The loud, booming shout echoed through the room.
In the dark corner, Nancy sat up quickly on her small bed. The loud commotion had jolted her awake from her deep sleep. The young maid gasped, breathing in the cold night air.
Nancy rubbed her sleepy eyes with her bandaged hands. Her mind was confused and foggy. She tried to understand what was happening in her mother's room in the middle of the night.
She looked across the dark space. First, she saw the tall, broad, terrifying figure of General Damon. Then, she saw the long, sharp steel sword gleaming in his right hand. Finally, she looked down and saw her own mother kneeling on the floor, crying, shaking, and begging for her life.
"Mother?" Nancy asked. Her voice was groggy and completely confused. She rubbed her eyes again, hoping this was just a terrible, dark nightmare.
But the nightmare was real.
