A second later the fire ignited the oil within the barrels with devastating consequences. Riyan hadn’t reacted fast enough. He, Chad, and the two guards they were engaged with were thrown ten feet through the air. Soth, Seth, and Chyfe on the other hand, had heeded Kevik’s warning in time and quickly disengaged. No sooner had they hit the ground than the concussion blast washed over them and smashed into the four guards they had been facing.
“Move!” yelled Kevik. No way had all the oil exploded, it was a matter of seconds before the rest went. Rushing over to Riyan and Chad, he reached down and grabbed Riyan by the shirt and pulled him up despite the pain still coursing through his back.
Riyan was dazed but managed to get to his knees before Kevik saw the archers aiming for them. Letting Riyan’s shirt go, he cast his missile protective shield before the archers had a chance to fire and deflected the deadly projectiles.
“Get up!” he hollered to Riyan and Chad. From where he stood over them, he could see the back of Chad’s head sported a good sized lump and his hair was matted with blood.
“Chad!” he yelled and started pulling him up.
Riyan noticed the state of his friend and aided Kevik’s efforts to bring him around. Moving to his side, he rolled him over and slapped his face. The stinging blow caused Chad’s eyes to pop open.
“Chad, we have to get out of here,” urged Riyan.
Kevik suddenly stood up and turned to face the charge of a score of soldiers. Using the magic of his staff, he created a massive blast of wind which knocked them back a dozen feet.
Then Chyfe and the twins were there with them. The twins quickly took hold of Chad’s arms and lifted Chad off the ground. Though he looked around with glazed eyes, he wasn’t really seeing his surroundings. Within the burning building, the fire was raging hot. Those barrels still intact weren’t going to last much longer. “To the river!” Chyfe yelled.
Taking the lead, Chyfe tried to determine which way that was. “That way,” Riyan finally said pointing off to their left. Chyfe nodded in agreement and with swords drawn, they led the way.
Arrows continued to fly and Kevik’s magic shield-spell did a good job of deflecting them. Pausing only momentarily to cast a goo spell or energy missiles to slow those in pursuit, Kevik brought up the rear.
Moving out, they hurried away from the burning building. A guard rushed to block their way but Riyan and Chyfe together made short work of him.
Burned, unmoving uniformed bodies littered the ground, intermixed with others who were writhing in pain. It was a testament to the effectiveness of the two barrels Riyan and Chad had chucked through the front door. They had no idea that they had been so devastating. The groans and cries of the wounded were heard on all sides.
As they moved away from the burning building, the presence of the smoke gradually diminished. Other guards were seen moving among the injured. The fact that their quarry was getting away didn’t take precedence over saving the lives of comrades. Men with burns themselves were seeking those who may still be alive.
Riyan led them at as quick a pace as the twins could move with the all but unconscious Chad supported between them. In the back of his mind, he could see fire licking the remaining barrels. As soon as an alley presented itself, he quickly ushered the others inside.
Once they were off the street, he brought them together. “I think the…”
Ke-Pow!
In a massive explosion, the remaining barrels ignited. The ground rocked and the building behind which they were sheltered, swayed on its foundation. The group was knocked off their feet by the concussion wave, Riyan hit the ground hard.
As he and the others got back to their feet, the building between them and where the explosion occurred groaned. “Move!” shouted Riyan. The wall next to them began cracking and from the sounds emanating from within, was about to collapse.
Seth and Soth again picked up the dazed Chad and practically dragged him in their rush to escape the alley.
With a final agonizing groan, the building started to collapse. First the sound of masonry cracking, then the wall along the alley began to topple. Already out of the alley, Kevik glanced back and saw Riyan was bringing up the rear. He was still some distance from safety. “Riyan!” he yelled, encouraging him to move faster.
Above him, the wall gave way. Jumping the last few feet, he narrowly avoided being buried beneath the rubble. Even still, one large chunk of rubble hit the ground, bounced, and struck him in the leg eliciting a cry of pain.
Having witnessed the blow, Chyfe came to him. “Is it broken?” he asked. Lending Riyan a hand, he helped him to his feet.
Riyan gingerly tested his leg and found it still able to support his weight. Shaking his head, he said, “I don’t think so.”
“Good,” Chyfe responded. “Now let’s get out of here!” Glancing around, he discovered an area devastated by the explosion. Collapsed buildings, charred bodies, and fires burning everywhere, Tryn was in total chaos. Of the guards and soldiers that had once surrounded the now utterly destroyed building, there were only bits and pieces. The blast had obliterated them. Leading the way, Chyfe and Riyan headed away from the carnage.
At the first intersection they came to, they were suddenly confronted by half a score of guardsmen on their way toward the devastated area. Both groups stopped in shock at seeing the other. Chyfe and Riyan drew their swords and Kevik readied a spell.
Then from behind the guardsmen, a rider at full gallop crashed into them. The cries of the guardsmen joined that of the rider’s horse as they fell together into a heap. Jumping free of the saddle, the rider cleared the guardsmen, hit the ground and rolled to a stop. Coming to his feet, the rider turned toward them.
“Bart!” exclaimed Riyan in surprised relief. Then he saw three of the guardsmen who had avoided the collision of the horse moving their way. Drawing his sword, he set himself to meet them.
Chyfe appeared at his side as did Seth just as goo covered the advancing men. A quick glance showed the other guards were either unmoving or injured. The horse was screaming in pain, one of its legs had been broken.
With the immediate threat nullified, Bart turned to the others and grinned. Glancing to where the smoke still billowed over the tops of the buildings he said, “I can’t leave you guys alone for a minute, can
I?”
“Glad you’re back man,” Chyfe said as he came and patted him on the shoulder. Before he could say another word, the sound of more approaching men was heard. It was coming from further down the street from which the first group of guardsmen had emerged.
“This way,” Bart said. Leading them down an adjacent side street, he hurriedly led them away. “Better find some horses and get out of here.”
“Alright,” agreed Riyan. “Lead on.”
The twins still supported Chad between them. He remained unresponsive.
“What happened to him?” Bart asked.
“It happened during one of the blasts,” explained Riyan. “Not sure how bad it is.”
Pausing at the corner of an intersection, Bart gave Chad a once over. “At least he’s still alive,” he said. Riyan nodded worriedly in agreement.
Bart glanced down the converging streets and saw that other than milling groups of citizens, the coast was clear. Then he saw an inn some distance down the street to their right. “Stay here,” he told them. “I’ll check it out.”
“Alright,” replied Riyan. “But hurry.”
Nodding in agreement, Bart moved out. A minute later, he returned with news there were enough horses in the inn’s stable for each of them.
“Good,” said Chyfe. “Let’s move.”
No sooner had they entered the street and were heading for the inn, than two score soldiers emerged onto
