Morvus was sweating profusely now, his armour heating up all around him. He yelled in pain as the padding beneath started to smoulder. The commander struggled to rise from his knees, just as Athgar released all the energy he had remaining. A beam above them splintered into a thousand pieces as a burst of fire destroyed it, and then the ceiling came crashing down, burying the Cunar in burning rubble.

Athgar slid to the floor, his back still leaning against the door. The screams of Morvus grew more intense as the fire consumed him and then, went quiet. Only the roar of the fire could be heard as the Therengian finally passed out.

Cyric was lifting Natalia's head, looking for wounds, when the sound of an explosion seized his attention. Looking up to see the windows blow out of the northern offices, he watched as flames rose in abundance. In that instance, he knew, without a doubt, that Athgar must be somewhere inside.

The fire was spreading rapidly now, consuming all it touched. Cyric noticed a group of Temple Knights trying, in vain, to stem the spread of the flames, their backs bent to the task of hefting buckets of water.

As the offices burned, a sign caught his eye. It read 'Commander Morvus', and even as the edges began to char, he knew what must be done. Cyric gently lay Natalia back down on the ground, then rushed towards the burning building.

He grabbed the door, intent on opening it, the handle almost too hot to hold. The Mathewite put his shoulder to the task, his weight behind it, but it only moved slightly. Smoke poured from the opening, but Cyric spotted something. An arm! Bracing again, he pushed even harder, the door moving only a handspan or two, but enough that he could squeeze his bulk through the opening as he held his breath.

The entire room was ablaze, the heat attacking him in a tremendous wave. Smoke stung his eyes, and his lungs cried out in protest, but then he saw the Therengian, jammed against the door. Cyric pulled Athgar to the side, allowing the door to open fully, then grabbed him beneath the arms, pulling the unconscious man out into the open.

He let go, leaving Athgar lying in the courtyard as his own legs gave way. Footsteps came closer, and Brother Cyric looked up to see himself surrounded by Temple Knights of Saint Cunar.

Cells

Autumn 1103 SR

Athgar opened his eyes as he felt someone press a damp cloth to his forehead. Natalia bent over him, concern written on her face.

"Where are we?" he asked, the words croaking in his smoke-ravaged throat.

"In a cell," she replied. "We've been placed under arrest."

He tried to shift his position slightly but was wracked with pain.

"Stay still," she soothed, "you've been badly injured. I've bound your wound as best as I can, but there's little I can do for your burns."