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Invading Will

Chapter 16

By: D. C. Henry ("Ahndeleck")

Deanna listened to the droning thick voice of the mayor. She couldn't decide what was more infuriating, the ring of the rod, the wails of the dragon, and the cheers of the people watching. She felt as if she watched for hours as she waited for Thomas and Matthew to return. Each breath they took waiting, would be another breath closer the dragon got to death. She wouldn't forgive anyone if the dragon died in Torland.

"Deanna," Thomas came jogging up the stairs, "Matthew is right behind me, and the prisoner are breaking the last few out. We found a number of extra keys so they'll be here in any moment."

Matthew came up behind Thomas, panting. He pointed down the hallway, as a loud roar of a mob erupted from the darkened passages.

"They're coming along now. I don't think anything is going to stop these people."

"Good, both of you get next to a wall. We want them to go first. After they've swept through the trail, we'll grab the dragon."

The tide of human bodies came moments later. The ragged, weak, prisoners ran up the stairs and crashed into the door. Without a lock, the door gave in and the roar of their cheering voices burst into the trail chamber. Deanna pressed herself against the wall close to the doorway.

Voices and screams mingled into a beast of noise and force. Deanna felt a viscous thrill at the chaos they had caused already. She gripped her sword tighter and readied herself to charge with the last of the prisoners.

When all that remained of the dungeon, was a trickle of the sick, and feeble, Deanna nodded to Thomas and Matthew. They both ran up the hallway towards the dragon, leaping around the slower people in their way. Deanna kept her sword down and ran forward with them, hoping to add blood to her thrill.

"Matthew," Thomas's voice sounded distant through the shouts of guards and prisoners in the streets, "Try those keys on the chains. We can get some of the other bindings off when we get the time."

Deanna climbed the stage with the other two and scanned the dwindling crowd around them for guards. Scattered around the entire room were bodies of people trampled and injured. Moans and cries of pain came from the floor below them, but none of them held a weapon in their direction, or moved threateningly.

The dragon survived a beating, a horrible one. While Deanna wasn't sure if any of his bones were broken, she could easily see the bruises all over his body, and red flowing gashes from several blows. He wouldn't be able to move quickly, it would be a miracle if they could move the dragon at all.

"Thomas, are we going to be able to get him out of here?"

"I don't know Deanna, but we can't leave him here."

"We won't. Where's your roof top?"

"It's up there, on the balcony." Thomas pointed quickly then fumbled with the last binding, "First window should be easiest. From there down into the streets and we'll sneak out."

"Climb stairs?" Matthew stood and waved at the dragon, "And then climb back down to the streets? Your friend is half dead!"

"Just get him up, we don't have time to let him heal."

Deanna leapt from the stage and ran to the stairway in the hallway that lead up to the balcony. There could still be guards in the building, anywhere, hiding to stop the stragglers, to kill anyone left. They'd better hope they wouldn't find her.

The balcony revealed no one. It didn't appear the guards on the balcony had stayed, and the prisoners had decided there was nothing important above. Both helped their chances. Deanna turned to the delicate window and slashed out the glass. Shards tinkled around her as she hacked the window clean.

When she turned back to the stage, the dragon stood and began his way down the stairways. Another thrill rose in her chest, pride that the dragon would move despite his wounds, and that the other two managed to get him up and to move. Neither feat could have been easy.

Deanna climbed out the window and looked down into the loud confused streets. The side street they were above avoided most of the chaos of the square. A few of the guards that had regained their composure had already begun the massacre she knew would follow the prisoners. Their time was running out.

The two men and the dragon were out of her sight, and she knew they headed for the stairway up to the balconies. She leaned back into the building and looked around the corner, she couldn't see them, but heard the dragon struggle with the stairs.

"Move that dragon," she shouted in at them, "They'll be in here before we get on the roofs."

"We're coming"

Deanna stood and took several steps out on the roof. Fort Blister kept simplicity in the design of their buildings, most of the roofs were flat. It would be easy to avoid the guards for a short time, but soon the roofs would be swarming with guards looking for them.

Looking across the tops of the building, the route Thomas chose lead through the least desirable part of the city. Several buildings appeared to be abandoned, perfect places to hide from searching guards. If she commanded the guard of the city, this would be the first place to have searched, and she felt certain that whoever was the guards' leader, they would do the same.

