"Ah, that’s more like it. Hey, Renitt, this one’s much better than that one in Ralanast."
There was a sound behind him and another warrior peered from behind the huge man’s shoulder. "Much better! C’mon, Skarl, me first this time. You got..."
Rennitt was cut off by Skarl’s elbow in his gut. He coughed.
"Shut yer mouth and wait by the door. Watch out for officers."
Skarl moved forward, a wide grin on his face. Varana noticed half of his teeth had been broken somehow. She felt detached from her body and just stood by the bed, a basket of laundry in her hands.
With a grumble, Rennitt leaned against the door, his arms folded across his chest.
"Here, there love. You won’t be needin’ that." Skarl pretended to reach for the basket then smashed his fists down onto it, knocking the basket from her hands. Varana shrieked. She couldn’t move.
He chuckled. "There, there. No need for noise. Some folks, they like a bit of noise while they’re at it. Not me, not Skarl. You just be nice ‘n quiet. That’s the way, nothing to make a fuss over."
Skarl reached over and slipped Varana’s dress first off one shoulder, then the other. He drew it slowly down and Varana’s breasts burst free. From the doorway, Rennitt made a sound of appreciation. Skarl reached over and roughly grabbed Varana’s breast, squeezing the nipple painfully between his thumb and forefinger. Varana cowered, shivering at his touch. It wasn’t happening. This would end soon.
"Nice. Very nice," Skarl said to himself.
"Hurry up then! Don’t want the officers to get here, do we?" Rennitt called.
With a grunt, Skarl nodded. In one motion he grabbed hold of Varana’s dress and ripped it away from her body, tearing until the material was in a mess on the ground.
Varana stood in front of them, eyes closed, her hands crossed in front of her breasts, her legs together. Both men chuckled.
"Look at ‘er," said Skarl. "Today’s our lucky day."
"Just hurry up," said Rennitt.
Skarl stood menacingly close to Varana. He raised his arm. She could barely open her eyes, terrified he was going to hit her. Terrified of what else he would do.
He pushed her, hard. Varana fell back onto the bed, and suddenly Skarl was on top of her, his weight crushing her, taking her breath. His mouth disgustingly tried to latch onto any part of her skin it could find — her neck, her lips and her breasts. He tried to push Varana’s legs apart with his knees, while she tried to keep them shut with every bit of strength she possessed.
"That’s the way it’s gonna be then?" Skarl said.
His fist lashed out, smashing into her cheek. Varana blacked out for an instant, and in that moment he drew her legs apart. Skarl fumbled with his trousers.
"Hurry u—" said Rennitt, his voice suddenly cut off mid-sentence.
Skarl ignored Rennitt and continued to pull his trousers open. Then all of his weight came down on top of Varana, and he stopped moving.
Varana felt something warm and wet spreading over her. She looked wildly about. Skarl’s dead eyes stared back at her. The weight suddenly lifted from her body.
A man stood above her. His head was also shaved but he wore delicate plated armour, black as night. Strange symbols were etched across the steel.
Varana slowly sat up. Skarl’s head lolled back beside her. His throat had been neatly cut from behind. Rennitt’s limp body was by the door.
"Can’t have this sort of thing going on, you understand. It’s bad for discipline," the newcomer said. He turned to another soldier behind him. "Burn the house. Any looting will be punished. Severely."
The soldier nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Please…" said Varana.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
The man’s hand whipped out, fast as a snake. Something sliced across Varana’s throat and she fell to the bed.
As her heart pumped the blood from her body, Varana looked at the timepiece on the wall. It had been in her family for generations.
Everything went dark.
27
The idea is not to create the tallest, thinnest turrets. Nor is it to raise walls that will withstand the mightiest foe. It is to build structures that will inspire the world with their beauty for a thousand years.
— Lore of the Builder, 14-12
ELLA woke out of a nightmare, some terrible monster plaguing her even in the refuge of sleep.
"Ho, the house!" a male voice called. "Enchantress, are you here?"
Ella lifted her body out of bed. It was time to face the news.
"Enchantress Ella!"
Ella’s heart thudded when she thought of Killian. Was he alive? Had he died during the night? She tipped some water from the ewer into the basin and washed her face. She carefully combed her hair.
She was terrified to hear what the man had to say.
"Ella!"
Ella dressed in her soft yellow dress, a simple garment that reminded her of summer. It set off her pale blonde hair, contrasted with her brilliant green eyes.