Mai emerges from the maze to find Ira waiting outside.

'You should be with Katara.'

'I am your spy. My loyalty is to you. And a good thing, too – they've found your husband, Lady. Time to run.'

They do. They run – to the servant's quarters, out the door, to the palace walls.

A bell tolls out the alarm.

Ira melts the metal gate, flames licking her fingertips – out! Out they run.

Mai's breath catches in her throat. Rips the lining.

Cries – arrows.

'Run, Lady!' Screams Ira.

Mai runs. They both run, almost at the forest when Ira falls. Mai turns back – but she sees in a glance that the woman is dead.

And she runs onwards, for all she can hear dogs behind her, knows what soldiers they do have will soon be coming for her –

There is an explosion. For away as she is, it sets Mai's ears echoing. The light blinds her momentarily.

She falls behind a tree, caught in a storm of burning light.

When it subsides she cannot hear. But she turns – the trees around her are burning. The ground is hot. Her ears are ringing.

She looks through the trees.

The palace has been reduced to rubble. The city behind it – the new, racially pure city – she can see houses burning, there, in the distance.

She can almost hear their screams.

But this is a war.

She pulls herself to her feet.

And she heads south.