[Lawtan]

There was a shout. Suddenly, a flash enveloped the wall, followed by a boom. Something flew to my feet…stone? As light and smoke cleared, the faithful wall had crumbled. Dark specters on horseback stormed through the breach, bearing torches. After a moment of shock, I turned and ran for home, selfishly hoping for the town to preoccupy these raiders.

The overcast evening began to light as flames spread across dry wood like tinder in an encompassing circle, funneling those within. Screams scattered everywhere. More sounds, unfamiliar, like sizzles and pops, accompanied them. Through an alley was a shortcut home, and I hastily took it. As I ran, heat poured out near me. Crashing, beams fell and flames licked my running legs. I cried out involuntarily and continued home.

As I stumbled home, I could still hear the riders nearby, covering more ground. I had to get my wife and child out of here! I needed to calm down with the thoughts racing through my mind. I opened the door to a boatsman chatting with my wife. Shouting, and likely terrifying the poor dear, I demanded we find our childe. Grabbing basic supplies, I tossed as much coin as was in our daily sack, asking him to take us away from town.

A flurry of footsteps approached the front door, which turned out to be my blessed kinder and frau, but still we had to make haste. She alerted me that the boats were already burning. Ominously, strong footsteps closed closer. Quiet as the common fieldmouse we hid behind or under furniture. Laughter and crude words echoed through the wood. Minutes passed before flames licked the inside of the wooden walls. With alarm, we scrambled to the river bolo. Breaking the opening in the riverman’s special chair, we lept through to the waters below, with sacks of floatable material to keep us afloat.

As we floated unseen along the river, the town and banks burned to the ground. We were thankful for our lives, though, and remained so with each successive raid after. We have somewhat grown used to it after a while. The old walls were useless to us, and wood needed to be rebuilt as stone. The bodies, what remained of them, we could never quite account for, but we are a strong town of survivors, and we endure still.


END...for now