-----Out of the trio of orcs that are left, one swings his sword slicing into the lion's shoulder. The large animal growls out ferociously. The other two orcs facing Raven and Lovan miss their opponents.
-----Romney quickly rushes up to assist Lovan. The guard slices across at the orc, but the humanoid leaps back.
-----Sol swings his blade across ripping through the lower belly of the ogre and then just as quickly he reverses his sword to stab straight into it. The large monster falls to its knees very much weakened. It shoves out with one hand but misses the young warrior putting him close to the monster's prone chest.
-----Garrison does not fare as well as his enemy lands a blow across his left arm injuring him.
-----Suddenly another beam of light shoots out overhead. Just as quickly a second beam shines across the room in the opposite direction. It briefly lights on the lion and a strange thing occurs! The lion seems to freeze in position where it is with its paw raised while facing its orcish opponent. An odd grayish cast begins over the lion's tan fur.
-----Romney recovers somewhat and deals a strike upon the orc near Lovan and him. The orc leers at them while stepping back badly hurt.
-----Garrison brings his battleaxe and chomps at his ogre's left leg. The blade sinks deep into the foul flesh spilling its dark blood. The woodsman then tries to strike again, but appears a bit too winded to connect with the creature.
-----Sol's head snaps around as the beam of light dances in his periphery vision. It took only a small leap of logic to see what was happening to the lion, and the implications rob Sol of his breath. He gulps down some air and suddenly abandons his badly injured ogrish opponent, and begins sprinting towards where the foul magic came from, a crescendo roar of fury spilling from his lips.
-----The young warrior races toward the wall way over to his right passing Lovan, Romney and Garrison who are caught up in their own conflicts. Mirian stands off to one side by the hallway doors a look of shock and horror holding her features. In her hand, the lit torch wavers but she continues to hold it over her head as if fearful to let it drop.
-----As Sol runs, he sees a figure in front of him racing toward him as if to meet him in battle. Off to the right of the figure someone holds a torch similar to . . . Suddenly Sol comes to a stop as the realization comes to him. Before him, he sees his own reflection in the mirrors set in the wall. Behind him, he can see his friends continuing in the battle between the two flaming cauldrons.
-----Raven rips the throat from the humanoid in front of the lion's form, which now strangely looks much like a statue.
-----"RINDA!" Sarah shrieks, her voice carrying over the fight. The mage runs to the statue-like form quivering in terror. Her voice is now choked in sobs as she helplessly runs her fingers over the still gray figure.
-----With a pile of dead orc bodies in front of him, Raven turns and looks down at Sarah. He stares as if not seeing her while his chest rises and falls in heavy breaths. His breathing slows and he blinks his eyes as if clearing them. Slowly an understanding comes over his expression and he cocks his head in disbelief. His muscles relax as he begins to gasp out, "No, . . . no . . . it . . can't . . be." He looks around in the shadows of the chamber for the huntress that does not come to his side.
-----Lovan hefts his warhammer in an odd way as he swings his arm to connect with the orc that faces him. The move is very clumsy causing not only the priest to miss the humanoid, but Lovan yells out in pain.
-----Suddenly, the critically wounded ogre swings his club at Raven, which luckily misses the hunter as it swoops over his head.
-----Likewise across the floor, Garrison's opponent misses the woodsman as the ogre's club loudly smacks the floor.
-----As if in a dream, Sol suddenly sees a light spring forth from the balcony atop the other side of the room. The beam quickly shines upon the mirror to Sol's side and springs across the room toward the doors. There the beam strikes Mirian. In his horror, the scene seems to slow greatly before he can react. The torch falls from her hand and her lithe body tenses as the light strikes her. For an instant, she comes up on her toes as if starting one of her beautiful and graceful dances. The moment is then shattered as Mirian screams loudly and painfully. As the light fades, Mirian falls limply to the ground beside the extinguished torch.
-----Raven gathers his grip on his swords once more although it is obvious that something in his manner is amiss. He spins toward the ogre who swung at him and rakes the air in front of him missing the monster by a few inches.
-----Garrison growls as he swings his battleaxe at the ogre's legs and misses as the humanoid steps back from him. He then redoubles his attack bringing his weapon into the monster's left thigh.