Magdala picked up a charred tooth and held it up.

Saundra peered at it. "That's pig." She marked a tally in Magdala's notebook.

Sighing, Magdala stood up and stretched. "How many is that?"

Saundra counted the tallies. "Between the teeth, the fingers, and the hip bones... there's forty people unaccounted for."

"And these are just Warren's pits. If we consider how many there are in Walton, there could be many more of those things marching through the streets." She gulped. "Whoever's doing this, they've been here for weeks, maybe even months."

"But the attack was just a couple of weeks ago!" said Saundra.

Magdala's hand came to her mouth. "When did you hear that my lord uncle was coming back?"

The corporal tilted her head in thought. "I'm not sure when word came in, but we got orders to prepare maybe two weeks ago?"

Magdala's eyes hardened. "Then the enemy has been here this whole time, getting ready for him to return."

Saundra looked down at the tallies. "That's so... There was no guarantee that he'd evr come back. Ole Harvey was shocked when he did."

"But as soon as the enemy knew he would, they attacked the gate and got those creatures over the Southern Line." Magdala frowned. "I don't understand how though."

Grimacing, Saundra stood up and brushed ash off her pants. "Maybe the little one got through our checks, but there's no way the wraith did. Maybe it just climbed over the wall?"

"That's impossi- What's that?"

A red flare rose above the garrison, trailing sparks behind it.

"Pretty," said Saundra.

The flare burst, coloring the town crimson.

Magdala raised an eyebrow. "A firework? That's rare..." She met Saundra's eyes. "Huan mentioned finding fireworks."

"What for?" asked Saundra. "That high up, it's not going to do any damage to the garrison. I mean, it's above the wall."

Magdala glanced at the already fading firework and then squinted. Something dark and round was flying high over the Southern Line. "What's that?"

As the thing dropped into Walton, another black dot appeared. And then another. And another.

Magdala's stomach clenched. She'd read about this in history class. "We're under attack."

"What?"

Magdala began to run towards the garrison. "They're catapulting those things from the Vanurian side."

Catching up to Magdala easily, Saundra asked, "Are you sure? The bells should be-"

A chorus of bells cut her off, and without another word, the two of them picked up speed, passing a confused Warren on their way out of the cemetery and into the town.

Saundra pointed. "One's dropping nearby."

They ran another two blocks, pushing through a scared crowd fleeing the danger, but when they reached the object's landing point, they skidded to a halt. Walton's guards were already fighting the fiends, five against three.

Saundra drew her sword and advanced, but Magdala grabbed her shoulder. "No, this doesn't make sense. With the Southern Line unbreached, this attack is a waste of resources."

Saundra freed herself. "What are you talking about? We have to help!"

"If this is the same enemy that booby trapped her shop and has spent weeks, maybe even months, building up a store of those fiends, why is she tossing them over from Vanuria?"

Saundra shook her head. "Why is not important. We need to help those people now." She dashed to the fight and decapitated one of the fiends with a quick slash.

Magdala stepped forward, her hands already reaching for modified versions of the firebomb she'd used at the shop, but she stopped. If this attack wasn't pointless, if the enemy wasn't just desperate, what were they really after? "My lord uncle." If she was right, this was a diversion, an attempt to draw out the Southern Line Garrison and empty its defenses. Magdala didn't know where her lord uncle was, but he definitely wasn't in Walcrest and keeping him in town would make him that much harder to defend. That left the garrison.

She looked up and ducked as another ball smashed through the roof of a house, scattering its occupants. Already, Saundra was leading a rescue, commanding the town guard to cover her while she engaged the new wave of fiends. Magdala could save those people, but if the enemy got to her lord uncle, then all of Soura was at risk.

Saundra turned to her. "Come on!"

Magdala shook her head. "I'm going to the garrison!" She ignored Saundra's reply and ran.

***

Die! Tiger roared and tried to throw off Zeya, but the wraith pulled back Huan's arm and twisted.

Gritting his teeth, Huan wrested control back from the beast and managed a reply to Liraya's question. "I don't know."

Liraya's grin disappeared. "Wrong answer. Zeya, haaler."

Zeya pulled Huan's arms so hard, his shoulders felt like they would tear off, but he bit back his screams. If any of the Sourans heard this exchange, he'd lose his chance to get his passport back.

