A/N: Get ready for some more artistic liberties, guys! (I know, I know ... I just have a really unconventional way of writing. Deal.) We're going to start telling the story from multiple POVs per chapter! These will be denoted with the character's name above the section (Ex: Rose), unless the section is in third person, in which case there will be no notation. Now read on!

Chapter Nine

Effugium

Diaz

The Wingly Palace towered above Kadessa's sparkling skyline, sporting an array of colored lasers designed to impress, amaze and strike fear into anyone visiting the city. Celebratory music floated to our ears on the light breeze, the din of mingled voices mixed in, and it seemed partying Winglies hung out of every door and window in town.

I turned to my cohorts, keeping my head and voice low. They bent close to me, listening intently, for they knew our mission was both dangerous and imperative.

"Alright, here's the plan-" I glanced over my shoulder briefly, just to make sure we weren't being watched. Satisfied that all was well, I turned back around. "-when we hit the city park, we're going to split off to our respective destinations. Zyra will head east, Silvus west, and I'm going north. I assume you all know your objectives?"

They all nodded.

"Good. Should anything go awry, meet back in the city park. We will leave together. Otherwise, once you've obtained your party, leave the city at once. We cannot afford errors tonight."

I led our group onward, and as discussed, we split off at the park, each one going their own way. No one gave us a second look, though I couldn't be certain if it was due to our disguise or because everyone in town was busy celebrating Frahma's birthday. I decided not to dwell on it and pressed on, passing the alley where I'd met with Zieg only a week earlier. Somehow, the wait had seemed like forever. I was anxious to break the kid free and right any wrongs done in my past. No doubt Gerard was furious with me, and there was no guarantee Anais would still want to associate with me. I hoped Zieg had made good on his promise to convince everyone.

When I finally stood before my destination, I took a deep breath, clutched the uniform I'd stolen for Zieg and stared up the long path to Palatial Hill and the Thayus mansion.

Here goes nothing, I thought, fighting the feeling of dread rising in my chest. Soa help us ...

Rose

Somehow Zieg had managed to convince the other slaves that freedom via escape was a reasonable idea, and the lot of them sat or stood awkwardly in the foyer, looking anxious and worried.

I leaned against the balcony railing overlooking the foyer.

"Please tell me you've decided to come with us," Zieg called up to me.

I smiled but shook my head. Zieg mirrored the gesture, though much less coyly. He was obviously irritated.

"Don't make me beg," he said, a forced laugh barely disguising the annoyance in his voice.

"I won't," I replied. "You just have to stop asking."

Zieg snorted. "You think this is something I can just give up on? That I can walk away from it, knowing you'll still be stuck in this hell hole while the rest of us are free?-"

I wasn't certain Zieg wanted a direct answer from me, so I didn't respond.

"-Well I can't," he said. "And I won't."

"You won't give up? Or you won't quit asking?"

"Both."

"Why?" I fired back, intrigued. "Why bother? Why do you care so much about my welfare? About what happens to me?"

"Because I do!" Zieg snapped. "Can't you just accept that and come with us?"

Part of me wanted nothing more than to drop everything and follow Zieg to the ends of the earth. Part of me wanted to believe in Zieg-believe that he cared deeply about my well-being, but the truth was that we were barely acquaintances, at best. I knew very little about him, and I'd made sure he knew even less about me. I would have given anything to obtain my freedom ... except for my past. The chains of slavery weren't really what held me. It was my past-what I used to be and could have been before that-which held me, bound steadfast to slavery for my own protection. If I ran-if I were free-that protection would cease to exist and I would likely end up with the rest of my family: in the grave.

Zieg's voice prevented me from spiraling any deeper into the memories.

"Fine, Rose," he said coldly. "But Diaz will be here soon, so this is your last chance."

"I understand, I just ... I just can't leave right now."

"Why not? Do you understand what will happen to you when we leave and you're still here? Do you?"

I bit my lip, turning my eyes to the floor.

"They'll execute you," Zieg said sharply, answering his own question. "For being an agent to a crime."

"But I won't be the only one left," I protested. "I don't see Gerard or Max with you! They must not be-"

"It doesn't matter, Rose! The Winglies don't care! They will chew you all up and spit you out, and I don't want your blood on my conscience!"

"Well why are you so sure you'll succeed?" I fired back. "You could just as easily wind up dead! Or worse!"

