_{by jaymamma.}

Bedlam. Horror. The guards shuffle about in and out keeping any from leaving. All I can see, all I can focus on is Lilian. She kneels. Tears stream down her cheeks. Annette kneels beside her clutching one of her hands, her eyes vacant. Shock. She can’t understand what just happened. One of the guards is chattering at me ordering me to a different place in the room. I flick my wrist a mutter a few syllables he stops chattering and I lower him gently to the floor as he falls over paralyzed. I kneel down and take a hand of each of the girls, and pull them to their feet and towards the door. They do not need to be here.

    The guards seeing their fellow guard on the ground draw their weapons and converge one me. I feel the hum of magic to my right and left, along with the special singing sound of Talon leave its scabbard. I put one hand up.

“Hold, all of you. I know this is a charged scene.” I release the hold spell on the guard. “I am sorry you, none of you touch me EVER, I am taking them out of here and now. They do not need to be here, step aside or I will move all of you.”

Thaumatological effect blazes my eyes the most fearsome red I can muster. No one moves for a few seconds the tension thick in the air.

Finally a voice of reason.

“Let her take them outside, I trust you will not go far Lilvari.?”

Sildar.

I smiled weakly. “No” I gestured about the room. “Just away from this. Thank you.”

“Wait” he said. I would have you take the other little ones for a time. We will question the parents first so they may reclaim them from you.”

I nodded solemnly and A chain of children hand in hand adorned my arms as I left the tavern.

Their cheeks were all wet, and horror within their eyes. I realized then that my own cheeks were wet. 

I walked them to the town stable. Most sat on the benches quietly. Lillian went to her horse and rested her face on his. 

Annette had not let go of my arm and was sobbing quietly. The real victims. This was supposed to bring us together. I had done something horrible and on a larger scale. The difference here was intent. All those years ago, I had not intended the horror I had wrought. This had been planned, premeditated. I hoped it was not so. Maybe it was simply a bad bottle Harbin had popped. I really wish that could be the case. I knew better. There would be death for this in answer. We would find who orchestrated this. There would be no trial, there would just be death. DEATH and DISMEMBERMENT.