“I did the best I could for you,” Sabit muttered when she could get her parched throat to speak. In the dimly-lit chamber before her stood Kehnan—tall and proud, resplendent in a fine silk tunic and lush fur leggings. Behind him, several shadow-cloaked figures lingered or toiled, as was their place. “You certainly did, Mongoose!” … Read more
Sabit could not say how long she suffered, alone in the darkness—sometimes standing, sometimes hanging listlessly from her chained wrists. In time, even consciousness gave way to waking nightmares. * Sabit in the forest, her loyal bandits at her side. Nerit—his face trusting, the leech tattoo on his cheek subdued and sated. Sidi—his quick jokes … Read more
Out of the dreamless abyss of pain and silence, Sabit awoke. Her mighty arms were spread wide, shoulders burning like the embers of a fire where the weight of her body hung from them. A tingling numbness suffused her wide-spread hands past the cold, thick metal cuffs that gripped her wrists. Sabit’s legs where heavy … Read more
Sabit pulled herself to her feet, even as her body trembled in agony with every movement. The clarity of vision bestowed by the necklace’s pinprick faded as she stood. A veil fell across her sight—of every color and none at all. The clangor of the battle resounded from far-off and within her ear itself. The … Read more
Sabit opened her eyes to the sound of screams. Not far away, she could see the body of one of the brave, simple farmers—his spirit rising from his butchered body like a puff of breath on a cold winter morning. His dead eyes glared at Sabit with bottomless accusation: Why did you fail us? was … Read more