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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 7.5, Un-Escaping

Despite the late hour Evelyn simply couldn't sleep. She lay in bed, wrapped in the finest linens upon a true mattress; it was so unlike the tattered drape and pile of hay she'd had on a cold stone floor only a few years past, yet, despite the comparative opulence it didn't help her find sleep any easier. Then again, most of her insomnia could have been blamed on the reappearance of her brother.

It was a fine thing, and she was overjoyed to know that he had come back to her. Evelyn was elated to know that she and her son were not truly the last of her family and the thought of her brother being in her life once again should have made it easier for her to sleep... but the one pressing thought continued to cling in the back of her mind; Theo Elder didn't know everything there was to know about her son.. about his nephew... who was also his little brother.

Her brother had been far too well-mannered to ask about Theo Younger's father at first. They spent most of the evening catching up. He told fantastic stories about the University and about all of the things he had learned. She told him what it was like to work for Prince Regent Thadius and, more recently, Princess Noriene. The conversation, however, ultimately turned to the little kit who had long-since passed out in her arms. Theo Elder wanted to know that the kit's father was doing as he should in support of them.

Evelyn had managed to dance around the issue, explaining that the boy's father had died, never learning that she was with child... but she was rescued nevertheless by the Prince Regent's intervention, and he had provided for them both. It was an awkward situation and many times she had to carefully dance around the issue without revealing too much-- the reality of it was too painful.

Things came dangerously close to the full truth when her brother asked about their father-- she had simply explained that he had likewise died before she found a home in the Castle... she did not want to have to tell him that their father had forced himself upon her... many times. Theo Elder had expressed his lament several on multiple occasions that he felt as though he had abandoned her but she reassured him each time that she was glad he had escaped when he did.

Her mind was so caught up on figuring out how to make sense of her life and her brother's new place in it that she completely missed the first set of knocks at her chamber door. When they sounded the second time, she sat up in bed. Although she was still dressed in a night gown it was hardly suitable to accept a caller until she had her shawl on; by that time a third set of knocks suggested that her visitor was there for an important purpose. Opening the door a crack, Evelyn was surprised to see Lilian, the Princess' handmaiden. "Miss Lilian... why do you call at such a late hour?"

The lovely Ermine woman, dressed in what looked to be a set of strangely feminine leather armor had a grave expression on her face. "Awaken your son and your brother. We are gathering everyone in the main hall. Be quick about it."

Evelyn wanted to ask what it was about but Lilian had already about-faced and was heading off down the hall to where the Tribal bear brothers were being boarded. The young lady had never been summoned at the dead of night and the fact that the Princess' handmaiden was wearing ARMOR gave her quite a shake. Shivering, she went to the door leading into the sitting room of her small apartment where her brother was asleep on the daybed. She gently tapped the door. "Brother? Theo, are you awake?"

There was a muffled reply and she knocked again, and she finally got an audible answer. "Hmmngh? Huh? Evie?"

"Get dressed. The Princess has summoned us to the main hall."

Another mumble followed by the sound of what was probably a chamber pot being kicked was the initial answer. It was followed by a curse, and then, a moment later, the door opened. Theo was dressed in his sleeping shirt and what were probably hastily pulled-on trousers. She noticed that his bed clothes were half-tucked into the waistband and his fur was a mess. "What time is it?"

Evelyn returned to the side of her room where Theo Younger lay, still somehow asleep and oblivious to the world around him. She turned back to her brother after picking the young kit up; he reflexively grabbed hold of her even as he continued to sleep. The young mother motioned to the clock lit by the moonlight filtering through the window and whispered the answer, "Just past two."

Theo Elder took the young kit from her. "Make yourself ready... I'll keep an eye on him-- I just need to get my pack."

Evelyn transferred the boy to her brother, accepting his aid readily as she went to gather up something more suitable for being outside her room; she couldn't abide by wearing her bed clothes in public... such a thing would be scandalous. Despite appearances, she settled on a simple smock; it was hardly court-worthy but Lilian had made it sound as though it was an urgent matter. By the time she had slid on a pair of slippers, Theo was already back, the kit held against one shoulder and his pack strapped to the other. Paw-in-paw the brother and sister made their way out of the room.