"Zeya, tedemer."

The pain stopped. After waiting a moment for Huan to recover, Liraya asked again, "Where is Lord Kalan?"

Huffing from the pain, Huan twisted his neck to look Liraya right in the eyes. "Fuck you."

Liraya sighed and signaled Zeya, who resumed. While Huan stifled his screams, Liraya spoke to Melany, who had taken up position at the entrance to the alley. "Koumuh ce be?"

"Ya mehyuhlia te yos legonaros in ya portos," answered Melany.

"Kien ce hella eto, decera ya yomorodo quez." Liraya signaled Zeya to stop pulling Huan's arms off. "Okay, I'm going to allow you a bit of leverage. After you found my safe house, some bitch trashed one of my Cazza stores. Though that puts me on my back foot, I will complete my mission. So your options are to comply or to keep quiet. One means freedom, the other death. Guess which one."

Huan's shoulders were on fire, and he was pretty sure his wounds from last night had reopened. It would be so easy to just comply. "I'm going to need something. Something... you took from me."

Liraya raised an eyebrow and pulled Huan's passport out of her pocket. "Are you talking about this?"

Huan smiled. "Yes, that. For that, I'll consider telling you where Lord Kalan is."

Liraya stood up, walked over to Huan, and then knelt down to peer into his eyes. "So, you're admitting you know where he is."

Huan grinned. "You don't know that. I could be bluffing."

"Hmm... I doubt that." Liraya stood up and dropped the passport next to Huan's face. "Have it."

Huan stared at the sheet of metal. "I... I didn't..."

Liraya sat back down on the crate. "I don't need it, and it's useless to me anyway."

She doesn't care. Then I can up the price.

Liraya raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to tell me where Lord Kalan is? If not, then-"

"I want one more thing." Huan looked up at Liraya. "I want a passport just like this one, but for Vanuria."

Liraya's jaw dropped.

***

Winded from running across most of Walton to reach the garrison, Magdala grabbed a garrison captain and asked, "Where's Colonel Harvey?"

The captain pulled his arms out of Magdala's grip with a scowl. "She's in her office. Who are you?"

But Magdala was already dashing away, and soon, she was opening the door to Colonel Harvey's office. "Colonel, you have to-"

Two pikes cut her words off, and, beyond them, two aides, barely older than Magdala, scowled at her.

Colonel Harvey looked up from a map of Walton that had been laid across her table. "Lady Gallus. Are you here to report the enemies raining down upon us? If so, I'm well aware."

Magdala looked at the map, which was covered in red and green markers. Considering their positions, she guessed that the red markers were Souran troops and that the green were fiends. There was little red in the garrison. "You're sending out all of your squads."

Harvey gestured to the two guards, who lowered their pikes and allowed Magdala to enter. "We're protecting Walton. We're getting to the landing points as-"

"Call them back! This is all a diversion to get you to empty the garrison."

One aide scoffed. "To what end? It would take a mage of Lord Kalan's caliber to crack the Gate and take advantage of this attack."

Magdala kept her eyes on the colonel. "The enemy wants to kill my lord uncle. He's somewhere in the garrison right? Even with all their preparations, there's no way-"

"What preparations?" Colonel Harvey's eyes narrowed.

"The enemy has been here for weeks, stealing corpses and turning them into fiends."

"What are fiends?" asked the aide.

Magdala thrust her hand towards Walton. "Those monsters that are attacking the town right now! If you deploy the entire garrison, you'll leave my lord uncle exposed."

Colonel Harvey's jaw clenched. "If we do nothing, people will die."

"But-"

"Lady Gallus, you are not an actual member of Her Majesty's Army." The colonel let her shoulders drop. "Your attempt to find the enemy is much appreciated, and what you're reporting is disturbing, but the fact is that Walton is under attack, and innocents are getting hurt. Do you have anything, magical or otherwise, that will get us out of this situation?"

Magdala balled her fists. "I'm right. That last attack was a feint, and this one is too."

The aide crossed her arms. "We don't have time for this, ma'am."

"No, we don't." Colonel Harvey nodded to the guards. "Escort her out."

