Sandorn tried to hide his nerves. He stood still, hands on his sword hilts atop the battlements, Averan and Fenadorn stood on his right, Dranar and his family to the left. Below two-thirds of the men they had stationed at the palace were in formation, ready at a notice to move out.

The morning was cold and damp, sunrise had been little more than a flicker against the grey sky. It was almost time.

Soon now the Houses of the Forty would be congregating down by the Foutain square. Once they were in place it would not take long for the Houses loyal to the Kings to reveal themselves.

Everything was in order. Men were already down in the tunnels just waiting for the signal to emerge by the fountain square. The Heavy Ballistae had been carefully and secretly moved piece by piece to surround the area. And men lay all along the streets with arrows leading from the palace to the fountain, arrows waiting to be lit to light up the early morning sky. Once they had their signal. Sandorn, Averan, Lord Dranar, and his family would transform to quickly make their way down to their allies. Everything was in order. No one spoke, there was nothing to be said now.

They just needed to wait.

Sandorn saw it first, way in the distance, the first flaming arrow sent soaring into the morning sky. Almost immediately after it another went up closer to the palace walls, then another and another. By the third Sandorn had already transformed. He roared and was joined in by several others as Averan, Alisha and all of Dranar’s family joined in. He was about to leap down, lead the charge to victory when he heard it.

AAAAAAARRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH

He paused midstep. The sound of the horn was disarming, but more than that was its location. It came from behind them, it came from inside the palace.

Sandorn turned but Dranar cut across him. Even in his Beast form he spoke clearly.

“No you stay, me, Alisha, and my Sister will restore order, you watch the gates, do not miss the signal. It is our goal. That is our priority. Whatever that horn is must be a means for them to distract us. Do not give in.”

He didn’t give Sandorn a chance to respond before he had leapt down. Sandorn frowned, a hundred thoughts going through his head as shouts of alarm erupted around him. Dranar was wrong, they couldn’t move out with the palace compromised.

“Fenadorn, ready the men, set formation. Whatever is down there must stay down there. Averan you and the cousins-”

The sounds of battle were growing louder inside the palace but a new sound seemed to echo in Sandorn’s ears. The gates were being opened. Impossible.

Sandorn didn’t know why he looked back out over the city, he just knew. He knew what he would see then and his eyes confirmed it. From Fountain Square Sandorn saw them. At least twenty, probably more Chimeras were streaming over buildings and streets as they hurtled towards the palace. There were three ahead of the others, but they were all heading to them. Towards the palace and the now open Gates.

“DOWNNN.”

Fenadorn’s voice alerted him, as usual he had realised just what was happening before anyone else.

Instinctively Sandorn ducked.

The tail went scything through the air above him with force enough to have almost beheaded him at such a close distance.

Things moved fast then.

Sandorn came up hard and fast against his attacker, Droned, the look on the Chimera’s face indicated he’d expected a kill strike, he was slow to react.

Sandorn came up hard further negating the distance between them before using his top horns to slice across the neck of Droned, swerving underneath a clumsy attack, Sandorn skipped to one side before whipping his own tail in a wide arc to drive it into the other side of Droned’s neck. He didn’t need to watch him fall to know the beast would trouble him no more.

Averan was opposite him, similarly successful, he however, was mercilessly pummelling his paws down into the other Dronian cousin's face. The feline features were already almost unrecognisable such was the beating Averan was inflicting.

The deaths of the two cousins had only taken a few moments, but it seemed already enough. It was chaos down below. From the palace came row after row of Household guards, too many to count. But more worryingly still was the Chimeras amongst them, Sandorn counted six at a glance.

They came up through the tunnels? Sandorn realised as he stared down in horror, he’d made sure to keep 50 men in the cellars down below, yet there must have been at least five times that already charging into the courtyard. Overrun. Easily overrun.

Sandorn felt fury, rage, and confusion all building inside him. He strained his neck to peer down towards the gate. He knew what’d he would see. And there he saw them.

