Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

Huangyan crouched in the shadows at the edge of the prison complex. The black iron key felt warm in the palm of her hand.

Morvain's paranoia had turned the entire place into a fortress.

But the fortresses had a weaknesses.

The first explosion lit up the night sky behind her. Grim's assault on the supply depot sent flames fifty feet into the air. Shouts erupted throughout the camp as elves rushed toward the fire.

It was the perfect distraction.

Huangyan moved toward the service entrance Theron had told her about. The eastern side of the prison building. Away from the main guard positions.

The door was exactly where he said it would be. Heavy wood reinforced with iron bands. The lock was old but well-maintained.

She inserted the key and turned it slowly. The mechanism clicked open.

The corridor beyond was dimly lit by magical lanterns. Stone walls lined with iron-barred cells. The sound of voices carried from deeper in the building.

Huangyan moved carefully down the hallway. Her soft-soled boots made no sound on the stone floor. Behind her, more explosions echoed in the distance.

The communications center. Right on schedule.

"What's happening out there?" a voice called from one of the cells.

Huangyan peered through the bars. A Yanyu officer sat against the far wall. His uniform was torn and bloodstained.

"Help is coming," she whispered.

"Who are you?"

"Someone who's here to get you out."

She continued deeper into the prison. The central block was where Theron said the high-value prisoners were kept. Third cell from the entrance.

She could here more voices ahead. Elven guards discussing the explosions outside.

"Should we investigate?"

"Our orders are to guard the prisoners."

"But if the camp is under attack..."

"Our orders haven't changed."

Huangyan counted four distinct voices. Too many for a direct assault. She needed another approach.

That's when she heard familiar footsteps in the corridor behind her.

"You shouldn't be here," Captain Theron's voice was quiet but carried authority.

Huangyan turned to face him. "I go where I'm needed."

"The guards ahead will kill you on sight."

"Then help me avoid them."

Theron studied her face for a moment. "The explosion. That's your friend?"

"One of them."

"How many are you?"

"Enough."

Another explosion shook the building. Grim's assault on the barracks had started. The timing was perfect.

"This way," Theron said suddenly. "There's another route to the central block."

He led her through a side corridor she hadn't noticed. Narrow passages between cells that connected different sections of the prison.

"Storage areas," he explained quietly. "Built for moving supplies without disturbing the main guard rotations."

They emerged near the central block. Through the bars of the third cell, Huangyan could see prisoners huddled together.

A woman with dark red hair sat against the wall.

"Lianna Levenhart," Huangyan whispered.

"The fire mage," Theron confirmed. "Morvain's favorite target."

"Guards?"

"Two at the main entrance. Two more in the corridor junction ahead."

"Can you draw them away?"

"Some of them." Theron paused. "But not all. And once I act, my cover is blown forever."

"Are you sure this is okay?" Huangyan asked.

"I've been ready since they killed my sister."

Theron moved toward the guard positions. Huangyan heard him calling out with false urgency.

"Emergency at the main gate! Captain Morvain needs all available guards immediately!"

"What kind of emergency?"

"The butcher is here!"

Footsteps moved away from the central block. But not all of them.

"You two stay with the prisoners," someone ordered. "We can't leave them unguarded."

Two guards remained.

Huangyan would have to get creative.

She moved through the storage passages until she was directly behind the guard post. A ventilation grate provided access to the main corridor.

The grate was secured with magic. She's seated the metal and bent the grate to move it out of the way.

The first guard died without making a sound. Huangyan dropped from the ceiling behind him and cut his throat in one smooth motion. She lowered his body silently to the floor.

The second guard noticed his companion's absence.

"Rulin? Where did you go?"

He turned the corner and found Huangyan's blade waiting for him. Two down.

She reached the cell containing the high-value prisoners. Lianna looked up as she approached the bars.

"Who are you?" Lianna's voice was hoarse from her recent interrogation.

"Huangyan. I'm here to get you out."

"Impossible. The locks are enchanted."

"Not these locks." Huangyan showed her the black iron key. "I have help from inside."

The key worked perfectly. The cell door swung open without a large creak.

"Can you walk?" Huangyan asked.

"I can do whatever's necessary to get out of here," Lianna replied with determination.

The other prisoners in the cell stirred as they realized rescue was happening. Two Yanyu officers. Both injured but mobile.

"We need to move quickly," Huangyan said. "The distraction won't last forever."

They helped Lianna to her feet. She was weak from blood loss and poor treatment, but her spirit was unbroken.

"What about the others?" Lianna asked, gesturing toward the other cells.

"Morris and Willem are in the cell across the corridor," one of the Yanyu officers said.

Huangyan used the key again.

"Lady Lianna!" Morris exclaimed. "How is this possible?"

"Rescue mission," she replied weakly. "Don't ask questions. Just move."

All mobile despite thier injuries. But moving people through a hostile camp would be challenging.

"This way," Huangyan led them toward the service entrance. "Stay quiet. Stay down."

They moved through the corridor as explosions continued to rock the camp outside. Grim's assault was drawing massive attention away from the prison.

But as they reached the service door, Huangyan heard the sound she'd been dreading.

Heavy footsteps in the main corridor. Multiple figures moving with purpose.

"Search every cell!" Captain Morvain's voice carried clearly through the stone walls. "I want a full prisoner count immediately!"

"Sir, there are signs of combat near the central block!"

"What kind of signs?"

"Dead guards. Missing prisoners."

"All units to the prison complex! Lockdown procedures immediately!"

Huangyan cursed silently. Morvain was responding faster than expected.

"Can we reach the exit?" Lianna asked.

"Maybe. But we'll have to move fast."

They reached the service door as the sound of armored boots filled the corridors behind them. Morvain was bringing a large force to hunt them down.

Huangyan opened the door and peered outside. The area around the prison was still relatively clear. Most guards had responded to Grim on the other side of camp.

"Go," she whispered. "Head for the treeline. Don't stop for anything."

The prisoners moved through the door into the night air. Fresh air and open sky after days of captivity.

But they weren't safe yet.

"There!" someone shouted from a guard tower. "Prisoners escaping from the eastern exit!"

Arrows began whistling through the air. Huangyan pushed the group toward cover behind a storage building.

"This way!" She led them in a zigzag pattern toward the camp perimeter. "Keep moving!"

More shouts erupted as their escape was discovered.

"Prisoners are out!"

"Alert Captain Morvain!"

"Send pursuit teams!"

They reached the outer fence as the pursuit began forming behind them. Huangyan cut through the wire with her blade and pushed the prisoners through the gap.

"The treeline," she pointed toward the forest. "Don't stop."

"What about you?" Lianna asked.

"I'm right behind you."

But as Huangyan turned to follow them, she found Captain Theron blocking her path.

"You need to go," he said urgently. "Morvain knows about my help. I can't return to the camp."

"Then come with us."

"Someone needs to delay the pursuit." Theron drew his sword. "Give you time to reach safety."

"You'll die."

"Maybe. But you'll live. And so will they." He looked toward the escaping prisoners. "That's what matters. Go!" Theron shouted. "Now!"