Cyrth, having gotten off at the main level, was greeted by Rivnear and a group of his favourite soldiers. Cyrth noticed Rivnear was looking at him with a smile on his face.

  “What happened to your face?” Rivnear asked through grunts of laughter.

  “One of the prisoners got..” Cyrth began.

  “HA! I knew you would screw this up. Come on men. Let's go fix this disgraces’ mess,” Rivnear said.

  Rivnear pushed his way past Cyrth who gave no protest. Rivnear pressed for the elevator and waited. They waited, Rivnear growing more impatient with each passing moment. Rivnear passed back and forth in front of the doors. Just as he was about to ask Cyrth what else he had done; the doors opened. Rivnear and his men stepped in. Leaving Cyrth behind.

  Ashera was left waiting for the elevator that had not come back for her. instead, it had gone to the main floor. The others had all made it to the medical bay. There just wasn’t quite enough room with Hayami and Artemis in there for Ashera. The elevator continued to descend going past her and down to the bottom floor. Ashera hoped whomever it was that came looking for them would get off and explore, giving her time to make it up to the medical bay using the stairs.

  Ashera went into the medical bay at a brisk pace, checking the whereabouts of the elevator as she walked past it. It was still on the bottom floor. The only truly incompetent leader who would go there first was Rivnear. Ashera thought he would be so thorough to make Cyrth look bad. She hoped that he would take more time than it took for them to escape. Ashera looked in the room at all those prisoners awaiting healing. She wondered where the Grace was. She didn’t have to look hard; it was in the corner standing there like a zombie.

  Ashera walked over to the Grace placed a hand on her shoulder. The Grace jumped a little.

  “I assume you know some of these prisoners,” Ashera said. “I need you to heal them. We will leave you in peace after that. You have my word.”

  The Grace looked around at all the prisoners. She slowly and cautiously nodded. She headed to the first prisoner. The Grace placed her hands over the worst of the wounds. The prisoner pulled back a little bit as a light began to shine from under her hands. The Grace removed her hands almost as quickly as she had applied them. As Ashera inspected the prisoner, she noticed the wounds were closing up all over his body. Without a word or the slightest acknowledgement, she moved onto the next prisoner.

  The longer this went on the more concerned Ashera grew. It couldn’t take Rivnear this long to realize he was wrong. Her worst fears came to be, as she looked across the way the elevator was moving up. They were on the floor where they had freed Hayami and Seslyn. They weren’t there long before they headed up to the next floor. Their window was closing.

  “Can’t you heal any faster?” Ashera asked. “We need to get out of here now.”

  “Not before she heals me,” Hayami said, through coughs filled with blood.

  Ashera nodded in agreement and said, “heal her next, she’s in worse shape.”

  Looking at Hayami, the Grace made her way over. She inspected Hayami and frowned.

  “Part is missing. Can heal but she will remain broken,” the Grace said.

  “Heal me anyway,” Hayami said, “I won’t be getting that part back.”

  The Grace looked at her and with one movement placed her hand on Hayami and healed her. Seslyn poked her head around Hayami and tugged on the Graces robes. Seslyn looked up at her and pointed to her side where she had a bloody wound. The Grace bent down and placed her hands on Seslyn’s side.

  “Right,” Ashera said, taking stock of everyone's condition, “we’re moving down to the Magic holding. We have people digging down to us. Hopefully that is where they will meet us.”

  Ashera moved everyone down the hallway and into the stairwell. As she looked back the elevator opened. Ashera quietly closed the door behind her and headed down with everyone else.

  Ashera walked into the room; she noticed how much damage Rivnear had done. Everything was overturned and destroyed. The only things left where they had been where the terminals, mostly because they were too heavy to be moved. Ashera wondered if he had done these things to look for them, or if he had done this to frame them. One thing was clear, they were going to have to deal with Rivnear sooner rather than later.

  “Right so when are your men on the outside supposed to get here?” Hayami asked.

  “Soon, they were making quick work of it last I heard,” Ashera said.

  Secretly she wondered how long they would be. After all, they were on the outside of the wall digging down.

