The fighting grew more intense, clubs and edged weapons wielded by both sides. She saw arms half-severed from shoulders, skulls staved in by bludgeoning blows. A group of the Guards forced their way through the melee to the stairs. The lines of Templer priests parted to let them through. The Guards formed a circle upon the wide space at the top of the steps, immediately in front of the arched doorway. Their actions troubled Selene; she could see no reason for them. They were up to something.
The blank-masks, their numbers swelled by more and more arriving from the surrounding city, had finally predominated. Now there were those among them wearing other masks: people not a part of the organized rebellion who had joined in when they saw what was happening. The few remaining Guards on the gr
