Rayalda, Peace Personified
Iain thought long and hard about what he’d spend his riches on. He envisioned a boat with a long mast and glorious sails. He’d have Rayalda’s face painted on it to show the world that he’d bested the beast, carved the emeralds from her back and claimed them for his own.
But when he came upon Rayalda in the forest, he felt… strange. Calm washed over him. For a moment, he wanted nothing more than to bask in her presence.
He fought the feeling and attacked. Rayalda cocked her head as he scalped the emeralds from her flesh.
When she died, the grass underneath shriveled up and blackened. Iain’s knees buckled and he fell onto her carcass.
He wept.
