10 – Aftermath by Asprin, Robert

He had come home, to Sanctuary. He is Cade, here to return the city’s gifts. He is Cade and he is riding into hell, with death his only follower.

Sarah walked about the main room in aimless circles. Her hand darted out to touch a chest here, a wall hanging there. There was no thought behind her motion; she tried not to think too much. She stopped, staring at a blank wall, fighting the urge to just cry-no, not cry but shout, scream, pound, and break things.

He’s gone . . .

That was what it always led to, the thinking, that he was gone. Terrel, her husband, her love, Terrel, he’s gone . . . She always tried to stop it there, but it continued, relentlessly, the memories still so fresh after al- most half a year.

They had killed him right here in this room, while she slept. She heard nothing, nothing- Waking up, he wasn’t beside her and she was always up first. Small annoyance, walking about, the children still asleep, going downstairs. Gods, she’d almost walked right past it. Even with all the blood.

His blood.

It had covered everything, the wall, the floor, even the ceiling and there in the middle, his skin so pale. His naked body looking tiny in that immensity of red horror. Spread out, bent at odd angles, the bones; the embalmer said they had broken all his bones. All his bones. How could they do that? There were so many bones. How could they break them all?

He’s gone . . .

Those dark eyes, so kind, so full of pain. His gentle touch, warm breath on her neck. He’s gone and she didn’t even know why they had killed him.