From the second his hand came into contact with Nagisa’s, Taoru knew something was very wrong. Pain like he had never felt before shot up his arm, catching him completely off guard. He gasped, trying to steel himself against it, but powerful magic was invading his mind, beating against his defenses like a battering ram.
Taoru was dimly aware of his other hand moving, of his fingers grabbing onto the fabric of his sleeve and dragging it upward. Something ferociously hot was boring itself into his forearm, and the sight of his skin blistering and burning repulsed him. Despite his revulsion, he couldn’t pull himself away.
What… is this…?
Another voice that did not belong to him, but to Nagisa, answered, “This is power. Power I will use to subjugate you and any other Zosara I come across. You will serve me, whether you desire to or not!”
With her words came a flash of insight she shared either unintentionally or because she didn’t think he could do anything about it; when she was finished with him, Nagisa’s next victim would be Lian.
Despite the agony now pulsing through his entire body, Taoru glared up at the warlord and bared his teeth. He couldn’t speak or pull away, but that did not mean he would give himself over willingly. There was no doubt in his mind that if Nagisa branded him, Taoru would lose all compunction. Her words would bind him, prevent him from acting freely. Should she command it, though it went against every part of his being, he would forcibly hold his own daughter down while she too was enslaved.
He heard her laugh inside his head as he imagined the scene unfolding in his mind’s eye. “Yes, that’s right…” Nagisa purred, “I could order you to watch and then allow Captain Juzo to defile her, and there’s nothing you could do to stop it!”
“No!” The word was ripped from Taoru as a feral howl that echoed in the chamber.
Nagisa’s eyes widened in shock a split second before the tables turned. The Zosara tightened his grip on her hand, summoning fire so hot it immediately scorched her exposed skin. The flames grew in intensity, even as she writhed and fought to escape him, until her whole lower arm was engulfed.
A warm gust of wind slammed into Taoru and threw him free of the warlord. He adjusted his tumble, rolling with the momentum and then twisting back to his feet so he was facing his attacker. He expected to see Aojiko there and was surprised it was actually Kiatsu.
The young woman was standing protectively by her mother, a slight frown the only expression she displayed. She had been so quiet and unassuming this entire time he had not noticed the very faint ebb of magic within her until now.
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Taoru only had a moment to process this realization before Nagisa stood up and shoved Kiatsu behind her, more out of anger than to protect her, it seemed. “Fine! If you won’t submit, then you leave me no choice! Captain, the girl!”
Captain Juzo had been staring with his mouth wide open at the unexpected turn of events. At the warlord’s command, however, he snapped into action. He started toward Lian with the hilt of his sword raised, intending to render her unconscious with a single blow. Once again, he did not consider Guankaran.
The carpenter stepped between them and raised the shackles up to catch the blow. This gave Lian enough time to turn and deliver a solid, fire-fueled jump kick square to Juzo’s exposed chest. The blow connected with such force it sent him flying backward. He released a very unbecoming shriek as his feet left the stone floor.
“Oh, I uh,” Guankaran pursed his lips thoughtfully, “I believe that man has the key…” He held up his hands to indicate the iron manacles.
Lian smiled at him, reached over, and heated the metal with her fingers. She was careful not to touch his already irritated skin. In a matter of seconds, the cheap locking mechanism had turned to slag, allowing her to remove the man’s bonds without effort.
Guankaran blinked. “Yeah, that works, too.”
Meanwhile, Taoru was in motion as well, only his path was blocked by the air Zosara they had met up on the peak. There was a strange look on her face as she squared off with him, almost as though she didn’t want to be fighting him.
“Stand aside,” Taoru growled. “I’m taking my daughter and leaving. There’s no need to—”
“She doesn’t answer to you, Hiryuten!” This from Nagisa, who had collapsed onto her throne and was holding her burned arm close to her chest without actually touching it to herself. “Aojiko, I want him alive. Handle it!”
Aojiko let out a weary sigh and attacked. The blast of wind buffeted Taoru, who used jets of fire to resist the gale-force trying to knock him off his feet. His one and only objective was to reach Lian so they could escape. Once he was stabilized, he hurled a bolt of flame, trying to reposition his opponent so he could circle around her. She neatly dodged his strike and then conjured a second gust.
About that time, Lian had finished freeing herself of her own manacles and saw her father was being held up. She looked down at the iron shackles in her hand, then back up at Aojiko, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. Taoru saw her pull her arm back and chose that moment to hurl more balls of fire, driving the air Zosara backward a couple of steps.
She was focused on Taoru and didn’t see or hear Lian’s attack from behind until it was too late. Aojiko turned just as the cuffs struck, taking the blow directly to the face. She toppled to the floor in a heap of robes, blood gushing down her face and splattering onto her chest.
Seizing the opportunity, Taoru rushed past her and rejoined his daughter. They didn’t have time to do more than exchange a meaningful look as Juzo had recovered and was shouting for his men to attack. Nagisa was likewise bellowing, only she was venting her fury at Aojiko for being felled by a ‘stupid little girl’.
“We’ve overstayed our welcome,” Guankaran remarked.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Taoru grunted in response.
As the guards rushed toward them, the three Zosara joined forces and began to fight their way to freedom inch by inch.