Praetorian Rising, стр. 83
"Go!" Vesyon commanded Phillip, who had charged toward his daughter immediately.
"Get to the compound, Captain! Set the fuses! As soon as you're out, I'll call for the evacuation!" he called over his shoulder before disappearing amongst the mayhem.
Vesyon hesitated, glancing around at the mass destruction of the village and the many soldiers nearest him. He should stay and help the Rogues force more Equestrians into the area before they abandoned the grounds, but he had to ensure the explosion would happen—even if he were caught in the crossfire.
Vesyon raced toward the south side of the village, his boots slipping and sliding through the mud and snow-slicked ground. He felt unbalanced and uncoordinated, using his sword to steady himself as much as he could manage. He charged down a steep slope just east of his destination, hoping to loop around the back side and slip in without notice. He was relieved to find his path wasn't yet crawling with Chimera or Equestrians. Sliding through a narrow passageway along the outskirts of the square, he was in the compound within a few minutes.
Glowing orange lamps lit his way in the black corridor, his heavy boots skidding to a halt just outside the electrical room: a small closet filled to the brim with fuses connected to the entirety of Romeo Village. Each wire had a purpose and sent electricity to a specific location. He'd rigged the room several months ago with the fuses needed to set off the compound—each would fall in line after the countdown was complete. Without the countdown ticking away the seconds, however, Vesyon would have to set the delay switch off by hand. It would give him little time to escape the surrounding village—fifteen minutes if he calculated correctly.
Trying not to think of Camille stuck in the depths of the compound, Vesyon yanked the wires out, fumbling through the multi-colored metal pieces careful not to touch any of them with his bare hands. Locating the one he needed, with dagger poised to cut the wire, he stopped moving as he heard mumbled voices approached just outside the door.
"What do you mean you failed?!"
"I went to collect the Ephidra Lily, as the King Regent requested, but it wasn't down there. I sent the Chimera after them both, but they escaped," Acher said, his voice clearly distinguishable through the hollow door.
"It's a vault—how many exits can there possibly be?"
"Well," Acher squeaked, "there's more than one obviously."
A loud huff of frustration was followed by a harsh slap and a moan of pain. "Where?!"
Acher didn't respond at first, but another heavy blow got him talking. It sounded like knuckles crunching into delicate cartilage. No doubt Acher had a broken nose by this point.
"In the river tunnel," Acher mumbled through what sounded like a mouth full of blood.
"Soldier," the Equestrian barked at his comrades. "Take this pathetic traitor into the village square."
Hunched silently in the claustrophobic space, Vesyon had half a mind to duck out of the door and wring Acher's neck himself. The traitorous bastard deserved it no less, but as his fists bunched together, he thought better of it. Acher would be going to the village square—good riddance. It would go up in smoke and flame and crumble beneath his feet. Hopefully, it would be the last of him.
"To the King Regent sir?"
"No, the Night Raves will be there shortly and will know what to do with him."
Vesyon had no idea what a Night Rave was, but a nagging sense of dread burned like fire on his skin, sending a ripple of heat across his flesh. The horrid floral scent of an unknown origin screamed through his olfactory memory, and he froze in terror. He didn't want to believe it, didn't want to admit that he'd been wrong. Vesyon had created the lie of Ephidra Lily to entice LeMarc, to force him into the light again. Perhaps he'd been wrong to push so hard. If he was right about what a Night Rave was, they were in far deeper waters than he'd initially thought.
Vesyon waited a few beats for the men outside to walk farther away before digging the sharpened edge of his dagger into the wire he'd wiggled away from its confinement. He had little time to escape, but it was possible. His fastest time was three minutes and twenty-three seconds from the wire room to the door, and then he would have less than ten minutes to escape the village altogether. Taking one final, deep breath, Vesyon yanked the blade backward, effectively slicing the wire in two.
He crept out of the room with haste and turned toward the exit, immediately finding himself cornered by three Chimera.
"Shiat," he muttered. "Perfect timing, as always."
They growled in response, heavy spittle and drool slipping off their protruding jowls before splattering against the floor.
It's now or never, he thought as he dove forward, sliding between the legs of one Chimera to gain purchase on the opposite side.
Vesyon took off running, the three hungry Chimera on his tail. The hallways seemed longer and windier as he sprinted from narrow passage to narrow passage, zig-zagging his way through a maze of rock, stone, steel, and tile. Any second, the lights inside would blink off, and he'd be a goner, trapped inside the compound until it imploded on itself. His legs churned wildly at the idea, propelling him through the corridors at a rapid pace. Vesyon located the exit door at the end of the hallway. Blocking the door was another Chimera, swatting at the closed metal door as if trying to break through the four inches of steel. The Chimera whined pitifully, a sound Vesyon had never heard before.
"Hey!" Vesyon said as he ran closer, trying to get the Chimera's attention. "Come get me beast, I'm here for the taking!"
The Chimera snarled but didn't move.
For Vesyon to make