IARRED Boom. I skidded to a halt. Battle cries rang out as the imperial warriors rushed forth mounting counterattacks. The hallway flooded with warriors as everyone prepared to defend the palace. It had to be the traitors. This might be their response to our message of their comrade’s decapitated heads impaled on our gates. What was that noise? How did they get explosives? The walls shook. Out of my peripheral vision I saw Tadurian Daraay. I wasn’t surprised to see him. He was my best friend and he always made it a point to fight by my side. He ran toward me. “Iarred we're under attack. General Tomkin is securing the king and queen as we speak. I can't find Katan.” Tomkin Rimarch was the fiercest Tamazuc warrior I knew. He was also one of the best in strategic warfare. His loyalty was