Two chimeras down there with a ring of their own men. Dronian men. Dranar and the Lady Alaina were both in their Chimera form and together with their men had opened and were holding open the Gates. Alisha was nowhere to be found.

Behind him Fenadorn was bellowing out orders, struggling to send men down to the courtyard below to help those being slaughtered, whilst simultaneously trying to get enough men together to take back the Gate.

Sandorn turned and found Averan now beside them. Together they looked down, down upon their ruin and demise. Sandorn looked at his Brother and he looked at him, they didn’t need words.

As once they raced along the battlements and leapt, both soared high, high up into the sky. There was no hope of victory now, both of them knew it. It did not matter. None of it mattered anymore.

Sandorn landed first, slamming down into a horde of attacking Household Guards. Averan landed a moment later, right at Sandorn’s back. Dranar was their aim. Alaina too, but Dranar most of all. Our Father’s greatest friend, our traitor? But he saved us? Sandorn remembered the Ballistae about to pierce through his heart. He saved us then to kill us now?

Even amidst the havoc, Sandorn didn’t want to believe it. But his anger did.

It seemed their intentions were not unplanned. The chimeras Sandorn had seen were in a defensive position now, surrounding Dranar and the gates themselves. Sandorn had been wrong before. There were five Chimeras against them, along with Dranar and Alaina.

None of it mattered.

They didn’t pause, but charged together as one. They matched each other step for step, Sandorn covered the left, Averan the right. Tails, horns, and claws clashed against them but did not stop their charge. They went right through. They had picked a single Beast for their charge. He’d been confident as they came, Sandorn’s eyes saw the change in his foe’s face however as he realised that strength in numbers meant little against the Twins Aureate.

As they broke through it was clear that the smaller Chimera against them was in two minds. Left or right, in the end he went neither.

Sandorn skidded drawing a claw across one side, Averan used his horns digging them in deep along the other. Sandorn used his claw to swing around and come out the other side, Averan did the same, twirling around with his horns still buried in the chimera to swing the other side. There was no time to seek out Dranar and Alaina just yet, Sandorn had two Chimeras on his side, Averan had the same. Sandorn raced into them, using his tail to hold back one as he engaged the other. His fury drove him, he’d never felt the Beast rage so much inside him. Usually he would have held it back, relented. Not now. He let it flow over him, he was faster, stronger than ever. The two chimeras pawns and he a King. He easily moved between their strikes, lashing out again and again as they tried in vain to reach him. Patient he soon found the opening, one of the Chimeras evidently frustrated lashed out a little too reckless. Sandorn stepped back before using his paw to slam the head of the attacker down towards the ground. As the Beast stumbled forward Sandorn bit down hard. Latching onto the neck while at the same time deflecting with his tail an attack from the other Chimera. He held long enough for the Beast underneath to stop moving. Ripping away he turned to face the last remaining. But he didn’t need to. Averan had finished up even quicker than him it seemed. His two done with he now held the last Chimera up over his head, he held him up with his paws but the top of his horns balanced the dying Beast. With an incredible feat of strength he flung the dead Chimera back towards the palace and a unit of Household guards. Many were left broken and trapped underneath the dead body.

When Averan looked on him now Sandorn almost took a step back. It was not Averan staring back at him. It was his Beast. Sandorn was surprised to find himself unworried by the sight. He laughed, the sound manic in his Chimera form, he wanted to let go as Averan had.

None of it mattered.

Destruction. That was all that was left. Soon. But first Dranar.

“AVERAN, BROTHER. TO ME.”

Averan, or what was left of him inside did respond, flickering back to himself again. However turning Sandorn saw they were too late, again. Out of the gates, he could see three Chimeras bounding up the last steps towards them. They three were still slightly ahead of the pack. Eager for slaughter.