"Come on Raogothcar," Thomas pushed up on the dragon's shoulder, "you've got to climb out of here."

"It hurts," the dragon moaned, "to move."

"I'll try to fix that when we're safe friend," Matthew said as he helped prop the dragon up to the window, "but we've got to be safe first. Don't stop. That's the way."

The trembling dragon pushed himself up through the wide window. He looked revolting, blood poured down his shoulder from where the mayor had hit him several times. Several blows to his face had swollen one eye shut and discolored most of his face. He strained forward and pulled the rest of him out of the window.

Deanna ran ahead to where the end of the finely carved stone met with rough boards. While the guards didn't know where they were, she didn't want to stumble into any. The streets on either side of the building appeared empty for the moment, but the massacre in the square sounded to be thinning outward. Soon there would be guards on every street searching for prisoners.

"There," Thomas had run after her and pointed ahead of them, "That building has a place we can use to get down to the street. Though the last part is a bit of a jump."

"How much of a jump?"

"Not too much, its only-"

"Oh Yathma, what have I done?"

Deanna looked back to see Matthew gazing back at the sliver of the square that they could see from the roof. Blood flowed freely in the square, the guards had pressed back against the prisoners and several lay dead from the little she could see. Cowardice they couldn't afford, nor second guessing.

"Thomas," Deanna went back for Matthew, "get the dragon to your way down."

"Alright, don't be long. I can't-"

"I won't." Deanna stopped behind Matthew, "Get up, now."

"We've got to go back," Matthew pointed down to the streets, "we've got to save them, we can't leave them to-"

"No," Deanna punched the man, "you sacrificed them so we could live, now let's go."

She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up to his feet. She threw him after the dragon and Thomas. She'd have to watch the druid, he might cause more trouble than he he'd be worth. If he did that one more time, she'd kill him, along with anyone else that got in her way.

Thomas had stopped the dragon at the edge of a building. It looked like Thomas was trying to comfort him, but the dragon reacted the same as a spooked injured horse, hardly at all. She knew she would have to push the dragon off the building.

The first part would be easy, a stack of boxes lead to a small deck. Then a narrow set of stairs followed to a small wooden walkway. They would have to jump over the railing to fall down to the dirt street, the dragon wouldn't do well.

"Thomas you go down first," Deanna pointed with her sword, "Then you next Matthew. I want you both down there to make sure the dragon lands alright."

Thomas hopped down the boxes, and Matthew followed close behind. They both waited at the bottom of the stairs and watched.

"I don't-," The dragon winced and growled, "I don't want to go Deanna."

"Just go or I'll throw you off the roof."

With a feeble roar the dragon limped down the boxes. Each landing he yelped and bared his teeth. He turned well enough and started down the stairs. One of the boards snapped and the dragon fell forward. Thomas and Matthew leapt forward and caught the dragon before he slid through the railing.

"Be more careful you dumb dragon! And don't let him fall again, either of you." Deanna hopped from the deck down to the walkway, "Now kick out that railing, the less we have to jump the better we'll all be."

Her patience was wearing thinner. Their pace felt to slow, they could only as fast as a wounded dragon. She felt like wounded prey being closed upon by wolves. She didn't know how much more time they had, but every undiscovered moment felt perilous.

Within a few moments they kicked out most of the railing in front of the dragon. Thomas and Matthew jumped down to the empty road. Raogothcar lifted his head and peeked over the edge of the walkway. Feebly, he shook his head then laid down on the boards.

"It's too far Deanna," the dragon whispered, "I won't land."

"They both jumped and their fine. You're three times their size, so you can make it."

"I won't be able to catch myself. It's too far."

"Well I don't care, you're going to jump now."

Deanna ducked under the dragon's wing and pushed the dragon towards the railing. She heard the scratching of his talons on the wood and his breathing get faster. If she had to carry the limp dragon through the whole city she would.

"Jump dragon," Deanna strained, "you have to jump."

"Come on Raogothcar, Matthew and I will catch you. Deanna's right, you have to jump."

A deep whine came from his throat, but then the dragon pushed forward with his legs. Deanna felt his weight move on its own and she stepped back from him. Slowly, the dragon's body slid over the edge of the walkway and poured itself to the street below. Matthew and Thomas caught each foreleg and heaved.

