Raze

Reis awoken to the smell of burning wood.

He rubbed his eyes and cracked his stiff neck, after spending the night in the wilds again. He rose to his feet and scanned the horizon. Scant motes of ash were floating in the air, swept by the wind across the meadows. There was no mistake – it was the smell of burning wood, and pitch. Reis walked about to determine the source of the fire. He drew his eyes across the tree lines and soon after, he spotted a column of black smoke rising in the air. He pondered for a second, and he looked up at the sun to decide his bearings. It was then a cold shock grasped Reis like an icy claw to the spine.

Fieri.

Sabre’s lush coat was glistening with the beast’s sweat as both him and the rider tore through the forest, crushing the ground following their trail back to Fieri. As they race through the forest, Reis felt a looming dread hung around him. Whatever lies ahead, it would not be good. He urged Sabre some more.

The smoke got thicker as Reis cleared the forest. Ahead, the black column of smoke gave no mistake to the source.

The town of Fieri was razed.