The two Bears were already out in the hall talking to one another in their strange tongue. The smaller of the two, the brown furred one looked to Evelyn and her brother, addressing them simply. "Why were we awakened?"

Evelyn had no answer, so she said nothing. Her brother knew as little as she but he was apparently comfortable enough with the Tribals to say as much. "I couldn't say... but if the Princess wants us awake at this hour then--"

He fell silent when Lilian appeared in the hall, emerging from a side door. Everyone else followed his gaze and the brown Bear had just opened his muzzle to speak when the handmaiden shouted as she dove toward the ground. "DOWN! NOW!"

What followed was utter chaos preceded by a crystal clear metallic clang... a loud explosion knocked Evelyn to the floor. Dizzy, and with ringing ears she crawled out from beneath crumpled pieces of plaster. She heard her son crying, and all she could think about was that he might be hurt. "THEO! THEO!"

Her brother grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to her feet; she saw that he had her son. "We're here, Evie... we're fine."

The rest of the travelers were likewise extricating themselves from crumpled building material. It was the black Bear who spoke next. "What was that?"

Lilian didn't bother explaining, but she readily took control of the situation. "Go! That way. Move. NOW!"

Still confused, Evelyn didn't know what else to do but comply with the order. She took Theo Younger from her brother and all three of them raced off down the hall in the direction indicated by the handmaiden. Although Evelyn didn't bother looking back she heard the sound of the two Tribals following them. She paused only a moment by a set of windows as Theo moved to open a closed door in front of them, and she stopped in her tracks at what she saw: there were men in the courtyard fighting Princess Noriene's guards!

Lilian by that time had made it past the Bears and grabbed hold of Evelyn's arm, pulling her through the open door along with the two Theos. "The Princess is waiting for us outside in the back park... we need to go."

Evelyn barely managed a whisper. "Someone is attacking..."

Lilian and Theo Elder pulled her onward as the two Bears followed suit. Stunned, the young Ermine woman was in a haze as they hustled through the main hall and into the servant's hall. From there, Lilian led them out of the back exit to find one of the Princess' carriages waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She snapped out of her daze as two men hurled themselves through the conservatory's glass wall; they were armed and armored.

The Princess appeared in the doorway of her carriage, leveling a firearm at the two men. The weapon discharged and one man stumbled, a spray of blood erupting from his shoulder. The other attacker leveled a similar weapon at the Wolf and pulled the trigger. By all rights, Evelyn assumed the strike would have been true... if not for Lilian intercepting it. The handmaiden grunted, falling into the Princess's surprised paws. By that time, the big black Tribal Bear had thrown the attacker right back through the window.

Theo pulled Evelyn into the carriage even as the Princess knelt on the ground beside her bloody handmaiden. Evelyn had trouble processing everything going on around her, merely staring at the dying Ermine woman in the Wolf's arms. Behind her, Theo murmured, "Those men are wearing Wyranese colors... why would the Wyra attack here?"

Princess Noriene slowly detached herself from the unmoving handmaiden. She gently crossed Lilian's arms atop her chest where she lay and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. The Wolf stood up stiffly, taking hold of the handhold with a bloody paw to step up into the carriage, she climbed into the wagon. "Wyra wouldn't. Someone is going to great lengths to mislead any witnesses."

Evelyn turned to her brother, who was staring at the Princess. "Who would do something like that? What would they have to gain?"

The Wolf sat down on the seat, closing the door before knocking on the side panel of the carriage. Her expression looked grave. "I have a few thoughts regarding that exact question, my dear."

A small sliding door in the wall opened, revealing the carriage driver, Princess Noriene's bovine butler, Errol. "Orders, your Highness?"

Princess Noriene's voice was all business, but Evelyn saw her emotionally pained glance toward where she had left the body of her handmaiden. "The University. Now."