I lay flat on the floorboards amidst the splintered remains of the massive center table while a high-pitched ringing pierced straight through my skull, drowning out the shrieks permeating the mess hall.
Through sheer will, I blinked my eyes hard, forcing the dark spots out of my vision as I struggled to pull a breath into my concussed lungs while my brain instantly went to work processing the chaotic debris scattered around me.
I stared at what remained of the main doors; the thick reinforced doors were blown entirely inward, scattering shrapnel across the room.
[Gimme a break!] I pulled a sharp breath through my nose, instantly catching the distinct stench lingering heavily in the freezing air, while my instincts screamed The Outsiders did not break the barrier.
Someone had intentionally fired a spell from the outside of the living quarters, perfectly satisfying the required conditions for a threshold breach.
