chapter three

Kiera woke to the sound of swords clashing that night. She stood up and got dressed, she'd warned the servants about dueling in the ballroom. A sixth sense told her that it would probably be wise to bring her sword, never know when things might get out of hand.

As she put the sword on her belt the door to her room was thrown open.

"The palace is under attack milady! We must get out of here."

Kiera looked at her maid dismissively, "What do you mean 'under attack'?"
"The Ga-Vok milady, they're rioting. A large mob has stormed the palace. If we don't get out they may try to kill us, or worse."
"Very funny Doris."
"Oh milady, I wish it was so."

At that moment a Ga-Vok appeared in the door way. Kiera had never seen one so heavily armored, and there was blood dripping from his katar.

"Doris, get down!"

Doris stopped, startled by Kiera's outburst. Before Kiera could react, the warrior ran the hapless maid through. Kiera stood stunned. She'd never encountered death before, except in the media and a few stories Callin had told her.
But even startled as she was she was able to deflect the slashing blow of her furry assailant. Her training took over and her sword effortlessly passed through the warrior's unarmored throat.
She quickly crouched over Doris' fallen body, shaking her gently. A quick pulse check confirmed her fears.
Rising she stepped into the hall outside her room; servants ran about in a panic as a few guards tried to stave off the throng of Ga-Vok that were rampaging about the chamber.
Recognizing a guard sergent in a far corner of the room she dashed across the room; cutting down a second Ga-Vok as she went.

"We have to get out of here."
"How milady? They've taken the main gate."

She paused, the only other exits she knew of were the one under the throne and the one in the library. She muttered a brief curse at whatever fool had built a palace with so few secret pasages.
"Have they taken the library?"
The sergent paused.
"I doubt it madam; they seem more interested in hunting us than in taking control of the building."
Finally, a stroke of luck in an otherwise bleak day.
"Gather everyone you can and follow me."

She didn't know why the palace was under attack, but she'd have time to worry about that once she'd escaped ths uncharacteristicly fierce mob.