"Wake the Army, sound the alarm." Phoenix shoved Eric toward the door. "Get everyone out. They've attacked while all are sleeping. Those bastards." She growled low as she thought of how underhanded this was, just when she and Eric were so close to talks of peace.

"Bainon!" Narissa burst into the room, running right into Eric. "Oh. We're under attack!"

"We know," Bainon said, pulling a sword from the wall. "It's the Militia." He shot a glower at Phoenix. "So much for peace."

"Did you order a boy named Trey to be taken from the orphanage here in Osha for execution?" Phoenix asked Narissa, heart pounding.

"What?" Narissa blinked, glancing from the window to Phoenix. "No! Of course not? What would I want with a boy from the orphanage?"

"You're not lying," Phoenix said in awe.

"Why would I?" Narissa turned away from her, not seeming to even realize why she was there. "We need to get you somewhere safe."

"Safe?" Bainon's growl struck an odd note with Phoenix - admiration? "They're attacking my people. I won't hide while they come after my like cowards in the night."

"You're the king!" Narissa spun around. "Where's Eric?"

"He's alerting the Army." Phoenix took Bainon by the arm, jerking her head at Narissa. "Come on. We'll find somewhere for you two to hide out of the way. You're the ones they're after."

#

Noelle screamed the moment they reached the edge of the fog, Gwen, Abigail, Maverick, and Roman joining in with her.

"I hope that woke someone up," Maverick said, squinting through the dense clouds. "We need to find -"

"We need to keep you and Gwen safe," Roman snapped. "Mygel and the others could be anywhere in this mess. They could easily get rid of both of you in the name of war and none would be the wiser."

Someone ran bodily into Noelle, and she yelped, falling backward into Gwen.

"Noelle? Thank the heavens, I found you guys." Youlden grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her, Gwen pushing her up from behind. "It's madness. They're just storming right into the castle. Finny said we had to find you."

"Have you seen Phoenix?" Maverick stepped forward, brows low. "We need to find her."

"I haven't seen anyone. Just a lot of shouting and chaos."

#

"Where's Aundreya?" Phoenix marched with Narissa's arm clutched in one hand, Bainon's in the other. The sorceress was willing, while the king insisted he head to cut off the militants.

"I-I haven't seen her." Narissa blinked. "I forgot about her. She's such a dear girl."

"No, she isn't." Phoenix scanned the hallway, unfamiliar with the castle. "Where's a room that's difficult to get into?"

#

Eric slammed the doors of the barracks, bellowing at the top of his lungs. "We're under attack! To arms!"

Men shot to their feet, dressing in seconds as they grabbed their swords.

"Where's Samson?" Eric demanded.

"He was on watch tonight," Carter said, eyes wide. "What's happened?"

"The Militia has snuck up on us all. Protect the castle. Protect the city!" Eric ushered the men out, his stomach twisting as he thought of his best friend on the front lines.

Find Samson.

He ran back out into the main hall, his men spilling out behind him.

"Eric!" A shriek that tensed his already rigid muscles whirled him around. Aundreya ran toward him, hair disheveled, dress half undone. "What in the hells is going on here?"

"We're under attack," he said, his tone now apathetic. "Go find somewhere to hide - best tell whoever you were with to do the same."

"What? No! You have to protect me!" She grabbed hold of his arm, tugging on him. "I'm your fiancee, the future queen!"

Eric shook her off. "No, you aren't. I'm not the heir." He stepped away from her. "I'm not Narissa and Bainon's son. I'm a Guardian. And I never would have married you. I only went along with it to keep you from causing more trouble than necessary."

Aundreya's eyes widened as her face paled. "You're-you're not the heir?"

"Nope. Maverick Knight is. Now I really must go." Eric ran off, leaving her standing in the middle of the hall looking horrified.

#

"We need to stay together," Noelle said, moving through the fog. "We need-hello?" She turned on the spot, suddenly realizing she was alone. "Oh hells."

#

Maverick held tight to Gwen's hand, scanning the mist for the others. "Where'd the go?"

"I don't know." Her voice quivered, her short nails biting into his skin. "They were here and then...it's like...it's like I can't see or hear anything but this fog."

