Twice Bitten

Fallen Temple

The winter had come. The brother was well equipped. The smoke in the factories was clear in the white snow. She knew it was time.
But the mine did not accept her as society had made peace with her misconduct. Her wait had been unfruitful. She could not believe the mistreatment she had received. She had never encountered such rage. But she made peace with it, the manager of course was one the suitors that she turned down. He was too old. A walking skeleton to her.
She believed he had seen death a couple of times and slipped right through its fingers all the time. He looked lifeless and though noble was unreal. The boring kind of husband a blind woman would have troubles imagining the features of his face.
On her way home she heard a great tremor. It felt so close and home was closer also and anxiety was closer. It was further than the moon all this time, but was under the skin this time.
She was skeptical and had grown fearless with time. She was called to see the great sound. At the back of her mind, she had a picture of large mammal that just died. So she wedged her short sword and was ready to skin what was left of this mammal. A feast for half of the winter it would be.
By the time she got to the site, she was unfortunately beaten by other habitants. Smith's regiments to be precise. They were charging under the command of Shaun as the enemy was in the territory. She felt a good reason to smile for the first time in ages. She felt her purpose. The flying spears and arrows just made her blood flow immaculately.
As already a half man, she blended in and was heroic in keeping the enemy from breaching the wall.
Shaun had to thank her in person for the great part she played. He did not manage to start the conversation. She was from a bath. Her self respect as a woman had withered away. She also forgot she was in her birthday suit when she welcomed the honourable into her hut.
The slagging voice was unexplainable. She is not the kind to be swept off her feet by such men of high standards.
She felt something she had never felt before. She felt heavy inside and froze for a while till Shaun covered her with his coat. She was accustomed. Puzzled for a while, till she shook her head into sense and set conversation back on.
She was invited to a feast at the royal court. The same court that the father Pet ever preached negatively about. He had made several references to their iron fireplace every time he wanted to mock them for their unhealthy riches.

Though it seemed like nothing she was looking at. The tiled fireplace was nothing that she had ever seen before. Meg was dusting the corners with so muck care and she seemed to be lost into space.