When his hind leg hit, the dragon roared in pain. His left leg gave way, and he stretched out is right and toppled and both men leapt away. Deanna only heard a growl as the dragon seemed to curl slightly from the pain.

"Get him back up," Deanna hopped over the railing to the road, "We can't stop for anything. Come on roll him back on his legs."

All three of them lined up at the dragon's back and rolled him slowly to his feet. Deanna pulled out her sword and glanced around her. The buildings around them looked abandoned. The other buildings appeared lived in but stooped with age. It seemed to be a miracle that no one was on the road, most of the people that lived here had to be working in fields or elsewhere around Fort Blister.

There were no guards yet, but she knew that would change soon. They had been lucky so far. Thomas and Matthew had helped the dragon back to his feet. The fall struck his back leg the worst it appeared. He held his weight off his left hind leg as the three hobbled down the road.

"Thomas, which way? What's the plan?"

"Down this road, then at the end there is a small row of shops. The other side of those is the outer wall. Not far from that is the westward gate. We can hide in one of these buildings for a while if we have to, but this place will be filled with people by nightfall."

"Raogothcar needs to stop." Matthew called over the dragon's wing, "These injuries look fierce, and he's not going to be able to walk soon if we don't stop and bandage these wounds, or do something to help his legs."

"Has he broken his leg?"

"I don't know, I can't tell from over here can I?"

"It hurts, it hurts." The dragon wailed.

"Thomas, Matthew, we'll use that building, the one with the upper floor that's caved in. Hopefully we won't have to worry as much about anyone surprising us while we wait."

They hobbled and jogged to the building. It appeared to have weathered time worse than most of its neighbors. Deanna kicked the door open and stepped out of the way for the dragon to hobble past her. Thomas and Matthew followed him and disappeared into the deep shadows. The door's hinges bent with her kick, but Deanna used a board from the dirty hallway to prop the door closed.

"Thomas," Deanna looked into the first small room, "where are you?"

"Second door on the left Deanna."

"How is he?"

"I don't know yet." Matthew tossed small pieces of a wooden chair away from a corner, "Raogothcar, come here, lay here and let me look you over."

"I just want to sleep."

"Not here," Deanna said, "Thomas, check the rest of the building. I don't want any surprises while we're here. Matthew, how long until he can move again?"

"By Yathma, why did we even save you? I said I don't know."

"Find out then."

The dragon had curled himself limply in the corner of the room. Matthew crouched before him for a few moments, then would bend over a large bruise or cut. Deanna sat on a small crate near the door and waited. Matthew unlatched a thin leather bag on his back and laid it on the ground.

"What's in that?"

"Some call it a roaming forest, but its some tools I can use. Herbs, plants, mushrooms, a few tufts of animal hair, things like that."

"So you can't actually do any healing?"

"I'm sure you know, that healing magic is difficult. Did you know that that direct healing like the churches do actually harms the healer?"

"Right now that shouldn't be an issue."

"Well, then how about that I can't do that then?"

"Then what can you do? So far I haven't seen a whole lot."

Matthew took a small leaf from the opened bag and laid it on one of the dragon's wounds. He pressed the leaf gently to the wound, the dragon growled as if at something in a dream. Matthew began whispering softly, and then Deanna saw his hand shine green for a short moment. When he turned back to his laid open bag, Deanna saw that the leaf was growing around the wound, sealing it.

"Impressive. I've not seen anyone heal a gash that large so fast."

"It's not healed. Sap from the Baul leaf can help a dragon's body heal, but it won't heal him by itself."

"It looks healed."

"I also asked the leaf to cover the wound. It changed its shape and should stay in place long enough for the wound to heal completely."

"You made the leaf grow?"

"You don't know much about druids do you?"

"There is a circle in Freeraven, but I've never met them. They don't cause trouble, so I don't need to know them."

"Alright," Thomas walked through the door and sat on a bench in the opposite corner of the room, "No one else in the building, but we definitely can't stay here. It looks like there's a family in the rooms up above staying here, maybe two families. There's only one way in or out of this building, unless you go through the windows, but that would be pretty hard for anyone. We're safe until the family comes back."

"Good. Matthew, can you get the dragon to move in six hours?"

"I'll try," Matthew looked up from a second leaf, "but that's entirely up to him now isn't it?"