  The elevator started to move Seslyn was the only one to notice it was descending again. She pulled at Artemis’s leg squeaking in panic. Artemis looked down at Seslyn who looked panic and was pointing to the back where the elevator was coming down.

  “Shit!” Artemis exclaimed, “we’ve got company Ashera! Everyone get up against the back wall. Ashera take one side, I’ll take the other. Whoever comes out we’ll take them down.”

  Everyone moved like lightning pressing up against the wall. Artemis and Ashera stood ready on either side of the doors. The elevator opened, and before anyone could step out Artemis rushed in. Artemis threw the occupant up against the back of the elevator. Just as he was about to strike he realized it was Sumal.

  “Good Gods Sumal. I almost killed you,” Artemis said, letting go of Sumal.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We dug down where we thought you were going to meet us. There was just a mess, everyone there was dead. All the guards, some were freshly killed still warm and some looked to have been dead for hours. What the hell is going on here?” Suaml said.

  “What do you mean everyone is dead? Where did you come into the building from?” Ashera asked.

  “I think it was the security room. We really should get out of here. There was yelling I could hear from the floor above us,” Sumal said, Gesturing to the elevator.

  Everyone started piling into the elevator. Artemis, Ashera and Hayami couldn’t fit with everyone else and had to wait for the elevator to return. After what felt like forever the elevator started to move, but instead of coming down to them it was heading up. Up and up, it went all the way to the ground floor.

  “Not good. We need to move now! As fast as we can up the stairs,” Ashera barked, running for the door.

  The three of them ran, passing floor after floor. Ashera looked out at each floor to see where the elevator was headed. As they got to the medical floor the elevator stopped, not wanting to see who was getting off Ashera closed the door. Luck seemed to be on their side, the guards or whoever it was hadn’t gotten off at the security level. They sprinted through the door onto the security level. Ashera led the way opening door after door trying to find where Sumal and the others had come in. Ashera finally came to the actual security room and flung open the door. She stopped dead in her tracks. She recognized Cyrths handy work. Quick and efficient unlike the other bodies. They had been brutalized, it looked like one had been caught off guard while the others had tried to fight back. Had Rivnear killed them all? trying to make Cyrth look worse or was he planning to get the guards riled up for something Ashera wondered.

  Ashera heard the ding of the elevator as it started to move again. It was headed down once again, she breathed a sigh of relief. Looking up at the whole behind the glass pane everyone was there. Ashera motioned for Hayami to follow everyone. Asher went over to grab the glass so they could put it back.

  “We need to fill in this hole tonight. At least the part up against the building. We can’t have the guards finding this,” Ashera ordered.

  ***

  Suntiana was preparing for the return of the group. She was hoping everything was going according to plan but couldn’t help feeling anxious. She gathered supplies, food, water and anything else she could think they might need in the cafeteria.

  Suntiana was hoping all the new recruits were settling in okay. With everything going on she hadn’t had as much time as she would have liked to check in on them. Most of them were frail from being abused or neglected by other inmates and guards. She knew some were only there because they had nowhere else to go. She didn’t care if they would fight or not, all she wanted was for people to be safe. She worried Ashera would push everyone to fight.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Suntiana was pulled back into the moment by the sound of the door barging open. A bunch of new people poured in followed by Ashera and Artemis. They didn’t stop for pleasantries as Ashera ran straight for the intercom.

  “We need to be prepared for war. Rivnear knows Artemis and I have escaped and might be coming after us. Rothar, Lyna bring your best up here. We’re accelerating the timetable. We need to make sure Cyrth isn’t the first casualty,” Ashera said.

  With that she turned to Suntiana and smiled.

  “We’re back and we’ve brought help. This is Hayami. She’s been held here for quite a while it would seem. Her presence here shows that the elves aren’t holding up the treaty with the Northern kingdom. This is Seslyn. She’s from the largest elven city in the North. Not sure why she is here but we didn’t exactly have time to sit down and talk,” Artemis said. “The rest of these ruffians are recruits who failed, prisoners from roaming tribes, mystics, Shamen and other religious figures.”

