forum Let's try this again (Welcome to Denma, Attempt 2, Closed)

Started July 15, 2020 by @Relsey-TheElder

tune

The explosion threw Rue away, luckily propelling Otrera in the same general direction. The bowl of stew rattled to their feet amidst the chaos. Smoke filled the air, the smell of explosive powder felt harsh on Rue's nostrils. He hadn't smelled it in a while, but the memory was the sort that stayed.
"Magen!" Rue swore, a mix of surprise and fear twisted together in his tone. He looked around and saw a face disappearing into the smoke with eyes that glinted of mischief. There would be others; Rue knew it.
"Otrera! Follow me!" He dodged through the wreckage, jumping over what had previously been the table they had been sitting at, and ran through what had been an oval window, now blown out into the grass beyond.
They ran, long and hard, into a nearby wood, dancing through trees and swerving away from shadows until they both stopped, exhausted and breathing heavily.
Rue rose slowly. "I saw faces. It was Claudrel."

Looking back, Smoke rose from all over the town, ash rained from the sky. While the operatives were clearly from Clandrel such explosive technology was experimental and the only nation with access to this amount of black powder, That Otrera knew of, was The Empire. This was a direct attack on the Capital of Nonalia. But for all the destruction, no building of importance was hit, the Palace remained intact, mockingly untouched through the smoke, The Three Temples that surrounded the Palace remained untouched, the wealthy district's, all in perfect condition. This was a display of Power, a mere warning of what was to come

Rue breathing was harsh, the growing shadows of trees encompassing them both like a cocoon. He shook his head, “How did they know we would be there? Were they after us?”
He paced, worry shone explicit on his face by the light of the rising moon. “I didn’t even know I would be there until…” he trailed off, a sudden thought hitting him. He shook his head as if to deny it. He reached for a limb to steady himself, turning to face Otrera fully for the first time, the surprise at seeing her dress momentarily stealing the breath from his words. He shook his head again.
“How long had you been accustomed to going to that place?l he said. “It may be that the attack was for you and your precious scrolls.”