With that, Magdala was deposited outside of Colonel Harvey's office. As the door shut behind her, a blue firework went up into the air.

"Oh no." Magdala turned to the infirmary and ran. She needed more weapons.

***

Back in Walton, Mei dodged under grasping hands, tripped up their owner, and beheaded it with her axe. Ignoring the cheers around her, Mei pressed forward, determined to get to her brother, but another fiend lurched at her.

"Mei!"

After punching the fiend in the mouth, Mei turned around as Saundra joined her, flicking bright red ichor off her sword. "Have you seen Lady Gallus?"

Mei looked away. "No."

Snarling and wailing, four fiends charged around a corner, and the two girls went into action, Saundra taking point, Mei drawing her rifle. To give Mei time to load, Saundra closed with the lead creature and kicked it into its fellows, knocking all four of them back. After the corporal stepped aside, Mei's shot took out the most able bodied one, and then together, axe and sword drawn, they took the fiends apart. When they were done, they continued onward.

Saundra kept pace with Mei. "Where are you going?"

Mei's grip tightened on her axe. "To find my brother."

It took them ten minutes to reach the fortress's entrance, where one soldier was yelling orders at several assembled squads. "Squads Marlon and Pohl, assist Graham squad in the east sector! Squad Yimmer, head to the northern sector and relieve Squad Euler."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

As the squads rushed out into the night's chaos, the yeller caught sight of Saundra and gave her a grateful nod. "Corporal, glad to see you. Find a few spare soldiers and fill a squad."

Saundra saluted but shook her head. "Sorry, Sergeant, I have my orders. Have you seen Lady Gallus?"

The sergeant frowned. "She ran through here a while ago." He glanced up. "By the cups, another one!"

A rocket screamed up into the sky and burst, lighting up the night sky periwinkle blue.

The sergeant's face was thunder. "We can't find whoever's launching them. Ole Harvey's probably going spare."

Mei shook her head and moved to push past the sergeant, but Saundra grabbed her shoulder. "Sarge, do you know where a soldier named Huan is? He's Tuquese like Mei here, and he should be in the infirmary."

The sergeant shrugged.

Mei pushed Saundra's hand off her shoulder. "I know where he is." She pushed past the sergeant.

"Oi, no civilians."

Saundra saluted, and said, "She's with me. You can confirm with Sir Marcus," and they were out of sight before the sergeant could respond.

They sprinted past the central building, through the work yard, and to the quiet corner of the fortress, and when Mei reached the room where her brother and Lord Kalan should be, she opened the door and ran inside. "Huan, we have to..." He wasn't there.

Saundra ran in and halted, her eyes wide. "What's Lord Kalan doing here?"

Still in bed, Lord Kalan shrugged. "I have no idea. Marcus said it was for my protection."

"Where's Huan?" Mei asked him.

"He said he was stepping out to go to the bathroom." The noble mage frowned. "I would have expected him to have returned by now. It has been some time."

"That idiot's probably run away," said Saundra.

Mei scowled. Huan was probably going after the enemy mage again. Hoping to catch up to him, she turned back to the courtyard, but the whole fortress rocked, and a plume of dust that reached a dozen wirs into the air burst up over the fortress's southern quarter.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Saundra got to her feet first. "Cups, what was that?"

Feeling her stomach drop, Mei unshouldered her rifle, reloaded it, and ran towards the plume with Saundra close on her heels. When they reached the west side of the staircase that led up to Walcrest, they joined the soldiers surrounding the plume of dust.

Saundra drew her sword. "More of those things?"

Something rose up in the dust and smoke, its form barely visible.

Taking aim at the hulking figure, Mei said. "No. Too big."

The thing faced them, roared, and charged.

***

Huan adjusted under Zeya's elbow for comfort. "Just promise me total freedom in Vanuria, and I'll tell you where Lord Kalan is."

Liraya's hand came to her forehead. "I do not understand. There's no way I can guarantee-"

The ground quaked beneath them, drawing away everyone's attention. Everyone that is, except Tiger who, taking advantage of Zeya's slackened grip, roared to the surface and threw the wraith off. As she rolled away, Zeya threw three knives, but Tiger dodged two and caught one, throwing it as hard as he could away from them. He smirked when only two of the knives reappeared into Zeya's hands. Then he advanced on Liraya.

