Alastair was thankful that they weren’t too late. Flor and Sparks looked safe, Oliver and Francesc both were engaged but seemed to have the upper hand. Irving and his buddies were slaughtered in front of them, but they would respawn in the morning, never the wiser of this brutal death. Galoots would likely have an easy time with the guard, so Alatair glanced at Maelstrom and said, “The throne?”

  Maelstrom nodded, then said, “You take the left noble and I’ll take the right?”

  “Sure. Let’s do this.” They approached the dais together. Flor and Sparks joined beside them. The two minor nobles looked at the approaching party, then to the Lord Chamberlain, then at each other, and then ran out of the room.

  “So, this is the man who is stealing children, and doing unquestionable things to them,” Alastair said.

  The Lord Chamberlain stood, “You rabble know nothing. Leave here immediately.”

  Alastair said, “You certainly don’t have the upper hand. Four against one, and we’ll likely be joined by three more in a moment. You think you can escape?”

  “Again, child, you know nothing. Leave and be spared.” He moved his hands in a manner that Alastair didn’t understand. What seemed like a mass of energy formed between the hands, and what looked like a tiny tornado was developing from that mass.

  Galoots whispered, “Combat magic. I haven’t seen this yet. Guys, I’m almost willing to take the brunt of it just out of curiosity.” She ran forward, her warhammer ready, and the game interface flashed into combat. Meritxell pushed his hands forward and the whirlwind left and expanded, consumed Galoots, and thrust her out of the combat.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Galoots has left the combat!

  Damn, that’s powerful! Maelstrom took the place in the front, while the Lord began to charge another whirlwind.

  It seemed as if the combat slowed down. Alastair thought he saw Maelstrom whisper “Sorry.” Then she did another something he hadn’t seen. She started to glow, running through the colors of the rainbow and settling into a bright red that radiated from her. It reminded Alastair of DragonBall Z. The color flowed from her then into her sword, and she thrust forward and into the Lord Chamberlain. He faded from color to gray, then a skull appeared over his head and he collapsed on the ground and faded from gray to nothingness. The combat interface disappeared.

  Combat complete! +1 to Combat!

  Flor said, “What! Was! That!?”

  Maelstrom looked like she was about to throw up. She said on the steps of the dais, put her hands on her head, and was seriously green.

  Alastair looked over to Oliver, who had finished his combat but clutched a wound in his side. Francesc was nowhere to be seen, so maybe he had exchanged killing blows with the guard he fought.

  “Where is Galoots?”

  The team looked around but didn’t see her anywhere.

  Alastair - Party: Galoots? Where are you? What happened after you whirlwinded?”

  Alastair realized that they needed to help the team. “Sparks, go check on Mal. Flor, can you go to Oliver? I’ll check Irving and Francesc and look for Galoots.”

  Both Sparks and Flor did as asked. Alastair, knowing the worst for Irving and the thugs, went to Francesc. He was still present, clutching at a jagged bleeding sword wound through his brow. “Alastair.”

  “Francesc. We killed the Lord Chamberlain. How can I make you more comfortable?”

  Lord Francesc closed his eyes and tried to shake his head. His breathing grew shallow.

  “I’ll visit you in the morning when you are reborn, and I’ll recount the rest of our adventure here tonight.” The Mayor’s brother seemed to take this as an opportunity, and his breathing stopped completely.

  Alastair stood, continuing to look for Galoots. Flor instructed Oliver to press his hands into the wound to slow the bleeding. Sparks was talking softly to Maelstrom. Galoots was still missing.

  A realization overcame Alastair. We still have to find that table and finish this place.