T

 
he maiden guided the mare out onto the plain road that led away from the keep. She looked about her, at the bodies strewn along it, like some giant child's play-room where it had flung its rag-dolls in a tantrum. Shafts of arrows rose from them at odd angles, evidence of their demises.
      She gazed up at the fortress walls, to the top of the wall, where amongst the crenellations she could see her two rescuers, trapped, like she herself once was. Then, it looked as if the tall one, the one who had held her and comforted her, stared out and returned her gaze. She felt tears come to her eyes at the thought she would never see him ever again.
      "You ride, girl, you keep on going, no matter what happens. No matter what happens." His voice echoed in her thoughts.
      She watched as the battle atop the keep ensued again. Tears running down her face, she turned the mare's head eastwards and kicked the horse into a gallop.
 
 

 

      "Good-bye, Grandfather. I love you." she whispered, and headed into the rising sun, for home.

  * * *   * * *  

 
 
 
 
 
Ende.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  * * *   * * *  

 59 
     
     

 60