A gentle presence held her steady as her breathing returned to normal, but still all she could smell was the metallic stench of stable blood. Her eyes fluttered open, and delicate threads of red protected her eyes from the light. She tightened her own grip around Shianni, and both of their bodies ceased to shake.
"I'm so sorry, cousin," Kahlé spoke into Shi's collarbone, not wanting to see her sullen eyes while she begged for forgiveness. They stood together, supporting one another with their weight. The rest waited quietly, fidgeting with one another's jewelry and clothes. Shi and Ka walked without incident through the servants quarters where Soris had come in. The path to the alienage from there was long and windy, allowing for quiet retrospection that none of them welcomed. Upon finally returning to the alienage, Kahlé saw the remaining men and children collecting the left over paper decorations that hung from the trees and buildings. The work was slow, most of the people appeared as empty as ghosts. Some of the girls began running into the embrace of husbands and children. Sweet sounds of relief echoed throughout the alienage, all of the women had been returned safe and untouched, except Shianni and Kahlé. Ka kept her eyes glued to Shi who stared blankly forward as they walked. What will happen now, she thought, will she recover? Or perhaps the trauma would be too much for already troubled Shianni to bare? Kahlé finally reached the center of the alienage and realized yet again humans had brought themselves into her home. A rage began bubbling inside of her like a storm, and like a storm she couldn't be stopped. All they can do is run, she thought, but they can't hide.
Kahlé ignored the noble speaking, instead she flashed sharp and crooked teeth at the lackeys. A few flinched, recognizing the smile from her rampage through the fortress, the rest clenched their firsts at their side and waited. Suddenly she heard her father's voice and turned to see him on his knees. He was bargaining for her life,
"take me, please! You can't take my child from me, I won't let you!" A quick pang of guilt ran through her, and she touched his shoulder to reassure him that she wasn't going anywhere with these shems.
A dark haired man walked between the nobles and elves, his stride that of a leader. He stared fiercely at the noble, who slowly quieted and stopped. Then turning his gaze to the elves, landing on the small form of Kahlé. She stared back, snarling and baring her sharp canines. His eyes softened on the sight and Kahlé felt her guard drop, her muscles relax. His head rotated towards the noble again,
"I'm going to conscript the party at fault here, if you'd be so kind and decide who it is." Fingers flew and darted directly at Soris, who began to sweat. She couldn't save Shianni, but whatever fate Soris would have as a fugitive she could take for him. She leaped at the noble, but her body was caught in mid air. She gasped for oxygen, but the hilt that had been pounded into her abdomen prevented her from breathing. She coughed and struggled for air, looking up she watched as the swarthy Shem replaced his sword in it's holster. "This seems to be the only threat to you, Ser, I will conscript this woman and resolve the issue entirely." The force of the blow caused her stomach to turn, and the unending stress combined to make her to vomit. The acid burned the lining of her throat, and a pile of bile pooled on the ground. The dirt of the path forced it to slow and congeal, and she watched it as it stopped. It was brought out of motion by the dirt of this city, just like her. The nobles were held high above it by brick and wood and rugs, but that's all they were. They were the dirt that got stuck in gears and broke them, the dirt that stung their eyes. Now Kahlé tried to push past them, push the dirt away and create a path. But it stopped her, it always stopped her.
"I won't go with you," her breath still ragged but returning to normal, "even if I have to rot in prison here or die on the noose. I won't leave my city." She glanced over at Shianni, but quickly darted her eyes away when she saw the pain in her face. "I won't leave my people."
"You're not allowed to die, cousin. You could have had a full life if it wasn't for this, gotten married and had children." She stood over Kahlé,
"I won't allow you to submit to this." The sun was beginning to set, and Shi's red hair blazed in front of the light. It reminded her of the brightly colored portrait of Andraste, beautiful and unwavering. Kahlé stood, embracing Shianni for what could be the last time. None of them exchanged words, only touches and knowing nods. She turned to the man who was to take her away, and they departed.