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The next thing Matullus knew, he was lying facedown in the dirt He had tripped over a body, or as left of a body: the corpse was charred beyond recognition Where the chest had been there was now a gaping, blackened hole, its edges cauterized by intense heat Matullus recoiled in horror, and that hen it happened

His captain was bending over hiet—” when he disappeared in a searing flash of bright blue light A soft, dull sound followed, like a ha meat, and the captain came apart in an explosion of blood, entrails and viscera

For a fewflash of thauht, pinpoint lights danced before his eyes He yet felt the heat of it, and of the spattered blood

The captain’s eviscerated, blackened corpse lay just a few feet away, thrown back by the power of the energy bolt, and there was not , one, and his hair and flesh had been instantly incinerated Matullus gagged at the sight and heaved his guts out, there in the street

By the time he rose unsteadily to his feet, it was all over The entire merchant plaza had emptied, save for a few deter tents

Bodies lay everywhere, so crowd, and soical assault Matullus stood there aathered around him

“Sir, what happened?” one of the mercenaries asked, wide-eyed They had draords and knives and were glancing nervously about

“Where’s the captain?” someone asked

Matullus pointed with his obsidian sword “There… what’s left of him”

He was gratified when two other ht At least he was not the only one

The fire brigade was already arriving, and there was nothing left to do but watch for looters Matullus detailed the remainder of the squad to do so, then returned to the barracks, where he iuard corporal He, unfortunately, had a much less pleasant duty to perform Lord Ankhor would have to be informed at once