of Sword and Flame

 Aran lifted his hand in the air as an orange glow appeared. He tossed his arm up in a quick motion, and suddenly, the ground beneath everyone's feet began to rumble. Kyra watched as a large chunk of clear space tore from the floor, creating a platform for the three assassins to step onto as Aran lowered it. Kyra didn't have time to think before she launched herself over the podium and across the floor, racing toward the chunk of ground that was being lowered. She was faster than the king as he turned to Captain Augustus.

"Leave this to us, Phoenix!" the captain ordered, and Kyra paused momentarily, her gaze running along the floor to see him, spear drawn, flanked by groups of armored guards. "You'll only frighten the crowd!"

Aran was watching Kyra as he lowered his makeshift podium. It fell back into its original space on the porcelain floor, but a deep crack still ran around where it had separated. Aran pulled a small knife out of his sleeve, holding it up to Prince Kana's throat as Kyra skidded to a stop.

"Not another step, Phoenix," his words were venom, the fang in his hands poised to sink into the little prince's neck at any moment. Kyra's hands began to inch toward her sides, but she came to the grave realization that she had neither a weapon nor her fists to use. Her own plan to appear harmless for the trial had backfired on her, leaving her utterly defenseless before a person with an especially dangerous magical ability.

"Aran, what are you doing?" Kyra tried to ask.

"Aran..." Jin tried to say, but Aran snapped back.

"Stay out of this until it's done, both of you!" He barked at Jin and Nik, and Kyra watched in shock as they did so.

Kyra watched Nik and Jin slink back into the shadows, though Jin still looked conflicted about whether to comply.

"Let him go, Aran," Kyra warned as she carefully stepped over a large crack in the floor, drawing nearer with every step.

"I don't think so. You see, we had very clear instructions, Phoenix. Grab the prince, and if we see you, well..."

"Kill me?" Kyra's hands twitched, and Aran tightened his hold on Prince Kana in return.

"Don't test me, Kyra. Malum said to bring the boy alive, but we can always give him a little pain."

"This isn't his fight, Aran."

Prince Kana uttered a small cry as he saw the blade loom closer. Aran looked down. The boy must've been no older than eight. How old had his brother been when they were taken?

He snapped himself out of those thoughts. He had a job to do.

"Shut up!" He shouted, but Kyra found it odd that he was looking at his own hands when he said it.

"Aran, we should just go," Jin spoke from the shadows. "We have the prince."

Aran turned. He looked at Jin's conflicted expression, and for a moment, he considered it. He saw how she looked at Kyra—with an apology written across her face. He caught sight once more of the yellow and blue bruise on Jin's eye.

And then he felt his anger reignite.

"People of Solis!" Aran announced. "We will not hesitate to hurt the prince. You have been warned. Stay out of my way until we walk out that door!" he demanded, slowly looking toward Kyra with murder in his eyes. Aran's hand twisted, tearing more ground from beneath them to crowd around her feet and cement into place. Aran summoned a small hunting knife from Jin's hands into the air before Kyra, pointing it to pierce her directly in the heart. She remained inhumanely still as the edge drew nearer to her chest, not bothering to try and fight the earth solidified around her feet. Kyra kept her eyes peeled open, fearing that a single blink would take away what little advantage she had with her spite.