the saber that had come arcing down on her with the barrel of her pistol. She punched out with the other but it was knocked away and the Caspian continued forward. His hand came up and punched towards her head. A series of gunshots rang out. Avril's eyes widened and she pulled back but it was too late.

In almost slow motion she watched with horrifying clarity as the spiked gauntlet moved closer and closer until it filled her entire view.

And then she saw nothing.

For a moment Avril stood there, the spike embedded in her eye, before she finally took a stumbling step back, pulling herself free from the spike with a sickening squelch. She felt the blood, warm against the cold of the night, pour from the wound and cascade down her chest. She staggered back another step and then another, but still she did not fall as her vision began to return. Like looking through muddied water, she saw the Caspian grasp his sword with both hands and lift it high above his head.

In a single, swift movement Avril dropped her empty pistol and drew another. The shock barely had time to pass over the rebel's face before he was dead.

Avril glanced to the side. Her men were staring at her. Her vision was too blurry to make out any of their faces but she did notice a distinct lack of noise.

"Return fire!" Avril shouted. "You will hold this line or you will die trying and not a single one of you has my permission to die! Do you understand me?"

"Yes Lieutenant!"

Vaguely she felt someone sit her down and start to bandage her face. The sound of gunfire resumed.

"How many have we lost?" she asked quietly as the world began to come into focus.

"Two." Someone answered. "More are injured."

Less than twenty men left fighting and even less than that if she was being honest. The injured couldn't be expected to fight at full strength.

What could she do?

"I need my guns." Avril spoke clearly as she pushed the solider tending to her eye away as soon as the bandage was in place. He quickly returned with her pistols. Pursing her lips Avril blew out a single piercing note that just managed to carry over the din of battle. In a matter of seconds, she could see the great loping stride of Moon, his white head shining in the darkness.

"What are you doing?" Jacob made his way to her just as she managed to pull herself into the saddle.

"My duty," Avril said softly before her voice rose. "Prepare to charge!"

"Are you mad?" Jacob tried to reach out towards her, but the pain quickly sent him falling back in a coughing fit. "Avril!"

"Do not let fear overtake you. Do not let this be your final resting place!" Avril's voice was strong. "You are men of Voy! They may outnumber us, but their spirit is nothing compared to ours! We will break them! We will kill them! For your country! For our Queen! Charge!"

With barely the tap of her heels Moon took off. Through the fire and the flames, they charged forward. Avril forced her breathing to even with every step that Moon took. She would not allow another of her men to fall. She would end this here and now.

She would kill all that would dare oppose her Queen.

The Caspian line abruptly came into focus. It was smaller than Avril had imagined. A smile pulled up the corner of her mouth as she pulled up her pistols and fired. Two rebels dropped.

An arrow came hurtling towards her. Deftly she leaned to the side to avoid it, drawing the rifle from Moon's saddlebag as she sat back up. She tossed the rifle away almost as soon as she pulled the trigger, drawing her saber and a fresh pistol as she met the Caspian line.

Blood burst from the unfortunate soul's that dared stand in her way as Moon trampled through their line. The screams were a bloody symphony that only grew in intensity as Avril dove from Moon's back, landing in their midst. The small grin grew to a savage smile as she twirled between them in a deadly dance of blood, blade, and bullets.

The few weapons that did manage to reach her felt like nothing more than pinpricks, a mild annoyance that only pushed her to move faster. Her body was so hot that she felt as though she could burst into flame at any moment.

"Kill her!"

The authoritative tone drew Avril's attention immediately.

"Found you!" The words had barely passed over Avril's lips before she was on the Caspian Commander.

Her first shot missed him, hitting one of his subordinates just below the eye. Avril was not deterred and she fired again. This time her aim was true he went stumbling back as the bullet caught him in the chest. Avril pounced on him, taking him to the ground and set her firearm firmly between his eyes.

"Throw down your weapons!" Avril yelled as she pressed the barrel harder into the commander's face. "Throw down your weapons or your commander dies."

They hesitated, unsure of what to do. To the credit of the commander, his resolve did not waver as he sucked in a deep breath.

"Kill her!"

The nearest Caspian soldier took an unsteady step forward and Avril took in a deep breath.

"Then you all will die."

Avril pulled the trigger.

xXx

It was so dark.

She was floating in the never-ending darkness.

Or was she sinking?

It was so hard to tell. She tried to look around, even bringing up her hands to touch her face, but there was nothing. Nothing but silence.

And then there wasn't.

Something that sounded like crashing waves began to sound off in the emptiness. She tried to scream but nothing came out. The sound rose to a roar that echoed through her very being.

"Avril, open your eyes."

Her eyes opened and she was sitting at a familiar wrought iron table nestled inside a small gazebo. Cross sat across from her with a steaming mug set in front of him. Slowly she panned her eye across the world. Around her the world was nothing but white. The clink of Cross's glass drew her attention back to him.

"Well," Cross sighed heavily and began to rub at his temple. "I guess that explains a lot."