Emperor's tits, I didn't put the mask on! After tearing control back from Tiger, he covered his alarm with a cough and snatched up his passport. He glanced at Liraya. "I could walk away." He took one step back towards the entrance to the alley.

Liraya got to her feet. "You could." She undid the straps of her breastplate and let it drop to the ground. "But you want something from me. I can offer you money if you want, maybe even some land but-"

"I want to be able to go wherever I want in Vanuria without some chaperone or some lord telling me what to do. If you can't guarantee that..." Huan took another step back.

Liraya raised an eyebrow. "There's no such thing. In Vanuria or anywhere else."

Huan shrugged. "Fine." He took another step back. "I'll just leave. Good luck finding Lord Kalan without me. They've got him stashed somewhere real safe."

Liraya threw her hands up. "Fine, fine, I may be able to get you a title. It won't give you all that you want, but you'll have rights and privileges."

Huan took three steps forward, a smile on his face. "I'm listening."

***

"By the cups, what is that?"

"Arrows don't hurt it!"

"Back up! Back up! Back up!"

Her hands full of new concussives and firebombs, Magdala ran out of the infirmary and through a group of soldiers hastily retreating from a plume of dust. After rounding the corner, she skidded to a stop. A giant, twice and a half as tall as Magdala with grey skin and bulging muscles, was rifling through the remains of a building, tossing aside massive stone blocks like they were pebbles. Shaking herself, Magdala placed all but one each of the concussives and firebombs on the ground, took aim, and threw a firebomb at the giant's back, which erupted in flame. Behind her, soldiers cheered. Magdala smiled. Then the giant flipped onto its back and rolled around in the dirt, extinguishing the flame. The cheering stopped, and not breathing, Magdala watched the giant get back to its feet and search for the one who had set it on fire. Its eyes focused on a hapless soldier, who fired a crossbow bolt that went wide. The giant advanced on the poor soldier, raising its gigantic fist. It was going to crush her, all because of something Magdala had done, because she'd failed.

At least, she could draw it away. Magdala threw a concussive into the giant's face, the blast knocking it back. "Get away from it!"

As one, the soldiers retreated, a kindly soul rescuing the unlucky soldier. Magdala picked up three concussives. If the giant was blind now, they had a chance, right? But the torn flesh around the creature's eyes and nose rippled and reformed back into a coherent face, and, as soon as its sight returned, the giant focused on Magdala and jumped. Magdala ducked behind the corner before the giant came crashing down on the rest of her handiwork, setting off a explosion of flame and force that shook the air. Magdala peeked behind the corner, but the giant's wounds were already disappearing. Falling to the ground, she backed away from the giant. This was the end. There was nothing she could do.

A shot rang out.

The giant fell to its knees, its forehead gushing with red ichor.

"Milady!"

"Maggie!"

With Mei on her heels, Saundra ran up to Magdala and looked her over. "Are you all right, milady?"

Her eyes itching from tears, Magdala nodded. "I'm fine."

After reloading her rifle, Mei aimed at the giant, who was already getting to its feet, its wounds disappearing under knitting flesh. She scowled. "It can heal."

"I know." Magdala wiped away her tears. "You two should-"

"No," said Mei and Saundra.

"We protect each other," said Mei. "Like we did in Yumma."

"What she said," said Saundra. "I think."

Magdala's tears returned. "I just want to keep you safe."

"Milady, I-"

Mei cut off Saundra with a raised fist. "Maggie, we want to keep you safe too."

Saundra nodded.

Magdala started to protest, but a thought came to mind. With Saundra's sword, Mei's rifle, and her plans, wouldn't it be easier to keep them both safe? She blushed. It was so obvious. "Okay. I'm sorry for being stupid and trying to do this all alone. Help me take that thing down?"

Saundra grinned. "Yes, milady. Mei?"

The hunter fired, but the giant ducked and smashed its way into a building.

Saundra's eyes widened. "Oh no. That's where-"

"Qeuiut!"

Detritus slammed into the giant, knocking it out of the building and back into the yard, and while the giant lay prone, Magdala's uncle, Lord Bartholomew Kalan, stepped out into the night. Magdala smiled, but her relief was cut short when the giant got to its feet and roared.

