Chapter 10 - The Assault Continues

Toriban looked around the hall cautiously, keeping his hand on his sword at all times. "Are you sure that we're going the right way Allendrie?"

"Are you going to second guess everything I say? It is starting to get on my nerves."

"Yes, actually. I think I will."

"Why would you do such a thing?" Allendrie said tiredly.

"Because I don't trust you. Look up ahead."

Allendrie and Zara stopped and looked ahead. The hall forked left and right at ninety-degree angles. "We go left from here," Allendrie said.

"No we don't," Toriban whispered as he drew his sword silently. "There's a guard on either side."

Zara looked back at him. "How do you know?"

Toriban looked at her skeptically. "You mean you can't sense them? You should be able to reach out with your Rei Ki in the same manner that I use You Ki, the Dark Art."

Allendrie stepped back nervously. "What I want to know is if we have any way of getting by them quietly. Do you have a silent way of killing them, Toriban?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid our new friend won't like it. This may take a minute." Toriban stuck his sword into the floor and closed his eyes. Within seconds waves of heat began to emanate from him. Finally, after a few minutes of concentration, he extended both arms forward. A ball of black flame appeared in each hand. Toriban made a pushing motion with both hands and the flames moved quickly towards the end of the hallway, where they each went a separate direction.

Seconds later, sounds of gasping and choking came from around each corner. Toriban motioned to his companions to follow him around the left corner. There on the floor lay a Royal Guard, dead, with black smoke flowing out his mouth. The acrid smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

The other guard looked similar. Toriban turned to the other two with a grim look on his face. "I set their lungs and hearts on fire from within. They suffocated."

Zara looked shocked. "That's horrible!"

"Hmph. I told you that you wouldn't like it. Let's move on. Allendrie, you take point again."

"Right. We'll be there in no time."

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The Hooded One walked quickly into the audience chamber. Bowing at the base of the stairs, he climbed and spoke to Selphrin at his throne. "My lord. There seems to be a problem. One of the trees in the orchard was found ajar. Someone has been using the tunnels."

"Hmm. I want twenty guards at the entrance to this room. Summon Damien. I want him by my side. Send four patrols to search the halls."

"Pardon me sir, but why so much precaution?"

"There are only a few people left who know of the tunnels. Currently, the only living people who know about them are you, me, the Generals, my brother, assuming he is still alive, of course, and Lord and Lady Coryn, who still evade capture by us. If Calan and Tabitha Coryn have gathered a force from their dead House, and have managed to conceal that force while en route to the palace, we could be in serious danger. With Issin and most of our troops on the way to Omerta, we are mostly defenseless against a large force." Selphrin checked the clip of his pistol. "Now that I think about it, double the guard. Whatever force they were able to get inside the palace is likely small, but there is no sense in taking unnecessary chances."

"It shall be done my lord." The Hooded One bowed once more, and then set off to perform his tasks.

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"How much longer until we are there?" Zara asked, looking down the hallway they had just come from.

Toriban looked back at her over his shoulder. "Not long. We're close. I can sense three auras that are quite a bit stronger than normal. The only problem is what's between us and them."

"How many?"

"I can't tell. Their auras are overlapping. At least twenty. Probably more. You seriously can't sense them? I'll have to teach you if we survive this."

Allendrie stopped and put his hand to his weapon. "How far away are they? Do you have a way to take care of them?"

"Around the next corner. There are too many for us to fight normally, but I've got a plan. I have an attack that can take them out, but I'll be useless afterward. The last time I used the attack, I fell unconscious for two hours. That was two years ago. I am probably strong enough now that that won't happen. If it does, though, you need to hide my body. Then it will all be up to you two. Just make sure you take out one of the Generals for me, all right? There might be a noise issue, though."

"The audience chamber is soundproof, to prevent spying. No one inside will be able to hear anything outside."

"Alright. Wish me luck. I wish the same to you." Toriban knelt on the ground and began to focus, sending dark energy through his right arm. When enough of it had gathered, he slowly stood and took a deep breath. Toriban ran at full speed down the hallway with a vicious, violent look in his eyes. He slid around the corner, arm extended, palm out. He steadied his outstretched right arm with his left and took aim at the center of the group of shocked guards.

"Kuroi Kaze!" A spinning black vortex shot from his palm, whirling and screaming. It struck the entire group and flung them back. Forty men struck the ground and screamed vile horrendous screams of true pain and death. Each of them was entwined in the swirling energy, and as it passed through them, their nerves were severed and their vital organs pierced. Eventually, they all lay dead on the floor.

Toriban collapsed to the ground, and sleep took him.