Alex turned, looking for a new target and finding none. He could hear the ragged breathing from Marcus and the other guards as they sucked in air, yet none of them relaxed their stance. The sudden silence in the gardens was startling. Then the groaning, whimpering and wailing started from those who had survived.
Marcus bellowed instructions to his own men, who went about the messy business of making sure that the Sundered Ones were dead and would not be healing themselves to fight and kill again, and having to push aside some well-meaning healers who attempted to stop them. Others spread out, covering the approach points of the garden and courtyard and ensuring there was no hidden corner where a nasty surprise attack could hit them. Alex smiled grimly at the horrified expressions of some
