An explosion rattled the mansion.
The blast tore through the corridor and blew a hole through the wall, sending stone fragments, dust, and splinters of wood scattering across the floor.
From the smoke, Falcon emerged.
His coat was torn in several places, and a shallow cut ran across his cheek from the flying debris, but he was still standing. Barely a second later, his eyes sharpened, and he dropped low.
A wide horizontal slash tore out of the smoke above him.
Fire followed the blade in a blazing arc, melting the stone wall behind Falcon and carving a deep, searing line through it. Heat washed over him, scorching a few strands of his hair as he slipped beneath the attack by less than an inch.
He escaped unscathed.
Mostly.
Falcon twisted his body from the low position and countered immediately, swinging his arm upward.
