Allyssa smiled and grabbed Ranis' an Philos' hands and pulled them into Oron's Keep. The actual keep was just an old, burnt ruin of a once strong fortress that Oron had been living in. People said it was haunted, but Oron was the "Swordsman's Ghost" that was said to lurk there.
Allyssa showed the two to the lower levels of the keep because the roof had collapsed years ago. That was where the found a nice, long table, a working kitchen, and seven old beds. "Make yourselves comfortable, there's going to be one **** of a storm tonight." Oron told them as they sat down for a dinner of dark stew.
The night was dark and cold for Tahliya as she rode. Her inner-thigh area was rubbed raw from wearing the guards rough pants with the armor that didn't fit her legs over them. She was tired, she was cold, and now the storm was starting.
She thought back to her father, and how kind he had been to her. She was illegitimate by birth, but her father had undone that by wedding her mother. But her mother was deadl and now, so was her father. Her brother, Archamenel had seen to that personally, and now she had nothing but one, faint sliver of hope that a hero would help her. But the night was dark, and the darkness consumes hope.
Her horse collapsed out from under her, so she had to leave that and most of her armor so she could run on foot. She was left wearing boots that were too large, gloves that did not fit, and over-sized mail with an equally large shirt over it as a dress that she belted to her hips. On her back, she carried her spear "Darkheart" that she had taken from the prison.
She could see smoke, so she ran to the building only to find it in ruins. She walked the floor until she came to the stairs. She walked down the stairs, saw Oron, Allyssa, Ranis, and Philos, and then collapsed like her horse, hoping she was safe here.
Oron pulled out his blade and walked toward her. "So, Nox has sent you to deal with me and take the girl, huh? Well... What are your last words?" Oron said, pointing his sword at Tahliya. "S-sanctuary..." She replied weakly.
At that, Oron picked her up, had Allyssa take off all but her shirt, and then tucked her into bed by the fire, hoping the chills would not take her in the night.