Chapter 92, Mother of the realm.

Leaf's fingers clenched around the torch, the flame casting wild shadows across the stone walls. With a sudden, fluid motion, she leaped once more, not directly at the guard, but toward the opposite wall.

Her body twisted mid air, a blur of speed and grace, as she ricocheted off the stone surface. As she flashed past the guard, the torch struck, a vicious arc of light and heat slamming into his eyes.

A scream erupted from the guard, raw and agonized, as the torch seared into his flesh. His body jerked violently, instinctively recoiling from the pain. The sword slipped from his grip, clattering to the floor with a hollow clang. Desperately, he tried to summon his power, to levitate the fallen blades.

But his efforts were futile, the swords hovered briefly, then crashed back down as if mocking his helplessness.

His hands shot up, shielding his face like a cornered boxer, fear and rage intertwining in his thoughts. "Damn it," he snarled, his mind racing. "She took my eyes... Does she k