Zieg just shook his head. "I'm not sure," he said. "I can't be sure of anything tonight. I-we-just trust that we'll be successful. We'll have to be. But even if we're not-even if we wind up dead, like you say, the authorities will still find their way back here. ...To arrest you."

I took a deep breath and gripped the banister railing fiercely to keep from losing my temper. I knew he was right. I would be framed as an accomplice no matter which path Fate chose and escape was my only way out, but ultimately, Zieg and I were at an impasse. I couldn't make him understand my reasons for staying and he still wasn't able to persuade me to go. Our wills were matched and at odds. There was no use fighting it. And yet ...

"Please," Zieg pleaded. "Come with us. Just trust me a little and come. You'd have freedom. A new life! You could do anything you wanted!"

No, I thought. No, I can't. I'll never be able to what I want and neither will you. You might be free, but the Winglies will be watching your every move. It won't be true freedom...

I wished I had the courage to say all of it aloud to Zieg, but just sighed instead.

"Well?" he asked, the hope in his voice painfully obvious.

"I ... I can't ..."

"God, Rose," Zieg groaned, exasperated. "What would it take? What would ever make you leave this place?"

I bit my lip, trying to force my brain to think of a sufficient answer that would appease Zieg yet still allow me the luxury of maintaining impartiality.

Then, Zieg countered himself. "Better yet, what's keeping you here?"

I frowned. "Zieg, I've already told you. The chil-"

"No, really." Zieg met my gaze, fire burning in his eyes. "I want a real reason. One that doesn't involve those damned bastard brats."

I just looked at him, lacking even my usual inclination to rest my hand on my hip. Several moments passed where we just stood there like that, staring at each other. Finally, he sighed in a disgusted sort of way and turned his back to me.

"Exactly," he spat. "You have no reasons."

No, I do! my conscience screamed. I just can't share them with you ...

But he'd already won the argument. I turned around and headed down the hallway, trying in vain to ignore the hateful glares of the others and fighting my own guilt at the look of disappointment on Zieg's face.

"Kill them if you must, but they cannot not leave alive."

The words rang in his head like a chant as he trotted down the stairwell to the basement. The wet, musty smell of damp earth assaulted his nostrils as he entered the underground chamber.

The perfect place to begin the destruction...

After making a few initial preparations, he turned to his materials: a crumpled wad of newspapers-in fact, the very ones in which the self-righteous bastard had communicated his escape-a bundle of twigs and sticks, and a douse of flammable oil from that disgusting pig of a cook. He smiled wickedly; the urgency of his mission was so exciting, he could hardly contain himself.

He struck a match, watching it burn momentarily. The flame flickered and danced, sending wild, eerie shadows across the walls.

When this reaches the generator, there will be nothing left ...

He laughed and stooped to his knees, touching the match to the newspaper, then tossing it to the ground. The burning paper soon ignited the rest of the pile.

There, he thought, satisfied. They'll never see it coming.

He stood, clapped the dirt from his hands, and regarded his work. The tiny match-flame had already become a crackling fire, and soon it would be a roaring blaze, dashing any hope of escape and destroying that damned Zieg Feld once and for all.

He laughed again and started back up the stairs. He had to hide if he were to avoid blame ... or live. He took a final glance over his shoulder at the fire. It would soon reach the ceiling and the wooden eaves that rested there.

Forgive me, Master. But they must be stopped at all costs...

Zieg

"You can't let her stay here!" Liza cried, grabbing my wrist as Rose walked away. "She has to come with us!"

"No," I snapped, wrenching my arm from the maid's grasp. "Let her go. If she gets smart, she'll come."

Liza and the others gave me a doubtful look, and I settled back against the wall, staring intently at the door and wondering if Diaz had even made it into the city yet. The sun was just starting to sink below the horizon, dyeing the sky vivid shades of pink, orange and violet, and I knew Frahma's party would be starting soon, if it hadn't already.

Diaz, you'd better get here soon, I thought. We don't have a lot of time ...

As if on cue, I heard a guttural scream outside, then a sound like something had just fallen against the door.

"Diaz!" I gasped, feeling both anxious and relieved that he'd made it this far. We were really going to get out ...

I traded glances with the others. Their faces betrayed their emotions; they looked how I felt. Excited, determined and scared as hell. Jessup motioned me toward the door, urging me to open it, but I didn't have to. The door swung inward to reveal a dark silhouette, framed by the doorway and the last shreds of crimson sunlight.