Sandorn was about to get ready to face them when his eyes focused clearer on the three. There had been so many shocks that it took a moment for him to grasp it. His shock was only confirmed when Alaina’s chimera when to greet the newcomers at the entrance at the gate. She thought as Sandorn had. Dranar covered her behind the wall of his Household guards.

Alaina was there one moment gone the next. The first Chimera through the gate had smashed straight into her. Lord Yan.

He pounced on top of her, before anyone could react he’d bitten clean through Alaina’s arm and spat the remainder out. Behind him came three more, even in their Chimera form Sandorn could recognise them now. Lord Cendar of House Iden and……. Sandorn heart dropped as the last of the three entered inside. Liniseh.

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None of them hesitated before crashing into those who had emerged from the tunnels. In one single charge they cleared a path almost back to the palace itself. They hadn’t stopped and Sandorn soon saw why. They were hardly inside the Gates when the second group, who Sandorn now knew must have been chasing them came barrelling through. They were a much larger group. They did pause.

In that moment Sandorn glimpsed Dranar, cowering beside the walls and behind the new arrivals. His allies.

Sixteen Chimeras now lined up inside the walls, with Dranar that was seventeen against Sandorn, Averan, and the three who had made a desperate last attempt to unite with them.

The soldiers of both sides had retreated, Fenadorn had somehow ended up behind them, leading what remained of their forces he’d managed to keep the men in formation. They were gathered behind Sandorn and the four other Chimeras.

Those soldiers who had attacked from the tunnels into the palace had been turned around. When the three Chimeras had smashed into them it had effectively broken them, in scattered groups they fled to hide behind the wall of Chimeras now stood in front of the still-open gates. Sandorn supposed more of their Household guards would soon arrive, and likely more Chimeras along with them.

There was little point in soldiers now though, they would only get in the way, besides the New Order didn’t need them, not when they had such an advantage in Beasts.

Even besides all that Sandorn saw that all along the walls his men had been replaced, the Ballistae which once served to guard them now pointed firmly at them. Everything was against them.

At the center of the New Order line one of their ranks came forward. Sandorn smiled despite it all, he would show no despondency now.

The one who came forward was no surprise. Lord Asral stood opposite him, their Leader. His Chimera was big, as big as Yan’s huge beast and almost of a size with Averan.

“King Aureate. Your reign has proven rather short-lived I’m afraid.”

Asral spoke clearly, even as the Beast there was no difficulty understanding him.

“I am glad,” he continued, “glad that we have this final chance to speak. To explain.” Asral shook his large head, “And apologise, that too. We needed time to familiarise ourselves with the Tunnels you see. That’s why it took us three days to attack, I hope you hadn’t become too familiar with your Family's old home in the meantime.”

Sandorn shook his head, “I am glad too, it is good to speak with you. Though strangely when we do it is always you running, or standing in front of overwhelming odds. Amusing that.”

“Amusing?” Asral began pacing from side to side. He laughed.

“What is amusing is you and your loyal friends believing that you ever had some hope of success. Everything you have done and accomplished has been preordained and anticipated.”

Asral saw Sandorn’s glance, he waved his paw in front of him.

“Oh no, please don’t blame our dear Lord Dranar. He was a tool, that is all. All he has ever been in truth, first for your Father and then for us. Don’t blame him. In fact, you should thank him. If not for him you really would have died a lot sooner, in a lot less glory. I’m sure there will be plenty of drunken songs and stories echoed in your names after this in fact. The Aureate Twins, heroes of a past Age. Ohhh I can almost hear them now.”

Asral sighed, “You see, we dismissed you at first, an afterthought. But when you survived and ruled the underground well…..that was somewhat surprising. And then the City guard, Commander Grevus, the Barracks even, control of the entire outer city.”

Asral smiled, “That was rather impressive, even I can admit it. But that was as far as we were willing to let you go. Until….until we saw a way of using you. We have known about those not fully embracing of the new way of doing things. You gave them a figurehead. Those who yet pined for the days of Kings.”

