Graceful,l haunting clouds danced into the air, born from flames set by retched men searching for blood. The tufts swirled higher and higher, changing from gray to white as they reached the sky.

  The fire encompassed the grounds and clung to the dry foliage of a relentless winter. Screams echoed from inside the estate as its residents reacted to the onslaught.

  Soldiers clamored to the barracks, and they quickly deployed the wall of archers.

  A tall man with red hair stood in the main hall. As he called out instructions, he quickly strapped his armor to his body. He only stopped when he heard someone call his name.

  Robert! They yelled.

  He turned around to see his father.

  Kari was sitting at her desk, lost in a book, when she heard the commotion outside. She had just finished eating and hints of roasting wood and faint yells could be heard from her second-story bedroom. She jumped up and ran to the window. She saw clouds of smoke and silhouettes racing out of the building. She turned to the door and yanked the doorknob. The door wouldn’t budge. She pulled again. She stepped back and as she did Robert, her brother, burst through. She jumped back.

  Kari we have to go. He said with a paniced tone.

  He grabbed her sword and cloak and tossed them to her as he ran out the door.

  The smoke blurred everything. He reached his hand out and gently grabbed her left hand as he carefully creeped through the halls, avoiding patches of fire that had made their way to the stairs. They were able to pass unnoticed to a room that was used as a maid quarters. They ran in and shut the door. Kari turned around and saw that her father was there and another man she didn't recognize.

  Oh good you made it through, her father said.

  What’s going on? She asked.

  We are being attacked. Robert said.

  Attacked? She questioned.

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  We don’t have time, her father said.

  Jeplin. He looked up and started addressing the other man and threw him a bag.

  Kari, I need you to do whatever Jeplin says. Trust him completely and trust no one else. I know it doesn’t make sense now but please just follow my instructions. She nodded and he hugged her.

  She climbed onto the balcony and she abd Jeplin ran down the steps from the platform. Below was a black horse waiting for them. He quickly clipped the bags he was holding to the horse and turned around to help Kari mount it, that's when he noticed something stir through the window behind them.

  He hit the horse on its hind leg and yelled, get down and jumped onto Kari.

  He protected her with his body as they hit the ground. As they fell there was an explosion of flames and smoke that blasted through the window above them. She could feel the heat on her face as though it were the hot breath of some foul beast. She closed her eyes. She could hear debris land on them and she felt Jeplin's warm body wrapped around hers. She stayed still until she felt Jeplin get up. He helped her to her feet and asked if she was alright. She nodded, and he whistled loudly to call his horse back. He obeyed, and Jeplin helped Kari get onto the horse. He leaped on behind her, and they tore out of the yard.

  The wind burned her ears as they fled. She had a lot of experience with horses, but she had never gone so fast while riding. The sky around the estate had turned almost black from the burning of her home. She wanted to watch what was happening, but before she could say anything, they were entirely out of sight. Jeplin remained silent as they rode. He was very focused, and she didn't want to distract him, so she stayed silent, too.

  They tore through the countryside. She held on and crouched down to avoid the harsh wind. The hum of the air passing her ears silenced all other noises and any attempt at communication. She could feel the very tops of her ears becoming completely numb. She was alerted to them when she felt a pang of pain contouring their edges. She was grateful that the cold chill was only on her ears, but it was still uncomfortable. She pulled a bit of the cloak, that was awkwardly draped around her torso, up to cover more of her body and lifted the hood onto her head. The hood was a welcome shelter for her wind-ravaged face. She could feel her ears and cheeks softening with the coddling from the thick fur.

  Jeplin spurred his horse, not slowing or wavering. She had always dreamed of going on an adventure, and it was already more exciting than anything she could’ve imagined.

  Jeplin continued to look behind them as he rode. He didn’t dare say what he saw, but they were fleeing indeed.

  Time seemed to pass as quickly as they rode. When the sun began to set, a mixture of glistening light and calming tones of grays and blues canopied the sky. The grandeur was overwhelming as they reached gaping, sky-freeing fields. A large sea of unhindered sights, with wave after wave of long dry grass rippling methodically.

  After eating on the run, Kari drifted off to the images of beautiful amber seas of wheat and grass peeking from the newly melted snow, mimicking the soft mane of the horse that was dancing gently on her cheeks. They rode for almost a whole day before they took their first proper break. The night's cool darkness isolated her from her surroundings. A dark, mysterious land beyond the reach of the firelight. They both sat on either side of a roaring fire. The flames lashed upwards like fiery tongues, longing for the relief of the cool sky. Jeplin finally finished setting up the camp, and they sat silently for a moment.

  Kari was usually not a talkative sort of person but with Jeplin being silent it made her want to talk to break the silence.