Lord Kalan opened his mouth and then collapsed.

"Saundra, get my lord uncle!" shouted Magdala. "Mei, shoot it again!"

The hunter fired, but the giant guarded its facewith its arms. Still, that gave Saundra time to rush to Lord Kalan's side, and Magdala time to dash into full view of the monster, readying her a concussive.

She kept her eyes on the giant, which was still guarding its face. "Ready, Mei?"

"Yes!"

Magdala threw a concussive into the gap between the giant's arms where it burst, forcing them apart. Taking the opening, Mei landed a shot between the giant's eyes, and, as it stumbled backwards with a roar, Mei and Magdala ran to join Saundra and Lord Kalan.

Saundra pointed at the giant. "We're going to need a plan."

Already, the giant's wounds were disappearing, but an idea was sparking in Magdala's mind. She twirled her last concussive. "We need more fire."

***

"I'm listening," said Huan. "What could I do with a title?"

"Although you'd have some responsibility to your subjects," said Liraya, watching Huan make a face, "you wouldn't have to do much."

Huan straightened up. "Lord Huan. I like sound of that. What's Vanuria like?"

Liraya's eyebrows drew together.

Huan crossed his arms. "Yes, we're doing this now. If I'm going to betray my sponsor and his kingdom, I should know what I'm getting into, right?"

Liraya's eyes narrowed, but she answered the question, "Vanuria is a beautiful place. From the lush jungles to the rich highlands, the counties have no equal. After all, our people are friendly, our food irresistible, and our laws are lax."

Tiger snorted, but Huan leaned in. "Do they deal with the Tuqu Empire at all?"

Liraya smiled. "No, we don't. How could we? Distance does not make friends."

Huan started to grin, but then he remembered something. "What about the whole slavery business? I know someone who's been... hurt."

Liraya dismissed Huan's concern with a wave of her hand. "We've been working for years to improve their living conditions. After all, we Vanurians believe in liberty above all else."

Huan nodded. "Good, then in that case, I accept your offer."

Liraya stepped closer. "So, where is Lord Kalan?"

Huan groaned. "Wait, one more thing. Can you get my little sister a title too?"

Liraya blinked. "Your little-"

Another roar cut through the cacophony of bells, perking up the ears of both Liraya and Zeya.

A predatory grin appeared on Liraya's face. "Gleseeas a la Phons. Zeya, mehtahyo."

The wraith nodded and raised her knives.

Huan's eyes widened. "What are you- shit!" He ducked under Zeya's knife then dove out of the alley. Pulling on Tiger's Mask, he fled into the work yard and found his sister, Magdala, Lord Kalan, and a Souran soldier facing off against a massive monster.

Mei saw him first. "Huan!"

"What the hell is that?" Huan covered his ears as the monster roared again.

Magdala turned to Huan, then pointed behind him. "By the cup, what is that?"

Huan followed her finger then ducked under a thrown knife. Cursing, he faced Zeya who, after waiting for her knife to blink back into her hand, took up a stance.

I still don't have my sword.

Lord Kalan coughed. "Where were you? You said you were just going to the bathroom."

Magdala backed away from the monster. "Not the time, lord uncle. Everyone, close your eyes!" She threw a glass vial at the feet of the monster, and an explosion threw dust and dirt into the air.

"Let's go!"

As hands grabbed Huan and pulled him away, he watched Zeya's glare disappear behind dust.

***

After the rest of her party had retreated into the infirmary, Magdala shut the door behind them then took stock. While Saundra and Mei were armed, Huan and Lord Kalan were not, the Tiger mask notwithstanding. Worse, her lord uncle's face was sweaty and grey, he was coughing constantly, and he couldn't stay on his feet. It was probably the aftereffects of nish root poisoning, and it made him absolutely useless. With only one concussive and zero firebombs, how was she going to fight off the giant, the wraith, and their master?

Huan scowled. "I need my sword. I'm going to the armory." He started to walk away, but Mei caught his sleeve and shook her head.

A crash shook the building.

Backing away from the door, Saundra said, "We need to move deeper in, but stay clear of the patients."

