Marcus and the rest of the group dashed to a small closet on the other side of the hall. They ran to escape the onset of flames engulfing the burrow. Just as they piled into the supply closet, the air grew smoky and it became hard to breathe.

  "Keep going, don't stop." Arminius motioned for them to climb up the crawlspace situated at the top of empty supply shelves.

  Arminius adjusted his belt, watching the girls climb first, then Layne and Marcus, before following at the rear.

  As they emerged into a large open concrete room, massive lights turned on, and a droning horn rang out. Marcus climbed out and found himself face to face with one of the machine horrors. He gasped, eyes wide.

  Arminius placed a hand on his shoulder. "This is a maintenance bay. They're suspended. But who knows for how long. Keep moving."

  Scaffolds held dozens of machines, each with limbs folded into its body, compressed into small oblong spaces equal in size. The scaffolding formed long rows that spanned the length of the massive room.

  "If we're lucky, the control deck has an alternative way out." Arminius pointed to angular windows overlooking the area. "Let me go ahead first."

  The five jogged to the end of the row and then after the Myrmidon punched at the glyphs of a panel, they stepped through to a small room filled with frames of switches and buttons, quite like what was found in the Firestorm's cockpit. But these were on huge bookracks organized into small square sections.

  They climbed an angled set of steps and entered the area overlooking the suspended rows of machines. It was dim, lit only by the lights that flooded illumination onto the scaffolding which held the countless machine horrors.

  Arminius poured over a central control panel. "There's always a way to open alternative access to these places somehow." There were glyphs etched on all sides of the many switches. "Just need to figure out which one does the trick."

  Around them, bursts of gunfire echoed out in the distance. Often, they were accompanied by screams and cries. The air grew thick with smoke.

  Arminius flipped a few switches and punched a button. Behind them, a hiss followed the wall parting. Inside the room was a long but narrow staircase that spiraled up the wall. At the very top, rays of daylight.

  The five scaled and after what seemed like an eternity with smoke nipping at their heels, they exited the stairwell into the small control room beside the massive warehouse just inside the burrow's main gateway.

  They ran out and found the carts inside the warehouse, with Simon, Ekkehard, and their kid companion Ozzy staring at one of the metal tanks with a line from each jump box piped inside it.

  Simon waved. "Back already?"

  Arminius sized him up. "What's going on here?"

  Ekkehard leaned against the cart. "Caeso said to get fuel, so we got fuel."

  "Machines are filled too." Ozzy nodded.

  Arminius smiled. "Good work, that's why they pay you the big denar."

  Layne cocked his head. "You guys are getting paid?"

  Simon and Ekkehard shrugged in unison.

  "Wrap it up, we got to get out of here." Arminius motioned toward the door.

  Suddenly a warning horn sounded within the warehouse overhead.

  Baldmund and Caeso, who were standing just outside the main gate rushed in and shouted, beckoning. They were startled by the sight of the five emerging from the office.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Good timing, something's up down under." Baldmund said.

  "Yeah, us." Arminius leaped on one of the carts to take the reins. He turned around to look at the mechanics working on the jump box. "Daylight's burning, let's keep it rolling."

  "Good to go." Simon gave a thumbs up from behind the jump box on the cart Arminius manned.

  "All set here." Ekkehard nodded, standing behind the other cart.

  Arminius snapped the reigns and the horses trotted out of the warehouse. Smoke began to bellow out of the office and through the seams of the hallway door.

  Baldmund recoiled. "What did you do?"

  Marcus unslung his tonoascia and tossed it to Ekkehard then rushed over to the crate and grabbed another.

  "What is this thing?" The mechanic poured over the weapon.

  Marcus grabbed one in each hand. "Something a bit more useful."

  Layne followed his lead, emptying the crate, slinging another and holding one in each hand.

  The massive gateway began to slowly slide shut.

  "This place is sealing itself." Arminius shouted. "Unless you want it to be your tomb, clear out."

  The carts left the warehouse, and the group all ran for their lives, dashing back toward the idling uprights just outside the burrow entrance.

