Epilogue - Fire in the Sky

The fire burned against a pitch black sky, stark red and orange flaring over white snow that still fell in the crumbling capital. People screamed, shouted, ran for their lives. Their violent neighbors were invading and there was nothing they could do. The palace was gone, the princes were dead.

A woman ducked into an alley, sobbing quietly and holding a small boy and girl against her large bosom. She ran through the dark as the fires roared around and screams split the air. The boy clutched at her neck, crying and confused. She tried to shush him and he choked on his tears, putting his fists over his mouth in an attempt to shut himself up.

Heavy footfalls rushed toward them, the woman gasped and ducked into a half-demolished house. She stumbled over chunks of stone and wood, willing herself not to fall or to drop the children that clung so desperately to her. She had to make it... if she could get out of here and get to any border, someone would help them.

Suddenly a door in front of them burst open. The woman screamed, staggering backward and trying to turn around, only to be halted by those who had crept up behind them. Surrounded, the woman wrapped herself around the two children, screaming and pleading as the men tried to open her arms and tear them away.

As the boy was suddenly torn from her arms, she gave a feral cry, jumping up and trying to grab him back. A man swung a fist and hit her in the temple; she made a pained sound and crumpled to the floor. The little boy gasped seeing her fall, trying to wrench himself away from the man holding him as he screamed in his native tongue, tears falling down his face. The man easily hefted him over one shoulder, turning and walking away as the boy kicked and screamed. The small girl, only a toddler, wailed in confusion and fear as she was left all alone, shaking the woman's listless form and reaching her arms out desperately to the boy being carried off…