  Suntiana looked around, trying to take everything in. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. They weren’t supposed to bring back other prisoners. They were only supposed to get the magic they needed and then come back. No wonder Rivnear and the other guards knew Ashera and Artemis were gone.

  “Well,” Suntiana said, “this definitely wasn’t according to plan.”

  Suntiana shook her head and followed everyone else. Rothar, Lyna, came into the room with Bjarne and a few others following not far behind. She looked over the group. There were less people there than she wanted but it would have to do.

  “This is Bjarne, he's going to be useful. We were talking about strategies…” Rothar started.

  “That’s great,” Ashera said, not really paying attention. “They don’t know how many of us there are, they don’t know where we are, but they know Artemis is out here on the island. If Rivnear has set things up like I think he has, there is going to be a lot of trouble for the people we have stationed at the docks. We need to keep the guards contained to the city. We start tonight, everyone who is able will grab weapons. We’ll have Seises and her group…”

  “Ahem,” Bjorne interjected.

  Ashera looked at him with anger in her eyes. She did not enjoy being interrupted.

  “What?” She snapped.

  “I was just thinking if you want to go for a frontal assault why not have the object of Rivnears ire front and centre. Make Rivnear lose his head a little bit. Have Artemis yell out that he knows Rivnear killed all the guards in the tower. While they are blindly charging at him, because let's face it the guards aren’t going to believe him, have us ready to flank in and take them. Then have Tyrnal’s group handle long ranged attacks drawing their attention in yet another direction. While having the engineers, Sumal and his group, along with a small detachment of soldiers, take out the towers. At least that’s what I would have had my group of soldiers do,” Bjorne said.

  Ashera looked him up and down, “What’s your name again?”

  “Bjorne, ma’am,” Bjorne said.

  “It’s a good plan. I’ll be putting myself and Hayami in the front as well. We need to sweeten the pot a little but otherwise we will go with your plan. If it turns out you’re somehow working with the guard, and this is a trap, I’ll personally handle your execution.”

  “I was sent here for refusing to kill innocent people. I have no intent of betraying you,” Bjorne said with confidence.

  Ashera smiled, Bjorne would make an excellent addition to her plans. So long as Cyrth was still alive everything was going as she had hoped.

  Cyrth found himself being held in the guard tower. He willingly went along with the guards. He saw no reason to make them more suspicious than they already were. Rivnear had come out of the tower swinging. Ordering the surrounding guards to grab Cyrth on counts of conspiracy of treason and for murder. The guards might not have liked Rivnear but when he showed them 10 guard badges covered in blood they were quick to act. Cyrth had killed four of them. That much was true. He couldn’t help but wonder why Rivnear had killed the others. it didn’t matter. For now, he just had to focus on staying alive until he could make his move.

  Ashera handed out the assignments to everyone. Not a single member of the group was left out. Rothar and Lyna would lead the group of soldiers splitting the forces in two. That way they could attack from both sides once everything began. Lyra was put in charge of the ambush as Xix and Seises were at the dock. Sumal’s group would be taking a few people from all assignments to protect them while they destroyed the towers.

  Barin was excited for Sumal to test out some of the new explosives he had cooked up in his short time in the base. Ashera and Tyrnal had shown him the stockpile of bombs, grenades and other explosives the humans had stored in their tower. Most of them were expired, at least according to their labels, some though had potential still. He had found interesting ways, at least he thought so, of using what was left.

  Tyrnal oversaw the ranged unit. They would be raining down arrows and spells as everything kicked off. Suntiana was charged with focusing on triage for the wounded.

  Ashera, Artemis and Hayami headed to the front of the city. Everything was in place now all they needed was for Rivnear to take the bait. It didn’t take long for them to find out. As soon as the guards spotted them the gates were opened and out stepped a group of heavily armoured guards carrying weapons that Ashera and Artemis recognized from the bottom floor of the tower. This changed things, they had magic weapons. This took away one of their big advantages. Artemis looked over at Ashera, if she was concerned it didn’t show on her face. In fact, it was the opposite. She looked almost excited. Artemis recognized the look on her face, it was blood lust. He knew one way or another this was going to end tonight, and Ashera was going to see it though.

