Garrick wakes
17th October 1102
The candlelight glowed behind Hepsie’s head making her dark face a shadow in the chilly room. But Lochan could faintly see her grim expression, the whites of her eyes as they flicked down to the sleeping pair in the bed.
Isabelle reaches out her hand
16th October 1102
Isabelle’s body slowly unfurled as the skies opened, raindrops dripping down amongst the shivering trees. The fell like tears amongst a huddled group of mourners standing before a gaping grave. Garrick did not stir, his body hunched over as he sobbed quietly. His hands, slick with blood hung uselessly at his sides. The rain fell on his pallid face, streaming from his hair in rivers that flowed over his forehead, down his nose to mingle with the creeks of his tears.
A leaf falls
16th October 1102
Cindra awoke in the dank embrace of the autumn forest. The sun was sinking steadily towards the horizon, smearing the sky crimson with blood as his dying body was dragged inexorably down. The clouds were stained, pink and fleshy as they soaked up the gore left behind. Pale streaks of blue appeared as the wind swept them aimlessly across the sky, mopping up the fetid mess.
Cindra sleeps
16th October 1102
Lochan curled his arm protectively around Cindra’s trembling shoulders, pulling her close to his body. He could feel how cold her skin was where it peeked shyly through the interlocking fingers of lacework that covered her arms.
Garrick sleeps
16th October 1102
“Garrick… Garrick”, Cindra whispered as she fell away from the strong embrace of her father.
Cindra is carried away
16th October 1102
Cindra was very proud of herself. She was supposed to be asleep but she had managed to totter past her dozing nurse without her even noticing. Then, even better, she had carefully pulled herself down a whole flight of stairs, bumping her bottom down from one to the next. It had been an exhausting process but she knew that it was worth it now she could see what all the fuss was about.
Radomir waits
The fist was crunching into his face before he knew what was happening. He felt the bones of his nose cracking under its weight, a dreadful crushing feeling he remembered well and a gout of blood spurted onto the fist that was coming in a second time. Sigurd’s fingers curled around the neck of his tunic pulling him upright as his fist collided with Radomir’s exposed belly.
“You bastard!”, Sigurd was snarling, his teeth bared, “You dare touch her!”.
