Singularity Point

A bolt of starlight streaks across the open valley below. A vast, dark chasm is momentarily lit up by the glow, as it streaks across, finding it's mark in the neck of a man. Katherine knocks another arrow from atop her balcony, sitting nearly at the peak of Joriels Great Tower. She is a dreadful huntress of men, when the day calls for it, and that day is today. A vast and terrible army wades across the surface below. Arrows fly from her, but she does not look at her targets. Instead, she surveys the enemy from afar, keeping watch on their movements, formations, and tactics. No foe shall escape her vigilant eyes.

Below, a wrinkled human man places a steel helmet atop his bald head, a purple eye engraved upon it's surface. Before him, hundreds of warriors align themselves in ranks, separated into three distinct groups. The man at the head of them all pulls a mighty black hammer from his belt, and holds it aloft. Katherine cannot hear what he says, but she hopes his words will inspire. She hopes that will be enough. But she is wrong.

A bridge of black light appears across the valley, conjured by dark, ancient magic. Katherine can see it's cruel creator; and she locks in on him. He is far, and at last, exposed. This may be her only chance. Katherine knocks not one, but two arrows into the white string of her bow. They reverberate with power, as she utters a few words of power.

"Kynar. Vranis. Rylas!"

As she completes her chant, she let's the shots loose. The immaculate, slender arrows burst from above, writhing with ivory white light. The Master of the Great Tower watches them fly. Soon after they begin their descent, a spark connects the two shots. In an instant, they are pulled together, filling the area with a whistling noise, like a firework. The soldiers below look up to see the two shots merge into one, flying directly from above in a perfectly straight line. Over the soldiers, the walls, the valley, then the dark bridge that would summon forth their enemies. Straight into the throat of the dark lord of the army.

The old, orcish man clutches his neck, falling to his knees in pain. Just as the first of his soldiers took their first step on the bridge, it vanishes into the nothingness from whence it came. He pulls the arrow out of his flesh, scrambling to call out for healing. But he soon discovers that no wound befalls him. Instead, laid into his skin, is a complex series of glyphs, glowing with light. He tries to stammer out an order, but to no avail.

Atop the Tower, Katherine mutters.

"Be silent."

She quickly knocks an arrow, aiming it a few feet from the array of soldiers. It whizzes across as she chants.

"Totalis. Hyrenna. Vosh!"

As it hits the ground, Katherine appears in it's place, an act which does not surprise the bald, helmeted man in front of her. He nods in recognition of her.

"A fine shot, Lady Katherine."

She raises her head, staring into his eyes.

"Thank you. That should hold them off for the time being. How are the men, Albrecht?"

He leans his hammer on his shoulder.

"They've been better. Some are scared. Some are excited."

She turns from him, looking out onto the many knights before her.

"Then you'd do well to discipline them. This is no game. This is our home. We cannot allow them to tread upon these sacred grounds."

Albrecht nods, a grim look in his eyes.

"Of course."

He faces the knights, yelling words of caution, rallying them, telling them of what is expected of them. But Katherine does not listen. Her mind dwells elsewhere.

A young man, wearing a suit of armor, made just for him. His father smiles and smacks him on the back, as Katherine watches from afar.

"Oh, Lucius. Theodoric. How I wish you could stand with me."

The man's father, Lucius, tells a joke, one his son, Theodoric, does not find amusing. He grabs hold of his father, Throwing him to the ground, as he continues laughing. Lucius kicks up, sending Theodoric to the ground, his father placing a boot on his chest. The old man begins to gloat, his hands on his hips, laughing heartily. Then, he clutches his back, stepping off Theodoric, who begins laughing himself. Katherine is somewhat amused, though she wishes her husband would be more careful.

She snaps back into the present. The knights have gone to their posts. Albrecht stands next to Katherine.

"Are you alright, Lady Katherine?"

She places her bow on her back.

"I'm fine, Albrecht. Just… Reminiscing."

Albrecht sighs.

"They know what's at stake. And they know the odds. We're all prepared to die, but… Is there nothing we can do?"

Katherine looks to the skies. The clouds pass above her, drifting lazily on the horizon, completely uninterested in their struggle. She breathes deeply, and can feel her heart beating with each passing second. But there is something more within her. A connection. They are tied to one another like the arrows that pierced through the sky. Katherine can feel his heartbeat, too. He is alive. He can give her the strength to continue. He can remind her why she fights. Who she fights for. And if her beloved grandson could only be by her side, then this would become a fight she can win.