  “What’s the matter, Rivnear not willing to come out yourself? Sending your flunkies after us. Aren't you just the bravest of leaders. Will they still follow you once they know you killed all those guards in the tower?” Artemis bellowed.

  To the group's surprise it had caused a moment of confusion. The guards seemed to not know what to do. Some looked around at the heavily armoured group they were surrounding and noticed they were all guards loyal to Rivnear. The moment passed all too quickly as Rivnear came out of the gates surrounded by more heavily armoured men.

  “Don’t let the mutt mislead you,” Rivnear bellowed, “we have the traitor Cyrth in custody. He let this filth escape. We don’t take prisoners this time around. We kill them!”

  Cheers erupted from the guards as they started towards Ashera and the group. Ashera smiled and slowly started to laugh. Quiet at first growing louder and more maniacal as it went on. The guards, unfazed by her seeming loss of control continued towards them.

  “Fire,” Ashera screamed.

  The guards looked confused. Was she trying to goat them into attacking the three of them from afar? Their moment of confusion was enough for them to be caught completely unaware of the arrows and fire raining down from behind Ashera’s group.

  The unarmoured guards screamed in pain as arrows and spells came whistling around Ashera and the others homing in on their targets. Fire rained down on their heads burning their fur and flesh. The smell of blood and burnt fur quickly filled the air as the screams continued. Before they could regroup a second volley came raining down upon them. Those guards that had gotten out of this unscathed were running back to the gates.

  Rivnear was confused, he had noticed none of the weapons were missing. Yet it was clear to him that Artemis’s group was using some kind of magical weapon. Where had they gotten them, he wondered. He was supposed to have the upper hand by using the arsenal he had found yet it was barely keeping them on even footing. He was furious, but it would have to wait till later. For now, he needed more men out there.

  “They're coming from the sides,” one of the guards yelled, as he looked around.

  Rothar, leading a band of soldiers armoured in black plate and wielding guns made for holding spells and swords designed to cut through the hardest metal. They crashed into the side of the retreating guards. The guards stood no chance against them and were quickly put down. Lyna’s group seeing this hid hoping to get the drop on the other guards as they stepped away from the gate.

  Rivnear stepped back in shock. He hadn’t thought there would be so many of them. He looked as his armoured men just stood there.

  “What are you standing around for? Get them! This is why I gave you that armour and those weapons,” Rivnear said with a shaky voice.

  The armoured group looked between each other and started forward, sprinting into Rothar’s group. The guards were wielding similar weapons to them. The guards were cutting through the heavy armour that Rivnears group was wearing like it was butter. The groups clashed trading hits and bullets. Rivnear had support from Tyrnal who continued to rain down spells upon the guards. It had a limited effect though; their armour had been made by the elves during the war to resist magical damage. The group of guards started to let loose the magic stored in their weapons. Unleashing furious flames and lightning with each strike against Rothars forces. Likewise, Rothar’s forces drew their guns and unleashed tremendous waves of force knocking the guards off balance. Giving them an opportunity to follow up with melee attacks. Some glancing off of the armoured guard’s others landing with deadly precision lopping off heads and other extremities.

  Rivnear pushed more men through the gate funnelling a bigger and bigger group of guards onto the battlefield. Rivnear’s second group of armoured guards made their way into the battle. Focusing on surrounding Rothar and his men. pushing them tighter and tighter together. Lyna took this opportunity; the guards were so focused on Rothar none of them noticed Lyna’s group approaching from behind. By the time Rivnear went to yell at his men it was too late.

  The guards in the city had finally gathered themselves on the towers and were raining down bullets, and arrows on to all the forces. They were indiscriminate in their task. This only added to the chaos caused by Lyna’s group rushing in. The guards were working on slowly training the ballista's on Tyrnal’s group. Firing shots as fast as they could manage. Most going wide, but as it went on, they got closer. Tyrnal ordered the retreat of the group. They would be focusing on keeping the healers safe now. The guards thinking, they had eliminated whatever force was behind them focused on bringing the shots closer to home, aiming for Lyna’s group that was still moving in.

