Escape

Rufus's entourage was all gathered in his room. The Ghersengs were just outside the door, guarding, as they stared down right at the Varangian imperial soldiers.

"So, Doreen, you finally finished your book?" Yosef said.

"What book?" she asked.

"What book.....? The book you were reading so intensely, you were a piece of shit for the past few days towards us," Edward said.

"I have no idea what you are talking about?" Doreen stated.

Rufus then entered the room.

"And where have you been? You have also just vanished on most days," Amala asked him.

"I have been with the queen like I was just now. She has offered us a way out of Kairouan," Rufus said.

~~

During the night, a group of people was sneaking on the palace walls. It was Rufus and his friends and Gherseng warriors. On the walls were Varangian guards stationed there to ensure that king Rufus wouldn't try to escape.

Joan was about to go and kill the guard but was stopped by Doreen.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Yosef whispered.

"Trying to make sure our escape plan is a successful one,"

"See that," Yosef pointed at the Varangian, "They have horns to use as alarms if one is attacked. Would be better if we don't risk it so that the guard can blow on his horn on time and alert all the rest of them. Use your brains, not your muscles for once"

~~

They sneaked slowly forward and reached the gravity ship port, where the imperial flying vessel was docked.

"Are you sure we can steal the prince's ship?" Amala asked.

"The queen said it's the only gravity ship currently able for us to get off the moon world," Rufus explained.

"I wouldn't try that."

They were caught by surprise by prince Segeric, floating in the air right behind them.

"You see that man with a torch on the ship? He is there to burn it all down if someone tries to take it from us. It will take him, I don't know. Ten seconds to have the entire ship a blaze." The prince pointed out at a sentinel of embers who was stationed on the deck of the ship.

They all readied to fight the prince.

"Do you think it is smart to fight me now? Even if you can kill me and my men, an imperial army and my father will come here and not just kill you but burn this entire city with all its people to ash. You do not want the Saracens to get involved unless they want to of their own accord? Am I correct, the good-hearted king Rufus?"

"So, is there a reason for you to come here and warn us?" Joan asked, ready to slice the prince's throat.

"Well, other than making sure you don't burn my ship down.....yes. I have just returned from the queen and have offered that we would hold a banquet. I will tell you the final offer the emperor gave you, king Rufus. I am here to invite you all to join in on the banquet where I have been instructed to persuade you, for one last time," the prince uttered.

He then walked on air, with tiny flames keeping him up in the sky.

"I suggest you all come...I think I made myself clear, but I will repeat it to make sure. You have no alternative," the prince said right before he vanished to another taller tower to land on.

~~

Rufus and the rest of them returned to their quarters.

"Shouldn't we just try and kill that sentinel of embers?" Edward said," I can sneak on that ship and kill him before he realizes what has happened."

"No use. I battled the sentinels during our last battle. After they die, they burst into flames like they were made from dried branches dipped in oil," Joan explained.

Someone then knocked on the door. When Pema went to open, two locusts witches came in, with the queen following.

"I am sorry, but it seems the prince was more crafty than I thought," the queen explained.

"He has forced you to trap us here," Doreen asked her.

"Yes. He knows he can't win against us, but he also knows I can't be seen openly supporting you. I must play the neutral side to ensure my people are not dragged into a war with the empire."

"You don't believe he has no intention of waging war with the Saracens and you? He has plans for your moon world as well. That I am sure of," Joan stated.

"Most likely, but for now, I am unable to act. My people do not want a war, so I must be here. I may be the queen of the Saracens, but true power is with the clan leaders. They would not trust me anymore, if I openly started to show hostility toward the empire, without them being the first one to show it."

~~