******

Eleanor left the council chamber and headed towards the balcony. Whenever the debates went longer than normal she always felt the need to get away from them all. Most of the time she spent her nights in the small city hall outside the tower, but after the assassination attempts Alan wanted her close. She appreciated that he thought of her, but every day and night inside the tower would surely drive her insane.

She stood at the balcony of the tower looking down on the city that asked her to care for its future. Every time she saw the city from above she felt pride well up within her. While she was the leader, all the people below her worked hard and made the city the place it was now. Ravenstone was a place she proudly called home. She almost felt ashamed staying in the tower, hiding from the dangers that lurked nearby.

The council needed her presence, so even if staying at the tower felt like cowardice it was necessary. She secretly envied Deanna and Raogothcar though. While she tried to add some level-headedness to the council, the other two were seeking the problems at their source. Eleanor had done council meetings for long enough to know that they accomplished important things, some which wouldn't be done otherwise. It didn't stop her wish to directly face problems however.

Alan needed her as well. She knew he wanted to go after anyone responsible for what had happened. They had probed each other's thoughts before they sent Deanna north. Since then he had confided in her about the kingdom as a whole. She knew he was ready for the burden of ruling a whole nation, but even to the strongest minds the task seemed daunting. Leading a city had proven to be difficult, but advising Alan in some cases turned out to be even more of a challenge. A challenge she enjoyed as much as the man.

She looked out at the early evening courtyard below. The trees cast a cool shadow that offered a break from the warmth of the day. With all the debates about Torland and Freeraven's expansion, the council chamber had become hot with tempers and conflicting ideas. Eleanor walked away from the balcony with the idea of an evening walk. Alan would welcome a chance to get away from the politics she thought, he never did like to watch people argue.

She had seen Alan leave the council chambers and go down the stairs, she guessed he would be at the dinning hall with his father. When she arrived, King Roland sat at his table alone. Alan normally sat with his father and ate together with him when he got the chance, and after a council meeting he always had the chance. She walked up to the table, and the king smiled and waved her to a chair.

"Come to eat with an old man today?"

"I actually came looking for a younger one," Eleanor sat beside King Roland, "and thought he would be with his father."

"I would've thought so myself Eleanor, but Alan just went downstairs. He seemed bothered by something. You know how that boy can get sometimes, all lost in his own head."

"I can pull him out sometimes. You're right though, maybe I should let him think a while. With all the debate about Torland, he's got a lot on his mind."

"We all do Eleanor, and its all different for each of us. Kyle's brought us proposals that have changed a lot of how we look at the north. Its even made us look at ourselves too. I'm getting too old to make all these decisions anymore. We don't want an old fool like me to lead the men of Freeraven to do something they don't want to do."

"You're no fool."

"Ah, but you admit I'm old."

"I didn't say that."

They both laughed. She liked how underneath his strong ruling exterior, he was still a fun loving man. Alan had inherited his father's love of life and fun, which she was glad for.

"Eleanor, I miss getting to talk with you when you back to town. You really should just stay here. Its where you're going to be in the future right?"

"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. I love Alan, but he hasn't actually asked me yet. I had hoped it would have been soon before he got sick. We had talked about it a lot."

"Yes, that did change a lot of plans didn't it? That started a lot of changes actually."

"It has. You both have been very busy because of everything those druids have done to us. So I don't mind waiting a little while longer."

"I don't want to wait though Eleanor I'm an old man, no matter what anyone says, or what I look like. I would very much like to see my son marry such a beautiful woman. I know his mother would too if she was still around."

"Thank you. But you know how Alan can be, he'll get things done on his own time. Lately he's been very independent. The last several days we haven't talked much, and when we do, I can tell there is something bothering him a lot. He's pacing around and has his head in the clouds. I'm hoping maybe I can distract him for the evening."

"I think he needs it too Eleanor He said he wanted to see the vault, so if you want to find him, I bet that's where he's gone off to."

"The vault? Did he say why he headed down there?"

"No, he didn't say. I thought it was a little strange too. No one's been down there in ages I think. Maybe Benjamin has, but he never tells me."

"He never tells any of us anything. Alan might need some distraction, but that man needs to get out of the tower for a few days."

