Return the Rebels!

As Jereez raced down the corridor she'd chosen, desperately trying to find her twin and stop her, a loud but distant boom suddenly reached her ears and the entire tower shuddered, causing her to slow for a moment and look about. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught something unusual outside of one of the windows and, moving hurriedly across to it, looked out.

In surprise at what she'd seen, Jereez hastened a little further down the corridor until she found a door leading to an outside balcony that she'd been looking for. Leaning over the edge of the balcony, she peered down to confirm her sighting.

Outside, at the base of Lauthal's tower, was an entire army standing by, ready to charge. At the giant decorated double doors, a large collection of people were racing forward again with an enormous battering ram held between them. The building shook once more as it connected with the door. The rebels!

At the front of the waiting army, Mantonus was riding a brown horse along the lines, revving up the excitement of the crowd. This was it. This was the moment everything they had been fighting for was going to pay off.

Suddenly the elf turned and caught sight of Jereez in the tower and smiled at her. Jereez felt her heart skip a beat in relief. Hopefully the rebels would deflect some of Lauthal's soldiers away from her friends in the corridor. In fact, it was looking like the soldiers might find themselves fighting on two fronts. There was hope yet!

Eagerly she leaned out across the balcony and yelled to the elvan leader, "I didn't think you'd make it!" Mantonus smiled again, and tipped the robin hood-like hat he was wearing to her.

"You know me," he called back, "and my timing." At the same instant the doors to Lauthal's tower buckled and burst open and Mantonus turned his horse, leading the charge of his rebel army, who roared as they raced towards the broken doors.

Jereez couldn't wipe the smile from her face, and immediately set her mind back to the task of finding her sister. But she turned to find a figure standing behind her. Jereez looked up into the blonde craggy hair and dull eyes of her sister's underling Raelis. She took a step backwards, into the corner of the balcony, and realised she had no way of escape.

"There are already too many imps in this castle," the blonde-haired man threatened. Desperately, Jereez reached for a knife and thrust it towards the man, but he saw her and caught her wrist, twisting it cruelly within his grasp as he pushed her out of the corner, back into the centre of the balcony and causing Jereez to cry out in pain.