Kira rubbed her face, trying to think how to explain quickly. "That was a Mage. My father is one of the rare Mages who can create the illusion of great heat. There are other rare Mages who can create the illusion of lightning radiating from them, directing it toward a target. The one who just tried to fry us could be the same one who attacked my parents a couple of times twenty years ago. He doesn't like my family. All right?"

"That lightning was an illusion?" Jason asked skeptically.

"Yes! So is this door and so is this stone and so is this floor! Really powerful illusions that feel absolutely real! That is how Mages see the universe, and it works for them! They believe in their illusions enough for their illusions to kill you! Now, can we finish escaping?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Fine! Thank you!" She knew it was ridiculous to be bothered by Jason's questions when there were an unknown number of people trying to kill both of them. But something was tearing at her inside. She kept seeing the face of the man she had shot as he lunged at Jason. There's no time for this. Later. She and Jason lifted off the reinforcing bars. Kira drew her weapon again, taking deep breaths. "Now."

They pulled together, the heavy, armored door swinging inward.

Kira waited, watching, listening.

She heard a noise behind them, the sound of the inner door being opened. "No more time. Run, Jason. We're going to go out along a pier and get a boat."

They ran through the night, the high wall looming behind them, the waters of the harbor not far ahead.

Lightning flared again, this time from above. Had an actual storm moved in?

The lightning flayed the ground nearby as Kira and Jason dodged. She looked up, squinting against the brightness of the bolts, seeing they were originating at the top of the wall. The Lightning Mage was there, still trying to get them.

It was a long shot with her pistol. Kira stopped, planting her feet, holding her pistol with both hands as she raised it and aimed at the shadowy figure at the top of the wall, afterimages of the lightning dancing in her eyes. She exhaled slowly, squeezing the trigger, knowing that the Mage would require a few moments before being able to hurl lightning again.

She fired, lined up her sights for a second time and fired once more.

The shadowy figure disappeared.

"Did you hit him?" Jason asked as they began running again.

"I don't know. Maybe. Maybe I just scared the blazes out of him. Whatever, as long as he doesn't try to fry us another time."

People were running from the sally port behind them, others along the base of the wall. Kira holstered her pistol to try to blend in with everyone else in the darkness. "That pier we came in on had boats tied up. Which one was it?"