I found myself face-to-face with a Wingly patrol guard. There was no mistaking him for Diaz in costume. No, this man had turned his wings on as a display of power and authority. Their quiet whirring tipped me off, and sure enough, two shimmering, magical, nearly invisible wings protruded from his back, propelling him just inches off the ground.

"You're all under arrest by order of His Excellency Melbu Frahma!" he barked.

"What?!" Abe cried. "Zieg, you said-"

"Shut up!" I snapped, glancing at him over my shoulder. I turned back to the guard. He just frowned at me, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Sir, we haven't done anything," I said as calmly as I could manage. "Our master is at His Authority's celebration. We haven't done anything wrong."

"Right," he said sarcastically, nodding like he believed me. "Sure you haven't. At least yet. That's why I'm here. His Excellency's been informed of an elaborate escape scheme, which leads back here." He smiled wickedly and looked me right in the eyes. "Zieg Feld, you're under arrest for conspiracy to attempt escape."

He pulled a set of wrist shackles from his pocket and lunged at me. I jumped backward and Liza screamed.

Then, from out of nowhere, another patrol guard lept at the Wingly's back, screaming like a madman and driving a gardening trowel through his back. The guard's wings stopped humming and he dropped to the floor, spurting blood. I took a few more steps back as the other man stumbled into the foyer, dragging his feet and gasping for breath. We watched in silence as he removed his helmet, then slowly, he looked up.

"Diaz!" Anais cried, her voice choked with emotion. She ran forward and threw herself at him, wrapping him tightly in her embrace.

"Anais ..." He turned his face to her hair and breathed deeply, petting her head and holding her tightly. "My sister ..."

She pulled back and looked at him, cupping his face in her hands. "I can't believe you're really ..."

He grinned then, and turned to the rest of us.

"Quickly now," he said. "We don't have much time before the real authorities show up. This clown must have followed me here." He motioned toward the dead guard.

I nodded in agreement, still trying to wrap my head around what the guard had said. Frahma's been informed of an elaborate escape scheme, which leads back here ...

"Here Zieg. Take this," Diaz said, handing me a folded garment. "Put it on."

I unfolded the fabric, revealing the uniform of a Wingly patrol officer.

"Diaz, where did you-?"

"Never mind," he snapped, kneeling before Jessup. "We have a lot to do in a short time. I'll explain later. Now hurry!"

I ran to the generator room and stripped, donning the patrol uniform and yanking my boots back on. Strangely, I heard popping and sizzling noises the entire time.

Must be the generator, I thought. That, or somebody's setting off firecrackers for the party...

I made my way back to the foyer, where Diaz had arranged the others' costumes. Jessup was now shirtless and covered in dirt; Liza's dress was torn and muddy, and Abe now wore a tattered tunic, belted at the waist with rope.

"Why-"

"They're our prisoners," Diaz explained, adjusting a tear on Chomm's shirt. "They have to look the part."

I nodded. "Good idea."

Diaz knelt next to a canvas bag I hadn't noticed him bring in, and pulled something out.

"Here, take this," he said, turning around. My mouth fell open when I saw what it was. He held my old broadsword in its scabbard with the belt attached. Diaz grinned at me.

"You'll need your weapon," he said. "Just in case."

"How ... how did you-?"

"I've got a few connections. Just take it."

I accepted the sword and immediately strapped it on. Though I hadn't used it in over a year, its familiar weight at my hip was comforting.

"Alright," Diaz said, turning to look at all of us at once. "Here's the plan. Zieg and I are going to shackle you guys together once we reach the courtyard outside. Then, we'll lead you all through the city, and once we reach the teleporter we'll warp to the ground. If anyone asks questions, let us answer. I hope to get out of here without a hitch, but be prepared to fight, just in case."

Liza's eyes went wide, and Abe coughed to hide his surprise, but the rest of the group looked fairly confident.

"No questions then?" Diaz paused. "Good. Anais, lead everyone to the courtyard. Zieg and I will follow."

Diaz began ushering the Thayus slaves out the front door, past the dead guard, but I was suddenly too preoccupied with my senses to pay attention. The popping and crackling I'd heard in the generator room had steadily grown louder, and now there was a roaring in my ears that hadn't been there before. I briefly wondered if I was dying, but then I smelled smoke; the hot, earthy smoke of a wood-burning blaze, and it hit me.

"Get out now!" I called to the others. "Hurry! Run!"

Diaz looked up. "What's wrong, Zieg?"

"Fire!" I shouted.

