clear and they had pried Sascha's fingers from around Ben's neck, they walked over to the strange box Kincaid had created.
Thane and Justice were examining it with excitement. Thane looked over at Kincaid. "Do you know what you did?"
Kincaid looked confused. "I made a box."
"You made more than a box. Kincaid, this is porcelain," Thane explained, running his hand over the wall.
"And?" he asked.
Justice shook his head. "He doesn't get it."
"Porcelain is created when clay is heated in a kiln to over two-thousand six-hundred degrees Fahrenheit," Thane shook his head. "I've never seen anything like this before."
"Thane! There are traces of steel and diamond in the clay!" Justice exclaimed, pulling his hands from the side of the box. "Kincaid, how'd you do this?"
"I have no idea! It just happened," Kincaid exploded.
Ari walked over and stood by his unit brother. "This is really good work, Kaid. Damn good work."
Thane nodded. "I agree. Now, let's open it and 'greet' our new friends."
Kincaid paled. "I don't know how. I was kinda hoping you would."
Thane and Justice both blinked. "What?" they asked, in unison.
Kincaid pointed to the cube. "I knew I had to stop them, so it just kinda happened."
Thane closed his eyes. "You didn't use any form of a spell, did you?"
"Umm. Nope."
"Justice, you do it," Thane exhaled and walked away.
"I screwed up again," Kincaid said morosely.
"You're the only one that was able to secure prisoners, Kincaid. I'm calling that a huge win," Brie pointed out.
"Really?"
"Yeah. Who knows, maybe staying in a completely dark box for a few days with no food will loosen their tongues," she added winking at him.
"Yeah. Let's go with that," he agreed.
Justice pulled out his cell. "Hey, Kendrick, my brother can't figure something out and is begging for your help."
"Lies!" Thane shouted from across the room.
"On my way," Kendrick replied.
Ari pulled Brie so that her back was against his chest. He knew he had done the right thing when she leaned against him.
After a few minutes, Kendrick, looking tired, walked in from the front office.
"The other site?" Ari asked.
Kendrick shook his head. "No, and there were more bodies this time. Close to three hundred." He shook his head. "Livor mortis had set in, but there was no sign of bloating. We missed saving them by less than twenty-four hours."
"Gods," the men whispered around them.
Kendrick pulled Brie from his arms to give her a hug. "Thank the gods for you. The people you saved tonight will go a long, long way in keeping the city from falling into complete despair. You have proved that we can out think them and fight back. You have no idea how vital this was." He released her then gently nudged her back into Ari's arms.
"The queen?" she asked.
Kendrick grimaced. "She's focusing on the living." He smiled softly. "There were children and a newborn amongst the survivors."
Brie gasped. "I didn't see them."
Kendrick pulled off her black skull cap so he could ruffle her dark brown curls. "I imagine you were busy." He cracked his knuckles. "Now, what simple, easy to figure out thing did Thane beg me to come here for?"
"Asshole," Thane growled and pointed to Kincaid's cube. "Have at it."
Kendrick blinked. "It's an earthen box Thane."
Thane gave him an evil smile. "Open it, then."
Kendrick placed a hand on the wall. Ari felt a pulse, then nothing. Kendrick frowned. "That should have worked."
"You've been saying that a lot lately," Thane teased.
"Only when it comes to me," Kincaid interjected.
Kendrick wheeled around to face Kincaid. "You did this?"
Kincaid nodded miserably. "I don't know how to undo it."
Kendrick placed a hand on the wall. "This is porcelain," he announced excitedly.
Thane rolled his eyes. "We went over that already."
Kendrick eyed Thane. "I don't think you get it."
"Oh, no. We do. He used both his elements," Thane replied.
Kendrick pinched the bridge of his nose. "He used both of his elemental powers at the same time with the exact amount of intensity. If there had been more earth magic, it wouldn't have hardened; if there had been more fire magic, it would have crumbled at the first touch."
Thane and Justice paled, but poor Kincaid still looked clueless.
"What'd I do?" he asked.
Kendrick lowered his hand. "Kincaid, you performed the impossible."
Kincaid was now looking panicked. "We can open it, right? I finally was able to help with my magic, but it won't mean anything if we can't get those guys outta there."
Kendrick eyed the cube, a downright frightening look in his eye. "The ones responsible are within?"
"Yes," Kincaid replied.
Kendrick rubbed his jaw.