They went past Rohan’s hallway and rounded the corner to take them by Thisbe’s crypt and to the elevator. There were three guards lounging by the exit. When they saw the size of the group coming at them, they jumped to their feet. “Help!” they called out, pulling their swords. “They’re escaping!”

Thisbe dug into her pockets as more guards and Mangrel came running onto the scene. She sent two of the soldiers sprawling with backward bobbly head spells, and a third screaming in pain with the pin cushion spell. One of the soldiers, whom Thisbe had fought once before by the river, dove at her feet, tripping her and sending her sprawling. He pulled his sword and slammed the hilt into her shoulder, causing shock waves of pain radiating through her.

“Get into the elevator!” Thisbe yelled to the others as fury rose in her throat. Every one of the slaves were defenseless except for Thisbe. If something happened to Thisbe, the black-eyed children would suffer greatly. It was up to her to protect them and show the soldiers that they were picking a fight with the wrong person. Trying not to cringe, Thisbe pointed at the guard who’d attacked her and yelled, “Boom!”

His body exploded into pieces, which rolled around on the floor of the catacombs. The remaining soldiers and Mangrel stopped and stared.

Thisbe mentally rammed through her emotions, refusing to feel regret, and reached for her components. Choked up but knowing she had to prove her dominance over the soldiers, she shouted, “He didn’t have to die! And neither do you! So stay back and leave us all alone, or I’ll do the same to you!”

Rohan reached the button that opened the elevator’s glass door, and the others scrambled inside. “Come on, Thisbe!”

Mangrel stepped forward, arms above his head. “Thisbe! Do your magic on these two in front of me! They’re not to be trusted. Then get out of here, all of you! I hope you all make it to safety.”

Thisbe’s mouth fell open in surprise. Was the crypt keeper trying to trick her? But his face was earnest, and he kept his arms raised. She frowned, contemplating killing the two, but she’d done enough to show them what they were up against. One death was one too many, and Thisbe didn’t want to add anything else to her list of regrets. Instead she used shackle and silence spells on the remaining soldiers. She left Mangrel unharmed.

“Good luck!” he called to them as Thisbe hopped inside the elevator. Rohan closed the door and hit the button to bring them up to Dragonsmarche.