Buorlan studied the marks on his hand.
The setting sun's golden glow disappeared beyond the horizon, drenching the office in deep shadows. Out the windows lanterns began to light the streets as the festivities rolled on into the night.
Burlan took out a flint box from the top drawer and lit the candle on his desk. The light flickered off the metal and dripped wax. He held his hand close to the light. The closed eyes stood out in black ink against his pale skin. The two eyes stung with the slight movement of his thumb.
Two sharp knocks sounded at the door.
Buorlan's heart leaped into his chest. He cleared his throat, took one last look at his hand, the eyes were still unchanging, before turning to the door.
"Enter." He called.
Almoris slipped into the room, his chest heaving. He looked out of place in a faded brown suit instead of his usual black and gold uniform.
"My Lord, I have news," he took a deep breath, "the King's men are on the move."
"Where are they headed?"
"Towards the Orello Cathedral."
*****
Anelle and Kae continued to meander through the festival.
As darkness fell people began hanging decorated lanterns. The streets glowed orange. Anelle was reminded of walking home from evening church with the quiet streets lit in the same way. Those walks often had a solemn feel; the priest's sermon warning them of the perils of sins still rang in their heads. Tonight was different. A lively energy clung to every face and surface. The glow of the lanterns felt far warmer tonight.
Up ahead small clusters had formed around different performers. The wide streets were favoured by performers then the winding alleys. The road was lined with shop fronts, many still light, serving customers. With the setting light, a few business owners locked up, to enjoy the rest of the festival.
Anelle and Kae walked up to the closest group and squeezed in. A man in a long green robe crouched low to the ground, dancing with his opponent. A long animal with orange and black spots running down its length. The creature curled its body in circles, raised its head and hissed at the man. The spectators shuffled back a step.
Anelle leaned close to Kae.
"What is that thing?" She whispered.
He looked back at her perplexed.
"It's a snake." He replied.
"What's he doing?"
"He's dancing with it."
"But why?"
The snake hissed again, turning towards the crowd. The dancer picked up a long stick from the ground and tapped the snake on its body. The snake whipped its head around, hissing at him. The snake rose even higher making itself as large as possible.
"This type of snake has a deadly venom that can kill you in seconds. The dance is dangerous because of how high the stakes are." Kae responded with excitement.
The colour drained from Anelle's face. She took a step back, hiding her body behind Kae as she watched the snake move.
"Let's see what else there is down the street." Kae prompted, sensing her alarm. He held her hand as they walked away. Anelle couldn't turn her back to the snake until they were a safe distance away; the fear that it would turn on her as soon as she averted her eyes away weighed heavy in her gut.
They passed a popular public house. The sound of drinking and laughter filtered into the night. Anelle was reminded of her first night in the city. Everything at the time was new and terrifying. She smiled inwardly at her own foolishness. Only a few months in a warm and loving home had changed everything.
They continued walking, passing street magicians who found people's playing cards in odd places and pulled bouquets of flowers out of their sleeves. The magician picked a single flower out of the bouquet and handed it to a young girl, before turning to Anelle. He offered her a red rose but pulled back before she could accept it. The magician shook the flower and it turned into a blue rose to match her dress. Anelle's face lit up with a mix of joy and embarrassment, her cheeks flushed crimson, as she accepted the flower. Kae dropped a copper at the man's feet and they continued walking towards the main bridge over the Cassien river.
Anelle looked up at the shops and houses around them and noticed a small boy sitting on a second story balcony. He was in his night dress holding a teddy bear as he crouched down to watch the magicians below through the metal bars. His eyes were wide with fascination, never leaving the gentlemen.
The sounds of shouts beyond the bridge drew their attention. A group of young boys pushed past them shouting unintelligible words. Kae pulled Anelle close. These weren't shouts of jubilation that the festival was filled with. A sense of uneasiness washed off Anelle's previous joy. They watched as the group ran to the closest public house and ran out again. Shortly after, people started running towards the bridge. Kae grabbed the arm of a gent moving with the crowd.
"What's happening?" Kae shouted.
The crowd was growing and people were shouting in outrage.
The man shook him off before replying, "something's happening at the Cathedral." He disappeared into the crowd before Kae could respond.
The crowd was an unrelenting flow of people pushing Kae and Anelle over the bridge. People were moving towards the Cathedral in every direction, blocking their escape. The crowd funnelled out into the large courtyard in front of the Cathedrals main doors. The doors Anelle had only ever seen from across the entryway when entering the church.
