Across the table from Akkiel stood Yuri, hands resting on the tabletop as he leaned forward to examine the two maps. He sighed and shook his head. "To be honest, I'm surprised Sanctuary hasn't been hit yet," he said, drumming his fingers against the wood. "They've abducted a powerful king and a powerful prince--if they are indeed behind that, and it's probably safe to say they are until evidence says otherwise--so an unprotected shrine would be nothing. I think it's something we should--"
A clamor arose and Yuri jumped and exchanged looks with Akkiel before looking to the door expectantly. That...had scary timing, considering what they'd been discussing, and he braced himself for bad news as a knight burst into the room.
More abductions, Sanctuary had been struck, some infamous criminal had broken free, those were all things that he was prepared to hear. What the knight said, however, was so outside of Yuri's reality bubble that all he could do was stare and blink, uncomprehending. Tarlaka was gone? Her wings were pinned to the outer wall? Theodore might have just announced that the dragons had taken up ballroom dancing for all that he accepted those words. Tarlaka?
It was when the candles and torches roared and Akkiel stormed out that he snapped back to reality and rushed out after him. He had to see this for himself. It had to be a hoax. He knew Tarlaka! She was strong, she was--Seiteki!
While Akkiel left, Yuri turned and headed off toward her nursery at a jog, intending to catch up with him later. If Tarlaka was really gone, if she had been taken, Seiteki might also be at risk. What if Tarlaka had her with her when she was taken? But surely a nursemaid would have said something, noticed the infant missing? He rounded a corner, found the door open, felt his stomach clench with dread--and nearly collided with the wet nurse as she stepped out and he went to step in.
Panting for breath, he forced his words out between gasps. "Sei...Seiteki...is she...?"
"She's sleeping," the woman answered in a whisper, one hand pressed to her chest. Yuri sighed and pushed some dirty-blonde hair out of his face, shoulders slouching.
"Oh good...stay with her for now, don't let her out of your sight," he said, and then he left to go catch up with Akkiel.
He found him outside and ran to catch up though his sides protested and sent pain stabbing into him. He was not cut out for all this running, and he finally had to slow down and follow after him at a walk. Some part of him was still in denial, numb, and he didn't imagine it would actually sink in until he saw those wings.