Ruined (Ruined, #1)(55)

A bell started ringing.

Someone was sounding the alarm to warn of an attack.

Cas ran for the back door, throwing it open and racing through the kitchen and into the foyer.

“Cas? Cas!” Galo’s voice echoed through the castle from upstairs as Cas ran through the foyer. The hallways were suddenly flooded with light as the staff rushed to ignite the lanterns.

“Here!” Cas called.

Galo’s footsteps pounded above him, and he appeared at the top of the stairs, his face grim. He raced down.

“Olso is attacking on the shore. We have to get you out of here immediately.”

Panic gripped Cas as the guards and household staff began running past him. They were unprepared for a fight. Emelina had been gone only two days, and they’d yet to call all the hunters back from Vallos and Ruina. Many of the guards were headed south, to search for her.

“We’ll go out the passageways in back,” Galo said, tugging on his arm.

Screams ripped through the air, and Cas twisted around to find his mother sprinting across the foyer with a guard close behind her. She wore a purple robe that had come mostly undone, her white nightgown peeking out as she ran.

“I won’t go without Cas!” she yelled.

“I’m right here,” Cas said, and she raced to him, her braid flying behind her.

“Into the passageways, now,” Galo said, giving them a push.

His mother grabbed his hand, and Cas looked over his shoulder as she pulled him with her. “Where is Father?”

“His guards will take care of him,” Galo said firmly.

The sound of glass breaking shattered the brief quiet, and Cas flinched, ducking his head as something hurtled through the front window.

Flames burst from the object, and the guards circled around it, stomping it out with their feet.

“Cas!” his mother yelled. He realized suddenly that her hand had slipped out of his, and he turned to find her being pushed and shoved toward the kitchen.

“Go!” he yelled. “I’m right behind you!”

Swords crashed together somewhere outside, and Cas let Galo shove him in the direction of the kitchen. He saw his mother’s head disappear around the corner, and only a moment later, a swarm of people in white and red rushed through the doors.

Olso warriors.

Cas scrambled backward, turning and breaking into a run with Galo beside him. Another flaming ball rocketed through the window, and Cas hit the floor, covering his head with his hands. Galo knelt down next to him, using his body to shield Cas.

Cas felt the heat of the flames as the ball hit far too close to them. He ducked away, straightening to find Galo with his left arm on fire.

Galo ripped off his jacket and stomped out the flames.

Cas felt a hand on his arm, and he whirled around to find his father next to him. He had to beat back the urge to throw his arms around his father’s neck like he was five years old again.

His father handed Cas a sword. It was heavier than he was used to, the red band around the hilt identifying it as a warrior sword. His father’s blade had blood smeared across it.

Cas took off behind the king, looking over his shoulder to find the Olso warriors spilling out of the kitchen. Screams echoed through the halls, and he could only pray that his mother had made it out and the warriors hadn’t noticed the passageway.

Galo lifted his sword as two warriors rushed at him. “Go!” he yelled over his shoulder.

Cas ran behind his father, almost crashing into him when he came to an abrupt stop as they rounded a corner. Three warriors stood in front of them. Light flickered across their faces, and Cas started as he recognized one of them. Benito. The warrior’s eyebrows were drawn together, his lip curling as he charged them.

“Here!” another warrior yelled down the hallway as he lunged at the king. “I’ve got the king and the prince!”

Cas lifted his sword, jumping back as Benito swung at him. The blade barely missed his neck, and he realized with a flash of horror that the warriors had been ordered to kill them. They wouldn’t be captured or brought anywhere for negotiations.

Panic vibrated through his every limb, and when he swung his sword, a strangled grunt accompanied the effort. Benito’s sword met his.

Out of the corner of his eye, Cas saw one of the warriors fall, and his father engaged the other. He sidestepped as Benito lunged at him. The warrior lost his balance, stumbling forward. Cas quickly turned, slamming his boot into the back of Benito’s legs. The warrior hit the ground on his knees and scrambled against the stone. Cas drove his blade into Benito’s chest.

The warrior made a horrible gurgling sound, the sword sliding out of his stomach as he toppled to the ground. Blood dripped off the metal and Cas tried to shake it off, his stomach rising into his throat. He only succeeded in splattering blood across the blue wall.

A hand grabbed his arm, and he jumped, almost hitting the king with his sword as he whirled around. The two other warriors were dead on the ground, and his father gave him a look of approval as he glanced at Benito.

Someone nearby started shouting, and his father tugged on his arm. Cas had to jump over a dead body as they ran down the hallway. His breath started to come out in panicked puffs, and he transferred his sword to his left hand, wiping his sweaty palm on his pants.

Flames licked up the walls at the far end of the hallway, and his father turned, pushing open the door to a sitting room.