Everyone drew their weapons as the two sides rushed at each other.
All except Igor, who used nothing but his fists.
A guardsmen raised his sword for an overhead strike but Storm raised his own sword to block.
When the two weapons connected, Storm's sword cut right through the opposing sword.
Before the man could back away, Storm slashed him across the neck.
"THE BARON IS MINE!!" Yelled Ciela.
As the two began to duel, Storm and Aurora made sure that no one interrupted the fight.
A man tried to rush at Ciela while her back was turned, but Igor closed his hand around the man's head and lifted him off the ground with effortless ease.
The man screamed and kicked to break free but Igor tightened his grip and the man's head popped as it was crushed.
He then threw the body at three other men and knocked them off their feet.
Aurora was fighting 3 guardsmen simultaneously while wielding her ice spear and sword.
She stabbed one man through his throat, then deflected a strike from a second man with the haft of her weapon, before tripping him and impaling him through the chest with the sword.
Before the third man could rush her, Storm stabbed him from behind.
"I had it under control!! But thanks anyway!" Said Aurora.
It didn't take their group long to dispatch the guards.
The last one to fall was the Baron.
He tried to strike Ciela a few times, but she dodged every strike.
He rushed forward to try and stab her but with a quick flick of the wrist, she knocked his sword out of his hand.
Then stabbed him through the eye and deep into his skull with her needle like blade.
"That was for Kirin, Scum!!" Said Ciela.
She pulled the sword out of his skull and he collapsed on the ground.
"We need to get everyone out of this city!! More will be coming!!" Said Storm.
"What about Elowen and Morrigan, Mistress?! We can't just leave them to die!!"
Storm could see how the decision was tearing at Ciela.
She was torn between her duties as a leader, and as a friend.
So Storm made the decision for her.
"Where did they go last night?" Asked Storm.
"They went to go see their partners at their homes.
One lives in an house on Market Street, the other isn't far from here, close to the Ice Wolf Lodge." Explained one of the Kitsune.
Storm was silent as he considered his options.
"Storm?" Asked Aurora.
"Aurora! Take the Kitsune to the secret exit out of the city!
I'll go look for the missing Kitsune!" Ordered Storm.
"Ohh!! Thank you, Dragon!! Thank you so much!!" Said the same Kitsune that spoke up before.
She rushed at him and embraced him and for a moment he was convinced Aurora would kill them both.
"Storm!! No!! It's too dangerous!! I'll go with you!!" Exclaimed Aurora.
"No, you won't!! Someone needs to guide the Kitsune out of the city!!
Only you and I know where the secret exit is. One of use must stay with the Kitsune!!" Replied Storm.
"Igor can accompany you if you need help!" Offered Ciela.
Storm considered it for a moment before shaking his head.
"His strength will be of no help here! Stealth is needed and his big size will be an hindrance!" Replied Storm.
"Storm! This is crazy!"
"Aurora!! I can do this!! Just trust me!!" Storm reassured her.
She was silent, before nodding her head hesitantly.
Aurora gathered everyone and started to guid them to the escape route.
Ciela was the last to go.
"Thank you, Dragon! I promise you! My people will never forget what you've done for them today!"
Storm nodded his head and Ciela rushed to rejoin her people.
Storm made his way through the city alone.
The city was abuzz with activity, common citizens were running around trying to find safe haven from what they thought was an hostile invasion.
Others were patrols of guardsmen, looking for their group.
Storm did his best to avoid both groups as he searched for the Kitsune.
A squad of soldiers suddenly appeared ahead of Storm, causing him to stop.
Before he could decide what to do, a pair of hands grabbed him from the side and pulled him into a dark alley.
Storm looked up and saw the same hooded thief he chased on his first day in the city.
The man held a single finger in front of his mouth in a shushing gesture.
A moment later the patrol rushed past and continued on their way.
Once the danger had passed, Storm confronted his rescuer.
"You're the Shadow Prince, aren't you?! Why are you helping us!?" Storm asked.
"I have my reasons. " he answered.
"Would you care to elaborate?!"
"No. There will be time for answers later once everyone is out of danger!" He said flatly.
He handed Storm a glove with a blade and chain attached to the underside.
"You'll need this! Traveling through the streets is too dangerous, so we'll be using the 'Thieves Highway'."
The Prince held out his hand towards the top of a building and a blade and chain shot out a moment later.
The chain grew taut and the Prince was suddenly pulled upwards towards the roof ledge.
Storm eyed the contraption suspiciously, before putting it on.
"Aim at where you want to climb to, then press the button on your palm.
Make sure your fingers aren't in the way!!" Called the Prince.
Storm did as instructed and aimed at the roof edge beside the Shadow Prince, he fired the grapple and he was suddenly pulled off his feet towards the top of the roof.
He grabbed the ledge when he got closer, then began pulling himself up.
The Shadow Prince held out a hand, Storm took it and the Prince pulled him up the rest of the way.
"Very good!! We'll make a Shadow out of you yet!! Follow me and stay close!!" Said the Shadow Prince.
Without another word, The Shadow Prince took off running towards the other side of the roof.
He jumped off the edge without hesitation and fired his grapple at another house across from the street.
"This guy is crazy!!" Thought Storm as he rushed to duplicate the feat.