  With a hiss, the Burrow gateway sealed shut. The ground rumbled. Around them distant vents in the forest jetted smog into the air and a thin soot permeated the area.

  Arminius let out a long, steady breath followed by a cough. "That was the Burrow sucking out all the air from the underground. Whatever was alive down there won't be in a few moments."

  "Radaria!" Ishild shouted, arms raised. She dashed over to the dragonling still resting in the palm of the Firestorm. She smooshed her face against its head. "I was so worried about you, you know." She spoke with a kissy face.

  Marcus walked over to their supply cart and dropped all the spare tonoascia he had into it. He then crossed his arms and watched Ishild fawning over the dragon and chuckled softly.

  Layne dropped his spare weapons in the cart. "She really likes that thing, huh?"

  "You would too if it was considered your sibling." The princess said, standing beside them.

  "What do you mean?" Layne turned to the princess.

  The princess motioned to Ishild. "A day of days, all of the backwards, outlandish rumors that spread among my social circles have turned out to be true." She pursed her lips and shook her head. "The girl with gilded wings, the feral one raised by dragons."

  Layne scratched his head then rubbed his arm. "I wouldn't call her feral. Didn't appreciate being mauled though."

  The princess smiled. "Perhaps that would be an unkind description, I agree."

  Marcus thought back to his encounter with the dragon in the riverbed and suddenly it all made sense.

  The princess turned and faced Marcus. "I never had a chance to properly introduce myself." She folded her hands in front of her. "I am Princess Cornelia of House Anicia, second heir of the Orator of Etrusca." The princess looked at the ground for a moment. "My apologies. First heir, most recently."

  Marcus held back a sigh, seeing the pain in Cornelia's eyes, he forced a mild smile. "Marcus Valentia."

  Cornelia's sadness washed away for confusion. "Valentia? That's..." Her attention passed between Layne and Marcus, then she glanced to Arminius, who was taking stock of the cart next to the Hastatus. She exhaled quietly. "Marcus Valentia, pleased to meet you." Turning to Layne she smiled. "And I never got your name."

  "Layne Seinsheim." He nodded.

  She nodded with a smile, then brushed off her pants like she was straightening a dress. "Well, this was a strange way to meet, wasn't it?"

  Marcus stared at the burrow gateway. "Definitely wasn't part of the plan, that's for sure."

  "What plan is this?" Cornelia tilted her head and smiled.

  Marcus pointed at the Firestorm behind him. "We're trying to get to Kourion City."

  "Ah. Joining the war, I see?" The princess said.

  Marcus shook his head. "Not in the slightest. Just trying to get our papers and then get back to the Midlands. Get out of this mess for good."

  Cornelia squinted and pouted with a confused look on her face. "The... Midlands? Why in the leagues would you go there?" She turned to Layne. "N--no offense."

  "Well, that's our homeland." Marcus said. "This was my father's upright; it got captured by some barbarians." Marcus continued to explain to her what happened.

  "S--so you say the Midlands," her tone exuded confusion, "is... is your home." The princess spoke with a feigned understanding. She squinted at the Firestorm. "And this machine was your... father's?"

  Marcus nodded. "Right, you got it."

  A pained expression washed over Cornelia's face. "Right, of course. A perilous adventure for sure." She again glanced to Arminius who was talking with Baldmund and Caeso. "And--and you're an orphan?" She motioned to Layne.

  "Yes." Layne said flatly.

  "Terribly sorry to hear that." She took a deep breath and squinted. "I'm glad you're in a better place now."

  "Debatable." Layne sighed.

  "And... but..." Cornelia opened her mouth to speak when she looked beyond the two and gasped, eyes wide.

  Marcus spun on his heels to find columns of infantry on the move toward them and cannons setting up on a small field afar. He turned to Arminius. "Hey!"

  The Myrmidon looked at him, then glanced at the field. "Go and hide." He pointed at Cornelia then to Ishild. Then he motioned to Marcus and Layne. "Get that upright on the move."

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