He laughed as Eleanor stood. She patted the man on the shoulder as she stood to leave. Why Alan would be in the vault was a mystery to her. She had only been below the tower once, and hadn't planed on going back. The original elvish people had built some sort of giant sealed room below the city, and then built the tower over it as a sort of temple. None of the mages she heard or books she'd read on the history of the place ever explained for certain what he temple had been for, or what they had sealed below. It had been over six hundred years since the elves had been destroyed, so no one considered the vault to be holding anything really important.

Eleanor took the stairs behind the main stairway down underneath the tower. The mage lights that lit this part of the tower always picked up a dull blue color with whatever the mages made. The effect made the wide stone stairs ethereal. Below the stairs ended onto solid rock. A large open cavern that had long been sealed before humans ever set foot in Freeraven kept the place safe. But the cavern also held the front of the vault. Stretching beyond where her sight could see was the surface of the stone doorway. Now the circle spells and other magical etchings were dormant, but when Glen was the court mage, he told stories of the entire surface glowing a bright blue.

Alan stood before the door, looking up at the vault's face. Beneath it, he appeared tiny, almost as if he as a miniature statue. Eleanor walked across the smooth rock towards him. Her footsteps echoed in the enormous cavern, and the echoes lingered even after she stopped beside him.

"Alan, what are you doing?"

He stood looking up at the vault, motionless for several moments. Then he sighed and looked at her. She could see something was on his mind. The smile he used to hide when something he was thinking about bothered him told her that he wouldn't say.

"Nothing, love. I just hadn't been down here in a long time and wanted to remind myself of something."

"Of what?"

"I don't know. That there were others here before us, that they wanted to do something great. It doesn't seem they ever finished it either. I was thinking that I don't want to end up the same way. A kingdom lost to time, tossed aside by the whims of someone else."

"You won't be tossed aside Alan. Freeraven loves you. I love-"

"No, I was talking about whoever is trying to get rid of me."

"Oh." She took his arm, "Don't dwell on it though love. Let's go outside and walk around the tower. Your father was telling me how he was hoping you might finally ask me to marry you again. We've not talked about that in a long time."

"I don't know Eleanor, We've got another council meeting tomorrow. I don't think I have the time to go on a walk."

"You can make time. The council's going to talk about the same things as they did today. A lot of the same arguments are still going to be there, so there isn't that much need to-"

"I would rather work on the council Eleanor It's a delicate situation that needs my attention. I'm not about to let anything get in the way of what this nation needs."

Eleanor knew he had made up his mind. He had the rest of the evening to work out the details of the council meeting, but that's what he wanted to do. Their walks only took one single hour of the day, but he didn't even have time now to spend an hour with her. They had argued before, and she knew just from the look of his face how the argument would end. She released his arm and straightened her back.

"Then I'll go for a walk on my own. I'll see you in the council tomorrow Alan."

She turned and walked away from him. Her face felt hot, and her thoughts did as well. He had never chosen the council over her before. She had always been the one to push him back into the council when he didn't want to go, why the sudden change? If he wanted the council's company over her then that's what he would have.

Eleanor stormed back up to the balcony. If he was going to act like that to her, she would just let him stew in his own thoughts for a while. All she wanted to do was take his mind off of things for a short time, but if that's what he wanted, she could supply. If only for a while, she hated to see him troubled. She hoped he would change his mind before the evening was done. He had before, and perhaps he would again today. She decided to wait on the balcony for him.

******

Deanna agreed to take the last watch and let the other three rest before they tried to escape the city. If she had gotten her way, she would have left as soon as possible. She hated having to wait, but knew the dragon had to rest from his ordeal. No one could expect anyone to move so far so fast after what he had endured.

Matthew sealed several large wounds all over the dragon, and rubbed a sort of cream she couldn't identify into the dragon's bruises. She didn't know what else the man had done since her chance to rest had come.

The sleep helped keep her edge, but didn't seem restful to her. It was a formality; she couldn't enjoy sleep in the middle of a battle field. While there was no war, no opposing sides, it felt like a battle field.

She had never been in a war before. The closest she had ever come had been raids against the Red Finger hide outs around Long Dock years ago. Since then, only duels with criminals that wouldn't submit to law. Now that she was free, she felt small and vulnerable. It felt like there were hundreds of guards in the city that would kill them on sight if they had the chance.

Deanna stood from her crate and walked down the hallway towards the door. The sun slipped through a crack in the wall from one of the front rooms. A small beam of light lanced down into the floor of the hallway. Soon the slaves in the fields would be returning home, at least she guessed. They would have to start on their way to the gates soon. Hopefully they could sneak out while no one noticed.