At that moment, an explosion ripped through the back of the house, sending fireballs screaming our way. I threw myself to the floor, dodging the firey blast and hoping desperately everyone else had been as smart. The wall of glass windows blew outward and suddenly flames surrounded us, dancing in the gusts of wind that now billowed from the blaze and whipped through the house, only fed further by the lack of windows.

"Go!" I shouted to the others, but immediately coughed on the thick grey smoke now choking the air.

I rolled to my hands and knees, crawling beneath the thickest smoke, and made my way to Diaz, who lay very near the shattered windows. His arms were scratched and bloody from the glass, and it appeared he was unconscious.

Great, I thought miserably. We'll never get out of here without him!

"Diaz!" I cried, grabbing his arm and shaking him. "Diaz, come on!"

He groaned loudly as I rolled him to his back. I knew in the back of my mind it was a bad idea to move a person who was unconscious, but this was no time for proper first aid.

"Come on!" I shouted.

"Zieg ..." Diaz opened his eyes, squinting against the light of the blaze. "What happened?"

"The house is on fire! Come on, we've gotta go!"

I stuck an arm beneath him, hoisting him to a sitting position, and he draped his arm around my shoulders, allowing me to help him stand.

"My God!" Diaz gasped as I dragged him to his feet. "Who could have done this?!"

Gerard, was my only thought, but before I could reply, a terrified scream resounded and I whirled around to see none other than Gerard, stumbling out of the blaze, his hair and clothes singed and black. He was running, headed straight for the front door.

"You bastard!" I shouted. "Are you trying to get us all killed?!"

"Fuck off, Zieg!" Gerard retorted, through a fit of coughing. "I want out!"

"Shoulda thought about that before you set the house on fire!" I screamed, abandoning Diaz and jerking Gerard back from the door. He landed hard on his ass, but I yanked him to his feet and grabbed his throat before I could think.

"Please ..." he whined. "Please! Zieg! Lemme go!"

"I could kill you, Gerard! We're risking our lives for th-"

"Please! Just let me go with you!"

"I gave you the chance last week!" I screamed in outrage. "How dare you think you can come now, after all you've said and done!"

"I swear to Soa, I didn't! I didn't do it!"

"Yeah, and I'm Melbu Frahma!"

A mini-explosion from the generator shot billowing flames and smoke toward us. Diaz started coughing; Gerard fought harder now.

"PLEASE!" he screamed, clawing at my hands and kicking his legs. "Please! I'll do anything!"

"Let him go, Zieg!" Diaz cried. "He didn't do it!"

I loosened my grip, and Gerard pulled away, scampering out the door to meet the others, and I was suddenly hit with the identity of the real culprit. Max ...

I don't know why I didn't suspect anything before, but now it was crystal clear why my instincts had been telling me not to trust the guy. I suddenly wished I had never mentioned anything to him, and it was obvious our escape was going to be much more difficult than I'd thought. No doubt every patrolman on the force would be out tonight.

My first instinct was to find Max and throttle him, but my mind was already on other things. One of the carved, laquered, open rafters in the foyer dangled precariously from its mount on the ceiling, and I heard the snap as it broke loose and came crashing to the floor in a whoosh of heat and flame, sending up sparks and cinders in its landing.

"Zieg!" Diaz shouted, covering his mouth and nose with one arm and waving the other widly for me to follow. "Come on! We've gotta go!"

Then, I heard a scream, and I remembered ...

Rose was trapped upstairs.

Rose

"Ahhh!"

I threw my hands up to protect my face, stumbling and falling backward in my haste to escape the flames. Quickly, I scrambled to my feet, but I immediately inhaled a lungful of heat and smoke, which burned my windpipe and sent me into a coughing fit.

Then, "Rose! Rose, can you hear me?!"

Zieg ...

"Zieg!" I cried, but I was afraid the coughs that followed concealed my voice.

But sure enough, he emerged from the flames, shielding his face with an arm and looking around wildly. He wore the uniform of a Wingly patrol guard, an obvious part of their escape ruse.

"Zieg!" I shouted again, and started forward, but I took no more than two or three steps before he hollered, "Rose, watch out!"

I looked up just in time to see the foyer's elegant crystal chandelier break free from its moorings. For a split second I thought I was on the fast track to meet Death face to face, and then I was slammed full force in the chest as Zieg tackled me, plowing me to the ground and shielding me as a thousand shards of glass sprayed everywhere. I opened my eyes long enough to watch Zieg sit up.

And then the world went black.

