"10..." The countdown began as the Iron Company leader positioned his crossbow perfectly.

Alfred looked across at the Inquisition guard next to him and clicked his tongue again as he turned to the old bishop. "Byles. Can you have your man move, please? He seems to think my words mean nothing."

"9...." Byles looked across at the guard and sighed wondering what Blackwood had planned.

"Just move over a little. Do what the Blessed One wants." Byles said sharply but seeing his words ignored he looked over at Blackwood suspiciously.

"8...." The guard stood unmoving as he looked down at Alfred with blank eyes. Alfred frowned and turned to Chris seeing that.

"Move him would you." Chris gave a single nod and quickly moved, placing his hand on the man’s chest.

"7..." The Inquisition guard grabbed the hand on his chest and threw it off surprising everyone, making them wonder why he was fighting it so much. Looking at Byles, Alfred could see that even he was shocked by such blatant disrespect.

"6..." Getting up, Byles’s cane slammed on the ground as he looked at the guard with contempt.

"Do you truly think it’s wise to go against the orders of both me and the Blessed One, boy?" Byle’s voice was sharp, feeling embarrassed by the whole ordeal. Alfred scoffed and waved him to sit down, whilst Chris continued to push him away.

"5..."

"Sol is our protecting light, our protecting shield. He wishes for nothing more the to guide and nurture us. To hold us in his embrace and shield us from all harm." Blackwood carried on his speech as he looked out at the crowd glancing at the Iron company leader’s position.

"4..." The leader watched everything going on the stage with a steady hand as his breathing got slower.

"Chris just move him. This is just disrespectful at this point. Byles." Alfred called out to the Old Bishop who also scoffed at everything going on.

He had been willing to let the church place a man on him as a sign of respect as well as his reinforcing his position as a Blessed One. Despite his plans for the Church, small concessions could be given, and even used. Even though he thought like that the blatant disregard for his authority was something he couldn’t tolerate. It showed weakness, especially in front of such a large crowd. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"3..."

"You really need to control your men better. This is just embarrassing." Byles shook his head in shame as Chris put more pressure on pushing the Inquisition guard, the man throwing his hand off once more.

"2..." The crowd saw the commotion going on behind Blackwood and watched confused wondering why the people behind seemed close to breaking out into a fight. It was a strange sight compared to the ideals about Sol being preached to them.

"Move. No more chances." Chris said coldly getting no reply as he looked him in the eyes. Chris clicked his tongue. Using both his hands he pushed heavily, placing his foot behind the guard subtly causing him to stumble back.

"1..." The company leader squeezed gently on the trigger as he watched everything unfold in slow motion. Blackwood raised his hands into the sky as if praising Sol, whilst the Inquisition guard stumbled back. Alfred’s annoyed face looked at the whole ordeal with disdain whilst Byles looked down in shame.

The arrow shot forward before the company leader could react to the guard stumbling. He froze seeing everything go down as the wind ripped around the arrowhead. The guard, stumbled far, nearly falling on Byles’s cane as he looked forward at Chris.

"You should have just followed or..." The wind escaped Chris’s mouth as he felt a warm sensation run down his chest. Reaching up he grabbed the arrow, a multitude of emotions running through his mind.

Shock, disbelief, dread. Stumbling back he fell onto the armrest of Alfred’s chair as everyone quickly realized what happened. William was the first to act springing up, whilst Alfred held Chris looking at the arrow in his chest. It pierced right through his plate armor, digging deep

"ASSASSIN!" William screamed out, taking a whistle from his pocket. Blowing hard, the nearby bell tower began to ring as the soldiers surrounding the crowd raised their weapons and forced no one to leave. The Unyielding guards at the bottom of the stage lifted their weapons up looking at everyone like a threat whilst any remaining guards quickly covered those on the stage.

Alfred looked down at Chris’s face. "No, no, no, no, no, no." He spoke in desperation, gently patting the man on the cheek as his face contorted in pain looking up at his liege. Blackwood looked behind him and saw the sight, his face falling as he saw something he didn’t want. The inquisition guard looked back and forth between the two, unable to even muster a shrug.