"What have I done? How could I let so many people die?"

Deanna turned back to the room and strode back. Matthew sat on the floor with his head in his hands. He looked up at her, and she saw the pain in his face. She thought death was something druids would be used to, but she was apparently wrong.

"I've doomed so many people to death. I saw them in my sleep, in the square, cut down by the guards."

"Aren't druids used to death Matthew?"

"Death yes, but I caused a massacre." He waved an arm towards the streets outside. "How many people have I killed by releasing the prisoners into the streets? How much blood have I caused? That's not what I'm supposed to do. I'm to maintain harmony and balance, not promote bloodshed."

"What you did was free us, and give us a chance to strike back at Torland."

"That's more bloodshed. More uncalled for sacrifice for no gain, no purpose, and all it does it make me more like you, a heartless murderer!"

Deanna straightened herself and glared contemptuously at the man. She was no murderer, but she was a protector, a fighter, a champion. No druid would understand what she fought for. Her country needed her.

"Listen, and don't make me say it again druid. What I am trying to do is save people. There are thousands of men, women, and children that rely on what I am doing right now. If I don't make it back to Freeraven with what I know, thousands more will die. Even more will end up working to death in a field or a mine or Baguru knows where out there.

"Torland has its eye on Freeraven, it has for a very long time. Its making its move to take it, and right now I'm the only one that stands in its way. So a hundred people died today, that's a cost I'm willing to pay to save my country, to save my people."

"Hey," Thomas had woken up and stood between them both, "we can fight later. Right now we need to remember that we're in the middle of a city that doesn't like us very much. So let's focus on how we're getting out of here alright?"

"Fine," Deanna turned and strode back to the hallway, "get ready to go, we need to leave now."

"Raogothcar isn't ready to-"

"Druid, make him ready to go. The slaves are going to start coming back from the fields."

Deanna couldn't believe the man Thomas had chosen to help them escape. She would have to kill the man if he whined any more. She would throw Thomas back to the lowest ranked scout when they returned as well, his judgment needed to be tempered. The dragon needed to go through military drills and training as well. Surrounded with the soft and the weak would eventually drive her crazy.

"Raogothcar," she heard Matthew from the room, "wake up Raogothcar, we've got to keep mov-"

"Don't touch me." The dragon growled then fell back to the floor

"It's alright Raogothcar," Thomas said, "he's a friend alright? We need to get you out of here. We can find you someplace better to rest but we've got to go now."

"Now, dragon." Deanna said over her shoulder as she walked to the doorway.

"I'm coming, just don't touch me."

"Alright, I won't. I'm sorry."

Deanna took the board that propped the door closed and peered through the doorway. Near the end of the street a group of six guards walked together, but at least the group walked away from them. In a few minutes they would turn the corner that they needed to head to and be out of sight. The rest of the road appeared abandoned. Yathma's luck might still be on their side.

The other three stopped behind her. When the last guard rounded the corner she pushed the door open wide, drew her new sword and jogged into the road. Both men jogged after her, but the dragon still limped along. The rest had done him well and it sounded as if he could keep up, even on three legs, for now.

Ahead of them, Deanna heard the babble of a small haggling crowd. Dread filled her, so many people would definitely be watched, and a large injured dragon would instantly call some attention.

"Thomas, is there a market nearby?"

"Yes, its through that row of buildings ahead of us."

"Any chance we can go around?"

"Not unless you want to go half way around the city. Every other direction means larger roads, roads that'll be watched."

"Thomas, I swear I'll kill you for this when we're out of here."

"It's the best I could do Deanna. It's a way out at least."

"How far from the gate is that square?"

"I'd say a good few yards to the last row of buildings, and then after those the wall itself. It's not far."

"Then we could just run for it?"

"Maybe."

Deanna didn't like the idea of running through even a slow marketplace. Most of the people would be setting up their afternoon shop. The rest would just be the few free people in the city getting their pick before the slaves came in for the day.

The dragon gave a half bark half grunt. Deanna slowed and looked down the cross street where the guards had gone down. They were gone, but an older woman with a small baby in her arms stood staring at them.

"Damn." Deanna whispered.

"Guards!" The woman turned and ran down the road, "Guards, they're here! They're here!"

