The cheers had scarcely died away when the sound of steel echoed.
At first, it was adistant thing, just the sound of a clang echoing faintly through the stone halls. Some faced the noise, their brows furrowed. A murmur rippled through the court like a breeze before the storm. Then came the second clash, louder. Closer. A scream followed.
Genevieve stiffened.
Edric was already in motion across the room.
"Captain," he yelled, the voice sharp.
The chief of the guard elbowed his way through the scattering courtiers. Just as Edric opened his mouth to speak again, a breathless page rushed into the throne room.
"The walls—east gate—breached," he gasped.
Chaos broke like a wave.
Nobles rushed over one another to exit the room. Servants dropped silver trays, the clang of metal lost in panicked yells. The smell of incense became bitter as the torches flickered in the wind blowing through open doorways.