Magdala turned to her lord uncle. "Was the wraith with the blades-"

"Zeya," said Huan.

"Was that the- Sorry, what?"

Magdala, Mei, and Saundra turned to Huan, who rolled his eyes.

"Zeya," he repeated. "I don't know about that big one, but the one with the knives is called Zeya. The little one from the shop is Melany."

"How do you know that?" asked Magdala. The room shook again, and she winced. The giant was tearing through the garrison, searching for Lord Kalan.

Huan pulled his arm free of Mei's grip, saying "I don't have time for this," but Magdala blocked him from leaving.

"Oh, we don't, do we? What were you doing with the enemy?" she asked.

"Her name is Liraya."

"Oh, nice, you got her name. Did you learn anything useful?"

Huan scoffed. "What have you found out?"

Magdala put a hand on her hip. "Liraya plans to flood Walton with those fiends. I don't know how many she has, but she's definitely gathered almost a hundred of them."

Saundra raised a hand. "Fiends?"

"That's what I've been calling them," said Magdala. "Why? What have you been calling them?"

"Things."

The whole infirmary shook, and the corridor filled with dust. The walls would not hold.

"We need to do something about that," said Magdala.

Huan shook his head. "You do whatever. I'm going to go get my sword."

He tried to push Magdala aside, but she didn't budge.

"We need fire to fight the giant. Blades won't be enough," she said.

Huan stepped around her. "Can't help with that." Before he left, he placed a hand on Mei's shoulder. "Come with me."

Mei shook her head.

His eye twitching, Huan said, "Fine, suit yourself," and ran down the corridor.

Magdala glared at his back. "Are you sure he's your brother?"

"We need to protect the infirmary, milady." Saundra adjusted a moaning Lord Kalan on her shoulder. "There's still wounded soldiers here."

Magdala pursed her lips and nodded. "We're going back outside. I just... right." She walked down the corridor.

"Where are you going?" asked Saundra.

"We can't just walk out there." Magdala found a closet, opened it, and pulled out a pile of linen. "I have an idea. Let's switch things up."

***

"What on Markosia is happening?"

A garrison soldier looked Dwayne over and sneered. "Go back to the estate. I'm sure your- what?"

His partner whispered something into his ear, and confusion, disbelief, disgust, and finally feigned acceptance crossed the soldier's face.

It was a sequence depressingly familiar to Dwayne. "Yes, I am Lord Kalan's apprentice. What is going on here?"

The soldier stiffened. "We're under attack, milord. Creatures are raining down from the sky, and something big landed in the garrison, and we attacked it but nothing worked, sir, nothing, so we retreated, and it's been wrecking buildings over on the western end."

Chills traveled down Dwayne's spine. "The western end?"

"Yes, that's- where are you going?"

Dwayne kept running. "I'm going to help!" He charged down the steps to the garrison and up to a crater where a Fo creature, grey skinned, dead eyed, and snarling, leapt out at him. "Ri'mwe'ut!"

After the fireball took the creature's head clean off, Dwayne paused just long enough to inspect the remains. "A Hound."

He'd seen them before, back on the island plantation so long ago. He hadn't known what they were back then, but he could tell Magdala and the others now. Hurrying on, he finally reached the place where Lord Kalan and Huan had been billeted and found the building in ruins. Covering his mouth, Dwayne picked through the rubble, his eyes searching for pools of blood or piles of smashed limbs, but he found only crumpled beds and smashed chairs. Dwayne's master and the thief were nowhere to be found. Before Dwayne could be relieved, something growled behind him. He whirled around, the fireball spell already on his lips.

A masked Huan threw up one hand. "Whoa! Easy there." His other hand held his sword.

Keeping his distance from Huan, who was more intense somehow, Dwayne asked, "What happened?"

Huan jabbed a thumb at the courtyard. "The Vanurian witch attacked with a giant. What are you doing here? Did Magdala send for you?"

Dwayne took a half step back. "No."

Huan's eyes were darting back and forth, his sword still drawn.

Dwayne couldn't keep his eyes off the blade. "Where is Magdala? Where's Lord Kalan?"

A roar cut through the night, and Huan turned so quickly that Dwayne almost hit him with a spell. The thief was lucky that Dwayne hadn't figured out spell preparation yet.

