Killian saw a guard looking around with sword bared. His back was turned away, so it was a simple matter for Killian to come forward and wrap his chain around the guard's neck. He pulled and counted; the guard kicked once, twice. Killian let the guard's body slide to the ground.

There was another explosion, and this time Killian saw an accompanying flash of light. Guards were battling someone, and with each blast an armoured man went down.

The prisoners called out to one another, adding to the commotion. Killian looked down and found the strangled guard's sword. He didn't know much about sword fighting, but its presence felt comforting in his hand.

Some prisoners had formed a group and were battling a guard, swamping him with sheer numbers. Killian saw the guard go down and a tall man in rags grabbed the sword, waving it in the air.

Killian wanted to help them but he couldn't seem to run fast enough. He hobbled forward, in the direction of the gates, and it seemed everyone else had the same idea.

"This way!" Killian called to those who still stood by uncertainly. "It's either now or never, come on!"

Guards formed a line between the prisoners and the closed gates. Killian looked on in awe as a wavering figure suddenly appeared and a beam of light tore a hole in a guard's side, sending a gush of blood spurting out before the guard crumpled to the ground. The shimmering form appeared at another place, and still another guard went down as a bolt of energy opened a wound in his throat.

A soldier ran up to Killian, swinging his sword. Killian ducked and felt it whistle over his head, before swinging his own sword in a clumsy arc at the guard's chest. The guard blocked and the jar that went through Killian's wrist was so great he dropped his blade. Killian swung the stake on the end of its chain, catching the guard under his left eye and tearing open his cheek. When the guard screamed in pain and placed his hand on the left side of his face, Killian swung again, smashing the heavy piece of wood into his opponent's temple. The guard went down.

The shadow appeared again. This time a bolt of pure energy came out of its middle, tearing a fist-sized hole in a guard's stomach. Another guard swung at the figure with his sword but some kind of electrical discharge sparked across the blade, turning the soldier's sword hand into a blackened mess. As the guard screamed in pain and dropped his blade the ragged prisoner with the sword ran forward and slashed twice at the guard's neck and chest.

The hairs rose on Killian's neck as he heard the sound of chanting, and a blinding light suddenly appeared a dozen paces from where the guards stood. Another bolt came from the shining figure to take another soldier through the forehead.