The low murmur of voices in the courtyard between Kira and Zu came to an abrupt halt when the distant sound of screams split the air.
The cries of her people, sharp and agonized, sent a ripple of unease through the moment. Kira's expression shifted, her frown deepening as her sharp gaze flickered toward the source of the commotion.
Zu's voice carried a heavy edge, "It's coming from the prison... where that prince is kept."
Without hesitation, Kira's form blurred, her movements faster than the eye could follow. The world around her twisted into streaks of muted colors until she came to an abrupt stop before the stone building. The scene before her made her stomach twist.
She started, her voice firm, "What's going—" but her words caught in her throat. Her gaze fell upon the lifeless body of one of her own, his neck slashed, blood pooling beneath him like a crimson halo. Around him, her people sobbed, their cries filled with raw grief and pain.