Zieg

Rose's eyes rolled back and she fell limp just as another chunk of the ceiling collapsed nearby.

I've gotta do something, I thought, desperate. I can't just leave her here ...

The blaze surrounded us on all sides, the flames licking higher and higher with each passing second.

I can't wait anymore or we'll both die!

I forced my now aching body to a standing position, then bent and lifted Rose; she was lighter than I'd expected, like a doll. I threw her over my shoulder and made a run for it, leaping through the blaze and sprinting for the door, all the while trying to make sure Rose didn't flop around. Diaz met me in the doorway with an irritated look, but the others cheered as I exited into the night, Rose in tow.

"Come!" Diaz cried, waving us on. "Follow me!"

He hopped off the steps and jogged down the stone path to the gardens; the rest of us tagged along, praying we wouldn't be seen by anyone. Diaz led us into a grove of trees, hidden from outside eyes, and I placed Rose carefully on the ground, cradling her head in my lap. I brushed her hair gently away from her face, tucking it behind her ears and reveling in the fact that I was actually touching her.

But somehow, it was something more.

I suddenly recalled Sarai's fairy tales of soul mates and true love, but I immediately dismissed the notion. Such stories didn't-and couldn't-exist in reality. They were child's dreams. But there was still something special about Rose that I couldn't ignore. I just didn't know what it was yet.

"Zieg." Diaz's voice.

I looked up and found everyone staring at me. Diaz nodded at Rose, and I suddenly realized I'd been in another world for a moment. Embarrassed, I stood and moved away, and while Diaz set to work on her, I distracted myself by patching everyone's wounds, including Gerard's.

I pressed a cloth soaked in a healing potion to a particularly bad section of burn on his arm. Gerard grimaced, then spoke.

"Hey, uh ... sorry about back there," he said, motioning toward the house.

I shrugged.

"I mean, I should've listened to you when-"

"It's okay," I said, standing. "You don't need to apologize. I should be doing that."

"No, listen!" Gerard stood too, then thought the better of it and sat back down. "Just... listen to me, Zieg."

I sighed and nodded at him. It wasn't like we could go anywhere. At least, not with Rose unconscious.

"I ... I know who set the fire," Gerard said quietly, almost as if he were ashamed or embarrassed. "It was-"

"Yeah, I know," I interrupted, waving the accusation away.

Gerard looked up at me, astonished. "You do?!"

"Yeah. It had to have been Max."

Gerard shook his head vigorously, and I was suddenly confused.

"What? He didn't...?"

"No, it was him," Gerard said, "but you don't know the whole story."

"Well why don't you enlighten me then?" I folded my arms across my chest and focused all my attention on Gerard.

He sighed, stuck his hands between his knees like a scolded child and turned his eyes to the ground. Then said, "I think he's been working for Frahma."

"What?!" The impact of the revelation blindsided me.

Gerard looked up and met my gaze. "I think Frahma put him up to setting the fire to stop you from escaping."

"What?!"

"I think Frahma-"

"I heard you! I mean, why would Max agree to that? I was under the impression that he hated Frahma as much as the rest of us! What, did Frahma offer him something? Candy? Gold? A new position?"

Gerard shrugged. "I don't know, Zieg. Just ... I just know that Max hasn't been Max lately. And now, after the fire ..." He shook his head, letting his thought trail off.

"Well how did you-"

"Zieg."

Diaz's voice interrupted my interrogation of Gerard. I turned around to see him kneeling by Rose. He grinned and I breathed a sigh of relief. She was waking up.

Rose

"Rose."

A calm male voice. Cool air.

"Rose, wake up."

Someone pressed a wet cloth to my forehead. The black suddenly became blurry blobs of color as I came to. The blooming trees, the wood and wrought-iron benches and the cobblestone-covered ground came slowly into view, and I was struck with the familiarity of the place. I was on the ground in the tree grove... our practice area. For a moment, I was relieved.

The fire was just a nightmare ... a hallucination. Toan must have really beat me that last match...

Then the cruel harshness of reality struck me.

No, I thought miserably. No, Toan is angry with me. He wouldn't be here...

Then, the man's voice again. "Rose, wake up. Come on. ... There, now..."

When I was finally able to focus, I found myself staring into the face of a middle-aged Human man with a thick beard and shaggy brown hair. He turned and addressed Zieg, who stood behind him, looking quite concerned.

"She's going to be all right," the man said.

"Oh, thank God," Zieg breathed. "Thanks, Diaz."

