“You are dead, Nerit.” Sabit trembled as she looked at the rows of eager bandit faces. “Kehnan killed you. He killed all of you. Just to hurt me.”
Rayshabu laid a hand on Sabit’s shoulder, the skin warm and soft against her own. “This man may have died in the other world, but he lives here and now. This is paradise, proud one. Every friend you ever lost is here, just as you remember them.”
Sabit looked over the young faces gazing upon her with hope for a better futures. Perhaps if she trained them differently this time?
She whirled to face the healer. “Take me from this place. I will not be taunted by the spectre of those I have failed to protect. My past is not a plaything for you or your flesh merchant. He must answer for his crimes in the real world. He must pay for them in real blood!”
Rayshabu shrunk from the fury of Sabit’s words until her back pressed against the white stone wall at the edge of the courtyard. “Who can say that this world is not the real world and the pain-filled one merely the dream? I would rather live in a dream of paradise than endure the nightmare of that other life. You are angry. There is room enough for anger here. There are more than just friends in this place, if that is your will.”
“Greetings, Mongoose!” A deep voice echoed across the courtyard. Turning, Sabit watched the bandits part to make way for the newcomer. Tall and broad-shouldered, his blue tunic stretched across his massive chest, Kehnan strode onto the training ground.
— — —
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Wayfarings of Sabit: Chains is copyright (c) 2018 by Michael S. Miller. All rights reserved. New chapters post every Thursday (and the occasional Monday). You can support this and other stories on Patreon: https://patreon.com/michaelsmiller Find more sword and sorcery fiction at http://ipressgames.com/fiction/.