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Lightning flew from De Lancre\u2019s fingertips and across the walls and ceiling as it marched down the hallway to where Kepa and Latxe stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is that?\u201d Latxe barely whispered, paralyzed as she watched the lightning dance in front of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMagic!\u201d bellowed Kepa as he pulled Latxe and ducked into a side room. He grabbed her shoulders, looking into her eyes. \u201cThat was magic. He\u2019s a powerful\u2026 magic user. That sounds so lame when I say it outloud\u2026\u201d he mumbled to himself. Shaking his head, he continued. \u201cHe\u2019s going to fry us if we don\u2019t find a way out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latxe nodded numbly, but then swiped furiously across her tablet as light flashed through the open doorway with increasing frequency and brightness. Suddenly, the door disappeared and a new staircase appeared in the room before them, vanishing into the ceiling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoazen!\u201d barked Latxe as she rushed up the stairs, Kepa on her heels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As soon as they got to the next floor, Latxe swiped at her tablet and the opening faded as if it were never there. They found themselves in the dining area of de Lancre\u2019s suite. Kepa quickly looked around, seeing the balcony that overlooked the city on one side and several closed doors on the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaite!\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHemen!\u201d he heard in reply from behind one of the closed doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He rushed to the door, fumbling for some kind of door knob or control panel that would let him open it, but finding nothing. He pounded on the door in frustration. \u201cMaite!\u201d he bellowed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latxe nudged him gently aside as she again focused on her tablet. The door disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite burst from the room and threw her arms around Kepa. \u201cI knew you\u2019d find me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would never leave you!\u201d exclaimed Kepa. After a moment, he broke free. \u201cI couldn\u2019t have done it without Latxe here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Latxe smiled at Maite, and then quickly looked away, pretending to focus on her tablet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe won\u2019t have much time\u2026\u201d she began when the doors at the end of the dining room burst off of their frame and flew across the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n