Snippet #2385407

The Bandit's had now fully retreated, except for those dead or otherwise dying. Quite a few got away, but even more had fallen in the raid; a worthy sacrifice, many of them thought, considering what they had got away with. Mataiya might have seen them in fact, galloping into the woods through the moonlight with figures slung under arms and bound with sacks over heads. Back at the village, however, it seemed people were finally beginning to notice the missing locals.

Ricard was gravely injured, obviously, and slipping in and out of consciousness - though ironically the arrow kept him from losing too much blood. Meanwhile, the Alchemist had taken up the ice potion and cast it over the field, putting out the flames with the shattered freeze spell... It didn't matter though, it was far too late. More than half the crop had gone. They'd have no surplus to trade that autumn and some of them might not get through the winter.

How would they ever get over this? The smell was terrible, burning corpses and thick smoke still lingering; blood hissing as it touched the stranded fires. Children, men and women of all ages were crying, or just shocked into silence. Some of them began to tend to wounded and try to clear the streets and drag the dead away, but most just sat there.

Kaden, meanwhile, after making sure that Cinaed was fine, stared into the sky. Thick clouds were forming over the moon and within seconds, thunder clapped the distant horizon and rain began to fall upon them like a spell of cleansing. He wiped his eyes, then pushed off to examine the archer. The body that Adion's potion of lightning had struck seemed to have been completely fried beyond recognition, causing him to turn away in disgust and instead focus on what appeared to be a madman beating on one of the dead. Well... He wasn't surprised. He had always heard that war turned men insane, after all. If this hadn't been war, then what was it?

Down the street, Elder Fermiah began to trudge helplessly through rising puddles of mud. He watched the Alchemist, Cinaed and several outsiders tend to Ricard, but held no hope. He was in too much a state of shock to truly react to what had just happened beyond silence...

"We can't remove the arrow," the Alchemist said, as she crouched over the young man. "There's no instrument in my possession or in any possession in this village that can safely take this missile out without tearing away his chest. We have no choice but to keep it in and try to keep him stable... Help me move him inside. The inn, tell them to clear spaces for the wounded."

(Apologies if I missed anyone!)