Asral shook his head once more, “Not because of some misguided sense of loyalty or anything, oh no. But because of what it meant for their Houses, they knew we were slowly eroding them, breaking them down from within. Power, that, and that alone was their reason for supporting you. Which, as it happens we knew they would. That’s where Lord Dranar came in. The link we needed to put you two and the traitors together. It was a perfect mix. In one swoop we could expose and rid ourselves of the greatest threat to our New Order. We would have killed you when you proclaimed that ridiculous piece of paper your Father scribbled on. But then that would have been chaos, also as you can imagine we needed a way to get trust for Lord Dranar here, what better way than to save your lives.”

Asral stopped his pacing.

“I suppose you are wondering why I am bothering to tell you this. It is because I want you to know. The game has been rigged from the start dear Twins. We didn’t care about you. We never cared about you. This,” he waved his paws around him, “all of it was only to root out those who thought to stand against us. And now we have. For that at least, I thank you.”

Sandorn struggled to find words, struggled to control himself. There was no way out, the palace locked down, the tunnels overrun if not destroyed. The remainder of their allies probably already in chains by the fountain.

“Now I guess would be the time to offer you a chance to surrender. But no, not this time. Your usefulness is at an end. As I fear, are you.”

Asral raised his hands and the Ballistae fired, Sandorn knew how many must have been on them. He’d counted them out himself. Ten on one side, ten on the other.

He couldn’t help the others, only himself. Sandorn leapt back as the Bolts went crashing towards them, even with five targets it was no easy task to hit a Chimera. But as soon as the first bolts had been fired the opposing Chimeras had charged, Asral at their head.

Seventeen Chimeras came down on the five of them almost all at once. Before Sandorn could meet the first one Lord Yan had barged forward to meet the charge head-on. The bolt hanging from his leg seemed to make no impact. He crashed into three Chimeras sending not only himself but also the three of them flying backward.

The others took advantage of the gap, Sandorn was through first with Averan following close behind. They were instantly surrounded on all sides. Sandorn moved as he always did, fast and elusive but it was no use. He still felt the blood and pricks of pain as he was cut several times over by those around him. There were too many Beasts fighting at once, amidst the chaos Sandorn struggled to stay beside those fighting with him as tails, horns and paws came rushing at him with increasing regularity. The fight was futile, their hope extinguished. Sandorn caught a glimpse to his left of Averan, another to his right of Liniseh. He wanted to help them, to break out of the trap. But all he could was turn, and turn again. One foe, then another. There was no break, there was no end.

The explosion came as a surprise to everyone. Time seemed to slow as the world erupted into flames around them. Fenadorn.

How he had got his hands on explosives, or why he had Sandorn didn’t know. It was Fenadorn, he always planned ahead.

The first jar landed in the air high above them. A small thing, yet for such an inconspicuous object the blast it created was impressive.

The oil for torchlights. Sandorn only recognised them because he’d used them himself when down in the tunnels beneath the palace.

He glanced up to where Fenadorn, Sarvth, Grend and Lear were perched on a second-floor balcony, each one had several of the jars placed about them. Sandorn didn’t know how or why they were there but he watched as they flung out four more into the crowd of attacking Chimeras. It wasn’t enough to kill, Chimera hide was not easily harmed, but more than enough to hurt and distract. Distract most of all. As the New Way chimeras cowered away from the sudden burst of flames it gave them a moment, just a moment. Sandorn made a decision in that moment.

“THE THRONE ROOM,”

Sandorn did his best to sound out the words. His Beast was in control far more than he was used to and speech was becoming increasingly difficult, even for him.

He didn’t know why he’d picked there. There was no hope waiting for them in the throne room. But it was better than wasting away out here in the open. It was something, some form of direction.

The others heard his call, their ears somehow recognising his voice above the chaos. The four struggled back inside the palace. Already above them Fenadorn and the others were retreating back, the few jars already spent. What seconds they had gained from the fiery turmoil were almost at an end.

