The Guard Marshal rounded the corner and gasped when he saw that the Surgeon's building was already on fire. He swore to himself for taking so long and ran to the entrance. The small merchant's hall had been converted to serve as a hospital. The stalls and tables that had once housed the merchants and guildsmen of Precedin were gone, now replaced with curtained beds that lined the long walls of the main room. As he approached he could see the panicked sick and wounded running out of the building in terror. The right side of the building was completely engulfed in flames and the fire was spreading rapidly through the wooden roof. He would only have a few minutes to get the rest of the people out of there.
He ran inside, pushing his way past those trying to get out, and froze in shock when he saw how many people still remained. At least ninety of the infirm remained in the hospital. The Marshal spotted Nallia standing by a bed in a blood soaked apron. He ran over to her and grabbed her arm. "These people need to get out of here right now!" he yelled over the screams of the panic stricken.
Nallia looked at Coppercloud and shook her head. "Most of them can't walk. We need more time."
"More time!" he replied frantically. "This place is about to be consumed." As he spoke a support beam fell from the roof, crushing an elderly man in his bed. Nallia ran over to the man and Coppercloud followed.
The beam, still on fire, was too large to move and the man's screams filled the hall. Nallia looked down and found a young girl and boy standing next to the bed completely terror stricken. The girl turned to Nallia and screamed, "Help him!"
Nallia pulled the girl and boy to her and cast a desperate look at the Marshal. "You know what to do," she said through her tears. She then took the two children away.
Coppercloud stared at the man under the beam and pulled out his sword. He quickly moved up to the bed and gave him a quick death. He stood there for a moment. The blood of that poor man was smeared along his sword and it was almost too much to bear. He was shaken out of his trance as one of the hospital windows burst. He ran to Nallia and grabbed her arm. "We are leaving now," he yelled.
"But what about all of these people?" she wailed.
Coppercloud's tone turned cold. "In a few seconds the entire roof is going to collapse and then we will all be dead. There is no hope for them now." He then forced Nallia, who was dragging the young boy and girl, out of the building.
They had just exited the doorway when the main beam of the roof snapped, causing the building to collapse in on itself. As it crashed into a thousand pieces, fiery debris showered those outside.
"Those poor souls," wept Nallia, as she tried to comfort the children.
The Guard Marshal let out a frustrated breath. War was man's grimmest deed and he knew that this was just the beginning. Suddenly, he found himself surrounded by the people that had made it out of the hospital alive. Most walked with crutches or could barely stand and looked to the Marshal for guidance.
Boulders and other projectiles still rained down on them, and it wouldn't be long until fire ran through every street. The thick smoke was already sucking the air from the city, making it hard to breathe in the cramped streets. What would he do next?
"What are they to do now?" asked Nallia.
"Leave the city. Make for the northern gate and escape as quickly as possible," urged Coppercloud. He looked at Nallia as the sick and wounded began to head north. He was not going to forget his promise to the General. He motioned for her to follow him and though reluctant she agreed. They made their way with the two children west through the city.
As they rounded a corner Coppercloud stopped and held his hand up, halting Nallia.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Coppercloud abruptly turned and pushed her and the children through the door of the corner shop without a word. He put his finger to his mouth for silence and drew his sword. Nallia noticed that his hand was shaking uncontrollably. She crept slowly around the Marshal to catch a glimpse out of the window and began to hear several thuds on the street outside. Strange footsteps then made their way down the street. Coppercloud moved further back into the room and pushed the children into an area where they would not be able to see outside. He then grabbed Nallia and as silently as he could dragged her away.
Just before the window disappeared from view, Nallia lost her breath as she saw several grey, winged beasts walk past the shop.
They waited in silence and the Marshal held Nallia tightly to keep her from screaming in horror. When he thought it safe, he peered outside and saw that they were gone.
"What in Skiye's name?" said Nallia softly.
"I don't know, but they are headed for the gate," replied the Marshal in a fearful tone.
Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles: Book One) Page 70
