A Fool's Blade

Chapter 44 - Too Late?

Jade's long braid was trailing behind her as she raced towards the Sanctuary on Shadowmere. Her hat had flow off at some point during the ride and her once white chef dress was dyed red with blood. The Sanctuary was covered with Agents, but she didn't give them time to run. She shot down several arrows at once raining them down onto the attackers. He stomach twisted as she saw Festus's corpse pinned to the tree, just beyond the door, by arrows. Oil being right by the door. No...this can't be happening...

She coughed as she entered, pulling the mask of her hood over her mouth.

Two more agent's stood in front of her. She fired a flurry of attacks with her daggers, quickly and moved further into the Sanctuary. She came to the main hall just in time to see a large group of soldiers cut Arnbjorn down in front of her. Falling to the burning floor with a loud roar. No...No...He was a werewolf and they still... She head shot the agents and sprinted up the stairs were she saw Gabriella and Liz already dead.

Am I too late? Can I not save anyone?

"If I am to die today, so be it. But you'll not soon forget the Dark Brotherhood!"

Nazir. Jade ran as fast as she could to the next room, shooting down Nazir's attacker.

Nazir tried to catch his breath in the smoke filled air, "So you are alive. I was starting to wonder."

"The Emperor...it was all a trap. Someone set us up."

"Considering most of us are now dead, I assumed as much. And before you ask, no - I don't think it was you. Well, maybe I did, but you saving my sorry hide just now sort of erased any doubts. So thanks."

The Sanctuary rumbled and rocks began to fall from the ceiling. "We need to get out of here!"

"You've got that right. Only a matter of time before we're roasted alive. Come on!"

They ran threw the only paths that weren't blocked by fire or rock, straight to the room where the Night Mother's coffin stood. Veezara was standing close to it, fighting off another Agent.

"Veezara! Duck!"

He immediately dropped to the floor as an Jade's arrow flew overhead. "Thank you, Jay, but I fear we're still trapped."

The Sanctuary rumbled again and flaming wood and rock fell down into the room, causing thick layers of dust to rise up. Jade looking around she could see nothing.

"Listener. I am your only salvation. Come. Embrace me."

"Nazir! Veezara! You need to get to the Night Mother's coffin." The dust began to settle a bit and she looked for the others. Nazir was no where in site, but Veezara..."Veezara? Veezara! Come on, we have to get out of here."

"I-I can't. I can't move." He grunted, attempting to push a rock of his legs.

"Sure you can! We just need to.." She said pushing it.

"Jay. There's no time. Get Nazir out of here!"

"I'm not-...going to leave...-without you!"

"Go!"

Tears were welling in her eyes, "I can't just leave you here! I refuse to let you burn to death!"

"You don't have a choice. Go, sister!"

"Not without you!"

"Listener. You're running out of time. I promise I will protect your Shadowscale when he joins his mother in the Void."

"Go!"

Jade ran into the Night Mother's coffin.

"Sleep."

She suddenly became very sleepy, her eyelids fluttered closed. I'm sorry, Veezara...