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“Could be a problem,” another replies.

Miko sits in his saddle with growing trepidation as the two men reach the gate. Grabbing hold of the crack between them, they pull hard and to everyone’s amazement, begin to swing open.

Before the gates swing open more than a foot, Miko kicks his horse into a gallop and races forward.

“Miko!” cries out Illan. “Let’s go,” he tells his men and they race after him.

When Miko reaches the gate, he almost rides over Jiron. He takes one look at the creatures battling him and he realizes this is the source of the ill feeling. A blinding white light erupts and he’s surprised to find the Star of Morcyth in his hand. He hadn’t even been aware he took it out.

“Miko!” Jiron cries when he rides past him into the swarming mass of creatures.

Unknown words begin issuing forth from Miko as the light from the Star burns the creatures around him and begins forcing them back.

“James is out there somewhere,” Jiron hollers to him.

He looks around and sees what looks like a pile of the creatures. The shimmering light from James’ shield can be seen in brief glimpses under the undulating mass of creatures covering it.

Behind him, the unmistakable sound of swords striking flesh can be heard as Black Hawk’s Raiders wade into the creatures. Pushing his way forward through the creatures, he draws closer to James. Where the light from the Star touches the creatures, smoke begins to issue.

The words continue to come forth, words of unknown origin and meaning. Now close enough to the pile atop James’ barrier that the light from the Star strikes them, they begin to fall away. He looks in relief as he sees James with one knee on the ground, an intense look of concentration on his face as he works to maintain the barrier.

Around him, the battle is drawing to a close. The creatures continue the attack even though the Star burns them. They don’t come close to Miko and the Star, instead they rush toward Illan and the others where they are cut down by the cold iron blades of expert swordsmen.

“James!” Miko hollers as he comes to a stop next to the barrier. The creatures surrounding James have been driven off by the Star.

Opening his eyes, he looks up to see a rider on horseback, a blinding sun held aloft in his hand. At first he doesn’t realize it’s Miko, but then recognition comes. Getting to his feet, he glances around and when he finds the creatures out of the immediate vicinity, cancels his shield.

“Thank goodness you showed up,” he says coming to stand beside his horse. “Don’t know how much longer I could have withstood them.” He staggers slightly as a momentary wave of dizziness hits him.

Reaching down a hand to steady him, Miko says, “Come on, we need to get you back to Lythylla.”

“Did you find Jiron?” he asks as he takes the hand and swings up behind him once his head clears.

“Yes,” replies Miko. Indicating the fighting going on by the gate, he adds, “He’s back there with Illan and the rest.” He turns his horse and with the Star held aloft, rides back to where the battle still rages.

The number of creatures has been significantly reduced, Illan and the rest are finishing taking care of the last few. Several of his men have fallen to the creatures, but both he and Jiron have survived with but minor injuries.

They arrive just as the last one falls. Illan glances to James and then the sea of dead bodies. “You never do anything halfway do you?” he asks.

“No,” he replies a touch sad. He hates the killing as much as anything, but what else can he do but allow them to kill him?

Off in the distance the glow from where the siege equipment burns is visible. “Looks like Delia and her crew managed to take them out.”

With no more of the creatures to worry about, the light from the Star goes out and Miko puts it back into his pouch. He glances to Illan, “Guess we won’t have to worry about an attack for awhile.”

Just then, horns are heard and they see coming from out of the dark the rest of the Empire’s forces, at least eight thousand strong. Another blast from the horns and they begin moving