Brissiyr trembled at the sight of her parents’ lifeless cadavers sprawled on the floor before her. The blood seeping from the wounds in their bodies contrasted with the clean, white marble on which they laid.

The smell filled her nostrils; she tried her hardest not to vomit.

It had all happened terribly fast. One moment they had been stood in front of the Judiciar, pleading with him for mercy, and the next they were dead. 

There was nothing she could have done; you didn’t argue with one of the Othai, least of all a Judiciar. Her parents should have known better, but she had seen the defiance in their eyes as the Judiciar cast his gaze upon her, their only child.

Their screams had only lasted moments, but they still echoed in Brissiyr’s ears.

A dark hand appeared from beneath the Judiciar’s pure white robes and gestured slightly. Two attendants appeared as if from nowhere and began to drag her parents away. She cried out and tried to run to them, but a strong hand on her shoulder kept her in place. Like the Judiciar’s, the hand was a dark shade of purple-grey and had long fingers, each one ending in a black, sharpened fingernail.

“Yashk velaghar, shreeset,” purred a female voice from behind her. Brissiyr didn’t know the words, but she understood the tone. Even at the tender age of eight she could sense danger in a voice.

“Jushre nyematas.” The Judiciar’s voice was like gravel, and Brissiyr felt the hand on her shoulder guide her forwards. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about the fact she was now walking through her parents’ blood. Instead she prayed silently for someone to save her.

Please. Is there no one who can help me?

She was pulled to a halt a few moments later, and she slowly opened her eyes to the towering figure of the Judiciar. All she could see of his face were his yellow eyes glaring down at her from the darkness within his hood.

“Do you fear me, child?” The heavily accented voice of the Judiciar rang in her ears, and she nodded as her heart beat faster.

Please let someone come.

“You are right to do so,” the Judiciar continued. “All creatures should fear their betters and the pain they may bring. Yet there can also be love and leniency.”

Take me away from here.

“You have a choice now, child. Tell me what I want to know, and you will have a favoured place among us.”

Far away.

“Refuse, and I will have the Exemplar here tear your skin from your flesh and mount it upon the walls of the city for all to see.”

Oh Heavens, grant me your mercy!

“What is your answer, child?”

PLEASE!!!

An almighty crack echoed in the skies, like a thunderclap sounding inside Brissiyr’s head. The Judiciar turned as a bright light appeared in the north, shining through the windows of the Citadel and raising a terrible rumbling as it grew brighter. The walls and columns shook, and huge pieces of marble fell from the ceiling.

The Judiciar bellowed orders at his attendants and cast a piercing glare at Brissiyr. “Cashyakha thresh-miruut, sepke!” He spat the words at her, and she had the distinct feeling they were either intended to blame or spite her.

Either way, her blood chilled as she saw him reach for the blade at his side.

He never drew it. The northern wall exploded inwards, throwing marble and stone across the great hall, crushing Othai and wounding others. The light continued to expand and intensify, consuming everything around it until Brissiyr stood upon its brink.

She hadn’t noticed the Judiciar and Exemplar had disappeared, nor had she noticed the figure at the centre of the light now walking towards her. She was not afraid of it, however, and simply stood waiting in anticipation until it stopped in front of her.

“Your prayer is answered, young one,” it said.

Then everything went dark.