“The Masked Demon” is making me promises? Lawrence wondered. On his honor? This massive samurai didn’t seem the sort to make promises upon honor. With that horrendous oni mask, he looked to be more the sort that would find glee in massacring hundreds of people, disemboweling them as an added delight.

Possibly even eating the entrails afterward…

The failed mage tightened his grip, the enemy warriors closing in. He had to make a decision now. The huge samurai was obviously pressed for time. They all were, what with the ryu no me screaming in at them. Another exploded within the palace walls in an oily mess of fire.

The samurai had given him an option, otherwise he would probably be forced to have his men kill Lawrence.

“Make your decision!”

He hated this. But Lawrence had no choice. He growled in frustration and stabbed his katana into the soft grass. It wasn’t but a moment later that he was grabbed by both arms, the grips of the samurai beside him none too gentle.

But the massive warrior nodded at him, then to his men he said, “We get the palace guests and leave the grounds. Before we’re assaulted again. Too many have died.”

“Hai!” his samurai cried, and they ran for the entrance of the out building. The doors were opened and Lawrence, the failed mage, was ushered in to join them.

Is Sakura and Ishi even here with the people they’re holding? Are they prisoners, or are they being protected?

General Muji lead his men into the out building. Lawrence was no small man, though he wasn’t muscularly built, they practically dragged him along as they went up two flights of steps and entered a large landing area with crates and barrels, a set of large wooden doors ahead. When the huge samurai pushed the doors open, he came up short.

The failed mage could barely see through the press of warriors, but what he could make out was a large circle of forty or so people, all sitting with a single oni man at the center, a bright luminescent white light enveloping them all and getting brighter fast!

The windows had been covered with various things to prevent the light from escaping before.

“Nande kore wa?!”

The Masked Demon’s katana was naked in an instant. “AFTER THEM!” he roared.

“Lawrence, Quick!”

The failed mage recognized that voice. It was Sakura! Muji and his warriors charged forward.

Lawrence didn’t think. He reacted.

He pulled as much energy as he could as fast as he could and launched two fireballs at the floor to either side of himself. They exploded with a crack and the two warriors there jumped for cover.

Flames spread.

Lawrence rushed forward, launching fireballs at the floor as the confused group of samurai in front of him turned to address their surprise attacker.

Lawrence bowled past them, knocking one on his back as the Masked Demon took a swipe at his head.

The failed mage narrowly missed the blade as it snipped the end of his pulled back hair. He couldn’t see anything as he ran toward the press of frightened people bathed in white light.

He jumped, landing between the bodies in heap.