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go through ahead and come back again. That should show us,’ Cina said.
    ‘Then gather your men and let’s go.’ Azra walked up to John, saying, ‘Hold here until I get back. If you are pushed hard, retreat to the basement, but the enemy must not get past to doors to the tunnels. Not until we can get the citizens on their way out of the city via the tunnels.’
    ‘Yes sir.’
    Azra went back to the Archway room and waited for Kia, Cina, and her men to arrive.
    They were soon there.
    One of the soldiers stepped forward.
    ‘Are you the one who’s going through first?’
    The solider just nodded, no emotion on his face.
    ‘I commend your courage. So, as soon as you pass through, you must immediately see that the other side is safe and step back through the Archway. As soon as you are back, we’ll send through the rest of you. Ready?’
    Again, a nod.
    ‘All right, through you go.’
    The solider stepped into the shimmering expanse and disappeared completely as he passed through. Everyone waited in silence. After a short moment, the solider stepped back into the room again, materializing from the Archway.
    ‘Is it safe?’ Azra asked.
    ‘Yes. The palace guard waits for us on the other side,’ the soldier said in a low growl.
    ‘Good.’ Azra turned to Cina, an asked, ‘Is this satisfactory?’
    Cina nodded and grabbed Kia by the hand. She started to lead the Princess to the Archway. Kia broke away and moved closer to Azra.
    ‘You’ll come soon won’t you?’ she asked.
    ‘As soon as I can.’
    Cina grabbed onto Kia again, determination in her face, and together they disappeared into the Archway. The soldiers from her personal guard followed.
     

The Serpent’s Deal
     
    ‘What mean you, you are not from this world... the Anciantos Empire is vast, spanning many stars... there are many not of this world...’
    -Amahl, leader of the Zharin Raiders, when first he met Shakla
     
    JARRIDON – BAZRA DESERT – HALLI
    W ith his niece safe through the Archway, Azra left the room and ran up the stairs to the lobby of his home. As he went through the door to the room, he noticed something wasn’t quite right.
    Everyone was looking in the same direction. All were silent. Azra turned to follow their collective gazes.
    Outside, on the far end of the plaza, at the head of a large host of desert Raiders, the snake man Sorcerer atop his black lizard mount was visible.
    Amplified by his own Mahgic, the Sorcerer’s voice carried clearly across the empty plaza.
    ‘Sssoldiersss, I ssseek an audience with your leader.’
    John and Jahnyz looked at Azra. Azra took a breath and walked forward slowly. He felt Jahnyz starting to cast protective spells around him. John rushed to the upper levels with more archers.
    Azra walked up to the sealed main entrance and raised his hands. The barricades that had been placed over it, slide aside and the Wyzard of the Burning Sands took a step out onto the front steps of the palace.
    Summoning his own Mahgic, Azra increased the volume of his own voice.
    ‘What do you want, Sorcerer? Why have you attacked this city?’
    ‘Don’t be ssso demanding. I am in control here. I am Ssshakla, leader of the hossst you sssee before you.’ The Sorcerer shifted in his saddle, sitting up taller.
    ‘Control has yet to be surrendered, Shakla,’ Azra pointed out. ‘You still have yet to take this palace, and we are ready to face you.’
    ‘Your diplomatic ability leavesss much to be desssired. I have given you my name, and yet you do me the dissshonour of withholding your own.’
    Azra bit his lower lip in frustration. Now wouldn’t be a time he’d be worrying about proper protocol. Still, he wanted to hear what this Sorcerer had to say.
    ‘I am Azra Hemnoth, of the Burning Sands. Baron of the Bazra Desert in the Kingdom of Hallon.’
    ‘Asssra Hemnoth... How very intresssting.’
    Something about the way he said that put Azra on edge.
    Azra squinted. A Zharin Raider was rushing up to Shakla. The