Just ahead of him, Averan was covered in a pool of red, cut half a hundred times over. Liniseh was missing a half of her top horn. Young Cendar Iden had two bolts stuck in his back, one snapped in half the other fully intact, together they limped away as best they could. All except…Yan.

Sandorn turned suddenly realising his absence. He turned in time to see Yan, barely able to stay standing, launch himself into the enemy Chimeras already preparing to give chase. It wasn’t even a last desperate attack, it was a sacrifice. Yan was immediately set upon, Sandorn’s last look was Yan as he was tore apart by a dozen chimeras all fighting to rip out the biggest piece of the mighty Beast.

He had won them time however, enough at least to stumble and scramble back, back into the throne room.

They fled, down the corridors leading into the heart of the Palace. Some small groups of soldiers continued to fight on but they ignored them. There was no time to aid or kill now. Sandorn could hear the sound of Chimeras chasing them down, the sounds were growing by the second.

Averan was through first, the doors were left open an he charged in ahead, Liniseh collapsed in the door behind him, evidently exhausted by the effort getting there. Sandorn came last a little way behind, almost dragging Cendar with him. They would not make it in time to close the doors. Sandorn saw it but kept dragging Cendar with him. Averan was staring wide-eyed at them, ready and waiting to shut the door. He did not look at Sandorn however, only stared wide-eyed at Cendar.

Just as they came to the door Sandorn was surprised to find himself pushed through by Cendar.

“NOW. CLOSE IT.”

Before Sandorn could say a word Averan had done as commanded. The door slammed shut just as the sound of bodies crashed up against it. Howls of Battle came through. But they did not last long.

The door was large, enough for even Averan to pass through easily. It was a door built to last, and built to withstand any enemy when closed. Any enemy, even a Chimera. It was oak, thick and reinforced with steel plates. Along its surface ran steel spikes, sharp and plenty enough to penetrate any Beast which thought to charge and smash it open.

But it would not have been closed in time had it not been for Cendar. Sandorn had caught a last glimpse of the young Lord’s face as he fell in through the door. He had never seen such human features on a Chimera face. For the second time today Sandorn fought against the feelings of guilt, shame and humiliation pressing down on him. Cendar deserved better, just like Yan had. But now was not the time for contemplation. He pushed images of Fenadorn from his mind, he had last seen him retreating into the palace with the others. It is Fenadorn, he will not fall. Not him. Never. But now is not the time. Not now.

Beside the gate Averan slumped to the floor, the transformation back to human seemed to drain whatever energy he had remaining.

Sandorn looked towards the gate behind him. As formidable as it gate, it would not last long. Fenadorn’s distraction, Lord Yan and Cendar’s distraction, all of it had served to give them time to hide within the throne room. Small doors ran on either side of the throne. Both far too small for a Chimera. They wouldn’t dare send men in, not even now. Besides what was another few minutes for them. There was a respite, if only briefly.

Getting to his feet Sandorn turned around to find Liniseh. Gone was the Beast, only the Lady herself remained. She had managed to revert to her human state.

Perhaps because of the shock of seeing her in such condition, Sandorn was also able to change back, without the struggle he felt building inside of him.

He rushed over to where she lay and knelt down beside her. Taking her head in his lap he brushed back the hair from her face. Her eyes were closed and her breathing pained. Sandorn tried to hold back tears as he looked down on her. A drop fell onto her face. He failed, just as he’d failed to see the betrayal that had been haunting him from the beginning. Even now, bruised and beaten, with several cuts and scars dripping blood she still looked beautiful. Sandorn laughed despite everything, she still looks beautiful. Even now.

Her last breath came softly, her eyes never opened, she never spoke a last final word. She just died. Died in his arms.

Me. This. This is all for me. The return of the King. Sandorn stared down at Liniseh’s lifeless body.

What have I done?