by P R Glazier
Chapter 46. A Sting in the Tale
The following morning Nar’Allia awoke to a commotion. People were running about, a group had gathered over where she knew Deanola slept. She rose slowly; an immense feeling of dread came over her as she remembered the events of the night before. She walked to where the others stood looking down at Deanola’s bedding. Nar’Allia’s heart missed a beat because of what she saw; both her hands came up and covered her mouth, everyone turned as she shouted, “NOOOOO”, Deanola’s still form, eyes open but unseeing. Tears welled in Nar’Allia’s eyes; She sat heavily down on the ground, her legs feeling too weak to support her any longer. All she could think was that Deanola had been attacked again and this time the assailants had been successful.
Jonas arose and came to where Nar’Allia wept upon the ground, he crouched in front of her and took her hands in his, “do not fear milady, all is not as it seems”.
Nar’Allia looked into his eyes and said, “Why, what, what has happened here?”
Jonas looked towards Amndo.
Amndo looked up at her and said, “I’m not sure. Deanola seems to be in state of trance, we cannot fathom why. Her heart yet beats and her blood still courses through her, yet she does not respond in mind.”
Nar’Allia looked at Deanola as she lay there upon the bed. Her eyes were wide open, but she now noticed that her chest rose and fell, her breathing yet slow and very shallow. No amount of shaking or shouting seemed to be able to rouse here. Nar’Allia felt despair, she sat back heavily onto the ground once more tears rose in her eyes, she winced at the pain in her side from the dagger wound as it stretched with her exertion. The pain reminded her of the young dark elf assassin, this just added to her grief. “Oh, Amndo, just as we thought everything would be all right?”
Amndo looked at her with an expressionless face. He shook his head slowly. Jonas knelt and placed his arm about her.