What would she say? Lantal waited. He didn’t want to tell her. She had to know. The [Lord] waited.

Risel’s lips were parted. She looked shocked, still. He waited for her to say something. Anything.

“Mother? Mother?”

Sasi shook her mother. But Risel’s head just fell sideways. Lantal realized, vaguely, that he had been too slow. She had been…

…before the skeleton had even dropped the sword…

The world spun. Lantal knelt there. And the last hope faded. He had thought something would happen.

He had hoped he could hold the doorway forever.

Now? There was nothing.

Just Culin and Sasi, watching him. Suddenly, Lantal could hear them sobbing. Hear his panting breath.

Feel every wound. His blood, coating the floor. The breaking wood.

The dresser was splintering. He glanced back. A huge form was breaking through. Another Draug.

Lantal searched around for something. And he saw nothing. Just the door to the balcony. No one had attacked that.

Slowly, he got up. The [Lord] walked over to the door, unlatched it, tossed aside the chair.

“Father?”

Sasi looked at him. Culin made no sound at all as he lay next to his mother. Lantal glanced outside. What a frivolous thing a balcony was. Another way in. Or…

There were few undead in sight. They were all pouring into the keep. They wanted him. His family. The

[Lord] turned back.

“I would have wanted you here. But…”

“Father?”

Sasi saw him stride towards her as a huge body with glowing eyes forced the door apart. Lantal ignored the undead. It didn’t matter. He abandoned his sword, picked up Culin.

“Hold your brother tightly, Sasi. Then—run. Hide. Somewhere they can’t find you. Maybe…”

“Father. No!”

Sasi fought him as she clung to Culin. Lantal carried them towards the balcony. He walked towards the railing and Sasi shouted at him.

“Come with us!”

He smiled at her.

“Someone has to lay your mother to rest. They think you’re with me.”

He heard a sound. Something was moving behind him. The [Lord] closed his eyes as Sasi looked past him and went still. He held her, Culin. He met his son’s gaze, his daughter’s. He kissed her forehead.

“…my love.”

Then he leaned low and dropped them three floors down. He heard a cry from both. But the shadows moved, stumbling away from the balcony. Looking up at him.

Lantal stood there. Then he turned. Someone waited for him. She had gotten back up. Almost the same woman he knew. Almost—if he tried, he could believe it was her.

It never would be again. Even so, Lord Lantal spread his arms as she stumbled towards him. A terrible smile on his face.

“There you are, my love.”

His body had ceased hurting. The [Lord of the Fields] looked around, and found his sword where he had left it. Slowly, he lifted it up and went to greet his wife.