Kae's firm grip on her hand pulled her to the outer edge of the courtyard. He moved away from the church entrance heading in the direction of home but the people continued to pack into the area, stopping their progress. Kae turned towards the church, using his body to shield Anelle as much as he could.
The great carved wooden doors crashed inwards. Four guards in imperial red and gold stood guard at the entrance, keeping people back with threats. As the crowd piled into the courtyard their fingers tapped the hilts of their swords, their eyes shifted back and forth daring anyone to make a sudden move.
Unrest bubbled through the crowd. Many people started shifting and turning to their neighbours for answers. People were just as clueless as they were.
Moments later the front of the crowd began to shift. Lantern light pulled back the shadows around the doorway. Four soldiers stepped out. The first was tall with wide set shoulders, in his youth he would have been the epitome of a soldier, but age and food had given him a large gut, large cheeks, wrinkles and thin white hair. He wore a silver chest plate with the imperial mark etched in gold, the metal had been bent to fit his protruding stomach and warped the imperial golden dragon skull.
He was followed by two soldiers that flanked a prisoner. The man stood in his nightgown but held his head high with dignity. His long hair and beard made him easy to recognise. Anelle had seen him countless times at church. He was often called the people's profit.
Murmurs erupted through the crowd.
"It's the profit!"
"It's him."
"What's happening?"
These words echoed through the crowd, back and forth like bird songs.
The fourth soldier held another lantern. His light illuminated the motion of rushing people still inside the cathedral. The soldiers moved forward as a group. The soldiers guarding the front motioned the crowd back as they escorted the profit out.
Outrage and disbelief ran rampant through the crowd; the energy created waves of motion. No one dared test the soldiers' swords but anger and disgust brought them close. Many began to shout and cry out in rage.
"Release the profit!"
"Release the PROFIT!"
"RELEASE THE PROFIT!"
The crowd chanted grew louder and louder. The overlap of voices and cries made everyone shout louder.
A large man bursts from the church door holding his hands to the heavens. His priest's robes dishevelled and his sash slipped off one shoulder. His deep voice, well versed in delivering sermons across the cathedral, booms across the courtyard.
"Peace my people, peace."
The crowd slowly quietened, people edged forward eager to hear his words.
"Profit Cythri has been judged by both Paeneya and Ibaris and found righteous. He has been given the sight of spirits to guide us and will overcome the challenges before him. Those who accuse him of disloyalty to the crown are nothing but heretics.
"A fair trial will clear him of all charges!"
The high priest's words had calmed the crowd with clear logic. His final line reignited the mob's anger.
"Fair!"
"How will it be fair?" People shouted.
The crowd began to murmur to each other, laying down personal grievances with the nobilities version of fairness. The crowd moved as one diving forward to rescue the profit. Rage flowed through the mob, churning into a tempest. The soldiers unsheathed their swords and began cutting people down. Cries of anger turned to panic as the soldiers cut down anyone who dared to get within an arms breath of them. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Anelle felt the air shift. The smell of blood bringing her back to her home.
The crowd burst into chaos, people moving in every direction. People fell to the ground trampled by their neighbours.
Kae held Anelle tight; his hand left marks on her skin bringing her back to the present. They moved together amongst the chaos, staying to the edge of the street. They stepped over crushed lifeless bodies.
"Soldiers!" Shouts echo over the confusion and people begin to run faster.
Kae picked up the pace. Anelle ran as she was jostled on all sides.
A cold hand grabbed hers, pulling her away. Her fingers slipped out of his grip.
"Kae!" She shouted but her words were swallowed by the screams.
Anelle turned back. She lost sight of him. A strong grip pulled her back. She looked up as a soldier in red uniform shoved her towards a gruff man in all black uniform.
"No!" She shouted.
Other people were being dragged towards carts surrounded by more soldiers in black. She looked around her. A red wall of the king's men had blocked all the exits to the square. Caged wagons rolled up to the square, lipping through the line of soldiers.
"Kae! Kae!"
Her stomach dropped at the thought of what they would do to her. If she struggled to understand them, what then? If she couldn't communicate how would she prove her innocence? She was all alone surrounded by harsh faces.
A woman nearby screamed and hit one of the black guards. Anelle flinched as he kicked her in the stomach. She fell to the ground moaning. He pulled her up by her hair and shoved her towards one of the waiting caged wagons.
Anelle's whole body shook with fear. She looked up at the man holding her arm and complied as he pushed her forward. Her lips trembled. Her heart was beating a loud rhythm through her whole body.
He shoved her into a crowded cart. She was jammed up against two other people and could feel someone's breath on her neck as more people were crammed in. Anelle flinched as the door slammed shut. The guards hit the side of the cart and they rolled away.