Maverick's blood ran cold. "Can't see or hear anything?" His breath caught, realization washing over him. "Yoro?"

"Someone's been paying attention," a voice said, somewhere nearby though Maverick couldn't see. "Did you forget my knack for sensory manipulation?"

Pulling Gwen closer into him, Maverick, glowered into the oblivion. "Why don't you face me like a man instead of hiding behind your gift?"

"You mean, unlike the way you hide behind yours? One hit from you and I'd be dead. Besides," Yoro chuckled, his nasally voice eating away at Maverick's nerves. "I'm not a man. I'm a Guardian."

"What kind of Guardian is willing to kill the royals they're sworn to protect?" It was Gwen who said this through gritted teeth.

"The kind of Guardian who is ready to have power for once. I can do amazing things. It's about time I didn't have to sit beneath someone so painfully mortal."

Maverick felt Yoro's finger trail down his cheek and he lashed out, but met nothing but air. Yoro laughed again.

"Time's up."

#

Roman whirled around. The sounds of cries and pain surrounded him, but his friends were nowhere to be seen.

"Maverick? Gwen? Noelle?" He ran a few steps, squinting. "Gwen?"

"Roman?" The faintest call of his name turned him in the opposite direction. "Roman, is that you?"

He rushed to the familiar voice, stopping at the sight of Helena, her eyes round with fear.

"Heavens and hells," she said, grabbing onto him. "Where have you been? Where's Maverick?"

"I don't know. I was just with him and -"

"You lost him?" Helena's voice hit a high note. "He's the heir! We have to protect him at all costs!" She grabbed his arm. "Come. We need to find him right away."

#

Maverick readied himself for the attack, prepared to lash out the moment Yoro showed his position. He wanted to stand in front of Gwen, but without knowing where Yoro was, he couldn't be sure he wasn't putting her in harm's way.

"Goodbye, your highnesses."

Someone tall and broad ran into Maverick, knocking him into Gwen and down to the ground. All at once things came into clarity.

Yoro stood a few feet away, sword raised to defend himself against his attacker, his wispy blond hair in a tangle as he swung his sword with all his might. The man, who Maverick realized had been the one to knock him over, slashed with ease, not breaking a sweat.

Within moments he bashed Yoro over the head with the butt of his blade, dropping the Guardian unconscious. He turned, brows raised at the tangled mess of Maverick and Gwen on the ground.

"All right there?" Samson asked, reaching out a hand.

"Thanks to you," Maverick said, allowing Samson to pull them both up. "Good timing."

"A bit of luck, really." Samson glared down at Yoro. "I knew something was off when I saw you not move to defend yourself. He had his blade pointed right at your heart."

"He manipulates the senses - a Guardian."

Samson nodded, peering through the fog. "Looks like you got what you wanted. The Militia is here."

"This isn't what I wanted. Have you seen my sister?"

Samson shook his head. "I can't find anyone in this mess. It's in the castle, too. Fog everywhere."

"That's Mygel. We need to find her and stop her." Gwen stared up at Samson, her expression fierce. "She's about my height - dark hair, dark eyes. Not the best description, but the fog will be lightest around her."

Samson nodded, turning to Maverick. "You should stay with me. You'll be safer if -"

"I have to find the others. Yoro separated us. And you're still part of the Army."

"Stay safe." Samson disappeared, running off into the fight.

"Where now?" Gwen asked, frowning up at him. "I think we should have stayed with that big guy."

"Into the castle we go."

#

Phoenix directed a few Army soldiers into the room with her as they came down the hall. "Protect them at all costs," she said, ushering them in after Bainon and Narissa.

"Where are you going?" Narissa asked, squinting at her as though she couldn't quite remember where Phoenix came from.

A sharp pain ran through Phoenix's abdomen, the fifth time that night, and she gritted her teeth through the agony.  Lifting her hand, she formed a ball of fire, and the pain lessened. Narissa's eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm going to go find my brothers."

You ready for some heavy? Because we're just getting started. Everyone is out on their own now, and the battle has only just begun.

Let me know what you're afraid of, what you're hoping for, and what you think will happen next!