Timur- Bull's Horns

They'd run many drills for such an occasion, but no one has attacked the palace in decades; their drills were also a far cry from a real attack. Timur leaves Belia's side to talk with their guards.

"What's going on?" he asks. "Is it protestors?" The guards just stare ahead and say nothing. "Answer me, dammit!" Timur demands, but the guards remain silent. Timur mutters as he sits back down with Belia. "They either don't know or are choosing to keep us in the dark," Timur tells Belia and Rin.

"It's just like when my brothers died…" Belia whispers. Timur puts his arm around her and pulls Belia in close to him.

An hour passes, then two. Timur's stomach begins to growl as they sit there. Soon he hears another growl come from Belia.

"Are you hungry?" Timur asks. Belia's stomach growls again and Timur gets up. He goes over to a wall panel and pushes on it. The door pops open revealing a cabinet full of provisions. He pulls out several ration packs. "They're not great, but they're edible," Timur tells Rin and Belia as he hands them each one. Several more hours pass and then the two guards at the door move out of the way. One of the other guards approaches Timur.

"The situation has been handled, Sir," he says and returns to his post. The guards unlock the door and open it. Karolek enters looking a bit frustrated.

"Sorry for the wait, Your Highnesses," he says with a slight bow.

"What. Happened." Timur demands. Karolek eyes Belia, and Timur can tell he's debating on something. Finally, Karolek sighs and informs the group of what happened for the past several hours.

"The public was notified of your engagement recently. Needless to say, they aren't happy. The idea of the Crown Prince marrying an alien and thus ending the pure Voyan royal line hasn't sat well with many people," Karolek says, eyeing Belia. "A large group decided to voice their opinion outside the palace. From that group, about fifty infiltrated the palace grounds and vandalized several areas open to the public. The guards were called, but they were having a hard time capturing the protestors in the palace and getting the whole lot to vacate the premises. Due to the violent nature of the protestors in the palace, it was decided to put the whole complex on lockdown." Karolek pauses. "The protestors also made threats against Princess Belia. The situation has been handled; however, at this time it's been recommended the Princess and her servants go to their quarters and stay there for a while longer, just to be safe." Several more guards enter and they escort Belia and Rin back to her quarters, leaving just Karolek and Timur in the safe room.

"I want to see what they did," Timur says, trying to hold in his anger.

"I know you aren't confined to quarters, but I think it would be in your best interest if you stayed out of sight as well," Karolek recommends.

"These people wanted to make a scene; I wish to see it." Timur brushes past his guard and towards the area Karolek talked about. Karolek follows close behind. Most of what Timur initially sees is what he expected, but as the two round a corner to one of the public courtyards, the sight before him makes his blood boil. Blood is smeared across the ground and there are indications that several fires had been set, but that wasn't the worst of it. Timur's eyes lock on the far wall.

Written in large red letters is, "Death to the blue-skinned whore!"

They had provoked the bull. Timur can feel his face become hot and his vision blurs slightly as his blood pressure rises.

"Where are they?" Timur growls, his fury growing by the second.

"Who?" Karolek asks.

"The animals who did this."

"The authorities have taken them away."

"I want to see them," Timur says through gritted teeth.

"I don't think-"

"I am not asking for your opinion of the matter, Karolek. I want to see them, get a hover ready." Karolek salutes and leaves to find a hover. Timur looks around and takes in the sight before him. He didn't want to miss a single detail. Karolek gets word to Timur that the hover is ready, and on the drive over to the authority offices, Timur reads the report on the incident. There were several casualties. Five guards are currently receiving medical treatment for burns and various other injuries, two were killed at the scene and another two had already succumbed to their injuries.

They arrive at the authority offices and Timur storms in. Karolek follows closely behind him. The officers are ill-prepared for the Prince's visit. Timur storms up to the officer in charge.

"Where are they?" Timur demands. The head officer quickly stands.

"This way, Your Highness," he says and takes Timur to the detention area. Once there, he shows Timur to the cell where the protesters were.

"Open it." The head officer complies and Timur throws the door open. "Who is responsible!" Timur demands, and everyone in the cell jumps at the noise. Timur looks around the room and most avert their eyes. Timur hears a chuckle from the back of the cell. He sets his eyes on a young man and rushes him. Timur grabs the man by his shirt collar and slams him against the wall. "Something funny?" Timur questions. The man doesn't answer, but a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe you can tell me who did this?" Timur tightens his grip and the man's expression deadpans. "No? Maybe this will loosen your tongue." Timur drops the man and draws his gun. He primes it and aims it at the man. "Let's try this again. Who. Did. This? Who is your leader?" No one speaks. Timur adjusts the barrel so it's against the man's head. "I will kill you all until I either get an answer or everyone is dead, so is this a cause worth dying for?" To show his seriousness, Timur shoots the man in the shoulder. "Next round goes in his head."

"It was Garoth," Timur hears one of the others say. "Garoth organized this." Timur lowers his weapon and motions for the head officer to release the woman.

"You are lucky I don't have you all shot for treason," Timur tells the rest of them. He walks back to the cell door.

"If anyone is a traitor, it's you!" Timur turns to face his accuser. "Agreeing to marry that whore-" Timur fires another round into the man's head. The others watch in shock and horror as the man slumps over. Timur holsters his gun and exits the cell.

"I want the rest brought up on as many charges you can make stick," Timur orders the head officer.

"Y-yes, Sir," the officer stammers, terror in his voice. The entire building becomes quiet as Timur and Karolek leave. As Karolek pulls the hover up, Timur notices even his guard has a look of fear in his eyes.