When they could hear nothing but the bells, Huan sheathed his blade. "I left them in the infirmary."

Dwayne breathed a sigh of relief and started to go. "Good, I'll- What?"

Huan had grabbed Dwayne's arm. "Wait! Wait, I just, I need a favor. I'll owe you."

Dwayne pulled his arm free. "I need to help Magdala and Lord Kalan."

Huan nodded furiously. "This will help them too. My sister's with them so... There's four of them: the witch, the little monster from the shop, the one that attacked the estate, and a giant one. I need you to take down that last one. I'll take down the others."

Dwayne raised an eyebrow "'Take down'?"

Huan gave a half smile. "Yeah, using that mumbo-jumbo you have. Just like in Yumma. Magdala said we need fire and I have you."

***

"Go!"

Saundra kicked open the door to the infirmary and hauled Magdala across the courtyard to the eastern side of the garrison. Underneath her makeshift shroud, Magdala gripped her vials close. She'd only had time to make two sedative bombs to add to the one concussive she'd been carrying. The sedatives wouldn't work against the giant, but maybe they would against the enemy mage.

The giant's roar shook the shroud.

"Here they come, milady," said Saundra.

"Good."

"Milady!"

Something ripped through the shroud and bounced off Magdala's armor. She tripped and, flailing, pulled Saundra down with her. Looking up, the corporal shoved Magdala out of the way, then a foot slammed down right where they'd been.

"Get back, milady." Drawing her sword, Saundra shoved it into the giant's stomach as far as it would go. Roaring, the giant backhanded Saundra, sending her flying.

Magdala got to her feet, pulled out her concussive, and waved her hands at the giant. "Here!"

When the giant charged her, Magdala threw her last concussive into its face, and the blast knocked them both backwards. Her ears ringing, Magdala got to her feet again. Suddenly, Saundra was in front of her, blocking the wraith's knives with her body.

"Saundra!"

The knives had sunk into the corporal's shoulder and forearm, and they winked away as the corporal straightened up, a heavy sheen of sweat on her brow. She grinned. "I think we got their attention, milady."

Magdala grinned back. "Yes, we did."

While Magdala readied a sedative bomb, the Fo mage Liraya glowered at them. "Zeya, imkootra el keiza e newcco ares. Amiam, cuil."

As the wraith turned and ran back to the infirmary, the giant, with Saundra's sword still in its side, squared off against Saundra and Magdala. With that, the first part of Magdala's plan was complete: distract the giant, which gave Mei the chance to flee with Lord Kalan to the eastern side of the garrison where reinforcements lay. Unfortunately, that left Magdala and Saundra to fight the giant without Mei's rifle.

Still ignoring the sword in its side, the giant charged.

Liraya's eyes widened. "Amiam, agatho!"

"Ri'mwe'ut!"

The giant hit the ground, and a blast of orange flame passed over it, and with a snarl, Huan sunk his blade into the giant's neck.

Liraya raised her hands. "No! Fosiumutum!"

The giant's neck wounds flared with a green light, and they healed so fast that Huan's blade was pushed out. Flipping onto its back, the giant headbutted Huan, flung away his stunned body, and got to its feet. It was now facing Dwayne and showing its back to Saundra and Magdala.

Its mistake.

Saundra closed with the giant, pulled her sword out of its side, and slashed its neck, and when the giant tried to backhand her again, she planted her feet and cut the arm off. Wincing from the giant's roars of agony, Magdala slid around them and threw her sedative bomb at the Fo mage just as Dwayne unleashed a fireball, but Zeya's knives smashed the vial and detonated the spell.

Still, Liraya and her minions were outnumbered, and her chances were dwindling. After glaring at Magdala, the enemy mage shouted, "Melany, yomorodo treo!"

A firework rocketed into the sky, trailing green sparks, and Magdala tried to think of something, anything to stop it, but only Mei could-

A shot rang out, and the rocket burst just over the garrison. Everyone, mage, thief, and corpse, ducked as the night flooded with verdant fire. Running for cover, Magdala joined Dwayne in the remains of a nearby building.

"Mei?" he mouthed.

Magdala nodded and smiled. Mei's shot had foiled whatever plan the Fo mage had had for that firework, and now it was time for Soura's counterattack.

