Snippet #1971024

Riona sat up frantically searching for any signs of Billy Boy. She spat the blood in her mouth on the dusty ground a heard frightened bleating. He lay sprawled out on the ground about ten feet away. She ran to his side in order to ensure he wasn’t trampled. She scanned the scene before her. Like the swinging arms of an angry giant, the wind smashed all of the stalls into splinters. Bodies lay sprawled and bleeding amongst the wreckage and the sky’s tick, blackish-gray storm clouds blocked all light. It was the nightmare all over again and she could feel her soul falter.

Then, she saw her at last: the dusty feet and colorful skirt of Lady Elsah. All of the confines of her ribcage went cold. She turned looked back down at her tiny companion. She couldn’t carry the two of them. She saw a small girl alone and crying. She picked up Billy Boy and handed him to her. “Here. He’ll keep you company until your family finds you.” That managed to change the girl’s tears to a face of puzzlement, but Riona had already disappeared before the child could respond. She bolted as fast as she could to her friend’s side. The mad wind made her run at an angle to help keep off some of the force. She flung the debris and knelt down beside her. She was bruised and bloodied, but she was breathing. This caused something of a combination of a cry and a squeak to hiccup from Riona's throat. She shook her and the Lady groaned. Her consciousness was beginning to return. She then heard a man shouting.

He lay only a few feet away, but the strong winds carried away most of his shouting. She leaned down. His eyes were squeezed shut in pain. “Please…save my baby…” He rolled slightly to expose a red-faced screaming infant swaddled in a small wool blanket. She stood frozen. Eyes darting to survey the damage. A barrel lay on top of his foot. “Hold on, sir” She had to act fast. She tried lifting it. It didn’t budge. “I’m so sorry sir,” she shouted “but this might hurt.” She pushed the barrel with everything she had. She felt it turn and start to roll. The man cried out in agony. She leaned into the barrel and it rolled. She took the baby. “Now. I’m going to need your help. See that woman over there? She is the only friend I have and you are the only person that can save her if I am to take your child. I don’t care if you have to drag her while you hop on one foot, just get her to shelter.” She leaned in. “Look at me” he opened his eyes and she saw the fear.” I promise I will take care of your baby, but if I find that woman dead, I will search the heavens just to take you to hell. Understood?” He nodded sweating profusely.” She too was shaking. She’d never demanded anything from anyone and certainly never spoke with such authority. “Good. May the Five Revered keep you safe.” She cradled she child in her arms and ran as the wind roared louder.

The longest seconds of her life ticked by as she neared the east wall once again. She felt as if she were in another on of her nightmares and the wall stood ever from her reach. However, she did make it at last. Men parted as she made her way further back. This time it was due to her cargo rather than her face. She searched the crowds for the little girl she saw before, but to no avail. She silently prayed for her safety as well as her family’s and Billy Boy’s. I’m sure going to miss that little goat. She thought. She found an unturned wagon to sit on. At last, she had a moment of quietude, a moment of rest in the eye of the chaos around her. She held the child to her and wept with him.