I considered all the possibilities as I made my way down the hallway, broken floorboards groaning warnings under my weight. Molly was careful to keep distance between us, to spread the weight out as much as possible. Could there have been sabotage, or even an invasion of the family Armoury our own weapons turned against us? It didn t seem likely. An enemy who d planned such a thorough assault wouldn t have gambled on finding enough weapons here to do the job. They d have brought their own. Could the enemy have teleported inside the Hall if all our shields were down? That would explain how they were able to take all of us by surprise so easily. Maybe even suicide bombers? So many possibilities, so many questions, and no answers anywhere. Molly stepped deftly over the rubble on the floor, looking at everything, touching nothing.

There wasn t any damage out in the grounds, she said, after a while. All the fighting took place indoors. Look at the bullet holes in these walls. And scorch marks from energy blasts, which implies energy weapons or offensive sorceries. Do you suppose there could be any survivors, maybe trapped somewhere in the Hall?

No, I said. We would have fought to the last man rather than let this happen to the Hall. I stopped abruptly, glancing about me, hands clenched into fists at my sides.

But you were right earlier. We can t afford to spend too long here. If all our defences are down, then the shields that hide our presence are down, too. The whole world can see exactly where Drood Hall is, for the first time, and that makes us vulnerable. The vultures will be gathering. They ll descend on us in their hordes to search for loot and overlooked secrets. But I can t leave, Molly. Not yet. I have to know.

Of course you do, said Molly. Every clue the enemy left behind is ammunition we can use to identify and then nail the bastards who did this.