“You okay?” The voice faded in and out, a distant echo in the back of her brain. All she could feel was the intense [i]thump, thump, thump[/i] of her skull. Groaning, Sipley urged herself to get up. To stop being such a pansy – she was a woman, damnit, and a real strong one at that. She could do this! She needed to do this!

The ground blurred and she lifted into blackness, spiraling in nothingness. The cold black empty air around her was hard and Sipley found herself bending without consent. Her eyes barely blinked open – she was on that oaf’s back! How dare he? She was his equal! Not some burden to be carried around. It was a simple head wound, nothing a good pushing couldn’t fix. She didn’t need some hero or rescuer! She was no damsel! Sipley’s head fell back onto the cold iron plate, her hands relaxing and the energy fleeing her body. Dreariness pulled at her eyes and they were suddenly lead, too heavy to keep open as they kept slipping and slipping down. A good talking to was in order…after she slept a little. 

The abyss welcomed her and she wrapped herself in the cool blanket, lying softly with euphoria pulsing upon her features. But then that dastard thumping was back. [i]Thump, thump, thump[/i]. A horrible pain filled her being and she desired most to scream, to shriek like a banshee, but she couldn’t. Her body was immovable, her limbs numb. It was her worst nightmare. Then a heat soothed down her brow, smoothing down the creases of her forehead and taking the pain away. Slowly, and at last, she awoke.

Sipley sat up gradually, afraid to jar her head around though she would be in the fight again. Aldred was next to her and the assassin was quick to grab him by the head opening of his armor, bringing him down to her eye level. “Don’t [i]ever[/i] carry me again.”