have snatched it off in an instant. She then attached the purse to his belt and checked his sword.
“Stop this!” he commanded.
The magical tempest had now doubled in size.
Lorina slapped his face hard. “You stop, damn you!” Her eyes blazed, though her lips still quivered. “They’ll be here in moments. We are to take Weslyn to Earth and protect him. There is gold in the purse, as well as instructions on how to return when the time is right.”
The shouts, together with the stomping of boots and clattering of swords, were becoming much louder. They had obviously found the stairs. Lorina responded to this by once again reaching into the folds of her dress, this time producing a tiny glass phial that she threw hard against the closed door. The phial shattered, instantly creating a cloud of red smoke that settled just in front of the entrance.
“That won’t hold them for long,” she said. “We must enter as soon as the portal is big enough.”
Jonas recoiled at the thought. “We can’t leave Lady Illyrian. They’ll kill her.” He wanted to plead with his mistress, but he knew she could not hear him. The terrible magic she was wielding had blinded and deafened her to all but the task at hand.
“Break it down!” he heard a harsh voice command from very close indeed.
Almost immediately came the crashing and clanging of men battering away at the iron gate.
Lorina looked to the door, then back at Jonas. Her jaw tightened and she pushed him toward the portal, which by now was almost large enough to pass through. “Go!” she ordered.
Reluctantly, Jonas moved closer, stopping a few feet away to assess things. If he ducked low he should just be able to squeeze through, but in doing so he might risk harming the baby. Regardless, that was a risk he would be forced to take in a matter of mere seconds. He heard the gate come crashing down and men storming along the passage. Only moments later, a solid kick from a booted foot had the ancient door bursting into splinters.
Two men in black plate armor, the red raven of the emperor’s guard splashed across their chest, stood in the doorway glaring menacingly through their steel helms. Towering behind them was General Hronso, his gold, chain-link veil revealing only his penetrating gray eyes.
In spite of the danger, Jonas glanced down at the tiny pieces of broken glass scattered about across the floor and smiled.
Drawing their swords, the two soldiers stepped over the threshold. It was as far as they made it into the room. The moment their boots crunched over the remains of the phial, violent flames erupted, consuming them instantly. Their horrified screams were still filling the chamber when Hronso jumped back, narrowly avoiding the trap himself. He cursed loudly.
Jonas looked again at the portal. Only a few seconds longer and it would be large enough for him to enter without risk to the baby.
“Give me the child!” roared the general.
The flames barring his way were already becoming a little less fierce.
“You will have nothing,” screamed Lorina. Drawing a dagger from her sleeve, she hurled it with all of her strength.
With astonishing speed, Hronso reached out and caught the weapon in mid-air. And though his mouth was covered, Jonas could see the sinister smirk in his eyes. Before Lorina could react, the dagger came flying back at her. With an ominous thud, it buried itself deep into her chest.
Jonas looked on with horror as she fell to her knees, clutching desperately at the blade. She looked back at him with tears streaming down her face, then slowly slumped to the floor.
The flames were now almost low enough for Hronso to safely enter the room. Jonas knew he must act fast. He moved closer to the portal.
“No!” Hronso’s voice bellowed out, the sound echoing off the walls. He was already reaching for a long leather whip attached to his belt.
Holding the infant close, Jonas tried to leap into the blue light. But it was too late. The whip snaked out and wrapped itself around his left ankle, jerking his leg sharply back. He was only just able to extend his arms sufficiently to keep himself from falling on the child and crushing it. The impact as he hit the ground forced the breath from his lungs, but still he managed to keep his wits. Stretching out as far as he possibly could, he pushed the baby forward just far enough for it to enter