"Get in those houses," Deanna sprinted towards the nearest door, "Go!"

She rammed the yielding door with her shoulder. She fought to keep her balance as she stumbled over the broken door. The guards would follow them easily, but there was no time, and no way to fight that many.

While the others entered the room, she kicked down the door at the other side of the room. The aged doors in the building proved to be no barrier to her thankfully. Running into a dead end gnawed at the edge of her mind.

After the fourth door, she kicked into the low evening sun and the noise of merchants. Few of them stopped and looked in her direction. Deanna held out her sword and feverishly checked for anyone armed. Then she ran, and hoped the rest of them could keep up.

Behind them, Deanna heard the shouts of alarm. Her legs burned as she charged for the other row of buildings. Alarmed shoppers dove out of her way, and the slower ones she shoved into stalls and to the ground. None of them would stand her in way, her blade waited for blood at the first that would try.

The last stall sold tools, and Deanna's gaze caught a hatchet laying on the table. She lunged to a stop, reached for the tool and twisted around. The dragon galloped on three legs, Thomas and Matthew at his sides. In the buildings they had charged through, guards skipped and stumbled through the wreckage she had caused.

Deanna threw the hatchet, and felt her mind grasp at the twisting blade in the air. It felt far too heavy, and slippery. She roared as she pushed the hatchet with her mind, it had to meet their pursuers.

One of the guards fell. The hatchet struck with its handle and bounced of the man's chest. The other guards leapt away, scattering from fear. It would only delay them, and Deanna turned to use what time she gained.

"There," Deanna pointed to a shop across the street, "In there."

They poured through the door into the shop. The two people inside dove for cover behind the counter. Deanna stopped by the door and pointed towards the back.

"Thomas go make sure the gate is clear, I'll hold them off here."

"Deanna," Thomas burst through the back door, "back here, there's no windows."

"Alright," she waved the dragon and Matthew to the door, "just make sure we can get out."

Deanna saw the guards running after them. Within moments they'd be at the shop. She couldn't fight off so many, she had to delay them. She twisted behind the back door and slammed it shut.

"Matthew," She propped herself against the door. "get something to bar this door now."

"Get out of the way!" she heard the guards now, "Somebody, stop them!"

Matthew dragged a barrel towards her, and she stuffed the heavy bulk beneath the handle of the door. It wouldn't hold for long.

"Not enough, get me more."

"Deanna," the dragon wheezed, "The shelves."

Beside the door was a heavy set of shelves, filled with assorted tools and small crates. It would be about the best they could get at short notice.

"Matthew get the other side, help me push it over."

They both heaved at the wood. Their first attempt only made the future shudder. The guards kicked at the door, but the barrel held its place. Together, Matthew and Deanna toppled the shelves. The heavy weight shoved the barrel aside as the shelves created a new barrier. The rattle and crashing of hundreds of small boxes and metal tools rang through the room.

"You both be ready for Thomas," Deanna crouched in the center of the room, "if they get through I'll keep them back until we know we can leave."

She heard the dragon panting as he limped to the other side of the building. Matthew stood somewhere behind her, but didn't move. She wasn't sure if the man just wanted to be difficult, or had no idea how dangerous the situation was becoming.

"Would you just go?"

"I've got a distraction." Matthew said absently.

"What?"

"Thomas wanted me to make a distraction," Matthew waved up at the ceiling, "I know what I can do to make one."

"You'd better hurry, that door won't hold them for very long."

The guards had shoved the shelves away from the door enough to make a small crack in the doorway. Their shouts felt much closer, and Deanna felt the familiar rush in her brain just before a fight.

"Get back Deanna."

She would back down from no one. Then she felt Matthew's hand puller her shoulder back. She turned or a moment, death in her eyes.

"Deanna, get by the door or you'll be trapped."

Matthew had his club wedged into a small space between the ceiling and a large thick wooden pillar that held the floor above them up. He grabbed his club and nodded towards the back of the room. The mad man was about to try to bring down the whole floor above them.

"You're insane." Deanna ran to the doorway.

"Quiet, I've got to make it grow."

She could leave him. As he closed his eyes and wrapped his hands around the club, Deanna felt the need to sacrifice him to the enemy for their survival. War had sacrifices, and usually the stupid were first to be sacrificed.