She pulled Dwayne close, his smoky scent filling her nose. "We're going to capture her and end this right here, right now."

Dwayne's eyebrows came together. "Where's Lord Kalan?"

"Mei has him."

Tension drained out of the Wesen mage's face. "Good. What did you have in mind?"

Magdala peeked out from behind cover. "We just need Saundra and Huan to- What's he doing?"

Dwayne looked and cursed. "Tiger."

***

Before the green firework had gone off, Huan had been lying stunned on the ground from the headbutt. Blinking stars out of his eyes, he sat up, grabbed his sword, and got to his feet, but then the firework went off and Tiger went wild.

End this!

Go back. I've got this-

End this!

Huan took in the state of the fight. The giant was blind and down an arm, but it wasn't done. With Dwayne and the others in cover, this was Huan's chance to shine, and so, he stopped holding back Tiger.

The beast roared to the surface.

Tiger counted. Three mages, three humans, two not-alives. The big not-alive was the best target, hurt and blind. Licking his lips, Tiger went low and dashed forward, slapping away knives with his sword.

"Huan, stop!"

The big not-alive's eyes finally focused on Tiger, and he punched the ground, throwing up a cloud of dirt and dust, but the impromptu smokescreen didn't block Tiger's nose. He sniffed, found the biggest source of magic, and slashed it open. Gurgling, the giant fell out of the dust cloud, red ichor draining from its neck. Tiger pursued, his eyes only for the big not-alive's neck.

"Huan, look out!"

A huge hand closed around Tiger's waist and threw him, but Tiger twisted in the air, landed on his feet, and charged the big not-alive again, which somehow had its other arm back. Annoying.

The death mage was screaming something. She was next, but the big not-alive had to be destroyed first. Tiger tightened his grip on his sword, dove under a punch, and received a kick to his chest that knocked him away. Gasping for air, Tiger stood up, endured a punch from the smaller not-alive, and tried to slash her, but she parried his sword with her knife, and then elbowed him in his bandaged wound. As the pain dropped Tiger to his knees, his foe raised her knife for the finishing blow.

"Ri'mwe'ut!"

A fireball hit the smaller not-alive in the stomach and it spun away. While it rolled around on the ground wailing, someone pulled Tiger to his feet.

"Huan, are you okay?"

Tiger snarled, pushed the hands away, and focused on his prey. The two not-alives were now in formation with the smaller one watching Tiger, and the bigger one fending off the red-haired mage and the tall soldier. If Tiger took down the smaller not-alive, then he could kill the death mage cowering behind the bigger one. He stepped forward.

"Huan!"

A shot rang out, and the death mage fell to the ground, her hands clutching her shoulder. Chuffing, Tiger pushed forward, but a foot tripped him up, and the tiny not-alive pulled a ball out of her cloak and threw it to the ground where it burst, filling the air with acrid, stinging smoke. His nose shutting down from the pain, Tiger fled, coughing and spitting. When the pain had faded, he tried to find his prey, but a soft click behind him raised the hairs on his arm. Mei.

"Huan." Mei's voice cut through the battle haze.

Tiger resisted the command in Mei's voice and searched for clues. In front of him was a trail of footsteps, and he could still hear the big not-alive's heavy stomping. They weren't moving fast. He could still catch up, still take them down.

"Huan, come back."

He could-

What? What happened? Huan came to, sank to his knees, and gritted his teeth against the pain in his side.

Mei walked into view, her rifle still aimed at him. "Huan?"

Huan nodded. "I'm here." He looked into his sister's eyes. "I'm here, Mei."

Mei never bothered to hide her emotions. Most of the time she was only barely interested in what was going on, and so, she just observed everything with a still face. When she was interested, her expressions were less pronounced than everyone else's, but Huan was her brother, and he could read them, and now, he was scared. Normally when Tiger stirred, Mei wore an expression of concern, but this time, as she looked down the the long barrel of her rifle, Huan saw fear.

It took a long time for her rifle barrel to drop. "It's him," said Mei. "Do it."

Glass broke and a strange blue smoke filled Huan's nose, its scent dragging him down into the dark.

The last thing he heard was Mei's voice. "He's too dangerous now."