The alarms went off moments after Thrid awoke, throwing himself from his bed and towards his sword. The constant reports to lord Crend had made him weary and a battle was what he needed to bring blood to his head again. His squad was waiting at the bottom of the stairs already armed and unprotected like him. "Reason?"

"Escape." The nearest soldier turned to follow his captain as they ran down towards the prisons.

"Which group?" They moved down the hallway scaring the confused servants who were unused to seeing naked bodies in the light.

"The magic users." They passed the guard unit that was heading to the disturbance, the guards bowed and returned to their stations.

They pushed open the door and were met with a grisly image, the blood soaked maw of a snake with horns. The first two through the door rolled under the fanged demon and pushed themselves up under its chest. The rest ran past it down to the waiting group below.

"Now that we are all here let me tell you what is happening." Thrid sat in his accustomed spot, on the summoner's back, while he addressed the room. "You have two options. First, I can kill you. Second, we can all get up, you can order your demon to obey me and let my men go."

"I'll go with my usual then."

"Again a good choice Master" The demon released the two who it had been holding, placing them on the ground and giving the female a pat on her rear. He pulled back a hand missing a finger.

"Why did you order that?"

"I can't afford to lose any more fingers, and with every wound you gain power. Besides she looks pretty." The exchange went unnoticed and Thrid had been continuing his explanation.

The group surrounding Thrid waited as he explained his mutiny. "You all follow me, we move immediately. Master, you stand by me in the formation. Rynd take rear guard with Drik and Corin. You two who's name's I don't care to learn shield my men, if you do a good job you will be allowed to live."

The group took their positions, deciding that following orders was better then dying. The group moved up to the top of the stairs and around the corner to meet a group of guards. "You apprehended them sir?"

Thrid stared the man down and he bowed stepping to the side to let the group pass. They came up to the room that Crend had locked himself into. "Demon, open that door." the locked door was ripped from its hinges and thrown into the room. "A little more subtly next time."

They entered the room, weapons drawn and stepped over the guards who had been knocked unconscious by the flying door. Lord Crend stood up, pushing the papers in front of him aside. "Why did you bring the escaped prisoners here?"

Thrid was behind Crend before he could react, his hand was forced to the table and his signet ring removed. The ring was tossed to one of the soldiers and Crend was tossed to another.

"Escort him to the dungeons. We have to move ahead as planned." Thrid sat down at the desk and quickly checked the paperwork. "You both escaped without incident." Thrid looked up and motioned the sorcerers to leave. "Master you are welcome here any time, except now please leave immediately and do not return for at least a month." Thrid turned to the final member of the former cell mates. "Rynd, welcome to my squad."

Master was escorted to the gate by Corin who had finally put on clothes so as not to disturb the citizens. When he reached the gate he turned to Corin "So, I can just leave?"

"Yes, those were my orders"

"And you guys will never tell me what happened here?"

"Those were not my orders." The gate was closed.