The throne room doors burst open again, but this time Elena rushed in with Captain Reed and thirty loyal guards behind her.

"Princess! We came as fast as we could." She stopped short when she saw the frozen soldiers and Lord Ravenclaw's aged face. "What happened here?"

"Magic happened," Prince Rhett said grimly. "But we have bigger problems now."

Through the tall windows, orange flames painted the night sky. The smell of smoke drifted even into the ancient chamber, carrying with it the ...