26
“Open the doors!” Ashure roared as he stepped through the portal Magna had created.
The two Centaurs guarding the front entrance to Nali’s palace had taken a defensive posture while other guards rushed forward. Ashure looked at the Centaurs. They lowered their weapons when they finally noticed Tonya cradled in his arms and covered in blood. Twisting around, they hurried to the palace’s enormous double doors and opened them as he climbed the steps with his precious burden.
Ashure swept by them into the warmly lit interior of the cave that had been converted centuries ago into the Palace of the Monsters. Tall columns supported massive arches and vaulted ceilings beneath the upper levels. The polished black floor was sprinkled with diamonds and other semi-precious stones that were forme
