Aero and Asna and their closest advisors sit down in the royal dining hall to enjoy an end to their first day of work. Everyone seems optimistic about the future. In fact, the entire Capital is abuzz of the sweeping changes on the first day of the King and Queen.
Noticeably absent is Ser Matthew, he claimed he had pressing work to attend to at Maverick’s.
As the first glasses of wine are filled, Queen Asna excuses herself. She isn’t feeling well. Aero tries to go with her, but she convinces him that it is his duty to stay. She orders Lieutenant Rain to stay and enjoy the meal.
Over the course of the dinner much work is discussed. Per Asna’s vision of redeveloping the Bend, Yorba makes sure that the topic is well discussed. Between her and Rune, the Bend has found a couple of champions to make sure that the health and wellbeing of the citizens is being addressed to the highest office.
Aero and Ali discuss the knight ranks and how to replenish them. Aero also gives Ali names of several former knights that he endorses for re-knighthood. Aero also speaks at length with Rain and the Master at Arms about Castle security. It is their vision to transition fully to an all Bellumi staff, an idea that Aero is open to but not committed to just yet.
Several questions are asked to Aero about David and Stephan’s secret mission, but they get no definitive answers from him. Roasa does quietly ask Aero if he is really fine with the ruling that Asna handed down concerning David and Stephan. He tells her that he is confused but loves them both and wants to believe in the world that Asna does.
The dinner turns into a small party, with everyone commenting about how Matthew is going to regret not being in attendance. To make up for Matthew’s absence, Ali gets completely hammered and passes out before the dinner is over. Finally, after a few hours everyone adjourns to their rooms for the night. Everyone except Ali that is, no one could wake him up, so they left him at the table.
A couple hours later, just past midnight the door to the King’s room slowly creeps open. A dark hooded figure slides into the room. Since it is so dark, the figure can’t see that Asna is awake and staring at him. She tries to gently nudge Aero to wake up, but he doesn’t.
In a panic, the Queen speaks “What are you doing?”
“You’re not suppose to be awake.” He replies.
She turns toward Aero, screaming and shaking him but he doesn’t respond.
Just as the dark figured man reaches the end of the bed, Asna jumps over Aero’s sleeping body. As she does so, she sees the Royal Blade propped up against the bed post on his side. In desperation, she grabs it and turns to defend herself.
When she does, the blade emits a bright blue lightning bolt that shoots across the room like an arrow and strikes the would-be assassin! He screams in agony.
Fearful, she just holds the blade while the man catches fire and is fried alive. It’s not until his corpse is well charred on the ground that the lightning bolt ceases.
The room is filled with the smell of hot death. It’s not the smell of a roasting pig as many would believe, it is not pleasant. It is the most foul odor that Asna has ever smelled in her life.
She sets the blade on the bed and begins trying to wake her husband. But no matter what she does, he will not wake. She begins to weep as she realizes the danger of the situation. She understands that this is an assassination attempt, and that Aero’s condition may be worse than she thought.
Before she has time to allow herself to analyze the situation further, she has to prepare to defend herself again. She had forgot to secure the door in the few precious moments she just wasted, and she hears footsteps approaching fast!
Ser Matthew bursts into the room, sword in hand!
“My Queen! Are you okay?”
“Someone is trying to kill us! Aero won’t wake up; I think he is poisoned!”
“I’ve killed three assassins on the way up to your room… and you cooked one? How did you do that?”
“With Aero’s sword.”
“I thought the sword didn’t work for the Queen.”
“It did tonight, that’s all I know.”
“Why do you think the King is poisoned?”
“He’s asleep and won’t wake up.”
“That’s how almost everyone in the castle is, but it’s a calling card. This is the preferred murder of the Broussard family. This is Marco trying to regain control. The Broussa’s want John Henry as King.”
“Why poison someone to sleep, then kill them?”
“They believe it sends a message to anyone who stands against them. If they can put you to sleep then kill you in your bed, then everyone will know that they are not safe.”
“What do we do Matt?”
“We barricade this door and hope to hold them off.”
“But our friends are out there. Are you willing to sacrifice Roasa and Rain to save us?”
“Yes, the crown must survive. They are my friends and I care for them, but the smart move is to protect the rulers so that we can get revenge later.”
“Well I forbid it! I am going to save our friends and I command you to protect me!”
“I won’t let you leave.”
Asna in a moment of anger raises the Royal Blade below Matthew’s chin. The blue lightning glow lights up the room.
“I’m going and if I am your Queen, you will follow.” Asna says with tears rolling down her face.
Matthew steps to her side to allow her to pass. She commands him to lock the door behind them to protect Aero.
Over the next hour, they search the castle quarters looking for assassins. They do their best to lock down all the sleeping quarters. They find three and quickly kill the first two. The last one was taken alive after receiving a shock from the Royal Blade, and Matthew binding him.
Asna has Matthew drag him back to her bedroom.
Once Matthew barricades the door and ties the assassin to a chair Asna begins asking questions. The man tries to keep a tight lip. Matthew punches him!
“No, Ser Matthew. That is not the way.” Asna says.
“That’s why you don’t have what it takes to rule. You will become a harem girl for the next king.” The assassin replies.
“You misunderstand me scum, I have a better way to make you talk.”
She raises the sword; lightning strikes the assassin. She allows it to linger for a moment before ceasing.
The assassin screams in agony and continues after she stops.
She allows him a moment to collect himself. It takes him a minute to stop screaming. Once he does stop, she raises the blade again. As she is electrocuting him, Matthew looks on surprised to see the rage coming from his Queen. She is clearly taking this assassination attempt very personal.
Once she stops the lightning, the man begins to beg as he screams. She has broken him in only a few minutes.
Over the next few minutes, the assassin confesses every detail of the assault. How many assassins there were, how they were assigned to kill all members of the new court, and how several were assigned to bust John Henry out of his cell.
The assassin shares the plan for dawn. Gerwin will ring the castle bells, signaling the death of the King and Queen. Marco and John Henry will walk into the castle together to show stability in the next transition of power. The plan was to pin the assassination on Matthew and execute him before dusk.
The plan was thorough, it just didn’t account for Asna and Matthew not eating the meal.
Asna asks the assassin how long the drug will last, and if there is a cure.
Before he has a chance to answer, Matthew answers for him.
“The cure is a tea brewed from Birchweed root. I’m sure there is some in the kitchen. I will go take care of it and bring it back.”
Matthew leaves and Asna locks herself in.
He returns less than an hour later with tea.
Asna and Matthew position Aero and pour a small amount in his mouth. Aero swallows some of the tea. Over the next few moments, the King wakes up.
He is disoriented, it takes several minutes for him to grasp the situation.
Once he is on his feet, the three of them go room to room administering the tea.
With a little over an hour until daylight, everyone is awake and angry.
“We should attack now.” Ali says
“No. We will set our own trap. Matt, go to the belltower grab Gerwin. Take a few Bellumi guards with you. Hide, allow him to ring the bells then apprehend him. Asna and I will be sitting in the Throne Room waiting on whoever comes.” Aero replies.
“I will go to the cells and make sure that John Henry is secure.” Ali says.
“No, he’s already been freed by now, according to the assassin we captured.” Asna replies.
“Plus, if we were seen down in the cells, we would never get to spring our trap.” Aero adds.
“And we will punish everyone involved with this assassination attempt!” Asna says angrily.
Relics of the Old Age 