Ashton covered his smile pretending to yawn, "Well… that wasn't as entertaining as I had thought it would be."
Jaxon was gritting his teeth, clearly Monroe's shoulder was broken… while the Inago were known for their battle prowess… to have a 13-year-old mage was stronger than a trained soldier.
Charles had held his eldest son Lyon and daughter-in-law Bianca back, but now that the battle was concluded Bianca broke away dashing forward, already starting a healing spell.
Charmaine wasn't far behind though she was still walking with three maids in tow. "Help Emmett up, and two healers for Monroe." Broken bones were harder to mend than a gash.
Melia giggled as she skipped past the imperials back to the nest. Her spear was already shrinking back into a metal feather. She saw the looks of shock on her parents face and without hesitation dove forward.
As soon as Alexei saw Monroe glaring he'd been on alert, fortunately his body reacted faster than his mind when he saw the bastard throw a dagger. Unfortunately, even with Melia diving forward, and him throwing his spear trying to intercept… the dagger was enchanted with target tracking.
Jaxon was watching in absolute horror; everything was happening so fast he couldn't even order Monroe to stop. Just as the dagger was going to hit the forward rolling girl, she was surrounded by red and silver flames. Jaxon had been running forward but the sudden heat had him flinching back using his arms as shields.
The dagger melted as a spiral of fire surrounded Melia. Ashton barely glanced over the clearing as the fires faded out. Melia was crouched, having prepared herself to retaliate, but Ashton was now standing over Monroe, his head tilted.
"I see my kindness is unappreciated, may pain be a better teacher." Ashton didn't bother to hide his displeasure. Lifting Monroe by his throat, Ashton stared into his eyes.
"Ashton! He didn't mean it! I'm sorry!" Jaxon screamed as he started running forward. Suddenly Monroe's left hand burst into silver flames.
Ashton dropped Monroe, "Cut it off yourself or burn." As he turned away Jaxon was already wielding his own sword.
Jaxon ran right past Ashton to Monroe who was writhing on the ground with stifled screams, "I'm sorry!" he yelled then tried to cut the arm off at the elbow since the flames were already past the wrist. Not only did his sword bounce off, but the silver flames also leapt from Monroe's hand to the blade.
Jaxon dropped the blade that was already melting where it made contact with Monroe's arm. Jaxon turned, "His right shoulder is broken! He can't do it!" Jaxon screamed pleadingly.
"Then heal it." Ashton remarked coldly as he stopped in front of Melia raising a brow.
"Ash… I'm not hurt." Melia whispered as she stood up, head bowed sheepishly.
Ashton narrowed his eyes, "Little Spark. My blessing will keep you from death, not from pain."
Melia flinched, "I'm sorry." Teers were threatening to spill, but she didn't want to cry.
Ashton sighed as he picked her up. He knew his expression was harsh, but she wasn't utilizing her resources efficiently.
Melia was dangling with her toes just shy of touching the ground, his hands holding her by her armpits. "I'-I'm sorry Ash," was all she could say.
Ashton took a deep breath, "Melia, overconfidence is no different from arrogance. Unlike My Ember, you were born surrounded by my blessings. You have been protected too well and not learned the hard truths of the world."
Melia bit her lip, but she could stop the first teer from sliding down. Then they just continued to fall.
"My Ember, it is not only the Empire that has grown arrogant." Ashton stated setting Melia down, she immediately knelt on one need bowing her head.
Neolani's heart clenched as she also knelt, "I have coddled them, that will change." She promised bowing her head.
Ashton held his head as he paced, while he could scold them… words were cheap; but an example had to be made, he stopped to look at the imperials. Half a dozen mages and two priests were trying to heal Monroe's right shoulder and put out his flames.
Sebastian was sweating, Monroe's arm to the elbow had already burnt away, but the boy couldn't hold still long enough for anyone to heal him. If he kept moving they might heal his shoulder crooked. "Just hold him down! We can fix the shoulder again after! Just heal him enough to move the arm!" Sebastian finally roared over the screaming frantic pleas.
Jaxon and Leonard had been holding Monroe down, but they hadn't been touching the burning arm, anything that touched started to burn. He gritted his teeth as he continued to force his brother's shoulders down. "DO IT!" He roared at the skittish mages.
Katherine shoved the mages aside, forced her hands over the crushed bones and thrust her mana through him. A month ago the shifting and crunching beneath her hands would have made her stomach lurch, but she didn't have time to be squeamish now.