Byles looked between the gaps in his guards who desperately covered his body trying to force him inside, and saw Blackwood. His breathing got heavier as he couldn’t believe everything that happened. ’What have you done Blackwood?’ Being forced inside he saw everything from safety, an immense horror and dread overcoming him.

"Chris. Oi, Chris." Alfred nearly screamed out as he tapped the man, who looked up with a small smirk before wincing in pain.

"Forgive me.." He couldn’t finish the words as his entire body tensed in pain again.

"Your Majesty. You must get to safety." A guard came up behind Alfred and grabbed his shoulder.

"Get off me." Alfred pushed the guard away as he looked at Chris again. "You can’t die, Chris. I told you, only when I gave the order." Alfred said desperately getting a pained chuckle from his guard. His eyes were bloodshot from holding back the overwhelming emotions he felt seeing his oldest friend in his arms.

Shaking his head Chris looked up with defiant eyes, showing he had no plan on doing so yet making Alfred bitterly smile. "William. Get Chris inside. Treat him, now." Alfred gave the order, the old general unable to refuse. Looking around Alfred’s eyes fell on Blackwood who looked at them, strangely.

It wasn’t like Byles who had no idea what happened. Blackwood’s face told that something had gone wrong instead. As if he couldn’t believe the outcome before him. Alfred felt his breathing get heavier as Chris’s weight finally came off him. His body shook in rage not believing what Blackwood’s appearance told him.

’I lose one piece of power and this happens.’ He wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the whole thing. His teeth clenched looking at Blackwood as he pushed himself up with dark eyes. The guards, quickly flanked his side seeing that Alfred had no plans to go to safety yet.

Alfred looked at the panicking crowd who threatened to trample over one another to try and escape everything. Pushing Blackwood out of the way he rested his hands on the podium and looked out.

"STOP!" His scream came out like an eruption, freezing the crowd who looked up at the Emporer. His clothes were stained red. His appearance was terrifying causing people to take a step back as an inferno of anger seemed to blaze around him.

Alfred gripped the podium and controlled his breathing. ’Chris will be fine. Do not panic. He can’t die yet. He won’t die yet.’ He told himself in his mind and closed his eyes taking finally deep breath.

"Our enemies will pay," Alfred said coldly, an overwhelming murderous intent seeping out of his body. "They have shown their fangs, and it may cost my dear friend’s life. I swear to you all today, I will not stop until my empire your home is safe." Alfred looked down at the people who stared back at him.

Turning around he walked back in saying nothing more, his guards following. The crowd remained silent and once inside he ran down the corridor to where Chris had been taken. he saw as the doctors carefully took his armor off, the arrow lodged deep into his chest. Alfred froze seeing it.

Desmond took to his side and gulped. "I have my best doctors working on him Your Majesty. Including those from the guild." He quietly spoke, not daring to make any promises right now. Alfred just gave a single almost robotic nod as he stared at his guard who had long fallen unconscious.

Turning he saw the old Bishop still looking horrified at the whole ordeal. The veins on Alfred’s body popped as he walked over and grabbed him by the neck, the two sets of guards pointing their weapons at one another.

"Was this your plan, Bishop? My life." He squeezed tighter as Byles desperately tried to free himself from Alfred’s viper grip. "You dare. In my own home. Leave my son without a father, leave my wife a widow." Alfred’s hand clenched even tighter as he looked the man in the eyes.

"Alfred." William gently grabbed his shoulder speaking in a soft voice. Alfred’s hand loosened around Byles’s throat. "Not now." William knew he was the only one present who could speak like this to Alfred and make it the only way to calm him. Alfred finally let go.

"Get out." Byles gave a small nod, touching his neck. "William," Alfred spoke softly as he took a seat and looked at the doctors working on Chris. "It’s slipping. Raven dies and it begins to slip." He slowly fell into his hands.

William gently tapped his shoulder as Alfred looked through his fingers at Chris. Despite that, he could give nothing to say. "I can’t lose another of my friends William. Not so soon."

"He’s a fighter. And besides he takes his duty to you too seriously. He couldn’t leave you alone." He tried to make a joke getting a small chuckle from Alfred.

"William," Alfred spoke softly looking at the operation once more. "If I find out they were behind it."

"Your Majesty," William said sharply not letting Alfred finish his words in front of outsiders. Alfred nodded, but his eyes flashed with a chill.