He saved me, I thought, my brain fuzzy. The fire ... Zieg saved my life ...

The man named Diaz helped me sit up and I saw the bright orange glow through the trees. The Thayus mansion would soon be nothing but a pile of stone and rubble.

"We must be going now," Diaz said, standing and handing a satchel to Liza. He turned back to Zieg. "You can carry her."

Diaz walked off and Zieg turned to me. I hastily climbed to my feet, though immediately wished I hadn't.

"I can walk myself, thanks," I said. Zieg gave me a worried look, so I added, "I'm fine."

"It's okay," he assured. "I can carry you if you need me to."

I shook my head. "Really, I'm fine. It's not necessary."

The truth was that I vaguely remembered Zieg lifting me, recalled the sensation of being cradled in his arms. It was both comforting and unsettling at the same time. I forced myself to forget it as Diaz gathered us together to explain the getaway plan.

"Stay quiet, keep your heads down and follow our lead," he said, motioning toward Zieg.

After shackling the rest of us, they each jammed a helmet on, and we set off through the city toward the teleporting device, doing our best to play our parts and avoid attention. It didn't last long, however. A troop of patrol guards stood in Town Square near the Parliament building, and they looked up as our group came into view.

"'Oy!" one of them shouted. He wore chevrons on his sleeve, so I assumed he was an officer of rank. "Stop right there!"

"Shit!" I heard Zieg mutter.

"Stay calm," Diaz whispered. "Don't move unless I give the signal. Let me do the talking."

Zieg nodded, straightened his posture and turned to face the officer, who was now jogging toward us at a leisurely pace.

"Good evening gentlemen," he said as he came to a halt. "Please state your postions and purpose."

"You first," Diaz barked.

The man nodded, though he looked annoyed. "Corporal Lerew Hearst, at your service." He saluted, then said, "Now may I have your positions and purpose?"

Diaz drew a deep breath, let it out slowly, then saluted. "Sergeant Friddell. And this is Officer Jensali. We're on strict orders to escort these prisoners out of Kadessa ... and pause for no one."

"I see," Hearst said. "But this is a restricted area, Sergeant. Fireworks tonight, in honor of His Excellency. I'm surprised you haven't heard the order."

"I was only told to get these prisoners out of here," Diaz countered. "Didn't hear about any fireworks."

Corporal Hearst nodded and said, "I understand, sir. Please remain here while I find out what's going on." He then turned and jogged back to the patrol station, where he said something to the guards outside and entered the building.

"He's only a petty officer," Zieg whispered, leaning close to Diaz. "You outrank him. We could just leave."

"But they'll come after us," Diaz said. "I want to avoid a confrontation if at all possible."

"But we'd have more of a chance if we just run now!"

"No, Zieg. Our best chance is getting out of here alive! Just let me talk to them. I can get us out of this."

"But-"

"Shh! Look."

Diaz pointed across Town Square; Corporal Hearst appeared out of the patrol station, now flanked by two more officers, whose sleeve insignia indicated they were much higher up the chain of command. Zieg mumbled another expletive.

The officers approached slowly, the three of them perfectly in step and clearly enjoying the drama of the moment. They came to a stop before Zieg and Diaz, Hearst stepping forward to introduce his colleagues.

"I'm sure you know Chief Santoria and Lieutenant Renael," Hearst said, the smugness in his voice obvious.

"Ah, yes," Diaz said, saluting. "Good evening, sirs."

Santoria and Renael didn't look amused and they didn't return the salute.

"I'm certain you must've gotten your orders from them, right Sergeant?"

Diaz hesitated. "Ahh ... err ... um, well, actually I-"

Hearst smirked widely and said, "That's what I thought." He then turned to face Lieutenant Renael. "You gave no such orders, did you, Sir?"

Renael shook his head. "Not tonight, I didn't. It's a national holiday, for cryin' out loud! The only prisoners scheduled to leave Kadessa aren't due out for three days. Besides-" He moved a little closer to Diaz and Zieg, almost as if he were trying to sniff them out. "-you two aren't who you say you are."

Diaz took a step back, and Zieg grasped his sword's hilt.

"Of course we are!" Diaz protested. "You see our badges!"

"Officer Jensali and Sergeant Friddell turned up dead three weeks ago!" Renael raged. "On a hunt for escaped slaves outside Mayfil!"

The resulting looks on Diaz and Zieg told me the patrol had just uncovered the fatal flaw in their plan. I suddenly had a sinking feeling in my stomach that, even if we wound up alive, our end would not be pretty.

