Snippet #1970453

As soon as Alazius had ensured the safety of the doctor, he stood and surveyed his surroundings. Frightened men, women, and children sat clinging against the wall, their only refuge against the fury of the maelstrom. Rain and hail mercilessly descended upon the town and its people before a sudden hush enveloped the air.

Liufr whimpered.

Suddenly a massive gale assaulted the town. Carts and stands were sundered and tossed like toys by the vengeful wind. Alazius’s feet lurched into the air and his back replaced them. His lungs shuddered and froze in protest as the mighty gale extorted the air within. He willed them to relax, and they reluctantly obeyed. Slowly the ranger sat up. His dark hair whipped across his face, half blinding him. With his one good eye he discerned several guards precariously ascending the steps built into the wall. Through the endless wailing wind he could faintly hear them plea for aid.

Alazius attempted to pull himself up, constantly battling the raging maelstrom, and go to their aid. However, immediately as he brushed aside the hair that clung to his face, he saw the feeble form of a woman trapped beneath a toppled wagon a short distance from the safety of the wall. He looked again at the guards in the stair well, which was threatening to collapse, and then again at the woman. Alazius silently cursed himself and the cruelty of fate.

The preservation of life dominated his priorities. Two options presented themselves in Alazius’s mind. His first option was to go help the guards and send a few men at the wall to go help the woman. However, this would put the woman and those men he would send at risk, and he couldn’t bring himself to risk the sacrifice of their lives. The second option was to go help the woman and to send help for the guards. They could accomplish that task without him, and he could free the woman by himself – no – had to free her by himself. He could not risk anyone else.

“You, you, you, and you,” he gestured at four men that seemed to be relatively unscathed and spoke with an authoritative voice, “go help those guards in the stair well! They need to stabilize the structure and unjam the awning! Take those two-by-fours!” he gestured between the stair well and a pile of wood scrap stirred up by the storm.

“Liufr, come!” he said as he exited the safety of the wall without waiting for a reply.

Rain and hail pelted his back and arms as he pushed against the wind, keeping low to the ground. The large man practically crawled on all fours to the toppled wagon. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he gripped onto the sides of the vehicle. He would not let her die. Alazius sounded a call to arms throughout his body. Every muscle summoned the mass of their strength. The same strength he used to raise fallen timber. The same strength he used to carry a deer carcass for miles on end. That strength was now given voice and outlet. A bestial roar escaped his throat. The wagon began to move. As frame of the wagon slowly tilted away from the frame of the woman, Alazius’s roar became more fierce and coarse. Finally the weight of the wagon no longer entrapped the woman beneath the wrath of the relentless storm.

“Liufr!” Alazius called out while still holding the weight of the wagon.

The tamed wolf responded with a bark and approached the woman. He gripped the sleeve of her shirt with his powerful canines and began tugging. Slowly, the dog pulled the woman out from the shadow of the wagon. Upon her safety, Alazius released his grip and the wagon landed with a splintering crash. Sweat and rain soaked his clothing. His arms quivered. Veins pulsed across his body. Adrenaline still flowed. The task was not finished.

With haste Alazius turned around and picked the woman up in his arms and began the laborious trek back to the safety of the wall. Once returned to their sanctuary, his shaking arms attempted to set the woman gently against the wall. Finally, the man crumpled into an exhausted heap and began to slip into unconsciousness. His breath became ragged and coarse.

He prayed to The Five that the help he sent was enough.

Alazius’s world went black.