[i][color=f7941d]At least she isn't foolish enough to fight with me on this,[/color][/i] Ozragad reflected as his betrothed climbed into the covered palanquin that had been brought down from the palace. He had't been sure exactly what he would have done had she chosen that moment to make some kind of impotent stand or scene, demanded to ride side by side or refused to mask her Eorzian escort. [color=f7941d][i]Don't pretend otherwise, you would have thrown her in there bound and gagged. If her guards had objected you would have killed them all.[/i][/color] The voice spoke from deep within, an ever present reminder of the savagery he knew he was capable of performing. Sometimes he thought of it as his war voice. 

He ordered for the majority of his men to dismount and leave their horses here, only keeping the Eorzians and a core of guards around him on horseback. The main thoroughfares were wide and gentle enough for mounted riders, but in the side streets that twisted off, men afoot would be far more useful. Besides they could go no faster than the palanquin could be carried. Between the men he had taken to the Bridge of Skulls, the city watchmen that Manawyndan and Tiernon had brought, and the Princess's own guards, Ozragad was not expecting any resistance that would pose a real threat. 

[i][color=f7941d]And if Manawyndan is lying to you? There could be a mob a thousand strong waiting for you behind those gates, waiting to tear you from your horse and rip you limb from limb. You could probably kill some of them, but even you're not that good. Manawyndan is your regent, if you die, he oversees the succession. He's probably got a pliable young candidate in mind, one easier to mould and control. He might even keep the Princess around to marry to them, or take her for himself. After all, this whole thing was his idea. He'll justly purge his rivals by smearing them as being responsible for the unrest that killed the King. It would be a masterstroke, dispose of you and anyone who would stand in his way.[/color][/i]

No. Manawyndan wouldn't do that. He was loyal.

[color=f7941d][i]It's what you would do..[/i].[/color]

The King thrust such thoughts aside and focused on arranging his troops before they would march into Cirith Anyr.

[hr]

It was eerily quiet as the ascended up the long slow spiral that led from the outer gates of the lower city to the high wall of the upper half. The streets were lined with people, mostly Formori, but the occasional human face was in the crowd as well. He saw every corner had members of the city watch posted there, each carrying a deadly looking halberd and a spiked cudgel hanging from their waist. Their padded uniforms were sewn up of square patches of black and white cloth, almost like motley. His mother's Justicar had once told him a story about that, the black and white was supposed to represent balance and the motley their role as mere servants. 

They contrasted with his own soldiers, much more heavily armoured in blackened steel plate, only partly covered by their blood red cloaks. [color=f7941d][i]I might yet soak those in the blood of my own people today.[/i][/color] For though it was true the city was quiet, the tension in the air was palpable to Ozragad. Doors and shutters of shops and houses closed as he rode past. Mothers ushered their children away as soon as they caught sight of the procession. Occasionally he would see them in the throng, small groups of stony eyed Ashlanders standing in the mouth of an alley. He felt calm, but he was breathing deeper than normally, and his hand did not leave the pommel of his sword.

It was then that a cry went up from the crowd, Ozragad did not see where exactly.

[b]"LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE OZRAGAD!"[/b] 

There was pause as the words hung in the air over the half-lit streets, the only other sounds the clatter or hooves and armoured feet against the pavement. It was a pregnant moment, ready to give birth to something - either adulation or violence, Ozragad could not say which it would be. 

Then just like that it stillness was gone.

Someone else took up the chant, then another and another. A ripple of applause and cheering radiated out from the entrance to a square that they had been passing. Ozragad began to feel cautiously optimistic. He raised his hand from his sword hilt, waved a salute to the front of the crowd. It seemed foolish to have so worried now, Manawyndan had clearly overestimated the severity of the situation. These were his people and was a hero to them. They would not have forgotten that over a one Eorzian girl.

But then he heard the other chant and his smile died on his face. 

[b]"LONG LIVE THE PEACE! END THE WAR NOW! LONG LIVE QUEEN ELISE HYDAELYN"[/b] 

The counter reaction seemed almost immediate. Boos and jeers began to sound from the back of the crowd, others looked confused, scared even ,as scuffles happened between different clusters of factions Towards the rear of the column some sort of larger commotion began to break out. The King saw a watchman in front of them suddenly disappear into the crowd backwards as he had reached for his cudgel, the halberd pulled from his grasp. The nature of the chants began to change, Ozragad had heard them before, when he had marched prisoners naked and bloody up his street after a battle.

[b]"DEATH TO EORZIA! VICTORY TO MORGANYTH! DOWN WITH REGIS! DEATH TO THE HYDAELYNS![/b]

Only this time the mob had thrown other names in there as well. 

[b]"DEATH TO THE QUEEN! DOWN WITH OZRAGAD!"[/b]

A hail of small stones began to fall on them. Most of them bounced harmlessly off of the palanquin and the armoured soldiers. Some of the watchmen began to break ranks, push their way into the crowd to find the troublemakers and apprehend them. There was a sudden sting of pain above his eye. Ozragad raised his fingers to it. He was bleeding. He tried to stay calm.

[b][color=f7941d]"Tiernon! Clear the streets! Now!"[/color][/b] 

[b]"We're almost at the gates, Sire!"[/b]

He looked forwards and saw they were. A wall of city watch and palace guard behind them blocked the way for any of the crowd to try and enter the upper city. The King smiled, it was not a pleasant one. [color=f7941d][i]I won't have to worry about handling the Hydaelyn girl anymore at least.[/i][/color]

[color=f7941d][b]"Manawyndan, please see to the Princess when you arrive at the palace. I will be restoring order personally."[/b][/color]

He reached for his helm and placed it onto his head, wheeled his horse around and rode back past the palanquin, Tiernon and his personal guard at his heels. The palanquin continued forwards. From behind them the sounds of the fray grew more frantic, someone let out a blood curdling scream. The wall of spears before the gateway parted to allow them entry. Manawyndan did look back, he kept his head pointed forward and rode for the palace, listening to the screams grow distant.