Fireflight

Chapter Twenty Six

The Enkari palace and its city began to come into view, with the mountain it sat upon rising up like a jagged tooth. Smoke wreathed the dry plains and dark grey mountain as if it had been blown upon by a cigar, billowing and swirling upwards into the deep crimson sky. Far below flashes showed where fighting raged, and in the city massive fires looked like stars burning from the altitude they were at. 

The helicopter swung to sharply to the left, narrowly avoiding a burst of flak fired from the city more than a mile below. A nearby chopper fared less well, sheared in half by the hostile fire. Onboard Blitzo was checking on his crew. He wanted to make sure that each and every one of them was ready for the drop. 

"When we get down there I want everybody shooting and scooting, don't stay in the same place!" He told them over the roar of the engines. 

Once he was sure that everyone was ready he took a peek out of the side of the helicopter. They were much closer to their target now and the details of Fortress Enkari were rapidly developing as they speed forth. 

"Landing in one minute!" the pilot called back. 

"Landing in one!" A commando called back. Then turning to the mercenaries he asked, "You guys ready?" 

"Oh yeah, we're ready to go." Blitzo told him. 

The commando nodded and readied his weapon. The mercenary boss followed suit and upholstered two of his pistols. The others in the group began to mimic him, and soon everyone aboard had their weapons out and ready. The walls of the palace were close now, just fifty meters away. Guns mounted on the defensive structure fired a vicious hail of explosives at them as they weaved towards the wall, the chopper's guns firing back. Then they were over the wall. The chopper slowed to a stop and the passengers jumped out onto the wall. Their ride lifted up and pulled away, speeding back to the battle to support the forces on the ground. 

"Let's move to the front of the palace. I want that courtyard cleared now!" Blitzo ordered. 

The raiders charged forwards, shooting down anyone who got in their way. They pushed across the top of the walls and smashed through a thick door into the gatehouse towers. Brenden tossed a grenade down the stone stairwell and into the base of the tower, clearing out the soldiers below. The five mercenaries sped down the stairs and out into the courtyard. Using the garden plants for cover, the five of them pushed steadily forward. With surprising speed, I.M.P was able to clear out the palace's baily in just a few minutes. Blitzo had Millie call in to confirm that they had taken the courtyard, and moments later a portal opened. 

Prince Stolas and Princess Stella emerged, dressed in battle armor and armed with their magic. Stolas wore a black surcoat with his family crest emblazoned in gold upon the chest over a gleaming silver chest plate. Beside him, Stella had adorned herself with an armored dress made from splints of copper colored steel. A black helmed crown sat upon her head, its visor placed down over her beak. 

"Glad you could finally come." Blitzo greeted. "We did all the hard work for you." 

"Much appreciated Blitzy." Stolas said, leaning down to pat the imp on the head. 

Stella snorted unappreciatively . "Fighting Prince Henri will be the hardest part. Just do yours and distract his guards."

"Don't worry, we'll do our part." the imp scoffed. 

"Then I suggest we get to it." Stolas said, coming between the two. "I'm sure the good prince is waiting for us." 

The group entered the palace, with Stolas blowing the doors off their hinges and onto the marble floor of the great hall. At the far end, standing before a large throne and a double staircase to the upper floors of the expansive building Prince Henri and a retinue of guards waited.