Temple of the Winds

The men frowned in confusion. They glanced about the room. In the center, where Clarissa had seen the prophet stack the books he had taken from the shelves, there was only a stain of white ash. The empty places where he had pulled out books had been closed up, so it didn't appear that any had been removed.

"I smell smoke," one of the men said.

The prophet thunked the man's skull. "Idiot? Half the city is ablaze. At last, you begin to smell smoke? Now, get to it! I have to report on the books I found."

One of them snatched Clarissa's arm as the prophet started leading her out. "Leave her. We'll be needing some entertainment."

The prophet glared at them. "She's a scribe, you fool! She knows all the books. We have more important work for her than amusing you lazy oafs. There are women enough when you finish your work, or would you rather have me report you to Captain Mallack?"

Even though they were confused by who Nathan was, they decided to get to work. Nathan closed the door behind him. He pushed Clarissa on ahead.

On the steps, alone with him in the silence, she halted, leaning against the railing for support. She felt lightheaded and sick to her stomach. He put his fingers to her cheek.

"Clarissa, listen to me. Slow your breathing. Think. Slow it down, or you will faint."

Tears coursed down her face. She lifted a hand toward the room she had gone to to get the men. "I. . I saw…" "I know what you saw," he said in a soft voice.

She slapped him. "Why did you send me up there? You didn't need those men!" "You think you will be able to hide You won't. They will search every hole in this city. When they are finished, they will burn it all to the ground. There will be nothing of Renwold left.

"But I. . I could. . I'm afraid of going with you. I don't want to die." "I wanted you to know what will happen to you should you choose to stay here. Clarissa, you are a lovely young woman." He pointed with his chin toward the great hall. "Believe me, you do not want to be here to experience what is going to happen to the women here over the next three days, and then as slaves to the Imperial Order. Please believe me, you don't want that." "How can they do such things? How can they?"

"This is the unspeakable reality of war. There are no rules of conduct except those the aggressor makes, or those the winner can enforce. You can either fight against this, or submit to it."

"Can't. . can't you do anything to help these people?" "No," he whispered. "I can only help you, but I'm not going to waste precious time doing it unless you are worth saving. The dead here died a quick death. Terrible as it was, it was quick.

"Vast numbers of people, many times as many people as lived in this city, are about to die horrible, suffering, lingering deaths. I can't help these people, but I can try to help those others. Is freedom worth having, life worth living, if I don't try?

"It is time for you to decide if you will help, if your life is worth living, worth the Creator's gift of your soul."

Visions of what was happening up in the great hall, out in the streets, and to her whole city flashed chaotically through her mind. She felt as if she were already dead. If she could have a chance to help others, and to live again, she must take it. This was the only chance she would get. She knew it was. She wiped the tears from her eyes, and the blood from her chin. "Yes. I'll help you. I swear on my soul that I will do what you ask, if it means a chance to save lives, and a chance at my freedom."

"Even if I ask you to do something that you fear? Even if you think you will die doing it?" "Yes."

His warm smile made her heart lift. Surprisingly, he drew her to him and gave her a comforting hug. She had been a child the last time she had been comforted with a hug. It made her weep.

Nathan put his fingers to her lip, and she felt a warm sensation of succor. Her terror eased. Her memories of what she had seen now gave her the determination to stop the men who did this, to prevent them from visiting suffering on others. Her mind filled with hope that she might do something important that would help other people to be free, too.

Clarissa felt her lip after Nathan had taken his hand away. It no longer throbbed. The wound was healed around the ring. "Thank you-Prophet."

"Nathan." He ran a hand down her hair. "We must go. The longer we stay here, the greater the chance of never getting away." Clarissa nodded. "I'm ready."