The smoke was thick and disorienting, but Cedric could hear the shouts of the bandits as they scrambled in confusion. Lira led the way, her movements swift and precise as she cut through the haze. Kellen followed close behind, his daggers at the ready, moving with an agility that belied his laid-back demeanor.
Inside the ruins, the space was a maze of broken walls and collapsed chambers. Cedric's heart pounded in his chest as he scanned the area, looking for any sign of the children. The bandits, now coughing and cursing in the chaos of Maeve's explosion, hadn't yet noticed the group slipping through the ruins.
"We need to find the children," Cedric whispered urgently. "Tamsin, any idea where they'd be?"
Tamsin, her face pale with worry, shook her head. "They'd keep them somewhere hidden, a lower chamber maybe. Somewhere they can't escape."
Lira pointed toward a narrow passage leading deeper into the ruins. "There. It's the most secure part of the structure."
Maeve grinned through the smoke. "Sounds like a good place to start."
As they made their way down the passage, the air grew cooler, the stone walls slick with moisture from years of neglect. The sound of footsteps echoed faintly behind them—bandits, still unaware of their presence but growing closer.
Cedric held his hand out, summoning his magic, and the stone behind them shifted, sealing the passage and cutting off the approaching bandits. He could feel the strain of maintaining the barrier, but it held firm for now.
"They won't be able to follow us," Cedric said quietly.
Kellen let out a low whistle. "Handy trick, that."
---
They reached the end of the passage, emerging into a wide chamber that was lit by flickering torches along the walls. In the center of the room, a group of children sat huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. Two guards stood nearby, both armed with crude weapons and looking bored.
Lira's eyes narrowed as she readied her sword. "I'll take the one on the left."
Before Cedric could respond, Kellen was already moving. He slipped into the shadows, disappearing from sight, and in a matter of seconds, the first guard crumpled to the ground, a knife buried in his side. Lira moved just as quickly, cutting down the second guard with a swift, silent strike.
"Nice work," Maeve whispered, moving to the children. "Hey, you're safe now."
The children blinked up at them, still too frightened to speak, but Cedric could see the relief in their eyes.
"We need to move," Lira said, her voice urgent. "There will be more of them."
Cedric nodded, but as they prepared to leave, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the passage they had come through. His heart sank. The bandits had broken through his barrier.
"We're out of time," he muttered.
Kellen flashed a grin. "Looks like we're in for a fight, then."
Cedric could hear the bandits drawing closer, their footsteps heavy and quick. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way out. They were trapped, with only one exit and the bandits closing in fast.
"Leave that to me," Maeve said, her grin widening. She pulled out two more vials, tossing them in opposite directions toward the entrance. A deafening explosion rocked the chamber, and for a brief moment, the bandits were thrown into disarray.
"Go!" Cedric shouted, urging the children forward.