Hadrian, Rock, and Jes had only been waiting for a few moments, watching the glowing, blue-white clouds gather in the dark sky, blotting out the moon and the stars. ‘So, no idea what that is?” Jes asked Hadrian again. The orckin shrugged and Jes urged her mount forward.

“Are you sure this is wise?” Rock asked as he followed.

“Probably not.” Jes admitted. “But I’m doing it anyway.”

Neither of the men with her argued, instead following along as they approached the highway. As they drew ever closer to the source of the bizarre storm, Jes could swear that she felt all of her hair raise in reaction to the charge in the air. The horses seemed nervous, tails lashing and heads tossing. Eventually, more than a mile from the baled field the Empire had claimed, the trio left their horses behind and walked on foot.

They came over a rise in the terrain and suddenly they could see the Empire’s camp spread before them from the westbound side of the highway.

The Imperial Army had set up numerous barricades surrounding the Rift in reality that they had created. Numerous tents dotted the camp, but none were in the central area where the Rift likely resided. The area closest to the barricades was empty of tents, but filled with soldiers. Above the Imperial forces, the blue clouds had expanded, there was a dull rumble of thunder as a few bolts of dark lightning jumped from one cloud to another.

Another set of barricades was closer to the highway, these were less well built, but more modern in nature. Behind them were police officers and deputies geared up for a riot. A couple of ambulances, silent and completely dark waited at the side of the road. Jes watched. A few of the Imperials were firing arrows, any time one of the officers stood up to fire. For the most part, it seemed like the Americans were just about pinned down behind their barricades. More clouds gathered as a couple of robed elves appeared out of the throng of bodies in the encampment. One of them lifted a hand and pointed toward the barricade.

A violet shrouded bolt of dark lightning struck at the pointing figure, wreathing it for a moment in that dark light. Then energy shot from its fingertips, brilliant blue-white lightning that arced toward the barricade. There was a massive explosion as it connected with one of the officers and the ammunition that he had been carrying, mostly in his own weapon, exploded. The barricade was decimated by that single blast and the few officers and deputies that weren’t immediately incinerated, dodged for cover.

Hadrian groaned. “You said there was no magic here.”

“There isn’t.” Rock insisted.

“There is now.” Jes’ voice held a trace of wonder as she watched the two magi unload on the police. Even as the mighty display of magic excited her, she realized just how dangerous it was to Earth. How could they fight against an enemy that could throw around lightning?

“Do you not have an army?” Hadrian asked, crouching down to make less of a target of himself and pulling the others down with him.

“We do.” Rock’s voice was hoarse, there was nothing they could do for those brave police officers. More lightning struck, followed by some sort of wind that cut the remaining people down almost immediately. They may have managed to shoot a few of the Imperials, but they were vastly outnumbered and overpowered.

“They’re all so far away.” Jes’ voice was soft, almost a whisper. “I don’t even think there’s a base in Iowa.”

“Send a runner then, you’ll need all your forces to fight back against this threat.” Hadrian’s expression was hard to read as he watched the disaster unfold below them. “We thought we had them on the run, that they were almost finished as a threat.” His laugh was soft and bitter. “They’re not a threat to Ograkall now, perhaps, but what have we unleashed upon this innocent world?”