released his own might to challenge it. His power collided with the demon's, sunlight clashing with the night, bursting the air, shattering it. He knew where the demon was now and he counter-attacked, a brilliant lance of yellow fire racing towards it. The attack knocked it down, flesh crackling and steaming. Jonas shrugged off the demon's return burst of dark magic, and hammered it again, this time his power tearing past its defenses and consuming it. With a high pitched cry, the demon exploded into ash.
Jonas attacked the half-men closing with Dominic, scattering them. Dominic immediately charged into the opening, sword a blur as he found new targets. Jonas risked exposing Dominic for a moment as he quickly got the women and children to move into the Temple. He stood in front of the doors until they were inside, shining as bright as the noonday sun, forcing more power through his staff than he had ever wielded.
Too late, the remaining demons realized that he was their greatest threat. They ignored the rest of the battle, combined their power and sent a wave of dark fire streaking toward Jonas.
Jonas met the attack, undaunted, but was forced back by its intensity. He gritted his teeth and set himself to the fight of his life. He struck back at the demons, his power racing across the distance. The demons blocked it and fired back. Streaks of darkness and light danced across the street as they fought.
Suddenly, the Temple bells started to ring. On the other side of the battle, Jonas could see a group of soldiers, shields and swords in hand, come running out of the night to fall on the demon forces' rear. They began to cut into the half-men, distracting the demons for a moment. Jonas took advantage, striking the nearest demon, overwhelming and destroying it.
From the direction of the palace, Jonas heard horns blowing. That meant that the Royal Guards were coming. The demons heard it as well.
Jonas heard one cry out in a cold, inhuman voice to the others. "We must hold! Nasran needs more time to capture the boy."
Jonas felt himself go cold. They were here for Jake! Desperately, he sent his might into the demons and called out for Dominic, battling nearby. Dominic heard him, disengaging from the half-men, Jonas sending his fire into them to give Dominic cover.
Dominic ran up to him, bleeding from numerous minor wounds. Jonas ignored the battle for a moment, grabbing Dominic's arm. "They're after Jake, Dom." Jonas said hurriedly. "More of them were sent to find him."
Dominic immediately sprinted off into the night, heading back towards the Temple. As more clerics came out of the Temple, Jonas turned his attention back to the demons, surging forward into the fight, calling for his clerics to join him. He saw a formation of Royal Guards enter the battle near the soldiers, the half-men being pushed back.
Since Jonas was directing the clerics' attack, he heard rather than saw Dominic racing by on Shadow, the horse's hooves ringing against the stone. Relieved by that sound, Jonas grimly gathered his clerics to rid the city of these demons.
…
Jake and Hailyn, sitting on Dontas' back, were moving at a slow walk back in the direction the Temple from the North Gate, talking quietly. Jake had to admit that the singer was good, though it was not really his type of music. However, it had been nice to spend that time with Hailyn, sitting close together in the little theater.
As they were going past a tavern with a large group of people milling around the doors, one of the patrons noticed them and called out to Hailyn. "Sister! Will you please help us?"
"What is the trouble?" Hailyn asked.
"Neven was acting the fool, drunk and telling everyone how good he was with knives, and went and stabbed himself in the hand." The man told her. Some of the others laughed at that, shaking their heads.
"Jake, stop for a moment, please." Hailyn said quietly.
Jake halted Dontas and helped Hailyn down. She made her way over to the group, who respectfully parted for her. When they moved, Jake could see a young man sitting on the steps, in obvious pain, a thin dagger sticking through his hand, some cloth wrapped around it. Hailyn made her way quickly to him, her power suddenly shining. She removed the cloth, examining the hand. She told one of Neven's friends to pull the dagger out, Neven crying out at the new pain, then Hailyn's healing