Matthew's hands slowly glowed a light yellowish green, and then the color faded upwards into the club. Another loud crash from the barricaded doorway shoved the shelves further out, in a few moments the guards would be upon them. Sweat broke out on Matthew's brow, as he shoved the club deeper into place, then stood back.

"That should do it, run."

"What?"

Matthew ran through the doorway, nearly knocking Deanna over. After she regained her balance, she prepared for the coming guards. Their next charge toppled their barricade and made an opening large enough for each of them to eye each other.

She was aware of the shouts, and of the first man charging at her. Then he stopped in mid stride, bewilderment covered his face. Matthew's club had sprouted from the ceiling, in seconds bright green leaves had covered the wood and spreading quickly. The other guards poured into the room, but froze at the spreading foliage on the ceiling.

Deanna shook her head in disbelief, then hopped backwards through the doorway and shut the door. A chair by the door would have to be the only bar time would afford, and she wedged it in place. Greenery would stop the men for a few seconds, the door for a few more at best.

"Deanna come on, we've got to get out now." Matthew waved by the back door of the building leading into the street, "I don't know how far that will go for sure."

"What do you-"

A loud creaking vibrated the floor below her, and shouts of fear and alarm poured from the room behind her. Shattering wood thundered through the room, and then a cascade of crashes shook the building. The sound of rustling leaves remained in the new silence. Deanna turned in disbelief back to the door.

"Matthew, what have you done?"

"I gave the building enough life to grow again." Matthew sounded breathless, "I don't think its done yet either."

"I agree." The dragon said near the back door.

Branches wormed their way through the cracks in the door and began to swell. Deanna recoiled at the unnatural growth. Every corner of the wall before her began to creak and warp. The building wouldn't last much longer to whatever Matthew had done.

"Let's go," Deanna strode towards the door, "I don't want to be inside when this plant tears this place apart."

"What about Thomas? Didn't you have him looking for a way out?"

"I did, and he's good at that. But we'll find him later, outside."

The dragon left first. Deanna followed Matthew, but paused at the door to look back. Whole sections of the wall fell to the floor with loud cracks as a leaves and branches forced themselves out. She closed the door and stepped back, there was no telling what would happen with the building. She couldn't imagine how much magic he had used to make this happen.

Both the dragon and the druid leaned against the stone wall on the other side of the stone street. Matthew's face had grown white and sweat poured down his face. He had pushed himself hard with what he'd done. Deanna recognized when flash mage pushed themselves too hard, which was what Matthew looked like then. Now she had to watch an injured dragon and a half dead druid. Thomas had better return soon, she wasn't looking forward to the pair now.

"Deanna," Matthew panted, "I'd get away from there."

"Why?"

Matthew only pointed behind her. When Deanna turned she saw the leaves in the windows, she stumbled backwards. There was no fighting whatever the druid had done, only getting out of the way. She backed slowly to the wall beside the dragon and hoped the plants wouldn't go any further.

"Matthew, this is crazy."

"I agree. I can't do this much, I've never seen a plant fight so hard."

"So something else is doing this?"

"I think-"

Thunder snapped and deafened her. She jumped and snapped her head forward in time to see the wall before them shudder and then slump inward. Her heart hammered as she waited to see if the wall would choose to fall inward, or down upon them. Crackles rang up and down the street, and splinters from the mismatched stores fell to the street.

Like a stunned man, the store front fell away from them, collapsing in on itself. At first slow, creaking and whining. Then with a rage only gravity could supply, whole wooden walls collapsed. Dust and boards exploded from the base and Deanna rose her arms to protect her face.

She lost her balance, and felt the street meet her hard. She lay expecting more blows, heavier and more painful. When nothing came but ringing in her ears, she pushed herself up.

Dust had filled the air around her, her next breath made her cough. All that was left of the building before them was a heaping pile of wood and leaves. She heard muffled shouts in the distance, but the ring in her ears masked their meanings. One sounded closer to he than the others, when she looked, Thomas slipped out of the dusty fog.

"Deanna! What happened? Are any of you hurt?"

"No," Deanna pointed at the rubble, "Matthew made your diversion."

"Oh," Thomas looked from the destruction to Matthew dusting himself, "well let's go, it's pandemonium in the street right now."

"Then let's go before anything else happens. Hopefully they won't find we're gone till sundown. We need to find a place for them both to rest. Neither are doing well now."