The bandits had moved so slow....or maybe I had just been that quick. Strange are the forces that overcome you when your loved ones are so clearly seen in danger.

The battle was done only minutes after it began. The Cillician Afrit had been short and bloody in his killing of the first man but as he stepped toward the second he realized the fight was already his. A gift , again, from the Gods. Wasn't a shrine to Aries only a stones shot from where he was now? Here in his wife's palace?
And the timing of his arrival, at night....the hours most favored by Nyx. Lastly, this was in defence of his wife and their fruits of Love, the unborn child.

The CHILD!! He looked back at his wife suddenly and ended up colliding with the last bandit who's eyes acted as though they had not seen him yet. The villain crashed bag against a pillar his head cracked hard against the stone.and both of them fell to the floor....the man now caught in a point or two by the flames around Shazir.

Shazir leaped to his feet and looked to the divan where his wife lay. Some blood was across her now! Gods NO!! Without a word Shazir ran to her! Not remember ing he had just cut the hand off one man who was standing over her and buryied his axe in his soft belly only about 1 cubit from her bed. Now he was standing in flames nearly over her and feeling nothing, the oils and wines burning from the cloth....not yet his skin.

There they now stood. He in flames next to the Priestess layed out and Bloody with smile on her face and the palace Servant girl staring as if at a deamon while the woman who had accompanied Shazir held a newborn infant her face and figure now mesmerizing and shadowy. SHE layed a hand on him the flames and cloth he wore fell away and he lowered the axe to the ground.

With stars in her eyes and a sweet voice like a cool nights breeze she said.

Care well for your son, he will meet me again some day. maybe you as well.

She planted a kiss on Shazir's, the Priestess Nyx and their newborn sons forehead and left. Only calling over her shoulder in more of chilling COMMAND...

These two.....secure them. And sacrifice them as befits us Gods. We Never do ANYTHING without purpose, man.

The other two men entered as she turned to mist in the doorways shadow.