The Chancellor looked out at the forces arrayed against them. Already there were several dozen aggressors building barricades along the roadway. The dull thudding of the flying beast far above echoed in the silence as the last rays of sunlight passed below the western horizon.

It was at almost that exact moment that a blinding shaft of jagged light seemed to crack the sky in half. An explosion that rolled like thunder blew through the encampment behind the Chancellor.Sound brought wind that tore through the encampment, dousing fires and knocking tents akimbo. The horses at the pickets screamed and reared. The Chancellor was blown against the barricades, some of which took damage in the blast. As he lay, dazed, at the base of the barricade, he felt the spiderweb brush of the Weave against the back of his neck. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that simple sensation.

There was screaming and a number of explosions from the direction of the roadway and the enemy’s entrenchments. The Chancellor climbed to his feet, his insides quaking with some strange keening energy. He felt his eyes pulled to the sky as a brilliant aurora of light swirled through the sky. Clouds began to form, glowing blue-white in the ever darkening night.

“Send a runner to the Archmagi, find out what is going on.” The Chancellor ordered, his voice sounding much more calm than he felt.

An arc of pure blackness, surrounded by an aura of deep purple, bolted like dark lightning between two of the clouds. The thunder that followed was almost too deep a rumble to be heard, but every one of the imperials felt the tremor go through their bodies.

Near the roadway, most of the klieg lights had fallen over in the blast and lay sparking. A couple were actively burning. The somewhat distant dark figures of the police scrambled over the piles of equipment that the wind had disturbed. The Imperial soldiers were quick to recover and began firing arrows at the enemy. There was more than one scream in the darkness.

Nathariel stood near the barricades, his hands clasped behind his back, and tried not to show the tension that he suddenly felt. The runner he had sent off skidded to a stop just behind him, sketching a bow. “Chancellor, Archmage Raelendra is unconscious. She has woven a large spell. Archmage Varen says that she has freed the Weave. At least for now. The Magi are coming to the front lines and the Healers are attending to the Archmage.”

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The smile that stretched itself across the Chancellor’s face was slow to bloom and held an array of thorns when it did. “That is excellent news. Report to General Leander that the Magi are his to command for now. I will be with the Emperor until he sees fit to dismiss me.”

The runner saluted with one fisted hand to his heart. “His will be done.”

“In all things,” The Chancellor responded as he walked toward the large red command tent. It had remained standing despite the wind.

The Emperor’s golden hair was barely mussed by the explosion, though he was nearly at the epicenter of the blast. He stood firm and tall near the map table with his shoulders straight and his blue eyes sharp as he looked up at the Chancellor. The black haired Chancellor prostrated himself on the ground.

The Emperor waved lazily. “We trust that you are here to report on the status of our encampment.” He drawled as he looked down at a hastily sketched map that was the only object on the large table.

“Yes, your excellence.” Nathariel rose slowly to his feet, his insides still quivering in reaction to some strange sensation he couldn’t quite get a handle on.

“Do not keep us waiting then, Chancellor.”

“Yes, your Excellence. Archmage Raelendra has woven a mighty spell near the Rift and has set the Weave free in our territory.”

The Emperor’s laser blue gaze quickly settled back on the man who acted as his right hand. “We are very impressed. Send her to us immediately.”

“My apologies, your Excellence, she has overexerted herself and requires healing.” The Chancellor’s very posture seemed to draw in on itself, as though fearing an outburst.

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but then he glanced back down at the map. “Have her treated by the best among our Healers and send her into our presence as soon as she is capable. In the meantime, Chancellor, now that darkness has fallen in this accursed place, send out the scouts to map the area.”

“It will be done.” The Chancellor promised with a low bow before backing out of the Emperor’s presence and leaving the tent. He left the Emperor staring thoughtfully down at the map with a small smile flickering to life at the edges of his lips.