Yin, Yang, and Maj stood in front of the captain of the guard. Maho and Liam were standing beside them. Liam had an ill-concealed smirk on his face. Everyone knew the three of them were in for it.

The captain of the guard was large man with a crewcut. He always wore an olive green uniform with black combat boots. His hooded eyes were looking down his hooked nose at Yin, Yang, and Maj. Yin had a habit of calling the captain "Bird Man."

"Deliberate disobedience of a direct order," the captain said in a rough voice, reading from the report Maho and Liam gave him. "Conduct unbecoming of a guardian of the dimensions. Destruction of guardian property."

Yin looked at Maj, confused.

"The airship," mouthed Maj.

"Not our fault," muttered Yin.

"Silence!" the captain shouted. He looked at the file and did a double take. "Soliciting minors to aid in hindering an ongoing guardian investigation? Multiple charges of endangering the welfare of a minor? Yin, what have you been doing?"

"Sir, there was no solicitation of any sort," Yin said. "Unless you count me giving a dollar to a homeless man."

"So no minors were involved?" asked the captain.

"I said there was no solicitation," Yin said.

"They paid her with a dog," said Liam.

"The dog had nowhere to go," said Yin. "We were just watching him until they got back."

"Sir, Yin may be unconventional, but she knew that if no action was taken, the welfare of the dimensions would be in jeopardy," Yang said.

"Who are you?" snapped the captain.

"This is Yang Pyro de-Roux," said Maho.

"Pyro?" asked the captain. "The Yang Pyro de-Roux?"

"Yes, sir," said Yang.

"Records show you were killed," said the captain. He turned to Yin. "By your sister."

"That would have been the case if it were not for unforeseen events," said Yang. "I lived and was controlled by the djinn named Bane."

"Bane?" scoffed Liam. "Bane has been dead for centuries."

"Bane's execution order was to be carried out before any of us were born," said Yang. "He was never executed. Until now."

"By our hands, Bane is dead," said Maj.

"Then where is his corpse?" Liam asked.

"You are welcome to reassemble the ashes into a body if you like," said Maj.

"Be one hell of a jigsaw puzzle," Yin added.

"Quiet, all of you," commanded the captain. He sighed. "I have no choice, since there is no proof a body that—"

The door to the room opened and a messenger rushed in. He handed the captain an envelope and left. The captain ripped the envelope open and read the letter inside. He paled and his jaw went slack.

"What is it?" asked Maho.

"A pardon for Magicfire, Yin, and Yang," answered the captain. "Issued by the high councilman himself."

The three friends looked at each other. The high councilman? This was big!

"You are free to leave," said the captain.

"Cool," said Yin. "See you next week, Bird Man."

"What just happened?" asked Maj.

"We got bailed out," answered Yin.

"By the high councilman," Maj said. "But how would something like this reach him so quickly?"

"I have a feeling that someone who knows one of us has connections to the big man himself," said Yin.

"But who?" asked Maj. She looked at Yin. "No, you didn't."

"Did what?" asked Yin. "I was just as surprised as you were when the pardon came in. I didn't say anything to anyone about what I was going to do. You didn't, did you?"

"How could I?" asked Maj. "I barely knew anything until you summoned me. Yang?"

"I've been under Bane's thumb," said Yang. "I don't know anyone who would do this for us. If anything, I would think someone would order my execution right on the spot for everything I've done."

"So if it's no one you know," said Maj, "and it's no one I know, then it must be someone you know, Yin."

Yin shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't asked anyone to do me any favors. I can't think of anyone who has connections to anyone in the guard."

Maj sighed. "Whoever it was, we owe them. I better get home. Kiwi probably needs to go out."

Maj opened up a portal and stepped through it.

Yang turned to Yin. "You're not going to tell her it was your friend?"

Yin shook her head. "I don't even know if it was him," she said. "But it won't hurt to check. You owe your life to him. Come on, I'll introduce you."

"What about the children?" asked Yang.

"Aelita and the others? They're in Manhattan with a clan of gargoyles," said Yin. "What could happen?"

"What could happen?" she says. Yeah, you know that something is about to happen. Keep reading to find out.