Fall of Shasarazade: Vol. 5

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From the back of the crowd, a woman screamed and the clash of steel rang out. They lunged forward as Eliss kicked their mount into motion. The night was overcome by the symphony of battle - by the cries of beasts and men. In all that sound and fury, Tyllia couldn't help but fixate on the realization that the bell tower no longer tolled. She began to cry as she held on for dear life.

Trampling those before her under hoof or thrusting them aside, Eliss drew her sword and fought. Knocking her friends and neighbors down, she worked toward escape with Tyllia. As they finally rode out of the gate, Tyllia had started to calm down. They had made it!

Slowing, Eliss partially turned the gelding as they came to a stop. They both watched, waiting for Aarin, as a horror unfolded before them. The people that had been crammed into the path at the gates had all been slaughtered. Her father wasn't coming. That thought sank into her bones as the weight of some invisible burden had laid itself upon her. She looked on blankly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Some Minotaurs had spotted them, they called to one another

and started to move past the gate - heading in the escapees' direction. Her mother said, "No matter what, we must reach Val Miran." As her mother turned and kicked the gelding forward, they didn't make it more than a few spans before a sharp pain in Tyllia's back caused her to wail.

Her mother exhaled the word, "Go..." before she pushed herself from the saddle. An arrow, that looked like a small spear, had gone clean through Eliss and superficially struck her daughter. Petrified, Tyllia just stared at the lump on the ground. Her entire world had been torn asunder. Now, she had nothing; she had nothing, but her life. With all the courage she could muster, she forced herself to take the reigns. "Live now, weep later." she said, as she urged her mount into a gallop and made her way through the night.

--Thus endeth my account of an experience with psychometry-- ___________________________________________________