"Remove your helmets," Santoria ordered, sternly.

"B,b, but we were just-Sir, please! You must underst-"

"Remove your helmets," Santoria repeated, irritated now. He was apparently uninterested in playing Diaz's game.

Diaz and Zieg exchanged glances, and before I knew it, Zieg had drawn his sword and lunged at the patrol chief, bringing his blade down and knocking the man off-balance. Santoria recovered smoothly, though, drawing his rapier and countering Zieg's next attack. Diaz quickly unlocked our shackles, setting us free, but I was already focused on the battle at hand. My heart leapt into my throat as Santoria drew back, ready to impale Zieg, but Diaz flew in as backup, driving his foot into Santoria's back and giving Zieg just enough time to finish the man off.

Renael quickly began drawing a sigil, but Zieg reached over and stabbed him right through the neck. Blood poured from the man's mouth and he sputered briefly, then dropped heavily to his knees, finally falling face-down to the ground. Hearst tried to pick up where Renael left off, but Jessup turned and clocked him in the side of the head. Liza shrieked, so I kicked her in the shin, making her immediately quiet.

Evidently noticing the commotion, a troop of guards raced over, throwing themselves at us in furious redemption for their leaders. Aware that Zieg and Diaz couldn't do this alone, Chomm started doling out weapons, snatching anything off the ground he could find. He handed me a fallen tree branch, just thick enough to do some damage. Abraham picked up Renael's dagger, and Jessup wrenched a loose iron bar from a nearby trash receptacle. Gerard and Anais, also armed with tree limbs, tripped guards and smashed their heads in, rendering them either useless or dead.

But just when I thought we might have a chance, a flood of armed guards poured from the patrol station and suddenly more people were in the fray than there had originally been. The authorities appeared out of nowhere, two more replacing any one that fell. Zieg stabbed and sliced, an obvious expert swordsman. I had known it all along, but it was all the more thriling to watch him up close. I did the best I could with the tree branch I'd been given-jabbing at faces and cracking it on heads and kneecaps-but some time into the fight, I heard a familiar voice call my name and it wasn't Zieg's.

"Rose!" it called. "Rose, catch!"

I turned in time to see Toan tossing me his rapier. I caught the weapon easily, glad to feel the weight of the dagger in my hand, but nevertheless confused.

"Toan, what are you-?"

"Ask questions later!" he shouted, drawing his patern for a sigil in the air.

With a wave of his hand, Toan's spell released and burning rain like blood poured down on the Winglies. They grew instantly fiercer and I was forced to abandon my observation of my trainer. I began using the moves he had shown me: the More and More on one man, whirling into a Whip Smack on the next. I caught sight of Zieg as he shoved an assailant Toan's way, evidently receptive of any help we could get. Toan smashed his fist in the man's face and started another sigil. Before I knew it, an intense, frigid wind blew, bringing with it ice and snow and temporarily freezing our opponents.

Zieg wiped his brow and said, "I should've considered Wingly allies sooner."

Toan sent me a wink and we were back to fighting.

By this point, Diaz had picked up a dead Wingly's weapon and started swinging it around like a madman, though his movements made it difficult to tell whether it was a spear or a sword. Toan drew another spell, sending a shower of ice spears at several enemies, knocking them out permanently, and suddenly the battle's odds were in our favor. I increased the ferocity of my attacks, no longer concerned that I might be wasting effort on a lost cause. Toan must have run out of magical energy because he stooped and picked up a fallen man's rapier, flying at his next assailant in a flurry of jabs, slices and quick footwork.

Eventually, the tide of authorities ebbed and we stood amidst a scene of carnage.

"Run," Toan said, his chest heaving. "We've got to run. No doubt Frahma's been informed."

"We?" I asked, turning to him.

He nodded once. "I'm coming."

Diaz grinned. "All the better," he said. "Let's go!"

Just a short distance from the city gates, the emergency siren blared and we picked up our pace. I desperately hoped the Wingly citizens of Kadessa were too drunk to notice, but it seemed the closer we drew to the exit teleporter, the more Winglies appeared in doorways, throwing half-full alcohol bottles and jeering. Some were sober enough to run after us; others screamed and shouted, further alerting everyone to our escape.

"Run! Let's go! Hurry!" Zieg called, pausing to wave everyone into the teleporter. Our Wingly pursuers gained ground quickly as Diaz, Anais and Jessup leapt into the teleporter, but I tripped.

