Jaspen

He stayed close to me, his left hand always resting on the hilt of his sword. He had to relearn how to use his sword after he lost his right eye. I couldn't even imagine overcoming such a challenge, but somehow Hassan had done it. He had remastered using his left hand after twenty plus years of using his right with perfectly good vision. Hassan was a true warrior. I looked up to him even if I felt he resented me for his own reasons.

"Something's not right," he whispered suddenly coming to halt.

I felt it too- a stillness as if the earth itself was holding its breath. The rain had slowed down, but the thunder still rang overhead with big shocks of lightening every few seconds.

Out of the eerie silence, rose boy's blood curdling scream. The sound had originated from the temple and seemed to echo off of every building. My blood turned cold as ice as a strength that wasn't my own coursed through me making me sprint off ahead of Hassan.

"Jaspen, wait!" he yelled. "Jaspen!"

I didn't wait, but Hassan caught up to me in seconds. He was a soldier after all. I don't know what else I should have seen happening.

"Jaspen, we have to get to the palace now," he said gruffly grasping both of my shoulders. "Thekros is also in danger."

"Omand lives there and he's a Raksheesh, Hassan! He's my-"

"We have to go to the palace," he said sternly.

With that he grabbed my wrist in one of his hands in a iron tight grasp and dragged me partially behind him.

"Hassan," I begged.

I felt tears form in the corner of my eyes. Without even seeing who the cry was from, I knew it was Omand. I just prayed to Namiah he wasn't dead and for quick healing if he was hurt.

"Jaspen, the king has to know. Don't you understand more than Raksheesh are in danger?"

Surprise crossed my face. "Who else?"

"Anyone who doesn't see your kind as a scorn. They could be planning a coo in the palace right now."

"A coo?"

"Murdering the King and Royal family."

Another wave of worry rushed through my system.

"Neo.."

"What about the prince?"

"He... he stood up to Raj for me when Raj broke my ribs."

Hassan didn't say anything for a moment. "I highly doubt Raj is a purist."

Even as he said that, his paced increased. It was only a short distance to the palace, but the weather and the urgency of the situation made it seem like a longer walk than it really was. As we neared the gates, there were two guards there.

"We need to speak to the king at once," said Hassan impatiently.

"It is late."

"As General Hassan, I suggest you let me pass."

They uncrossed their spears with no further questions and Hassan and I rushed in heading for the throne room to find it empty. As we were leaving the throne room, another guard stopped us.

"What business do you have here at this hour?"

"Urgent news for the king. Please take us to him."

He looked Hassan and I down as if trying to gauge if we were telling the truth or not.

"Come," he said dryly.

We followed; Hassan still looked on edge. The guard led us up to the second floor to the west side of the building in front of a door towards the middle of the hallway and knocked.

"Sire, urgent news," he called.

The king coughed. "Come in."

The guard opened the door and let us in.

"Dismissed," said the king tiredly.

The guard left without a word.