"AARRGHHHHH! GHHAAA!"
Leonard was kicked in the face as one of Monroe's legs freed itself from his grasp, "Ugh!" but he threw himself down to clutch both needs to his chest, Monroe's screams chilled him to the bone.
Just as Monroe's shoulder had been healed Jaxon thrust a blade into his right palm trying to force his body to move but before he could lift the badly healed arm all of them were flung away. Jaxon scrambled up to see Ashton walking back over, his eyes were silver and his hair was bristling as almost transparent flames danced over his shoulders.
"I suggest you kneel." Ashton stated staring the group down, he saw in his periphery that all the Inago had dropped to their knees. Ashton almost, almost smiled when most of the Gippsi's practically threw themselves on the ground in their rush to kneel.
Sebastian paled, after only the barest hesitation, pushed himself up to a kneel and bowed his head, the rest of his family also knelt. He noticed Maquis Cologne and concubine do the same. Soon about half the imperials had knelt.
Zane glanced around, then also knelt, better safe than sorry. Soon all the visiting delegations had knelt, Zane's stomach clenched when several of the imperials deliberately stood to challenge the smaller beast.
Ashton's nose crinkled in a sneer, then a ring of flame burst out hitting any who were still standing. Every single one of them had been thrown back several feet, now writhing on the floor reminiscent of Monroe as screams filled the air.
You're testing my patience, my great restraint, now here's just a taste, of my anger though faint.
Your honor aside, pride down on the floor. I know better than you, alls fair in love, but especially war.
So dare you now walk, this path that I lay, salvation in reach, or my fires to reign
While the voice was soft and pleasant, each word made those hadn't knelt feel as if their hearts were burning. Ashton squatted down beside Monroe.
Now this time you'll learn, I'll make sure you see, to trample my pride, takes more than just greed.
You're petty, you're weak, contemptibly naive. Your existence itself, was needlessly conceived.
Monroe was gasping between sobs of agony, his throat burned from his screaming, but nothing was worse than his left arm still burning. He stared up at Ashton wanting to vomit or pass out.
Since standing together is what they all wish, the longer you waste, the deeper the abyss
Monroe tried to lift his right arm, but the excruciating pain from even the smallest movement had him dropping the blade Jaxon had thrust into hand earlier.
Care for me to control that arm?
The moment the voice sounded in his head everything seemed to have stopped, the pain, fear, nausea, time… everything.
Quickly boy, before I change my mind.
The voice was almost teasing… Yes! Just as he comprehended the thought his body jerked and all the pain came flooding back.
Without warning, Monroe's right arm jerked, then slashed viciously at his left shoulder socket. What little remained of the left arm was cleanly cut through, including bone. Ashton stood up looking past the hunting palace east with a frown as he tilted his head.
Jaxon dragged in a ragged breath as the burning sensation suddenly stopped, almost as if he'd been doused in healing water. He lay there just trying to regain his bearings, then relaxed his body started to uncurl.
Ashton barely glanced over the imperials; many had lost control of their bowls as they writhed around. Even the smell of burning flesh couldn't hide the collective stench.
Lucian was gasping while clutching his chest, he'd fallen to one knee but hadn't gone completely down. He stared up at Ashton, he'd seen the awkward movements… someone… or something had controlled Monroe. He'd felt something… for two brief moments there had been a dulling of sensation then…
"Hmm, fine then." Ashton murmured then glanced back down at Monroe, "Usually, people prefer the beast they know." Ashton then started walking back to his nest, "What a mood killer."
Neolani didn't rise until Ashton had passed her, then she followed behind. Her heart was still racing as the rest slowly rose back up with clear hesitation, "Ash?"
"Nothing, it might be good to take the children on a walk; at least long enough for the smell to disperse." Ashton added nonchalantly as he leapt into his nest.
"And… Monroe?" Neolani asked with a quick glance back as the imperials were starting to pull themselves together.
Ashton sat with his forearm on his bent knee, "If he wants to give pieces away, no matter. I'll still be taking what's mine."
Alexei let Melia stand beside him but didn't let her hide. That could have ended very differently, clearly that dagger had been enchanted to seek out a target's chest, most likely the heart.
"Take Yara while I nap, she will be my eyes." Ashton sighed as he lay down, two lions remained while the rest left to change for the unexpected outing. Ashton closed his eyes sighing… chaos indeed.