I took most of the energy bolt and it sent me under a dense bush with the wind knocked out of me. Laying there trying to blink away the stars and spots before my eyes, I run my fingers over my side and grimace. I don’t have to be able to see my hands to know what kind of stickiness is on my hands. Damned wizard! He owes me at least two lives for taking out the sacrificer’s minions. I wasn’t out to harm anyone, well, anyone at least who wasn’t harming my party.

The dawn is bright and the battle is all engaging around me. I lay low for a few moments trying to get my bearings. I’m not even sure who is who now. I have no quarrel with these people. Where are my people? Standing a bit wobbly I avoid combat and stalk back the few feet I was knocked. I see Baine’s man and the one with war hammer. But no Baine and Lasair seems to have herself under control battling away at either side that approaches her. I can’t hear what’s she’s hollering about. She doesn’t need my help.

A group of men from both sides seem to standing a ring around those two. I don’t watch but for a few seconds. Strange that they would take time from their fighting to watch those two. Both sides call taunts and insults. A few louder insults call to the breeding and bedding of one’s mother. I can’t help but wonder why it’s always the dam’s fault and not the sire’s?

Then I spy that wizard carrying off the dream woman with help from a half sidhe by the looks of her. Goody golden elf… Sneering I think to myself sometime I will steal that blasted wizard’s staff for a few moons or for forever more as I start my way back to where our horses were. Sean went that way. I just have to keep myself from bleeding to death before then or from being skewered…