  Explosions shook the wall causing the guards to stumble. Some spilling hot tar on others. Screams of pain followed by expletives not fit to be repeated followed. Sumal would have to thank Barin for his handy work. These explosives went off with a bang, but then continued to burn, like thermite, through the remaining structure. Within minutes the walls were collapsing under the weight of the ballista's bringing the towers down.

  The gate creaked as its supports on either side were shaken as the towers fell. Dubree falling down on either side. Rivnear not wanting to get caught under it darted back into the city. The gate swayed back and forth for a moment, appearing as though it was going to fall. Then it stopped and remained where it was. Rivnear looked around to see if anyone had noticed him cowering. It appeared everyone was too busy with the chaos going on.

  Through the battlefield strode Artemis, Ashera and Hayami towards the gate their sights set firmly on Rivnear. If they could take him out what little leadership, there was would fall apart. Making it an easy job to mop up the rest. Some of the guards who had made it through Rothar and Lyna headed straight for them. Artemis went to intercept them. Ashera raised a hand and stopped him. Instead, she stood there the ink of her tattoo flowing off her body to form ritual circles lighting up each character as it fell into place. As the last character fell into place the circle started to glow, energy swirled around the outside. Heat emanated from the circle as a blast of energy sprayed onto the battlefield engulfing the guards. The blast burnt away their armour leaving the guards surprised. They had been told this armour was magic proof by Rivnear. They scrambled to make a new formation.

  “Circle up,” the leader yelled.

  It was too late though, the guards had dropped their weapons and dropped to the ground. Without remorse and without hesitation Ashera let out a second blast. Leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

  “By the God's Ashera they surrendered,” Artemis exclaimed.

  “What’s your point? Were you going to stay here and watch them. We don’t have the luxury of taking prisoners,” Ashera said, coldly.

  Without waiting for Artemis to respond she moved forward wading through the battlefield. Hayami pushed past Artemis and picked up two of the swords left by the guards. Artemis followed along behind, still in shock. He had killed before many times but never anyone who had surrendered. They weaved their way through the combat striking down any guards that got close enough. All the while making their way towards Rivnear.

  ***

  Rothar met three heavily armoured guards head on trying to stop them from closing in any further. He knew how strong they were. He had watched them take down many of his men and injured even more. He needed to buy time, time enough for Lyna’s group to get there. Rothar watched helplessly as more of his men were cut down.

  “Hold fast,” Rothar yelled, “help is on the way.”

  Rothar barely dodged a blow from one of the guards encircling him. He blocked and parried as much as he could, but he was being pushed to his very limits. He managed to reach out with one blow but it glanced off the guards armour. It was a mistake for Rothar to go on the offensive. The guard on his left struck back Catching his arm, it didn’t go through the plate on his arm, but it did shatter it. The problem was the fire that followed. It burned his arm. It was hot, quick and intense. He stumbled back looking down at his arm, blackened down to the bone, which was now showing through. He screamed in pain, as he was falling, he saw hope coming in as Lyna’s group came barrelling in. Then everything went black.

  Lyna’s group crashed into the back of the guards, throwing them into a moment of disarray.

  “Get out of here,” Lyna roared at the remainder of Rothar’s forces. “We’ve got this.”

  Lyna cut deep into one of the guards around Rothar’s fallen body. Severing his head from his body. She followed up with a second swing that was barely blocked by the second guard's arm. She didn’t waste the opportunity from her hip she pulled her gun. She pressed it against his stomach and let loose a massive chain of lightning. The guard shuddered as the lightning coursed through his armour and through his body. He fell dead. Lyna went to move on the third who had now recovered. He blocked her attack with his weapon and unleashed a massive fire spell of his own. The sword spewed forth a wave of fire that engulfed Lyna and the surrounding soldiers, friend and foe alike.

  Screams rang out as soldiers from both sides fell down burning. Lyna stumbled back brushing off the fire from her head. She struck back at the guard severing his outstretched arm. In the next motion she took his head.

  “Get Rothar out of here,” Lyna ordered two of the soldiers who were injured and headed for healing.