The rain fell on the cobblestones of Aethelgard. It fell hard. It fell cold. It washed the mud from the boots of the guards. It soaked the wool of the cloaks. It seeped into the bones of the city.

Elara stood at the gate. She held her sister’s hand. The grip was tight. The fingers were white. The knuckles were raw.

Go, said the Captain.

He stood behind her. He was tall. He was old. His armor was dented. His eyes were flat. He was a witness. He watched them all. He watched the brides. He watched the soldiers. He watched the mothers. He did not look away. He never looked away.

Elara did not move. Her feet were planted. The stone was wet. The stone was slick. She felt the weight of the world. It was heavy. It was wet. It was cold.

The city was dying. The plague was here. The war was here. The air smelled of rot. The air smelled of iron. The air smelled of fear.

The Captain spoke again. His voice was low. It was dry. It cracked like old wood.

The road is clear. The road is open. Walk now.

Elara looked at the Captain. She saw his face. She saw the lines. She saw the shadow. She knew what he saw. She knew what he knew.

They are coming, she said.

Who, he asked.

The ones from the East. The ones with the fire. The ones who burn the fields. The ones who take the children.

The Captain nodded. His head moved slow. It was a small movement. It was a sad movement.

Yes, he said. They are coming.

Elara tightened her grip. Her sister was small. Her sister was quiet. Her sister was sick. The fever had taken her color. The fever had taken her strength. But she was here. She was alive. For now.

They walked. The gate opened. The sound was loud. It was a groan. It was a scream of metal. The air rushed in. It was sharp. It was bitter.

The city behind them was a shape. It was a shadow. It was a memory. The towers stood still. The bells did not ring. The dogs did not bark. The silence was thick. The silence was heavy. It pressed on the chest. It pressed on the mind.

They walked out of the gate. The mud was deep. The mud was black. It pulled at their boots. It pulled at their hearts. The rain fell harder. The rain was angry. The rain was alive.

Elara looked at her sister. She saw the face. She saw the eyes. The eyes were open. The eyes were wide. The eyes were empty.

Hold on, Elara said.

Her voice was soft. It was a whisper. It was a prayer.

They walked for an hour. The road was long. The road was straight. The road was gray. The trees on the side were bare. The branches were black. The branches were twisted. They looked like hands. They looked like claws. They reached for the sky. They reached for the walkers.

The Captain followed. He kept his distance. He did not speak. He did not move quickly. He moved with care. He moved with pain. He was the watcher. He was the ghost. He was the end.

The sun broke through the clouds. It was a pale light. It was a weak light. It did not warm. It did not heal. It only showed. It showed the mud. It showed the blood. It showed the truth.

Elara stopped. She leaned against a tree. The bark was rough. The bark was cold. She slid down. She sat in the mud. She pulled her sister down with her.

The sister coughed. The sound was wet. The sound was deep. It came from the chest. It came from the soul.

Elara held her. She held her tight. She held her close. She felt the heat. She felt the life. It was fading. It was slipping. It was gone.

The Captain stopped. He stood ten paces away. He did not come closer. He did not speak. He watched. He always watched.

Elara looked at the sky. The sky was blue. The blue was deep. The blue was endless. It was beautiful. It was cruel.

She remembered the house. She remembered the garden. She remembered the flowers. The roses were red. The lilies were white. The air was sweet. The air was clean. That was before. That was a dream. That was a lie.

Now, there was only the road. Now, there was only the rain. Now, there was only the pain.

The sister opened her eyes. She looked at Elara. She smiled. The smile was thin. The smile was weak. But it was there.

I am cold, the sister said.

Elara took off her cloak. She wrapped it around her sister. She wrapped it tight. She wrapped it warm. She gave her warmth. She gave her life.

No, you are not, Elara said. You are warm. You are safe.

The sister closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed. Her breathing became shallow. Her breathing became still.

Elara waited. She waited for the breath. She waited for the beat. She waited for the end.

It came.

The body went still. The face was calm. The face was peaceful. The pain was gone. The fear was gone. The world was gone.

Elara held the body. She held it for a long time. She held it until the rain stopped. She held it until the sun set. She held it until the stars came out. The stars were bright. The stars were cold. The stars were indifferent.

The Captain stepped forward. He stopped. He looked at Elara. He looked at the body. He looked at the sky.

It is done, he said.

Elara did not answer. She stood up. She was alone. The body was in the mud. The body was in the earth. The body was part of the road.

She looked at the Captain. She saw his eyes. She saw the sadness. She saw the acceptance. He had seen this before. He had seen it a hundred times. He had seen it a thousand times. He was tired. He was old. He was done.

Go, he said.

Where, Elara asked.

Home, he said.

There is no home, she said.

There is always home, he said.

Elara looked at the road. The road went on. The road went north. The road went into the dark. The road was empty. The road was waiting.

She turned. She began to walk. Her feet were bare. Her feet were cold. Her feet were strong. She walked slowly. She walked steadily. She walked alone.

The Captain watched. He watched her go. He watched her fade. He watched her become a shadow. He watched her become a memory.

He turned. He walked back to the gate. The gate was closed. The gate was locked. The gate was dead.

The city was silent. The city was empty. The city was gone.

Elara walked. The rain started again. It fell on her hair. It fell on her skin. It fell on her heart. She did not wipe it away. She let it run. She let it wash. She let it clean.

She walked into the night. The night was dark. The night was deep. The night was full of stars. The stars watched. The stars judged. The stars waited.

She was alone. She was free. She was broken. She was whole.

The road was long. The road was endless. The road was hers.

She walked.