"Rose!" I heard Zieg cry, but in the same instant, strong arms closed around my waist, hoisting me into the air. I looked up into the face of Toan.

He ran forward, carrying me, as Zieg continued to wave everyone on. But just as Toan and I reached the teleporter, we heard Anais scream.

"Chomm!" she cried, pointing at the crowd behind us.

I glanced back only to see the rotund chef, now lying in the street and covering his head with his arms, desperate to avoid being trampled, but it was no use. He was too big and the crowd was too bloodthirsty to miss him.

"Let him go!" Diaz shouted. "We can't save him now!"

Toan and I entered the teleporter and Diaz closed its barrier, warping us away just as a new onslaught of authorities reached the area. We paused briefly when we reached the ground outside Kadessa.

"Chomm..." Anais said quietly, her expression anguished. "He was ..."

"We can't mourn just yet," Diaz called, taking off again. "They will be after us shortly. They'll send the slave catchers!"

Slave catchers? I wondered, but something Urele had said a few weeks ago vaguely came to mind. She had spoken briefly with Dorian about several escapes in the area and that her father had ordered the creation of some creatures at Aglis, designed to terrify escaped or rebellious slaves back into submission. Or kill them.

"Let's go," Toan said, grabbing my wrist and breaking me from the daydream.

I followed willingly, and only a short time later, our group again found itself pursued. Diaz trotted next to Zieg, struggling to keep up and construct a plan simultaneously. Zieg appeared anxious enough to start carrying the little man. I caught some of their conversation.

"...can't go to Magrad," Diaz huffed. "They'll follow us right there. We can't risk exposing everyone."

"So where do we go then?" Zieg barked.

"Hold on."

Our little band of refugees stopped and Diaz turned to face Zieg, his face alight with excitement and adrenaline.

"We should continue on to Mirr and see if we can't rescue some others."

"What?!" The reaction was collective, though Zieg voiced it loudest. "Are you crazy?!"

Diaz just stood there, grinning wildly. Zieg pressed his hands to his head and groaned.

"For what, Diaz?" he asked. "For what? To rescue a few of your old girlfriends? Get ourselves killed?"

Diaz evidently hid his emotions well, because he seemed not the least bit bothered by Zieg's offensive remark. A chill ran down my spine at the memory of Chomm falling amidst the commotion, likely trampled to death by now. Zieg ran his hands through his hair and sighed heavily.

"No, Diaz," he said firmly. "They've probably already alerted all the other cities to our escape. They'll be on the lookout for us. We lost Chomm already, and we all would've been killed if it hadn't been for him!" He jerked a thumb Toan's direction.

"True," Diaz mumbled. "It was foolish."

"And we can't even guarantee he's in it for the long haul! What if he's a double-agent? Or some kind of spy?"

"I think I can speak for myself," Toan said, an understanding smile pulling at his lips.

Zieg glowered at him. Somehow I couldn't blame him, and I'm certain Toan didn't either.

"Anyway," Zieg went on, more calmly now, "we can't do that. Not so soon ... We were successful. Hopefully the others were too. Isn't that enough for tonight?"

I wondered about the 'others,' but Diaz seemed to ponder this last question.

"I suppose it has to be," he said finally.

"Then isn't there somewhere else we can go?" Jessup asked. "And we'll have to warn everyone, won't we?"

Diaz nodded. "Abraham," he said, turning to face the former manservant. "Can you make your way to Magrad and convince everyone to clear out for the time being? We'll rebuild if necessary, but Zieg's right. No more lives should be lost if we can help it."

Abraham nodded, and immediately took off. He appeared to know where he was headed, and Diaz turned to the rest of us when Abraham had become a small dot on the horizon.

"I have a place we can go," he said. "There's an abandoned Wingly city about five leagues to the northwest of Magrad. The Winglies would never look for us there. The city was deserted more than four hundred years ago and has fallen into obvious disrepair, but I believe we can rebuild and turn it into the new Human capital."

"You're talking about Urlis, aren't you?" Toan asked. "It was in that area."

"Yes that's it. It was abandoned when Winglies developed the technology to float their cities. Right about the time the first Humans were enslaved."

Toan nodded, obviously impressed with the man's knowledge of Endiness history.

"Well if we're headed there, then we should start now," Anais remarked, glancing over her shoulder toward the sparkling lights of Kadessa shining above.

"Right," Diaz agreed, and off we went, headed into the unknown for a city I never knew existed and an existence I had never known.