Aaron opened fire. Sheets of Chaos Bolts materialized at his fingertips and hurled toward the enemy like a raging storm. Wind of Heavens magic enhanced Disma's and Eleanor's agility, while Thorn Shields from the lore of life protected them from Ork arrows piercing their armor.
Scattered arrows kept flying from the upper reaches of the inner courtyard. A Chaos Bolt blasted off one Ork's arm, and he convulsed, struggling as he toppled from the second floor. Many Orks tried to find cover, but over the past few months, they had either smashed everything breakable in the temple or burned it for firewood. Now that they needed a table to hide behind, there was nothing left.
By then, Maximian had finished off the remaining Orks outside the main hall. He strode into the inner courtyard and loosed an arrow, shearing away half an Ork's head.
An explosion of flame drew Aaron's attention. Disma leaped down the stairs in a disheveled state, his coat hem burning and his hair shocked into a wild frizz. His second senior shouted furiously, "Aaron! There's an Orc Shaman upstairs!"
An Orc Shaman?
"Stand back. Leave the caster to me!" Aaron signaled Disma and Eleanor not to go upstairs yet. There was no telling how powerful an Orc Shaman here might be, but being hit by a spell could introduce any number of complications. They had come to activate the temple, not exterminate Orks.
Disma spat and reluctantly backed away. Eleanor continued chanting Selûne's holy name, Moonlight Radiance enveloping Miss Cleric as she summoned divine guardians.
Their retreat gave the Orc Shaman upstairs room to breathe. He roared for the Ork soldiers to reform their ranks, then began chanting. A long streak of lightning took shape in his hands.
A third-circle spell, Lightning Bolt?
Aaron recognized the