9. A Beautiful Day

Tarmin was laid on the flat passageway, and the horrific wound that had gouged out his chest and shattered his bones was seared into Enya’s vision.

There was no time to reach out to him, nor even to say a word.

She felt the unmistakable finality of his death.

It was a death so utterly futile.

Enya’s vision blurred in an instant.

“…Taal?”

As she uselessly called his name, Enya imagined

Tarmin lifting his head with a puzzled look, then seeing her face and smiling at her with affection.

Then Tarmin making a mischievous face and pulling her into his arms.

But there was no answer. He was dead. Taal was dead...